Environmental Committee 3 January 2016

BRECON TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE OF BRECON TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, THE GUILDHALL, BRECON ON MONDAY 3 JANUARY 2017 AT 7.00 P.M.

536/16PRESENT

Councillor R Lewis

Councillor Mrs R Evans

Councillor K Wilbud

Councillor M Dorrance

Councillor A M C Weale

In Attendance:Mrs Fiona Williams (Town Clerk)

Mrs Alison Jones (Assistant Town Clerk)

Co-opted Membersof the Public Catherine Pape

Jemma Bere

Not in Attendance:Cllr E Trailor

537/16APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from CouncillorsMrs E Pritchard, D Meredith and Sister Bonaventure Kelleher.

538/16DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no Declarations of interest.

539/16MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Environment Committee held on 5 September 2016(Pages 84 to 89) (copies of which had been previously circulated) were taken as read, approved as a true record and signed.

Arising from the Minutes

540/16NEW TOWN GUIDE – 2017 – 2019 (MINUTE 294/16)

The Town Clerk advised that the next meeting of the Working Group would be arranged shortly.

541/16BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL BRECON (MINUTE 296/16)

Members requested an update as to the progress of this matter.

The Town Clerk advised that she was waiting for the accounts to come back in and the Mayor confirmed that she would provide these before the end of the financial year.

542/16LITTER (MINUTE 300/16)

Members considered how to progress this matter and whether it should be deferred until the new Council is elected.

Following further discussion

IT WAS RESOLVED to invite the Waste Awareness Officer of Powys County Council to a meeting of the Full Council.

543/16BANDSTAND EVENTS (MINUTE 301/16)

The Town Clerk advised that the summer programme of events for the Bandstand would be placed on the Agenda for the March meeting of the Environment Committee. Members agreed that it would be beneficial to generate ideas from members of the Community via social media as to what they would like to see put on at the Bandstand.

544/16ACTIVE TRAVEL ACT- PLANNING THE NEW NETWORKS

Councillor Dorrance advised that mapping had been carried out in some Wards and this would be resurrected shortly He would then write the document up and circulate it to Members for comment.

CORRESPONDENCE

545/16PROPOSED SKATE FESTIVAL – LLANFAES

Submitted email in relation to a proposes Skate Festival at Llanfaes – a copy of which was circulated at the meeting.

Members discussed the content in detail and were of the opinion that community events are in general more successful if organised by community groups. Members were also conscious of the timings in relation to the Council Elections and the extra work load that would be placed on staff if the Council were to consider running this proposed event.

RESOLVED

THAT the Town Clerk respond advising that unfortunately the Council were unable to consider running this event this year but requesting that it be kept informed of the plans and these would be supported if possible. The Town Clerk to suggest that groups such as Plan Brecon be contacted to assist with the organisation and running of any event.

546/16FENCING – UPLANDS

The Town Clerk advised that she had obtained a rough quotation for fencing but there were a number of matters that needed further consideration i.e. height, style gates etc. She suggested that perhaps a site meeting would be beneficial. Councillor Dorrance advised that Powys County Council were updating some of the equipment at the Park and contractors would be on site. He suggested contacting Mr Stephen Butcher in the first instance to discuss obtaining the necessary permissions from the portfolio holder to erect the fencing and to consider obtaining quotations from the contractors on site.

RESOLVED

THAT the Town Clerk liaise with Mr Stephen Butcher of Powys County Council.

547/16TOILETS – SIGNAGE

Members had before them suggested wording for the signage at the toilets for approval After discussion

IT WAS RESOLVED THAT the word “toilet” be removed so that the signage reads “These facilities provided by”. The Town Clerk to check whether the SDF logo needed to be included on the signage.

548/16RADAR KEY SYSTEM

Members were advised that the radar key system in the toilets at Lion Yard did not override the coin box system and there had been some complaints in relation to this matter. Members were asked to consider whether this should be adjusted. After discussion

IT WAS RESOLVED THAT

The Town Clerk inform the Contractors that the Committee wished to have the radar key system reinstated.

549/16TOILETS – LION YARD AND THE PROMENADE – UPDATE

The Town Clerk reported that she and Members of the Working Group together with the Council’s Surveyor had had a lengthy meeting with the Contractors before Christmas in which a lot of outstanding matters were discussed. The Town Clerk advised that although she was awaiting a consignment note, everything was in place in readiness for the toilets to open. The rain water harvesting system would be installed during the second week of January.

In relation to the toilets at Lion Yard, the Town Clerk reported that the grab rail in the disabled toilet was not suitable and whilst the Contractors had tried to fix it, it was still unsafe.

The Town advised that she was now going to schedule quarterly meetings with the Contractors to discuss outstanding issue. Members discussed whether reports of meetings should be reported to Full Council or whether it should stay with the Environment Committee.

