DRAFT Minutes of the Meeting of the Blaengwrach Community Council held in St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach at 6.30pm on Thursday 20th February 2020.
PRESENT: Councillor Carolyn Edwards (Chair of the Council); Councillor Amanda Doherty; Councillor Julia Hippsley; Councillor Andrew Hippsley.
ALSO PRESENT: Clive Baker – Clerk to the Council.
There were no members of the public present.
075/19 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Councillors Menna Mortimore; Philippa Richards; Rhian Williams; Rhian Watts & Chris Kelly had sent their apologies;
076/19 DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST:
Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC);
077/19 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD:
The minutes of the meeting of 16th January 2020 were accepted as a true record of that meeting. Proposed by Councillor Amanda Doherty & seconded by Councillor Carolyn Edwards;
078/19 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16th JANUARY 2020 & AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Parking in Heol Y Felin – The revised plan has been agreed at NPTCBC, Streetcare and it takes into consideration the safety to children & adults who use the bottom gate of the Welfare Park. No firm date has been given for the work to start;
b) The Re-Opening of the Parish Road – There is a meeting on 18th March 2020 in NPTCBC Offices in Baglan Energy Park to discuss the results of the consultation held in the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach & Rhigos areas;
c) The Pedestrian Crossing near the Health Centre – There has been a hold-up. Western Power have been instructed to fit power to the crossing but a date for this to take place has not yet been published;
d) The Community Council Leases – There is no update available on this item;
e) Use of an Area of the Welfare Park by the “Bistro” – The agreement sent to Mr. James on 6th January 2020 has been returned, signed, on 10th February 2020;
f) Purchase of Baby Changing Facilities for the Welfare Hall – The items have been purchased and fitted in the Ladies Toilets in the Hall.NOTE: The unit could not be fitted in the Disabled Toilet as the walls in this area are plaster board and it MUST be fitted, for Health & Safety reasons, on a stone/brick wall; THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
g) The Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales Recommendations on the Number of County Councillors for Blaengwrach/Glynneath (To reduce the number of County Councillors from three to two) – Letters from between 15% to 20% of people living in Cwmgwrach/Blaengwrach, stating their objections to the proposal, have been sent to the Chief Executive of the Local Democratic Boundary Commission but no response has been received back from the Commission;
h) The Use of the Welfare Hall as a “Place of Refuge” by Blaengwrach School – The required written request has been received and the relevant keys will be cut and given to the School Headmistress within the next few weeks;
i) Purchase of a Defibrillator for Blaengwrach Area – This has been looked into & the Council have been advised that the defibrillator will need to be fitted to a wall with continuous electrical access. The Council will speak to several local businesses within the next few weeks to ask for permission to fit it to their wall(s) and when the permission is received it is proposed to apply to a Local Grant Provider to purchase the defibrillator & cabinet. It is proposed that the cabinet will be a locked cabinet and the number for access will be given to the Wales Ambulance Service as per their guidelines;
j) The Sign at the Local KFC – The sign has now been amended to read “KFC, Blaengwrach”. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
k) Agenda Item 5a – 2020 Christmas Celebrations – It was decided to re-book the same entertainer as 2019. A dare for the celebrations and other details will be discussed at the next meeting;
l) Agenda Item 5b – VE Day 75th Anniversary Celebrations – It is proposed that there is a “low-key” celebration (tea, coffee & the showing of a film), to be held in the Welfare Hall on Friday 8th May 2020. Councillor Edwards reported that the Local Old Age Group intend to hold their celebration at the Hall on the evening of Wednesday 6th May 2020;
m) Agenda Item 5c – The Change of Trustees of the Council`s Open Spaces Charity – The Clerk explained the requirements for changing the Trustees. Several options were discussed including an option of inviting “non-Councillors” to become trustees. It was decided to place this item on the agenda for the Council`s 2020 Annual Genral Meeting (May 2020);
n) Agenda Item 5d – Renewal of the Council`s Annual Membership of One Voice Wales – It was agreed to renew the membership for the next twelve months.
