Minutes of the Meeting on Thursday 10th January, 2013

Present – Councillors C D White, S Davies, Mrs Arlene Jones, Mrs Carol Williams, A H Williams, Mrs S Pyart, J H Davies, D Dowdeswell, R Wynd, County Councillor D Thomas.

In attendance – PCSO Dan Garnnell and PCSO Becky Templeton

  1. Apologies for absence – were received from Councillors E Hopkins, R A Jones and Marianne Williams.

Visit by Ian Harris PCC Local Environment Manager Abercrave Depot – The Chairman introduced Ian Harris and welcomed him to the meeting for the first of what is hoped will be several visits to meetings of Tawe Uchaf Community Council.

Ian Harris advised the Council that a fault had been discovered on the Lon Hill Caehopkin. The roadway had sunk and a thorough inspection was scheduled shortly by expert highway engineers; Further information will be provided following the inspection.

The roadway from Coelbren to Ystradfellte via the forestry had recently been reinstated;

Following the closure of Caehopkin School PCC will not undertake gritting of School Road, Caehopkin.

Ian Harris invited the Council to raise issues of concern. In response to questions he advised

He would look into the use of the roadway between Station Road and Davies Street Caehopkin, by PCC vehicles and agreed to respond to the Council. He stated it was unlikely that PCC would adopt the roadway;

The Chairman thanked Ian Harris for attending. Ian Harris then left the meeting;

  1. Police Report –PCSO Dan Garnell advised that a cold caller had recently visited Dol Henrhyd OAP Bungalows on false pretences.The matter had been reported and a person had been arrested.

A mobile police station had been allocated to the Ystradgynlais area. It is intended to bring the unit to Coelbren whenever possible.

  1. Planning

a)Penycae Inn – Variation of condition 2 of P21489 and 10/05442/CON to allow alterations to windows and internal layout – Councillor Wynd declared an interest and left the meeting; The Council considered the request for variation. The Council was supportive of the request.

b)Abercrave Farm – Small Intake Structure for an existing Micro Hydro Scheme – Councillor Wynd declared an interest and remained outside the meeting; The Council considered the application and agreed to support the application.

c)Ancient Briton – BBNP has granted permission for a single storey lean to extension, creation of doorway and alteration to retaining wall.

  1. Correspondence

a) Village Hall Revenue Grant – PCC request details of any donations by the Council to Village Halls. The matter will be discussed under a separate item on the agenda.

b) Council Tax Reduction Scheme Consultation – PCC advise that the WG has assumed responsibility for the new support. Each Local Authority in Wales is required to run the schemes for the WG in their own area.

  1. Finance

a)Financial Report –The Clerk circulated a finance report up to 31st December, 2012. The balance at the end of December 2012 was £15,403.39. The Council noted that grants would be dispersed at the meeting and a programme of FP maintenance was being considered.

b)Budget – The Clerk issued an expenditure profile. Following discussion the Council agreed a budget of £15,700.00 for 2013/14. Administration £6000.00; FP Maintenance £5000.00; Donation £4,700.00.

c)Precept – Following discussion the Council agreed a precept of £15,000.00 for 2013/14.

d)Payments – The Council agreed the following payment

Stephen Davies£37.80 Travelling Expenses to B&R Exec Meeting

e)Clerks December Salary – The Council agreed payment of the Clerk’s December quarterly salary and the HMRC deductions;

J E Gwilym£600,00 December quarter salary

HMRC£150.00 HMRC deduction

  1. Donations – The Council agreed to make the following donations;

Abercrave Church£400.00

Coelbren Church£400.00

Nantyffin Chapel£400.00

Tynycoed Chapel£400,00

Ysgol y Cribarth£500.00

Ynyswen Community Hall£600.00 Section 137

Coelbren Memorial Hall£1000.00 Section 137

First Caehopkin Scouts£200.00

Urdd Group Ystradgynlais£200.00 Section 137

Citizens Advice Bureau£200.00

Abercrave & Penycae OAP£200.00

Bobby Van Scheme£200.00

Coelbren OAP£200.00

Abercrave RFC£200.00 Section 137

  1. FP Matters –The following matters were discussed;

Lighting Black Path – Some of the lamps are off and have been reported to the PCC lighting department;

Nantyfedwen Path – Matthew Thomas to inspect and prepare a quote for repair and maintenance of the concrete slabs;

Bog Path – Matthew Thomas to inspect and prepare a quote for repair and maintenance to areas exposed due to weather erosion;

Black Path – Matthew Thomas to inspect and prepare a quote for repair and maintenance to rectify the narrowing of the path;

  1. County Council Report – County Councillor Thomas reported as follows;

Caehopkin Water Issues – A meeting had been held with Phil Pickersgill of the EA, Simon Crowther the Land Drainage Officer at PCC; the PCC view dismissed that a water problem existed in Caehopkin; Photographic evidence had been produced to prove the existence of a serious water problem; the EA are now making an approach to the WG to establish if any funding is available to undertake work to re-open waterways;

Street Lighting – Councillors have been asked to consider a priority list in their wards where the new low energy LED lamps can be fitted; the provision of lighting near Pantyffynnon is to be investigated to establish if a lamp can be switched off to allow another light to be switched on;

Bus Services–He was continuing efforts to secure improved bus services for Coelbren; A public meeting was being convened in Coelbren on 31st January, 2013 with the Officer from PCC in attendance;

There was also a problem with school transport where the timetable was preventing school children attending breakfast clubs;

Vacant School Sites

Penycae School – The site is scheduled to be sold by auction. A group of parents have expressed an interest in relocating the existing playground from Nantyffin Road to a parcel of land on the existing school site; PCC are prepared to provide a parcel of land and will be prepared to dispose of the site in two lots; However, the parents group will need to prepare a business plan for a new playground; there would remain an issue with public liability insurance cover and on-going maintenance of the equipment and the preferred option will be for the Community Council to accept these liabilities;

The Council considered the request and agreed in principle to provide public liability cover, subject to consultation with the Council insurer, and on-going maintenance of the site only; the agreement would not extend to annual inspections and maintenance of playground equipment;

Oak Trees Ynyswen – The oak trees in Ynyswen required further safety investigation; there is a possibility the trees may need to be removed;

  1. Minutes – The minutes of the meeting held on 8th November 2012 were signed as atrue record.
  2. Matters Arising – No matters arising
  3. Any other Urgent Business – No matters raised.
  4. Date of Next Meeting – The shift patterns of two Councillors remained unclear. The Council set a provisional date of Thursday 7th November, 2013, subject to clarification of shift work patterns.