MITCHEL TROY UNITED COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of a Meeting at
Mitchel Troy Village Hall, on Tuesday 10 September 2013 at 7.30pm
Chairman: Cllr P Yeomans
Present: Cllrs H Bosanquet, C Chamberlain, D B Grove, V Long, G Phillips, W Powell, County Cllr G Burrows
Apologies: Cllrs H D Bowen, A T Morgan, P Penny,
PRELIMINARY MEETING
Mr D Andrews, forestry contractor, described his plan to plant up to 5ha of Christmas trees on the 7.6ha of land that he owns in Lydart. Natural Resources Wales had asked him to consult the community council, as well as MCC and GWT. He is working with GWT to increase habitats and avoiding use of herbicide or pesticide.
Some neighbours expressed their concern over weed seeds that spread onto their property from the planting already carried out. There was also some disquiet over disruption to water courses, although Mr Andrews explained that the previous owner of his land had installed a system of underground plastic pipes.
The community council had no opinion to express on the scheme. Neighbours were invited to send their comments direct to NRW.
13117 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Councillors Bowen, Morgan and Penny
13118 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
None
13119 MINUTES OF THE MEETING on 9 July 2013
The minutes for 9 July were signed as a true record.
13120 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES of 9 July
Item 13106 (13095): Assets Register
MCC have confirmed that their list of bus shelters includes those at Lydart and Dingestow – although no confirmation as to who owns them. They have no record of those at Tregare or Red House Farm. The clerk had replied that MTUCC would therefore assume that those on the MCC list belong to MCC, including also the replacement shelter in Mitchel Troy village. No reply has been received to this email. The clerk was asked to write to MCC, pointing out that since the bus shelters are all the same vintage and the same design, the most likely reason for some not being on the MCC list is that there are no longer bus routes along those roads. The community council assumes that they are all the property of MCC.
Clerk
13121 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
· 00666, Tregare, Coed-y-Poeth, conversion of redundant agricultural building to residential. Recommended for approval
Clerk
13122 FURTHER PLANNING APPLICATIONS
None
13123 PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL SINCE JULY MEETING
In accordance with minute 13108, the following applications had been recommended for approval:
· 2012/975 and 977, Penrhos, The Waun, conversion & extension of barn into annex to main house. Planning and listed building consent
· 00447, Wonastow, Wonastow Court, new workshop to replace existing premises
· 00511, Wonastow, Talocher Barn, extension to existing agricultural building
· 00538, Mitchel Troy, Brook House, side extension & internal alterations to create dependant relative accommodation
· 00565, Cwmcarvan, Caer Llan, 2nd floor extension to manager’s flat
13124 PLANNING DECISIONS
· 00400, Dingestow, Old House Farm, conversion of barn to accommodate workshop. Approved
· 00538, Mitchel Troy, Brook House, side extension & internal alterations to create dependant relative accommodation. Approved
13125 FURTHER PLANNING DECISIONS
None
13126 ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
It was noted that the national salary awards for clerks had now been agreed. The hourly rate payable to the clerk therefore increased from £8.919 to £9.009 with effect from 1 April 2013. The monthly salary becomes £156.40, and a sum of £11.40 is due for the backdated increase from April to August.
It was noted that the clerk’s membership of the Society of Local Council Clerks includes both Mitchel Troy and Trellech United. It was resolved that Mitchel Troy would pay 50% of the subscription fee of £114, whereas membership for Mitchel Troy alone would be £63.
Balance in current account: £7,488.21
Cheque 30009, representing additional insurance premium of £25 was cancelled, pending the resolution of ownership of disused bus shelters (see minute 13120)
The following cheques were signed:
30010 Country Contracts £45
30011 SLCC subscription £57
30012 MCC, salary £463.50
30013 Tregare Church hall £10
30014 Clerk, postage & mileage £102.72
Clerk
13127 ANNUAL RETURN FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2013
The external auditor had reviewed the annual return and raised no issues other than a note that those raised by the internal auditor should be attended to. It was resolved to formally approve the Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2013, and the chairman signed Section 3 accordingly.
Clerk
13128 CORRESPONDENCE
The following correspondence was received and noted:
MCC, Mark Youngman, ownership of bus shelters in Mitchel Troy area
MCC, Cath Fallon, Community/Town Council web portal abandoned; training workshops in August
MCC, meeting on the future of public services, 5 Aug – to be rescheduled for September
MCC, Tidy Towns funding
MCC, car park workshop, Monmouth, 7 Aug
Burrows, G, updates on Dingestow road closure
Gwent Police, Assistant Chief Constable Bottomley, community engagement workshop at Usk Sessions House, Tuesday 24 September, 5pm
Monmouth Citizens Advice Bureau, Provision of advice services
One Voice Wales, national salary awards for clerks approved
One Voice Wales, “Scams and Swindles” campaign
One Voice Wales, badger vaccination grants
One Voice Wales, Training programme Sep-Dec 2013
One Voice Wales, Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme
One Voice Wales, appointments to Community Health Councils
One Voice Wales, changes to Permitted Development Rights in Wales
One Voice Wales, Older Persons Commissioner for Wales – how to access, report
WAG, Community and Town Council Welsh Government News
WAG, consultation on Designated Persons
Mitchel Troy VH (Elaine Savage): maintenance of hall floor and refuse collection
Andrews, D, Christmas tree planting at Lydart
SLCC, subscription due
Mazars, audit opinion
Natural Resources Wales, new draft map of open country and registered common land for consultation Computershare, forms for signature to change correspondent and bank
Silk Commission on Devolution in Wales, Consultation Meeting, Tuesday, 24 Sep, Llandogo Millennium Hall, 7.30pm
Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, appeal for funds for 2015 Show
Raglan Community Council, Clerk, invitation to meeting about devolution of services from MCC
· No councillor was available to attend the Gwent Police workshop on community engagement.
· It was noted that Monmouth CAB has opted not to merge with other bureaux in the county.
· Two councillors signed forms from Computershare, who administer the government stocks owned by the council, to authorise change of address to the new clerk and change of bank account details.
· Raglan Community Council has invited members to a meeting about devolution of services from MCC to community councils. Cllr Long expressed interest if 19th Sep or 2nd Oct are chosen.
13129 HIGHWAYS
· Dingestow church road: work to start at end of September
· Streetlight 0298 in Mitchel Troy is on 24 hrs a day. Already reported, but no action.
Clerk
13130 URGENT MATTERS
It was noted that the clerk will be out of the UK from January to April 2014. It was agreed that she should try to make an informal arrangement for cover during that period, and report back to the council.
13131 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, 8 October, 7.30 pm, at Dingestow Village Hall
Chairman: Date:
12 MTUCC meeting 10 September 2013