Draft Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 19th September 2024 at the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach and via Zoom, commencing at 6.30 pm
Present: Cllr R Williams (Chair), Cllr C Edwards, Cllr P Rudd, Cllr A Hippsley, Cllr J Bulman and Cllr R A Williams
Council Employees Present: Clerk/RFO Linda Evans
Members of the Public Present: Cllr H Davies (online)
48/24 Apologies: Cllr A Doherty, Cllr A Edwards, Cllr M Mortimore and Cllr D Jones had sent their apologies.
Chair Cllr R Williams started the meeting at 6.30 pm by welcoming all present. The meeting is held as a multi-hybrid meeting in accordance with The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. Council Standing Order 3b(i)
49/24 Declarations of Interest: There were no declarations of interest at this meeting.
50/24 County Councillor`s Report:
Councillor Hayley Davies gave the meeting an update on the issues of:
- Parking on the High Street – The van and trailer parked on the main road outside Clyn y Bont, causing a real concern to traffic and pedestrians is now being parked in Church Cresent, this road is not so busy and is a safer option.
- Home to School Bus Operation – no further decision has been received from NPTCBC, and Cllr H Davies asked the meeting what was the situation in the Village when the school bus was picking up and dropping off pupils. Several Councillors responded by saying that mornings especially were chaotic with difficulties and delays travelling through the village caused by the size of the large school buses. This has been made worse when deliveries to the building work at the Chapel coincided with school pick up times. The builders have placed the skip outside the Chapel again. Cllr H Davies will be following up the issue with NPTCBC Transport Manager.
- Cllr H Davies reported that the repairs to the road on the High Street have been completed. It was not the full resurface that she would have wished but was still an improvement to the road.
- Cllr C Edwards reported her concern regarding the increasing “mess” on the private property building site on Wenallt Road. Cllr H Davies noted the concern and will investigate what can be done about requesting this is cleared.
51/24 Public Observations on Matters Arising and Agenda Items
There were no observations made at this meeting.
52/24 To Approve the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 18th July 2024 and the Finance Committee Meeting held on 25th July 2024.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of both meetings be approved as a true record.
53/24 Matters Arising from the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 18th July 2024
Further to minute 42/24 a) Christmas Lighting 2024 – The Clerk has received an email from Centergreat in relation to the question about the Council’s purchase of lamppost lighting. The lights in question were found too small to install on the columns to have effect. Centergreat were unsure if they were in their possession, but will endeavour to investigate further. It was RESOLVED that the Council will continue using the column lights provided the previous years. The Clerk was tasked to find out if the smaller lights could be used elsewhere in the village and what the cost would be if so.
The Clerk will email NPTCBC before the deadline of the 30th September with the full plan for Christmas lights 2024. RESOLVED
Further to minute 45/24 CILCA Qualification – The Clerk attended a pre-course webinar – The cost of accessing the course material is £450.00, required training is an additional cost. There is a possibility of Welsh Government Funding for the course, which the Clerk will investigate further and inform the meeting at the next meeting. RESOLVED
54/24 Agenda Items:
a) To approve Council Accessibility Police and Biodiversity Policy – It was RESOLVED that the draft Accessibility Policy be approved without amendments. It was RESOLVED that the Biodiversity Policy be approved with the additional information – 4. MONITORING a) Monitoring and reviewing the s6 Duty and policy should be done yearly at the AGM. Cllr R A Williams would like to plant additional wildflowers at the entrance of the Village. It was agreed that the Clerk will contact Celtic Wildflowers for advice on the best mix to plant. RESOLVED
b) Conference Room Hire – Cllr R Williams has been approached by Vale of Neath Baby Basics enquiring about hiring the Conference Room. They need larger premises that includes storage. The proposal was discussed and all Councillors were in favour with no objections. It was RESOLVED that the group should be invited along to view the room to see if it would be suitable. Details such as rental etc., could then be negotiated.
c) Quotes for Cwmgwrach Rugby Club Lease – 2 quotes to deal with the lease have been received from lawyers. Both quotes are similar in cost and advice. Estimate cost £1050 to £1150 + VAT. The Councillors requested that several questions needing clarification. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk should gain further understanding of the process and wording and then bring back to the next meeting for discussion.
55/24 Planning:
There were no planning applications at this meeting.
56/24 Crime and Policing
Clerk reported on the June and July 2024 Blaengwrach Area Crime Map and Figures as reported on the Police UK website: June 24 – All Crimes 4, 2 Anti-social behaviour, 2 Violence and sexual offences. 3 of these were in the villages of Blaengwrach and Cwmgwrach – 2 Violence and sexual offences and 1 Anti-social behaviour. July 24 – All Crimes 11, 1 Anti-social behaviour, 2 Criminal damage and arson, 1 Possession of weapons, 2 Public Order, 1 Vehicle crime and 4 Violence and sexual offences. 6 of these crimes were located in the villages of Blaengwrach and Cwmgwrach, 1 Possession of weapons, 2 Public order, 1 Violence and sexual offences, 1 Vehicle crime and 1 Criminal damage and arson.
