Powys councillors to consider call to hand Crown Estates to Welsh Government
Powys councillors are set to debate a motion that asks them to back a campaign for the management of Crown Estate assets in Wales to be handed over to the Welsh Government.
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At county council meeting on Thursday, December 5, Plaid Cymru group leader, Councillor Elwyn Vaughan will put the motion in front of councillors for discussion.
Councillor Vaughan will ask that: “Powys council supports the campaign to devolve management of the Crown Estate and its assets in Wales to the Welsh Government and that the funds raised be used to support the social and economic needs of the Welsh people.
“We ask the chair of council to write to the Welsh Government outlining our support to help persuade Westminster to devolve the Crown Estate as a matter of urgency.”
His motion will be formally seconded by fellow Plaid Cymru councllor, Bryn Davies.
The motion has already seen some interest and comments from councillors online ahead of the meeting.
On Facebook, Powys Independents Councillor Graham Breeze has asked his constituents for their views on the issue, and he said that he is “minded to vote in favour”.
Councillor Breeze added that he has read a study by Bangor University which sets out the position in Scotland where the Crown Estate has been devolved and managed by the Scottish Government since 2017.
This report said that in 2023 the move had generated £103.6 million for the Scottish government’s coffers and the value of the estate had increased from £568 million to £653 million.
Cabinet member for a connected Powys, Liberal Democrat Councillor Jake Berriman, has shared his concern that the money from devolving the Crown Estate could go to other parts of Wales rather than Powys.
