Meeting held on 14th March 2019 at 6.30pm in St Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach.
PRESENT:
COUNCILLORS Carolyn Edwards (Chair), Menna Mortimore (Vice Chair), Philippa Richards, Andrew Hippsley, Julia Hippsley & Amanda Doherty;
Also present – Clive Baker, Clerk to the Council;
There were no members of the public present;
153/18 – APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Councillors Rhian Williams, Rhian Watts, Chris Kelly & Bethan Parry had sent their apologies;
154/18 – DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
155/18 – CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 14th FEBRUARY 2019 AS A TRUE RECORD OF THAT MEETING:
The minutes of the meeting held on 14th February 2019 were accepted as a true record of that meeting. Proposed by Councillor Philippa Richards & seconded by Councillor Menna Mortimore;
156/18 – MATTERS ARISING & AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Parking in Heol Y Felin – NPTCBC will decide on what they propose to do in this street in April 2019;
b) The Welfare Park Project – The contractors will start the project in late April 2019 (after the school Easter break), with a view to completing the project, if possible, by mid-July 2019 (before the school summer holidays). The “on-site” meeting before the contractors “break ground” has been arranged for Tuesday 26th March 2019 and the Chair, the Clerk & the Grounds Man will attend. NOTE: IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT FOR HEALTH & SAFETY REASONS THE BOTTOM PART OF THE PARK WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC WHILST THE CONTRACTORS ARE CARRYING OUT THE REQUIRED WORK;
c) “Adopting” The Light Highlighting the “Witch” – NPTCBC confirmed today that they have instructed the electrical contractors to replace the cable to the light;
d) “Dog Mess” in the Village – The NPTCBC, Dog Warden will attend on a regular basis in future. The dog bags, for use by owners, have been delivered to the Premier Stores, High Street, Cwmgwrach and some have been given to the School in support of their initiative (plastic bottles containing the bags on the lamp-posts). NOTE: OWNERS CAN BE FINED UP TO £1,000.00 BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR NOT CLEANING UP AFTER THEIR DOG(S);
e) Christmas 2019 Celebrations & Organisation – There was no update available on the entertainment as Councillor Rhian Williams was unable to attend the meeting due to work commitments;
f) The “Honours”/Remembrance Board in the Welfare Hall – The Clerk has been unable to find the list of names missing from the board & it was suggested to contact an ex-Councillor to see if they had a copy of the names;
g) Grit Boxes for Use by Public in Snowy/Frosty Weather (especially in Heol Wenallt & Fothergill Road) – NPTCBC, Streetcare had supplied a map showing the grit bins in the area. There seems to be two (2) at the bottom end of Heol Wenallt in very close proximity to each other. Councillor Carolyn Edwards will speak to Streetcare to see if one can be moved or a new one supplied to use at the Heol Wenallt/Fothergill Road junction;
h) The 2019 Armed Forces Day – A list of possible activities to take place on the day (Saturday 29th June 2019) were discussed. Some were removed from the list as they would have to take place in the lower section of the park (the Contractors will be “on-site” fitting the “new park”). The activities scheduled to take place “in doors” were agreed in principle. Local Veterans, Scouts, The Royal British Legion & the School will be invited to attend;
i) Agenda Item 5a – Renewal of Council Membership of One Voice Wales – It was agreed that the membership for 2019-2020 be renewed at a cost of £159.00;
j) Agenda Item 5b – Providing Welsh Text for Minutes & Agendas on the Council`s Website – The item was fully discussed & it was decided NOT to publish the minutes & agendas in the medium of Welsh on every occasion but if the Council received a request, in writing, from any resident, to supply a copy to that resident within seven days of receipt of the request;
k) Agenda Item 5c – Renewing the Lighting in the Kitchen of the Welfare Hall – as the lights in the kitchen of the Hall keep “fusing”, the Clerk met with a Local Electrician & obtained a price of £140.40 (inclusive of VAT) to replace the three (3) existing spot lights with one (1) x 1500mm LED strip light & two (2) x 1200mm LED strip lights. By changing the lights, it will save the Council on the costs for continually having to change the bulbs and will also reduce the cost of electricity used. the Council agreed that the Clerk should instruct the electrician to carry of the work as soon as possible.
