MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF TALGARTH TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY,
3 SEPTEMBER 2014, IN THE TOWN HALL, TALGARTH AT 7PM
PRESENT:– Cllr A Lord (Mayor) (In the Chair), Cllr A Bufton, Cllr Z Argent, Cllr N K Bally, Cllr J Hopkins, Cllr J Lilly, Cllr R Reid, Cllr Pip Turner, Cllr William Powell (Town & Powys County Councillor) – For latter part of the meeting.
APOLOGIES: Cllr J Wilding (Deputy Mayor), Cllr M Dodds, Cllr G Jones,
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs Josephine Rumsey, Town Clerk
14/207 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – There were no Declarations of Interest.
14/208 TO APPOINT A DEPUTY MAYOR - 3 SEPTEMBER 2014 – AGM MAY 2015 – Cllr A Lord, Mayor reported that the only Town Councillor who had expressed an interest in being nominated Deputy Mayor was Cllr J Wilding but she did request to do18 months as Deputy Mayor and if this was the case, and fellow Town Councillors agreed for this to happen, Cllr Lord said he would be prepared to stay on as Mayor for a further term from May 2015 to May 2016 if there were no other nominations at the AGM in May 2015.
Proposed by Cllr Pip Turner and seconded by Cllr W Powell, all in favour that Cllr J Wilding be Deputy Mayor up to the AGM May 2015 when the Mayor and Deputy Mayor positions would again again be voted in. Noted Cllr M Dodds, who was not present at the meeting, had previously stated that he was happy to endorse Cllr J Wilding as Deputy Mayor. He also offered to undertake the role of Deputy Mayor, in the interim, if no other Town Councillor had come forward.
Cllr A Lord, Mayor, thanked Cllr A Bufton for all the valued assistance he had given as Deputy Mayor since 2012 and understood he wish to stand down due to his recent health issues but pleased that he will continue his work with the Burial Ground and Town Hall and other areas as required.
14/209 TO APPOINT TOWN COUNCILLOR REPRESENTATION ON SUB-GROUPS – 2014-2015
Agreed that Cllr J Wilding, Deputy Mayor, be on the Precept Sub Group, Town Hall Basement Group, Planning Group and the newly formed Town Twinning Group, together with Cllr A Lord, Mayor, Cllr J Hopkins and Cllr M Dodds.
Noted Cllr A Bufton wished to come off the Gwernyfed School & Hay Swimming Pool Group. Agreed Cllr R Reid and Cllr Pip Turner be reps on this Group.
All other Town Councillor reps on other Groups remained the same and for Clerk to check with absent Town Councillors if they were happy to remain on the groups.
Internal Auditor – Proposed by Cllr A Bufton and seconded by Cllr W Powell, all in favour, that Sharn Drury be appoint Internal Auditor for the ensuing year.
14/210 MINUTES: The Minutes of the main meeting held on 9 July and 28 July, previously circulated to all Councillors, Cllr A Lord, Mayor, sought their adoption.
Proposed by Cllr R Reid and seconded by Cllr N Bally, all in favour, that the main Minutes of 9 July be signed as a correct record.
Proposed by CllrA Bufton and seconded by Cllr R Reid, all in favour, that the Special Meeting Minutes of 28 July be signed as a correct record.
14/211 CORRESPONDENCE:
St David's Hospice Care - AGM - Thursday 9th October 2014 6pm at St David's Hospice Care, Newport – Guest Speaker – Professor the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff. Cllr A Lord to attend.
St John’s Courses to learn basic first aid for free and receive a certificate – Note Session in Talgarth Town Hall Sat 13 Sept 10am – 12 noon.
14/212 PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND PLANNING ISSUES –
Planning Applications and Planning Issues (a) – (e) – Unanimously ratified as below.
(a) Planning Application 14/11016/CON – “Relocation of shed to south-east boundary –
Address: The Cottage, Penbont Road, Talgarth. – For Ratification – Supported and comments forwarded in Aug & BBNPA Approval received.
(b) Planning Application 13/10205/FUL – “Erection of 1 Detached dwelling at land to the rear
W George Butchers, Talgarth-For Ratification–Supported & comments forwarded in Aug.
