MINUTES OF LLANGWM COMMUNITY COUNCIL

TUESDAY 17th OCTOBER 2017 AT THE PARISH HALL, LLANGWM

 

COUNCILLORS PRESENT: Cllr David Williams (Chair), Cllr Peter Gough, Cllr. Bob Trigg, Cllr John Watkins, Cllr Colin Evans and Cllr Gwyn Rowlands

 

IN ATTENDANCE: Shirley Hughes, Clerk

 

1.      OPEN SESSION

There were no members of the public present

 

2. APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Bob Greenland and Cllr Trevor Heywood.

 

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 12th September 2017 were agreed and signed as a true and correct record.

 

5. MATTERS ARISING 

5 a) Defibrillators/CPR Training

It was noted that the Defibrillator has now been received and Cllr. Watkins would look after it until the Cabinet was installed.

 

The Cabinet would now have to be purchased with a power supply going to it, at a cost of approx. £600. Cllr Gough stated that the Parish Hall Management Committee had met and AGREED to pay 50% of the costs, and Cllrs AGREED that Llangwm Community Council fund 50% also.

 

It was noted that the machine will have to be registered with the Emergency Services, so if they have a local call out, they can give a GPS direction for the site of the nearest Defibrillator.

 

Cllr Watkins has now been trained as a Trainer so he is qualified to do the training himself, and he will borrow equipment such as Dummies and a practice defibrillator from Mr Hill.

 

AGREED that the Training be held over 2 sessions (due to the number interested), and these will be held on Monday 13th and Wednesday 22nd November.

Once confirmation of the Hall being free for the above dates, the Clerk will contact the interested parties, and give out the dates for their training.

 

Cllr Gough mentioned that the Hall Committee were going to hold a fund raiser in the New Year which will take the form of a Skittles Night to raise funds for the Cabinet.

 

5 b) Bridge Inn Update

Cllr Peter Gough has emailed Chris Thomas the owner stating that the site was a total eyesore now, and was a blight on the approach to the village, but had not received a reply. It was suggested that Ted Royds may have more luck.

 

Cllr Trigg reported that a whole section of the front window had now fallen out onto the pavement.

 

 

5c) Maryport North Car Park

The Clerk had written to Mr Hoggins stating that Cllrs were concerned of the loss of 18 car parking spaces and suggesting that the Civic Amenity Site be moved out of the Car Park.

 

Roger Hoggins had responded by saying he had every sympathy to local people who were unable to find parking spaces, and discussions had been held with Usk Town Council prior to the new configuration of the site. If Llangwm Community Council had any suggestions on where to move the CAS, to let him know, as Officers are conscious that the existing site is far from being ideal.

 

Cllr Trigg stated that cars are being damaged in the car park as spaces were now far too narrow, and drivers are squeezing into any space they can find.

 

6. HIGHWAYS

a) Update on Matters Reported

There were no updates from MCC.

 

Route 60.3 Chapel Lane near to bridge parapet, opposite Pumping Station, there is a deep hole in the verge with exposed wires.

Cllr Trigg stated that repairs to the mortar had been done to the stonework on the Bridge, but the deep hole had not been filled in.

 

b) New Highway Issues raised by Councillors

i) B4235 - Keep Free Bay in the centre of the village needs re-painting as cars were still parking there for long periods of time

ii) B4235 - Junction sign for Llanynant Road is now obscured by vegetation

iii) B4235 Route 81 - Gullies need cleaning out all the way to the Duffryn

iv) Route 63.9 and Junction of B4235 - Gullies need cleaning out to Belont Farm

 

c) New Highway Issues raised by others

i) Cllr Watkins noted that there is a car that parks behind the Bridge Inn Car Park, and concern was raised that the wall has now collapsed, and parking was unwise.

ii) Cllr Rowlands stated that Mr John Powell had done a 'nice job' on the Llansoy Bus Shelter repairs.

7. FINANCE

Barclays Bank

Balance at the Bank as of 29th September 2017 was £3,467.67

Monmouthshire Building Society

Balance as of 31st March 2017 - £1,761.51

 

INVOICES FOR PAYMENT

Invoice - MCC July/Aug/Sept Clerks Salary - £502.83 Chq no 688

Invoice - Wales Audit Office - £200.25 Chq no 689

Invoice - JP Powell, Llansoy Bus Shelter repairs - £645.00 Chq no 690

Invoice - Shirley Hughes expenses for Sept/Oct - £22.09 Chq no 691

AGREED that these invoices are paid. 

The Monthly Finance Reconciliation at the end of September 2017 was:

Receipts £4,764.57

Payments £2,974.19 (Net)

This was signed by the Chair, and will be circulated to the Cllrs in the near future.

 

7 a) CLERK'S HOURS

The Clerk reported that she had worked 18.5 hours since the last meeting.

 

8. CORRESPONDENCE

From MCC

a) Agendas for various MCC Select Meetings

b) Various Press Releases including: Free Business Advice, electric Car Charging Point in Chepstow, Fireworks at Caldicot Castle, Dates for parents to apply for schools, Disappointment over Welsh Government's Funding etc.

c) Enforcement Cases Open and Closed for September - Nothing for Llangwm Ward

d) Point of contact at MCC if not getting answer to queries by Officers

e) Decision Sheet for Cabinet

f) Info Re. Delegation Panel meeting at Gilver House

 

One Voice Wales

a) Motion to go to the OVW AGM

b) Seminar on 6th November on 'Can your Council Afford to Lose its Memory'

 

Welsh Government

a) RET Newsletter August 2017

b) Local Democracy and Boundary Commission Guidance

c) Mark Drakeford unveiled a new budget for Wales

d) Proposals for Boundary reformation - no change for Monmouthshire

e) Review of Community & Town Council Sector in Wales

 

Business

a) Planning Aid Wales Annual Conference - 8th Nov

 

General

a) Julie Tucker offering cheap printing for Church or Group Magazines/ Newsletters

 

9. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

New Applications

a) DC/2017/01101 Ty-Gwair, Gaer Fawr, Llangwm - Proposed Double Garage, store and first floor Office/WC Facility

Although Cllr Heywood was not at the meeting, he did offer his opinion on the Application and he could see no issues proposed by the application.

 

AGREED - After some debate it was proposed to offer no objection to this application.

 

10. COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

County Councillor Bob Greenland was not in attendance, so no report was given.

 

11. WARD REPORTS

There were no Ward Reports

 

12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

a) Broadband

Cllr Watkins noted that the Broadband Speed in Llangwm had been poor for the last month, and asked if any others had the same issue? Cllr Gough stated that according to their website, the new BT High Speed cables would be going to be available very soon.

The Clerk noted that County Councillor Greenland was the lead Member on Broadband, and it was suggested that Cllr Watkins speak to him about future plans.

b) ST JOHN'S CHURCH

Cllr Trigg stated that there were proposals to close St John's Church in Llangwm and, maybe, use the Village Hall for Church Services.

A lengthy discussion took place regarding the ownership of the Village Hall, as it had had 'uncontested use' for many years, and this will be looked into by a qualified person in this field.

 

c) UPDATE BY CLERK

The Clerk reported that she wanted Cllrs to be aware that she has recently taken on 2 new small contracts of work, which would not affect her position with Llangwm Community Council.

 

Date of Next Meeting

It was noted that the next meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday 21st November 2017.

 

Meeting closed 9.00pm