MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
TUESDAY 23rd September 2025 at 7.30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL
Present: Cllr Jane Dawkins (Chairperson), Cllr David Williams, Cllr Harry Duff, Cllr Gareth Woodcock, Cllr David Mantle, Cllr Janine Sharpless.
In Attendance: Jessica Jones (Clerk)
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and handed over to David Morgan and Annie Lawrie from the Canal & River Trust.
Presentation given by David Morgan – Development Manager and Annie Lawrie – Project Manager from Canal & River Trust on the prospective celebration plans for the 225th Anniversary of the Monmouth to Brecon Canal.
The Canal and River Trust are looking for community engagement in support of an event due to take place in Llangynidr on Wednesday 10th December 2025. The event is to coincide with a sequence of events taking place along the canal from Gilwern to Brecon during the week, culminating at Brecon Canal Basin on Friday 12th for the finale. They are keen to engage with local organisations and the primary school to make lanterns ahead of the event. The event will involve a short walk along the canal from The Coach & Horses, with the lanterns made by residents and children and the organisers will have lit up animals; Horse, Otter and Swan, which create a spectacular night time theme. Collaboration and co-ordination will be required to source community engagement to make the lanterns and to have participants at the event.
The Chair thanked David and Annie for coming along to meet with the Community Council and is looking forward to further engagement to ascertain how the residents can participate in the event in celebrating the 225th Anniversary of the Monmouth to Brecon Canal.
Council business followed the Presentation:
1. Public Participation: Resident via electronic video link for item 6b.
2. Apologies: Cllr Mark Brian, Cllr Gene Taylor, Cllr Beth Carpenter, County Councillor Jackie Charlton, PCSO Lee Garrett.
3. Declaration of Interest in the items listed below: None
4. Signing of the minutes of the 29th July 2025 and 2nd September 2025 - Approved
5. Finance:
a) Budget v Actuals, Bank reconciliation for August and September 2025 - Approved and signed by Cllr Harry Duff.
b) Cheques approved July & August 2025
Payments Approved July 2025:
Clean the car park (July) £40.00
Clean the public conveniences (July) £280.00
Car park non-domestic rates (July DD) £91.00
British Gas – electricity for the public conveniences (July SO) £26.37
Clerk's wages and stationery allowance (July) £576.30
HMRC (Clerk Tax & NI Contribution – (July) £111.20
Scribe – Monthly Fee inc. VAT (July) £37.20
Catherine Williams Accountant Audit to 31st Mar 2025 £600.00
Chairpersons Annual Allowance £156.00
Car Park Gardening Maintenance (July) £92.97
Initial/Rentokil for the Public Conveniences Annual fee 25/26 £396.24
Viking Public Convenience Supplies (July) £106.66
Payments Approved August 2025:
Clean the car park (Aug) £40.00
Clean the public conveniences (Aug) £280.00
Car park non-domestic rates (Aug) £91.00
British Gas – electricity for the public conveniences (Aug SO) £27.25
Clerk's wages and stationery allowance (Aug) £576.30
HMRC (Clerk Tax & NI Contribution – Aug) £111.20
Scribe – Monthly Fee inc. VAT (Aug) £37.20
c) Cheques for approval September 2025 – Approved
Clean the car park (Sept) £40.00
Clean the public conveniences (Sept) £280.00
Car park non-domestic rates (Sept) £91.00
British Gas – electricity for the public conveniences (Sept SO) £25.97
Clerk's wages and stationery allowance (Sept) £576.30
HMRC (Clerk Tax & NI Contribution – Sept) £111.20
Scribe – Monthly Fee inc. VAT (Sept) £37.20
Re-issue of Initial / Rentokil Payment to Clerk £396.24
Powys CC – VSI Socket & Poles instillation £5117.04
d) Interest Payment & Donations –
Car Park & Toilet Donations (July) £200.36
Nat West Interest Current Account (July) £0.56
Nat West Interest Current Account (Aug) £0.52
Nat West Interest Reserve Account (July) £13.40
Nat West Interest Reserve Account (Aug) £12.25
6. Correspondence:
a. 13th August 2025 - Resignation received from Cllr Lisa Spencer-Weiss. Noted
b. 7th September 2025 – Land Registry - Notice of adverse possession – Pendarren. Joined by Resident via video link. Review of APO notice received from Land Registry and following the site visit carried out by four of the Councillors, who assessed the land in question. Proposed by David Mantle Seconded by Cllr Gareth Woodcock not to raise any objections to the possession order. Clerk to action the return of the APO documentation to Land Registry.
7. Go Safe initial observations received from Gail Jones for July & August 2025. Observations reviewed by the Councillors.
