MINUTES OF A MEETING OF ABERAERON TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2014 AT COMMITTEE ROOM 1, MEMORIAL HALL, ABERAERON
PRESENT:County Councillor Elizabeth Evans, Mayor; Councillors Phillip Davies, Rhys Davies, Philip Gatehouse, Mair Harrison, Owenna James, David Jones, Meirion Jones, Neris Lloyd, Micky Welham and Tom Williams.
Mr Denfer Morgan, Clerk to the Council.
1802. APOLOGY
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Eleri Thomas.
1803. WELCOME
The Mayor and Members extended a warm welcome to Mr Denfer Morgan who was attending his first meeting as the newly-appointed Clerk to the Council.
1804.DISCLOSURES OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS
The following Councillors disclosed personal and prejudicial interests in the matters referred to in the following minutes and left the room during the discussion and voting on those matters, and also signed the Register of Interests:
Nameof CouncillorMinute Number
Michael Welham1808 (i)
Elizabeth Evans1812 (ii)1812 (iv)
Thomas Williams1812 (iii)
Meirion Jones1812 (iii)
Rhys Davies1812 (iv)
(The Meeting was chaired by the Deputy Mayor when the Mayor was absent.)
1805.POLICE MATTERS
The Mayor welcomed to the meeting PC Sharon Thomas and PCSO Mike Thomas of Dyfed Powys Police and the following information provided by them was noted in respect of the month of August:
a) five incidents of thefts or shoplifting and whether they had been detected or remained undetected.
b) five incidents of anti-social behaviour.
It was confirmed that the white van had been removed from Pwll Cam car park and that action was being taken with regard to speeding by individuals at the South Beach car park.
1806. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 8TH JULY 2014
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the monthly meeting held on 8th July 2014 subject to the following corrections:
Minute 1796 – reference should be to Mr Iwan Cray.
They were signed as being a correct record by the Mayor.
1807. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MEETING HELD ON 8TH JULY 2014
Item 1797 – Mini roundabout at junction of Lampeter Road, Vicarage Hill and Rhiwgoch. Further discussion ensued in respect of the recent targeting by the Police of drivers turning right onto Rhiwgoch at the roundabout. The Police representatives present stated that the exercise was now at an end. Members were concerned that it was very difficult to turn right on the mini roundabout without encroaching on the raised centre circle and that it was both unfair and unproductive to target such traffic. It was RESOLVED to request Ceredigion County Council to change the mini roundabout from one with a raised centre to a flat centre in order to facilitate its lawful use.
1808.FINANCE
It was RESOLVED to approve the following invoices for payment and cheques were later signed:
(i)Welham Electrical – Harbour Festoon Lighting £243.60
(ii)Paul Hughes – 2nd Footpath Cut £426.00
(iii)Feathers Royal Hotel – July Meeting Venue £30.00
(iv)D T Evans – 2013-14 Audit of Accounts Fee £150.00
(v)Gwynne Hughes – Secretarial Assistance / Office Expenses April – August 2014 £367.29
(vi)AaBbCc – Translation of Minutes April – July 2014 £422.63
(vii)Local Councils Review Annual Subscription £17.00
1809. AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS 2013-14
It was RESOLVED to approve the Audited Accounts for 2013-14 and that they be signed by the Mayor for submitting to the Council’s external auditors.
1810. TENDERS
It was RESOLVED to authorise the clerk to seek tenders for a survey of the condition of trees at Allt-y-Graig woodland.
1811. NOTIFICATION OF PLANNING DECISIONS
It was RESOLVED to note the following decisions of Ceredigion County Council, as the Local Planning Authority:
(i)Application No A140443 - Erection of new garage, Chapel of Rest, Queen Street, Aberaeron - Refused.
(ii)Application No A140135 - First Floor Extension, Tŷ Twt, 10 Masons Row, Aberaeron - Approved.
(iii)Application No A140349 - New flues and support mast, Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion, Penmorfa - Approved.
(iv)Application No A140079 and Listed Building Consent - Demolition / Extension, 7 Cadwgan Place, Aberaeron – Approved.
(v)Application No A140138 and Listed Building Consent – Demolition of existing / erection of replacement garage, 6 Godre’r Garth, Belle Vue Terrace, Aberaeron) - Approved.
1812. PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
Consideration was given to the following planning applications upon which the Council was being consulted and the decisions as recorded were taken:
(i)Application A140529 - Installation of PCP type green cabinet, Aberaeron Telephone Exchange, junction Darkgate Street & Prince’s Avenue. OBJECTION and to recommend that the cabinet be located within the curtilage of the Exchange.
(ii)Application A140583 - Erection of extension, demolition of garage and erection of new garage, Maesycoed, Vicarage Hill, Aberaeron. NO OBJECTION.
(iii)Application A140595 - Change of use from A1 Retail to A2 Estate Agents, ground floor and first floor only, 4 Market Street, Aberaeron. NO OBJECTION as the property being vacated would be marketed for retail purposes.
(iv)Application A140609 - Variation of Condition 3 of A130394 to allow extended hours of use of the balcony and provide seating, The Hive, Cadwgan Place, Aberaeron. NO OBJECTION.
