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Councillors will be asked to adopt new planning guidelines despite accusations they were being “threatened” by officers trying to stifle concerns over their implementation.

Members of Anglesey and Gwynedd’s Joint Local Development Plan Committee decided to postpone ratifying the new Supplementary Planning Guidance last month when legal concerns were raised by a local barrister.

In a letter, Gwion Lewis claimed “stopping or banning” a Welsh language impact assessment on the basis of policies and guidelines alone “would not be legally sensible” and “could be a basis for a judicial review.”

But on Wednesday, members will once again be asked to ratify the new guidelines despite further controversy after a Welsh language pressure group accused Gwynedd council of “threatening officers” in a bid to avoid further debate.

Gwynedd council has dismissed such accusations, noting that their monitoring officers have a statutory role to ensure that a local authority operates in a lawful manner which includes providing legal advice and guidance to elected members.

A 'conflict of interest'

But according to Cymdeithas yr Iaith, the new guidelines would mean that “only a very small percentage” of planning applications in either county would be eligible for automatic full language impact assessments, whereas the previous policy could allow the authorities to insist on such a review for any development of five or more homes.

As a result, councillors were invited to a session with Mr Lewis, who was born on Anglesey , to discuss his legal concerns.

This led, however, to a message being sent to all Gwynedd councillors claiming that attending the session would create a “conflict of interest.”

The communication, sent by the authority’s legal services department, went on to say that “it is not for Mr Gwion Lewis or Cymdeithas yr Iaith to provide legal guidance” to councillors, “assuming that the intention is to try to undermine the council’s legal opinion.”

Menna Machreth from Cymdeithas yr Iaith, has condemned the authority’s actions, claiming that officers were trying to “scare councillors” in order to “close down a public discussion on policy matters that are very important to the Welsh language.”

She added: “I have to say that I am very concerned about the state of democracy in Gwynedd. Which democracy would think that it is right to threaten councillors in such a way?

“Should the council not be encouraging open discussion about these issues? There are big questions to ask about why the officer has sent this message and who has directed it.

“All we are trying to do is improve the council’s policy when it comes to the consideration of the Welsh language within the planning system. Providing information is an important part of that.

“It is healthy that negotiation and difference of opinion – that is the core of democracy.”

What the council says

In response a Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “As a council, we are absolutely confident that the Joint Local Development Plan is legally sound and that there is no legal impediment to proceed with the adoption process.

“Each local authority’s monitoring officer has a statutory role to ensure that a local authority operates in a lawful manner. As part of those duties it is usual to provide legal advice and guidance to elected members of the council as required.

“It also requires that in Wales members of local authorities consider the advice of officers and in particular the Monitoring Officer in the exercise of their functions.

“It would not be appropriate to comment on the detail of any specific legal advice being provided to councillors.”

Members of the Joint Local Development Plan Committee will meet in Llangefni on Wednesday, July 17.