DRAFT Minutes of the Blaengwrach Community Council Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 12th July 2018 at St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach.
PRESENT: The Chairperson, Councillor Carolyn Edwards; Councillor Andrew Hippsley; Councillor Rhian Watts: Also Present: The Clerk to the Council – Clive Baker.
076/18 APOLOGIES: Apologies had been received from Councillors Philippa Richards; Menna Mortimore; Rhian Williams; Bethan Rosser; Amanda Doherty; Julia Hippsley & Chris Kelly.
077/18 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Borough Councillor with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.
078/18 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD: The minutes of the meeting held on 12th June 2018 were accepted as a true record. (Proposed by Councillor Andrew Hippsley & seconded by Councillor Carolyn Edwards).
079/18 MATTERS ARISING & AGENDA ITEMS: a) Quotes for Fire Alarm System – The Clerk is meeting with three fire safety companies in the week commencing 16th July 2018 to obtain specific reports & quotations in readiness for the September 2018 meeting; b) Charities Commission – The Clerk has contact the Charity Commission – email received to say that re-registration etc. will be available “on-line” in the next few months; c) Wild Flowers by Roundabout – NPTCBC have agreed that daffodil bulbs can be planted in readiness for Spring 2019 & the Council will try to arrange a “working party” to plant the bulbs in late August/early September 2018; d) Litter Bin/Dog Bin on Parish Road – Councillor Edwards is meeting the County Officers in Parish Road on Tuesday 17th July 2018; e) Hire Agreements – There is no update available on this item at this meeting; f) Parking in Heol Y Felin – the Local Police are continuing to monitor parking on this road; g) NPT Playscheme – NPTCBC have replied the due to “funding issues” the Playscheme WILL NOT BE ATTENDING THE Welfare Park this year. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED; h) The Repair to the Flat Roof at Welfare Hall – No date has been given but due to the work having been started on Phase 1 of the Welfare Park Project, it has been decided to postpone the repair until later on in the year. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED; i) LEASES – NPTCBC Legal Department have agreed to look at the existing leases & advise the Council. A firm cost & date for this to be carried out will be sought & as soon as these are received, the Chair and/or the Clerk will update the Council; j) Armed Forces Day Celebrations (30th June 2018) – The event took place on Saturday 3oth June 2018 & was a great success. Councillor Andrew Hippsley has been contacted by various organisations stating that they would like to be involved next year. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED FOR 2018; k) The Missing Gate Near McDonalds – The Canal Society are not returning the telephone calls of the Clerk; l) To Allow the Clerk to Use Internet Banking – This is now in place. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED; m) The Closure of the Council`s Wages Account to Merge it with the General Account – The Wages Account has been closed. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED; n) The Felling of the Tree Overhanging the Shed in the Welfare Park – This tree will be cut down in the next few weeks; o) Agenda Item 5a – Discussion on Honouring a Local Historian for His work in the Glynneath/Cwmgwrach Area – It was agreed, in principle, and further details will be sought as to the form of honour to be bestowed; p) Agenda Item 5b – Discussion on Supporting the NPT Cluster Group of Town/Community Councils Proposal to Appoint a Consultant to Facilitate Compliance with the GDPR Regulations 2018 – The details received from the Chair of the Group did not have any details of the cost to each council for the proposal, so it was decided NOT to support the proposal at this time but if further details became available, to re-agenda at that time.
080/18 PLANNING: 22nd June 2018 – Ref: P2018/0456 – Mr. & Mrs. Miller, 25 Heol Wenallt, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5PT – First floor side extension, single storey side orangery with front bay window, replacement bay window to existing ground floor front elevation, raised decking area & steps to side of dwelling and raised steps & platform to rear of the dwelling @ 25, Heol Wenallt, Cwmgwarch; 25th June 2018 – Ref: P2018/0517 – Euro Garages Ltd, c/o, Asbri Planning Limited, Unit 9, Oak Tree Court, Mulberry Drive, Cardiff Gate Business Park, Cardiff CF23 8RS – Fulfilment of Conditions 8 (Site Investigation) & (9 (Remediation Scheme) for the Development of a New Roadside Services, to include: Shop/Restaurant with Drive Through Facilities (Class A1 & A3); Car Parking; Landscaping & Associated Works @ Land Between the A465 & High Street, Cwmgwrach; 26th June 2018 – Ref: P2018/0535 – Mr Gareth Davies, 26 Edward Street, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5PW – Single storey rear extension @ 26 Edward Street, Cwmgwrach.
081/18 CRIME & DISORDER: The reported crime figures for the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach area for May 2018 was eight (8). They were three (3) Anti-Social Behaviour; one (1) Criminal Damage & Arson and four (4) Violent & Sexual Offences.
The next PACT meeting will be held at 6.30pm on Wednesday 25th July 2018 in the Bethania Community Centre, High Street, Glynneath, Neath SA11 5DA.
The Local Police were unable to attend this meeting to explain the Crime Figures but have been invited to attend the September 2018 meeting.
082/18 FINANCE:
For period 14/6/2018 to 11/7/2018:
Payments Made: NPTCBC – Rates on Hall – £411.00; NPTCBC – Rates on Cemetery – £44.00; Welsh Water – Water Rates for Hall – £126.00; Welsh Water – Water Rates for Cemetery – £22.50; St. Cadoc`s Church – Hire of Church Hall for Meeting – £12.50; SSE Swalec – Electricity @ Hall – £133.20; Small Plant & Machinery – Annual Servicing of Some Machines & Annual PAT Test – £231.92; British Gas – Gas @ Hall – £247.19; HMRC – Tax & NI on Wages 6/6/18 to 5/7/18 – £91.20; B & Q plc – New Toilet Seat for Ladies Toilet – £35.00; Viking Direct – Cleaning Materials & Postage Stamps – £134.63.
There was no payments in during the above period.
083/18 CORRESPONDENCE: 15th June 2018 from the Welsh Government – June 2018 Newsletter from the Review Panel for the Review of Town & Community Council Sector in Wales; 15th June 2018 from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board – Letter & Final Summary Document on Changes to the Health Board`s Services; 18th June 2018 from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board – Letter Explaining the Transfer of the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend from the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board region to the Cwm Taf University Health Board region (w.e.f. 1st April 2019); 26th June 2018 from the Neath Port Talbot Cluster of Town & Community Councils – Letter asking if the Community Council would like to support an Appointment of a Consultant to Facilitate Compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations 2018 (see minute 079/18(o) above); 27th June 2018 from the Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales – Notice that the Commission are carrying out a Review of the Electoral Arrangements for the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot.
084/18 COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Welfare Park Project Committee reported that they had met with representatives of the Pen Y Cymoedd Grant Funding Scheme on 27th June 2018 to clarify some outstanding queries that they had. It was confirmed that the “Expression of Interest” for a full Grant for the scheme will be placed in front of the Grant Panel on 26th July 2018 & if they are in agreement with the scheme, a full application will e made for discussion by the Grant Panel in late September/early October 2018.
Phase 1 of the Project has started with the old pump house being demolished in the week commencing 16th July 2018.
085/18 MATTERS RAISED BY COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS: There were no matters raised by Councillors at this meeting.
086/18 SET DATE, TIME & VENUE of NEXT MEETING: The next ordinary meeting of the Blaengwrach Community Council will be held at 6.30pm on Thursday 13th September 2018 in the St. Mary`s Church Hall.
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 7.50PM