Present: Chair Cllr C Edwards. Cllr A Edwards, Cllr R Williams, Cllr P Rudd.
Council Employees Present: RFO Clive Baker, Clerk Linda Evans
Members of the Public Present: Cllr H Davies
60/23 Apologies: Cllr J Bulman, Cllr M Mortimore and Cllr RA Williams sent their apologies. No apologies were received from Cllr A Hippsley and Cllr D Jones
Cllr. Carolyn Edwards – Chair started the meeting. The meeting is held as a multi-hybrid meeting in accordance with The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021
61/23 Declarations of Interest: There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.
62/23 County Councillor`s Report:
a) Cllr H Davies informed the Councillors that she had met with the committee of the Cwmgwrach RFC regarding the retaining wall. A building control officer from NPT Council had inspected the condition of the wall and deemed it not dangerous in its current state, but will receive future monitoring. RESOLVED
b) Cllr H Davies has received a complaint from a local resident regarding the overhanging branches at the Cemetery. Clerk assured Cllr Davies that this matter was in hand and that we are waiting to approve a quote to carry out the work. RESOLVED
c) Clerk had passed onto Cllr H Davies on behalf of the Councillors a complaint (via email) from a concerned resident regarding the unsafe and dangerous parking on double yellow lines around the school at drop off and pick up times. Cllr Davies will follow this up with the local PCSO’s and Highways CCTV mobile van. RESOLVED
63/23 Public Observations on Matters Arising and Agenda Items Being Discussed at this Meeting: There were no public observations on matters arising or agenda items.
64/23 Confirmation of the Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 20th July 2023– RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 20th July 2023 be confirmed as a correct record thereof.
65/23 Matters Arising from the meeting held on 20th July 2023-
a) Flat Roof and Kitchen Ceiling of the Welfare Hall – LC Grounds person to patch the small hole in the kitchen ceiling. RESOLVED
b)Leases of Council Owned Land – to discuss in closed session
c)Coal Field regeneration Trust Energy Efficiency Community Building Support Program – Report completed by Chair and clerk sent to all Councillors on 10th August 2023. Clerk has sent the report to Pen y Cymoedd who arranged the visit and survey.
d)Cinema Equipment – Clerk has completed the questionnaire to Pen y Cymoedd in regards to the marketing leaflet. RESOLVED
e)Christmas Celebrations – Clerk has received an email from Aberpergwm confirming that we will receive a Christmas contribution this year that can be used towards the Panto costs. The sum is likely to be the same as last year. Cllrs were please and grateful to hear this news. It was proposed and agreed by those present that tickets for the Panto should be advertised at the school and collected from the Hall by those wishing to attend the performances. Chair/Clerk to ask permission from the Head Teacher of the school to advertise the Panto. Clerk to ensure the Christmas lighting plans are completed and sent to NPT Council before the deadline of the 30th
f)Social Media Policy – All Councillors have been given a copy of the draft for approval. All present agreed to adopt the new social media policy. All Councillors and Employees to be provided with a copy. RESOLVED
g)H&S Training – Clerk waiting for Neath/Port Talbot Fire Division in relation to the advice on evacuation plans, emergency lighting, fire escapes and outside lock up vents/lighting. ACTION: Clerk to follow up with another email.
66/23 Agenda Items:
a)Meeting with School – It was proposed that due to increased and rising energy bills and the impact this is having on heating and lighting the hall a report be drafted by the RFO into hourly use of the Hall by users of non-fee-paying groups i.e., School and Old Age. Once the report has been completed the findings will be discussed at the October Meeting. ACTION: RFO to complete the report as requested. RESOLVED
b)Budget 2024/25 – RFO has commenced work on the 2024/25 Budget. There are several items that are left open and will need a decision in the next 4 to 5 weeks. Cllr RW proposed that Councillors take the time to look around area’s that the Community Council are responsible for developing and maintaining, to highlight future projects. Already highlighted are the paths and walls around the Park and outside lighting for the Hall, estimates and funding will need to be obtained for this to be completed. It was agreed that this is a good idea and may lead to the development of sub-committees for the cemetery, hall, and park. To discuss further at the next meeting. RESOLVED
67/23 Planning: There were no new planning applications to discuss at this meeting.
Appeal CAS-02609-N7X0Q0 – Planning Ref: P2022/0990 Miss A Moran. A request was
made to the Councillors to support the resident with their appeal. Cllrs agreed
to add the Community Councillors support. Clerk sent the letter on behalf of the Community Council. RESOLVED
68/23 Crime and Disorder.
5 Crimes were reported in the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach area in June 2023 – Other theft – 1, violence and sexual offences 2, anti-social behavior 1, criminal damage and arson 1.
12 Crimes were reported in the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach area in July 2023 – violence and sexual offences 5, anti-social behavior 4, burglary 1, other 2.
