DRAFT Minutes of the Meeting Held in the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5TB on Thursday, 21st July 2022. The meeting started at 6.30 p.m.
PRESENT: Councillor Menna Mortimore (Vice Chair); Councillor Jennifer Bulman; Councillor David Jones & Councillor Peter Rudd;
Also Present: Clive Baker – Clerk to Blaengwrach Community Council;
There were NO members of the public present;
21/22 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillor Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Councillor Amanda Doherty; Councillor Rhian Williams; Councillor Rhian A Williams; Councillor Alan Edwards & Councillor Andrew Hippsley had sent their apologies;
22/22 DECLARATION(S) OF INTEREST: There were NO declarations of interest made at this meeting;
23/22 COUNTY COUNCILLOR`S REPORT: County Councillor Hayley Davies had sent her apologies as she was unable to attend;
24/22 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD: The Minutes of the Meeting held on 16th June 2022 were accepted as a true record of that meeting;
25/22 MATTERS ARISING & AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Remote/Hybrid Meetings and the Installation of Wi-Fi in the Welfare Hall – FastWI-FI Wales carried out the installation on the 4th July 2022. To hold “remote/hybrid meetings, the following are required: a television screen; a microphone & a “corporate media package (e.g. Zoom, Teams, Starleaf etc.). It was decided to “cost” the items required and to discuss this further at either a short meeting to be held on 18th August 2022 or in the scheduled September 2022 meeting (15th September 2022);
b) The Kitchen Ceiling of the Welfare Hall Kitchen – Quotes for the repair of the ceiling are still being sought;
c) Christmas 2022 Celebrations – The request for an agreement to use the lamp posts in High Street for Christmas Lights, with a required plan, was emailed to NPTCBC, Streetlighting Department on 14th July 2022, with a “hard copy” sent by post on 15th July 2022. The Clerk had emailed the lighting contractors on 21st June 2022 giving them the proposed date for the “lights” to be first lit. The contractors replied on 20th July 2022 to say that they would have ALL the lights ready by 4 p.m. on Friday 25th November 2022. It was decided that the Clerk would email ALL Councillors to ascertain their thoughts on holding a Christmas Party in the Hall;
d) The Governance & Financial Toolkit for Town & Community Councils in Wales – The Statutory Guidelines of the “kit” were received on 15th June 2022. These include a “time table” for completion and also include a statutory training plan for BOTH Councillors & Council Staff which must be published on the Council Website by 5th November 2022;
e) Renewal of Leases of Council Owned Land – The remaining Lessee has sent the proposed lease to their solicitor to examine and advise them before they sign/agree to the lease (or otherwise);
f) The 2022 “Winter Programme of Works” – The 2022 ROSPA Report was received on 21st June 2022 and a copy has been given to the grounds-man. The observations in the report have been included in a proposed “programme of works” for Winter 2022-2023;
g) The Request for a Section 137 Grant Received from the 13th Neath Scout Group- A request for a grant of £100.00 towards activities & equipment had been received in late May 2022. It was later discovered that the original request was not for the purpose requested but for a purpose which is NOT allowable under Section 137 Guidelines. The Clerk will write to the Scout Group informing them that the Section 137 Grant CANNOT be given; THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
h) The Implementation of a Baobob Bach Community Pantry in Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach – Following last month`s meeting and further consideration by the Council, it was decided NOT to support/run a Community Pantry in the area as it is felt that it would impact on the businesses of local traders; THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
i) Examination & Agreement of the 2021-2022 Annual Return – The “Return” and the required accompanying paperwork, signed by the Chair & the Responsible Financial Officer, was sent to the External Auditors on 22nd June 2022. THIS ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MINUTES UNTIL THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR`S REPORT IS RECEIVED;
j) Review of the Council Fees for the Welfare Hall & the Cemetery – After examining the fees charged by several other Town/Community Councils in the area, it was decided that as the present fees are “in-line” with most of the others NOT to increase them at this time. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
k) The Repair to the Wall between the Park & the Dunraven Arms – The gentleman who did the work to put the gate in the wall has agreed to repair the wall (invoice to be paid by the Council). However, he could not give a date that the work will be carried out as he has other jobs to complete before the repair can be done;
l) Agenda Item 5a – The Possibility of ALL Paperwork Relating to/Required at Each Meeting to be Sent to ALL Councillors Electronically – In view of the substantial increase in changes to several areas which affect Town & Community Councils in Wales, which requires the Clerk to produce ten copies of each amendment, it has been decided that ALL of the paperwork etc. will be emailed to ALL Councillors, with a proviso that any Councillor that wants them in paper form contacts the Clerk, AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE SCHEDULED MEETING, requesting that they be produced in paper form and delivered to them. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
m) Agenda Item 5b – Examination & Discussion on the Quarterly Budget Figures – The figures were produced, examined and explanations for any large differences/anomalies accepted. THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED;
26/22 PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
27/6/2022 – Ref: P2022/0495 – Applicants: Craig & Leigh-Ann Morgan, 37 Parish Road, Blaengwrach, Neath SA11 5SW – Construction of a dwelling house with integral garage at the same address;
27/22 CRIME & DISORDER: The reported crime figures for Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach & Glynneath West area for May 2022 were ten (10). They are “broken down” as follows: Public Disorder – 2; Other Theft – 1 & Violent & Sexual Offences – 7. (FROM THE CRIME MAP THE FIGURES SHOW THAT THERE WERE TWO (2) IN THE BLAENGWRACH/CWMGWRACH AREA – 1 PUBLIC DISORDER & 1 VIOLENT & SEXUAL OFFENCE);
28/22 FINANCE:
For the Period 17th June 2022 to 21st July 2022.
