Draft Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 20th February 2025 at the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach and via Zoom, commencing at 6.30 pm
Present: Councillor R Williams (Chair), D Jones, J Bulman, P Rudd, A Doherty, Councillors C Edwards and A Edwards joined via Zoom.
Council Employees Present: Clerk/RFO Linda Evans
Members of the Public Present: Councillor H Davies joined via Zoom
108/24 Apologies: Councillors R A Williams, M Mortimore and A Hippsley had sent their apologies.
Chair Cllr R Williams started the meeting at 6.30 pm by welcoming all present. The meeting is held as a multi-hybrid meeting in accordance with The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. Council Standing Order 3b(i)
109/24 Declarations of Interest: There were no declarations of interest at this meeting.
110/24 County Councillor`s Report:
- Cllr H Davies, on behalf of the Council, requested information from SWTRA (South Wales Trunk Road Agent) about the cones near the Glynneath slip road (106/24 Correspondence). SWTRA responded that the cones were a safety measure and the single lane would remain until further notice. Cllr H Davies will update the Council if she receives any further Information.
- Cllr H Davies provided an update to the meeting regarding the building land on Wenallt Road, where the Council had previously expressed concerns about the accumulation of rubbish and overall condition. Cllr H Davies informed the members that NPTCBC had issued a Section 215 notice under the Town and County Planning Act 1990 to the landowner, mandating them to clean up the site due to its detrimental impact on the surrounding area. The timeline for the cleanup was discussed along with a recollection of the original planning application. Cllr C Edwards thanked Cllr H Davies for her efforts in addressing the issue.
- Cllr H Davies has not received information that the Waste Team have carried out a patrol through the village, but will let the Council know if she receives any further information.
- Bollards have been installed on Unity Road to prevent vehicle access, while pedestrian access remains unaffected. Cllr H Davies reported this was due to increased fly-tipping in the area. NPTCBC Waste Officers are investigating and have found evidence of those responsible. Cllr H Davies has been unable to contact the landowner of this area. Access to the area is still possible via Wenallt Road, and Cllr R Williams noted that traffic has already increased there as a result.
111/24 Public Observations on Matters Arising and Agenda Items
There were no observations made at this meeting.
112/24 To Approve the Minutes of the Finance and Audit Committee and Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 16th January 2024
RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as true records of both meetings.
113/24 Matters Arising from the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 16th January 2025
Further to minute 106/24 Reinforced Autoclave Aerated Concrete (RAAC) – The Clerk has not found a competent person to complete the survey so far, but will endeavor to find someone. RESOLVED
114/24 Agenda Items:
a) Cemetery Rules and Regulations and Reserved Plots – The Members reviewed and RESOLVED to make no changes to the Cemetery Rules and Regulations. A request regarding Reserved Plots had been made to the Clerk, and due to the personal aspect of the discussion the Chair RESOLVED that this should be continued in Closed Session.
b) Hall Roof and Leak – At the beginning of February, heavy rain caused water to leak into the kitchen, toilet, and fire exit areas of the Hall. Kevin Doherty investigated and found that debris-filled gutters were the causing rainwater to flow back into the building. Cleaning the gutters resolved the issue. However, the main roof was observed to need repair. Wales Roofing Solutions has surveyed the roof and will report back to the Clerk with the necessary work. The Caretaker had to mop up water over several days, and the Council will discuss a thank you to the Caretaker in Closed Session. RESOLVED
c) A465 Road Repair Works – Cllr C Edwards and the Clerk had been unable to attend the latest NPTCBC Liaison Meeting, but were aware of the actions from the meeting regarding the repair work to the A465. Cllr C Edwards proposed that the Council send a letter expressing concern and disappointment that the Resolven to Blaengwrach repairs is subject to funding. The letter should be sent to the Leader of NPTCBC, SWTRA, Carolyn Harris MP, Sioned Williams MS, Jeremy Miles AM, and Councillor H Davies. All agreed and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk will compose the letter and send it to the Councillors for approval before sending.
115/24 Planning:
It was RESOLVED that no comments or objections are made to the following planning applications:
Application No: P2024/0748, Applicants Name and Address: Mr G Murray, 26 Parish Road, Blaengwrach. SA11 5SW. Agent’s Name and Address: Mr M Morgan, Surban Design Ltd, Kingsbridge Technology Centre, Victoria Road, Gorseinon. SA4 4AS. Proposal: Proposed demolition of existing detached garage, construction of an integral garage adjoining property and a rear single storey extension (orangery) and alterations to the ridge height of an existing single storey extension to covert attic space.
