Councillors agreed to adopt the Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP). Councillors also agreed to progress the development of a grant scheme to support the installation of solar panels on homes in Gwynedd.

Replacement Local Development Plan

Councillors agreed to adopt the Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) for Gwynedd.

The RLDP is a document that sets out the Council's planning policies and proposals for the development and use of land in Gwynedd from 2023 to 2038.

Several councillors spoke in favour of the plan.

Councillor A said:

It’s not perfect but I do think it’s a very good plan and I’m happy to support it

The report considered by the Cabinet noted that the RLDP:

provides a strong platform on which to base decisions locally

It also noted:

adopting the RLDP will bring a number of benefits, including strengthening the Council’s ability to:

• Control the location and nature of development
• Protect and enhance the environment
• Meet local needs for housing, jobs and services.

Solar Panel Grant Scheme

Councillors agreed to establish a grant scheme, worth a total of £100,000, to support the installation of solar panels on homes in Gwynedd.

The report considered by the Cabinet stated that the scheme would be open to all Gwynedd residents, including Council tenants. The scheme is intended to:

provide financial assistance to homeowners to help with the costs.

The report noted that

the average domestic solar panel system in Gwynedd is estimated to cost in the region of £5,000 - £7,000.

The Council hopes the scheme will help to:

reduce energy poverty by generating their own electricity contribute to Gwynedd Council’s efforts to become carbon neutral by 2035

Disabled Facilities Grant Budget

Councillor B provided an update on the Council’s Disabled Facilities Grant budget.

The report provided to the meeting noted that there would be a funding gap in the budget in 2024-25. This means that the Council expects to need to spend more on Disabled Facilities Grants than it has received from the Welsh Government.

The report noted that this is a national problem and proposed that:

officers continue to lobby the Welsh Government for full funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant.

Councillor B said that she would be:

requesting an urgent meeting with the Minister

to discuss the funding issue.