Download a PDF Draft Minutes 19.06.2025
Draft Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 19th June 2025 at the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach and via Zoom, commencing at 6.30 pm
Present: Councillors Rhian Williams, Jennifer Bulman, Peter Rudd, and Menna Mortimore. Councillors Carolyn Edwards and Alan Edwards joined online.
Council Employees Present: Clerk/RFO Linda Evans
Members of the Public Present: Councillor Hayley Davies joined online
41/25 Apologies: Councillor Amanda Doherty had sent their apologies.
The meeting started at 6.30 pm, with the Chair welcoming everyone to the meeting. The meeting is held as a multi-hybrid meeting in accordance with The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
Due to exceptional circumstances caused by extreme heat, the Chair prioritised the safety and well-being of attendees. To ensure a shorter meeting duration, it was deemed necessary to either move or rearrange agenda items for a future date. This was agreed and appreciated by the members at the meeting.
The meeting began with a proposal, seconded and agreed by the members, to extend condolences to the family and friends of the person who tragically passed away on the High Street (Sunday 8th June). The council acknowledged the incident as traumatic and upsetting for all involved.
42/25 Declarations of Interest: There were no declarations of interest at this meeting.
43/25 County Councillor`s Report:
- Councillor Hayley Davies (Cllr. H Davies) inquired if any councillors had been approached or personally heard the cars racing on the A465 the Tuesday evening before the meeting. She had experienced the loud vehicles herself and received a resident’s complaint. These concerns have been relayed to the local PCSO, who will monitor the area for future incidents. Cllr H Davies encouraged anyone witnessing such behaviour to report it to the police via 101.
- Cllr H Davies extended her condolences regarding the incident discussed at the meeting’s outset. She reported that the defibrillator box had been accessed, but the equipment had not been required, an investigation was ongoing. The road had to be closed to vehicles for a period. Most residents understood the necessity, some used an alternative, albeit narrow, single-track route behind the park. Councillors discussed other routes that could be opened in such a situation but deemed them unsafe, unsuitable, or inaccessible. Such road closures are few and far between and no further action was deemed necessary.
44/25 Public Observations on Matters Arising and Agenda Items
There were no public observations made at this meeting.
45/25 To Approve the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting and Ordinary meeting held on Thursday 22nd May 2025.
RESOLVED that the minutes of both meetings be approved as true record of the meetings with the following corrections – AGM minute 24/25 Councillors to Serve as the Councils Representatives on External Committees: Councillor Amanda Doherty will be replaced by Councillor Carolyn Edwards on the Aberpergwm Site Liaison Committee RESOLVED Ordinary Meeting minute 29/25 Apologies: Councillor Menna Mortimore had sent her apologies RESOLVED
46/25 Matters Arising from the Annual General Meeting and Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 22nd May 2025
- Further to minute AGM 22/25 Nomination(s) & Appointment of Vice Chair of the Council – Councillor Menna Mortimore accepted the nomination and is elected the Vice Chair of the Council RESOLVED
- Further to minute 117/24 Finance – Celtic Wildflowers (agenda item 53/24); Clerk is waiting for a response from SWTRA. RESOLVED
- Further to minute 07/25 d) Damage to the Astro-Turf; Signage has been put in place and the area has been reopened. A damage report has been posted in the notice boards, park and Webpage. RESOLVED
47/25 Agenda Items:
a)To discuss the rear access for High Street Residents via the Park – This is moved to the July Ordinary Meeting. Councillor R A Williams had proposed this item and was not present at the meeting. RESOLVED
b)To consider additional temporary Grounds help – Discussed in Closed Session due to this item involving personnel issues.
c)To schedule a date and time for a meeting with Scout Group and Rugby Club – This item will be discussed on Thursday 26th June at 6.00 pm in person and online. RESOLVED
48/25 Planning: There were no planning applications to discuss at this meeting.
49/25 Crime and Policing
Report was noted;
The Local Police Website shows 24 Crimes reported in the Blaengwrach and Glynneath West Area for April 2025; 1 Anti-Social behaviour; 4 Criminal Damage and Arson; 2 Other Theft; 12 Violence and Sexual Offences; 4 Public Order; 1 Vehicle Crime. 4 of these were reported in the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach Area alone – 2 Other Theft; 1 Vehicle Crime and 1 Criminal Damage.