157/18 – PLANNING:
21/02/2019 – Ref: P2019/0161 – Mr P Gardiner, 16 Empire Avenue, Cwmgwrach, Neath – Single storey extension at the same address;
158/18 – CRIME & DISORDER:
The reported crime figures for the area for January 2019 have not yet been published by the South Wales Police. Both January & February 2019 figures will be reported at next month`s meeying if they have been available.
The next PACT meeting will take place on Wednesday 8th May 2019 at the St Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach, commencing at 6.30pm;
159/18 – FINANCE:
For period 15/02/2019 to 14/03/2019:
Payments Made:
HMRC – Tax on Clerk`s Salary – £91.20; Welsh Water – Monthly Water Rates for Cemetery – £30.50; Welsh Water – Monthly Water Rates for Welfare Hall – £126.00; St. Cadocs Church – Hire of Room for Council Meetings (January, February & March 2019) – £36.00; Office Stationery – £41.00; Dog Bags (see minute 156/18(b) above) – £7.25; Staff Pension Scheme (February 2019) – £28.16; British Gas – Gas @ Welfare Hall 22/11/2018 to 22/2/2019 – £1,104.45; PPL/PRS – Entertainment Licence for Welfare Hall – £143.42;
Income Received:
Hall Hire – £42.00; Return of 1 Councillors Allowance for 2018-2019 – £150.00.
160/18 – CORRESPONDENCE:
15/02/2019 from Wales Air Ambulance – Request for a donation under Section 137 Grant; 18/02/2019 from the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales – 2019 – 2020 Report & Recommendations; 20/02/2019 from NPT Community Safety Group – Winter 2019 Safe & Sound Newsletter; 20/02/2019 from the Welsh Government – Details of 2019-2020 Funding to Support the Initial Set-Up of Joint Arrangements between Town & Community Councils; 21/02/2019 from Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd Gobaith Cymru – Request for a donation under Section 137 Grant towards the 2019 Urdd Eisteddfod to be held in the Vale of Glamorgan; 04/03/2019 from Cwmgwrach Moving Forward – Request for a Section 137 Grant of £250.00 towards future events to be held in Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach;
The requests for donations under Section 137 were discussed and it was decided not to award any grant to the applicants who do not carry-out specific work/services with-in the Ward but the Council agreed to award Cwmgwrach Moving Forard with the full amount requested. NOTE: COUNCILLOR PHILIPPA RICHARDS DECLARED HER INDIRECT INTEREST AS A HELPER/ORGANISER IN THE REQUEST FROM CWMGWRACH MOVING FORWARD & TOOK NO PART IN THE DISCUSSION AND DID NOT VOTE ON THEIR REQUEST.
161/18 – COMMITTEE REPORTS:
There were no Committee Reports;
162/18 – MATTERS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS:
a) Councillor Carolyn Edwards reported that she had visited the Vale of Neath Health Centre site & met with the contractors who had informed her that they had discovered some problems while they had been continuing with the”build” (including the “grounds” around the Centre) but had overcome them and were still hoping to be “on-track” for the Centre to open in late May 2019;
b) It was reported that the improvements to Clun Y Bont, High Street, Cwmgwrach had been delayed due to problems with the chosen contractors. However, discussions are “on-going” between the owner of the land and new contractors, although no specific date for the work to start can be given at this time.
163/18 – SET DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS for the NEXT MEETING;
The next meeting will take place at 6.30pm on Thursday 11th April 2019 in the St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach. There were no proposed agenda items at this time.
The meeting closed at 7.45pm.