MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY 26th MARCH 2024 AT 7.30PM PM VIA ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND AT THE VILLAGE HALL.
Present: Mrs Jane Dawkins, Mr Harry Duff, Mr David Williams, Mr David Mantle, Mr David Filsell, Mrs Beth Carpenter, Mrs Jan Sharpless and Mr Gene Taylor.
In Attendance: Cllr Jackie Charlton, S Dale (Clerk) and 3 members of the public.
Welcome and thanks for attending.
1 Report from the County Councillor.
Sardis Chapel worked well for the councillor's surgery on Saturday 23rd March. The village hall was booked up. The Councillor's report was not circulated by the clerk (but has been at the time of writing).
Double Yellow Lines along the bottom of Forge Road have been objected to by some residents for strong reasons. JC will take them out of the plan and consult.
Speedwatch found a few cars travelling at over 60mph and many cars travelling at over 30mph. If a motorist gets 3 letters from the Police about their speed they will be asked to take a speed awareness course.
Cattle grid on Beaufort Road has been fixed, the bolts now look okay.
Cyffredin Lane has been cleared (including the silt).
British Horse Society had one of their best events in partnership with Powys Highways.
The post box on the Dyffryn Crawnon which was removed by Royal Mail. A new post box is coming in somewhere nearby but not on the original site. Royal Mail are hoping to get it done soon.
Fly tipping on Llangynidr Mountain has been reported and will be cleared soon hopefully. It seems most of it is bottles and cans – household waste.
LED lights in Cae Porth have been fixed, they are not only economical but also environmentally sound.
MB is to send JC the identification number of a faulty streetlight.
Brecon – Abergavenny late bus route has not been done yet but JC will keep at it.
New electric bus project run by Llangattock Community Council is very promising.
Speeds across Powys – hazards on our rural road. No response yet.
There is new legislation for commercial waste, Powys County Council is the contractor of last resort. There was a negative comment about the new legislation.
Sustainable Powys – there is a 10 minute informative video. Clerk to circulate.
The future of the services provided by Powys County Council is being discussed. New ways to deliver services must be found. Some £68m has been cut from the budget.
Household Waste and Recycling Centre is now open. A new re-use centre is being built.
Transport Review - local information will feed into the national picture.
2 Apologies: LS-W and DM
3 Declaration of interest in items of business listed below:
GT declared an interest in item 7 (Lease) as the Chairman of the Village Hall and took no part in the decision.
4 Signing of the minutes;
30th January 2024 and 27th February 2024. Approved.
5 Public Participation:
The Former Minister and Trustee of Sardis Baptist Church and it's Deacon spoke about the proposed changes to the parking regime in Forge Road. The Church has been consecrated for over 200 years. It remains strong with 20-30 congregation regularly, and with funerals being attended by between 200 and 300 people. A neighbouring landowner allows the use of his fields for parking on particular occasions. The representatives of the Church are concerned that lack of parking would diminish their elderly congregation and damage their church. The Reverend also made the point that while the congregations cars are parked along Forge Road the traffic slows down. Please see item 13.
A member of the public who had attended the Social Value Funding event urged Councillors to watch the 10 minute video which will be circulated again. The closing date is 4/4. We need to decide actions together, we are all still trying to decide how to make the most of funding available. The Forum needs to hear from Llangynidr Community Council. A possible avenue for funding may be the 5 Councils or a place plan, like Llangattock Community Council. Please see item 17.
A local expert in the Well-being legislation spoke about the Act and it's relevance to village life. He listed some examples where Health and Safety issues can impede actions planned for the community but can easily be overcome with good risk analysis.
Everyone in Wales have the right to Wellbeing. Local Councils are legally responsible under the Social Services & Wellbeing Act 2014 to support its communities in improving their Wellbeing.
6 Finance:
Bank reconciliation, budget vs actuals anticipated for the full year were compared. Unavoidable overspends on Clerk's back pay and the public toilets were observed, the donations were unexpectedly high and will help reduce reliance on reserves. Approved.
