Draft Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Wednesday 19th June 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 J Bulman, Cllr M Mortimore and Cllr A Doherty
Council Employees Present: Clerk/RFO Linda Evans
Members of the Public Present: There were no members of the public present at this meeting
24/24 Apologies: Cllr A Hippsley, Cllr R A Williams, Cllr A Edwards 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)
25/24 Declarations of Interest: Cllr R Williams declared an interest in Item Further to Minute 17/24 (d) Parking on the Cwmgwrach High Street, being a coordinator of a children’s creche group.
26/24 County Councillor`s Report:
Cllr H Davies had sent her apologies and had send an update to the meeting via the Clerk via email –
Cllr H Davies has been in contact with the NPT Highway Officers regarding the parking issues on the High Street. Officers from the Highways and Transport Department are in discussions and looking at options. Cllr H Davies has requested that a visit of the area is arranged at peak times. Once a date has been arranged this will be communicated to the Council.
Councillors were grateful for the update, but were disappointed that there was no update on whether the Planning Department had been contacted regarding the parking and bin fencing at Clyn y Bont and if a video had been made of the parking issues that could then be sent to the Highways Department. RESOLVED Clerk will contact Cllr H Davies to ask for a further update.
27/24 Public Observations on Matters Arising and Agenda Items
There were no observations made at this meeting.
28/24 To Approve the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 16th May 2024 and The Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 16th May 2024
Proposed and seconded that the minutes from the Annual General Meeting held on 16/05/2024 are a correct record thereof. RESOLVED
Proposed and seconded that the minutes from the Ordinary Meeting held on 16/05/2024 are a correct record thereof. RESOLVED
29/24 Matters Arising from the Annual General Meeting and Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 16th May 2024
- There were no matters arising from the Annual General Meeting.
- Further to Minute 156/23 (c) Black Popular Trees. Cllr C Edwards and the Clerk visited the Cemetery to identify areas for the tree planting. And the areas have been communicated to the Groundsperson. Cllr C Edwards commented to the meeting that areas of the cemetery are overgrown and would be challenging for the Groundsperson to clear without help. It was discussed whether during the summer months ad-hoc help could be provided to the Groundsperson to complete work and projects. RESOLVED Clerk will discuss with the Groundsperson and feedback to the Council at the next meeting.
- Further to Minute 157(a) Remembrance Sunday 2024 – Clerk has received a quote for the reprinting of the Remembrance Booklets – £178 for 100. RESOLVED the quote was approved and the Clerk to visit the Royal British Legion Website for further advice. A meeting of all involved with the Remembrance Service to be arranged before the service for a run through.
- Further to Minute 17/24 (d) Parking on the Cwmgwrach High Street – Cllr R Williams commented on the difficulty for the bus service coming through the Village, especially when coinciding with school transport. At times this is bringing traffic to a standstill. It was suggested that the Comprehensive School buses that picked up in the Village may for safety and congestion reasons have the bus stop moved to the entrance to the village. RESOLVED the Clerk to contact NPTCBC Home to School for a representative to join the July Meeting to hear the Councils concerns and suggestions.
The Councillors are concerned what impact this gridlock would have in an emergency, with access to emergency vehicles being hampered. It was also noted that the building work on the Calfaria Baptist Chapel had restarted with a possible Creche opening at the end of the year. This will put further pressure on early morning traffic and parking. RESOLVED the Clerk to contact NPTCBC Planning Department to investigate if a change of use for the Chapel has been submitted.
30/24 Agenda Items:
a) National Listening Program on 20 mph limit – Councillors discussed the letter from Ken Skates AS/MS Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport. The letter was to encourage key partners to engage in the 20mph listening program. The letter shared the webpage to give feedback on specific speed limits to their local authority highways department. RESOLVED Councillors to individually comment on changes if they wish to.
b) 2023/24 Annual Return
Cllr C Edwards and the Clerk had attended the NPTCBC/OVW Liaison Committee Meeting held on 12th June 2024. The meeting was informed that a complaint raised at a previous meeting regarding the fees issued by the Wales Audit Office was being taken forward to the Welsh Government by OVW. They would also be raising concerns over the delays in Audit outcomes. RESOLVED and noted.
The completed Annual Return had been received back from the Internal Auditor. The Clerk/RFO presented the report received from the Internal Auditor, and has completed the recommendations made. The Annual Return was presented for the Full Council to examine and it was approved that the RFO and Chair sign the Annual Return in readiness for it to be sent to the Wales Audit Office. RESOLVED
31/24 Planning:
RESOLVED there were no objections or comments on the following planning applications:
Application No: P2024/0174 – Location Aberpergwym Colliery, B4242 From Rheola to Glynneath, Glynneath, SA11 5SW. Applicants Name and Address: Mrs Ruby Davies, Energy Build Ltd, Aberpergwm Colliery. Proposal: 13 x 13m steel framed building clad in juniper green sheets on pre-existing 6 inch concrete base. Its intended use is as a mobile plant maintenance building.
Application No: P2024/0279 – Location Aberpergwym Colliery, B4242 From Rheola to Glynneath, SA11 5SW. Applicants Name and Address: Mrs Ruby Davies, Energy Build Ltd., Aberpergwm Colliery. Proposal: A 16 x 5m2 shed building constructed on a pre-existing concrete mine yard surface. The building will have drip tray constructed within the floor where oil products are to be stored.
