NEWYDDION Gwynedd Council News Spring 2014 Issue 44 www.gwynedd.gov.uk 01766 771000 @cyngorgwynedd cyngorgwyneddcouncil In this edition… l Outdoor opportunities for local people - Page 3 l Gwynedd’s food banks provide a life line - Page 6 l Bedroom Tax - support and n Pupils from Ysgol Bro Tegid welcome Mistar Urdd to Gwynedd advice - Page 12 Mistar Urdd is coming to Meirionnydd If you would like Newyddion Gwynedd as an mp3 or in another In a few week’s time, Meirionnydd cerdd dant to disco dancing – and involved in the huge variety of cultural, language or format, please phone will become the home of Europe’s around 100,000 people will visit the sporting and social activities the Urdd 01766 771000. largest youth festival when the Urdd Eisteddfod Maes. offers.” National Eisteddfod settles on the shores of Llyn Tegid in Bala. “Thanks to initiatives like the Gwynedd Looking forward to the big week, Urdd Newyddion Gwynedd Language Charter, Gwynedd Council National Executive Chairman, Hedd is produced on 100% The Eisteddfod – which takes leads the way in Wales in ensuring Pugh added: recycled paper. When place between Monday, 26 May that all our young people can enjoy the you’ve finished reading and Saturday 31 May – will be an cultural and economic benefits of being “The Eisteddfod will be the pinnacle of this newspaper please recycle it. opportunity to enjoy our unique Welsh bilingual,” said Councillor Ioan Thomas two years of hard work for local people culture at its very best and to celebrate who leads on the Welsh language for of all ages. Everything is now almost the fact that the Welsh language is Gwynedd Council. in place, so our message to the people thriving here in Gwynedd. of Gwynedd is simple - come and see A glossary of key words used on the “The Urdd Eisteddfod’s visit to us in Bala. A warm welcome awaits all, Welsh side of this paper can be found Over the course of the week, around Meirionnydd will boost these efforts from seasoned Eisteddfod-goers to at www.gwynedd.gov.uk/news If you 15,000 young people will take part in and will encourage even more of first time visitors.” are reading Newyddion online, the various competitions – from Gwynedd’s young people to get you can get quick translations of key words (highlighted in yellow) Turn to page 5 to find out more about the 2014 Meirionnydd Urdd Eisteddfod by clicking on the word itself. £50 million funding gap will require careful planning In 2014/15, Gwynedd Council challenge to limit the impact on will have to contend with an local services and the tax payer unprecedented 4.4% cut in whilst continuing to work to deliver The financial year ahead the grant it receives from the the best possible services for local Government towards the cost people,” said Gwynedd Council’s For 2014/15, Gwynedd Council has set individual Council services. of local services. This cut is Resources Cabinet Member, a budget of £232 million. This means much larger than anything Councillor Peredur Jenkins. that, on average, £1,898 will be spent “Without a doubt, the 2014/15 budget is seen since local government by the Council during the year on local the tightest since Gwynedd Council was reorganisation in 1996. “By planning for the long run, we services for every man, woman and formed. Despite this, it is unfortunately a have been able to hold off from child living in the county. fact that things are likely to get significantly In addition, despite a firm focus on making the more knee-jerk service more challenging over the next few years,” financial planning, it is estimated cuts that many other councils are Of this sum, £175 million will come from said Councillor Jenkins. that Gwynedd Council will face now having to deliver. This has the Government in the form of a grant, a shortfall of around £50 million allowed us to buy ourselves a £1.8 million from Council balances and “Unfortunately extremely difficult decisions between now and 2017/18 in further 12 months in which to plan £55.2 million from Council Tax which will lie ahead that will have far reaching the amount of money it needs ahead for a future where we will increase by 3.9% or 70 pence a week for implications for local services in Gwynedd. to support local services at their have far less money to spend on the average Gwynedd household. Residents can be assured however that present level compared with our local services.” our approach will continue to be based on the amount of money actually In order to limit the impact on Council Tax careful forward planning to keep the impact available. “Our priority now will be to make payers, the budget