MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER ON MONDAY 28th SEPTEMBER, 2009 AT 7.00 P.M

Present:Cllr Mrs A.M. Jones (Mayor)

“ E.J. Breeze

“ Mrs C. Edwardes

“ R.N. Hamer

“ Lady Hooson

“ D.C. Jones

“ G. Powell

“ Mrs P. Smith

“ N. Venti

“ J. Whittal Williams

Town Clerk

Prior to the Council meeting, Councillors met at 6.45 pm at the rear of the Town Hall with a member of the local branch of St Johns Ambulance and had a demonstration of the workings of the new ambulance. It was noted that the local branch had raised £45,000 towards the purchase, with grant monies making up the remainder.

The meeting opened with Prayers

333/01APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Cllrs Mrs E.L. Evans, Mrs R. Brunt, G. Morgan and P. Rees

333/02DECLARATION OF INTEREST Forms to record declaration of interest were circulated and filed with these minutes.

333/03MINUTES The following minutes were read and confirmed:-

Council Meeting held on 27.07.09

Meeting to discuss the security of the Town Hall 10.08.09

Meeting to discuss Tidy Towns initiative 11.08.09

333/04PLANNING APPLICATIONS – minutes of the planning meeting were received and agreed upon. Cllr Whittal Williams gave Councillors a brief resume of a meeting he and the Clerk had with Ms Louise Rugerri, planning officer at PCC. A letter to explain the replacement of windows in a conservation area was distributed.

333/05TO DISCUSS RECENT DAMAGE TO OLD MARKET HALL Due to the absence of Cllr Morgan, it was agreed to hold this item over until the October meeting.

333/06MINUTES AND AGENDA FROM MONTGOMERY COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL It was agreed to pass on the ‘Health Panel’.

333/07LETTER FROM EISTEDDFOD TALAITH A CHADAIR POWYS It was agreed to discuss the letter at the next Finance Panel meeting, arranged for 13th October at 6.15 pm. Councillors were reminded of the Proclamation Ceremony to be held on 17th October.

333/08LETTER FROM WALES AUDIT OFFICEReceived

333/09LETTER FROM PAVO – SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS AND PROJECTS Received

333/10E MAIL FROM JENNI THOMAS (PCC) REGARDING EUROPEAN FUNDING PROGRAMMES. Clerk was asked to pass on e mail address to all Councillors

333/11LETTER FROM SAVE LLANIDLOES HOSPITAL ACTION TEAM Cllr Margot Jones explained that she has now received permission from the Standards Committee to enable her to take part in discussions regarding the Hospital, although she is unable to take part in any voting. She explained that there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the future of the Hospital. A copy of a letter from Town Council to the Project Board, expressing concern, was read out. A letter from SLHAT was also read out. Cllr Breeze pointed out that only 12 beds remained open at the Hospital and the newly appointed matron only attended the Hospital on one day a week. A letter from Edwina Hart was also read out. Councillors agreed that the situation is very concerning and requested that Cllr Margot Jones and Cllr Breeze as members of SHLAT keep them informed of any developments.

333/12INVITATION FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR WALES – ANNUAL REPORT AND WORKSHOPS 2009 Clerk was asked to write back to express concern as the venues chosen for the workshops are not convenient for anyone living in Mid Wales.

333/13 THE STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS CONTAINED IN THE ANNUAL RETURN FOR YEAR END 31.03.09 Confirmed. The Annual Governance Statement was also approved by Council. Accounts for year end 31.03.09 were received. It was agreed that the Accounts will be discussed at the next Finance Panel meeting.

333/14LETTER FROM OVW REGARDING FUTURE TRAINING Clerk was asked to find out more details about the proposed training programmes for October and December 2009.

333/15INFORMATION FROM PCC REGARDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS IN POWYS. Cllr Venti agreed to read and report back

333/16INVITATION TO OPEN EVENING AT POWYSLAND MUSEUM ON 01.10.09 Cllrs were reluctant to travel to Welshpool and it was agreed that Cllr Smith would represent Town Council.

333/17LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP SCHEME ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009 FROM WAG Cllr Smith agreed to read through.