079/19 PLANNING:
20/01/2020 – Ref: P2020/0040 – Euro-Garages Ltd – Details pursuant to Condition 10 (Verification Report) on Planning Application P2017/0112, granted on 8th JUne 2017, on Land between the A465 & High Street, Blaengwrach;
18/02/2020 – Ref: P2019/5157 – Mr. Rupert Mathias, Can Gwilym House, Cilsanns Lane, Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 2NU – Reserved matters following “out-line” approval of Planning Application P2016/0135 approved on 18th August 2016, in relation to four (4) detached dwellings on Land between 2 7 10A, Heol Wenallt, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5PS.
080/19 CRIME & DISORDER:
The reported crime figures for December 2019 were 13. They were:
2 Anti-Social Behaviour; 1 Burglary; 1 Criminal Damage & Arson; 1 Other Theft; 1 Shoplifting; 1 Vehicle Crime & 6 Violent & Sexual Offences.
The date of the next PACT meeting is Wednesday 11th March 2020, 6.30pm in the Bethania Community Centre, High Street, Glynneath. NOTE:THE PUBLIC CAN ATTEND ANY LOCAL PACT MEETING TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GIVE THEIR VIEWS RE: LOCAL CRIME & POLICING.
081/19 FINANCE:
For period 17th January 2020 to 20th February 2020:
PAYMENTS MADE:
HMRC – Tax on Clerk`s Salary – £79.80;
Welsh Water – Monthly Water Rates (Welfare Hall) – £104.00;
Welsh Water – Monthly Water Rates (Cemetery) – £38.00;
Staff Pension Scheme (5 weeks) – £58.10;
Viking Direct – Cleaning Materials & Washroom Supplies – £156.62;
Screwfix – Maintenance Items for Park/Cemetery – £251.71;
Amazon – 1500 Dog “Waste” Bags – £30.87;
Argos – Hard Drive for the Office – £42.99;
The Washroom Hub – Baby Changing Unit (for Welfare Hall) – £119.95;
Centregreat Limited – 2019 Christmas Tree & Lights – £806.40;
W.A.F.E.R.S. – Hire of Santa`s Sleigh for 2019 Christmas Celebrations – £200.00;
Tesco – Petrol for the Park (21st August 2019 to 31st January 2020) – £25.60.
INCOME RECEIVED:
Hall Hire – £399.00;
Burial Fees – £745.00;
Monthly Interest on Reserve (Saver) Account – £11.58;
Sale of Cans of Pop after 2019 Christmas Celebration – £15.00.
Whilst discussing finance, the Council agreed to take up a 12 month Service Contract with British Gas in relation to the boiler at the Welfare Hall. This was decided after the problems with repair of the broken boiler in January 2020. The Council will look at other Service Contracts for Comparison in October/November 2020.
082/19 CORRESPONDENCE:
21/1/2020 from NPTCBC, Legal Department – Notice of Proposed creation of a public bridleway & the extinguishment of an unclassified highway in the vicinity of a former railway bridge & Maesgwyn Farm in the Communities of Blaengwrach & Glynneath;
5/2/2020 from The Wales Audit Office – Press Release re: Town & Community Council Annual Returns;
7/2/2020 from The Wales Government – Key Information re: Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol)(Wales) Act 2018 which comes into force on 2nd March 2020;
13/2/2020 from the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales – Report/Recommendation on the Principles of Reimbursement of Cost of Care to Councillors;
18/2/2020 from the Wales Government – Notice of a Consultation “Making Wales Greener & More Prosperous – Beyond Recycling”;
20/2/2020 from the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales – Final Report & Confirmation of Councillors (County, Town & Community) Allowances for the Financial Year 2020-2021.
SECTION 137 Request(s):
24/1/2020 from Wales Air Ambulance Charity – Request for Donation towards their service. IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO MAKE A SECTION 137 AWARD AT THIS TIME.
083/19 MATTERS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS:
There were no other matters raised by Councillors.
084/19 SET DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting will be held on 19th March 2020 at 6.30pm in the St. Mary`s Church Hall. The first agenda item will be a short presentation by Liz Bickerton of Severn Wye Energy Ltd relating to a proposed project in the Cwmgwrach/Glynneath/Pontneddfechan area.
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 8pm.