(c) Planning Application 14/11095/LBC – “Formation of fire escape door in position of window opening and construction of level access platform and ramp to provide wheelchair exit” – The Town Hall, Talgarth. -For Ratification–Supported & comments forwarded in Aug.
(d) Planning Application 14/11096/FUL – “Formation of fire escape door in position of window opening and construction of level access platform and ramp to provide wheelchair exit” – The Town Hall, Talgarth. Note: Documents are the same for FUL and LBC applications. -For Ratification– Supported & comments forwarded in Aug.
(e) Planning Application 14/10981/OUT – “Demolition of existing dwelling and provision of replacement dwelling” – Tyisha, Pengenffordd, Talgarth. -For Ratification–Supported & comments forwarded in Aug.
Planning Applications considered at 3rd September meeting – (f) – (h) below.
(f) Planning Application 14/10947/FUL – “High head micro-hydro scheme, with turgo runner in turbine house system consisting of intake weir adjoining forebay tank, pipeline and turbine house.” – Pwll y Wrach Nature Reserve, Talgarth. Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr R Reid and seconded by Cllr A Bufton, all in favour, that the Town Council cannot support in its present form and recommends refusal, for the following reasons.
· The Town Council is deeply uneasy with this application because it was considered that a commercial operation such as this was incompatible with a site designated as a SSSI. Several Town Council members had been approached by residents who also expressed their opposition to the proposal. The main concern is that the disruption will take a considerable amount of time to recover and, in the case of the river itself, possibly be altered for all time.
· Pwll Y Wrach is a major tourist attraction in Talgarth held in deep affection by the residents. It features prominently in walks published in leaflets available at the TIRC and Mill. It is an important resource and be afforded the maximum protection.
· The Town Council also considers that the application would have benefitted from a public consultation and drop in session in order that the proposals could be explained in detail to members of the public. Perhaps it would be possible for this to take place. It may be that some of the concerns could be mitigated.
(g) Planning Application 14/11028/FUL – “Installation of 1 no. yagi antenna and ancillary works thereto” – Address: Airwave Solutions site DFP039, Ysgubor Ganol, Pengenfford, Talgarth.
Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr J Hopkins and seconded by Cllr R Reid, all in favour, to support this Planning Application.
(h) Planning Application 14/11079/FUL – “Installation of 4kW ground mounted PV array to generate electricity for domestic premises” – Address: Wern Frank, Talgarth.
Town Council comments – Proposed by Cllr J Hopkins and seconded by Cllr R Reid, all in
favour, to support this Planning Application.
(i) BBNPA Local Development Plan (LDP) (Adopted December 2013) - Consultation on Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance Notes – Noted the BBNPA has produced the following draft supplementary planning guidance notes (SPG) to aid implementation of the adopted Local Development Plan.
• Countryside: Enabling Appropriate Development Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance
• Landscape and Development Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance
These documents are available for public consultation for a period of 8 weeks – 24 July – 18 Sept.
To view the draft SPG - website as follows http://www.beacons-npa.gov.uk/?p=29129.
Cllr N Bally and Cllr A Lord to draft suitable response to forward to BBNPA by 18 September.
(j) PCC – Deposit of Powys LDP – 2011-2026 – Comments by 8th Sept. Town Council comments – Cllr N Bally agreed to draft a response on behalf of the Town Council and agree it with Town Councillors by closing date of 8 Sept.
(k) BBNPA – Local List Criteria – Response received from Ryan Greaney referring to our email dated 22nd July concerning the Local List Criteria, stating that he does not agree that we were misled with regard to the Local List for the reasons set out in his letter of 14 June. He said they wrote to owners and occupiers of locally listed properties at the request of BBNPA Members. It
was considered to be a helpful step in explaining that LDP policy states that development (where planning permission is required) affecting buildings which make an important contribution to the character and interest of the local area as set out on the local list will be permitted where the distinctive appearance, architectural integrity or their settings would not be significantly adversely affected. He said, to reiterate, Local Lists are currently non- statutory and place no additional restrictions on buildings on the list over and above normal planning regulations – there is no consenting regime and they are not a means of limiting development options. Local Lists are a record of locally important historic buildings or spaces and we are now in a position to offer constructive advice and guidance on their conservation and proposals for their alteration, which they were not able to do prior to the adoption of the Local List.
