DRAFT
MINUTES OF LLANGWM COMMUNITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY 16th FEBRUARY 2016 AT THE PARISH HALL, LLANGWM
COUNCILLORS PRESENT: Cllr. Colin Evans (Chair), Cllr. Bob Trigg, Cllr Lyn Bennett, Cllr David Williams, Cllr Gwyn Rowlands
IN ATTENDANCE: Shirley Hughes, Clerk
1. OPEN SESSION
There were no members of the public present.
2. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence received - Cllr Michael Foster, Cllr Peter Gough, & County Councillor Bob Greenland.
3. DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Declarations of interest will be made as and when required.
4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of 19th January 2016 were agreed and signed as a true and correct record by the Chairman.
5. MATTERS ARISING
5 a) Community Speedwatch
The Chair reported that the Co-ordinator for the Llangwm Volunteers (Caroline Evans) had now received the Camera, signs, ID badges and the rest of the equipment and have held one Training Session with Sgt. Steve Parsons, with a further session to follow shortly.
Cllr Bennett suggested that a Village Email be sent stating the Speedwatch would be up and running very soon and this would act as a warning to local drivers.
5 b) Llangwm Bus Shelter
The Clerk has informed Mr John Powell that his tender was successful and he has put the work in his diary, and has assured us that the work will be completed by May at the very latest.
5 c) i Enforcement Case E15/29 Bridge Inn, Llangwm - On the 15th February, the Clerk received
notice from the Case Enforcement Officer to say:
yes I've got the authority to serve the notice just need to get all the paperwork done for the notice and will serve as soon as I can. A notice will also be placed on site when issued.
AGREED that this was a copy of the note received in January, so the Clerk is to write to Mark Hand (Head of Planning) to ask if this could be moved on ASAP.
ii. Enforcement Case E14/096 Mill Meadow Stables - It was noted that although MCC have closed this case, Cllrs reported that there are people living at the site, especially on weekends, and someone goes there every day to tend to the horses.
AGREED to ask the Planning Department to visit the site.
5 d) Grass Cutting - Steve Beale from Green Grafters have come back to say that their price for
2016 will be £41.50 per cut. AGREED to accept this quote
6. HIGHWAYS
a) Update on Matters Reported
Enquiry Form sent off as per the issues raised and response 020142 on 3/2/16 as follows:
George's Delight - Replacement Grit Bin required prior to Winter Period. Damaged when grass cutting in 2015 - Salt bin replaced 2-2-16
'Unsuitable for Heavy Good Vehicles' sign at Jnt. with George's Delight. Sign bracket tightened 2-2-16
Footpath between the Mill Bridge towards Yew Tree Cottage is covered in moss and dangerous for walkers - NO ANSWER
Whole Ward - Grit Bins need to be filled or replaced - Checked & filled accordingly
AGREED that the following be put back on the next Enquiry Form as not answered
60.11 Bridge Inn to Pentre Farm. There are 2 blocked gullies. Manhole cover on this stretch half way along on the right hand side is raised
63.1 Gullies and ditches require clearing out
63.3 This route has been sided and cleaned but gullies still covered
R80 Numerous gullies left uncovered
66.4 Cross roads sign needs replacing
B4235 Footpath between Mill Bridge towards Yew Tree Cottage is covered in moss and dangerous to walk on
b) New Highways issues raised by Councillors
1) Route 60.2 - Collapsed Gully by Ty-Llwyd Wood NEEDING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
2) B4235 - Close to Bridge Inn culvert and gullies blocked
3) Route 81 - Potholes between Jnt of B4235 and Jnt 66.4
4) Route 80 - Potholes between Jnt B4235 and Jnt 60.2
5) Route 63.9 - Reddings Lane near Belmont Farm - Gullies blocked
c) New Issues raised by others - There were no additional Highways Issues
Cllr Bob Trigg shared an email he received from Wayne Hodge MCC Highways who outlined the work carried out on 28/1/2016 on the blocked culvert near the Bridge Inn, which should now ensure effective drainage of water off the highway and field.
7. FINANCE
Balance at the Bank as of 29th January 2016 - £2,500.52
Monmouthshire Building Society - £2,344.39
INVOICES FOR PAYMENT
· Invoice - Parish Hall Llangwm - Hire of Hall & Electricity - £183.36 Chq No 011646
· Invoice - Llangwm Baptist Church - Donation towards Grass Cutting - £50 Chq No 011647
· Invoice - Llansoy PCC - Donation towards Grass Cutting - £50 Chq No 011648
· Invoice - Llangwm PCC - Donation towards Grass Cutting - £100 Chq No 011649
· Invoice - Mr L Bennett - Website Hosting - £30 Chq No 011650
· One Voice Wales - 2016/17 Annual Membership - £51 Chq No 011651
· Shirley Hughes - Jan/Feb Expenses - £37.75 Chq No 011652
The Monthly Finance Reconciliation was signed by the Chair, and will be circulated to the Cllrs
7 a) TO ADOPT FINANCIAL REGULATIONS FOR LLANGWM COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Cllr Bennett had made some slight amendments to the draft document which had been written by the Clerk and previously circulated, and new copies were circulated to all present.
