THIS MEETING WAS HELD VIA THE MEDIA PLATFORM “ZOOM”.
PRESENT: Councillors – Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Menna Mortimore (Vice Chair); Philippa Richards; Chris Kelly; Rhian Williams & Amanda Doherty;
ALSO PRESENT: Clive Baker – Clerk to the Council;
095/19 – APOLOGIES – Councillors – Julia Hippsley; Andrew Hippsley & Rhian Watts had sent their apologies;
096/19 – DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST – Councillor Carolyn Edwards made her declaration as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
097/19 – CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD OF THAT MEETING – The minutes of the “virtual” meeting held on 27th May 2020 were accepted as a true record;
098/19 – MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 27th MAY 2020:
a) Parking in Heol Y Felin – There has been no update received since the last meeting;
b) The Re-Opening of the Parish Road – As the meeting, scheduled for 19th February, 2020 in NPTCBC was cancelled & no date has been set for this meeting to take place, there WILL BE NO UPDATE ON THIS ITEM UNTIL THE MEETING HAS TAKEN PLACE. THIS ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MINUTES UNTIL FURTHER DETAILS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED;
c) The Pedestrian Crossing near the Health Centre – The “controlled” lights have been fitted. The “switch-on” by Western Power is now awaited and as soon as this is done the lights will be in working order;
d) Community Council Leases – There is no update on this item; IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO REMOVE THIS ITEM FROM THE MINUTES & IT WILL REVISITED WHEN A CHANGE TO THE GUIDELINES RE: MEETINGS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED;
e) Use of an Area of the Welfare Park by the “Bistro” – The access gate from the bistro is now in place;
f) The Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales Recommendation on Reducing the Number of County Councillors for Blaengwrach/Glynneath – There has been no update/correspondence on this item for some time;
g) Purchase of a Defibrillator for Blaengwrach Area – This item will be revisited when the “lockdown” has been lifted. IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO REMOVE THIS ITEM FROM THE MINUTES & IT WILL BE REVISITED WHEN A CHANGE TO THE GUIDELINES RE: MEETINGS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED;
h) 2020 Christmas Celebrations – Further discussion will take place when a clearer picture on “lockdown” advice on large gatherings has been received;
i) Update re: Senedd Cymru, Wales Audit Office Guidelines & One Voice Wales “Best Practice” Tips to Town & Community Councils during the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic – Various updates have been received since the meeting of 27th May 2020 & these have been examined by the Clerk & the Councillors. The “green spaces” in the Welfare Park are now accessible to the public but the children`s playground, MUGA & 3G Pitch remain closed. VISITORS TO THE PARK ARE REMINDED OF THE PRESENT “SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES”; The Annual Accounts have been prepared and sent to the Internal Auditor. As previously stated,they will NOT presented to the Council and published in the public domain by 30th June 2020 and a Notice to this effect has been published on the Council website (See “NOTICES”);
j) Damage to the Bridge near Chain Road – NPTCBC have agreed to repair the bridge and as a temporary measure are speaking to Unity Mine to open their private road to the public as temporary access while the work is being completed. The County Councillor for the Blaengwrach Ward has and will continue to discuss the possibility of NPTCBC providing transport to local schoolchildren if the underpass cannot be reopened by 29th June 2020;
k) Agenda Item 5a – New Curtains for the Welfare Hall Stage – It has been decided to remove this item from the minutes. IT WILL BE REVISITED AT A FUTURE MEETING AFTER RELAXATION OF THE COVID-19 MEETING GUIDELINES;
l) Agenda Item 5b – “Local Honours” (The Council “Honouring” Local Residents for their work in the Community) – It has been stated by the Wales Audit Office that “no Council can expend public funds on honours/gifts to individuals”. It is suggested that a “Certificate of Merit/Gratitude is developed and sent to any individual who comes under the category mentioned above;
m) Agenda Item 5c – “Promoting” the Vale of Neath Health Centre`s Information Leaflet – As the Health Centre is working under specific guidelines relating to the Pandemic, it has been decided to “shelve” this item until further notice. THIS ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MINUTES;
n) Agenda Item 5d – Request by a Local Resident to Use the Welfare Park as a Small Camp for Tents for People Supporting a Proposed Charity Event to be Held in The Dunraven – After due consideration the Council decided NOT to agree with this request. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
o) Agenda Item 5e – The Issue of Keys to the Park Gates to One Councillor in case of Emergency – It is general practice to issue keys to one Councillor for each of the Council`s premises and it was decided to issue keys to the park gates to Councillor Rhian Williams to be used in case of emergency (if the grounds man, hall attendant and/or the clerk cannot be contacted);
099/19 – PLANNING:
29/5/2020 – P2020/0390 – Rhian Evans, 2, Maes Y Ceffyl, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5PS – Conversion of garage to living accommodation, single storey rear extension & replacement parking space at the same address;
15/6/2020 – P2020/0493 – Mr. Eric Nye, 37, Tan Yr Allt, Abercrave, Powys SA9 1FX – Construction of one detached dwelling on Land adjacent to 15, Fotherill Road, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5PU;
18/6/2020 – P2020/0509 – Mr. Ashley Daniels, 9, Church Crescent, Blaengwrach, Neath SA11 5SL – Two storey rear extension & detached garage at the same address;
100/19 – CRIME & DISORDER – The reported crime figures ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. THE SOUTH WALES POLICE HAVE SUSPENDED THE REPORTING OF CRIME FIGURES AND ALL PACT MEETINGS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 PANEDMIC;
101/19 FINANCE (for the period 1/6/20 to 18/6/20):
PAYMENTS MADE:
Staff Pension Scheme (3 weeks) – £36.63;
NPTCBC – General Rates on the Hall – £428.00;
NPTCBC – General Rates on the Cemetery – £46.00;
Tesco – Stationery for the Office – £49.00;
Zurich Assurance – General Insurance for 16/6/2020 to 15/6/2021 – £2,730.31;
British Gas – Annual Service Contract for Hall (see February 2020 Minutes) – £883.20;
NPTCBC – Repayment of “Short Term Loan” for VAT Element of Park Project – £37,362.90 (Loan of £37,000.00 plus interest of £362.90);
INCOME RECEIVED:
Burial Fees – £545.00;
Monthly Interest on “Reserve Account” – £11.62;
HMRC – VAT Reclaimed from 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020 – £37,947.45;
102/19 – CORRESPONDENCE:
Various updates from Senedd Cymru, One Voice Wales & NPTCBC relating to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic;
29/5/2020 from Natural Resource Wales – Notice of a Consultation on the Development of the Forest Resource Plan for Pen Y Cymoedd Forest;
103/19 – MATTERS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS: There were no other matters raised by Councillors;
104/19 – SET DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held at 6.30pm on Thursday 16th July 2020. The venue will be confirmed in the meeting agenda (dependant of further Coronavirus/Covid-19 Guidelines being received from Senedd Cymru). Proposed agenda items a & b – request for “dispensation of carrying out Councillor duties” from two members of the Council.
The meeting closed at 7.07pm.