MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
TUESDAY 29th APRIL 2025 AT 7.00 PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL.
Present: Cllr Jane Dawkins (Chairperson), Cllr David Williams, Cllr Mark Brian, Cllr Beth Carpenter, Cllr Janine Sharpless, Cllr Gene Taylor, Cllr Gareth Woodcock, Cllr Harry Duff, Cllr Lisa Spencer-Weiss, Cllr David Mantle.
In Attendance: County Councillor Jackie Charlton, PCSO Lee Garrett and Mrs. Jessica Jones (Clerk)
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. Report from the County Councillor:
County Councillor Report – April 2025 Llangynidr
1. County Councillor Surgery – The Llangynidr surgery is bimonthly. The next County Council Surgery for Llangynidr will be on 17th May. Surgery days in Llangattock are with the RepairCafé, the third Saturday of the month. You can visit the Repair Café at the same time.
2. Road Signs for Forge Road – No feedback at the time of writing but have contacted Highways again about this issue and the Yellow Lines.
3. Road Markings 20 mph – The markings for the Coach & Horses roundels have been agreed and should be on the road fairly soon.
4. Duffryn Crawnon Road – This is moving forward and the meeting held earlier this month was very well attended. Residents accepted that work is ongoing, and they were all able to share information for the Highways Officer to take back. The engineering report has been completed for the landslip. Still some issues with the road closure not appearing on Google Maps but the information is in the public domain and Powys have no control on what Google share. The issue of the river was also discussed and work progressing there with the Drainage Officer. The most important outcome is making sure that we continue to communicate between Highways and the residents. The Clerk has set up an email group and all who gave their contact details agreed that email was the best way of communicating. I will continue to keep in touch with Highways.
5. Blocked Culvert Forge Road and on the Bridge – I believe work is now being scheduled.
6. Bridge Signs – As a result of putting out information in CONTACT I have had responses fromindividuals and taken anecdotal responses in addition. The bridge system is working well without the signs. I will now work with the Community Council and Highways to see what we should consider as being the next steps regarding the bridge. Have asked the Community Council to put this on their agenda for discussion.
7. Sustainable Powys - Communication and updates - Sustainable Powys is now fully embedded into the council activity and more work is being undertaken to engage with town and communitycouncils through the spring. The next session in Brecon is on the 15th of May. Invitations have been sent to all Town and Community Councils.
8. Glaisfer Tree Blockage – This was reported and dealt with.
9. Yellow Lines – Time to start asking questions as to the progress of the yellow lines. A full consultation process took place in 2024. It would be good to have the lines painted for the summer this year.
10. Crickhowell & District Community Bus Project – This is included in the Community Council Agenda. A meeting was held on the 7th April with Crickhowell Dial a Ride to negotiate a way forward using the Dial a Ride bus to develop routes to link with some proposed timetables and routes. Llangynidr has been included, and the routes are available for discussion. I have shared with Llangynidr Community Council as well. The proposal focuses on meeting the X43 at the New Inn bus stop. See more info below.
11. Special County Councillor Fund – No further update on this yet. Llangattock and Llangynidr will be able to split this fund to spend on projects or special areas of interest to alleviate theproblems of poverty or cost of living issues. I have some ideas but will be keen to meet with both Chairs of Llangynidr and Llangattock to discuss thoughts and ideas. The money will need to be distributed by March 2026.
12. Big Spring Clean – The Big Spring Clean was incredibly successful. Lots of publicity and a massive amount of litter collected. See one report about Powys here:- Litter picking heroes acrossPowys are celebrating after the biggest and most successful ‘spring clean’ of the county | Shropshire Star
Community Bus Suggestions: -
Llangynidr shuttle Bwlch and Crickhowell – Feedback from the Crickhowell & Community Bus Project – Kate Inglis
[I] have explored running a shuttle bus that primarily runs between Llangynidr carpark and New Inn bus stop, Bwlch. [I] have scheduled this to meet each of the X43 services (running in both directions) and have provisionally allowed 10 minutes up to Bwlch, hopefully factoring in sufficient time for possible delays at the bridge and 10 minutes back again so a 20min return journey. In doing this thereare times of day when the bus would be idle in the car park for 35-45 minutes, so I was exploring the best way to utilise this time.