8. Planning Applications:
25/23659/FUL – Granted 11 Clos Castell – Removal of chimney – Noted
25/23847/FUL - Granted 22 Clos Castell Ext. for home working space - Noted
25/24009/FUL – New Submission – Ty Sheriff, Llangynidr – Extension to the existing annex serving the main house – No Objections.
9. Green Man Festival review and feedback. Ay issues to be reported back to the Green Man organisers? Coffee & bingo morning held on Monday 18th August for the residents was a success; funds raised: £130 for Brecon Food Bank, £110 for Brain Tumour Research.
Main areas of concern noted by the Residents:
Loud noise levels with thumping music until 3.30am over consecutive nights of the festival weekend.
Internet outages for over a week due to volume of festival goers, causing business disruption.
Volume of large high sided lorries and volume of vehicles on the B4558 causing damage to the road verges and causing general difficulties for through road users for the month of August.
Number of hours spent distributing the bridge passes, many residents feel this may be an unnecessary task, with bridge problems being neither better or worse. Trial a year without the passes.
Local Businesses suffering losses in sales due to travel restrictions.
Residents would appreciate some form of community support with projects from the Green Man Organisers.
Clerk to write to the Green Man organisers and provide a summary of the concerns raised and to review options for the future.
10. New Bus Timetable issued following the new contract being awarded to Williams Coaches.What implications does this have for residents. Adjourned to October to review with County Councillor Jackie Charlton.
11. Reports of water discolouration in the River Glaisfer. Powys Flood Risk & Sustainable Drainage Engineer – Simon Crowther has carried out initial investigations and followed up with the residents carrying out the revetment works to the banks following the flood damage from earlier in the year. Simon Crowther is carrying out regular checks of the works and monitoring any water discoloration.
12. Vehicles being left in the Car Park for some considerable length of time. Causing difficulties with the planting and maintenance of flower beds and hedges. A polite letter to be placed on the windscreen of vehicles requesting contact details, to allow for arrangements to be made to move the vehicles to allow access to the hedges and flower beds for regular gardening and maintenance to be carried out. Agreed and the Clerk to draft the letter.
13. Tenders to be advertised for maintenance of Persondy and Car Park Hedges. Clerk to review contacts for submission of quotes.
14. Meeting took place on August 26th with the new owners of the Company supplying the Speed Matrix Signs. Further discussions required with Powys Highways on the suitability of the Poles and the exact locations to be clarified. Noted and Clerk to follow up with supplier and Powys Highways.
15. Corner Plot of Land at Erw Bant put up for Auction on 11th September. No bidders, Lot withdrawn. Consideration of future Community Council involvement. Adjourned
16. Removal of H Pole - National Grid Residents meeting scheduled for Monday 29th September 2pm. Letter of invitation posted to all residents on the current supply of electricity from the H Pole.Noted and all Councillors are welcome to come along to join the meeting.
17. BT Open Reach and loss of land lines. Residents to be kept informed of upcoming changes and switch over to digital. Noted
18. Five Councils meeting scheduled for 13th November 2025, to be hosted by Cwmdu and District. Agenda items and attendees required. Agreed Cllr J. Dawkins and Cllr G. Woodcock to attend. Agenda points and attendees to be submitted to the Clerk of Cwmdu & District.
19. Llangynidr Pre-School have been in communications with County Councillor Jackie Charlton and Community Well-being group regarding utilising the Poverty Funding for purchasing a small shed as a uniform and stationary swap, to be located outside the pre-school entrance gate, in place of the recently removed telephone box. The idea is supported and welcomed by the Community Council. Concerns on the near location of the rubbish bin. Further review and agreement to be considered on the final location.
20. Office workspace at Llangynidr Village Hall for the Clerk. Review of initial offer from the Village Hall Committee. £150 a month, 3 days a week for the use of the Committee room and storage facility. Councillor’s present felt the cost is currently too high given the benefits of having the Clerk based in a community facility. The Clerk to prepare a plan and further proposal.
21. Consideration of Remembrance wreaths for purchasing on behalf of the Community Council. Clerk to confirm the purchase of the wreaths and to lay the wreath of Remembrance Sunday as the incoming Clerk.
22. Macmillan coffee morning being held on Saturday September 27th – 10.30am at the village hall. All welcome
23. Litter Pick date to be agreed: Review weekend availability of the litter pickers now the evening sessions will be too dark.
24. Any other business (for information only)
Several concerns have been raised of car’s parking on the zig zags at the pre-school entrance, causing a dangerous blind bend for both passing vehicles and pedestrians.
With the new school bus contract, concerns have been raised over the large size school bus coming down over Llangynidr Mountain Road and how dangerous this is given the road is just not wide enough.
The Chair congratulated the Village Hall Committee on the new track around the playing field, noting it will be a great asset to the village.
25. Dates of next meeting: Tuesday 28th October 2025 – 7.30pm
There being no further business to discuss the Chairperson closed the meeting at 10.15pm