It was RESOLVED to advise Ceredigion County Council of the Council’s
observations on each planning application.
1813. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
Consideration was given to the following correspondence received by the Council:
(i)E-mail from Ceredigion County Council concerning the timing of the road closures in connection with the 2014 November Fair.
Recommend that the road be closed at 6.00 pm.
(ii)Letter from Ceredigion County Council concerning the Caring Communities Partnership / Partneriaeth Cymunedau Gofalgar.
Referred to Councillor Phill Davies for referring to the Memorial Hall Management Committee for consideration.
(iii)Invitation from Aberystwyth Town Council to attend a Meeting to discuss changes to health provision at Bronglais General Hospital.
Councillors Phill Davies and Neris Lloyd to attend.
(iv)Letter from Cardigan Town Council seeking support for its request to Ceredigion County Council that it offers two hours free parking at its car parks throughout the County as the current ‘prohibitive charges impede on the economic growth’ of towns.
Agreed.
(v)Consultation Letter from Ceredigion Actif concerning its draft strategy currently out to consultation. Received.
(vi)a) Invitation to attend the One Voice Wales 2014 Conference and AGM, 4 October, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd. Councillor David Jones to attend.
b) 2014 AGM Motions. Councillor Jones mandated as outlined at the meeting.
c) 2014 Training Programme. Noted
(vii)Details of Mark Williams MP surgeries September/October 2014. Agreed to display on the notice board.
(viii)Requests for financial contributions from Llyfr Hanes Côr Cwmann a’r Cylch, Age Cymru Ceredigion and Shelter Cymru referred to the January Meeting.
(ix) Letter re. damage to property. Noted that the matter had been referred to the Council’s Insurers.
It was RESOLVED to respond as recorded above.
1814. REPORT OF COUNTY COUNCILLOR ELIZABETH EVANS
County Councillor Elizabeth Evans referred to the following matters:
a) It was generally agreed that it had been an excellent summer for events and that the individuals and organisations involved be congratulated for their efforts.
b) Traffic matters - consultation would be commencing soon on the possibility of making Quay Parade a one way street.
c) Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation. The County Council had recently resolved that it would prefer to continue to stand alone rather than merge with Pembrokeshire County Council. The County Council was also requesting its Local Members to seek the views on town and community councils on the WLGA proposal for 4 blocks of councils to be created at a regional level above the existing 22 councils in order to coordinate strategic matters. It was agreed to support the proposal that Ceredigion continue as a standalone local authority and to oppose the creation of the four strategic regional bodies.
d) Ceredigion County Council Budget Consultation. The invitation to complete the on-line survey was noted.
1815. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
a) Councillor David Jones and others referred to continuing problems with visibility at various junctions in the town e.g. Market Street/Queen Street, Albert Street/Water Street, Alban Square/North Road, Victoria Street/Oxford Street and also problems with obstruction to cars at the bottom of Tabernacle Street.
b) Councillor Neris Lloyd and others expressed concern that the grass had only been cut once this summer by the County Council although it was also acknowledged that it was important to allow wildlife to flourish on hedgerows.
c) Councillor Phillip Davies expressed concern that rats had been seen on the riverside and queried whether the recent pointing of the harbour walls had been successful as the tide had come in immediately after its completion and the possibility that the material had been washed away.
d) Councillor Meirion Jones expressed his disappointment that the Cambrian News had not given greater prominence to the Aberaeron Secondary School being ranked top of the Western Mail Real Schools Guide for secondary schools in Wales and it was agreed that the Mayor write to the Governing Body congratulating the School on its achievement; he referred to the awarding of the 50th Aberaeron Carnival Medal by the Carnival Committee and the Adamant Jazz Band to Maurice Horton in recognition of his services as a street cleaner in the town; and also referred to an incident at the Parc y Fro play area where adult carers had ignored the signs restricting the use of the equipment to children.
e) Councillor Michael Welham referred to the lighting in the Town and it was RESOLVED that the lights at Square Field and at the Harbour remain in place until Christmas and that the situation be reviewed at the January meeting.
f) Councillor Mair Harrison referred to the arrangements for Community Christmas and it was RESOLVED that the committee met shortly and that it also considers the post of treasurer for the event.
g) Councillor Owenna James stated that the path along the southern side of the river, between the two bridges, had deteriorated and the damage to the pillar outside Trelawney at Belle Vue Terrace.
h) Reference was also made to residents using Parc y Fro as access for their cars to their properties.
i) The Clerk stated that the Wales Audit Office had contacted the Council stating that it was due to receive a sum of £30 being its share of the redistribution of reserves held by it as at 31st March 2014 and it was RESOLVED to authorise the Clerk to accept the payment.
j) the Clerk referred to the receipt of Draft Special Planning Guidance documents out to consultation by the County Council and that they would be available with him for Councillors to view. County Councillor Elizabeth Evans indicated that clarity with regard to the installation of solar panels on listed buildings was being sought.
It was RESOLVED to request County Councillor Evans to take all appropriate action.
The meeting closed at 9.25pm.
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