The November 2021 meeting was held at 6.30pm on Thursday 25th November 2021 in the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5TB.
PRESENT: Councillors – Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Menna Mortimore (Vice-Chair); Julia Hippsley; Amanda Doherty; Philippa Richards & Andrew Hippsley:
ALSO PRESENT: Clive Baker – Clerk to the Council:
There were no members of the public present:
51/21-APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Helen Williams & Rhian Williams had sent their apologies. No apologies had been received from Councillor Bethan Parry:
52/21-DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST: Councillor Carolyn Edwards made her declaration as a County Councillor with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and Councillor Amanda Doherty made her declaration of interest with reference to Minute 54/21(e) below:
53/21-CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD: The minutes of the meeting held on 21st October 2021 were accepted as a true record of that meeting:
54/21-MATTERS ARISING AND AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Christmas 2021 Celebrations – The request for agreement for use of the lamp posts in High Street for “Christmas Lights” was sent to NPTCBC on 19th July 2021 but to date, no response has been received although Christmas lights appeared on the lamp posts on the morning of 16th November 2021. (NOTE: THEY ARE NOT THE LIGHTS BOUGHT BY THE COUNCIL IN AUGUST 2021 but are lights the contractors had in their stores). These lights and the Christmas tree lights were lit by the contractors on Friday 19th November 2021. The suppliers have reported that they are having problems supplying the “banner” but hope it will be put up and lit before Christmas. The children`s selection boxes have been delivered to the school for distribution. NOTE: FROM JANUARY 2022 THIS ITEM, TO CONCLUDE THE 2021 CELEBRATIONS, WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO A NEW AGENDA ITEM FOR CHRISTMAS 2022 CELEBRATIONS:
b) Litter Bins – These are an item on the “Winter Work Programme” and WILL be in place in readiness for Spring 2022. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED:
c) Defibrillators – The Council are awaiting an answer from the NPTCBC, Members Fund to cover the installation costs. The defibrillators will be “outdoor” models with one situated on the outside wall of the Welfare Hall and one on the wall (by the Council notice board) in High Street:
d) Remote Meetings – There has been no further information received in relation to this item:
e) COUNCILLOR AMANDA DOHERTY HAD DECLARED HER INTEREST IN THIS ITEM AND LEFT THE MEETING, TAKING NO PART IN THE DISCUSSION OR VOTE MADE. (THE ITEM WAS DISCUSSED AFTER ALL OTHER BUSINESS TO ALLOW COUNCILLOR DOHERTY TO LEAVE THE MEETING ENTIRELY). The Flat Roofs of the Welfare Hall – Four (4) quotes have been obtained for repair/replacement of the roofs. All four quotes are very similar in the final cost/work quoted. The quotes were examined by the Council and after a lengthy discussion, the Council decided to accept the quote from KAD Construct (UK) Limited and to use the quote to apply for a Community Council Minor Project Grant from NPTCBC. (Early indications relating to the work on the paths/boundary wall of the Welfare Park are that the cost will be between £50,000.00 & £100,000.00. It was decided to postpone further discussion on paths/boundary wall until after the May 2022 Local Council Elections):
f) Agenda Item 5a – The Setting of the Council`s 2022-2023 Budget and the 2022-2023 Precept (Local Rates) – Figures for the 2022-2023 Budget had been prepared and these were examined by the Councillors present. The proposed income figures total £54,650.00 against a proposed expenditure figure of £56,985.00. This gives a possible shortfall of £2,335.00 over the financial year, caused primarily by an allowance having to be made for costs relating to the May 2022 Town/Community Council Elections which are scheduled to take place on 5th May 2022. Should the “shortfall” occur, the Council have decided to cover it from existing “reserves”. Following the setting of the Budget, the projected figures for the 2022-2023 Precept were examined and discussed. After some discussion it was unanimously that THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE TO THE PRECEPT FOR 2022-2023. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED:
g) Agenda Item 5b – Update on the Upper Neath Valley Cluster Group – A second grant application has been sent to the Grant Provider to cover the cost of the Project Manager for the next two years. He has asked for each Council within the “cluster” to consider and inform him of six (6) projects they would like to see undertaken within the next two years. NOTE: ANY COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATION IN CWMGWRACH CAN MEET WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER TO DISCUSS/SEEK HELP FOR ANY PROPOSED COMMUNITY BASED PROJECT:
55/21-PLANNING APPLICATIONS: There were NO planning applications received for the Blaengwrach Ward between 21st October 2021 and 25th November 2021:
56/21-CRIME AND DISORDER: The reported crime figures for the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach Area for September 2021 were 9. These were broken down as follows – Anti-Social Behaviour – 1; Burglary – 1; Public Disorder – 2 & Violent & Sexual Offences – 5.
