The DRAFT Minutes of the Meeting of the Blaengwrach Community Council held, via “Zoom” at 6.30pm on Thursday 15th April 2021.
PRESENT: Councillors: Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Amanda Doherty (Vice Chair); Menna Mortimore; Julia Hippsley & Rhian Williams;
ALSO PRESENT: Clive Baker – Clerk to the Council;
There were no members of the public
present;
74/20 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Councillors: Chris Kelly; Rhian Watts; Bethan Parry & Philippa Richards had sent their apologies;
75/20 DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST: Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
76/20 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD: The minutes of the meeting held on 18th March 2021 were accepted as a true record of that meeting;
77/20 MATTERS ARISING (FROM MINUTES OF 18/3/21) & AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Welsh Government Updates on Coronavirus/Covid-19 Guidelines – If the guidelines remain as stated on 1st April 2021, then it is proposed that the Welfare Hall will reopen on Monday 17th May 2021. ALL ORGANISATIONS/OTHERN HIRERS WILL BE EXPECTED TO ADHERE TO ALL GUIDELINES e.g. KEEPING THEIR OWN “TRACK & TRACE” FORMS; APPOINTING A “COVID OFFICER” FOR THEIR ORGANISATION (THEY WILL BE EXPECTED TO INFORM THE COUNCIL OF THE NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER & EMAIL OF THE APPOINTED OFFICER) AND THIS “OFFICER” WILL NEED TO ENSURE “SOCIAL DISTANCING” ETC. IS OBSERVED. NOTE: Present guidelines state that the MAXIMIUM number of people attending “in-door” is to be 15 (fifteen);
An email was received from the Wales Audit Office and the External Auditor on 31st March 2021 stating that their opinion/report on the 2019-2020 Annual Return for ALL Councils HAD NOT been finialized due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. They state that they DO NOT expect to “finalize” the work until at least the end of July 2021. The 2020-2021 Annual Return MUST be prepared, presented to the Council and sent to the External Auditor by 30th June 2021. The External Auditor will try to send their report/opinion on ALL outstanding Annual Returns by 30th September 2021. THIS PART OF THIS ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MINUTES UNTILN FURTHER UPDATES ARE RECEIVED;
b) Damage to the Bridge near Chain Road – The NPTCBC Engineers expect to remove the scaffolding by the 30th April 2021;
c) Purchase of a Mower for the Cemetery – It has not been purchased to date as a suitable, affordable mower has NOT been found. THIS ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MINUTES UNTIL THE PURCHASE HAS TAKEN PLACE;
d) Vandalism etc. in the Welfare Park – The Police are continuing to monitor the area;
e) Christmas 2021 Celebrations – NPTCBC, Streetlighting Department have been contacted and they will visit to prepare a report for the most suitable place for the “Cross Street Banner” and all associated work needed if “the banner” is purchased;
f) Council Hire Fees – The new fees for both the Hall & the Cemetery are now in place and all existing hirers have been given the new rates. It is proposed to review the “Hall Fees” at the end of the Pandemic;
g) The Collaborate Use of NPTCBC Leader Funding Group (Members are Glynneath Town Council; Resolven Community Council, Clyne & Melincourt Community Council & Blaengwrach Community Council) – Councillor Amanda Doherty gave her report on the Group meetings she has attended:
The Terms of Reference for the Group:
PURPOSE:
1) For all four (4) member Councils to work together, with the aim of delivering a “joined-up” strategy to deliver projects to benefit the communities in the Upper Neath Valley;
2) Funding for identified projects will be sought from the different funding “pots” available;
3) The Group will work closely with the relevant representatives of NPTCBC;
4) Working relationships will be established with local interest groups to ensure no duplication of effort. It will also ensure that ALL parties are working towards a shared common goal that will benefit the Upper Neath Valley;
RESPONSIBILITIES: (NOTE: IT WAS AGREED BY THE GROUP THAT A PROJECT MANAGER WILL BE RECRUITED although NO details of salary etc. has been set at this time):
The responsibilities of the Project Manager are to be:
1) Establish relationships with on-going working groups & societies who are benefitting, or intending to benefit, the area. These already include: Zip Wire, Rhigos; Waterfall Country, Cymru & the Neath Tenant Canal Trust. (This list is not exhaustive and it will be the Project Manager`s role to identify all relevant groups & societies to work with);
2) Identify the various funding options available and establish working relationships with the relevant management teams/councils/government departments etc;
3) To work with NPTCBC & the Welsh Government to understand the Local Development Plan (LDP) for the area and provide input to both groups on how the LDP fits into this group`s evolving strategy;
