​Gilestone Farm Stakeholder Meeting of the 17th March
Powys County Council wished to note that two neighbouring Powys County Councillors and one neighbouring Community Council had requested to attend however attendance for this meeting had been limited to those who may play a formal role in any processes linked to the future of Gilestone Farm.
It was also noted that James Evans MS had also requested to attend the meeting with the same reasoning provided.
The Community Council representative and the County Councillor noted the need for more information on how these plans would affect the community day to day. The plan needed to be placed in the context of the village and individual villagers, for example information on potential increased traffic and noise. It was noted that this work would form part of the licensing assessment with the local authority and would be undertaken before relevant activities were allowed to proceed.
The County Councillor noted the current traffic issues in Talybont-on-Usk and noted previous conversations around a car park for the village and lack of pavement. The County Councillor felt strongly that these issues would need to be discussed and form part of any agreement for the site.
It was queried whether a full environmental assessment would be undertaken before any activities proceeded. Representatives of Green Man confirmed that all necessary assessments would be undertaken and noted that it currently undertakes said assessments at the Glanusk Estate – an event far in excess of the number of people proposed for events at Gilestone Farm.
The Community Council representative noted that at the Green Man Festival, the attendees leave the site and travel into Crickhowell and noted a belief that this could cause issues in the village. Representatives from Green Man noted that with the Festival, Green Man encourages this as the local community in Crickhowell want the attendees to contribute to the local economy. It was noted that this can be tailored to individual projects and if the local community want attendees for the smaller scale events planned for Gilestone to remain on site, then this can be controlled.
Representative from Welsh Government noted that many of these issues can be provided for through clauses in any potential commercial lease.
The Leader of Powys County Council noted that the current challenges faced by the county were extremely serious. The demographics of the county had changed significantly towards an economically inactive demographic over a number of years and that change was accelerating. The level of challenges faced by local infrastructure such as the school system and the health system were huge and unfortunately getting worse. The Leader noted that it was imperative that proposals such as this were given due consideration in order to try and provide economic opportunities to ensure that the county was able to retain and maintain families and economic activity.
The official from Powys County Council noted that the local authority was open to considering developments such as the one proposed here, however noted that the local authority could not engage until a decision had been made by a Welsh Government Minister on whether to proceed to lease negotiations and to allow the relevant formal licensing assessments to begin. Welsh Government official noted that whilst the decision of the Minister over the coming weeks would be crucial, it would not be a final decision. This decision will relate to whether to proceed to the next stage of the process. A final decision will come later when the Minister is provided will a fuller assessment based on the outcome of licensing and regulatory work and based on the agreed terms of the commercial lease.
An official from Brecon Beacons National Park Authority agreed with the views of Powys County Council and the importance of giving due consideration to developments such as proposed. It was noted that Brecon Beacons National Park Authority would also be open to an Area Plan that would coincide with the consideration of this proposal.
A further discussion was held around the potential for noise at the small-scale events proposed for the site. Representatives of Green Man noted that an initial noise levels assessment had been undertaken by an external expert however more assessment would be needed on being granted access to the site. It would be intended that noise sensors would be placed all around the valley to live monitor the noise escaping from the site to ensure compliance.
More information was requested on the jobs proposed to be created. Representatives from Green Man noted that these would be attractive skilled jobs across a range of different areas within the Green Man brand and in addition, the proposed Creative Hub would also create jobs, promote entrepreneurship and offering business mentoring to emerging businesses.
Representatives from Green Man asked what they could do to work with the community to help aid their concerns. They noted that this proposal is an attempt to develop economic activity in an area of Wales that had traditionally been difficult to develop. It was noted that environmental issues were at the heart of everything that Green Man does.
 Gilestone
Lease needs to go through Ministerial sign-off.  The lease will be with Cwningar as this is the company used to buy or lease land.
Cllr Moorman – Very similar to the information received at last May’s meeting.  WG say they are not there to answer questions about all proposals and offerings.
Science, interactive events, child’s play and interactive models. Irritated not to be invited to meeting, and very few answers. 
County Cllr Cartwright – There’s a difference having WG own the land rather than a private enterprise.  There are protections.  A business plan won’t be provided as it’s commercially sensitive.
Cllr Burdon – What is the strategic business plan, vision and project mandate?  Will Fiona Stewart presentation be shared?
Cllr Short – The lease is not to be signed by Greenman.  This brings risks.  Everything keeps changing, is the site not for Greenman?
Cllr Burdon – Creative Wales is all about filming, animation and gaming, not baking and brewing.  Where’s the creative element?
Cllr Jones – How long do we have to organise a presentation?  We need to get when the lease is to be signed.
County Cllr Cartwright – This is to be a commercial lease with a financial return and not a grant.  We need jobs and skills to retain people.
Cllr Burdon – There must be a communications plan from WG / Greenman.  This cannot just be a roadshow.
Cllr Moorman – There must be a direct route of communication, with a dedicated person.  10 months later the only change is a baking school!
Questions from the public – Gilestone
Gareth Davies – Ideas seem cobbled together.  How much emphasis is there on sustainable farming?
John D. Jones – This is designed to suck people in, the main interest is making money out of music festivals.  This is a marketing exercise.  Questions need to be raised about the lease, cannot farm with other planned activities.  Jobs are welcomed, but why not consider the other available sites across Wales?  £23 million is unexplainable, motivation is music festivals.  Why has there been no consultation, and no public meeting?
Nina Krauzewicz – Is this a permanent lease to Greenman Trust?  Will the farm be sold later to Fiona Stewart?
John D. Jones – 10 years from now Greenman will be sold, and a new company could be running festivals at Gilestone. What protections are there?  Investment in audio surveys means festivals, teaching farming does not work with festivals.  Why is this not understood?
John D. Jones – What partnerships with an Agriculture College or teaching Support does Fiona Stewart have?  There are no experts in her team.

