Agenda and minutes

As noted above.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

No declaration of interest received.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the following meeting :-

·           Minutes of the meeting held on 12 May, 2016

·           Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 13 May, 2016

The minutes of the following meetings were confirmed :-

·        Minutes of the meeting held on 12 May, 2016

·        Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 13 May, 2016

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Housing Services in relation to the above.

The Portfolio Holder (Housing & Social Services) stated that three sites were considered :-

Site 1 - Strip of land between the A55/A5 between Llanfairpwll and Star Crossroads;

Site 2 - Parcel of land at Gaerwen smallholding;

Site 3 - Land adjacent to the A5 near Cymunod Farm, Bryngwran.

He noted that following extensive consultation it was considered that the site identified in Bryngwran was unsuitable due to issues raised by the Highways Authority regarding the access to the site not meeting the minimum visibility safety requirements. Sites 1 and 2 remained for consideration as temporary stopping places for gypsies and travellers.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation)

reported that in the period of consultation there have been Drop-In events and meetings with the Community Councils for the locations where sites could be situated.Questionnaires were completed online and correspondence received from numerous residents and businesses. Responses from public sector consultees were also received which were included with the report to this Committee.

The Officer stated that there are factors in favour and against the sites at Gaerwen and Star. Gaerwen smallholding is currently in the ownership of the County Council and access via the A55 would not impinge on local villages, however the proximity to the Science Park needs to be considered. The Gwynedd Archaeological Planning Service have noted a Major Restraint; this does not rule out this site since staged archaeological investigations, combined with careful consideration during the design of the site, could address these concerns. There are fewer economic development and technical concerns about the site at Star, however there would be additional costs due to the need to purchase two separate pieces of land to establish a site.

The Chair afforded Mr. Mark Inwood who is a resident and was representing the residents of Star, Gaerwen the opportunity to address the meeting. Mr. Inwood stated that a lot of work and effort has been made in understanding the policies with regard to how the Council has approach a decision with regard to the site in Star. He stated that presently the residents of Star are unable to accept the policies used by the authority; there is no reference as to whether the site is within a Landscape Conservation Area. The residents have numerous issues regarding the assessment process, one key concerns is that no risk assessment has been made on the site in Star; it is Mr. Inwood’s view that it is a legal requirement that such an assessment is made. Mr. Inwood further stated that recent correspondence between him and Council officials was not afforded to members of the Committee until 24 hours before the meeting; therefore the residents of Star have lost trust in the authority’s processes with regard to the traveller’s site in Star and have no option but

to trigger the complaints process with the Local Government Ombudsman. The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Hed of Housing Services.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Housing Services in relation to the above.

The Portfolio Holder (Housing & Social Services) stated that extensive public consultation was undertaken by the Council with regard to two identified sites at Tyddyn Lantern Farm, Holyhead and Former farm off Cyttir Road, Holyhead.  He noted that following the consultation it is considered that both sites are unsuitable to proceed as sites for the allocation of temporary stopping place for gypsies and travellers within the Joint Local Development Plan. 

The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) reported that a recorded pattern has emerged with Irish Travellers travelling to and from Ireland and stopping at various locations near the port in Holyhead for short period of time i.e. 1 to 2 days.  This established a need for a temporary stopping site in Holyhead to be included within the Joint Local Development Plan.  The consultation response had clearly shown that the two sites included in the consultation were not appropriate, for the reasons outlined in the report.  However, the consultation process had proved valuable in that it had provided Officers with further information about the travel patterns to and from the Port.  It was further stated that negotiations need to be undertaken with large companies who intend to develop in Holyhead with regard to land been made available for a temporary stopping place for gypsies and travelers in the Holyhead vicinity.

The Officer further reported that a short-term solution needs to be considered by placing bins to reduce domestic waste and fly-tipping in locations where travellers establish  unauthorised encampments in locations in Holyhead.

It was RESOLVED to recommend to the Executive that it approves all the recommendations contained in the report.

ACTION : As noted above.

To submit a report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Services Improvement) in relation to the above.

Submitted – the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Services Improvement) in relation to the above.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Services Improvement) gave a background to the Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011 with regard to the Welsh Language Strategy.  It was reported that the Strategy outlines the proposed approach towards promoting the Welsh Language and facilitating its wider use within the area and targets the increase/maintaining the number of Welsh speakers by the end of the 2021.  The Anglesey Strategic Language Forum membership of which was included within the report, has been established to identify priorities and formulating the Welsh Language Strategy.  It is intended to create an action plan for the second year before the end of the Strategy’s first year.  It will be the responsibility of the Strategic Language Forum to monitor progress against set targets.  The Assistant Chief Executive stated that the 2011 Census showed a decrease in Welsh speakers on the Island and the Council’s vision is to increase the number of Welsh speakers to at least 60.1% by the 2021 Census. 

It was further stated that there is a proposal to offer ‘welcome packs’ to newcomers to the Island explaining the language and culture of Wales.  The Chair wished it to be recorded the success of the Welsh Football Team during the European Championship recently and how Wales has been given an enhance profile of the culture and its language.

The Policy and Strategy Manager reported that the Anglesey Language Forum has agreed to focus on three themes :-

·           Children, Young People and the Family

Aim :

• An increase in the number of families where Welsh is used as the main language with children, with an increase in the opportunities and support for it to be used socially;
• Ensuring that all children have the right to be fully bilingual by the age of 16;
• Increasing the capacity and the use of Welsh as a medium of communication and learning among children and young people in education and in social activities.

·           The Workforce, Welsh Language Services, the Infrastructure

Aim :

• To promote and increase the availability of Welsh language services, increase opportunities/expectations to use Welsh in the workplace and work together to identify opportunities to mainstream the language into developments and activities.

The Officer reported that whilst the Authority aims to increase the development of the Welsh language within the workplace it is hoped to increase the profile of the Welsh language within the Town/Community Councils on Anglesey. The Strategic Plan has identified that a Welsh Language Champion is needed within the Town/Community Councils. 

·           The Community

Aim :

• Promoting and marketing the value and importance of Welsh;
• Promote and identify opportunities to strengthen the Welsh language within the communities and identify gaps in provision.

The Officer reported that it is important that the Strategic Plan conforms with policies within the Local Development Plan to have an adequate number of housing for local residents so as to increase the linguistic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive a presentation by the Centre of Public Scrutiny in relation to the above.

The Committee adjourned into a workshop to receive a presentation by Ms. Rebecca David-Knight, Principal Consultant – Wales Centre for Public Scrutiny.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer in relation to the above.

Submitted - the report of the Scrutiny Officer on the Committee’s Work Programme

to April 2017.

A Member stated that he considered that the Scrutiny Committee should be afforded a presentation by the major developers who intend to develop on the Island with regard to employment possibilities, community benefit and promote the Welsh Language.  The Scrutiny Officer responded that he considered that any presentation by major developers should be afforded at the monthly Members briefing sessions and any specific topic raised at the briefing meetings be thereafter included on the Committees Work Programme.

RESOLVED to note the Work Programme to April 2017.

ACTION :  As noted above.