The recent opinion article, dated 7th May, 2019 by Dafydd Meurig, Deputy
Leader of Cyngor Gwynedd Council in Nation.Cymru is highly critical of
Welsh Government's performance during the Covid19 crisis.
https://nation.cymru/opinion/a-shambolic-welsh-government-have-offered-no-leadership-for-local-government-in-this-crisis/
Gwynedd Council's deputy leader writes that delivery of the original
testing regime was 'farcical' and involved sending 15 names of
symptomatic employees to Data Cymru who then send the names to Public
Health Wales who would then send the names to BCUHB (in this case) for
them to arrange testing with each individual.
These tests were then 'to be driven to Cardiff for analysis'. Public
Health Wales would then send the results to Data Cymru to send the
results to the Local Authority to inform the person of the result.
Farcical indeed if true.
Mr Meurig goes on to complain about second home owners and says that £18
million from Welsh Government would have found their way into 'the
pockets of some second home owners, who live outside the area'. Adding -
'Cynically some of these second home owners have flipped their property
over to the Business Rate system in order to avoid paying any Council
Tax at all'.
'The drawn-out discussions and delay has resulted in thousands of genuine
holiday businesses having to wait weeks for their payment'.
But two weeks previous on the 24th April, the Leader of Cyngor Gwynedd
Council, Dyfrig Siencyn is quoted in the North Wales Chronicle.
“We are pleased that the minister has listened to us and changed the
business guidelines available to support small rural businesses in
Gwynedd and other counties across Wales,” said Cllr Siencyn.
The government’s new guidance states that three specific clauses need to be adhered to:
Self-catering accommodation produce two years of trading accounts to 31 March 2019
Self-catering accommodation must let the property for 140 days or more in the financial year 2019-20
Self-catering accommodation business must be the primary source of income for the owner (minimum threshold is 50%).
He adds -
“Whilst we did not agree with the exact wording of
the changes to the guidelines, we’re confident that the changes will
mean that no second home owner will be able to claim this grant money
without presenting evidence that the majority of their income derives
from the property.
Why was the Deputy Leader not informed of the successful change to the
guidelines before publishing his article two weeks later. Has the
confusion amongst Members led to any delay in payments to local
businesses ? How many payments have been released so far ?
For the full article copy and paste the address into your browser -
https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/18403296.welsh-government-shuts-second-home-grants-loophole/
Dafydd Meurig, is also Cabinet Member with responsibility for Gwynedd Council's Adult SS.
Cyngor Gwynedd Council Fail.: Cyngor Gwynedd Council Covid19 Confusion Over Paym...
No comments:
Post a Comment