Hi Everyone,

I draw your attension to a recent article about Huw Irranca-Davies:-  https://nation.cymru/news/new-senedd-presiding-officer-in-conflict-of-interest-row/

He has been critcised for failing to declare his son 'Iwan' was working for a lobbying firm 'Grasshopper Communications', which is a Cardiff based agency specialising in Renewable Energy Policy.  This when Huw Irranca- Davies was a Minister Responsible for that area as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

Huw now has a role as Presiding officer and is supposed to be impartial?

One of the questions in the article ( pictured above ) asks ''Did Huw Irranca-Davies have any ministerial involvement in decisions, policies, or planning matters that directly benefited Grasshopper Communications clients?''

A search reveals that:-

Pennant Walters is a client of Grasshopper Communications.

The strategic communications agency has designed and implemented public consultation, community engagement, and bilingual PR programmes for multiple Pennant Walters renewable energy projects in Wales. Trecelyn Wind Farm project is also managed by Grasshopper Communications on behalf of Pennant Walters.  Grasshopper's Role: Managing stakeholder feedback, hosting the early engagement community consultations, and maintaining the project data protection and communication pipelines. 

The PEDW website shows a Huw Irranca-Davies letter on page 66 uploaded on 13/02/2025  Link:-  https://planningcasework.service.gov.wales/case/CAS-02114-J9X4S6

In this letter the overall tone is that he has no problem the Development:-

 9. Similarly, I am not aware of a negative impact on the neighbourhood section 16(6)(b) as
they will be able to use the common in a similar way.
10.When considering the public interest as required by section 16(6)(c), I value the
contributions from NRW regarding nature conservation. I note there are no SSSIs in the
area of the works, so I do not have any immediate concerns as long as NRW are content
with the Environmental Statement. It is a possibility any foliage under the mats would be
damaged through lack of sunlight during this period. If this is the case may I suggest the
applicant should reseed the land like for like.
11.I do not believe there will be a negative impact on the conservation of the landscape as
the works are temporary.

This was added after the many public objections to this development,which by it's tone could influence the outcome, due to his role in Government. So he has been involved with the planning matters that would benefit Grasshopper Communications.

There are now some new faces making decisions since the early May Elections, so we will have to wait and see the outcome to all this and see if any of them can be trusted?

Keep a look out over the next few weeks for the Decisions for the Trecelyn and RES developments.

Many thanks for now!   Matt