DRAFT Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting, Held via Zoom, at 6.30pm on Thursday 18th February 2021.
PRESENT: Councillor Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Councillor Amanda Doherty (Vice Chair); Councillor Philippa Richards; Councillor Menna Mortimore & Councillor Bethan Parry;
ALSO PRESENT: Clive Baker – Clerk to the Council;
NOTE: There were no members of the public present;
54/20 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Chris Kelly, Rhian Watts & Rhian Williams had sent their apologies;
55/20 DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST: Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
56/20 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD OF THAT MEETING: The minutes of the meeting held on 21st January 2021 were confirmed as a true record of that meeting;
57/20 MATTERS ARISING & AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Updates of Senedd Guidelines for the Wales Cornoavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic – Various updates have been received since the last meeting. They have been examined by the Clerk & the Councillors and any required actions have been put into place;
b) Damage to the Bridge Near Chain Road – Although NPTCBC Engineers had estimated that the work required would be complete by 29th January 2021 a further problem with the side panels of the bridge has been discovered. An update from the engineers state that they “hope that all outstanding work will be complete by 21st February 2021;
c) Purchase of a Mower for the Cemetery – A mower is not classed as an “essential item”. A “best fit” mower will be purchased as soon as possible after the “lockdown” has been lifted;
d) On-Going Vandalism at the Welfare Park – The Local Police are continuing to monitor the area;
e) The Council Laptop – A further quote was obtained from Amazon and an Acer Laptop was purchased for £649.99. A “Lifetime Office” Programme was purchased for £119.99 and a Norton Security Package, at £14.99 per year, was also purchased and loaded onto the new laptop. The “new” laptop was brought into use on 15th February 2021. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
f) Christmas 2021 Celebrations – No further quotes for a “Cross Street Banner” have been received although one company who were asked to quote had contacted the Clerk to say that has they had “furloughed” their staff they would NOT BE ABLE TO QUOTE for the item. Over the next month either the Clerk or the Chair will contact NPTCBC, Streetlighting to find out if the existing lighting columns are suitable for the “banner”, if one is purchased, and if not what is required, and at what cost, so that the columns may be used.
A 6ft “Wooden Snowman” has been found in the shed in the park and will need to be looked at to see if it is “fit for use”. If it is it will need repainting and a “fixing” will need to be fitted to the base (if it is to be placed on the existing proposed site of the Christmas Tree);
g) Review of Council Fees – The local funeral director has been informed of the revised “Cemetery” fees which come into affect on 1st April 2021. There are NO organisations attending the Hall at the moment but they will be contacted as soon as possible when Pandemic Guidelines relating to indoor meetings ease to let them know the new rates of hire;
h) Agenda Item 5a – Possible Future Development of the Welfare Park (Item brought forward from November 2020 Meeting) – It has been decided to consult with NPTCBC, Education, Leisure & Lifelong Learning Department to see what their thoughts would be on further development at this time and if a feasibility study will be needed for any proposed development. If there is “scope” for further development, then a consultation with residents of the village will take place to get their feedback on what they would like to see at the park;
i) Agenda Item 5b – Items Stored in the Shed in the Welfare Park- As most of the Council owned items stored in the shed have been their for over 15 (fifteen) years and the majority of them are now broken, it was decided to get a skip and clear the shed of these “old/broken” items;
j) Agenda Item 5c – Renewal of British Gas Heating Service Contract for the Welfare Hall – A renewal of £883.20 has been received for cover for the twelvemonths up to 23rd January 2022. The Clerk had contacted Utility Warehouse (who supply the Council`s electricity) asking for a quote for the same cover but was told that they were unable to quote until they were the Council`s gas supplier (the existing British Gas Fixed Term/Price Contract expires on 1st October 2021 and a diary note has been made to transfer the gas supply to Utility Warehouse, as decided by the Council in 2019). After some discussion it was decided to renew the contract with British Gas for a further 12 months but to look for quotes for “the same cover” in October/November 2021 in readiness for the expiry of the above mentioned British Gas Service Contract;
k) Agenda Item 5d – Proposal from Glynneath Town Council for Collaborate Use of “NPTCBC Leader Funding” with a “Dedicated Project Officer” Driving Agreed Initiatives (with Glynneath Town Council, Resolven Community Council & Blaengwrach Community Council as the collaborative parties)- An email was received by the Clerk & the Chair on 9th February 2021 asking if representative(s) of Blaengwrach Community Council would like to meet with the representatives of the other two councils to discuss the concept. Councillor Amanda Doherty agreed to be the Blaengwrach Community Council for this initiative. COUNCILLOR DOHERTY`S OFFER WAS AGRRED BY THE FULL COUNCIL;
58/20 PLANNING: There were no planning applications made for the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach Ward between 22nd January 2021 & 18th February 2021;
59/20 CRIME & POLICING: Although there have been no PACT meetings held or local crime figures quoted by the South Wales Police since 18th March 2020, they have decided to try to trail an “on-line Zoom PACT Meeting” in April 2021. If any further information is received it will be reported in future monthly meetings;
60/20 FINANCE:(For Period 22nd January 2021 to 18th February 2021):
PAYMENTS MADE:
Welsh Water – Monthly Water Rates for Welfare Hall – £104.00;
Welsh Water – Monthly Water Rates for Cemetery – £17.00;
Utility Warehouse – Electricity @ Hall (December 2020) – £55.68;
HMRC – Tax & NI Payable (6.1.21 to 5.2.21) – £84.50;
Staff Pension Scheme Payments – £48.84;
O2 – Council Mobile “Top-Up” – £30.00;
British Gas – Gas @ Hall 17.12.20 to 31.1.21 – £284.36;
Amazon UK – New Council Laptop (Acer) – £649.99;
Currys PC World – “Lifetime Office” for New Laptop – £119.99;
Norton Security – Security for New Laptop – £14.99;
Centregreat Ltd – Supply, dress, removal, installing new electrical connections for & digging new pit for 2020 Christmas Tree – £1,806.00;
INCOME RECEIVED:
Hall Hire/Other Rental Fees – £30.00;
Burial Fees – £275.00;
Monthly Interest on “Reserve Account” – £6.55;
61/20 Correspondence: Various updates from the Welsh Government relating to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic;
17.2.2021 from the Welsh Government – Electoral Reform Newsletter relating to 2021 Senedd Cymru Election & 2022 Local Government Elections (County, Town & Community Councils in Wales);
SECTION 137 REQUESTS: There were no Section 137 Requests received between 22nd January 2021 & 18th February 2021;
62/20 COUNTY COUNCILLOR`S REPORT(S):
a) Councillor Carolyn Edwards reported that this Council has been offered several “litter pickers” and the full Council agreed to accept the offer. It is hoped to arrange a “litter pick”, including the involvement of the local school, under Keep Wales Tidy Guidelines, taking into consideration the prevailing Coronavirus Guidelines, as soon as possible;
b) She also reported that the A465 resurfacing has been started and will continue in the area over the next several weeks;
63/20 SET DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING: The next scheduled meeting will take place at 6.30pm on Thursday 18th March 2021. It is proposed to hold the meeting in the Welfare Hall to allow 4 (four) members of the public to attend if they so wish (The four people to attend will be on a “first come” basis and those wishing to attend will need to email the Clerk to confirm). However, holding the meeting in the Hall IS DEPENDENT ON FURTHER CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 Guidelines received from the Welsh Government. If it is not possible to hold the meeting in the Hall, then it will be held via Zoom. NOTE: Notice/Agenda for meetings will be posted at least three working days before they are due to take place.
The meeting closed at 7.10pm.