MINUTES OF LLANGWM COMMUNITY COUNCIL

TUESDAY 22nd MAY 2018 AT THE PARISH HALL, LLANGWM

 

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

 

IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Bob Greenland and Shirley Hughes, Clerk

 

1.      OPEN SESSION

POLICE REPORT

There was no Police Report available.

 

2. APOLOGIES

There were no Apologies for absence received

 

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 17th April 2018 were agreed and signed as a true and correct record.

 

5. MATTERS ARISING 

5a) Keep Free Bay

Cllr Evans stated that Highways seem to have got the directions of the Keep Free Bay wrong and it should read: North/South of layby.

AGREED that the Clerk writes back to Highways stating that the Keep Free Bay is only for turning in and out of Llanynant Road, and not for parking.

 

5b) BT Broadband & O2 Mobile phone Signal

The Chair asked if CC Greenland had any updates.

Cllr Greenland reported that he had not heard if the next BT Contract had been issued, but there was the 5G funding coming into Monmouthshire from the National Government as a Trial Area. The new Devauden Mast is up and running and residents are getting very good signals now.

Cllr Gough asked what is happening to the now redundant Tetra masts which are owned by National Government, and CC Greenland stated he would make enquiries about their future use.

 

5c) Speed limits in Llangwm & Llansoy

It was noted that CC Greenland was not aware of Llangwm Community Councils request to have the speed limits reduced from 40mph to 30mph. The response received from MCC stated that they were going to review of vehicles speed and volume count in the forthcoming financial year. It was noted that the Clerk had downloaded the Welsh Governments Setting Local Speed Limits document, which indicated that both villages should be suitable for reduction in speed.

 

5d) Boundary Commission Update.

CC Greenland stated that MCC has agreed to pass to the Boundary Commission, the proposals made by a working party. There are many issues that County Councillors, including himself, have objected to, but it is for the Boundary Commission to take forward the consultation on the proposals. I understand they will be in touch with each Town and Community Council and then will be the time to put forward views on their proposals as they affect Llangwm CC. It is doubtful we will hear from them for several months.

The Clerk confirmed that the response from Llangwm CC in 2014 was sent to the Boundary Commission, and would welcome the opportunity to respond now in 2018 during the Consultation period.

 

 

5e) General Data Protection Regulations

The Clerk pointed out that due to this new law which comes into force on 25th May, that the data which she holds on Councillors include their address, telephone numbers and email addresses. All Councillors are required to sign to say that they 'opt-in' and wish the Clerk to use their emails to conduct the business of the Community Council.

AGREED that Councillors sign the sheet circulated.

 

6. HIGHWAYS

a) Update on Matters Reported

i) B4235 Approx. 100m Usk side of the Bridge Inn - blocked 300mm diameter culvert - reported on 16/3/18 by Cllr Bob Trigg - is still blocked. This is constantly causing a dangerous flood on the B4235, and is polluting Mr Morgan's silage store

We will look at jetting the road crossing and will arrange for the landowner to clean ditch out.

ii) From Jct 60.9 to Toll House Cottage - gullies covered by grass and hedge cuttings

Will arrange for gully gratings to be cleared

iii) Route 81- Blocked culvert Pont-y-Caith

Will arrange for jetter to attend

iv) Jnt 60.10 & 60.11 - Give Way lines have faded and need re-painting

Will add to list of carriage way marking renewals

v) 63.3 - Grit Bin

Will look into for next winter

vi) Route 80 - Grit Bin opposite Pwll Farm (does meet MCC criteria)

Will look into for next winter

vii) Route 60.2 - Potholes all along lane and passing layby north of Hillview needs clearing out

Will add to potholing list. Will programme to be cleared MWW 19-04-18

Cllr Williams stated that the Potholes between Llansoy and Pen-y-Lan Farm have been filled, but not all the way to Nantygelli Cross Roads

viii) 64.3 This is Trevella Lane and the road needs urgent attention as according to the local Community Councillor, 'the road contains more potholes than tarmac'!

This is the road to a 5* holiday accommodation which is 2* Listed building

Cllr Hatfield reported that the Potholes along Trevella Lane have been filled in.

 

AGREED to write to Highways thanking them for their prompt action over the Potholes

 

b) New Highway Issues raised by Councillors

i) Cllr Trigg reported that the Right hand junction sign on the B4235 at Mill House is missing, and with construction and farm traffic using the road to Wolvesnewton so needs replacing.