Application No: P2024/0288 – Location 19 Parish Road, Blaengwrach, Neath. SA11 5SW. Applicants Name and Address Mr Kevin Roberts, 21 Rock Street, Glynneath, Neath. SA11 5EE. Agents Name and Address D Vivian Jones, 114 Brecon Road, Hirwaun, Aberdare. CF44 9NS. Proposed- Roof Conversion construction of three-storey rear extension and side garage.
32/24 Crime and Policing
Clerk reported on the April 2024 – Crime Map and Figures as reported on the Police UK website: 13 Crimes were reported in the Blaengwrach Area – Antisocial Behaviour 1, Criminal damage, and arson 2, Public order 2, Violence and sexual offences 6 and other Crimes 2.
7 crimes were in the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach Village – Violence and sexual offences 4, Other crime 2, Criminal damage and arson 1. RESOLVED and noted
33/24 Finance
RESOLVED the following payments were scrutinised and approved:
| Clerks Report – Monthly E&I 17/05/2024 to 19/06/2024 | ||
| Payments Made | 17/05/2024 to 19/06/2024 | Amounts £ |
| Nest | Staff Pension Scheme (5 weeks) | £79.55 |
| Council Employee Wages | 4 Weeks | £2835.61 |
| HMRC | Tax and NI 06/05/24 to 05/06/24 | £511.06 |
| Utility Warehouse Ltd | Electricity @ Welfare Hall March 2024 | £250.35 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Welfare Hall | £151.00 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Cemetery | £20.00 |
| NPTCBC | Rates Welfare Hall | £393.00 |
| NPTCBC | Rates Cemetery | £21.50 |
| Zoom | Online Meeting Platform – Monthly Fee | £15.59 |
| EE | Hall WiFi | £54.99 |
| British Gas | Hall Usage 17/04/24-17/05/24 | £388.46 |
| Zoar | Cemetery Fencing | £66.89 |
| Amazon | Strimmer/bushcutter harness | £37.88 |
| Zurick | Council Insurance | £2,943.27 |
| L Collins | Reimursment for Petrol | £36.53 |
| L Collins | Reimursment for rake and saw | £20.98 |
| Post Office | Book of 2nd class stamps (8) | £6.80 |
| Viking | Hall supplies – Mop head and handles | £25.46 |
| Ridgeway Ass. Ltd., | Internal Auditor Fee | £325.00 |
| Total | £8,183.92 | |
| Income Received | 17/05/2024 to 19/06/2024 | Amounts £ |
| SRCC Stores Ltd | Monthly Rental of Shed in the Park | £30.00 |
| TSB Bank | Monthly Interest on “Reserve” Saver | £24.98 |
| Celtic Archers | Hall Hire Fees – May 24 | £70.00 |
| VIEW (Glynneath) Ltd | Hall Hire Yoga – May 24 | £70.00 |
| Cwmgwrach Judo Club | Hall Hire April/May24 | £56.00 |
| Empower Inspire CIC | Hall Hire May 24 | £63.00 |
| Cwmgwrach OAP | Halll Hire April and May | £252.00 |
| NPTCBC | Flying Start Feb/March Hall Hire 24 | £156.00 |
| NPTCBC | Polling Station | £100.00 |
| Cwmgwrach Scouts | Lease | £100.00 |
| Messy Play | Hall Hire April 24 | £56.00 |
| Totals £ | £977.98 | |
| Account Balances | As at 19/06/2024 | |
| General Account | £1,936.81 | |
| Reserve/Saver Account | £15,626.45 | |
| Total Account Balances as at 18/04/24 £ | £17,563.26 | |
| Unpaid Fees and Leases | £142.00 |
Clerk informed the meeting that an error had been made with the May invoice to the Celtic Archers. The Celtic Archers Secretary had communicated a difference of £70.00 not included. RESOLVED Clerk will rectify on the June Invoice and thanked the Secretary.
34/24 Correspondence & Section 137 Request:
Financial Request – Section 137 – Celtic Archers requested financial help to purchase items amounting to £150.83. Due to the Council’s financial position at the end of 2023/24 Financial Year, the Council decided that currently they are unable to approve financial help. Councillors discussed other possible funding options, and the possibility of Cllr H Davies being a source of advice to the Celtic Archers. RESOLVED Clerk to inform the Celtic Archers of the outcome of their request, and communicate with Cllr H Davies the Council’s suggestion.
35/24 Set Date, Time & Proposed Agenda Items for the next meeting; …
The next Ordinary Meeting will be held on Thursday 18th July 2024 at 6.30 pm
The next Finance and Audit Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday 25th July 2024 at 6.00 pm
The venue of the meetings will be the Welfare Hall, and available remotely on Zoom. The proposed agenda items are, at this time – None Cllr J Bulman sent her apologies as she will be unable to attend the meeting to be held on the 18th July 2024. RESOLVED and Clerk has noted.
Notices for the meetings will be posted at least three working days before they are due to take place
Meeting closed at 8.20 pm