57/21-FINANCE (for the period 22nd October 2021 to 25th November 2021):
PAYMENTS MADE:
Staff Pension Scheme – £64.75 (5 Weeks);
Welsh Water – Water rates for Welfare Hall – £105.50;
Welsh Water – Water rates for Cemetery – £12.00;
NPTCBC – General rates for Welfare Hall – £428.00;
NPTCBC – General rates for Cemetery – £46.00;
Utility Warehouse Ltd – Electricity at Welfare Hall (October 2021) – £58.05;
HMRC – Tax & NI (6.10.21 to 5.11.21) – £94.95;
O2 – Council Mobile “Top-Up” – £30.00;
Tesco – 180 Selection Boxes for Children`s Christmas Gifts – £180.00;
Viking Direct – Office Stationery & Cleaning Materials – £109.20;
B & Q plc – Maintenance items for 2021 Winter Programme of Work – £200.47;
The Range – Varnish for Hall Stage – £14.99;
The Royal British Legion – Donation to the 2021 Poppy Appeal – £50.00;
Glynneath Town Council – Training course fee (grounds-man) for routine inspection of play ground equipment (16th September 2021) – £123.75;
NPTCBC – Trade waste collections (half yearly) – £265.21:
INCOME RECEIVED:
Hall Hire & Other Rental Fees – £120.00;
Burial Fees – £125.00;
Monthly interest on “Reserve Account” – £5.53:
58/21-CORRESPONDENCE:
8.11.21 from the Boundary Commission for Wales – Notice of a “Face to Face” Consultation on 10th February 2022 on the “Proposed reduction of Members of the UK Parliament representing constituencies in Wales”;
10.11.21 from NPTCBC, Returning Officer – Details of the first stage of preparation for the 2022 County Council and Town/Community Council Elections (5th May 2022);
17.11.2021 from One Voice Wales – Summary of the Wales Government`s “Timetable of Events and Required Details for Candidates Standing in the 2022 Local Elections” (The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Wales) Rules 2021 and the Local Elections (Communities) (Wales) Rules 2021);
21.11.2021 from the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner – Survey entitled “How People Feel About Policing in Their Local Area”;
23.11.21 from Keep Wales Tidy – Notice of a campaign “Leave Only Pawprints” (Dog fouling in Public Places in Wales):
SECTION 137 REQUESTS:
18.11.21 from Marie Currie Charity – Request for Donation – Request declined:
59/21-COUNTY COUNCILLOR`S REPORT(S): Councillor Carolyn Edwards had no further reports for this meeting:
60/21-SET DATE, TIME, VENUE AND ANY PROPOSED AGENDA ITEM(S) FOR THE NEXT MEETING: NOTE: IT WAS DECIDED THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A MEETING IN DECEMBER 2021. THEREFORE, THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY 20th JANUARY 2022. It is proposed to start the meeting at 6.30pm in the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5TB. The venue MAY be subject to change depending on changes in the Coronavirus/Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Wales Government:
The meeting closed at 8pm.