Adopted by - Cllr L Bennett
Seconded by - Cllr Bob Trigg
AGREED - All Councillors were in favour that the Llangwm Community Council Financial Regulation be adopted.
7 b) REVIEW RISK ASSESSMENT
It was brought to the attention of the Clerk when she attended training with One Voice Wales, that a full Risk Assessment had not been written, and the previous document had not been updated for many years.
Draft copies had been circulated prior to the meeting, and it was AGREED that although it was a comprehensive document, Cllrs questioned if all the categories were required by a small Council?
It was therefor AGREED to enquire with other local Community Councils what type of Risk Assessment they operate, and to bring to next meeting in March.
7 c) REVIEW OF CLERK'S HOURS
The Chair reported that the Clerk had been employed in January 2015 for 3 hours per week, and since that time the Council had increased the meetings from 6 per year to 10 per year. After 52 weeks, the Clerk's hours had worked out at approx. 5.17 hrs per week.
It was AGREED that from April 2016, the Clerks hours will increase to 4 hrs per week, and the hourly rate will be increased to SCP 16.
Proposed by - Cllr Lyn Bennett
Seconded by - Cllr Gwyn Rowlands
It was also agreed that the Clerk reports her hours on a monthly basis.
8. CORRESPONDENCE
From MCC
a) MCC Briefing Paper on Devolution of Services - These documents had been sent to Cllrs prior to the January meeting, and the Clerk read out emails from the Clerks of Devauden, Shirenewton and St Arvans Community Councils outlining their discussions on these papers.
AGREED - Cllr Bennett proposed that as we had now set the Precept, it was too late to agree to take on extra services from MCC, and much more time would be required to look into joining other local Councils as Cluster Groups.
b) Enforcement Lists for January - Nothing for Llangwm or Llansoy
c) Letter confirming CC Precept - 3 x £1,500 instalments April/August/December
d) Mon Comp new school will become 1600 pupil school come 1/9/2017 with an Additional Needs Unit BB
e) Recycling & Waste Questionnaire - (Sent to Cllrs 25/1/16) BB
f) Letter from MCC Leader asking CC to support the Lord Lieutenant request for Beacons for the Queen's
Birthday BB
g) MCC Chairs Fashion Show on 16th March at Three Salmons BB
h) Invitation to a Briefing on the New Wellbeing of Future Generation (Wales) Act on Wed 16th March in County Hall 6.30 - 7.30pm BB
i) Agenda for Children and Young People Select Committee on 22nd Feb BB
j) Link for Traffic in Villages Toolkit BB
k) Info from Trading Standards - Tackling the 'Scam Central' of Wales BB
l) Meeting for more information about the Velothon - 22nd Feb 6.30 - 7.30 at County Hall BB
m) Flyer promoting RDP Funding Workshops BB
n) Large amount of Press Releases from MCC BB
o) Email from Wayne Hodge RE Highways and work done near the Bridge Inn
p) Register of Electors Update
One Voice Wales
a) Annual Membership of One Voice Wales - £51 for 2016/17 and Letter explaining what OVW do BB
b) OVW Response on the Draft Local Government (Wales) Bill BB
c) Training during February/March BB
d) Power Point that was presented at the last meeting from Adam Butcher regarding Superfast Broadband in Wales BB
e) Sustainability/Well Being of Future Generations Act Training on Thursday BB
Welsh Government
a) National Development Framework Draft Statement of Public Participation for comments from NRW BB
Business
a) Email from Simon Boyle regarding the planned celebrations for the Queens 90th Birthday Celebrations including lighting Beacons BB
b) Big Lottery Info - from GAVO BB
c) Email from St Arvans regarding info about Defibrillators - reply sent
General
a) Welsh Hearts - Wales Biggest Tea Party Info BB
9. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
a) New Applications - There were no new applications
b i) Update on other applications
The Clerk confirmed that she had written to MCC Planning Department to express an Objection to Planning Application DC/2015/01424 (Land adjacent to Upper Maerdy Farm, Llangeview for a Travellers Site)
b ii) Tyr Berllan - lifting of Agricultural Tie - Cllr Evans stated that the house owner had confirmed that his Appeal had been successful, but the Clerk informed the meeting that she had not received confirmation as yet.
10. COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT
County Councillor Bob Greenland was not in attendance.
11. WARD REPORTS
There were no Ward Reports
12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
12 i) DIARY DATES for 2016 - Councillors confirmed the Draft Dates for the 2016 meetings, and Cllr Evans stated that they had all been booked in the Parish Hall diary
12 ii) ASSET REGISTER - The Clerk had found an old Register, and it was AGREED that it must be updated and presented at the March meeting.
12 iii) AREA COMMITTEE MINUTES - Cllrs asked if it would be possible to receive the Minutes of the Lower Wye Area Committee Meetings - Clerk will organise
Date of Next Meeting,
Tuesday, 15th March 2016
Agenda items to include:
· Asset Register
Meeting closed 9:10pm