50/25 Finance
RESOLVED the following payments were scrutinised and approved:
| Clerks Report – Monthly P&R 23rd May to 19th June 2025 | ||
| Payments Made | 23/05/2025 – 19/06/2025 | Amounts |
| Nest | Staff Pension Scheme (4 weeks) | £50.82 |
| Staff Wages | 3 x Salaries (4 weeks) | £2598.27 |
| HMRC | Tax and NI 06/03/25 to 05/04/25 | £525.02 |
| NPTCBC | General Rates – Hall | £398.00 |
| NPTCBC | General Rates – Cemetery | £20.00 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Welfare Hall | £170.00 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Cemetery | £32.00 |
| Utility Warehouse Ltd | Electricity @ Welfare Hall | £220.24 |
| British Gas | Hall Usage | £160.32 |
| Zoom | On-Line Meeting Platform | £15.59 |
| Viking Direct | Office Supplies – Paper/Ink/pens | £78.26 |
| South Wales Sports | MUGA Astro Turf Repairs | £1,140.00 |
| Ridgewood Ass. Ltd. | Internal Audit Fees | £325.00 |
| Total Expenditure | £5,733.52 | |
| Income Received | 23/05/2025 – 19/06/2025 | |
| SRCC Stores Ltd | Monthly Rental of Shed in the Park | £35.00 |
| TSB Bank | Monthly Interest on “Reserve” Saver | £51.15 |
| VIEW (Glynneath) Ltd | Hall Hire Yoga May | £56.00 |
| Celtic Archers | Hall Hire May | £140.00 |
| Empower | Singing for the Brain Hall Hire May | £105.00 |
| NPTCBC | Hall Hire April | £56.00 |
| Cwmgwrach OAP | Hall Hire April | £140.00 |
| A H Lewis Funeral Directors | Burial Plot | £250.00 |
| Total Income | £833.15 | |
| Account Balances | As at 19/06/2025 | |
| General Account | £1,779.20 | |
| Reserve/Saver Account | £38,437.26 | |
| Total Account Balances as at 19/06/2025 £ | £40,216.46 | |
Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) – Clerks yearly subscription Renew Membership = £190.00. Under power The Local Government Act 1972 s143 (1)(b) – a local authority may pay reasonable subscriptions. 97% of councils pay for their clerk’s subscription as encouraged by the Local Government Act. Benefits – legal, financial, and other advice. Clerk is currently completing the CILCA Qualification. RESOLVED The subscription payment was approved.
51/25 Correspondence & Section 137 Request: One item was discussed at the meeting all other correspondence will be added to the July Meeting.
- C Hamer wrote on behalf of the Glynneath and surrounding areas committee first responder group. They have been responsible for maintaining all defibrillators within the communities, including the three in Cwmgwrach (Petrol Station, Dunraven and Welfare Hall) by replacing pads and batteries. However, due to funding issues, they can no longer continue this service. He requested assistance in funding the replacement of these consumables, which cost £50 for pads and £45 for batteries.
Councillors discussed the request, agreeing that the kits are vital for saving lives and that without consumable replacements, the defibrillator boxes would be unavailable. It was proposed and seconded that the council would fund future consumable replacements at the three Cwmgwrach locations, and all councillors agreed. RESOLVED The Clerk will contact C Hamer with the decision, and make the necessary payments when needed. Cllr H Davies inquired if the box located at the Leisure Centre would be in Glynneath Ward, members agreed this is correct.
The Council resolved to enter Closed Session under Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 & the Council Standing Order 3c to Discuss Personnel Issues. NOTE: ANY DISCUSSIONS/ETC WHICH TAKE PLACE IN “CLOSED SESSION” MUST REMAIN IN “CLOSED SESSION” AND NOT BE BROUGHT INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN (MINUTES) UNLESS AGREED BY THE FULL COUNCIL AT A FUTURE MEETING
52/25 Set Date, Time & Proposed Agenda Items for the next meeting; …
The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 17th July at 6.30 pm. No Agenda Items were put forward so far for this meeting.
Notices for the meetings will be posted at least three working days before they are due to take place.
Meeting closed at 7.05 pm