Finally the Town Clerk reported that the signage indicating directions to the toilet at the Promenade is very difficult to see as it is high up on a pole and it was suggested that she liaise with Mr Stephan Butcher at Powys to see if they could be improved. Members discussed the possibility of having the distance added to the signage and also the use of a picture to make them more dementia friendly.

Following further lengthy discussions

IT WAS RESOLVED THAT

A quotation be obtained for a new grab rail at the disabled toilet in Lion yard.

Following the quarterly meetings with the Contractor, the Town Clerk to report to the Environment Committee. The Chair of the Environment Committee in turn to update Full Council, to re-affirm that the toilet provision, and management of it, is being properly scrutinised.

TheTown Clerk to liaise with Mr Stephen Butcher in relation to signage indicating distance to the toilets.

550/16AUTOFLUSH SYSTEM – LION YARD

Members discussed the quotation for an autoflush system at the night toilet at Lion Yard and whether this toilet should remain open.

RESOLVED

THAT the night toilet be closed off and the cleaners be asked to flush the toilet once or twice a week.

551/16PROMENADE TOILETS – OPENING HOURS

Members were asked to consider what hours the toilets at the Promenade should be open.

After discussion

IT WAS RESOLVED

THAT the toilets would be open 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. every day during the winter months.

552/16GOAL POSTS – LLANAFES

The Town Clerk advised that the new goal posts had been ordered and would be delivered during the second week of January.

THIS information was noted.

553/16PROPOSED WI-FI PROJECT

Members had before them information in relation to the Llandrindod Wells Town Wi-Fi project.

Councillor Dorrance advised that whilst this was not a project that was budgeted for in the coming financial year he believed that it was a project that was worth looking into and researching for the future as it was something that would support and develop the Town Centre.

Members discussed in detail the potential benefits of such a project and also discussed the impact of future improving technology.

Members agreed that it was project that needed a lot of further investigation and the involvement of many different partners would be beneficial.

RESOLVED

THAT a working group be formed to take the matter forward to include Committee Members, BBNPA, Powys County Council, Chamber of Trade and all other interested parties.

554/16LLANFAES PARK, CAMDEN ROAD PLAY AREA AND MAENDU WELL

Members had before them the defect sheets for Maendu Well, Camden Road and Llanfaes Park together with photographs of damage caused at Maendu Well.

The Town Clerk advised that there were overgrown brambles and nettles along the boundary fence with the School in Llanfaes Park which required cutting back. Members queried whether this could be the responsibility of the school?

RESOLVED

THAT the Chair, Town Clerk and Park Keeper visit the site and liaise with the School in relation to having them cut back.

In relation to Camden Road, some of the fence posted had rotted and needed to be replaced

RESOLVED

THAT these fence posts be replaced

In relation to Maendu Well, Members discussed the damage that had been caused.

Members agreed that it was an extremely important site that was in need of repair and investment. Jemma Bere advised Members of work that had been carried out by the Maendu Well Group previously and she agreed to circulate this information to members.

Members went on to discuss the need for warning signage and a water recovery system which was required for Health and Safety reasons and where the best place would be for these to avoid vandalism and to ensure they were sympathetic to the site.

Following lengthy discussions

IT WAS RESOLVED THAT

The Committee have a site meeting on a weekend to be agreed in January to have a good look at the site to see what needs to be done. Members to consider positioning of the warning signage and water recovery system. This decision to be delegated to the Chair and Vice Chair.

555/16BRECON WITH BELLS ON – FEEDBACK

The Town Clerk advised that there had been significant feedback to the ‘Brecon With Bells on’ Event which had for the most part been very positive and the consensus of opinion was that it should be put on again this year and hopefully be bigger and better, but that the day should be shorter.

RESOLVED

THAT the working group meet in February to start planning for this year’s event. Members of the business community to be invited along to be involved in the preparation and planning.

556/16PR AND PRESS OPPPORUNTIIES ARISING FROM THE MATTERS DISCUSSED.

Opening of the toilets at the Promenade.

Goal Posts returning to Llanfaes Park in Mid January

Formation of a working group to look into a Town Wi-Fi system.

Positive feedback from ‘Brecon With Bells On’

557/16PR AND PRESS OPPORTUNITIES ARISING THE NEXT MONTH

Meeting to discuss this year’s ‘Brecon With Bells on’Event.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

558/16The Town Clerk advised that there were a number of old Christmas Lights in the cellar that could not be repaired or were not suitable for putting up and suggested that these be removed from the cellar.

MEMBER’S REPORT

559/16The Chair and Vice Chair submitted a report in relation to the Christmas Lights completion. The Chair advised that this needed a lot more promotion in the future. He put forward some suggestions for improving the competition for consideration when the new Committee is elected in May.

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