Ryan Greaney said he would be happy to meet with us to discuss this matter further if we wish.
(l ) Melin Homes/Proposed Churchfields development –Noted Cllr A Lord and Cllr A Bufton met with Roger Williams MP and Cllr W Powell and interested parties 25 July at 4.30pm on site.
Noted we have since received a letter dated 3 Aug from the Residents/Owners Churchfields thanking Cllr Lord and Cllr Bufton for attending the meeting and again outlining their concerns.
Received copy letters dated 10 July to Melin Homes from Mr & Mrs A Evans and Mrs I Evans. Planning Policy Wales – Noted response Cllr W Powell received response from Planning Policy Wales, confirming that the design of any new development should be sympathetic to the existing nature of the neighbourhood but, however, as is often the case with planning, there may be other material considerations that could override this on a case by case basis.
Water and Sewage capacity, Talgarth - Dwr Cymru – Response dated 20 July received from
Dwr Cymru – Maria Evans, confirming that they are currently reviewing and liaising with colleagues internally and until their discussions have been completed would like to place a holding response to our request regarding proposed plans and timescales for upgrades to the:-
· Sewage Handling facility on the banks of the Llynfi
· Sewers within and around Talgarth taking in projected developments such as the Mid Wales Hospital site and Churcfields, recently purchased by Melin Homes
· Surface Water Drainage, the site at the end of the main car park and again Churchfields.
BBNPA Notice of Decisions for Approval of Planning Applications –
(a) Planning Application 14/10746 – “Construction of a single storey garden studio” (Full
Application) at The Cottage, Penbont Road, Talgarth.
(b) Planning Application 14/10773/FUL RE-SUBMISSION with correct Site Plan –“Single storey extension at rear of garden room and erection of detached single storey outbuilding for workshop and additional storage” – Address: 2 The Paddocks, Bronllys Road, Talgarth.
(c) Planning Application 14/10895/FUL – “Demolish flat roofed kitchen and re-build to provide larger kitchen and utility room with hipped roofed” – Address: Green Meadow, Bronllys Road, Talgarth
BBNPA Notice of Refusal of Listed Building Consent of Planning Applications –
(a) Planning Application 14/10886/LBC – “Conversion of barn to holiday let and alterations to house including demolition of single storey extensions and building a new dining room extension” (Listed Building Consent) at Pentwyn, Penbont Road, Talgarth.
BBNPA Notice of Refusal of Permission for Development of Planning Applications –
(a) Planning Application 14/10894/FUL – “Conversion of barn to holiday let and alterations to house including demolition of single storey extensions and building a new dining room extension” (Full Application) at Pentwyn, Penbont Road, Talgarth.
(b) Planning Application 14/10877/FUL –“One rear apex dormer”– Glascwm, Trefecca Rd, Talgarth.
BBNPA Withdrawal of Planning Application –
(a) Planning Application 14/10953/FUL - "Replace existing canopy with a proposed porch including a lobby and toilet and the creation of new parking/turning area for 2 vehicles" - Bridge Cottage, Talgarth has been withdrawn.
14/213 TOWN COUNCIL ACCOUNTS 01/04/2012 – 31/03/2013 – POST AUDIT APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION – Town Clerk, reported that the BDO External Audit for Town Council Accounts 01/04/2013 – 31/03/2014 has completed the Audit and issued the Final audit certificate.
It is noted that there were no matters which came to BDO’s attention.
Proposed by Cllr A Bufton and seconded by Cllr R Reid, all in favour, that the Town Council approves and accepts these Accounts and that the Clerk advertises the Notice of Conclusion of Audit on the Town’s Notice Board for required duration of 14 days and to pay BDO Audit invoice for Audit Fees 2013/2014 be paid - £295 + £59 VAT - £354.
14/214 VERBAL REPORTS – COUNTY CLLR WILLIAM POWELL AM – Cllr W Powell had not forwarded a monthly report in advance of the meeting but joined in discussions as appropriate.
ONE VOICE WALES – Brecon & Radnor Area meeting Fri 18 July at Newbridge-on-Wye – Noted Cllr A Lord, Mayor and Cllr M Dodds attended and Minutes should be received shortly.