RESOLVED to adopt the motion, namely:-
I want to express deep and passionate concern about the current Ordnance Survey (OS) policy, which is leading to the deletion, undermining and ignoring of Welsh place names that have been part of our landscape for centuries.
Ordnance Survey maps currently:
· Replace historical Welsh names with English forms that have no basis or tradition, e.g. The Mushroom Garden for Coed Cerrig y Frân, Heather Terrace Path for Llwybr Gwregys.
· Place English names alongside Welsh names, creating the impression that the Welsh names are optional or secondary, e.g. Cwm Cneifion / Nameless Cwm, Bala Lake / Llyn Tegid. ’Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa (despite the fact that Eryri National Park Authority no longer uses the name Snowdon.)'
This Council criticises these practices, as they contribute directly to the loss of Welsh names, and therefore undermine our language, history and national identity. When the Ordnance Survey adopts an English name, it appears on websites, signs, publications, and media and as a result, the Welsh name is pushed aside.
This happens even among young Welsh speakers, who are often led to believe that the English name is the "standard". This is how language is weakened, not in a single strike, but in a thousand small steps.
Welsh place names are part of our cultural DNA. They tell the story of the land, the people, the legends, the work, the life. No one has the right to delete or replace them.
Therefore, I want to propose to this Council today that we:
1. Write to the Ordnance Survey to call on them to put an end to the current harmful policy, and to adopt a clear and simple principle and to use only Welsh language landscape place names on maps in Wales.
2. Call on the Welsh Government to intervene formally and to ensure that the Ordnance Survey respects and protects historic Welsh names.
3. Call on the other Welsh Authorities to follow this proposal.
This is not just a matter of maps. It is a matter of identity, respect and cultural justice.
(B) Submitted – the following notice of motion by the Council Leader under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, and it was seconded. No observations were received.
RESOLVED to adopt the motion, namely:-
The Council marks the murder of Member of Parliament, Jo Cox on 16/06/2016, ten years ago this year. (David Amess MP was also murdered on 15/10/2021).
In a world that is increasingly violent and aggressive, it is sad that elected members, of all parties and at all levels of government, are increasingly exposed to insults and abuse. Recent research shows that 72% of Councillors have experienced some form of threat – whether verbal or worse – in the last 12 months.
This Council believes that threatening or violent behaviour has no place in politics. Cyngor Gwynedd Councillors are committed to modelling the highest standards of respect and courtesy when dealing with each other and with the public, and we want the same respect to be shown towards us.
We call on members of this Council and members of Community and Town Councils throughout Gwynedd to support the One Voice Wales, NALC and SLCC "Pledge of Respect and Courtesy" campaign.
RESOLVED
1. To publish the Gwynedd Visitor Levy Proposal Report.
2. To agree to hold a consultation on the Proposal to introduce a Levy in accordance with the list of consultees in paragraphs 5.4 and 5.5 of this report.
3. To inform the Welsh Revenue Authority, in accordance with the statute, of the intention to consult on the introduction of a Levy in Gwynedd.
Decided: The meeting unanimously appointed the Cabinet: Councillor S. Thomas (Leader, Corporate Resources), Councillor T. Smith (Deputy Leader, Neighbourhood & Environment Services), Councillor J. C. Morgan (Economy & Place), Councillor J. Gardner (Adults & Communities) and Councillor S. Edmunds (Children, Young People & Families).
Decided: The meeting unanimously appointed chairs and vice-chairs of four scrutiny committees (scrutiny means councillors checking and challenging the Cabinet's work). Adults, Communities & Wellbeing: Chair H. Trollope, Vice-Chair E. Jones. Economic Development & Environmental Management: Chair J. Thomas, Vice-Chair L. Winnett. Children, Young People & Families: Chair W. Hodgins, Vice-Chair D. Bevan. Corporate Governance & Resources: Chair J. Wilkins, Vice-Chair D. Woods. Nine members were appointed to each committee. Two church places on the Children, Young People & Families committee remain vacant.