333/18SNOOKER CLUB CONSTITUTION AND 24 HR SPONSORED SNOOKER TOURNAMENT Cllr Morgan had agreed at the July meeting, to read through the constitution. It was agreed this should be discussed at the next Town Hall panel meeting to be held on 15th October at 6.30 p.m. Cllr Venti explained the proposed Sponsored Snooker Tournament. Questions regarding security of the building were asked. Councillors agreed to the competition in principal as long as security and other issues were resolved first.

333/19LETTER FROM PCC RELATING TO THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE Received

333/20CONSULTATION ON THE MODERNISATION OF OLDER PEOPLES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FROM MONT COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL Pass on the Health Panel

333/21LETTER FROM PCC REGARDING CONECTIVITY TO PCC NETWORK Clerk explained that PCC are removing Computer and internet services from the Town Council from the end of September. A replacement Computer will be installed on 1st October, as well as a new broadband provider and e mail address.

333/22HEALTH & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND LEGISLATION RELATING TO THE COUNCIL Clerk explained that a representative from Workboost Wales will be visiting the Town Hall in the next couple of weeks to give free advice on the requirements. It was agreed that a meeting to discuss the issues should be held on Monday 19th October at 6.30 with heads of panels and Clerk.

333/23LETTER FROM PCC REGARDING MAINTENANCE OF LONGBRIDGE ROUNDABOUT A letter to Chamber of Trade was read out. It was agreed that the replacement of the bollards is a huge improvement. Clerk agreed to speak to Mr John Ward about the planting, when he comes to discuss the Tidy Towns scheme.

333/24LETTER FROM PCC REGARDING DOG NUISANCE A letter was received from Mr Steve Clinton asking for further evidence of dogs, location and time of offences. It was agreed to write to Mr Clinton requesting more dog bins to be available. Environment Panel will discuss next steps at the next panel meeting.

333/25ACCOUNTS The following accounts were confirmed for JULY

Chq No

104074Wages & P.Cash (02.07.09)967.80

104075Inland Revenue 1059.55

104076Wages (09.07.09)892.14

104077Agri Power 53.65

104078Office Express(stationery)160.45

104079Lite (Xmas lights) 37.38

103301Wages & P. Cash956.60

103302Mc Colls 7.80

103303Wages (23.07.09)892.12

103304Wynnstay Group 9.98

103305Wages (30.07.09)891.68

TOTAL £ 5,929.15

333/26ACCOUNTS The following accounts were confirmed for AUGUST

Chq No

103306Wages (06.08.09)891.90

103307Inland Revenue847.40

103308Friends of the Earth 25.00

103309Wages & P. Cash (13.08.09)963.75

103310National Milk Bars 50.00

103311Zurich Municipal 6,268.57

103312GFA Premier(fire equip)707.02

103313Willpower Electrical 82.80

103314PCC (Council Tax) 1,362.00

103315Wynnstay Group 13.43

103316Unique Copiers758.01

103317Wages & P.Cash (20.08.09)1,021.73

103318Wages (27.08.09)891.90

TOTAL£ 13,883.51

Pursuant to Section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 it is resolved that, because of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, the public and press leave the meeting during consideration of the following items:-

333/27LETTER FROM MORRIS MARSHALL & POOLE REGARDING LAND AT PENRALLT/ALLT GOCH It was agreed that MMP as our agents, would contact the owners of Penrallt Lodge and inform them of the asking price of the land. It was agreed that a fence all around the boundary should be erected, with a gate for access by Council onto Council property. If the asking price is agreed upon, an advert will be placed in the County Times advertising the fact there has been an offer made and opening the offer to any other interested parties. The vote was unanimously carried with the abstention of Cllr Edwardes as a new Councillor.

333/28RENT REVIEW OF ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC AND MUSEUM FROM MMP Cllr Smith declared an interest and left the room. It was agreed to write to the Acupuncture clinic and inform them of the suggested new rent, to come into force from January 1st , 2010. A letter was received from PCC objecting to the proposed new rental of the Museum. It was agreed to discuss at the next Town Hall panel meeting on 15th October.

1