MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY 28th October at 7.30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL
Present: Cllr Jane Dawkins (Chairperson) Cllr David Williams, Cllr Harry Duff, Cllr Gareth Woodcock, Cllr Beth Carpenter, Cllr Janine Sharpless, Cllr David Mantle, Cllr Mark Brian, Cllr Gene Taylor.
In Attendance: County Councillor Jackie Charlton, Jessica Jones (Clerk).
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. Public Participation: County Councillor Jackie Charlton
County Councillor Report - October 2025 Llangynidr
1) County Councillor Surgery – The Llangynidr surgery is held bimonthly. The next session for Llangynidr is scheduled for 29th November, with the venue to be confirmed as the Sardis Chapel opposite Oaklands.
2) Livestock Deaths and Speeding on Common – MP David Chadwick is liaising with new Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police bringing together MP/MS myself and stakeholders to discuss speeding, enforcement and concern within communities across Brecon Radnor and Cwm Tawe. The continued problem with livestock deaths will be on the agenda. I still believe that the local authority should be able to ask for a restricted speed limit on the mountain road but I’m not getting very far with that. If I can get the support of the MP and MS together with a commitment from the police to enforce speeding more effectively on our rural roads there might be a way forward.
3) Sustainable Powys - Communication and Updates – The Sustainable Hub is now accessible to Town and Community Councils via this link: https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/hub-page/ptcch . The Chair of Llangattock Community Council have submitted information about the Place Plan for other town and community councils to access demonstrating the good work done in Powys and the important element of the Place Plan providing support for the Community Council. At the next Sustainable Powys event in Brecon on the 26th November Llangattock Community Council Chair will be presenting in respect of the Community Hub and how the Community Council has facilitated this using the Place Plan. Good to showcase the great work done but also demonstrates how Sustainable Powys can be effectively linked to on the ground strengthening of local action.
4) Flooding Issues – I am working with Welsh Local Government Association to develop an early warning system for local authorities linking with both the Met Office and Natural Resources Wales. Powys have used the experience from local flood groups including Crickhowell and Llangattock to inform the templates. After the experience with both Storm Bert and Storm Darragh this is good news going forward.
5) Post 16 Engagement – This is moving forward now. Local information will be shared via Powys County Council and the school. Engagement events took place on 21st, 22nd and 23rd October.
6) Dyffryn Crawnon – Information noted at the meeting: Contractors have been working in the Dyffryn clearing out the drains and ditches, a number of issues have been raised with the intention to follow up to further clean and jet the located issues along the section. Up-date on the landslip design from Powys Highways: It’s currently in for checking and will be going out to tender in the next couple of weeks, looking to start in January.
7) New Bus Timetables – Liaising with the Powys Transport Team to give an indication of what they investigated to overcome the gaps in the timetable for Llangynidr.
8) Matrix Signs – I have been in touch with Powys to see what we might be able to do to assist the Community Council in looking at utilising the poles that were put in for the Matrix signs. A site visit has been agreed, date to be confirmed.
9) Bridge – A site visit has been agreed as above.
10) School bus – Information has been shared with the Clerk to the Community Council and with the Speed Watch Volunteers. The incident has been reported to the bus contractor and dealt with.
11) Pen y Ale Lane hedges – Verbal Update to be given if information available.
12) Drain Audit and blocked drains bus stop – Have asked how the Inspector audits work that has been carried out and will feedback to the Clerk for a future meeting.
13) Roundels at Coach & Horses – This is dealt with in-house and because there have been issues with the vehicle all work has been put on hold. Powys are hoping to lease a vehicle whilst funds are sought for a replacement. The roundels are in the work programme.
14) Yellow Lines – Cabinet decision due very soon. Looking good. I’m confident the yellow lines will be in place for next summer. This has been a very long process.
• Copy petition presented to County Councillor Jackie Charlton signed by a number of residents supporting having lighting at the pinch points on Llangynidr Bridge on the Bwlch side, as is currently in place on the Llangynidr side of the Bridge. County Councillor Jackie Charlton to follow up with Highways at the up-and-coming site meeting in the coming weeks.
• Copy of the Powys Nature Recovery Action Plan 2022 – 2023 passed to the Community Council by County Councillor Jackie Charlton
2. Apologies: None
3. Declaration of Interest in the items listed below: None
4. Signing of the minutes of the 23rd September 2025 – Approved
5. Finance:
a) Budget v Actuals, Bank reconciliation for September 2025
Approved and Signed by Cllr Harry Duff.
Proposed by Cllr DM and Seconded by Cllr MB to carry out the donation to the Village Hall at the next meeting.
b) Cheques approved September 2025
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 to Initial / Rentokil Payment to Clerk £396.24
Powys CC – VSI Socket & Poles instillation £5117.04
c) Cheques for approval October 2025 – Approved
Clean the car park (Oct) £40.00
Clean the public conveniences (Oct) £280.00
Car park non-domestic rates (Oct) £91.00
British Gas – electricity for the public conveniences (Oct SO) £26.05
Clerk’s wages and stationery allowance (Oct) £576.30
HMRC (Clerk Tax & NI Contribution – Oct) £111.20
Scribe – Monthly Fee inc. VAT (Oct) £37.20
Materials for Car Park Flower Beds £64.70
Donation towards ‘Contact’ publication £150.00
d) Interest Payment & Donations – Approved
Car Park & Toilet Donations (Sept) £241.75
Nat West Interest Current Account (Sept) £0.57
Nat West Interest Reserve Account (Sept) £13.53
6. Correspondence:
NRW documentation – Updated Boundary Map - SSSI Citation Report for Mynydd Llangattock & Mynydd Llangynidr. Noted
National Grid Gas Transmission: Scheme Clydach Dingle and Llangattock Escarpment Fire Incident – Common Land Rights BCL016. Noted. County Councillor Jackie Charlton gave an overview of the intensity of the fire.
