Minutes of the Meeting Held at 6.30pm on Thursday 21st November 2019 in the St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach.
PRESENT: Councillor Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Councillor Menna Mortimore (Deputy Chair); Councillor Philippa Richards;
Also: Clive Baker – Clerk to the Council;
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT: Mr. Stuart James (left the meeting at 6.50pm);
055/19 APOLOGIES: Apologies had been received from Councillor Julia Hippsley; Councillor Amanda Doherty; Councillor Rhian Williams; Councillor Rhian Watts; Councillor Chris Kelly & Councillor Andrew Hippsley;
056/19 DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST: Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC);
057/19 CONFIRMATION of the MINUTES of the LAST MEETING as a TRUE RECORD: The minutes of the meeting held on 17th October 2019 were accepted as a true record of that meeting. Proposed by Councillor Philippa Riachards & Seconded by Councillor Carolyn Edwards;
058/19 MATTERS ARISING & AGENDA ITEMS: a) Parking in Heol Y Felin – The Notices of Restriction have been exhibited & sent to local residents (by NPTCBC). The County Council are now awaiting comments from the local residents. A further update will be given when available; b) The Welfare Park Project – The invoice for the “metal” window & sides of the “dram” has been received & paid. The Graffiti Artist will attend on Friday 22nd November 2019 & the Landscapers have started their work and should finish by 22nd November 2019; c) Christmas 2019 Celebrations & Organisation – “Gifts” for Santa to distribute have been purchased; Santa & his sleigh will be in Cwmgwrach at 4.15pm on 30th November 2019; some supplies for the party were collected earlier today; tickets will be delivered to the school at the beginning of the week commencing 25th November 20198; posters have been exhibited in the Council notice boards since 18th November 2019; d) The Re-opening of the Parish Road – Celtic Energy Limited will hold a public exhibition in the Welfare Hall on the afternoon of Monday 25th November 2019; e) The Possibility of a Display Cabinet in the Welfare Hall for Cwmgwrach/Blaengwrach Historical Memorabilia – To be revisited when all aspects of the Park Project have been completed & paid for; f) Review of Energy Prices/Suppliers – Electricity has been “switched” from SSE/SWALEC to Utility Warehouse but Fixed Price British Gas contact does not expire until September 2021. Utility Warehouse have made a diary note to contact British Gas upon expiry of the Fixed Contract; THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED; g) The Pedestrian Crossing on the B4242 near the Health Centre – There is no update available on this item; h) NPTCBC, Legal Department Examination of Council Leases – There is no update available on this item; i) Update of Welfare Park CCTV – The invoice was received from Touch Networks on 22nd October 2019 & paid on 24th October 2019; the staff training took place on 4th November 2019. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED; j) From Closed Minutes of 17th October 2019 & Agenda Item 5c – Councillor Bethan Parry had written to the Council on 17th October 2019 requesting a dispensation from the Council under Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 for her not to attend Council meetings for the next twelve (12) months which coincides with her Maternity Leave (son born on 29th September 2019) from her employment. The Council had agreed, in principal, with the request on 17th October 2019 and the Clerk has since consulted with NPTCBC, Legal Department who confirm that there is no minimum or maximum period for a requested dispensation. THE REQUESTED DISPENSATION IS NOW CONFIRMED. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED; k) Agenda Item 5a – The Council`s Budget figures for the first six months of 2019-2020 Financial Year were examined, discussed and agreed. The base figure for the calculation of possible precept amount is awaited from NPTCBC and the first item on the agenda of the January 2020 meeting will be the Setting of the Precept (Local Rates) for 2020-2021 Financial Year; l) Agenda Item 5b - Mr. James had sent a letter asking if he could use a small area of the path at the bottom of the Welfare Park as an outside area for diners at the proposed bistro (at the rear of the Premier Store, High Street, Cwmgwrach). Many pertinent questions were asked by the Councillors which were answered by Mr. James. After some discussion it was decided to agree to Mr. James`