​1.    In February of this year, Ms Fiona Stewart registered a new business with Companies House called Cwningar Ltd, which is listed as being in the business of "Buying and selling of own real estate," and "Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate."  
Its registered address is the same as that of Green Man Festival Limited.
Welsh Government documents show that Cwningar Ltd is the business entity which was set up for the purposes of managing Gilestone Farm.
Is this correct? 
If this is correct will Cwnigar Ltd be sub-letting/leasing/renting Gilestone Farm to the Fiona Stewart’s Greenman companies? 
If Cwnigar Ltd are leasing Gilestone Farm to the Greenman companies what will happen to this lease if the Greenman companies are sold?  Will the lease be terminated as the whole reason for purchasing Gilestone Farm was to secure a permanent site for Greenman and not a festival site for Cwnigar Ltd?

2.    Could you confirm that Gilestone Farm will not ever be used as an extension to the Green Man Festival as stated by Mr Mark Isherwood MS in his audit of The Welsh Government’s Purchase of Gilestone Farm
‘the property acquisition was being progressed to support future expansion of the Green Man Festival.. because the current festival is constrained by the lack of available land to accommodate the number of visitors that could be attracted to the event. In our view, these statements suggested that increasing the festival’s visitor capacity was the primary objective’

3.    Will there be a clause in the lease which guarantees that there will be no more than three events a year and it will be capped at no more than 3000 per event as has been previously stated by WG and Fiona Stewart.

4.    WG have already informed Talybont Community Council about plans for a brewery and bakery.  It there plans for a shop and café/restaurant on the site.  

5.    When will the consultation with the WG, Fiona Stewart and the local residents from Talybont-on-Usk community take place, as promised in the meeting on the 17th November 2022.
       