agreed by Gwynedd on key services to the bare minimum.” councillors for the year ahead will be the best use of this extra time to To find out how your council tax “The scale of the financial seek the views of the people of £10 million less than the sum needed to maintain services at their current level. money is invested in local services, squeeze currently facing us is truly Gwynedd on how we can best This sum will need to be found from within turn to pages 7-11 enormous, and we face a daunting plug the gap.” Spring 2014 NEWYDDION Long term planning pays off Message from In recent months Gwynedd Council has Government has ranked Gwynedd second best received glowing endorsements from two of all 22 Welsh Councils. The Local Authority independent authorities for the way things Services Performance Report measures the the leader are being run despite the difficult financial performance of all the Welsh councils across key climate. services. There is a close link between two key issues that we as a Both the Auditor General for Wales and the This is the second year on the trot for Gwynedd Council have been discussing Welsh Government have given the Council top to come in the top two of Welsh Council in this recently - our campaign to marks. comprehensive study and the report shows that attract S4C to Gwynedd and we outperformed the Welsh national average in a policy to raise the wages of In a report on local government finance by the 60% of services assessed. 2,000 of the Council’s lowest Auditor General for Wales, the Council has been paid workers. Although the praised for its strong financial leadership and Council Leader, Councillor Dyfed Edwards, link might not be immediately effectively planning for the future. said: “When the first effects of the UK economic apparent, the truth is that crisis started to be felt, Gwynedd was one of the both are part of our ambition In the report, the Auditor General said: “This first Councils in Wales to develop a long term to create a fairer county with approach has avoided the need for rash financial strategy which allowed us to prepare quality jobs, whilst trying to decisions and service cuts to balance the for the inevitable cuts in government public close the gap between those on high salaries and budget, and has allowed the Council to introduce spending. the lower paid workforce. service efficiencies in a planned and structured way over a period of time.” “This long-term planning, coupled with the hard The biggest challenge facing us as a county is to create work and vision of our staff and members, is a thriving and balanced economy in order to ensure In a separate assessment, the Welsh reflected in these positive reports.” exciting careers for the people of Gwynedd, especially our young people. This more than anything else is what can lead to a vibrant and exciting Gwynedd, which in turn will create sustainable Welsh communities. assistants, cleaners and school lunchtime Support for lowest paid supervisors. If S4C were to move part of its headquarters to Gwynedd, it would mean around 50 new jobs and Some of this year’s Council Tax increase will Gwynedd Council Leader, Councillor Dyfed a multi million pound investment to the Caernarfon be used to help some of the Council’s lowest Edwards said: “As is the case for a growing area, as well as the opportunity to attract more jobs in the future. Indeed, the creative industries are one of paid workers. number of councils across the country, we believe Gwynedd’s major strengths, and it is also a sector that that Gwynedd’s lowest paid Council workers the Welsh Government has recognised as having a key The majority of the 2,000 or so set to benefit deserve a fair wage. This decision is a first step role to play in the growth of the Welsh economy. are women in part-time jobs such as kitchen towards addressing this important matter.” Any successful economy plays to its strengths, harnesses its natural talents and builds on its inherent skills. For a national Welsh institution to locate its headquarters in the heart of north west Wales, however, What’s on in your area this spring? would be of even greater significance. Such a decision by the S4C Authority would send a clear message MARCH 20: Easter Sunday Victorian Fair and Market that Wales is one nation and that quality jobs can be Y Maes, Caernarfon sustained in all parts of the nation – including those 27-30: The Sci-fi Weekender 20: Triathlon Pwllheli; www.plasheli.org areas that have been considered as ‘marginal’ in the Hafan y Môr Holiday Park, Pwllheli; past. www.scifiweekender.com 21: Tywyn Fair, Tywyn.