Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held in
‘Yr Aelwyd’, on Thursday 21st October 2004 at 7.15pm
PRESENTCouncillor D. Williams (Chairman)
Councillors J.D.J. Morgan, W.D.V. Evans, C.M. Jones, M. Lloyd, D.E. Williams, R.O. Griffiths, A.T. Bailey, D Valentine and C James.
APOLOGIESCouncillors H.R. Davies, A.M. Jones and P Williams.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mr Lee MacGregor, Reporter, Carmarthen Journal.
Chairman welcomed Mr MacGregor to the meeting.
41 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chairman announced that the Remembrance Service would be held at Llangunnor Church at 10.45a.m. on Sunday 14th November and confirmed that the Council Christmas Dinner is arranged for Thursday 2nd December at 7.30 p.m. in the Coleg SirGar Restaurant, Pibwrlwyd and that the following would be his invited guests: Canon A Griffiths, Vicar of Llangunnor and Mrs Griffiths, Mr C Evans, Minister of Capel Philadelphia, Nantycaws and Mrs Evans, Mr J Morgan, Pastor of Capel Babell and Mrs Morgan, Council Clerk and Mrs Davies. He had attended the retirement function of PC Bond and conveyed the Council’s appreciation for his work as the Community Policeman for Llangunnor and best wishes for the future. [It was noted that the Clerk had also written on behalf of the Council]. The Chairman reported on meetings of the working party formed by the Mayor of Carmarthen relating to improving the Towy riversides in Carmarthen. He had attended the official opening of the new centre for ‘Papur y Deillion’ in Pensarn and the Quiz Night event at Llangunnor School. He had provided a letter to the School, together with a donation, to be presented to the Lesotho community being visited by a teacher at Llangunnor School, conveying the best wishes of the Council and the Llangunnor community. The Chairman thanked Council Members for their support at the Civic Service held at Philadelphia Chapel, Nantycaws, on 10th October and requested that a letter of thanks be sent to the Minister Mr Caradog Evans.
42MINUTES
RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of:
i) The Special Council meeting held on 13th September and the Monthly Council meeting held on 16th September 2004.
ii) The Planning Committee Meeting held on 16th September 2004.
Inconsidering the minutes the following points were raised:
i)Minute 27 –to convey to the Divisional Inspector when attending a future Council meeting, that the Community Police Officer for Llangunnor should also cover Nantycaws.
ii)Minute 30v) – Clerk reported that Carms CC is prepared to install 3 additional columns in Tregynnwr: two in the parking area behind Y Talar and one on the footpath adjacent to the boundary with Elder Grove providing the Community Council accepts the operating costs. RESOLVED: to agree to the proposal and give further consideration to the public lighting priorities in the November meeting.
iii)Minute32 – Following consideration of responses received from the County Council RESOLVED to further review the proposal after receiving additional details from the County Council on grants available.
iv)Minute 33 – Cllr C James reported that she was organising Halloween activities for the youth at the Park and would be assisted by two youth workers. Members welcomed the initiative and the Chairman indicated that he would give a donation towards the costs of the evening. Cllr James also reported on the application to the County Council for the allocation of a Youth worker to work regularly in the community. Members supported the application.
v)Minute 34 – The Clerk reported that the named contractors were unavailable to cut the hedges and that the County Council had been approached for a quotation. RESOLVED: Clerk in conjunction with the Chairman to negotiate costs and arrangements with the County Council.
vi)Minute 35 – Clerk confirmed that the Council’s Welsh Language Scheme would be submitted as a bilingual version to the Welsh Language Board by the agreed date – 31st October 2004.
vii)Minute 36 – Clerk reported that the official notices certifying completion of the Audit had been duly displayed on the Council notice boards.
viii)Minute 40iii – Proposed spelling and format of new signs received from Carms. CC was confirmed by Cllr RO Griffiths.
43 COMMUNITY WEBSITE
Further consideration was given to the Carmarthen Tourist Association invitation to develop a website for the Llangunnor community. A letter was received from the Project Officer inviting all Members to the project launch in November and also inviting the Council to confirm in writing its interest in developing a website. Members acknowledged the benefits but needed further information regarding costs such as telephone connection charges and hardware maintenance costs etc associated with operating a public access point if established in the community. Following discussion Council RESOLVED as follows: a) the Community Council should be closely involved with the development; b) Cllr C James and the Clerk to be the Council’s representatives in relation to the website development c) The Confirmation of Interest form be completed and returned to Carmarthenshire Tourist Association d) to question the Project Officer on the associated costs.