69/23 Finance
a) The Clerk informed the Councillors of the quote given to repair the roundabout bearing
£3,073.16 – this was highlighted in the recent ROSPA report, and the worsening condition by Council Groundsperson LC. It was discussed whether to repair or replace. It was agreed that the Council should approve the quote for the repair. ACTION: Clerk to contact Wicksteed and arrange work to be commenced. RESOLVED
b) the following payments were scrutinised and approved. RESOLVED
| Payments Made | 21/7/23 to 21/9/23 | £ Amounts |
| HMRC | Tax & NI (6.7.23-5.9.23) | 731.75 |
| Utility Warehouse Ltd | Electricity Welfare Hall – July and August 23 | 489.00 |
| Welsh Water | Welfare Hall x 2 mths | 250.00 |
| Welsh Water | Cemetery x 2 mths | 60.00 |
| Zoom Business | Monthly fee x2 | 31.18 |
| EE Ltd | Monthly fee Wi-Fi x2 | 101.56 |
| British Gas – Hall | 17/06/23 to 16/08/23 | 44.47 |
| NPTCBC | Monthly rates – Hall x 2 mths | 750.00 |
| Equip4Work Ltd | Outdoor Maintenance Supplies | 776.40 |
| Screwfix | H&S workwear for Groundsperson | 255.41 |
| 13th Neath Cwmgwrach Scouts | Section 137 Payment – see minute 56/24 (b) | 100.00 |
| Challenger Design | Leaflets | 215.95 |
| Equip4Work | Outdoor Maintenance supplies for Cemetery | 140.40 |
| Tesco Mobile | Council mobile | 5.00 |
| Viking Direct | Cleaning Materials -Hall | 27.02 |
| Hartson Fire Services | Annual Fire Extinguisher testing and replacement | 107.40 |
| NPT CVS Membership | 2023-24 | 10.00 |
| Euro Garages | 3 x months petrol for machinery | 30.54 |
| Wired up Wales | Website Fee – Annual | 120.00 |
| Viking Direct | Office and Hall supplies | 102.50 |
| Income Received | £ Amounts | |
| SRCC Stores Ltd | 2 months rental fee | 60.00 |
| TSB Bank | 2 x mthly interest – Saver | 18.63 |
| NPTCBC | 2nd Precept payment | 17807.66 |
| Flying Start NPT | Hall Hire June | 96.00 |
| Flying Start NPT | Hall Hire July | 48.00 |
| Screwfix refund | Return of clothing | 101.48 |
| SftB – Empower CIC | Hall Hire July and August | 192.00 |
| View Glynneath Ltd | Yoga Hall Hire July and August | 72.00 |
| Celtic Archers | Hall Hire July and August | 240.00 |
| Rob’s Band | Hall Hire July and August | 96.00 |
| Cwmgwrach Judo Club | Hall Hire July | 36.00 |
| Account Balances | As at Dated 20th July 2023 | £ Amounts |
| General Account | 15099.60 | |
| Reserve/Saver Account | 10018.63 | |
| Total Account Balances 25118.23 | ||
70/24 Correspondence:
a)Your Neath and Port Talbot CVS Membership is Running Out – dated 26/07/23 – Moved to renew – 5 Cllr’s responded and agreed with going ahead with the renewal £10.00 Fee to be paid. RESOLVED
b)Npower letter – Electricity Price – dated July 2023 changes to tariff. NOTED and Cllrs pleased that the price is coming down.
c)Challenger Business Services enquired if we would agree to register the hall and possibly even the council as two separate listings. This is a FOC service to help improve footfall. The website is: https://www.findwales.co.uk/ – Agreed – Clerk to inform CBS of the decision. RESOLVED
71/23 Review Budget Items and “5 Year Plan”
Stage Curtains – 2 quotes Unable to obtain a 3rd Quote. SPC £760 for curtain only – unable to source rail. MACE -Take down and dispose of the existing Stage curtains and track. Supply and install – Stage curtain track – Walkalong design1 No. Pair of Blackout/Dim out Stage curtains, self – lined Contract FR fabric. -£1,748.00 subject to 20% VAT
Councillors agreed to the MACE quote due to the rail also being fitted. ACTION: Clerk
To contact MACE with outcome and to look for funding from Aberpergwm Community Fund. Clerk To contact SPC with outcome and thank them for providing the quote. RESOLVED
72/23 Set Date, Time & Proposed Agenda Items for the next meeting; …
The next meeting of the Finance Committee will be held on Thursday 19th October at 6.00 pm followed by the Ordinary Meeting at 6.30 pm The venue of the meeting will be the Welfare Hall, and available remotely on Zoom. The proposed agenda items are, at this time – None
Notices for the meetings will be posted at least three working days before they are due to take place.
The Council resolved to enter Closed Session under Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 & the Council Standing Order 1c to Discuss Personnel Issues. Note: any discussions that take place in “Closed Session” must remain in “closed Session” and lot be brought into the public domain (minutes) unless agreed by the full council at a future meeting.
Meeting closed at 7.53 pm