Cyngor CymunedCeulanamaesmawrCommunity Council

Minutes of the meting held on Monday 27 January 2014, in Neuadd Goffa Tal-y-bont.

Present: Councillors Nest Jenkins; Bleddyn Huws; David Evans; Glenys Edwards; Emyr Davies; Gerwyn Jones; Ellen ap Gwynn; Megan Mai; Rhian Evans; Eric Roberts and Enoc Jenkins (Chair).

Also present Lowri Jones, the Clerk.

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  1. Chair's Welcome

The Chair, Councillor Enoc Jenkins, warmly welcomed the members to the meeting.

  1. Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

  1. Minutes

With Councillor Megan Mai proposing and seconded by CouncillorGlenys Edwards,the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2013 were confirmed. Also the minutes of the Finance Sub-committee meeting held on 13 January 2014, were confirmed with Councillor Rhian Evans proposing and seconded by Councillor Bleddyn Huws.

  1. Matters Arising:

i.Speed Restriction request on the C1133road

A reply was received from the Highways Section to the Council's letter supporting the petition asking for speed restriction signs to be erected on the back lane from the Black Lion to Penpompren farmyard. The reply explains that at present there is a moratorium on all new speed restrictions as the Authority is currently undertaking a review of all restrictions at the request of the Welsh Government. The aim is to complete the review by the end of 2014, but without additional resources earmarked for the work any action which may be follow could well be delayed beyond the end of the year.

ii.Balchder Pentrefi

The Council has now received the grant of £5,132.02 towards the Project's costs. The account has now been closed having achieved improvements worth £10,000 without dipping into the Council's general funds.

iii.Bont-goch's Public Bench

Councillor Emyr Davies reported that he had painted and erected the bench.

iv.Council's Website

The Clerk reported that the ex-Clerk was continuing to work on the website and hoped to send the content by the end of the week.

  1. Christmas Lights

The ex-Clerk had written to thank Ysgol Talybont, Falyri Jenkins and Ieuan Morgan. Another letter had been written to Tom Edwards, the electrical contractor asking him to send the bill for erecting the lights before the end of the financial year. The Chair, Enoc Jenkins, thanked everyone who helped with the arrangements especially Councillors Glenys Edwards and Ellen ap Gwynn.

vi. Grit Bin (Glanyrafon)

Councillor Rhian Evans reported that the damaged grit bin had not been replaced. It was agreed to send a letter to the County Council reminding of this issue.

  1. Maes y Deri Speed Limit

Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn received a report from PC Jonathan James who had spoken with a Maes y Deri resident who was concerned about speeding on the estate. At present the speed limitis 30mph. The resident had explained to the police that she was planning a petition to be signed by other residents who shared her concerns. Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn had informed the Highways Section of this development and stated that the Section would include the estate in their county-wide review of speed restrictions.

viii. Bont-goch Street Lights

Councillor Emyr Davies reported that the street light near to the Bont-goch Water Works entrance had not been repaired so far andalso that nothing had been done to clear the overgrown hedge which obscured light from the street lamp close the the bridge. It was agreed to write once again to the County Council to draw attention to these street lights.

ix. Recycling Bins

Having consulted with other Talybont Youth Club officers it was agreed, in principle, to invite RAY Ceredigion to send a representative to the next meeting of the Council to discuss ways in which they may use the funds

  1. New Clerks' Contract

Councillor Enoc Jenkins (Chair) gave a short verbal report of the new Clerk's contract that had been agreed to at a meeting before Christmas (attended by Councillors Bleddyn Huws, Megan Mai and Enoc Jenkins). Minor changes in the new contract were explained to members before it was approved by the full council.

  1. Cemetery Arrangements

In the absence of the Clerk over the Christmas vacation it became clear that there was a need for a far more formal arrangement in the future when the Clerk is away from the area. It was suggested that the responsibilities during such absences could be handed over to a member or members of the Cemetery Sub-committee if they were willing. It was agreed to conduct a short 'training session for some members during the coming months.

  1. Correspondence:

a) Ceredigion County Council – ConsultationonStrategic Assessment of Crime and Disorder2014

An invitation was received to complete a survey about crime and disorder in the county in order to present information and an understanding of community safety problems. It was agreed that the Clerk should complete the form on behalf of the Council.

b)Ceredigion County Council – Consultation on Draft Document on Strategy on Local Flood Controls

The Council had been informed that the above public consultation exercise was open until 31 January 2014. It is now the role of the County Council to develop, maintain, modify and monitor a strategy. The strategy explains how it proposes to develop sustainable measures to control the dangers of flooding, and outline the steps that need to be employed during the next few years to create a better and more sustainable way of operating. The document includes a list which provdes a starting point about the locations which require specific effort in relation to surveys and measures to reduce the dangers of future flooding; in was nted that Tal-y-bont was inclded in this list. However, as yet the strategy does not contain details of specific plans for individual areas.