Sustainable Powys Meeting – Next meeting to be held in The Foundry Brecon: 26/11/2025 at 7pm. Seeking two representatives, agenda available. Cllr Jane Dawkins and Cllr Harry Duff to attend.
One Voice Wales – Councillor Training Review. Training Plan was reviewed and approved. Review of OVW training dates being offered and associated costs. Agreed to carry out Councillor and Clerk training in early 2026.
7. Go Safe initial observations received from Gail Jones for Sept & Oct 2025 – Review of the observations provided. Concerns raised by Councillors on vehicles overtaking the High School Bus during pick up and drop off. It would be safer for the bus to pull into the car park. However, noted this is not always possible due to cars parking outside the public toilets or parking near the entrance inside the car park, thus not allowing enough space for the bus to pull around. Please could Parents/Guardians collecting pupils from the school bus be more aware of parking safely and allowing enough space for the bus to safely pull into the car park, preventing the pupils from having to alight the bus on the road.
8. Planning Applications:
25/24009/FUL –Ty Sheriff, Llangynidr – Approved
25/24126/LBC – Lock quadrant repair works at Lock 66, Mon & Brecon Canal – No objections
9. New Bus Timetable issued following the new contract being awarded to Williams Coaches. What implications does this have for residents. It was noted the new service being provided by Williams Coaches is greatly improved with friendly drivers, clean buses and a more efficient service. However, it was also noted it is unfortunate and disappointing the early bus service has not been re-instated and included into the new timetable. County Councillor Jackie Charlton confirmed this is still being looked into and the situation is still being assessed.
10. TWM Matrix Signs – Review of current situation. County Councillor Jackie Charlton along with Cllr Jane Dawkins and the Clerk to carry out a site visit with Powys Highways to review potential options for the poles. Councillors agreed to review the situation with TWM ceasing trading with the Insurance Company – Clerk to follow up.
11. Removal of the H pole at Pen Yr Ale Lane - Residents meeting took place on 29th September with National Grid. A fourth location has been identified and under review with the National Grid and Powys Highways.
12. Co-option of Councillor vacancy – Following confirmation received on the due process, advert approved to co-opt and for the Clerk to advertise the vacancy.
13. Canal & River Trust Event – Seeking Community engagement to hold a lantern workshop in November, at a cost of £320, cost covers material costs and artists to run the workshops. Parade will be taking place on Wednesday 10th December through Llangynidr. – Agreed to fund the cost of the workshop of £320. Clerk to seek the involvement the local businesses and clubs to host the event.
14. Llangynidr ‘Contact’ seeking financial donation from the Community Council to assist with the printing costs - Unanimously Agreed sum of £150
15. Quotes have been requested for maintenance of Persondy and Car Park Hedges. Awaiting feedback on the quotes.
16. Advert for grazing of Persondy Field to be approved. Agreed DM, GT
17. Approval granted by the BBNPA to include the wash lanes in the Local List. The following information was provided via email by Dr Cyllene Griffiths – Senior Heritage Officer Building Conservation BBNPA. The ‘Local List’ is an inventory of all those heritage assets that do not appear on any national lists or registers, but which are important to local communities and to the places in which we live. The purpose of maintaining a list of historic assets of special local interest is to ensure that the significance of local assets is taken into account when change is being considered. Although there are no additional statutory controls over properties included on the Local List, the Authority will encourage owners to preserve the special qualities that have resulted in their inclusion. Under the present Local Development Plan, the protection of buildings identified on the Local List is covered by Policy 18: Protection of Buildings of Local Importance: “Development affecting buildings which make an important contribution to the character and interest of the local area as set out on the local list will be permitted where the distinctive appearance, architectural integrity or their settings would not be significantly adversely affected.”
18. Overhanging branches on the road to Crickhowell need cutting back. Clerk to follow up with Canal & River Trust. The overhanging branches are causing a concern and potentially hazardous to high sided vehicles (stock boxes and alike) having to travel further into the middle of the road. Clerk to notify the Canal & River Trust of its concerns.
19. Macmillan coffee morning held on Saturday September 27th raised a total of £750.00. Appreciation paid to all the helpers, supporters and attendees of this event.
20. Community lunch held Tuesday 28th October from 12.30pm. Cllr Jane Dawkins confirmed the lunch was a great success with the support from local residents and volunteers with 48 lunches being served. Unanimously agreed the donations received will be donated to the Brecon Food Bank for the Children’s Christmas Bag Appeal, after retaining some funds towards running a similar lunchtime event in the future.
21. Any other business (for information only)
• Notification received from the Community Well-being Group Secretary Steven Salmon, of recent changes to their committee, with Jo Gardener as the newly elected Chair and Gail Jones as Vice Chair with immediate effect.
• The Community Well-being Group are in the process of working alongside County Councillor Jackie Charlton on the Poverty Grant Funding, Further information to be supplied at the November Community Council meeting.
22. Dates of next meeting: Tuesday 25th November – 7.30pm
With no further business to discuss the Chair closed the meeting at 9.20pm
