DRAFT Minutes of the Meeting of the Blaengwrach Community Council held in St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach at 6.30pm on Thursday 13th September 2018.
PRESENT: Councillor Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Councillor Menna Mortimore (Vice Chair); Councillor Philippa Richards; Councillor Amanda Doherty; Councillor Andrew Hippsley (joined the meeting @ 6.35pm) & Councillor Julia Hippsley (joined the meeting @ 6.35pm).
EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Clive Baker (Clerk to the Council);
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESENT: Yun Herbert (left the meeting @ 7.30pm) & Christine Thomas (left the meeting @ 8pm);
087/18 – APOLOGIES Apologies had been received from Councillors Rhian Williams, Bethan Parry, Chris Kelly & Rhian Williams due to work commitments;
088/18 – DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
089/18 – CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD The minutes of the meeting held on 12th July 2018 were accepted as a true record of that meeting (Proposed by Councillor Andrew Hippsley & seconded by Councillor Carolyn Edwards);
090/18 – MATTERS ARISING & AGENDA ITEMS a) Quotes for Fire Alarm System – It was reported that only two quotes had been received with one of the quotes being twice the price of the other. It was decided to disregard the higher quote & to “chase” the third original supplier for their quote & contact a new supplier for a “like as like” quote; b) Charities Commission – No update available; c) Wild Flowers by Roundabout – The Daffodil bulbs have been planted in readiness for Spring 2019 & the wild flower seeds will be sown in early 2019. THIS ITEM IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED; d) Litter Bin/Dog Fouling Bins – Councillor Edwards has met with the County Council Officers who are complying a report looking at the possibility of new bins at the Unity Road, near the brook by the School, near McDonald`s &one in Parish Road; e) Update on Hire Agreements – No update available; f) Parking in Heol Y Felin – The NPTCBC Officer has attended the area but the report is not yet available; g) Leases – The Clerk will contact NPTCBC Legal Department for a firm price for them to examine the existing leases & give advice, if required; h) The Missing Gate Near McDonalds – No response from the Canal Society. Mrs Herbert volunteered to contact the society (see 090/18(m) below); i) The Felling of the Tree Overhanging the Shed in the Welfare Park – There was no update available; j) The Honouring of a Local Historian – It has not been decided how this person should be honoured (NOTE: THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE QUEENS HONOURS ARE USUALLY RECEIVED IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER EACH YEAR); k) Agenda Item 5a – Further Funding & Other Matters Relating to Phase Two of the Park Project – The Declaration of Interest for Funding was accepted by the Pen Y Cymoedd Panel on 23rd August 2018. The full application for funding is now being prepared. The Council decided to adopt a Safeguarding Policy, Equal Opportunities Policy (with an Equality & Diversity Statement) & a New Welsh Language Policy. (These policies were signed by the Chair); l) Agenda Item 5b – Future Fees & Usage of the Welfare Hall & Park – The Clerk sought clarification on the fees charged for the Park/Hall. It was stated that the fees are £7.00 (seven pounds) per hours for week days (Monday – Friday) & £14.00 (fourteen pounds) per hour on week ends (Saturday & Sunday). The Chair stated that she had received a complaint saying that the Council had informed Age Connect that they could not use the Hall. This WAS NOT THE CASE as Age Connect had decided to use the Old Ambulance Hall as it was cheaper than the Welfare Hall, although the Council had offered to negotiate with the hirer to reducing the fees; m) Agenda Item 5c – Yun Herbert to Address the Council on her Proposed Environmental Project – Mrs Herbert gave the Council an outline of her proposed project to improve the local environment. She had contacted NPTCBC re: their improvements under the Local Development Plan. the project is in its early stages & she asked the Council to endorse her as to developing the project. The Council agreed, in principal, to endorse the project; n) Agenda Item 5d – Taking up a “Three Year Fixed Price” for Gas at the Welfare Hall – The current prices are 66.02p per day standing charge & 4.68p per unit used but are due to increase to 78.83p & 5.59p respectively on 1st October 2018. It was decided to accept the British Gas offer of a fixed rate for three years of 53.8p per day & 3.87p per unit.