c) Welsh Government - Review of Council Tax Deduction Scheme

The Welsh Government is looking for future options in the provision of relief in council tax in Wales. The Government is anxious to develop a scheme which, within limited funding, is fair and sustainable and to protect homes with low incomes who are vulnerable to major suffering.The Council has been invited to complete and submit the online questionnaire. Having read the questionnaire it was agrred to write a letter of complain because of the poor quality of the Welsh translation as well as the impeneterable terminology of the questionnaire

d) Ceredigion County Council: Free Trees

Ceredigion County Council has 500 trees to present to schools, community councils and community groups within the county. They are a mixture of native trees that have been selected for their benefit for insects which pollinate such as bees, wasps and moths. It was agreed to discuss the matter further at the next meeting to enable members to collect suggestions.

e) Ceredigion County Council: Consultation on Supplementary Planning Guidelines Draft Scheme Local Development Plan (LDP) Ceredigion

An invitation was received from the County Council to respond to the draft Supplementary Planning Guidelines. Copies are available on the County Council's website. If any one wishes to comment the formal consultation is open from 16 January to 28 February 2014.

f) Ceredigion County Council: Review of Traffic Regulation Orders (Parking)

An invitation to Town and Community Councils to present proposed changes to parking restrictions [i.e. yellow lines] to be considered by County Council Officers as part of their current county-wide review. Proposals must be sent to the County Council by 14 February. It was agreed to write to the County Council drawing attention to the following areas: the stone wall adjacent to the Patshyn Glas; the road leading towards St David's Church and Dôl Pistyll from the T-junction on the A487, and consideration be given to introducing time restricted parking outside the Spar.

g) Ceredigion County Council: Cymdogion Cynnes

Further details were received about the Cymdogion Cynnes information pack originally launched in October 2013 to support vulnerable people within the community to withstand excessive cold weather during the winter. The pack is available on the web and it was agreed that some members of the Council familiarise themselves with the content.

  1. Planning
  1. Outcomes:A130794 – Extension to Tanybwlch, Bontgoch, Tal-y-bont.

The Authority had approved this application.

  1. Financial
  1. 2013/14 Grants

The recommendation of the Finance Sub-Committee to distribute a total of £3,150 in grants to the following local societies and clubs was approved: Y Neuadd Goffa; Cylch Meithrin; OdynGalch Playing Field Association; Cymdeithas Papur Pawb; Talybont FC; Talybont & District Angling Club;Talybont WI; Clwb Pêl-droed Ieuenctid; Talybont YFC and Friends of Cartref Tregerddan. It was also agreed to share £515between five charities/organisations in Ceredigion: Ceredigion CAB; Urdd Gobaith Cymru; Ray Ceredigion; Gwyl Cerdd Dant Ystrad Fflur; and Cruse Ceredigion. Also six national charities shared £350.

  1. Quarterly Financial Statement 1 October – 31 December 2013

It was reported that the payments made so far during the financial year were higher than ever before [i.e. £20,684]'. The main explanation for this was the additional expenditure from the Balchder Pentrefi Project. However, the income to date was also higher than ever [i.e. £33,773]. It was anticipated that the expenditure during the final quarter of the financial year would be about £7,500 - £8,000 with receipts of approximately £600, and therefore there should be some £6,000 surplus at the end of the financial year. The statement was approved.

  1. 2014-15 Budget

On the basis of the anticiapted income and expenditure for the financial year 2014/15, it was agreed to demand a precept of £12,500 - the same sum as for 2013/14 financial year.

  1. Expenditure:

It was agreed to pay the follwing bills: a) Glenys Edward (£15.50 - Lighting Ceremony Refreshments); b) Neuadd Goffa (£50 - Room Hire including Lighting Ceremony October-December 2013); c) John Evans ( £84 - (Public Noticeboard Maintenance + Moving and erecting Bench); d) Papur Pawb (£25 - Grants advert); e) Gwilym Huws (£484.63 - Clerk's Salary and Costs); f) Lowri Jones (£455.75 - Clerks Salary and Costs).

  1. Cae Bach

The assessment form for February was distributed.

  1. AOB
  1. Hedge Cutting

It was reported that the hedgerows on the Cwm Ceulan road had been trimmed but the branches had not been cleared and had fallen into the gutters on the roadside. Consequently the surface water has impacted on driving conditions. It was also reported that that the hedge on the main street near Penlôn-las needed to be trimmed. It was agreed to contact the County Council about these issues.

The meeting ended at 9.25 pm.