Draft Minutes of the Meeting Held at 6.30pm on Thursday 16th January 2020 at St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach.
PRESENT: Councillor Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Councillor Menna Mortimore (Vice Chair); Councillor Rhian Williams; Councillor Amanda Doherty; Councillor Philippa Richards.
ALSO PRESENT: Clive Baker – Clerk to the Council;
There were NO members of the public present.
065/19 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies had been received from Councillor Julia Hippsley; Councillor Andrew Hippsley; Councillor Chris Kelly & Councillor Rhian Watts;
066/19 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
067/19 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD: The minutes of the meeting held on 21st November 2019 were accepted as a true record. Proposed by Councillor Philippa Richards & seconded by Councillor Menna Mortimore;
068/19 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING & AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Parking in Heol Y Felin – There were objections to the proposed plan relating to the parking and these are being discussed by NPTCBC, Streetcare with a view to amending the plan;
b) The Welfare Park Project – The invoices for the landscaping & the Graffiti Project have been received & paid; Project Completion Reports have been completed, signed and sent to each Grant Provider and these have been accepted. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
c) Christmas 2019 Celebrations – The Christmas Party took place on Saturday 30th November 2019 and was a great success. It has been decided to keep the basic celebrations the same for 2020. THE 2020 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION DISCUSSION COMMENCEMENT WILL BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE FEBRUARY 2020 MEETING;
d) The Re-opening of the Parish Road – There has been NO official feedback since the Public Meeting held by Celtic Energy Ltd in the Welfare Hall on the afternoon of Monday 25th November 2019;
e) The Possibility of a Display Cabinet in the Welfare Hall – It was decided NOT to proceed with this item. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
f) The Pedestrian Crossing on the B4242 Near the Health Centre – The posts for the crossing have been put into place & the button control should be installed within the next few weeks;
g) NPTCBC, Legal Department Examination of Council Leases – There was no update available on this item;
h) Use of an Area of the Welfare Park by the “Bistro” – The agreement has been written-up & was sent to Mr. James on 2nd January 2020 but has not yet been returned;
i) Minute 058/19(k) & Agenda item 5a – 2020/2021 Precept – After an in-depth examination of the budget for 2019-2020 and the proposed budget for 2020-2021 it was decided to raise the Annual Precept from £36,530 to £38,721;
j) Agenda Item 5b – Purchase of Baby Changing Facilities for the Welfare Hall – It was agreed to purchase a baby changing unit to be installed in the disabled toilet in the Hall;
k) Agenda item 5c – Examination & Discussion on the Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales Recommendations for Blaengwrach/Glynneath (Proposal – to reduce the number of County Councillors for the two areas from three (3) to two (2). The members of the Council are concerned that the Blaengwrach Ward would lose “local representation” and this Council had made its feelings known to the Commission in early 2019 but these observations were noted by the Commission but not acted upon. It was decided that each Councillor will send individual letters to the Commission and the County Councillor will draft a newsletter to be distributed to each householder in Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach to explain the proposals and asking voters to write to the Commission with their views;
l) Agenda item 5d – The Issue of Keys to the Welfare Hall to Blaengwrach School so that they May Use the Hall as a Place of Refuge – This was agreed in principle. The Head of the School will check with NPTCBC, Education Department to ensure that the correct requests & registered details of “Places of Refuge” are sent and noted;
m) Agenda item 5e – Purchase of a Defibrillator for the Blaengwrach Ward – This was agreed and the Clerk will obtain prices for this item. It is proposed that the defibrillator will be available to the First Responders twenty-four (24) hours a day.
069/19 PLANNING: There were no Planning Applications received by NPTCBC, Planning Department for the Blaengwrach Ward between 22nd November 2019 & 16th January 2020;
070/19 CRIME & DISORDER: The reported crime figures for October & November 2019 were 13 (thirteen) & 11 (eleven) respectively. They were broken down as follows:
OCTOBER 2019 – 5 Anti-Social Behaviour; 1 Drug Related; 1 Possession of Weapons; 1 Public Order Offence; 1 Shoplifting & 4 Violent & Sexual Offences;
NOVEMBER 2019 – 5 Anti-Social Behaviour; 1 Public Order & 5 Violent & Sexual Offences.
The date for the next area PACT meeting is Wednesday 11th March 2020 starting at 6.30pm in the Bethania Community Centre, High Street, Glynneath. NOTE: THE PUBLIC CAN ATTEND ANY LOCAL PACT MEETING AND ASK QUESTIONS AND GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON LOCAL CRIME & POLICING.
071/19 FINANCE:
For the period 22/11/2019 to 16/1/2020:
PAYMENTS MADE:
HMRC – Tax on Clerk`s Salary – £159.80; Welsh Water – 2 months water rates for Welfare Hall – £208.00; Welsh Water – 2 months water rates for Cemetery – £76.00; Staff Pension Scheme Payments (8 weeks) – £92.96; NPTCBC – General rates on Welfare Hall (2 months) – £842.00; NPTCBC – General rates on Cemetery (2 months) – £90.00; Bookers Ltd – Supplies for Christmas Party – £117.72; 2 Councillor Allowances for 2019-2020 – £300.00; R Shepherd (Pick & Mix) – Christmas Party Entertainer – £170.00; Wicksteed Leisure Ltd – Landscaping/Planting (Park Project) – £2,970.00; Lloyd Roberts – Graffiti Project (Park Project) – £2,000.00; Premier Stores, Cwmgwrach – Raffle Prizes (Christmas Party) – £9.49; Sainsburys – Printer Cartridges for Office – £30.00; Utility Warehouse – Electricity at Hall (November 2019) – £60.56; Post Office – Project Completion Report & Relevant Paperwork to Pen Y Cymoedd CIC re: Grant for Park Project – £3.17; British Gas – Gas at Hall (19/11/19 – 6/1/20) – £565.23.
INCOME RECEIVED:
Final 2019-2020 Precept Payment – £12,176.66; Hall Hire – £310.00; Burial fees – £175.00; From sale of Raffle Tickets & Refreshments at Christmas Party – £186.00; Interest on Reserve Saver – £11.59.
072/19 CORRESPONDENCE:
17/12/2019 from NPTCBC, Transport Department – Notice of Change of Company Providing X75 & X5A Bus Service (Merthyr Tydfil to Swansea); 6/1/2020 From the VE Day 75th Anniversary Celebrations Committee – Details of proposed celebrations throughout the UK taking place on 8th, 9th & 10th May 2020. NOTE: This item will be discussed in nthe February 2020 Meeting.
SECTION 137 Requests:
10/12/2019 from Cwmni Urdd Gobaith Cymru – request for a donation towards the 2020 Urdd National Eisteddfod (to be held in Denbighshire);
3/1/2020 from Age Cymru West Glamorgan – request for donation towards their support services in Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot & Bridgend areas.
IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO ISSUE A SECTION 137 GRANT TO EITHER OF THE ABOVE.
073/19 MATTERS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS – Councillor Amanda Doherty reported that she had written to the Chief Executive of KFC regarding the sign erected outside the new local KFC and he/she had agreed that the sign WILL be changed from KFC, Glynneath to KFC, BLAENGWRACH.
074/19 SET DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING – The next meeting will take place in the St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach at 6.30pm on Thursday 20th February 2020. The proposed agenda items are 1) 2020 Christmas Celebrations & 2) The VE Day 75th Anniversary Celebrations.
The meeting closed at 7.55pm