091/18 – PLANNING 31/7/2018 – Euro Garages Ltd – Ref: P2018/0616 – Submission of details relating to Conditions 7 (HGV Scheme), 13 (Traffic Regulation Order) & 14 (Pedestrian/Cycle/Vehicular Access) of Planning Application P2017/0112 granted on 8th June 2017 for a Petrol Station etc. on Land between the A465 & High Street, Blaengwrach; 31/7/2018 – Euro Garages Ltd – P2018/0638 – Submission of details pursuant to Condition 17 (Extraction Details) of Planning Permission P2017/0112 granted on 8th June 2017 for a Petrol Station etc. on Land between A465 & High Street, Blaengwrach; 1/8/2018 – Mr Smith – P2018/0446 – Single storey side extension @ 10 Parish Road, Bleangwrach, Neath SA11 5SW; 16/8/2018 – Euro Garages Ltd – P2018/0677 – Details pursuant to Condition 6 (Construction Method Statement) of Planning Permission P2017/0112 granted on 8/6/2017 for a Petrol Station etc. on Land between the A465 & High Street, Blaengwrach; 17/8/2018 – Euro Garages Ltd – P2018/0686 – Details pursuant to Condition 4 (Landscape) of Planning Application P2017/0112 granted on 8/6/2018 for a Petrol Station etc.on Land between the A465 & High Street, Blaengwrach; 17/8/2018 – Euro Garages Ltd – P2018/0697 – Details pursuant of Condition 5 (Materials) of Planning Application P2017/0112 granted on 8/6/2017 for Petrol Station on Land between the A465 & High Street, Blaengwrach; 12/9/2018 – Euro Garages Ltd – P2018/0616 (see above) – Second submission. NOTE: The Council will send a comment to the NPTCBC, Planning Department regarding the increase of HGVs in Application P2018/0616.
092/18 – CRIME & DISORDER The reported crime figure for Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach for June 2018 was 14 (fourteen). This was 2 (two) Anti-Social Behaviour; 1 (one) Bicycle Theft; 1 Burglary; 2 (two) Criminal Damage & Arson, 1 (one) Other Theft; 1 (one) Public Disorder & 6 (six) Voilent & Sexual Offences.
The reported figures for July 2018 were 8 (eight) – 2 (two) Criminal Damage & Arson; 1 (one) Other Theft; 1 (one) Public Disorder & 4 (four) Violent & Sexual Offences.
The next PACT meeting will take place in the St. Mary`s Church Hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday 26th September 2018.
NOTE: The Local Police Officers DID NOT attend due to being called to a local offence.
093/18 – FINANCE (NOTE: For period 12/7/18 to 12/9/18) Payments Made: NPTCBC – Rates on Welfare Hall – £822.00; NPTCBC – Rates on Cemetery – £88.00; Welsh Water – Water rates for Cemetery- £61.00; Welsh Water – water rates for Welfare Hall – £252.00; HMRC – Tax/NI on Wages – £182.40; Small Plant & Machinery – Repairs to Mowers – £222.00; TCS Plant Ltd – Removal of Pump House (Park Project) – £6,330.00; Help the Heroes – Donation – £10.00; TCS Plant Ltd – Removal & Rebuild Wall (Park Project) – £4,650.00; Gemma`s Plumbing – New isolation value in toilets at Welfare Hall – £60.00; Tesco – Petrol for Machinery – £29.00; Postages – Paperwork for Grant (Park Project) – £1.40; 50kg of Daffodil Bulbs – (See minute 090/18(c) above) – £39.90.
INCOME RECEIVED: Hall Hire – £294.00; VAT Reclaimed (1/4/2017 to 30/6/2018) – £3,585.04; Precept – £11,845.00
094/18 CORRESPONDENCE 19/7/2018 – The Mayor of Neath Port Talbot – Notice that the Mayor will be hosting an Armed Forces Covenant Festival 2018 between 10am & 7pm in the Port Talbot Town Centre on Saturday 20th October 2018; 30/7/2018 – NPTCBC, Transport Department – Notice that the X55 Service (Glynneath to Swansea) scheduled to leave Glynneath at 07.21am will leave at 07.10am with effect from 2nd September 2018; 7/8/2018 – Safer Neath Port Talbot – Summer 2018 Newsletter; 22/8/2018 – Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales – Notice of a Consultation on the Review of Electoral Arrangements for the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot; 11/9/2018 – Simon Sparkes (Magician) – Details of his shows for Christmas Parties – Agreed to booking for provisionally Saturday 24th Novembber 2018 (Sleigh between 5pm & 6pm & then at Welfare Hall from 6pm); 12/9/2018 – Mr W J Davies – Complaint to Chair re: reply to his earlier letter relating to overgrown trees in Heol Y Wenallt – The contents of the letter were duly noted by the Council.
095/18 – COMMITTEE REPORTS There were no Committee reports;
096/18 – MATTERS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS There were no other matters raised by Councillors;
097/18 – DATE, TIME, VENUE & ANY PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Blaengwrach Committee Council will be held in the St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach at 6.30pm on Thursday 11th October 2018
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 8.15pm