DRAFT Minutes of the Meeting Held at 7pm on 10th May 2018 at St.Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach
PRESENT: Councillors – Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Menna Mortimore (Deputy/Vice Chair); Amanda Doherty; Andrew Hippsley; Julia Hippsley; Philippa Richards.
EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Clive Baker (Clerk to the Council).
054/18 – APOLOGIES: Councillors Rhian Watts, Rhian Williams, Bethan Rosser & Chris Kelly had sent their apologies.
055/18 – DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC).
056/18 – CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD: – The minutes of the meeting held on 12th April 2018 were accepted as a true record of that meeting. (Proposed by Councillor Edwards & seconded by Councillor Mortimore).
057/18 – MATTERS ARISING & AGENDA ITEMS: a) Quotes for the Fire Alarm System – Still awaiting further quotes. The Clerk will contact the Fire Station Manager for Glynneath Fire Station to ask his advice before further quotes are obtained; b) Charities Commission – Call back still awaited; c) Wild Flowers on the Roundabout – No update available. Councillor Edwards will “chase” the County Officer; d) Litter Bin/Dog Bin in Parish Road – Councillor Edwards will “chase”; e) Update of Hire Agreements – Councillor Richards will liaise with the Clerk over the next few months to review the agreements (H&S, Insurance Liability etc.); f) Parking in Heol Y Felin – The County Traffic Officer has NOT attended to date; g) NPT Play-Scheme – Dates, times etc. are still awaited; h) The Repair to the Flat Roof at the Welfare Hall – The Clerk will contact the contractor to get the repair done as soon as possible; i) Leases – The Clerk has examined the copy leases & after some discussion it was decided to consult the NPTCBC, Legal Department to seek advice for updating the leases; j) Agenda item 3 – Celebrating Armed Forces Day – Armed Forces Day is 30th June 2018 & Councillor Andrew Hippsley will contact Glynneath Town Council & Resolven Community Council to try to arrange some form of joint celebration; k) Agenda Item 4 – Waiving the Fee for Hall Hire for Public Meeting (re: garage at bottom of Empire Avenue) at the Hall on 14th May 2018 – The Council resolved to waive this fee; l) Agenda Item 5 – “Holiday Cover” for the Hall – After a discussion it was decided to ask Leighton Collins if he would open & close the Hall in Julie Raine`s absence with “time off in lieu” being given:
058/18 – PLANNING APPLICATIONS: 24th April 2018 – Ref: P2018/0306 from Mr Stuart James of 24, High Street, Cwmgwrach – Change of use of shop stock store room to an office/store & cafe with associated kitchen area @ 24 High Street, Cwmgwarch, Neath SA11 5TA; 27th April 2018 – Ref: P2018/0336 from Mr S Jehu, Waterstone Estates Ltd, Number One, Waterton Park, Bridgend CF31 3PH – Lawful Development Certificate for Petrol Station & Restaurant on Land @ Glynneath Business Park, Blaengwrach, Neath:
059/18 – CRIME & POLICING: The reported crime figures for the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach area for March 2018 was 10. They were: Two (2) Anti-Social Behaviour; Three (3) Criminal Damage & Arson; One (1) Drug Related Crime & Four (4) Violent & Sexual Offences;
There was a PACT meeting held in the St. Mary`s Church Hall yesterday evening but the priorities agreed at the meeting have not yet been published;
The next PACT meeting will be held in the Bethania Community Centre, High Street, Glynneath on Wednesday 25th July 2018, starting at 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
060/18 – FINANCE: For period 1/4/2018 to 9/5/2018:
Payments Made: NPTCBC – Rates on Hall – £413.00; NPTCBC – Rates on Cemetery – £46.04; Welsh Water – Water Rates @ Cemetery – £22.50; Welsh Water – Water Rates @ Hall – £119.00; SSE SWALEC – Electricity @ Hall – £4.03; St. Cadoc`s Church – Hire of Church Hall – £30.00; Viking Direct – Paper Towels – £12.05; British Gas – Gas @ Hall – £1,247.20; Viking Direct – Toilet Rolls – £15.47; Welsh Water – Water Rates Outstanding for the year for Cemetery – £14.95.
Income Received: NPTCBC – Precept – £11,845.00; Hall Hire – Nil; Credits Paid in – Nil.
The Clerk reported that the Council`s Insurance was due for renewal on 16th June 2018 & the renewal premium with Zurich Municipal was £1,329.82. It was agreed to renew with Zurich for a further twelve (12) months.
061/18 – CORRESPONDENCE: 5th March 2018 from the Wales Air Ambulance Charity – Request for donation under Section 137 Grant; 12th April 2018 from One Voice Wales – request for details of 1st & 2nd Representatives for the Neath Area Committee; 17th April 2018 from Bobath Children`s Therapy Centre Wales – Request for donation under Section 137 Grant; 1st May 2018 from One Voice Wales – Clarification from the Information Commissioners Office of details in the GDPR changes to come into force on 25th May 2018; 1st May 2018 from NALC – Details of fees payable under the GDPR changes; 1st May 2018 from NPTCBC, Electoral & Democratic Services Department – Details of change of contacts within the department; 2nd May 2018 from the Welsh Government – April Newsletter on the Review of Community & Town Councils in Wales; 2nd May 2018 from South Wales Police – Notice of a new Neighbourhood Sergeant in the Neath & Dulais Valleys (PS5237 John McCumesky – tel: 101, ext. 54 210).
062/18 – COMMITTEE REPORTS: Councillor Carolyn Edwards reported that a meeting of the Vale of Neath Practice Patients Participation Group had taken place but she had been unable to attend.
063/18 – MATTERS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS: Councillor Andrew Hippsley reported that some-one had removed a gate near McDonalds. The Council are unsure who owns the land on which the gate stood but Councillor Carolyn Edwards will speak to the NPTCBC, Estate Department to see if they own the land.
064/18 – SET DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will take place in the St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach on Thursday 16th June 2018. It will start at 6.30pm. There were no agenda items proposed at this time.
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 8.10pm.