Cheques to be approved in March 24
S Dale for toilet maintenance petty cash £50.00
Clean the car park (Mar) £40.00
Clean the public conveniences (Mar) £280.00
Clerk's wages and stationery allowance (Mar) so £567.40
Car park non-domestic rates DD (Mar) £86.00
British Gas (elec. for the public toilets Mar DD) £28.28
Car Park maintenance (Mar) £90.00
Young Harpist (Young Persons Allowance) £125.00 (item 11)
Garden Day Support £150.00
Re-issue of back pay cheque £422.80
Approved
Cheques approved in February 24
S Dale (for Clook internet services) £9.59
S Dale (for back pay) £422.80
HMRC (NI and tax) £54.80
Wales Audit fee £1350.00
Clean the car park (Feb) £40.00
Clean the public conveniences (Feb) £280.00
Clerk's wages and stationery allowance (Feb) so £567.40
Car park non-domestic rates DD (Feb) £86.00
British Gas (elec. for the public toilets Feb DD) £30.14
Car Park maintenance (Feb) £90.00
Dial a ride £100.00
Llangynidr Agricultural Show Society £100.00
Llangynidr Jubilee Committee £100.00
Brecon Advice Centre £50.00
Wales Air Ambulance £50.00
Brecon Mountain Rescue Team £100.00
Defibrillator maintenance £100.00
Village Hall room hire £197.00
7 Correspondence:
- Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill for consultation. 21/3/24 Noted
Urdd fund for all 21/3/24. Noted
letter of objection to the proposed yellow lines near Sardis Baptist Chapel. 18/3/24. Item 12
letter of objection to the proposed yellow lines on Forge Road. 11/3/24. Item 12.
8 The Community Council and Village Hall lease approval and signing consideration of the invoice. Prop. and Sec.
DM and JD are authorised signatories. Lease approved and signed.
However, with regards to the invoice, Council felt that it was excessive. Particularly in that it has taken 2 years for the lease to be produced and the land to be registered. The 2 parties have been in agreement all the way and in later months both have been chasing for completion. Clerk to write and query the invoice.
9 Persondy Field licensing arrangements to be reviewed. Prop. and Sec.
Adjourned until April meeting.
10 D-Day celebrations and possible Jubilee Committee involvement. Prop. and Sec.
It is hoped that the Red Lion Licensees will want to be involved. BC to talk to them.
11 Complaint concerning the lack of privacy in a property overlooking the car park. Prop. and Sec.
Council did not consider the complaint was valid, but asked the Clerk to offer to grow the hedge a little taller in the area where it would help the complainant.
12 A young person awarded £125 was unable to complete the banking of her cheque and asks for it to be re-issued. Prop.and Sec.
Cheque re-issued.
13 Residents have the objected to the parking review results, which have been added to by Powys County Council. Prop. And Sec.
No support was recorded for double yellow lines between the post box and the telephone kiosk on Forge Road, endorsing the views of the Reverend and Deacon. Clerk to let the County Councillor and Area Traffic Engineer know after checking.
Prop: GT and Sec: DW.
(A care home have made it known that they would value a formal space for ambulances to gain access to their property CC and PCC to liaise).
14 Green man traffic management. Prop. And Sec.
If a meeting can be arranged it should be a meeting open to all residents.
15 Are there too many vacant properties in the village?
Adjourned. Clerk has asked for relevant statistics from Powys Council Council.
16 The school catchment area has been re-considered by Powys County Council.
Numbers of pupils at school is falling. But it is hoped that Cwmdu will continue to be able to choose to send children to the school.
17 Shortlisting and setting appointments for the Clerk interviews in April.
Clerk to set appointments for the Tuesday 16th April. The Human Resources Committee are JS, JD and MB. The Human Resources Committee will advise the Council at the April 30th meeting.
18 Fund raising report. Prop. and Sec.
The Social Value Forum has funding to assign by 4/4/24.
19 Any other business (for information only).
Thanks to Lewis and Logan Ltd for filling the potholes in the car park.
Thanks to the BHS safety team for the well attended event in the Hall 27/2/24.
Many thanks to the litter pickers for helping to keep the village clean.
Thanks to Community Speedwatch;
Date of next meeting: Tuesday 30th April 2024.
There being no further business to discuss the Chairperson closed the meeting at 9.07pm
