January 1981

Minutes of the Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held at Llangunnor CP School on Thursday 15th January 1981 at 7.30pm

Present: Councillor Robin O Griffiths (Chair), Mrs E Jones, Miss G Jones, Mrs Mair Lloyd, Mrs A Grace Williams, G Bowyer, Mr EJ Dalis-Davies, WDV Evans, T. H. M. Jones, JDJ Morgan, W. G. Tucker and D. Williams

In Attendance: County Councillor ET Davies District Councillor H Ll Williams

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs B Morgan

The Chairman opened proceedings by welcoming members to the first Meeting of the New Year

It was RESOLVED to confirm the Minutes of the Meetings of the Council and of its Planning Committee held on 18th December 1980 (Copies of which had been circulated to members prior to the Meeting)

The Clerk reported that he had written to the Area Surveyor and British Rail inquiring as to the responsibility for maintenance of the five flap valves on the river bank which protected Pensarn from the effects of tidelock and localised flooding. The Area Surveyor had stated that the only flap valve for which his Council was responsible was the one -located underneath the former Signal Box and that this was maintained annually. The District Secretary's Department had not been able to confirm that maintenance of the valve beneath Station Road was the responsibility of the District Council but urgent inquiries would be made of the Solicitors representing Unigate regarding this matter. It was believed that British Rail were responsible for the three flap valves in the river bank downstream of Unigate but a reply was still awaited from the Board.

In addition the Clerk reported that he had notified the County Emergency Planning Officer and the District Council of the resolutions set out in Minute 100 (iv) and (v) as instructed by the Council.
It was RESOLVED that the position be noted and kept under close review

It was RESOLVED :
(i) to invite, once again by open advertisement, tenders for the cutting of the Playing Field during the forthcoming year but subject on this occasion to more stringent requirements regarding the frequency and quality of the cut; and
(ii) to note that the County Architect had been asked to cut the playing area when weather conditions were suitable prior to the commencement of the growing season.

Councillor Morgan reported that the telegraph pole upon which it was intended to affix the new lamp to serve the residents in the vicinity of No. 49-50 Brynmeurig would be erected by the G.P.O. within the next fortnight.

Councillor Mrs M Lloyd and several other members emphasised the totally unsatisfactory state of affairs which the District Council had permitted to arise on the Unigate Site at Pensarn which had now been occupied for over a month by itinerants. The number had increased recently and very little consideration was being shown by the various authorities to the problem being experienced by local residents and businesses as a consequence of this unauthorised occupation.

The Clerk stressed that he had contacted the District Council, the owners of the site, on numerous occasions recently and had been assured that legal action was to be taken in the near future to repossess the site and to fence the site off immediately eviction had taken place. Members expressed surprise at the estimated cost of the proposed fence and felt a cheaper alternative should be erected lest it be demolished in any future unauthorised occupations There was unanimous agreement that the only effective of the site by itinerants, long term answer to the problem was for the site to be sold speedily to the Welsh Development Agency and redeveloped (as was the plan)

It was RESOLVED
(i) to write once again to the District Council stressing the public nuisance and potential health hazard which now existed at Pensarn and demanding urgent action to relieve the problem; and
(ii) to request the District Council to speed up the gale of this site to the Welsh Development Agency for redevelopment purposes

A reply was still awaited from the Welsh Office Ancient Monuments Division in response to the Council's complaint about the Division's decision to delist the Engine House building. The Council’s request for a preservation scheme for the building would be discussed by the District Council at a Meeting on 5th February 1981.
It was RESOLVED to note the position.

The Council considered a written report submitted by the Clerk which outlined the projected financial position as at 31st March, 1981 and the Council's annual commitments. It was anticipated that a satisfactory balance would be available to supplement the precept for next year and to reduce the impact of Inflation on the Council.

Principal bills next year would be over £4,000 for electricity and the balance of the contribution made by the Council to the cost of the Community Room at the School. The product of a penny rate in Llangunnor from 1st April next would be £2320 and after a thorough review of the position It was RESOLVED that the Council should precept for a sum of £8000 (In cash terms) a slight reduction in the amount levied for the current year.

Letters of thanks were read out from the organisers of Eisteddfod Yr Urdd Dyffryn Teifi 1981 and from “Cwlwm” newspaper for the grants made to them by the Council at the last Meeting.

The Clerk read out the usual six monthly letter from the District Council inviting applications for financial assistance from voluntary bodies by 4th February 1981
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk should circulate copies of the letter and application forms to the organisers of the relevant voluntary organisations and societies in Llangunnor

It was RESOLVED:
(i) to offer no observations on the Public Passenger Transport Plan for 1981/86 which had been circulated by the County Engineer and Surveyor; and
(ii) to write once again to Messrs Davies Bros, Pencader inquiring about the round trip service to Llangunnor for which the Company had indicated previously they intended to make application to the Traffic Commissioners

It was RESOLVED that consideration be given at the next Meeting to the winding up of the Llangunnor Jubilee Fund and that the matter be placed on the Agenda to be circulated to members.

It was RESOLVED that inquiries be made of the Area Surveyor to ascertain when the promised realignment of the Croesyceiliog Road beyond the Pibwrlwyd junction.

It was RESOLVED that the Clerk request the District Planning Officer to supply exact details and plans of the relevant planning permission(s) for the development of a caravan site at Pant Farm

It was RESOLVED that inquiries be made by the Clerk into the exact status and route of the footpath leading past the Lead Mines to Cwmtawel

It was RESOLVED that the Council's Annual Dinner be held at the Belle Vue Guest House and that the Clerk be instructed to make the necessary arrangements

It was RESOLVED to confirm the payment of the undermentioned accounts:

Members considered the terms of the annual Agreement between the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks on the recommended salary to be paid to part-time clerks as from 1st July, 1980. The Agreement recommended an increase in the salary level from 33% to of the penny rate product or of the population of the community whichever is the less and details were set out in Bulletin No 20 issued by the Dyfed Association

After a lengthy discussion it was RESOLVED:
(i) that the Clerk's salary be increased to of the current rate product in accordance with the recommendations in the Agreement and that the due arrears from 1st July, 1980 be paid;
(ii) that the Honorary Secretary of the Dyfed Association be requested to explain the exact status and effect of the annual Agreement regarding salaries payable to full time and part time Clerks of community/ town councils

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