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Gwynedd Council Cyngor Gwynedd
Leadership
Chair	Beca Roberts, Plaid Cymru since 9 May 2024
Leader	Dyfrig Siencyn, Plaid Cymru since 18 May 2017
Chief Executive	Dafydd Gibbard since 10 May 2021
Structure
Seats	69 councillors
Political groups	Administration   Plaid Cymru (46) Other parties (23)   Independent (21)   Labour (1)   Liberal Democrats (1)
Length of term	5 years
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
Last election	5 May 2022
Next election	6 May 2027
Meeting place
Council Offices, Shirehall Street, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH
Website
www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru

Gwynedd Council, which calls itself by its Welsh name Cyngor Gwynedd, is the governing body for the county of Gwynedd, one of the principal areas of Wales. The council administrates internally using the Welsh language.

History

The county of Gwynedd was created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of the abolished administrative counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, most of Merioneth, and a small part of Denbighshire. The new county created in 1974 was named "Gwynedd" after the medieval Kingdom of Gwynedd which had covered the area until its division into counties under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284, following the Conquest of Wales by Edward I.

From 1974 until 1996 Gwynedd County Council served the area as an upper-tier county council, with the county also being divided into five lower-tier districts: Aberconwy, Arfon, Dwyfor, Meirionnydd, and Ynys Môn-Isle of Anglesey.

Local government across Wales was reorganised again in 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, which replaced the previous two tier system of counties and districts with "principal areas" (each designated either a "county" or a "county borough"), whose councils perform the functions previously divided between the county and district councils. The pre-1996 county of Gwynedd was divided between three principal areas:

• Anglesey (Welsh: Sir Ynys Môn) (a county) covering the district of Ynys Môn-Isle of Anglesey.
• Conwy County Borough covering the Aberconwy district and the neighbouring Colwyn district from Clwyd.
• "Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire" (Welsh: Sir Gaernarfon a Meirionnydd) (a county) covering the Arfon, Dwyfor, and Meirionnydd districts.

During the transition to the new system, the shadow authority elected for the latter requested a change of name from "Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire" to "Gwynedd". The government confirmed the change with effect from 2 April 1996, one day after the new council came into being.

Since 1996, Gwynedd has therefore been a single-tier principal area, covering a smaller area than the pre-1996 county of the same name. Although the principal area is designated as a county, the council had styled itself as "Gwynedd Council" rather than "Gwynedd County Council", the latter having been the style used by the pre-1996 upper-tier authority. In October 2022, the council dropped its English name and would only use its Welsh name Cyngor Gwynedd.

Second home controversy

Controversy erupted in mid-winter 2001 when Seimon Glyn, Gwynedd Council's housing committee chairman and Plaid Cymru member, voiced frustration over "English immigrants" moving into traditionally Welsh speaking communities. Glyn was commenting on a report underscoring the dilemma of rocketing house prices outstripping what locals could pay, with the report warning that "...traditional Welsh communities could die out..." as a consequence.

In 2001 nearly a third of all purchases of properties in Gwynedd were by buyers from out of the county, with some communities reporting as many as a third of local homes used as holiday homes. Holiday home owners typically spend less than six months of the year in the local community.

The issue of locals being priced out of the local housing market is common to many rural communities throughout Britain, but in Wales the added dimension of language further complicates the issue, as many new residents do not learn the Welsh language.

Concerned for the Welsh language under these pressures, Glyn said "Once you have more than 50% of anybody living in a community that speaks a foreign language, then you lose your indigenous tongue almost immediately". His comments attracted strong criticism of Plaid Cymru from other national parties.

By spring 2002 both the Snowdonia National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) authorities began limiting second home ownership within the parks, following the example set by Exmoor. According to planners in Snowdonia and Pembroke applicants for new homes must demonstrate a proven local need or the applicant must have strong links with the area.

Trade embargo with Israel

In 2014, the council passed a motion which called for a trade embargo with Israel and was subsequently accused of Anti-Semitism by the organisation Jewish Human Rights Watch. Jewish Human Rights Watch won the right to a judicial review of council's decision, but their claim was dismissed by the High Court in June 2016.

Llais Gwynedd

In 2008, Llais Gwynedd or Voice of Gwynedd, a regionalist pressure group won several seats on Gwynedd Council. It demanded an end to cutbacks in rural areas threatening schools, a relaxation of planning controls, action to provide rural employment and calls for more to be done to protect Gwynedd's "unique cultural, linguistic and social fabric". The group was represented on the council between 2008 and the 2022 election, when it lost all its seats.

2024 leader resignation

Council leader, Dyfrig Siencyn, tendered his resignation on 16 October 2024, after initially refusing to apologise to the abuse victims of Gwynedd headteacher, Neil Foden. Siencyn later apologised for this, but four of his cabinet members resigned over the events. Siencyn's resignation as leader of the Plaid Cymru group and, consequently, the Council, was accepted at a meeting of the Plaid Cymru group a few days later.

Political control

The council has been under Plaid Cymru majority control since 2015.

The first election to the county council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. A shadow authority was again elected in 1995 ahead of the reforms which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:

Upper-tier county

Principal area

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1996 have been:

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was:

All 21 independent councillors sit together as a group. The Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors also form a group. The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since 2012, council elections have taken place every five years.

Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column.

A by-election for Diffwys and Maenofferen was held in July 2010 and Llais Gwynedd narrowly held the seat.

Further by-elections in the Bowydd a Rhiw, held in September 2010, and Seiont, held in October 2010, led to a Plaid Cymru gain from Llais Gwynedd and a Llais Gwynedd gain from Independent respectively.