These are questions for the meeting at Y Gaer

​

1. there have been statements in the press by our local MS, james evans, regarding a lack of due process and unsuitability for greenman at gilestone, have you been contacted by him or his office for clarification? if so what was the result?
2. there have been statements in the press by our local MP, fay jones, announcing ‘that the concerns of local residents have been dismissed in this whole initiative’. have you been contacted by her or her office requesting a meeting to hear residents concerns? if so what was the result? 
3. as we have had extremely limited information of what is planned, making any affect on the talybont community speculative, do you feel that residents concerns have been heard? how many letters have you received and responded to from our community? 
4. one of the major concerns has been traffic, parking and the pressure events of 1-3000 will put on the infrastructure of the area. at our only meeting with fiona, when this issue was one of the first raised, she spoke of shuttle busses and traffic management to alleviate stress on an already busy minor road system. has this been explored in greater detail? if so what plans are being considered? How will it affect our community?
5. at our meeting with the WG in november, a question was raised about their large financial investment in the farm and cwningar and if they would equally invest in improving infrastructure in the surrounding village to alleviate potential problems they may encounter from a burgeoning influx of tourists. the question was passed to Haydn (the senior manager of business solution, economy, science and transport) to pursue. has this been further explored? what possible mitigation has been identified? is it an option? if this has not been pursued, then why? can it be explored in the future? any benefits of potential growth to the economy should be met with careful consideration for those who may be affected. 
6. at the november meeting, we were informed the wg would be meeting with powys and bbnpa the following week. were the concerns of the council raised at the meeting? how were they addressed and responded to? would it be possible to have a representative of the council as a stakeholder in future discussions to satisfy the ‘need to be heard’? 
7. you stated you would be pursuing your due diligence for the environment.  have you been refered to the planning ecologist at BBNPA? will a CEMP and bat survey be required? will an EPS license be required? what methods will be undertaken to prevent further phosphate pollution in the river? is the welsh government required to undergo these processes? Will cwningar be required to as lessees?
8. have you consulted with NRW about the SSSI/SAC river and protected species on the farm? Flood risk? Water management? is the welsh government required to? Will cwningar be required to as lessees?
9. have you consulted with cadw about the listed monument and building on the farm? is the welsh government required to? Will cwningar be required to as lessees?
10. According to a pronouncement by the government concerning GMF, “… is a  major employer in mid-Wales making a significant contribution to the local economy”. The evidence for the companies servicing the 2022 Festival was obtained by observation on the Glanusk site and is listed attached. With the exception of the taxi service  all the companies are based outside Wales. Of the 53 caterers, only 15 were from Wales.   what can be done to ensure the money from this ‘investment’ is actually staying in wales?

 

​1. We would suggest the Strategic Business Case, Programme Brief or Outline Business Case, Justification and Vision are not corporately sensitive and ask when these may be shared with the Community Council?
2. What are the desired outcomes from the investment at Gilestone Farm, and how will these be realised over 3, 5 and 10 years?  When will benefits be realised and by whom?  How will dis-benefits or adverse impacts be mitigated and managed through the investment programme?
3.  What are the governance arrangements for the management of public money at Gilestone Farm, and to protect the asset, environment and our community?  Will WG be willing to share the Risk Register in respect of this?
4. When will WG be sharing the Communications Plan?
5. How will the benefits of the investment by WG be tracked and measured?
6. What is defined within the Target Operating Model?  What does the future look like, how is it defined and how is success measured?

The above questions all relate to standard management ahead of a Business Case being submitted.  A Business Case would detail funding, costs project detail and management arrangements.  As we don't know what is planned, its difficult to raise specific questions.

Gilestone Farm 
Gerwyn Evans of the Welsh Government has arranged a meeting regarding Gilestone Farm on Friday 17th of March at 11am in Agair, Brecon. This meeting is strictly under invitation and Cllr Simon Baldwin has been invited to represent the Community Council. Other attendees will be Anita Cartwright as our County Councilor, Fiona Stewart from Greenman, and representatives from BBNP and Powys CC. 
Cllr Baldwin requested councilors to forward questions they wish to be raised at the meeting prior to his attendance. 