ACCOUNTABILITY & REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS (GOVERNANCE): These will be established at a future meeting;
DECISION MAKING: The final agreement on decision making for the group will be established at a future meeting;
The Council agreed for Councillor Doherty to continue as the Council`s Representative on this Group;
h) Proposed Litter Pick – This will take place, with the assistance of Keep Wales Tidy, when Covid restrictions are eased further;
i) Agenda Item 5a – The Effect of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 on this Community Council – There are several items relevant to Town & Community Councils within this Act, some of which DO NOT come into force until after the 2022 Local Council Elections. Those that DO come into force before that election will be discussed and acted upon where necessary;
j) Agenda item 5b – Review of Litter Bins/Trade Waste Collections for the Welfare Park – Due to the increased “footfall” it has been decided to purchase two 40 litre “Osprey” outdoor litter bins, with required fittings etc, to be placed near the “kick about” area at the top of the park (cost of the bins = £191.88 (inclusive of VAT)). It was also decided to change the refuse collection bin supplied by NPTCBC from a 240 litre to a 660 litre so that the increase in refuse can be collected every fortnight. The increase in the cost of Trade Waste Collection will be £212.50 per year;
k) Renewal of Council General Insurance for 16.6.2021 to 15.6.2022 with Zurich Municipal – A premium of £2,803.63 (an increase of £73.32 on last year`s premium) has been quoted. The Council are in the last year of a three year agreement to obtain “cover” from Zurich and it was agreed to renew. (NOTE: The “cover” remains the same as last year). The Clerk will arrange for payment of the premium to be made in the week commencing 7th June 2021. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED.
78/20 PLANNING: There were NO planning application received for the Blaengwrach ward between 19th March 2021 & 15th April 2021;
79/20 CRIME & DISORDER: The reported crime figures for the area WILL NOT BE available during the Coronavirus Pandemic (South wales Police made the decision NOT to report local crime figures in March 2020);
The proposed “Zoom” PACT meeting has been postponed due to the Police Commissioner & Welsh Government Elections scheduled for Thursday 6th May 2021;
80/20 FINANCE: For the period 19th March 2021 to 15th April 2021:
PAYMENTS MADE:
Staff Pension Scheme – (4 weeks) – £49.31;
Welsh Water – Water Rates (Hall) – £104.00;
Welsh Water – Water Rates (Cemetery) – £17.00;
NPTCBC – General Rates (Hall) – £428.00;
NPTCBC – General Rates (Cemetery) – £46.10;
Utility Warehouse – Electricity at Hall (February 2021) – £52.12;
British Gas – Gas at Hall (17.2.21 to 16.3.2021) – £391.97;
O2 – Top up of Council Mobile – £30.00;
Tesco – Printer Cartridges for Office – £44.00;
One Voice Wales – 2021/2022 Membership Fee – £171.00.
INCOME RECEIVED:
Hall Hire/Other Rental Fees – £30.00;
Monthly Interest on “Reserve” Account – £3.65;
NOTE: A VAT Claim, under Section 126 of HMRC Guidelines, for £1,311.59 in respect of VAT paid between 1.4.2020 & 31.3.2021 has been sent to HMRC Corporate Treasury. As soon as the claim is settled the money will be transferred into the Reserve Account;
81/20 CORRESPONDENCE:
Various Updates from the Welsh Government relating to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic;
9.4.2021 from the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales – Notice of ban “Open Discussion” via Microsoft Teams (29th April 2021) for Councillors to attend to give their views/feedback on the Town & Community Councillors Remuneration (Wales) Framework;
14.4.2021 from NPTCBC, Project Development & Funding Officer – Request to “share” Pen Y Cymoedd Grant Application for “New Park” (completed September 2019) with Glynneath Town Council to assist them with their application for funding of their proposed Park Project. This request was agreed by full Council;
SECTION 137 Requests: There were NO Section 137 requests received between 19th March 2021 & 15th April 2021;
82/20 COUNTY COUNCILLOR`S REPORTS: Councillor Carolyn Edwards reported that NPTCBC intend to carry out a survey on High Street under Welsh Government Guidelines relating to “Setting a 20 m.p.h. speed limit in all “High Streets” in Wales by 2022. There has been no date set for this survey;
83/20 SET DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING: The next scheduled meeting will be the 2021 Annual General Meeting which will commence at 6.30pm on Thursday 20th May 2021. This will be followed by the May 2021 Meeting. It is proposed that the venue of both the meetings be the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach which will allow, under present Coronavirus Guidelines for four (4) members of the public to attend. (ANYONE WISHING TO ATTEND SHOULD EMAIL THE CLERK AS ATTENDANCE WILL BE ON A “FIRST COME” BASIS”). However the venue may have to be changed if the present Welsh Government Coronavirus Guidelines change.
The meeting closed at 7.15pm.