DRAFT Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Blaengwrach Community Council held in the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach, commencing 6.30pm, on Thursday 15th July 2021.
PRESENT: Councillors: Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Menna Mortimore (Deputy Chair) & Helen Williams;
ALSO PRESENT: Clive Baker – Clerk to Blaengwrach Community Council;
MEMBER(S) OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT: Mr. Stuart James;
21/21-APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies had been received from the following Councillors: Philippa Richards; Amanda Doherty; Andrew Hippsley; Bethan Parry; Rhian Williams; Rhian Watts & Julia Hippsley;
22/21-DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST: Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
23/21-CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 24th June 2021 AS A TRUE RECORD: The minutes of the meeting held on 24th June 2021 were accepted as a true record of that meeting;
24/21-MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MEETING OF 24th JUNE 2021 & AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Reopening of the Welfare Hall – Two of the “regular” users have not yet decided when they will return. Clarification of the statement made by the First Minister on 14th July 2021 on the “Relaxation of Covid Guidelines in Wales” are awaited before any further consideration can be given to returning to full use of the Hall;
b) Christmas 2021 Celebrations (Date set for Light Switch-On is Saturday 20th November 2021) – A request for “Santa`s Sleigh” to be present was sent on 25th June 2021 and the Christmas tree was ordered on the same day, The grant applications for the “banner”, street lights and extra lights for the tree have been prepared and sent to the grant providers. The Clerk & Councillor Edwards met with a representative of the “preferred contractor” in relation to the posts to support the “banner” and lamp posts for the street lights in the High Street. The contractors are preparing a report which, when received, will be sent to NPTCBC, Street Lighting Department to request an agreement to use the lamp posts in the High Street. NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO PARTY HELD IN THE WELFARE HALL IN 2021;
c) The Effect of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 on this Community Council – Clarification on the eligibility relating to the General Power of Competence for Town/Community Councils is still awaited. The “Final” draft of the report from the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales was received earlier today and it states, in relation to number of County Councillors, “Blaengwrach is to form one (1) County Council Ward, which is to be known as Blaengwrach and Glynneath West (the existing wards of Blaengwrach, Glynneath West and Glynneath West Central will merge as one (1) ward) with effect from May 2022.” Therefore, rather than three (3) County Councillors presently representing Blaengwrach (1 at present) and Glynneath (2 at present) the “new” wards will be represented by two (2) County Councillors with effect from the May 2022 Local Elections;
d) Litter Bins in the Park – The two 40 litre bins will be put into place as soon as possible;
e) Request by the Dunraven Arms to Place an Access Gate in the Wall of the Welfare Park – The work on the wall/gate will commence on 30th July 2021. It is expected to take seven (7) days to complete;
f) Councillor Vacancy under Section 86 of the Local Government Act 1972 – The expiry time/date for candidates to show/declare their interest was 5pm on 30th June 2021. One (1) letter was received and therefore the person who declared their interest was CO-OPTED on 1st July 2021. The Co-Opted Member, Councillor Helen Williams, signed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office on 2nd July 2021. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
g) The Council`s 2020-2021 Annual Return (Accounts) – The Annual Return and all relevant paperwork, together with the Internal Auditor`s Report, was sent to the External Auditor on 1st July 2021 and the required “Notice of Exercise of Elector`s Rights” will be published on 26th July 2021. The potential “new internal auditor” for future years, commencing year ending 31st March 2022, was contacted on 29th June 2021 and has agreed to carry out the future internal audits. The change of Internal Auditor was approved by the Council and the existing internal auditor will be contacted to inform them of the change;
h) Revisit of the Agreement for Use of an Area of the Park by The Mine – The owner of The Mine attended the meeting and a review of the agreement was undertaken. He apologised that he had forgotten to “rope off the area of the park” but has got the ropes etc. and this will be done within the next seven days. It was agreed that the gazebos will be removed each evening, with a dispensation for a Saturday as the restaurant opens for lunch time servings on a Sunday. It was also agreed that should any resident in High Street need access to their back gates then if they contact The Mine, giving reasonable notice, then he will try to accommodate as much has he can;
i) The Council`s Human Resources Committee (AGM 2021, Minute AGM05/21) – At the “Closed” (NOTE: ALL HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD IN CLOSED SESSION) HR Committee meeting held on 1st July 2021, Councillor Amanda Doherty confirmed that she would stay on this committee. It was also resolved that as Councillor Doherty was remaining on the committee that Councillor Menna Mortimore replace Councillor Rhian Williams on this committee. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
j) Agenda Item 5a – The Defibrillator in the Welfare Hall – This defibrillator has been in place for well over seven years and it has been decided to replace it with a more up to date model. Whilst this was being discussed it was decided to look to put an extra “outdoor” model on the wall near the notice board in the High Street. The Chair & Clerk will obtain prices etc. over the next few months;
k) Agenda Item 5b – The 2021 Remembrance Service – It was decided to await further clarification of the Wales Covid Guidelines before deciding if the service will take place “indoors” (in the Welfare Hall). If this is not possible it is planned to hold a service outside the Hall (in the Welfare Park);
25/21-Planning: There were no planning applications received for the Ward between 25th June 2021 and 15th July 2021;
26/21 – CRIME & POLICING:
The “reported” crime figures for Blaengwrach for May 2021 were 24. There were broken down as follows: Anti-Social Behaviour – 3; Criminal Damage & Arson – 2; Other Thefts – 2 & Violent & Sexual Offences – 17. NOTE: FOR DEFINITIONS OF THE REPORTING GROUPS USED BY THE POLICE, PLEASE VISIT THE SOUTH WALES POLCE WEBSITE.
A firm date has not been received for the next PACT meeting;
27/21- Finance:
For period 25th June 2021 to 15th July 2021:
Payments Made:
Staff Pension Scheme (3 weeks) – £38.85;
Welsh Water – Hall Water Rates – £104.00;
Welsh Water – Cemetery Water Rates – £12.00;
HMRC – Tax & NI Due 6.6.21 to 5.7.21 – £92.76;
NPTCBC – Hall General Rates – £428.00;
NPTCBC – Cemetery General Rates – £46.00;
Councillor Menna Mortimore – 2021-2022 Councillor`s Allowance – £150.00;
O2 – Council Mobile Top-Up – £30.00;
Tesco – 1 black & 1 colour printer cartridge for office – £43.00;
Small Plant & Machinery Ltd – Service & repair of Strimmer – £70.00;
The Post Office – Postages for Submission of Applications & Associated Paperwork to Grant Providers (Christmas Lights Project) – £2.39;
INCOME RECEIVED:
Hall Hire & Other Rental Fees – £70.00;
Monthly Interest on Reserve Account – £3.86;
28/21- Correspondence:
Various Update from the Wales Government relating to the Wales Covid-19 Pandemic & Guidelines;
16/6/2021 from One Voice Wales – The Welsh Government`s “Programme for Government and Associated Well-Being” Statement;
8/7/2021 from One Voice Wales – Guidance for Town/Community Councils on “Operation London Bridge”;
15/7/2021 from NPTCBC – Final Recommendations from the Boundary Commission for Wales in relation to merging the Bleangwrach Ward with the Glynneath West and Glynneath West Central Wards thus reducing the number of County Councillors representing the area;
15/7/2021 from Councillor Bethan Parry – Request for Dispensation to step down from Council duties for a period of 3 (three) months due to work commitments. THIS REQUEST WAS AGREED. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
Section 137 Requests: There were NO Section 137 Requests received between 25th June 2021 and 15th July 2021;
29/21-County Councillor`s Report – Councillor Carolyn Edwards had no further reports for this meeting;
30/21-Set Time, Date, Venue and Proposed Agenda Items for the Next Meeting: The next scheduled meeting will take place on Thursday 16th September 2021 (NOTE: THERE IS NO MEETING IN AUGUST 2021). It is due to commence at 6.30pm and will, if Covid Guidelines allow, be held in the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach. Notices of the Agenda for the meeting will be “posted” at least three working days before it is due to take place.
The meeting closed at 7.45pm.