AN OUTRAGED councillor has accused Gwynedd Council of ‘disrespecting’ Wales’ Patron Saint by holding an all-important meeting on St David’s Day.

According to Llais Gwynedd councillor Alwyn Gruffydd, who represents Tremadog, Gwynedd Council should be ‘actively campaigning for a public holiday on that day in order to provide ample time to celebrate rather than arranging a meeting that will determine the council’s tax for the forthcoming year’.

Gwynedd Council has countered Cllr Gruffydd by saying that the dates for this year’s full council meetings were agreed upon last year and “approved without objection”.

They also said that there will be “suitable opportunity during the full council meeting to celebrate the occasion”.

Nonetheless, the Gwynedd councillor has criticised the local authority for not rearranging the meeting.

“Everyone knows that St David’s Day falls on 1 March every year but for some reason beyond my comprehension Gwynedd’s leading councillors have decided to disregard this important date in the national calendar,” he said.

“They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for their lack of respect.”

The decision will put council members in a difficult situation having to choose between organising and taking part in St David’s Day Parades in their communities and attending a full quarterly council meeting in Caernarfon, according to Cllr Gruffydd.

“This is completely unfair on councillors to be placed in such a predicament,” he continued.

“Whilst other countries make the most of their nationhood commemorating their Patron Saints, a Welsh Plaid-run Council seems to have forgotten our Patron Saint.

“St David’s mantra was for his followers to do the little things in life.

“Somehow Gwynedd Council seems to have missed the point.”

When asked about the decision to hold a meeting on 1 March, a Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “Possible dates for every one of the council’s main meetings for the year ahead, including meetings of the full council, are presented to all the county’s councillors in a meeting of the council every year.

“The proposed dates for the May 2017 to May 2018 period were presented to councillors on 18 May 2017 with the meeting dates approved without any objection.

“There is no record that any councillor expressed concern or proposed an amendment regarding the fact that one of the four meetings of the full council falls on St David’s Day in 2018.

“As a council, we fully support the campaign to raise the status of St David’s Day, and there will be suitable opportunity during the full council meeting to celebrate the occasion.”