Decided: The meeting appointed chairs, vice-chairs and members of the standing committees (standing committees are permanent committees that handle regular business). Councillor L. Winnett was appointed Chair of the Planning Committee and both licensing committees, with Councillor P. Baldwin as Vice-Chair. Councillor J. Hill chairs the Democratic Services Committee. The chair of the Governance & Audit Committee is still to be confirmed. Councillor J. Thomas chairs the Investigating & Disciplinary Committee.
Decided: The meeting appointed councillors to special and ad hoc bodies (ad hoc means set up for a particular purpose). These include the Gwent Public Service Board, where the Leader sits, and its scrutiny committee, where Councillors E. Jones and J. Thomas sit. Smith, a 14-member Grants Working Group, the Tredegar Advisory Board chaired by Councillor M. Cross, a Council Tax Premium Appeals Panel, and Member Champions for topics such as equalities, climate and digital.
Decided: The meeting appointed councillors to outside bodies. These include the South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee (the Leader, with the Cabinet Member for Economy & Place as substitute), the Welsh Local Government Association (the Leader, with the Deputy Leader as substitute on the Council and Voting body), the Gwent Police and Crime Panel (Councillors M. Day and D. Rowberry), and the Tai Calon Board (Councillors E. Jones and J. Morgan, J.P.). Scrutiny chairs and Cabinet members were named to many other bodies. The minute also lists the Council's local authority representatives on school governing bodies.
Decided: The meeting approved the annual cycle of meetings for 2026/2027. It also approved how urgent business will be handled during the August recess (a break with no ordinary meetings). From 1 to 31 August 2026, the Leader and Deputy Leader, with appropriate Cabinet Members and officers, will deal with urgent items. A special Cabinet meeting may be called at short notice, and the call-in procedure (where councillors can ask for a decision to be reviewed before it takes effect) will apply. Decisions will be limited to urgent matters and listed for the next ordinary Council meeting. No controversial or sensitive matters will be dealt with in August. An amendment to keep Council meetings on Thursdays, rather than Wednesdays as the proposed cycle showed, was not carried, by 18 votes to 10, with one abstention.
Decided: The meeting endorsed the appointment in principle, made by the Advisory Panel for Local Authority Governors on 14 April 2026, of Councillor Gareth A. Davies as governor at Willowtown Primary School. The minute also notes that the Housing and Homelessness Strategy Working Group has been disbanded.
Decided: The meeting approved the setting up of a Joint Appointments Committee (JAC) and a change to the Disciplinary Policy that removes elected members from employment appeal panels.
Decided: Members reaffirmed their earlier view that they are minded to grant temporary conditional planning permission for five years. They authorised the Development and Building Control Manager to issue the decision under delegated powers.
Decided: The committee reversed its March decision. It is now minded to grant conditional planning permission and has authorised the Development and Building Control Manager to determine the application under delegated powers. A proposal to re-endorse the refusal was not seconded.
Decided: The application was deferred, so the committee made no decision on it. Members said residents needed more time to review the latest amendments.
Decided: The committee was minded to grant conditional planning permission. It authorised the Development and Building Control Manager to determine the application under delegated powers.
Decided: Members were minded to grant conditional listed building consent. If it does not call it in, the Development and Building Control Manager may issue the decision under delegation.
Decided: The committee was minded to refuse planning permission. It authorised the Development and Building Control Manager to determine the application under delegated powers.
Decided: The committee was minded to refuse advertisement consent. It authorised the Development and Building Control Manager to determine the application under delegated powers.
Wrexham, Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee,
Decided: The committee noted that the Executive Board approved the Highway Inspection Policy and Winter Maintenance Policy on 12 May 2026 without amendment.
Wrexham, Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee,
Decided: The committee supported a camera car for parking enforcement, where it applies. It recommended that resource savings from the camera car be used for environmental enforcement and dog fouling.
Decided: The committee noted the report on weed control and the Open Spaces Strategy. It asked for an update report on weed control later in the season.
Wrexham, Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee,