SEVEN SISTERS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
CYNGOR CYMUNED BLAENDULAIS
Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on 9th May 2016
Present:Chairman:Mr L C Jenkins
Councillors:Mr J W Davies, Mr D Francis, Miss C Freeman
Mr S Hunt, Mr G James, Mr B L Parfitt,
Mr M Rivers, Mrs G Smith, Mr D C Thomas
Clerk:Mrs L E Oliver
1Apologies for Absence
Mrs N Herdman, Mr P Parfitt
2Declaration of Interests
There were no declarations of interest
3Policing Matters
Mr James had attended the PACT meeting on 4th May. He said that items for the agenda should be things the police could sort out in six weeks, whereas items such as drugs were ongoing. The items for that meeting had been parking by the schools, speeding and youth annoyance.
He read out the crime statistics and said there had been no drug offences but children had been seen drinking on the tips and by the shops.
The police had requested that there be at least three councillors at each meeting.
4To Receive the Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on 4th April 2016
After one amendment had been made it was RESOLVED that the minutes were a true record of the meeting and were signed by the then Chairman.
5Matters Arising
Mr Hunt said he had looked at the footpath at Brynteg and there is a right of way but not across the railway line (footpath 43). It was decided a new sign was needed pointing left and Mr Hunt said he would arrange this.
Mr Hunt said recycling bags were being supplied to the Post Office but people were taking more than necessary and stocks were running out.
Mr Hunt said he had met with an Environmental Officer to check flooding by the town houses and the drains were blocked. The Council are to call in Dyno-Rod.
6Community Hall and CHAOSS
The Clerk said a decision whether to provide sanitary units in the Ladies WC had not been made previously. It was agreed that CHAOSS should make this decision.
7Recreation Ground
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of a meeting held 18th April 2016 to discuss replacing the play equipment were a true record of the meeting and were signed by the then Chairman.
Mr Parfitt had a copy of a WREN grant application and commented on the size of it and the amount of work involved. The Chairman asked Mr Hunt if he would head the application as he had previous experience and he said he would if he had help. Mr Francis said he and Mrs Smith were on the Recreation Ground Committee and they would work on the grant application with Mr Hunt. Mr Thomas said Ceri also has experience and Mr Parfitt said we need to look at a possible grant of £12,000 from NPTCBC.
It was agreed that the loan needed to be in place before the grant application was submitted and the Clerk would write to the new Welsh Assembly for sanction for applying for £25,000.
2016/05/01
The Clerk confirmed that the playground inspection by ROSPA had been booked for June and Mr Davies asked if the Committee could look at the equipment before this took place. Mr Thomas said he would look at it with Mr Parfitt. Mr Parfitt said he gave out forms that should be completed weekly but this did not appear to have been done. Mrs Smith said it was difficult, because the state of the equipment did not change from week to week, it was permanently bad.
Mr Thomas said he had a report of broken glass on the ground. He had checked but apart from two bottles could not find any. He said that motorbikes had been churning up the grass and a gate was needed to stop them gaining access. Mr Parfitt said he had a brochure and there was a ‘xmas tree’ style gate which stopped handlebars passing but gave access to pedestrians and pushchairs etc. Clerk to make enquiries for next meeting.
Mrs Smith said there was also water collecting by the gate and Mr Thomas said a French drain could help with this. Mr Thomas and Mr Parfitt to meet with contractor for a quotation.
8Transfer of Lease of Recreation Ground to CHAOSS
It was agreed the council should go ahead to obtain the land
9BMX Track - an update on works
Mr Hunt said he had been very busy with the elections but will now chase up the work
10Brynbedd Cemetary - to discuss a possible increase in charges
Mr Parfitt gave out a list of current charges made by Seven Sisters, Crynant and Onllwyn. The Clerk had produced income and expenditure figures for the previous year showing a deficit of £1189.45.
The Chairman said it would need a 30% increase in fees to break even and it was discussed whether this actually mattered as it was a service to the community.
Three proposals were made:
i)Leave the fees as they are, proposed by Mr Davies and seconded by Mr Rivers
ii)Charge one single fee of £300, proposed by Mr Parfitt and seconded by Ms Freeman
iii)Make an increase of 10% to be reviewed each year, proposed by Mr Hunt and seconded by Mr Francis
A vote was taken, with the result 1/5/3. It was RESOLVED to charge one single fee of £300.
11Reports from Meetings attended by Members
Mr James had attended the PACT meeting as previously reported
Mr Thomas, Mr Jenkins and Mr Hunt had attended a meeting at the Doctor’s surgery, to be reported at item 17.
Mr Francis had attended the Welsh school spring meeting. He reported that the school had been struggling with budget cuts but had managed to balance their accounts and still raised standards. Mr Rivers questioned if the new school at Ystalyfera would affect our school and Mr Francis replied that the new school would be for three to eighteen year olds, which could be a problem if it was widely used.
Mr Hunt had attended the Cefn Coed AGM and said there was to be an exclusion zone around the towers for health and safety but it would be some time before work took place.
12Planning Matters
Application No. P2016/0267
Mr Alex Lloyd, 94 Dulais Road
Part two storey part single storey rear extension
Discussed 18th April 2016 – no objections
2016/05/02
13Correspondence
Carers Trust Swansea Bay – request for support, it was agreed to abide by standing orders
Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot - Leaflets
14Clerk’s Report
Income £ p
Cemetery 55.00
It was RESOLVED that the following be passed for payment:
M Miles, April 2016as per contract
L Oliver, April 2016 315.00
Wrenvale – mowing cemetery 180.00inc VAT
Y Roberts – relief caretaker 904.50
NPTCBC – School Crossing 1/1/16 – 31/3/161125.94
HMRC PAYE/NIC Jan – Mar 16 728.30
Welsh Water – Hall/Cemetery 123.40
Corona Energy – Gas March 263.70 inc VAT
15Complaint to the Ombudsman
The clerk reported that she had received notice of a complaint to the Ombudsman by a villager. She had been told to report this to the council but not to give any details.
She had supplied the required information to the Ombudsman by the due date.
It was agreed a special meeting would be held when the Clerk had permission to divulge the details.
16Land Near Marigold – to discuss use of the land
Mr Hunt said there was still someone interested in the land for grazing but he wanted more land and was to contact the owner of adjoining land.
17Doctor’s Surgery
The Chairman said there had been a request from the Doctor’s surgery for two councillors to attend a meeting with the Doctors, Health Board, Practice Manager, other local councils and Cllr Hunt. The meeting was to give an update on procedures and they had been advised a Nurse Practitioner had been appointed.
The main theme of the meeting was Coelbren surgery and problems of getting locum doctors there. They reported that there had been hardly any complaints, the triage system is cutting down the doctor’s work and the pharmacist was helping this as well.
They were asked what contingency plans they had for doctor’s holidays and said they were setting up a team of employed locums to cover this but it would take a while to put into place. They were still pursuing employing another doctor. They wanted to hold these meetings on a regular basis to keep everyone updated.
Mr Hunt said that some patients were being advised to purchase medication rather than obtain it on prescription.
Mr Francis said he had experienced the triage system and it had worked very well.
18Publicly Accessible Defibrillators – to discuss training
After discussion it was agreed that the Clerk should devise and place an advert for a training session for anyone in the village that was interested.
19Traffic by School
The Clerk read out a reply to her email to Simon Pearson from the Fire Service.
Mr Hunt said there was the same problem everywhere we just have to try and keep our school safe.
Mr Davies suggested the Head Teachers and the patrol officer be advised to contact Mr Gareth Nutt, Director of Environment, when there had been problems.
Mrs Smith and Mr Francis to speak to the above.
2016/05/03
20Soar Chapel Site
The Clerk read out a reply to her letter to NPTCBC from Steve Ball, Development Manager – Planning. He said he would contact the owner of the land in an attempt to have the site cleared up but may also be raising an enforcement issue as the demolition had not been approved.
Mr Parfitt asked if the retaining wall was safe and Mr Hunt said engineers had checked it and it is safe
Mr Hunt said he would pursue the matter with the owner
21Any Other Business
Mr James had prepared documents re the MBE application for Mrs James which he gave to the Clerk
Mr Hunt said the Dulais Valley Horse Show was supported by the council and the village but he had received a complaint over the clause that any damage by users of the cycle track must be repaired by the users. Mr Thomas had had a call from the same person. Mr Jenkins said before the lease was granted all users of the land were protected.
Mr Davies said the Rugby Club had been advised to become a Limited company to protest the trustees from any claims, although they had liability insurance. Mr Jenkins said this could be done.
Signed: L C Jenkins, ChairmanDate 6th June 2016
2016/05/04
Clerk’s report to the Monthly Meeting to be held on 6th June 2016
Income £ p
Cemetery 140.00
Accounts for payment
M Miles, April 2016as per contract
L Oliver, April 2016 314.80
Wrenvale – mowing April 330.00 inc VAT
Wrenvale – moss killer, cemetery 60.00 inc VAT
Corona Energy – Gas April 303.68 inc VAT
Clerks expenses 17.28
Correspondence
NPT CBC – Youth Representatives on Town and Community Councils
Planning
Application No. P2016/0167
Mr Dean Davies – Re Land south of 104 Dulais Road
Detached dwelling and detached garage etc
Application No. P2016/0307
Mr Adrian Williams – Re Land off Martyn’s Avenue
Three link 2 bedroom bungalows, off street parking and access lane