44ACCESS TO LLANGUNNOR SCHOOL AND TRAFFIC IN PENYMORFA LANE
Cllr R O Griffiths, Chairman Llangunnor School Governors, tabled a letter received by the School from Carms. CC congratulating the school on its ‘School Travel Plan’ [prepared by the pupils] and confirming that it will be included in the County Council’s ‘Safe Routes to School’ bid to the Welsh Assembly Government. The school main entrance from Penymorfa Lane and the need for a pavement past Penybanc, Penymorfa Lane are included in the plan. If the bid is approved by the Assembly finance will be available to introduce improvements. The School will invite Members to a presentation on the bid in January 2005. Members welcomed Cllr Griffiths’ report but felt that the County Council needs to be reminded of the strength of the Council’s concern regarding the danger to pedestrians because of the absence of a pavement past Penybanc. The increasing amount of traffic using Penymorfa Lane seeking an uninterrupted route around Carmarthen, was contributing to the dangerous situation. Councillors identified the introduction of traffic lights on the A48/A40 roundabout in Pensarn could lead to the reduction of traffic along Penymorfa Lane. RESOLVED: to convey the Council’s deep concern at the absence of a pavement to the County Council and subject to the County Council’s response, to raise the matter with the Welsh Assembly Government and to suggest that the introduction of the traffic lights could alleviate the dangerous situation in Penymorfa Lane.
45IMPACT OF INCRESING NUMBER OF RETAIL OUTLETS IN PENSARN
With the increasing number of retail outlets approved in Pensarn, the absence of public conveniences in the area needs to be brought to the notice of the Planning Authority. RESOLVED: to convey to the Planning Authority the Members’ suggestion that facilities for customers be included within stores and incorporated into planning approvals.
46LLANGUNNOR PARK ASSOCIATION
Cllr HR Davies, Chairman of the Park Association, was not present to present a report but had verbally informed the Clerk of the potential to have a youth worker in the area who could develop activities for the youth in the Park. Cllr Williams on behalf of the Park Association reminded Members that bonfires were prohibited on the Park and any attempt to do so should be reported to the Association.
47MONTHLY ACCOUNTS
The monthly schedule was received from the Clerk. RESOLVED to approve the following expenditure:
1.E Williams Bus Shelters (Sept 04) 126.00
Playing Field (Sept 04) 60.00
Tidying Login Bus-shelter 180.00 Tidying BMX Track 140.00
2.I. W. DaviesSalary – Oct 2004 287.10
Allowance Oct 2004 50.00
Typing Oct 2004 50.00
3.Capel PhiladelphiaChairman’s Donation 50.00 ‘Civic Service’
4.Llangunnor SchoolChairman’s Donation 30.00 ‘Lesotho Appeal’
5.‘Papur LlafarChairman’s Donation 50.00 y Deillion’
6.Bowen &WeavingStationery 15.49
7.Post Office LtdPostage Stamps 49.00
8.Bowen & WeavingStationery 31.98
Council to note receipt of income
1.VAT Reimbursement 2003/04£1556.62
48CORRESPONDENCE
RESOLVED to receive the monthly schedule of correspondence and agreed action as follows:
i)Minutes of the inaugural meetingof Carmarthen Branch of Un Llais I Gymru/One Voice For Wales copied to all Members.
ii)Information on ‘Keep Wales Tidy Awards forwarded to Ysgol Llangynnwr School.
iii)Details of ‘Play Wales’ playground inspection courses forwarded to Chair of Park Association.
iv)RESOLVED to support the request received from the Welsh Language Society re: complaint against Radio Carmarthenshire.
v)Council registered its support to ‘Cynllun Estyn Llaw’ to develop bilingualism in the voluntary and community sector.
vi)Noted receipt of the Annual Report of the Adjudication Panel for Wales relating to ‘Code of Conduct’.
vii)Noted that Carms CC poster relating to Housing/Council Tax Benefits was displayed in Brynmeurig Stores.