57/24 Finance
RESOLVED the following payments were scrutinised and approved:
| Payments Made | 19/07/2024 to 19/09/2024 (2 Months) | Amounts £ |
| Nest | Staff Pension Scheme (8 weeks) | £127.28 |
| Staff Wages | 2 Months Salary | £5596.52 |
| HMRC | Tax and NI 06/07/24 to 05/09/24 | £777.16 |
| Utility Warehouse Ltd | Electricity @ Welfare Hall 2 Months | £382.01 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Welfare Hall 2 months | £302.00 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Cemetery 2 months | £43.00 |
| NPTCBC | Rates Welfare Hall 2 months | £786.00 |
| NPTCBC | Rates Cemetery 2 months | £80.00 |
| EE | Hall Wi-Fi 2 months | £109.98 |
| British Gas | Hall Usage 2 months | £119.49 |
| Zoom Ltd., | On line Platform for Meetings 2 months | £31.18 |
| LC – Reimbursment | Fencing Staples | £5.99 |
| LC – Reimbursment | Petrol for Mowers and strimmer | £15.55 |
| Amazon | Strimmer Cord | £31.67 |
| Tesco Mobile | Council Phone | £10.00 |
| Touchnetworks | Call out and training | £114.00 |
| Currys | Mouse Mat (CCTV) and Printer Ink | £57.98 |
| Hartson Fire Ltd., | Service and Supply of Fire Extinguisher | £107.40 |
| Wales Audit Office | Audit Fees | £235.00 |
| Viking | Hall Supplies – Toilet Rolls and Disinfectant | £51.44 |
| Total | £8,983.65 | |
| Income Received | 19/07/2024 to 19/09/2024 (2 Months) | Amounts £ |
| SRCC Stores Ltd | Monthly Rental of Shed in the Park | £35.00 |
| TSB Bank | Monthly Interest on “Reserve” Saver | £26.71 |
| NPTCBC | Hall Hire Messy Play July | £66.00 |
| VIEW (Glynneath) Ltd | Hall Hire Yoga July/Aug | £70.00 |
| Zumba | Hall Hire June | £56.00 |
| Cwmgwrach OAP | Halll Hire July | £112.00 |
| NPTCBC Election | Hall Hire | £100.00 |
| Celtic Archers | Hall Hire June/July/Aug | £334.00 |
| Empower | Singing for the Brain Hall Hire June/July | £126.00 |
| Cwmgwrach Judo | Hall Hire June | £56.00 |
| NPTCBC | 2nd Precept Payment | £26,622.33 |
| £27,604.04 | ||
| Account Balances | As at 19/09/2024 | |
| General Account | £1,489.13 | |
| Reserve/Saver Account | £29,570.42 | |
| Total Account Balances as at 19./09/24 £ | £31,059.55 | |
| To Bank | Hall Hire Historical Society and Judo | £112.00 |
- Clerk asked if the Council wished to continue the annual renewal to Neath Port Talbot CVS Membership. All Councillors agreed the £10.00 membership renewal cost RESOLVED Clerk to complete the membership renewal form and pay the subscription.
- The Council approved the cost of £400.00 for Luke Griffiths to repair the stonewall outside the Scout Hall. RESOLVED
- Cllr Peter Rudd gave the meeting a summary of the Finance and Audit Committee Meeting held on the 25th July 2024 where the Quarterly Budget was scruitinised by the Committee and recommended that Quarter 1 Budget be approved by full Council RESOLVED all agreed to approve.
58/24 Correspondence & Section 137 Request:
- Mayors Annual Civic Service – Chair is unable to attend. Clerk to send RSVP noted
- OVW Annual Congress 16th October 2024, Buith Wells Show Ground – charge of £95 per delegate. All Councillors have received the invite email and will let the Clerk know if they wish to attend RESOLVED
- NPTCBC Standards Committee Annual Report 2023/24 – All Councillors have received a copy for their information. RESOLVED and noted
- The Clerk had received an email from Garry Sage of Wize Productions asking if the Council wished to book another Panto this year. Performances of Cinderella or Rapunzel was available. Councillors discussed how successful last years event was, and to repeat the event this year. The price of tickets was discussed and it was agreed that it would be £1 per child and £3 per adult and would go on sale to anyone who wished to attend and tickets would be available from the Clerk. It was discussed how poor the sale of refreshments had been, so it was agreed that people be advised to bring their own. RESOLVED The Clerk to try and book the last Saturday in November (30th) and preferably Cinderella.
59/24 Set Date, Time & Proposed Agenda Items for the next meeting; …
The next Ordinary Meeting will be held on Thursday 17th October at 6.30 pm. The next meeting of Finance and Audit Committee meeting will be held on 24th October at 5.45 pm. No Agenda Items were proposed at this meeting.
Notices for the meetings will be posted at least three working days before they are due to take place.
Meeting closed at 8.05 pm