Draft Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 21st November 2024 at the Welfare Hall, Heol Y Felin, Cwmgwrach and via Zoom, commencing at 6.30 pm
Present: Cllr R Williams (Chair), Cllr’s M Mortimore, D Jones, J Bulman, P Rudd, C Edwards (online) and A Edwards (online)
Council Employees Present: Clerk/RFO Linda Evans
Members of the Public Present: Cllr H Davies
78/24 Apologies: Cllr’s A Doherty, R A Williams and A Hippsley 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)
79/24 Declarations of Interest: There were no declarations of interest at this meeting.
80/24 County Councillor`s Report:
Cllr H Davies updated the meeting on recent communications with the NPTCBC Passenger Transport Manager who felt the decision to remove the large school buses from the village ideally needed to be a decision made initially by the bus companies after consultation with residents. Though they did feel a trial would be a good idea. Councillors discusses the implications of the possible decision of large school buses not travelling through the Village, they could see a possible “knock on affect” to other services i.e. School buses attending the Primary School for school trips, public transport buses etc. Ideally, smaller buses would be the better option, but the Council have no control over the size of bus that the school operators send. It was decided that this decision needs to be made in line with NPTCBC Passenger Transport Manager and Bus Companies. Cllr H Davies will be discussing this further with NPTCBC and will be finding out the number of pupils using the buses and will feedback to the Council.
Cllr H Davies noted the suggestion made at the previous meeting, of traffic islands on the High Street to aid congestion and double parking at certain areas, she will discuss this suggestion to the relevant departments during an upcoming meeting/surgery she is attending.
81/24 Public Observations on Matters Arising and Agenda Items
There were no observations made at this meeting.
82/24 To Approve the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 17th October 2024
There is one correction to the Minutes of Thursday 17th October – the date at the head of the Minutes is incorrect and should read 17th October 2024. RESOLVED that the minutes, apart for the one correction, be approved as a true record.
Councillors RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Finance and Audit Committee Minutes held on the 24th October 2024 as a true record.
83/24 Matters Arising from the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday 17th October 2024
Further to minute 54/24 b) – Hire of Conference Room – Clerk has received an email from the Vale of Neath Baby Basics giving a better understanding of the hours they are looking to use the Conference Room and their budget. Clerk to investigate if they will need to use the entirety of the Hall during this time or is it the room only? If it is only the room a monthly charge would be more appropriate. RESOLVED Clerk to discuss further and report back to the Council. One quote for the plastering has been received, another 2 would be desirable. RESOLVED Clerk to contact 2 further contractors for quotes.
Further to minute 66/24 a) Remembrance Service 2024 – Cllr C Edwards commented on how well attended the Service had been this year and how smoothly the Service had gone. All Councillors who had attended agreed with this and wished to send a thank you to all those who had played a part in organising and participating in the Service. RESOLVED Councillors approved a £50.00 donation in lieu of a wreath to be presented to the Royal British Legion, Clerk will arrange for a cheque to be delivered along with a donation left for the poppy appeal.
Further to minute 66/24 f) Aged Residents Cold Weather Projects – Cllr R Williams discussed how the Tea Rooms Glynneath had on Tuesday 12th November started a community pop up café at the Welfare Hall, offering a “Cuppa and a Chat”. This will be continuing every Tuesday into the new year, providing a warm hub for residents.
84/24 Agenda Items:
a) One Voice Wales response to the Sennedd Inquiry for Community and Town Councils – All Councillors have received the document and it was RESOLVED that any Councillors wishing to discuss the response further will do so at the next meeting.
b) Park Shrub – The Groundsperson has reported to the Clerk his concerns regarding the Health and Safety Risk posed by the shrub directly next to the park wall. Incidents including children jumping onto the road from behind the shrub have been raised. Councillors RESOLVED if there is such a concern then the shrub should be cut to a height lower than the wall. Clerk will inform the Groundsperson.
c) Council Risk Assessment – Councillors reviewed and RESOLVED that no changes be made to the Financial Risk Assessment Schedule for Financial Year 2025/26
d) 2025/26 Budget and Precept – Clerk had prepared for the Councillors to consider Projected Expenditure and Projected Income for 2025/26, along with 2025/26 Budget Summary based on 2024/25 Projection. In the documents the Clerk had noted the need to increase expenditure by 2.6% Consumer Price Index including owner occupiers’ costs, 1.2% increase to Secondary Class 1 NI Contributions along with predicted increases to council employee’s predicted hourly wage. Councillors discussed the need to increase the Park and Open Spaces Maintenance and Repair to £10,000. Budget and Precept will be finalised in the January Meeting. RESOLVED
85/24 Planning:
There were no planning applications at this meeting.