viii)Analysis of vehicle speeds received from County Council in response to the request for lower speed restrictions on Heol Bolahaul, Blaengwastod and Rhiw Babell. RESOLVED to support Carms CC intention to notify the Police of the excessive speeds recorded on Bolahaul and to note that most vehicles on Blaengwastod and Rhiw Babell were observing the current speed limits.
ix)Noted that replacing the corroded lampposts in Tregynnwr would be undertaken at the end of Otober and early November.
x)Carms CC confirmed that all replaced lampposts in the community would be removed.
xi)The identification of local objectives for the 2005/06 Annual Policing Plan was referred to Cllr D Williams.
xii)RESOLVED:NO OBJECTIONS to the consultation by Carms. CC on the de-restriction order covering the A48 Nantycaws road junction where highway lighting is to be introduced this financial year.
xiii)Noted that the request to Carms CC for traffic calming measures be introduced in Bron y Dre, Tregynnwr had been added to a long list of similar requests.
xiv)Noted invitation received from Carmarthenshire Tourist Association for all Members to attend the launch of the Carmarthenshire Community Website.
xv)Consultation booklet received from Carms CC on the New Licensing Policy forwarded to Cllr HR Davies.
xvi)Information received from Barclays Bank re: changing the Council’s Reserve Bank Account to a Business Base Rate Tracker Account offering a better rate of interest was referred to the November meeting.
xvii)Confirmation received from Carms CC that additional litter bins will be placed at the locations identified by the Community Council.
xviii)Noted receipt of the written response requested from Carms CC Education and Leisure Department relating to the query regarding County Council’s varying support for Parks and Playing fields in Carmarthenshire.
xix)Macmillan Cancer Relief financial appeal referred to the December meeting.
xx)All other correspondence was noted as listed in the monthly schedule.
49ANY OTHER MATTER
i)To send letter to Mr G Davies, Tir Pound, Nantycaws, developer of the Gwynfan estate, requesting that the street lighting be connected as soon as possible.
ii)To review in the November meeting the lighting requirements of Haulfryn, Tregynnwr, together with all the public lighting priorities already established by the Council.
iii)To raise the awareness of the County Council of the potential problems that could arise if the entrance to the development site behind Safeway/Halfords is left open.
iv)Remind the County Council of the Council’s request for the extension of the 40mph speed limit on Capel Dewi road to a point beyond Glan Towy Lodge.
v)Clerk reported that in line with the Council’s request at the beginning of 2004, he had approached local Community Councils regarding arrangements for the provision of a lighted Christmas tree in the Community over the Christmas period. Choosing a suitable site convenient to power supply together with public safety issues, were the main factors to consider. After discussion it was RESOLVED not to proceed this year, but to award the best ‘seasonal externally decorated house’ by donating a sum of £50 to a charity of the householder’s choice.
vi)Request the Environment Agency to check the flood water flaps in Pensarn and to query the operation of the surface water pump located in Old Llangunnor Road.
vii)Request County Council to explore why buses continue to park in Pensarn Road and Stephens Way.
viii)Request County Council to approach Western Power regarding the low height of power conductors along Pensarn Road which are affecting car transporters and other high vehicles from accessing premises to load/unload off the highway.
ix)Notify the County Council of the inadequate toilet facilities available to the public using Yr Aelwyd.
50CLERK’S ANNUAL SALARY
Council RESOLVED to exclude the public and press from the meeting for this item.
Chairman reminded Members that the Clerk had been requested to report on the annual pay settlement for Community Council Clerks. The Clerk reported that Un Llais I Gymru/One Voice For Wales had adopted the following 3-year pay settlement jointly agreed by the national employee and employer representative bodies: 2.75% increase for 2004/5 with effect from 1/04/04 and 2.96% from 1/04/05. The percentage increase for 2006/7 would be subject to the October 2005 RPI figures. Following the report the Chairman requested the Clerk to leave the meeting.
Council RESOLVED as follows
i)The Clerk’s salary to be increased by 10% to £3789.72 with effect from 1/04/04. The increase to incorporate the 2.75% national agreement and to take into account that the Clerk’s present salary had been agreed in May 2002.
ii)In future the Clerk’s salary and allowances to be reviewed annually at the AGM and any agreed adjustments introduced with effect from the 1st April.
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