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Plaid leader outlines vision

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Screen Shot 2016-02-23 at 10.48.45PLAID CYMRU Leader Leanne Wood AM has this evening (Monday) outlined her party’s plans for reviving Wales’ democracy and delivering an open and accountable Plaid Cymru government if elected in May.

Speaking at an Electoral Reform Society event in Aberystwyth University, Leanne Wood detailed how a Plaid Cymru government, within its first hundred days, would consult on the most significant democratic renewal Wales has seen since devolution, including the introduction of a new Welsh Representation of the People’s Act.

She added that a Plaid Cymru government would also extend the franchise so that 16 and 17 year olds have a right to vote, as well as establishing a Youth Parliament for Wales.

Criticising the current Labour Welsh Government’s “bunker mentality”, Leanne Wood said that a Plaid Cymru government “will open up the corridors of power to scrutiny and to discussion”, ensuring Wales’ status as a vibrant and youthful democracy.

Speaking this evening, Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood said: “Within the first one hundred days of a Plaid Cymru government we will consult on the most significant democratic renewal our country has seen since devolution and that will form the basis of our bill that will eventually become the Welsh Representation of the Peoples Act.

“As part of Plaid Cymru’s proposals for a New Welsh Representation of the People’s Act, we will seek to extend the franchise so that sixteen and seventeen year olds have a right to vote at all elections within the competence of the National Assembly for Wales.

“We believe that fostering democratic engagement at a young age should be promoted through the establishment of a National Youth Parliament. The National Youth Parliament we propose will input directly to our national life and our national government.

“We will also consult on digitalising Welsh democracy – learning from countries such as Estonia and trialling digital voting. Digital voting is not new in that country and there is much we can learn in terms of cyber security and election. For too long, engagement in and an awareness of Welsh political developments has been hampered due to the lack of a widely consumed Welsh media.

“It means we must take every possible step to widen access to our National Assembly and its work. Plaid Cymru will consult on the introduction of a new petitioning mechanism.

“The work of the Assembly’s petitions committee has been valuable and we want to build upon it. We will seek to create a mechanism to whereby a petition that gathers ten thousand signatures or more would automatically be debated in the National Assembly for Wales.

“I want people in Wales to have a clear sense of the nature of a Plaid Cymru government. A sense of how we will open up the corridors of power to scrutiny and to discussion.

“The steps I will instigate from the office of the First Minister will begin with publishing all ministerial decisions and holding public cabinet meetings across the nation. I have often spoken of my aim to deliver a devolution dividend for all Wales, economically, socially and politically. Ensuring access to the nation’s cabinet in all parts of the nation is central in all parts of the nation is central to this aim.

“We have endured the best part of two decades of a Labour bunker mentality government. Burying itself away from public view as best it can for fear of attracting scrutiny.

“The government I lead will be different. We will be open. We will be accessible. We will be answerable. We will do our best to make Wales the best it can be. We will doubtless get things wrong along the way. But we will not shy away from scrutiny or accountability.

“That kind of government, coupled with a renewed democracy that can be facilitated by our new Welsh Representation of the People’s Act, will be firm foundations for an old nation to emerge as a vibrant, youthful democracy.”

Steve Brooks, Director of Electoral Reform Society Cymru added:

“Electoral Reform Society Cymru are looking forward to raising the issues around our still developing democracy in Wales in the coming election campaign. We look forward to hearing from parties from across the political spectrum about their vision and ambitions for democracy in Wales. We also look forward to holding their feet to the fire to ensure all voices in Wales are heard, and that we have a National Assembly that represents and delivers for the people of Wales.

“Democracy is about more than just winning seats, or putting an X in the box in the election in May. It is about how we represent the diversity of Welsh communities properly, and how we ensure that the decisions of those in power are made accountable to ensure that we have the best possible policies to deliver for people in Wales. We look forward to ensuring that this remains a central part of all parties’ vision for the next Assembly term.”

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Key questions ‘remain unanswered’ as Welsh Government introduces Environment Bill

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THE CHARTERED Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has welcomed the introduction of The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill but say that key questions remain unanswered regarding vital elements of how the Bill is to be implemented.

On Monday, the Minister for Climate Change, Julie James MS, tabled the Bill in the Senedd with the Bill being debated yesterday.

CIEH were an important stakeholder in helping shape and influence the Bill via its partnership with Healthy Air Cymru, and sat on regular Cross-Party Group meetings on the Clean Air Bill Cymru, as it was previously known. CIEH had already raised concerns about various sources of emissions of PM2.5, the possibility of introducing regulations on domestic wood burners in urban environments, as well as highlighting the role noise has to play in the wider public health debate around air quality.

It is promising that the Welsh Government have taken steps to reflect CIEH’s input with the last-minute decision to broaden the Bill by renaming it to include ‘soundscapes’ within its focus. CIEH has welcomed the commitment from the Welsh Government to publish a soundscape strategy and is urging the Welsh Government to continue its engagement with CIEH and environmental health professionals across the nation.

However, key questions remain as to how the Bill will operate in practice.

For example, CIEH are asking why the Welsh Government have missed a golden opportunity to set national targets for PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide in line with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines.