s request and a Document of Agreement, including a rental for use of the area, insurance cover, clearence of litter & “policing” of the area, will be drawn up and sent to Mr. James for him to sign and return to the Council. It was agreed that there will be a review of the agreed arrangements in September 2020;
059/19 PLANNING: There were no Planning Applications received by NPTCBC for the Cwmgwrach/Blaengwrach area between 18th October 2019 & 21st November 2019;
060/19 CRIME & DISORDER: The reported crime figures for the area for September 2019 were 7 (seven). They were broken down as follows: Anti-Social Behaviour – 1 & Violent & Sexual Offences – 6;
The dates of the PACT meetings for 2020 have not yet been received from South Wales Police. NOTE: THE PUBLIC CAN ATTEND ANY LOCAL PACT MEETING TO ASK QUESTIONS & GIVE THEIR VIEWS re: LOCAL CRIME & POLICING;
061/19 FINANCE: (for the period 18th October 2019 to 21st November 2019):
PAYMENTS MADE:
HMRC – Tax on Clerks Salary - £79.80; Welsh Water - Monthly Water Rates (Hall) - £104.00; Welsh Water - Monthly Water Rates (Cemetery) - £38.00; Staff Pension Scheme (4 weeks) - £46.48; NPTCBC - General Rates (Hall) - £421.00; NPTCBC - General Rates (Cemetery) - £45.00; Pick & Mix Entertainment - Deposit for Entertainer for Christmas Party - £50.00; Touch Networks Ltd - New CCTV System at the Welfare Park - £2,628.00; BX Welfab - "Metal" window on shed & sides of the "dram" - £870.00; Engage Training Ltd - Pesticides Training for Grounds-Man - £504.00; Tesco - 160 "Gifts" for Children at Christmas Party; Cwmgwrach Stores - Tea/Coffee/Milk for PYC Seminar in Hall - £4.28; Welsh Water - Outstanding Water Rates for Cemetery (4/4/19-14/10/19) - £17.52; Mileage (Clerk) (1st April 2019 - 31st October 2019) - £99.45; Utility Warehouse - Electricity (November 2019) - £2.75; British Gas - Gas (18/8/19-18/11/19) - £611.79; Royal British Legion - Donation to 2019 Poppy Appeal - £50.00.
INCOME RECEIVED:
Hall Hire - £350.00; Burial Fees - £110.00; SSE/SWALEC - Refund of over payment of electricity.
062/19 CORRESPONDENCE: 24/10/2019 from One Voice Wales - an invitation to Councillors to a seminar "Beyond the Cities: Resilient Local Economies & Communities; 24/10/2019 from One Voice Wales - Minutes of a workshop held on 28/6/2019 (Managing Green Spaces for Biodiversity,People & Financial Stainability); 31/10/2019 from the Board of the Community Health Councils in Wales - Notice of a consultation on Development of Key Priorities & Activities of the Community Health Councils for 2020/2021; 4/11/2019 from the Swansea Bay Community Health Council - Stakeholder Update (Autumn 2019); 6/11/2019 from the Older Peoples Commissioner for Wales - Autumn Newsletter; 18/11/2019 from NPTCBC, Estates Department - Poster relating to their Japanese Knotweed Management & Treatment Services; 19/11/2019 from the Welsh Government - Cabinet Statement on Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill (The franchising of 16 & 17 year old`s in Wales for Local Government Elections).
SECTION 137 REQUESTS: 19/11/2019 from Victim Support Wales - Request for a donation towards their work with victims of crime in Neath Port Talbot. NOT AGREED. THEREFORE NO DONATION WILL BE GIVEN.
063/19 MATTERS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS: There were no other matters raised by Councillors at this meeting;
064/19 SET DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING: It was decided NOT TO HOLD A MEETING IN DECEMBER 2019. Therefore, the next meeting will be held in the St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach at 6.30pm on Thursday 16th January 2020.