One option is to run a circular route to Cwmdu and Tretower but I don’t think this would serve the communities well as this wouldn’t connect with timings at the Gliffaes bus stop on the A40 so these passengers would need to travel into Llangynidr and back up to Bwlch to connect with the X43which is approximately 30min journey time.
Then [I] explored the possibility of running a direct service from Llangynidr to Crickhowell which isa 25-30min return journey so looks to fit well in those windows of time. This would be similar to the 43 route (10:26, 12:26, 14:26, 16:26 and 18:11) but excluding the Llangattock leg and providing a higher frequency of service to Llangynidr residents. Such a service could also perhaps stop at the road bridge over the canal at Glanusk to aid walkers with linear routes.
25-30min return Llangynidr to Crickhowell
5-10min route Llangynidr to Bwlch via narrow bridge. Allow 20 min return journey.
Further discussion followed with the Councillors and County Councillor Jackie Charlton on thefrustrations of not being able to resolve with Powys the bus route being re-instated through the village to accommodate the early morning run to Brecon and Abergavenny for College students, employment and to be able to attend early appointments. This issue has been on-going for three years. Initial concerns raised on the bridge restrictions for the Dial a Ride bus.
2. Report from PCSO Lee Garrett:
14 calls recorded for the areas since 26th March 2025
Summary:
Horse hit on the Moor – damage to vehicle, horse ran off and no known owner.
Incident reported on Llangynidr Bridge, aggressive van driver, incident recorded on a dash cam, police are aware of the vehicle details.
2 calls received regarding a car on fire on the Fro Bridge.
The Llangynidr Agricultural Show Event has been logged as a registered event for August 24th, 2025.
Fire reported on the Moor, Garnlydan Forestry. Vehicle incorrectlyreported on the GoSafe report.
VE Day celebration being held on 8th May in the village have been logged as a registered event.
Internet fraud incident reported by a local resident.
Report of a domestic.
PCSO Lee Garrett sends his apologies for the May meeting and the Parish Annual Meeting due to being on holiday.
The Chair thanked PCSO Lee Garrett for coming to the Community Council meetings, his continued input is very valued to the Community.
3. Apologies:
None
4. Declaration of interest in items of business listed below:
None
5. Signing of the minutes:
Full Meeting 25th March 2025
6. Public Participation:
None
7. Finances:
a) Bank reconciliation, Year End Budget and Actuals to be considered for approval – Reconciliation approved. Budget and Actuals Spreadsheetrequires further review to ensure correct for Year End. Proposed Cllr Harry Duff, Seconded Cllr Mark Brian.
b) Cheques to be approved April 25 – Approved
Clean the car park (Apr) £40.00
Clean the public conveniences (Apr) £280.00
Car park non-domestic rates DD (Mar) £89.80
British Gas (electricity) £28.78
Clerk's wages and stationery allowance (Apr) £576.30
HMRC (Clerk Tax & NI Contribution – Apr) £111.20
Scribe Initial Set up Fee (£249 plus VAT) £298.80
Public Convenience Supplies £95.98
Cheques approved - March 25
Clean the car park (Mar) £40.00
Clean the public conveniences (Mar) £280.00
Maintenance of the public convenience (Mar) £25.00
Car park non-domestic rates DD (Mar) £90.00
British Gas (electricity) £26.46
Clerk's wages and stationery allowance (Mar) £560.50
HMRC (Clerk Tax & NI Contribution – Feb) £127.00
HMRC (Clerk Tax & NI Contribution – Mar) £127.00
Payment to Sue Dale for Clook Website payment £107.99
One Voice Wales Membership £215.00
c) Interest, payments and donations
Car Park & Toilets (Mar) £123.74
Donation received from Crickhowell Guild of Weavers £10.00
8. Correspondence:
31/03/2025 – Road Closure notice from Powys Street works on the B4558, Llangynidr due to take place on 21st July 2025 from 9:30 – 3:30pm by Openreach.
04/04/2025 - Thank you email received for the works carried out by the CWG clearing the pavement along the Dyffryn Road and Forge Road.