116/24 Crime and Policing
The Local Police Website shows 9 Crimes reported in the Blaengwrach Area for December 2024:11 Crimes: 4 Anti-social Behavior, 1 Burglary, 2 Public Order, 1 Vehicle Crime and 3 Violence and sexual offences. In the Villages of Blaengwrach and Cwmgwrach 8 of those reports occurred; 2 Public Order, 1 Burglary, 4 Anti-social Behaviour, 1 Vehicle Crime.
Councillors discussed recent thefts of bikes from garden outhouses, and the hope that those responsible would be found.
117/24 Finance
RESOLVED the following payments were scrutinised and approved:
| Clerks Report – Monthly E&I 17th January to 20th February 2025 | ||
| Payments Made | 17/01/2025 to 20/02/2025 | Amounts |
| Nest | Staff Pension Scheme (5 weeks) | £79.55 |
| Staff Wages | Caretaker. Groundsperson and Clerk | £2939.19 |
| HMRC | Tax and NI 06/01/25 to 05/02/25 | £355.99 |
| Utility Warehouse Ltd | Electricity @ Welfare Hall | £270.85 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Welfare Hall | £151.00 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Cemetery | £21.50 |
| EE | Hall Wi-Fi | £54.79 |
| British Gas | Hall Usage | £537.32 |
| Zoom | Online Meeting Platform Monthly Charge | £15.59 |
| P Sleep | Replace Lighting at Hall x2 | £72.00 |
| Royal British Legion | Donation in Lieu of Wreat | £50.00 |
| Councillor Allowances | Yearly Allowance | £208.00 |
| Centergreat | Festive Lighting 2024 | £2,424.00 |
| Viking | Hall Supplies & Cleaning Materials, | £199.94 |
| Total Expenditure | £7,379.72 | |
| Income Received | 17/01/2025 to 20/02/2025 | |
| SRCC Stores Ltd | Monthly Rental of Shed in the Park | £35.00 |
| TSB Bank | Monthly Interest on “Reserve” Saver | £43.35 |
| NPTCBC | Hall Hire Messy Play Dec/Jan | £112.00 |
| VIEW (Glynneath) Ltd | Hall Hire Yoga Nov/Dec | £56.00 |
| Celtic Archers | Hall Hire Jan | £196.00 |
| Empower | Singing for the Brain Hall Hire Jan | £84.00 |
| Class Act Tutoring | Hall Hire Jan | £42.00 |
| H Lewis Funeral
Director |
Internment Fee x 2 | £425.00 |
| NPTCBC | Flying Start Hall Hire Dec | £175.00 |
| Tea Rooms | Hall Hire Dec/Jan | £168.00 |
| B Hoskins | Hall Hire Jan | £56.00 |
| Pen y Cymmoedd | Hall Hire Jan | £42.00 |
| Total Income | £1,434.35 | |
| Account Balances | As at 20/02/2025 | |
| General Account | £2,343.23 | |
| Reserve/Saver
Account |
£35,742.71 | |
| Total Account Balances as at 20/02/2025 £ | £38,085.94 | |
- Christmas Lighting invoice was received and approved, and came in within budget. Clerk had emailed Centergreat to ask if the non-working lights could be replaced before they are put up in December. No reply has so far been received. RESOLVED
- VAT Return received. RESOLVED
- Clerk has received a full bursary from the Welsh Government to complete the training and qualification – Certificate in Local Clerk Administration (CILCA) – £300 training and £450 qualification. There is no budget for Publications so Clerk asked for permission to purchase a copy of Arnold Baker Local Council Administration. It was decided not to purchase a copy RESOLVED
- Clerk has requested a cost for the wildflowers from Celtic Wildflowers (agenda item 53/24) Clerk was given permission to purchase native wildflowers for planting the grass verge into the Villages. Members discussed the need to have permission from NPTCBC before going ahead with the venture. Cllr H Davies will share the contact details in NPTCBC that would be able to assist in this matter. RESOLVED
118/24 Correspondence & Section 137 Request:
- One Voice Wales (OVW) Annual General Meeting – Online Meeting Invite – No Councillor available to attend. RESOLVED
- OVW and Planning Aid Wales joint training event invite. The meeting felt the need for this level of training was not needed. RESOLVED
The Council resolved to enter Closed Session under Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 & the Council Standing Order 3c to Discuss Personnel Issues. NOTE: ANY DISCUSSIONS/ETC WHICH TAKE PLACE IN “CLOSED SESSION” MUST REMAIN IN “CLOSED SESSION” AND NOT BE BROUGHT INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN (MINUTES) UNLESS AGREED BY THE FULL COUNCIL AT A FUTURE MEETING
119/24 Set Date, Time & Proposed Agenda Items for the next meeting; …
The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 20th March 2025, at 6.30 pm. There were no Agenda Items put forward so far for this meeting.
Notices for the meetings will be posted at least three working days before they are due to take place.
Meeting closed at 7.50 pm