 
 
 
 
 
 

In a letter to the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee of the Senedd, Mr Crompton noted that the Welsh government had been in discussion with Green Man about potential sites for some time but he said "with more time the Welsh government could have undertaken greater due diligence before making any decision". 
"By buying Gilestone Farm when it did, the Welsh government accepted an avoidable financial risk, albeit one which officials have emphasised to us was, in their view, low and manageable," he says.
"And, in our view, if the Welsh government had concluded its consideration of Green Man's plans before taking any decision about buying or not buying the farm, the Welsh government's external communication of its actions could also then have been clearer."

He notes that the purchase was supported by an independent professional valuation but that "the Welsh government has accepted financial risks that would not have arisen if it had delayed a final purchase decision until after its full consideration of Green Man's plans, and the suitability of Gilestone Farm for intended future uses, had been concluded".
​

The Welsh government said it welcomed the review.
"It is clear from the review that the acquisition of Gilestone Farm followed the appropriate processes, was value for money and is clearly aligned to our economic ambitions," the spokesperson said.
"Due diligence work continues on Green Man's detailed and comprehensive business plan which will conclude in the coming weeks. 
"No final decision on the future of Gilestone Farm will be made until the due diligence process is complete."

Gilestone Farm – 
​Matters arising from the validation of the UVCG survey by Cllr Burdon, Advice from OVW and the notice agreed by all Councillors which was posted on the Community Councils Facebook page and website 
 
The Clerk was asked by the chair to explain the item.
Cllr. Burdon confirmed that the community poll organised  by UVCG was verified by himself.
Following this verification, the clerk received inquiries regarding the independence of the Community Council in relation to this matter.
These inquiries were being made due to the fact the UVCG had stated on their website that the poll had been verified by the Acting Chair of the Community Council, Cllr Burdon. 
 
Cllr. Burdon has explained that the verification was carried out in a personal capacity only and not in his capacity as a member of the council. The Community Council  at no time had given Cllr. Burdon the authority to undertake this action on behalf of the Community  Council. 
Following his explanation, advice was sought from OVW, who advised that a retraction needed to be issued confirming that Cllr Burdon had carried out this verification, not as a member of the council, but in  his own personal capacity as a private individual. 
After this discussion had taken place, Councillor Moorman asked what the council could do to address the fact that  the UVCG had also previously tried to  indicate that they were working with the Community Council. 
In order to clarify the fact that Council is not and has never been working with the UVCG against the Green Man at any point , either in the past or at present, a proposal was put forward seconded and unanimously  agreed,  to issue a public statement that “the Usk Valley Conservation Group keeps making statements that are not true, regarding the Community Council. The Clerk said that the  Community Council had not yet taken a decision concerning its  position relating to the Green Man, as it is still waiting for the business plan to be published and circulated. 
Only following the publication and review of this document by the Council will they  then make an informed decision on their position.
In addition, it was suggested that the statement should indicate that any persons or any organisations currently trying to suggest that they are working with the Council against the Green Man are in fact incorrect.
The  draft statement to be circulated to all Councillors for agreement prior to it being published on the Community Council Website and Facebook page. 
 
The Community Council awaits a date to meet with Welsh Government to discuss the business plan.

Message from Talybont-on-Usk Community Council
With regards to the publication of the results of the UVCG Poll on the UVCG website, where it was reported:- 
“The poll has been verified by the acting head of the Talybont Community Council, Councillor Craig Burdon with review of the process and responses. Councillor Burdon has confirmed the result is an accurate representation of the returns.”
The Community Council wants it made clear that the Community Council has no involvement with the UVCG, and that no Community  Councillor is a member of UVCG.
Councillor Craig Burdon role in verifying the poll was carried out in a personal capacity and as a member of the public. At no time did the Community Council provide him with the authority to undertake this role on its behalf.  
Talybont-on-Usk Community Council was not involved in conducting the poll, however the Community Council will continue to listen to residents' views and represent all residents' perspectives and attitudes, when more details are known, concerning Welsh Governments’  purchase of Gilestone Farm.