07/04/2025 – Welsh Government Democratic Engagement Grant – Funding available for local notfor profit organisations – Closing date: 9th May 2025
12/04/2025 – Councillor Training Dates available for April – June 2025
9. Go Safe summary report received from Gail Jones 23/04/25.
Content reviewed by the Councillors. County Councillor Jackie Charlton to raise concerns with the speed of the Stagecoach drivers through the village exceeding the 20mph speed limit.
10. Planning Applications:
a) 25/23659/FUL – 11 Clos Castell – Removal of non-functioning chimney – No Objection
b) 25/23697/DISCON – 25 Clos Castell – Discharge of condition 4 of previously approved planning permission – No Objection
11. Bus Timetable Review & Proposed Dial-A-Ride options for consideration.
Reviewed under Item 1 – Report by County Councillor Jackie Charlton
12. Dyffryn Crawnon residents meeting took place 15th April with County Councillor Jackie Charlton, Highways Manager’s Phillip Harris & David Lewis and Flood Risk andSustainable Drainage Engineer Simon Crowther.
Further to the points raised in the report from the County Councillor, both the Chair and Cllr David Mantle highlighted the meeting wasvery well attended and allowed the residents the opportunity to raise their concerns with the current landslip and the problems the residents face during inclement weather, particularly with blocked culverts. The Chair thanked the representatives from Powys for attendingthe meeting and particularly giving their time in the evening. It was re-iterated on the importance of keeping the lines of communication open between the residents and Powys.
13. Matrix Signs – Highways confirmed the poles are ready to be installed – wating confirmation of installation date.
Clerk to follow up with Powys Highways Dept.
14. Green Man – Cllr Jane Dawkins and Clerk met with Cwmdu & District CommunityCouncil Councillors to discuss bridge passes for 2025.
The Clerk has written to the organisers of the Green Man with the following:
• Request for Qty of 1000 bridge passes for 2025 for the residents of Llangynidr and allowssome extra for people passing through to places of work etc.
• No ‘Road Closed’ signs required for 2025 on the A40 or top of Forge Road.
• Consider the option to filter possible Festival Traffic/Oversized vehicles at the crossroads at the Cilwych junction - far safer to be able to speak and or turn festival traffic around thanon the main A40. County Councillor Jackie Charlon has also raised this with Powys Highways Dept.
• Make sure Marshalls are aware that all traffic should be allowed to pass except said Oversized vehicles/ Festival traffic. It is not our intention that anyone should be stoppedgoing about their lawful business or visiting local businesses.
• Large signs on the A40 pointing in the festival goers in the right direction.
15. Review of projects underway by the Community Wellbeing Group.
The group has kindly provided a list of up-and-coming projects planned. The Community Council would welcome the opportunity to have regular discussions and an on- going dialogue regarding any intended works, particularly of an historical nature within the village, to ensure any works are in keeping, treated and preserved appropriately. The Clerk and Cllr David Williams to review this with the group.
16. Appointment of Headteacher at Crickhowell High School.
Cllr Mark Brian (on behalf of the Governors at the High School) confirmed the successful appointment of Mr Marc Yeoman, joining the School permanently in September 2025. The Community Council wish him every success in this role.
17. Review options for providing a recycling bin in the playing field located close to the skate park area.
Approved
18. Litter Pick dates to be agreed for June and August 2025 ahead of Summer
Sounds and the Agricultural Show Day.
Wednesday 18th June 2025(Time to be posted on the notices)
Wednesday 20th August2025 (Time to be posted on the notices)
19. Himalayan Balsam Bash and Litter Pick along River Bank – Agree date, time and meeting point.
Adjourned to 27th May 2025 meeting.
20. Meeting dates to be agreed for the Full Community Council Meetings June 2025 to May 2026.
Approved
21. Annual Community Parish Meeting preparations to be decided (Invites, Speakers, refreshments etc) to be held on 3rd June 2025 7.30pm at the Village Hall.
Approved. Clerk to invite: County Councillor Jackie Charlton, Community Wellbeing Group, Gail Jones to represent GoSafe, PSCO Lee Garrett is unavailable. Buffet to be ordered.
22. Any other business (for information only).
• Cllr Gareth Woodcock paid thanks to the Zig Zagers for clearing down at the Bridge.
23. Dates of next meetings:
Tuesday 27th May 2025 – 7.30pm, Annual Meeting.
Noting later start time of 7.30pm from May to November 2025.