86/24 Crime and Policing
The Local Police Website shows 14 Crimes reported in the Blaengwrach Area for September 2024 11 Crimes: 7 Violence and Sexual Offences, 2 Public Order, 1 Other Theft and 1 All other Crimes. There were 2 Crimes in the Villages of Blaengwrach and Cwmgwrach: 2 Violence and Sexual
Offences. RESOLVED
87/24 Finance
RESOLVED the following payments were scrutinised and approved:
| Clerks Report – Monthly E&I 18/10/2024 to 21/11/2024 | ||
| Payments Made | 18/10/2024 to 21/11/2024 | Amounts |
| Nest | Staff Pension Scheme (5 weeks) | £79.55 |
| Staff Wages | Clerk/RFO, Caretaker and Groundsperson | £3914.35 |
| HMRC | Tax and NI 06/10/24 to 05/11/24 | £330.44 |
| Utility Warehouse Ltd | Electricity @ Welfare Hall | £197.91 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Welfare Hall | £151.00 |
| Welsh Water | Water Rates for Cemetery | £21.50 |
| NPTCBC | Rates Welfare Hall | £393.00 |
| NPTCBC | Rates Cemetery | £20.00 |
| EE | Hall Wi-Fi | £109.58 |
| British Gas | Hall Usage | £352.78 |
| Zoom | Online Meeting Platform Monthly Charge (2 Months) | £31.18 |
| Viking | Printer Cartridges | £98.32 |
| Mr Flag | Welsh Flag for Park Flag Pole | £33.60 |
| WH Smith | Card for Panto Tickets and 2025 Diary for Hall Bookings | £13.98 |
| RedBank UK | Leaf Blower | £283.90 |
| COOP | Book of 2nd Class Stamps | £6.80 |
| L Collins | Reimbursment – Petrol for Machinery | £17.58 |
| Welsh Water | 12 monthly water meter reading – Cemetery | £42.88 |
| Iceland | Refreshments for the Remembrance Service | £25.30 |
| Total Expenditure | £6,123.65 | |
| Income Received | 18/10/2024 to 21/11/2024 | |
| SRCC Stores Ltd | Monthly Rental of Shed in the Park | £35.00 |
| TSB Bank | Monthly Interest on “Reserve” Saver | £30.20 |
| NPTCBC | Hall Hire Messy Play Sept | £84.00 |
| VIEW (Glynneath) Ltd | Hall Hire Yoga Oct | £56.00 |
| Zumba | Hall Hire Aug | £42.00 |
| Celtic Archers | Hall Hire Oct | £196.00 |
| Empower | Singing for the Brain Hall Hire Sept and Oct | £189.00 |
| Cwmgwrach Judo | Hall Hire Aug and Sept | £84.00 |
| Class Act Tutoring | Hall Hire Sept | £56.00 |
| Old Age Group | Hall Hire Sept | £112.00 |
| Cash and Bank Transfer | Panto Tickets | £77.00 |
| Aberpergwm Colliery | Christmas Donation | £500.00 |
| Total Income | £1,461.20 | |
| Account Balances | As at 21/11/2024 | |
| General Account | £2,768.86 | |
| Reserve/Saver Account | £19,635.11 | |
| Total Account Balances as at 21/11/2024 £ | £22,403.97 | |
- Councillors noted the Christmas Donation from Aberpergwm Colliery, they requested that the Clerk send a thank you on behalf of the Council. The Donation will go towards the cost of the Christmas Panto. RESOLVED
- Clerk explained that the second payment to Welsh Water £42.88 was from the yearly reading of the meter at the Cemetery. Clerk to check with the Groundsperson to enquire if a push button tap would save water. RESOLVED
- SLCC/NALC Pay scale from the 01/04/24 – due to discussion on Clerks salary this was conducted in Closed Session.
88/24 Correspondence & Section 137 Request:
- Letter RE-The Terms of Lease from Mr W.J. Davies – Mr Davies had written to the Chair of the Council regarding the recent discussions around Lease to Cwmgwrach RFC. Council thanked Mr Davies for the letter and the historic information provided and instructed the Clerk to respond to the letter on their behalf RESOLVED
- Welsh Government letter dated 04/11/24 – Appropriate Sum under Section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 – Section 137 Expenditure Limit for 2025-26 – All Councillors noted the increase from £10.81 to £11.10 per elector for financial year 2025-26 RESOLVED
- Wales Air Ambulance – Community Council Appeal 2024 – Councillors RESOLVED to give half of any monies received from the Christmas Panto Raffle be given to the appeal.
- Urdd National Eisteddfod – 2025 Margam Park – Councillors RESOLVED to give half of any monies received from the Christmas Panto Raffle be given to the appeal.
- Anonymous Letter regarding an incident in the Welfare Park – due to personal information included in the letter this was discussed in Closed Session
89/24 Set Date, Time & Proposed Agenda Items for the next meeting; …
The next meetings of the Council will be held on Thursday 16th January 2025, Finance and Audit Committee will be meeting at 5.45 pm followed by the Ordinary Meeting at 6.30 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 8.25 pm
The Council RESOLVED to enter Closed Session under Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Council Standing Order 3c to discuss personal issues on the Agenda.