A by-election for the vacant Arllechwedd ward was held in June 2011, resulting in a Plaid Cymru gain from the Liberal Democrats. The Glyder ward was also vacant at the same time, after the death of the Plaid Cymru councillor. Plaid Cymru held the seat in the by-election held in July 2011, allowing the party to gain full control of the council with 38 seats, one seat being vacant at the time.

By-elections held for the Diffwys a Maenofferen and Penrhyndeudraeth wards in September 2011 resulted in a gain for Plaid Cymru over Llais Gwynedd and a Plaid Cymru hold respectively. This ensured Plaid Cymru's control of the council, with no seat vacancies.

Premises

The council has its main offices at the Council Offices in Caernarfon. The complex lies either side of Shirehall Street within the town walls. On the western side of the street is the former Caernarvon Gaol, built in 1869 as the county prison for Caernarfonshire. After it closed as a prison in 1921 the building was converted to become offices for the old Caernarfonshire County Council, transferring to the new Gwynedd County Council in 1974. At the northern end of the former prison buildings is an extension built in 1984 comprising a council chamber and archway linking it back to the former prison building, with the council's coat of arms prominently displayed above the archway. The council chamber itself is now called Siambr Dafydd Orwig after Dafydd Orwig, an advocate of the Welsh language and bilingual education in Wales who was a long-standing member of the county council. He died in 1996 whilst serving as chairman of the council. Prior to the construction of the new council chamber in 1984, the council had met at County Hall.

On the opposite eastern side of Shirehall Street, extending through to Castle Street, is a modern office building built in the 1980s which houses many of the council's departments. The council also maintains area offices at the former Dwyfor District Council offices in Pwllheli and at Cae Penarlâg in Dolgellau, which had been built in 1953 for the old Merioneth County Council and subsequently served as the headquarters of Meirionnydd District Council until the 1996 reorganisation.

Electoral divisions, areas and committees

The council operates a decentralised system of administration, with three area committees:

• Arfon
• Dwyfor
• Meirionnydd

Electoral divisions

Between 2004 and 2022 the county borough was divided into 71 electoral wards returning 75 councillors.

Following a boundary review and The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021 the number of wards was reduced to 65, electing 69 councillors, taking effect from the 2022 elections. All wards now use the Welsh name as the official name in Welsh and English. Twenty-seven wards remained unchanged. There are a number of elected community councils. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '* ':

County wards 2022–

* = Communities which elect a community council

References

1. Spridgeon, Dale (13 May 2024). "Gwynedd Council elects youngest new chair in its history". Denbighshire Free Press. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
2. "Council minutes, 18 May 2017" (PDF). Gwynedd Council. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
3. Morris, Delyth (1 July 2010). Welsh in the Twenty-First Century. University of Wales Press. ISBN 9781783164110.
4. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 13 November 2022
5. "The Districts in Wales (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/34, retrieved 13 November 2022
6. "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 8 November 2022
7. "Hansard: Written Answers". UK Parliament. 2 April 1996. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
8. Spridgeon, Dale (18 October 2022). "Council to use Welsh name only in language drive - and others urged to do same". North Wales Live. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
9. "Plaid bids to defuse 'racism' row". 21 February 2001 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
10. "'Racist' remarks lost Plaid votes". 3 September 2001 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
11. ^ "Apology over 'insults' to English". 19 January 2001 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
12. "BBC News | Wales | Plaid calls for second home controls". news.bbc.co.uk.
13. "BBC News | SCOTLAND | Double tax for holiday home owners". news.bbc.co.uk.
14. "Controls on second homes reviewed". 5 September 2001 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
15. "Gwynedd considers holiday home curb". 9 April 2002 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
16. ^ "Plaid plan 'protects' rural areas". 19 June 2001 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
17. "Park to ban new holiday homes". 6 March 2002 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
18. "Anti-Semitic councils claim dismissed". 28 June 2016 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
19. Evans, Tomos (17 October 2024). "Gwynedd Council leader quits over paedophile headteacher row". Sky News. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
20. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
21. "Council minutes". Gwynedd Council. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
22. Evans, Liam; Deans, David (17 October 2024). "Council leader quits in sex abuse head apology row". BBC News. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
23. "Gwynedd". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
24. "Your councillors by party". Gwynedd Council. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
25. Mosalski, Ruth (24 September 2019). "The date of the next council elections in Wales has moved". Wales Online. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
26. "The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Changes) Order 2002", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2002/3274, retrieved 13 November 2022
27. "The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2021/1223, retrieved 13 November 2022
28. "Arllechwedd By-election: 16 June 2011". Gwynedd Council. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
29. "Plaid candidate in narrow Glyder by-election victory". Bangor and Anglesey Mail. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
30. Bodden, Tom (1 October 2011). "By-election wins hand Plaid Cymru overall control in Gwynedd". Daily Post. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
31. "Picture Focus". North Wales Weekly News. Conwy. 29 November 1984. p. 20. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
32. Rees, Ben (21 November 1996). "Obituary: Dafydd Orwig". The Independent. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
33. "Contact us: Siopau Gwynedd". Gwynedd Council. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
34. "The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Changes) Order 2002 - Schedule". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 6 December 2002. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
35. "The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
36. ^ Wyn-Williams, Gareth (30 September 2021). "Gwynedd to lose six councillors in boundary shake-up with wards reduced from 71 to 65". North Wales Live. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
37. ^ "The County of Gwynedd (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021 - Schedule". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2024.

External links

• Gwynedd Council

v t e Council elections in the preserved county of Gwynedd
Gwynedd Council	1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1995 1999 2004 2008 2012 2017 2022
Isle of Anglesey County Council	1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2004 2008 2013 2017 2022
Aberconwy Borough Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished
Arfon Borough Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished
Caernarvonshire County Council	1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 Abolished
Dwyfor District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished
Meirionnydd District Council	1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished

• Government of Gwynedd
• Local authorities of Wales