PRESENT: Councillor Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Councillor Menna Mortimore (Vice Chair); Councillor Philippa Richards; Councillor Amanda Doherty; Councillor Andrew Hippsley; Councillor Chris Kelly.
ALSO PRESENT: Clive Baker (Clerk to the Council) ;
109/18 APOLOGIES: Councillors Rhian Watts; Rhian Williams; Julia Hippsley & Bethan Parry had all sent their apologies due to work commitments;
110/18 DECLARATIONS of INTEREST: Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
111/18 CONFIRMATION of the MINUTES of the MEETING of 11th OCTOBER 2018 as a TRUE RECORD: The minutes of the meeting of the 11th October 2018 were accepted as a true record (Proposed by Councillor Philippa Richards & seconded by Councillor Carolyn Edwards);
112/18 MATTERS ARISING & AGENDA ITEMS: a) Quotes for the Fire Alarm System – It was decided to postpone any further discussion on this item until the outcome of the Grant for Phase Two of the Park Project is known (THIS ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MINUTES UNTIL THE NEXT DISCUSSION TAKES PLACE); b) Charities Commission – The 2018 return was submitted on 16th October 2018 and is now up to date (THIS PART OF THE MINUTE IS NOW CLOSED). However, upon checking the details of the named Trustees it was found that one of the Trustees had “passed away” & two other were no longer “serving Councillors”. The Trustees will be an agenda item to be discussed in one of the early 2019 meetings. (THIS MINUTE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MINUTES UNTIL THE NEXT DISCUSSION TAKES PLACE); c) Litter/Dog Fouling Bins on Parish Road – Councillor Edwards reported that NPTCBC had decided not to revisit this item until the next Financial Year (April 2019); d) Update on Hire Agreements – One from three agreements has been received but the Clerk sent a letter to the two remaining “hirers” to say that unless they contacted the Council by 31st October 2018, it would be “taken as read” that they understood their responsibilities as hirers (THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED); e) Parking in Heol Y Felin – Councillor Carolyn Edwards is meeting with an officer of NPTCBC on 30th November 2018; f) Leases – The copy leases will be sent to NPTCBC, Legal Department for examination in January 2019, with a view to renewing the leases from 1st April 2019. (THIS ITEM IS CLOSED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2019); g) The Felling of the Tree in the Welfare Park – This will now be done either within Phase Two of the Park Project or early next summer; h) Discussion on Honouring a Local Historian for his Work in the Glynneath/Cwmgwrach Area – There was no update available on this item; i) Further Funding & Other Matters Relating to Phase Two of the Park Project – The Pen Y Cymoedd Grant Panel are due to meet on 22nd November 2018 & the Council will learn the “outcome” of the meeting in the first week of December 2018. However, Grants up to 40% of the proposed project cost have been secured on a “conditional offer” (depending on securing the Pen Y Cymoedd Grant); j) Christmas 2018 – In readiness for the celebration on 24th November 2018, the contractor for the lights has been instructed; a tree has been obtained from the lighting contractor & will be in place in readiness for 24th November 2018; Santa`s Sleigh has been arranged & a Party Show/Games (starting at 6pm in the Welfare Hall) has been booked); k) County Council Representation for the Cwmgwrach Ward – The Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales has acknowledged the cooment recently made by this Council. One Voice Wales will consider the comments before they decide if they will send their comments to the Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales; l) Agenda Item 5a – Preliminary Discussion on the 2019-2020 Council Budget – It was decided to postpone this discussion until the December 2018 meeting; m) Agenda Item 5b – The Future Use of Clun Y Bont – It was reported that a developer proposes to redevelop the existing flats into twenty (20) 1 & 2 bedroom flats for Independent Living (the only Planning Permission required will be to convert the existing Recreational Room into a flat.) The developer hopes to commence his project in early 2019. THIS INFORMATION WAS NOTED BY THE COUNCIL; n) Agenda Item 5c – Dr. Jack Howell, an Audiologist with the Claritas Group gave a short talk on the fully funded services they can provide to Ex-Service Personnel who have problems with their hearing. The service is run in conjunction with the Royal British Legion Veterans Hearing Fund. Claritas can provide a home visit service and anyone interested in obtaining further details should contact Clare on 0808 301 8377 or visit veterans.claritashearing.co.uk; o) Agenda Item 5d – “Adopting” the Light Highlighting the Witch – A suggestion had been made by a Councillor that the Blaengwrach Community Council “adopt” the light as NPTCBC may decide not to maintain this light in the future. The Clerk reported that before any decision could be made, contact would be needed with an independent electricity provider as the Community Council would need to pay any future bills for the electricity supply & would be responsible for any future maintenance of the light & lighting column. Councillor Carolyn Edwards then reported that she had contacted NPTCBC, Lighting Department who had stated that a repair would need to be undertaken on the light at an approximate cost of £1200.00. Due to the above information, it was decided NOT to pursue this item at the moment. (THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED);
113/18 PLANNING: 29/10/2018 – Euro Garages Ltd – Details pursuant to Condition 16 (Surface Water Drainage) of Planning Application P2017/0112, granted on 8th June 2017 on Land between the A465 & High Street, Blaengwrach, Neath SA11 5NZ;
114/18 CRIME & DISORDER: The reported crime figures for Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach area for September 2018 were 13 (thirteen). They are broken down as: Anti-Social Behaviour – 3; Criminal Damage & Arson – 2; Other Theft – 1 & Violent & Sexual Offences – 7.
The next PACT meeting will take place in the Bethania Community Centre, High Street, Glynneath at 6.30pm on Wednesday 21st November 2018;
115/18 FINANCE: For Period 11th October 2018 to 7/11/2018:
Payments Made:
NPTCBC – General Rates on Hall (Monthly) – £411.00; NPTCBC – General Rates on Cemetery (Monthly) – £44.00; Welsh Water – Water Rates for Cemetery (Monthly) – £30.50; Welsh Water – Water Rates for Hall (Monthly) – £130.00; H R Harris & Partners – Audit Fee 2017-2018 – £1,260.00; NPTCBC – Trade Waste Collections (for period 1/10/18 to 31/3/19) – £225.42; Alan Lewis Ltd – Project Management for Phase 1 of the Park Project – £828.00; Viking Direct – Stationery & Cleaning Materials – £164.16; Small Plant & Machinery – Replace Steering Linkage on Tractor – £63.60; Welsh Water – Balance of Water Rates for the Cemetery – £18.14.
Income Received:
Hall Hire – £28.00; Burial fees – £110.00.
116/18 – CORRESPONDENCE: 28/10/2018 – NPTCBC – Poster on Important Changes to Recycling & Refuse Collections in Neath Port Talbot; 29/10/2018 – NPTCBC, Legal Department – Invitation to Town/Community Council Clerks to attend a seminar on Standards/Codes of Conduct/Ombudsman Complaints on 15/1/2019 – NOTE: THE CLERK WILL ATTEND; 7/11/2018 – The Welsh Government (Carnegie UK Trust) – Briefing on the Institute of Welsh Affairs collaborate project “Understanding Welsh Places”;
117/18 – COMMITTEE REPORTS: There were no reports made to this meeting;
118/18 – MATTERS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS: There were no further matters raised by Councillors;
119/18 – DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS for the NEXT MEETING: The next monthly meeting of the Council will be held in the Sy. Mary`s Church Hall,Blaengwrach at 6.30pm on Thursday 13th December 2018. There were NO proposed agenda items suggested at this meeting.
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 8.10pm.