Agenda item

Notice of Motion pursuant to Rule 4.1.13.1 of the Constitution

To receive the following Notice of Motion by Councillor Robert Llewelyn Jones:-

 

“Our Council is honour bound by the Dublin Declaration on Age Friendly Cities and Communities in Europe 2013 to promote general public awareness of older people in the community and to ensure their concerns are acted upon and given an opportunity to be listened to.  Ynys Mon has one of the largest elderly communities In Wales and their contributions to the economy of Ynys Mon is very important.

 

We have an Older People’s Forum on Ynys Mon and they have never been given a presentation by the Economic or Planning Department on large developments such as Wylfa, Penrhos Woods, the large Marina development in Holyhead or the Ty Mawr development in Llanfair PG.  

 

I am asking for this to be made mandatory and for a presentation to be made on each and every large development that ensures their voice can be heard when open spaces and possible environmental destruction is to take place.  

 

Open spaces and walks in our towns and countryside are so important to all of us but especially so to the elderly and the disabled residents”.

Minutes:

Submitted – the following Notice of Motion by Councillor Robert Ll Jones:-

 

‘Our Council is honour bound to by the Dublin Declaration of Age Friendly Cities and Communities in Europe 2013 to promote general public awareness of older people in the community and to ensure their concerns are acted upon and given an opportunity to be listened to.  Ynys Môn has one of the largest elderly communities in Wales and their contributions to the economy of Ynys Môn is very important.

 

We have an Older People’s Forum on Ynys Môn and they have never been given a presentation by the Economic or Planning Departments on large developments such as Wylfa, Penrhos Woods, the large Marina development in Holyhead or the Ty Mawr development in Llanfair PG.

 

I am asking for this to be made mandatory and for a presentation to be made on each and every large development that ensures their voice can be heard when open spaces and possible environmental destruction is to take place.

 

Open spaces and walks in our towns and countryside are so important to all of us but especially so to the elderly and the disabled residents’.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Planning responded that the Well-being of Future Generations Act places a duty on public bodies to carry out sustainable development that improves the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. The planning system contributes by discharging its duties with regard to the ‘five ways of working’ contained in the Act. These require consideration of: involvement; collaboration; integration; prevention; and long term factors. These considerations are an intrinsic part of the planning system and engagement, involvement and consultation with all members of the community is a key and central component of planning practice and procedure. Both, at the strategic level when formulating planning policy and the local level when determining individual planning applications, whatever their scale. This ensures that no particular group or members of society are either favoured or discriminated against so that new development creates cohesive, equitable and resilient communities that meet the needs of all, whatever their age.

 

Statutory requirements for publicity and consultation on planning matters are made by the Welsh Government and the Local Planning Authority has no powers to mandate otherwise. Considerable time, effort and resources are already made to not only meet, but exceed these minimum statutory requirements. Notwithstanding the above, there is no evidence to suggest that the elderly are in any way disenfranchised by current arrangements, indeed it could be argued that specifically focusing on one group of society could be seen as favouritism at the expense of others.  There are also practical difficulties in defining what would constitute a ‘large development’ across the diverse and varying communities on Anglesey e.g. a ‘small development’ in one of the main towns could be construed as a ‘large development’ by the islands smaller communities. This inevitably leads to concerns around consistency and fairness.  The Portfolio Holder for Planning said that he could not support the proposal. 

 

Councillor R Ll Jones referred to correspondence he had received from the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales’ Ageing Well Lead which requested that the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive meets with the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales to discuss the age friendly approach as she is aware of the preventative focus the Council is working towards. He said that his Notice of Motion is to highlight the needs of the elderly population of the Island and to demonstrate to other local authorities the determination of the Council to strengthen legislation on the Dublin Declaration to ensure that every planning decision that affect the environment is age friendly and that the elderly are consulted and listened to. 

 

The Leader of the Council responded that she meets with the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales on a regular basis and she noted that every person on the Island can respond to services afforded by the Council. 

 

In the ensuing vote it was RESOLVED that the motion be not carried.