00:00James Evans.
00:00Cloweth, what steps has a Cabinet Secretary taken to order councils actively engage with
00:04and reflect communities' views in decision-making?
00:08Dear James, councils have duties under the Local Government and Elections Wales Act 2021
00:13to encourage participation in decision-making.
00:17They are required to publish participation strategies which must include
00:21how the council promotes and support ways for local people to make representations about decisions
00:27to ensure community views are fully considered.
00:31I'd like to thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your answer.
00:34And it's a shame that the Liberal Democrats who control Powys County Council couldn't listen to your answer
00:39because they have gone against community views on a number of occasions,
00:43whether it's closing small schools, whether it's selling off county farms,
00:48closing day centres and leisure centres.
00:50That's not listening to the community views, Cabinet Secretary.
00:52It shows the Liberal Democrats, yet again, promise one thing and deliver another.
00:56So do you agree with me, Cabinet Secretary, that when people make promises on election manifestos
01:01that they should stick to them and actually listen then to the community views
01:05when they propose ideas for their areas?
01:08Dior, James, and I hear a number of heckles from sedentary positions about that.
01:16I think it's really important that public participation happens with local authorities.
01:22We have the trust of people who we represent, local authorities do as well.
01:27They have really difficult decisions to make.
01:31But when developing their plans, I do expect local authorities to consider carefully the decisions
01:37and the accessibility to their communities to make sure they are making the right decisions
01:43for the people that they seek to serve.
01:47Hello, Dvachan.
01:49Diolch, Llewydd.
01:49Thank you, Llewydd.
01:50It's following on.
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