Wrthi'n llwytho
Does dim crynodeb o'r cyfarfod hwn eto. Caiff crynodebau eu hysgrifennu pan fydd y cyngor yn cyhoeddi'r cofnodion, sef ei gofnod swyddogol o'r hyn a benderfynodd cyfarfod. Maen nhw fel arfer yn ymddangos ychydig wythnosau ar ôl y cyfarfod.
1.1 Apologies were received from Councillor Mark Jones.
2.1 The following interests were declared: • Councillor Alfie Best had pre-determined the application to be discussed at agenda item 4 as he had made representations regarding the proposal. He would leave the meeting when the item was discussed. • Councillor Jon Horlor declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 as a Member of Pontypool Community Council who had been consulted on the application. He declared a further personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 as a close associate lived in close proximity to the site. He would leave the meeting when the item was discussed. • Councillor Gaynor James declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 as a Member of Pontypool Community Council who had been consulted on the application. • Councillor Jon James declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 as a Member of Pontypool Community Council who had been consulted on the application.
3.1 It was pointed out that there was an error in Polly Ellis’s job title in the minutes and it should state that she was the Head of Legal Services and not the Chief Legal Officer, it was agreed that this would be changed. 3.2 The minutes of the meeting held on 18th September 2024 were confirmed as a true and accurate record subject to the above change.
4.1 The Principal Planner presented the report to Members in detail and displayed photographs and plans of the site. 4.2 The Chair informed members that there was a third party speaker who wished to speak in relation to the application and invited Ms Lynne Garnett to address the committee. 4.3 Ms Lynne Garnett, Supporter, raised the following points: · She was a Senior Practitioner in Participation Representation and Engagement for the Gypsy and Traveller Community; she worked for Travelling Ahead which was a Welsh Government funded project. · She commended the Local Authority and the Planning Officer for the report which was fair and took in to account all relevant legislation and recommended approval for the site for the families. · Gypsies and Travellers who lived on Local Authority sites were given poor quality accommodation and they were often poorly managed and as such members of the Gypsy and Traveller Community aimed to buy their own land and create their own sites which would provide them with somewhere safe and secure to live which would be no cost to the public purse. · There was a dire situation for Gypsy and Traveller families with regards to health and education outcomes, these were all improved by the provision of better-quality sites. · The site was in a sustainable location, it was a brownfield site that would be transformed into a lovely area by the families if planning permission was granted. · The development of the site would be an improvement to the area, and it ensured that the Local Authority fulfilled its obligations under the Housing Act which was to provide quality accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers. · She commended the recommendation to approve the planning application, and she hoped that the Planning Committee would follow the recommendation of its Planning Officer and approve the permission. · The project had been thoroughly evaluated in light of all current Gypsy and Traveller Legislation which was a specialised area of planning so it was very important that any objections to the application would be serious material considerations. Lots of Gypsy and Traveller planning applications were being rejected by Local Authorities but then at appeal 90% of them were granted permission, this caused long delays, clogged up the planning system and caused stress for the families who wanted nothing more than to provide for themselves in a way which was culturally appropriate and to be able to contribute by paying council tax, working and attending school. · Welsh Government recommended that Local Authorities should fully consider their duties and responsibilities to all members of the Gypsy and Traveller community, so she urged Planning Committee to consider that when making their decision. · The number of objections received regarding the application was engendered by the fact that the Local Authority revealed confidential information about the family, which was then taken by the press, if that information had been kept confidential then there would not have been as many objections. 4.4 In response to questions asked by Members, Officers gave the following replies: · Welsh Water had been consulted on the application and confirmed that the foul and water pressure for the site could be accommodated. · A Coal Risk Assessment had been carried out on the site and the Coal Authority had been consulted and raised no objections to the proposal. · The Local Authority was required to consult neighbouring properties and erect site notices for any planning application received. Neighbours were consulted and a site notice was put up, the local residents were aware of the proposal which was also evidenced by the number of representations received. The Local Ward Councillors also arranged and held meetings with the local residents. Planning Officers were confident that they had met the requirements of the regulations with regards to consulting the public on the application. · It was proposed to plant a number of trees on the site which would provide important ecological enhancement which would also benefit the wider area. There would be tree planting to the frontage of the site to provide a level of privacy to the residents accompanying the site. · Officers had requested that more native trees were planted on site. · There would be conditions attached to any planning permission granted requiring planting to be undertaken by a certain time period. · A hibernaculum was proposed on site and would consist of a pile of logs/twigs which would encourage hibernation on site which would help integrate with the existing habitat. · The Applicant also owned the land to the rear of the proposed site, but it was not included within the planning application. The land towards the river would be unaffected by the proposal so the existing habitat would be unaffected. · There would be approximately 22 trees planted on site. 4.5 Members unanimously agreed to approve the application subject to the conditions laid out in the report.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.