Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A controversial decision to shut all of Gwynedd's youth clubs in a cash saving measure is to be revisited by councillors next week.

Gwynedd Council's cabinet has decided to cut funding to Young Farmers and shut all 39 of its youth clubs in a bid to save £270,000.

But while the original decision in March was made by the authority's 11 Plaid Cymru cabinet members, all 75 county councillors will now be given a chance to have their say.

Opposition Llais Gwynedd councillor, Alwyn Gruffydd, has proposed a motion that will be discussed by the full council on Thursday, urging a rethink.

The member for Tremadog said: "My feeling is that this decision is one that has the potential to impact so many people, that its only right that all members are given a chance to have their say.

"The decision has been debated by the scrutiny committee and cabinet of course, but anyone who doesn't sit on either committee hasn't been given an opportunity to have their say at all."

Cllr Gruffydd's motion calls for the cabinet to "re-consider" the future of the county’s youth service with "a presumption in favour of retaining youth clubs and continuing with the financial support given traditionally to voluntary organisations such as the Urdd and Federation of Young Farmers.”

The authority plans to replace its 39 existing clubs with a county wide offering, but has already pledged to offer administrative support to any communities that wish to continue operating a club on a local level.

Proposing the closure plans, cabinet member Craig ab Iago claimed the change was "difficult" but necessary.

He said: "We can't continue to do the same thing year in year out if the service does not meet the needs of young people".

Young Farmers Clubs have also been hit by the decision, with a £37,960 annual grant being scrapped after the current financial year.

Next Thursday's full meeting in Caernarfon will also debate a motion by Bangor councillor Catrin Wager, calling for sanitary items to be made freely available to school age women across the county.

The Welsh Government has provided the authority with £29,497 to help provide free sanitary products for all schoolgirls, but Cllr Wager will call on the council to make up the remaining shortfall.

Her motion says: “Sanitary items are as essential as toilet paper for the personal hygiene of female pupils, and welcome the revenue funding offered by the Welsh Government to provide free sanitary provision in schools.

"However, the £29,497 of funding offered for 2017/18 is unlikely to meet the cost of provision in Gwynedd.

"The council requests the Cabinet Member for Education to investigate the implied costs and the best possible means of making sanitary items freely available to school age women, giving all young women in Gwynedd access to essential sanitary items without embarrassment, and regardless of family income.”

Both motions will be debated by Gwynedd Councillors when they meet in Caernarfon on Thursday, May 3.

Share your views about this story using the comment section below.