 

ii) Cllr Evans stated that the Keep Free Bay was still causing problems, and he had witnessed a tractor and 15ft trailer trying to turn out of Llanynant Road and they had to use the full length of the layby, so MCC Highways need to be told that their statement is incorrect. This is a safety issue as farm vehicles are now much larger than years ago.

AGREED CC Greenland stated he would look into this with Highways.

 

iii) Cllr Watkins stated that the verge markers had gone missing from the rear of the Bridge Inn, and cars are parking on the verge, which is very dangerous due to the load bearing wall in the Car Park falling away.

 

c) New Highway Issues raised by others

There were no issues raised by others.

7. FINANCE

Barclays Bank

Balance at the Bank as of 27th April 2018 was £1,429.90

 

Monmouthshire Building Society

Balance as of 31st March 2018 - £1,771.20 (£9.69 Interest now added)

 

INVOICES FOR PAYMENT

Invoice:

i) Beverley & Williams Accountants - (£25 for opening PAYE, £25 for becoming LCC Agent & £40 for letter regarding Pension) - £108 Chq no 710

ii) S Hughes - April & May Salary - £272.02 Chq no 711

iii) S Hughes - April/May expenses - £32.31 Chq no 712

 

AGREED that the above invoices are paid.

 

The Monthly Finance Reconciliation for April 2018 was:

Receipts £1,771.20

Payments £1.250.12 (Net)

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

 

7a) CLERK'S HOURS

The Clerk reported that she had worked 22.75 hours since the last meeting.

 

7d) HMRC

The HMRC have now sent through the new Method and Code for claiming back LCC VAT and it was noted that for the last 2 years it will be about £30 refund.

 

8. CORRESPONDENCE

From MCC

a) Agenda's for various MCC Select Meetings

b) Various Press Releases: Peter Clarke is new MCC Chairman & Sheila Woodhouse Vice-Chair, approves Social Justice Plan, Council develops Chatbox to improve customer experience, etc.

c) Change of date of Usk Cluster meeting - 13th June

 

One Voice Wales

a) Details of Training on Chairman Skills - 4th June

b) Minutes from Monmouth/Newport Area Meeting - next meeting 19th July

c) One Voice Wales - Guide to our Services

d) Legal Topic Note RE: Documents and Records

e) Agenda for Innovative Practice Conference

 

Welsh Government

a) April Newsletter from Review of Community & Town Council Sector in Wales

b) List of events from the Good Practice Exchange

c) How Public Bodies responded to the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 Report

 

Business

a) Consultations/Drop in dates from NHS Gloucestershire RE; Siting of new Hospital in the FOD

b) Details of Wye Valley Warrior Cycle Race - 12th Aug - emailed to Cllrs

c) SW Fire & Rescue Services Strategic Plan

d) Information on GDPR

 

General

a) Calor Rural Community Fund

 

9. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

 

a) Application No: DC/2018/00647- Ynys y Bont, Pentre Lane, Llangwm, NP15 1EU - Rear extension and replacement entrance porch

AGREED to recommend this application for approval.

 

b) Application No: DC/2018/00396 - Ty Wilson Barn, Llanynant Road, Llangwm, Usk, NP15 1LT -

The use of an existing metal framed barn to provide a spa facility, work shop for the upgrade and assembly of guitars, associated training facilities and a refreshment area in order to expand Clearview B&B, Wudtone Guitar Innovation businesses.

 

AGREED that as there were no plans available on the MCC Planning Portal, that the Clerk would circulate and accept recommendations from Cllrs via email before responding to MCC.

 

c) Application No: DM/2017/01147 - Great Llanolway Farm, Cae-Dwmlyn Road, Llansoy

NOTED - that this application is going for Appeal against refusal by MCC

 

10. COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

County Councillor Bob Greenland stated that the only item he had to report on was the Boundary Commission proposals which would affect Llangwm Community Council.

Although a proposal has been sent from MCC to the Boundary Commission, which would see the demise of Llangwm Community Council with the area being amalgamated with Llantrisant Community Council, Cllr Greenland stated that he was against this proposal and that in the near future LCC would be contacted by the Boundary Commission, and residents and LCC would have a Consultation period to respond direct to them.

 

11. WARD REPORTS

There were none.

 

12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

a) FLY-TIPPING

Cllr Williams reported that the lane between Llangwm & Llansoy had been strewn with litter that had obviously been thrown from a vehicle as it contained food wrappers/cans/bottles etc. plus a receipt from a garage in Monmouth where said products had been purchased. He and his wife had picked it all up but it was an eyesore.

 

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday 19th June 2018.

 

Meeting closed 8.56pm