Furthermore, CIEH have sought clarification on intentions to bring national and local authority air quality monitoring regimes together, as the current system of air quality review is disjointed and not fit for purpose.

Finally, the Bill says nothing on introducing regulations on domestic wood burners in urban areas where there are on-grid alternative heat sources. CIEH has asked why the Welsh Government have not considered introducing regulations that would tackle one of the primary sources of PM2.5 emissions which are so deleterious to public health.

Ross Matthewman, Head of Policy and Campaigns at CIEH, said: “The Welsh Government have missed a golden opportunity to introduce ambitious, robust environmental protection targets with this Bill.

There was an opportunity to lay down a marker by introducing robust targets for both PM2.5 and NO2 in line with WHO guidelines, yet what has emerged has been rather underwhelming.

However, we welcome the decision by the Welsh Government to publish a soundscape strategy. Such a move acknowledges the role that soundscapes play in the wider air quality discussion, and we hope the Welsh Government engages with CIEH and our members with regards to producing this strategy when the time comes.”

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Hundleton: Less houses means £9k community payment reduction

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A CALL to reduce the amount of community payments connected to the development of a Pembrokeshire housing estate by more than £9,000 was given the thumbs-up by county planners.

The request to reduce payments made in connection with a Section 106 community payments agreement was made after the developer built less homes than previously planned.

The Section 106 agreement required financial contributions to secondary education provision, public open space, transportation and affordable housing, in relation to the building of 32 dwellings at the Bowett Close site in Hundleton.

Members of the March meeting of the county council’s planning committee heard 29 homes had been built by applicants WH & NL Developments, with a recommendation the commuted sum – relating to an initial 2014 planning application and a later 2021 application for a lower number of homes – be reduced to reflect the lower number.

The 2021 application had sought to regularise changes to the earlier scheme, reducing the number of properties on-site.

A report for planners said the applicant sought to reduce financial contributions proportionately, seeking an affordable housing contribution drop of £7,631.25 to £73,768.75, a drop in the highways contribution of £562.50 to £5,437.50; a secondary education contribution reduction of £1,054.17 to £10,190.31 and a public open space contribution reduction of £685.68 to £6,628.24, which would lead to a total reduction of £9,933.60.

The report said the reductions in all but the highways aspect could be supported.

“With regard to the highways contribution of £6,000, this figure was required in connection with the impact the housing development would have on local highways infrastructure.

“A reduction in the number of dwellings would not significantly reduce the impact of the development on local highways infrastructure as a development of 29 dwellings still requires a basic level of infrastructure such as footway links.”

Members of the committee supported the recommendation to lower the contribution, with the total reduction amounting to £9,371.10.

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No affordable housing contribution for holiday lets at Fishguard restaurant

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A NEW restaurant on the site of a disused former garage site in Fishguard’s Lower Town will avoid paying a £15,000 affordable housing contribution if its three associated apartments stay as holiday lets.

The application in the town’s conservation area, submitted by Orwell Pine Co Ltd, for the restaurant/café and three apartments was recommended for conditional approval, subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement, and conditions including the implementation of flood mitigation measures.

A report for members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s March 14 planning committee said: “The application submission proposes residential apartments for the open market.

“The applicant has advised that this is in order to obtain development funding on the wider lending market. However, the intention is for the three apartments to be used as holiday let accommodation.

“Accordingly, the applicant is of the view that a financial contribution towards affordable housing should not be required of the development and requests that it be recognised that the proposal, inclusive of the [business] use, represents a large investment to support local employment, bringing a continued inward investment to the visitor economy, whilst enhancing the conservation area.”

In the absence of an assessment providing evidence that it would be unviable for the development to proceed, policy normally requires a 10 per cent contribution to affordable housing.

This would amount to £15,262.50 for the three properties.

Fishguard & Goodwick Town Council support the application, subject to the prevention of new developments being used at any time as holiday lets.

The report for planners states: “Given the intention is for the units to be occupied as holiday lets it is considered reasonable that a recommendation of approval be subject to a Section 106 agreement, only triggering the required affordable housing contribution should the units be occupied as residential (Use Class C3), there being a permitted development right for properties to move between the C3, C5 and C6 use classes.”

At the March planning meeting, agent Rob Howell said the application offered “an exciting opportunity to bring more to Fishguard and Lower Town,” adding it would bring “year-round employment for local people as well as additional seasonal employment.”

Committee Vice-Chair Cllr Jordan Ryan, who moved the recommendation, said it was a “currently unused site that doesn’t look very nice”.

The application was supported by committee members.

Speaking after the meeting, a spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “A contribution towards local needs affordable housing will only be required of the development if it is occupied as a sole or main residence.

“If once constructed the apartments are occupied as holiday lets then a contribution is not required.”

“It is permitted to change the use of a residential unit between a sole or main residence (Use Class C3) and a holiday let (Use Class C6) without the need to submit a planning application.

“Following construction of the development, should the apartments first be occupied as holiday lets and then later be used as a sole or main residence this change in use would trigger the requirement to contribute towards affordable housing.”

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