Minutes of the meeting held on the 28th January 2010 at BrynOffaSchool, Pant.

PRESENT: Cllrs. Mrs. D. Gaskill, Cllrs. A. Brown, L. Northcott-Hammond,

P. McConville, T. E. Mason, R.M. Melling, I. Pollitt, B. Robinson, Mrs. J. L. Smith, and the Clerk Mrs. V. E. Byrne.

10/01APOLOGIES J. Jaffrey (work), L. Griffiths (hol)

10/02DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - Cllr Pollitt for planning application 10/00079

and Cllr Mrs. Gaskill for payment re website.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

10/03POLICE REPORT PC Dale had given a report by email. Matters to bring to

his attention were – rottweiler dogs seen at Bron Vyrnwy enquire whether the

dog ban was being enforced. Report of elderly person living near the village hall

being pestered by young people knocking at the door etc.

10/04There were no members of the public present.

10/05SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL REPORT Cllr Walpole had given his apologies due to

holiday. The Chairman gave the report of the LJC meeting held on the 19th

January at Kinnerley. The Shropshire Council budget was discussed and

affordable housing sites. The funding applications were on the Agenda; the PC’s application had not been allowed, because the Committee had changed the rules and decided not to allow applications from PC’s. The next meeting will be held at Morda on the 29.3.10.

10/06MINUTES of the meeting held on the 26th November were proposed by Cllr

Mason and 2ndCllr Pollitt with all in favour.

10/07CORRESPONDENCE Emergency Planning Briefing, Merger of Oswestry and N.

Shrops. NW Schemes, Plastic Bottle recycling service, Review of public

conveniences, Council Charter, SALC training events and Constitution.

10/08BUDGET AND PRECEPT The Clerk presented proposed Budget, estimated

expenditure table & Reserves, a Paper on the budgeting and spreadsheet on the

Play Equipment Project funding as well as information on bank balances. Following discussion on a Proposition by Cllr Robinson and RESOLVED that a precept of £16,200 be set, 2nd by Cllr McConville with all voting in favour. It was also RESOLVED to record A Vote OF Thanks to The Clerk Mrs Vivien Byrne for the work on this presentation.

10/09VILLAGE MAINTENANCE Report was given of the site meeting held on the

12.12.09 at the rear of Pant Chapel concerning the erection of a fence. It was

agreed to aks Longueville Gittins to search for the Deeds of the Recreational Field and to await the outcome of the Chapel’s application for LJC grant funding.

The fence adjoining the tramway track needs repair; the School Governors to be informed as well as Shropshire Council. The hedge at the Limeworks/BW Depot belonging to BW needs cutting for public safety reasons. Community salt bins and thefts were discussed. The policy on provision of salt bins to be ascertained.

10/10PLANNING 09/03665/FUL Leywood, Smelthouse Lane, extension and detached

double garage - no objections

09/03698/FUL Canal House, Pant, conversion of existing outbuilding - no objections

10/00079/FUL Yewtree House, Pant, revised position of chalet bungalow – no

objections.

10/00000/FUL Penylan, Penygarreg Lane, demolition of existing bungalow and erection of 4 dwellings – Objections on the following grounds: 1. Traffic hazards – no footway or lighting on the Lane at that point and only single track, limited visibility from the blind bend and brow, the size of the dwellings will generate more than one vehicle per dwelling which will increase the traffic on the Lane considerably, the lack of visibility at substandard junction with the A483 will be an issue for the increased vehicle movements. 2. Location - the setting of the site would be out of character and visually intrusive from the east, the size of the dwellings will be out of character and not in keeping with surrounding buildings, their size will dominate the landscape at the top of a cliff above the canal and plain and there is an old quarry at the rear of the site. 3. Housing need – the local housing need is for more bungalows and starter homes, these buildings will not serve to meet the local housing need.

09/02716/CON – reduction in height of boundary wall at toilet site – permitted.

Planning training session with Edwina Smart at Maesbrook Village Hall on the 3.2.10 Clerk and Chairman to attend.

10/11ROADS AND FOOTWAYS Notice had been given of the embankment

strengthening works to commence on the 1.2.10 on the A483 north of Pant. The

Clerk would publicise details in notice boards etc and liaise with the Highways

Agency and Amey to keep residents informed. Photographs of the rare plants were requested by the Agency to publicise theirecological survey and safeguards of the site.

Robert Robinson Welshpool Town Clerk had requested a joint meeting concerning the effects of the wind farm traffic and it was agreed to arrange suitable dates.

The mini island at Badgers Green on the B4398 was still causing concern with added complaints from Carreghofa Council and had not been resolved. Agreed to contact Shropshire Councillor Walpole for more urgent action.

Cllr Robinson raised the issue of the narrow footways on the A483 which are not passable with a disability scooter or pushchair as he had received many complaints. It was agreed to enquire what the minimum width of a footway should be on an A class road. Further the Station Road ramp had not been fixed, nor the footway sweeping which had been promised at the recent site meeting.

Rockwell Lane storm drain requires repair particularly at the beginning of the lane, as the springs are now running considerably without drain access and therefore flooding the lane.

10/12FINANCIAL MATTERS AND ACCOUNTS. The Annual Return had been received from Mazars, the external Auditor on the 22nd December with two comments. The first was the level of fidelity insurance should be reviewed by the Council and the second stated that the Return had not been received by the required deadline. The Clerk reported on the Audit and the deadlines – the Return had to be completed by The Clerk and the Internal Auditor, approved and signed by the Council before the 30th June 2009 and the deadline for receipt at Mazars was the 28th August 2009. The Return had been approved by the Council at the 26th June meeting and posted to Mazars on the 22nd July. It was proposed by Cllr Mason and 2nd by Cllr Brown that the list of accounts on the Agenda be paid and that a complaint be made to Mazars for the erroneous comments on the Annual Return and the length of time in concluding their audit. Seven Councillors voted in favour with Cllr Mrs Gaskill abstaining.

10/13RIGHTS OF WAY The Order confirming the claimed right of way at The Tramway had been confirmed and the deadline for objection at the High Court had also passed. The path could be cleared and way marked by the Countryside Department of Shropshire Council.

The Llimeys had commented at their recent meeting that people walking the Hill had been taking wood and asked that residents be informed that the wood piles, mainly brushwood, are there for the wildlife. They will be putting up notices to this effect. The pins on the rock face have been put in place for the climbers who have an agreement to climb there, apart from nesting periods.

10/12LIST OF ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT:

911 V E. Byrne 517.05 Salary Dec PAID

912 Black Horse Inn 246.15 (Recharged) Meals

913 Scottish Power 172.10 Lighting energy x 2.

914 G Gaskill 200.00 Website servicing

915 V & W Electrics Ltd 533.21 Lighting Maint x 3. & repair

916 Mazars 327.75 Audit fee.

917 V E Byrne 757.05 Salary Jan plus annual expenses

918 Shropshire Council 127.50 Replacement chq for bin empyting.

D D PWLB 1084.13 Loan instalment.