2. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on progress regarding Technical Advice Note 20? OAQ(5)0158(ERA)

Diolch. I intend to republish a revised technical advice note 20 on planning and the Welsh language before summer recess. The revised TAN will support the aims of the Government’s new Welsh language strategy, Cymraeg 2050, and incorporate key messages from a new Welsh language risk assessment framework for major developments.

Thank you for that, but the previous consultation concluded in March of last year, which is 15 months ago now, and people are concerned that there is a lack of leadership in this area. So, how do you expect councillors, and the Planning Inspectorate, to work in line with the higher status afforded to the Welsh language via the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 if there is no movement on this issue? And, isn’t it clear from the decision not to mention the Welsh language once in the letter regarding the Pen y Ffridd development in Bangor—an application rejected by the council, partly because of its language impact—that there is no priority for the Welsh language in that regard. How, then, do you, as Minister, intend the new technical advice note, when it published, to take into account these issues, and to do so in a timely manner?

Well, I am unable to comment on the Pen y Ffridd appeal. Obviously, it’s before Welsh Ministers for determination at the present time. I have to say that the revised TAN won’t include wholesale changes. I think the current version continues to provide sound advice to developers and local authorities in the meantime.

Cabinet Secretary, obviously the ability to determine the TAN guidance that’s given by Welsh Government is a vitally important measure in any planning system. The role of community councils and parish councils in playing their part in determining applications is very much overlooked very often, and there is a lack of understanding of exactly how the technical advice notes can assist town and community councils in making their deliberations more fruitful for the communities they serve. What work does your department undertake to assist in developing the understanding of the technical advice notes that are put out by the planning department, so that they can filter right the way through the planning system, and communities can have confidence that their interests are being protected?

We constantly monitor planning policy and TANs, and, obviously, update guidance to local authorities. The way it’s disseminated then to community councils and parish councils is very important, because, as you say, they do have an important role to play in planning applications. So, that’s work that officials do with local authorities, and that information is then disseminated down.