Debate needed on Powys councillors "distance membership" of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

Concerns have been expressed by a senior councillor, that several Powys County Councillors who are appointed to the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority (BBNPA),  don’t represent communities in the park area.

At a council meeting on Thursday, December 9, councillors were informed of changes made to appointment of councillors to outside bodies.

The report shows that Cllrs Gwilym Williams and Karl Lewis, have replaced Cllrs Jon Williams and Iain McIntosh on the BBNPA, while Cllr Ange Williams has been appointed to the Employment and Appeal committee instead of Cllr Jon Williams.

Governance and Audit committee chairman Cllr John Morris represents Crickhowell, which is in the national park area, and believes a “debate” is needed on this issue.

Cllr Morris said: “I think with these two appointments to the national park,  they will be disappointed that out of the six we make, four are from outside the park area.

“Welsh Government guidance is that members should come from wards either partial or wholly in the park.

“I’m a bit concerned by this move to distance membership.

“Obviously when we get back to normal we have to take into account our carbon footprint as well with travelling.

“Can I ask group leaders to discuss this as a recommendation and we come back to council to debate this time for the next May elections.”

Council chairman, Cllr Gwynfor Thomas said that he assumed the group leaders would “take that on board.”

Cllr Karen Laurie-Parry asked whether Cllr Karl Lewis would have a “conflict of interest” as he’s the current chairman of PCC planning committee and BBNPA is a planning authority in its own right.

Head of legal and democratic service, Clive Pinney said: “No, but if there’s an application to the park from PCC and Cllr Karl is elected to their planning committee,  he’d have to declare an interest.”

The Brecon Beacons National Park was established in 1957, the third of the three Welsh parks after Snowdonia in 1951 and the Pembrokeshire Coast in 1952.

The park stretches from Llandeilo in the west to Hay-on-Wye in the northeast and Pontypool in the southeast, covering 519 square miles.

BBNPA is a special purpose local authority with wide-ranging responsibilities for the conservation and enhancement, and in particular exercises planning functions across the designated area of the park.

The park extends across the southern part of Powys, the northwestern part of Monmouthshire and parts of eastern Carmarthenshire.

It also includes the northernmost  Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent together with very small parts of Caerphilly and Torfaen.

The councillors who represent Powys on the BBNPA are now.
Cllr Michael J Jones  – (Churchstoke).
Cllr Karl Lewis – (Llandinam)
Cllr Gwilym Williams (Disserth and Trecoed)
Cllr Susan McNicholas (Ynyscedwyn)
Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe (Hay – within national park)
Cllr Edwin Roderick (Maescar/Llywel – within national park).

The other counties all have one representative and the Welsh Government appoint six, taking the number up to 18 members.