Sennedd Question from MS James Evans to First Minister

James Evans MS14:04:58
 Will the First Minister outline how the Welsh Government plans to engage with the local community over the future use of Gilestone Farm? OQ59507
Mark Drakeford MS14:05:06 - First Minister of Wales
The Welsh Government will work with the local community council, Powys County Council and the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority to promote constructive community consultation on the future use of Gilestone farm.
James Evans MS14:05:20
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. In March, the economy Minister wrote to me in reply to a letter I sent to him, in which he asked for my support in ensuring that the local community were provided with accurate information on this matter. Subsequently, on 6 April, the Minister informed me that he'd be using the community council to inform members of the community about the proposal. That all seems reasonable to me. However, subsequently, after several resignations from the community council and them only having three {sic} current members, residents in Talybont are rightly concerned about the community council's ability to provide them with the accurate information that they require.
First Minister, the community is divided over this matter and some good faith and engagement from the Government would help in bringing the community together. I have, therefore, following representations from the community, organised a meeting in Talybont on 8 June and I've invited the Minister and officials from Welsh Government to attend. So, First Minister, can you confirm today, to me and the community, that you will ensure that someone from your Government will attend that meeting, so that the community can get the accurate information that the economy Minister has previously asked is provided to the community?
Mark Drakeford MS14:06:26 - First Minister of Wales
Llywydd, I entirely agree about the importance of accurate information being provided. The way in which we will do that is the way I outlined in my original answer. It is working with organisations on the ground that have a democratic mandate and are purposed for that end. I'm not convinced that a public meeting is guaranteed to provide more light than heat on these matters. I take very seriously what has happened in the community council and very seriously what has been said by the local Liberal Democrat member of Powys council. Llywydd, Members here may have seen her reports of bullying and harassment from some of the plan's opposers:
    'a constant barrage of threats and aggressive criticism, designed to undermine and discourage.' 
That is not, I'm afraid, an encouraging context into which to expect officials of the Welsh Government to be propelled.
I want to have exactly what James Evans has said this afternoon. I want to have an informed discussion; I want to make sure that facts are genuinely available to anybody who is interested in them, but I want to do it in a way that allows some of the heat that has been seen in that debate to be toned down and a greater emphasis on proper information sharing and reasoned debate. And I'm not convinced, I'm afraid, that a public meeting of the sort that the Member has described is the best way, at this point, to bring that about.