QUESTIONS
To consider any
questions the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.19
of the Constitution.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
(The Cabinet Members' written response to the questions had been
distributed to the members in advance).
(1) Question
by Councillor Nia Jeffreys
"What steps does Gwynedd Council take to
enforce developers who own land or buildings in Gwynedd to look after their
sites and keep them tidy and safe?"
Response from the Cabinet Member for the
Environment, Councillor Dafydd Meurig
"The Council does have some equipment in
the toolkit for things like this but, obviously, if we're talking about private
land, this would be the owner's responsibility in the long run, but there are
some specific tools. There are public
protection powers in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 should anything pose
a hazard to health and to be able to do something about it, to enforce. Also, there are powers under Section 215 of
the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
There are enforcement powers if somewhere is very untidy, but I assume
that what's probably behind this is the fact that the Member has been concerned
about the untidiness of the Colosseum site in Porthmadog and I think, although
this is private land, there has been some movement there and things have now
been resolved."
A supplementary
question by Councillor Nia Jeffreys.
"What can the Council do about buildings,
e.g. the Old Mill building or the Seion Chapel building in my ward where local
people are concerned about the public's safety as these buildings attract
children and young people into them, and also is there something pro-active
that the Council can do with the site, e.g. Tŷ Moelwyn in Porthmadog, to
prevent the building from deteriorating to such a state in the first instance,
once the Revenue and Customs staff have vacated the building?"
Response from the
Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dafydd Meurig
"In terms of safety, ensuring the site's
safety is a specific matter for the landowner. The Council can use the
discretion of these powers to go after the owner if required, but I think, with
many similar matters, it is a matter of contacting the department and I to go
after things like this if they arise, but we will definitely do so if there's a
problem."
(2) Question from Councillor Sion Jones
"What's the Cabinet Member's opinion on the future of our County's
community and town councils?"
Response from the Leader of the Council,
Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn
"I'm not sure
how much my opinion matters, and I've had an opinion for many years as a member
of the Dolgellau Town Council. The answer is there and is legible. There were
talks at one point that the Government in Cardiff would place the
responsibility of reorganising community councils in the hands of county
councils and when I heard this, I was shocked, because I wouldn't wish for the
Council to have that responsibility, but then again there is an argument for
doing so."
A supplementary question by Councillor Sion
Jones
"Is it time for us as Gwynedd Council to ask for a radical change ... view the full minutes text for item 8
QUESTIONS
To consider any
questions the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.19
of the Constitution.