PAYMENTS MADE:
Staff Pension Scheme (5 weeks) – £66.65;
NPTCBC – General Rates for Welfare Hall – £428.00;
NPTCBC – General Rates for the Cemetery – £46.00;
Welsh Water – Water Rates for Welfare Hall – £136.00;
Welsh Water – Water Rates for Cemetery – £10.50;
HMRC – Tax & NI on Staff Wages/Salaries (6th June 2022 to 5th July 2022) – £97.00;
British Gas – Gas at Welfare Hall (17th May 2022 to 16th July 2022) – £425.57;
Utility Warehouse – Electricity at Welfare Hall (June 2022) – £112.80;
Clerk`s Mileage (for 1st April 2022 to 30th June 2022) – £64.80;
Special Branch of Lloyd`s Timber – Removal of Fallen Tree from the Welfare Park – £600.00;
Viking Direct – Copy/Printer Paper & Printer Cartridges for the Office – £114.47;
Playsafety Limited – 2022 ROSPA Inspection & Report – £138.60;
Touch Networks – Repair/Replace of CCTV Monitor – £114.00;
LIDL – Small Maintenance Item – £4.98;
Eurogarages – Petrol for Park/Cemetery Machinery – £26.00;
Councillor Jennifer Bulman – 2022-2023 Councillor Allowance – £120.00;
Councillor Amanda Doherty – 2022-2023 Councillor Allowance – £120.00;
Councillor Carolyn Edwards – 2022-2023 Councillor Allowance – £120.00;
Councillor Peter Rudd – 2022-2023 Councillor Allowance – £120.00;
Councillor Rhian Williams – 2022-2023 Councillor Allowance – £120.00;
Councillor Rhian A Williams – 2022-2023 Councillor Allowance – £120.00;
ICO (Information Commissioner`s Office) – Annual Registration Fee for CCTV in the Welfare Park – £35.00;
EE Limited – Wi-Fi Signal to the Welfare Hall – £45.88;
INCOME RECEIVED:
Hall Hire/Rental Fees – £150.00;
Burial Fees – £750.00;
Monthly Interest on “Reserve” Account – £5.95;
29/22 CORRESPONDENCE:
21/6/2022 from The Welsh Government via One Voice Wales – Notice of a Consultation (“Shaping A Future Wales”);
23/6/2022 from the Electoral Services Manager, NPTCBC – Request that candidates who stood in the May 2022 Local Elections complete a survey to “Ascertain the Range of People Who Want to be Involved in Local Government in Wales;
12th July 2022 from the Glynneath Training Centre – Details of a School Heritage Project (“Children Learning More About Welsh Heritage”);
14th July 2022 from the Welsh Government via One Voice Wales – Notice of a Consultation (“A Fairer Council Tax in Wales”);
15th July 2022 from the Clerk to Glynneath Town Council – Email requesting agreement for the restart of the Upper Neath Valley Cluster Group. THIS WAS AGREED BY THE COUNCIL;
There were NO Section 137 Requests received between 17th June 2022 & 21st July 2022;
30/22 SET DATE, TIME, VENUE & ANY PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING:
See Minute 25/22(a) above. NOTE: If it is decided NOT to hold a shortened meeting on 18th August 2022, then the next scheduled meeting will be at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, 15th September 2022. It will be held in the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach, Neath SA11 5TB. There are NO proposed agenda item at this time.
The meeting closed ay 7.30 p.m.