September 1981

Minutes of a Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held at Llangunnor CP School on Thursday 17th September 1981 at 7.30pm

Present: Councillor JDJ Morgan (Chair), Mrs E Jones, Miss G Jones, Mrs Mair Lloyd, Mrs B Morgan, Mrs A Grace Williams, Mr EJ Dalis-Davies, THM Jones, WDV Evans, Robin O Griffiths, WG Tucker and D Williams

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

An apology for absence was received from District Councillor EJ Thomas

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting representatives of the various voluntary organisations within the parish, together with the Headmaster and the Deputy Director of Education. Serious concern had been expressed to members by the Headmaster and several of the organisations about the reduction in school lettings to two evenings per week which the Education Authority had decided upon in July as an economy measure.

The Deputy Director of Education outlined the annual cost to the Education Authority of school caretaking (over £2 million per annum) and explained that the reduction in school lettings (saving some £200 - £300 per annum) was only one of several economy measures Introduced great regret by the Committee to contain spending within revised Government guidelines.

The representatives present explained that there were twelve organisations making regular use of Llangunnor School and all emphasised the impossibility of programming their activities into two evenings per week and this was confirmed by the Headmaster. After a lengthy discussion of the likely consequences to the parish of the reduction in the form of increased vandalism etc. and of the alternatives available.

It was RESOLVED:
(i) that subject to the approval of the Education Authority, the Council would meet the costs incurred in making the school available for lettings on a third evening per week (approximately £285) per annum;
(ii) that priority use of the School Hall be allocated to the various youth organisations in the parish;
(ill) that the Headmaster and the organisations agree a programme of lettings for the extra evening.

The Council and the Deputy Director of Education were thanked by the Headmaster and representatives of the organisations for their understanding and assistance.

It was RESOLVED to confirm the Minutes of the Meetings of the Council and of its Planning Committee held on 16th July 1981 (copies of which had been circulated to members)

It was RESOLVED that the Clerk be Instructed to contact S.W.E.B. regarding the erection of the replacement lamp promised near the Church and also the repair of a vandalised lamp at Tregynnwr

The Clerk reported that Mr T I Davies, the building contractor had agreed to dedicate the path leading from Bryntowy to Ger-y-Nant to the public and this path would accordingly become a Council responsibility in the near future.

The Clerk reported that 403 coins had been distributed to date and that a small number of coins were still available for collection by parents/relatives of qualifying children if desired. In due course it was intended to return theremaining coins to the Bank for debiting to the council's account.

Six tenders had been received for the contract for the repair and painting of five of the Council's bus shelters and these were opened by the Chairman.
It was RESOLVED that the lowest tender submitted by Towy Home Improvements of Old Station Road, Pensarn, in the sum of £350.00 be accepted.

The Chairman reported upon the decisions reached at the public Meeting held on Tuesday, 15th September 1981, which had been called by the Council to assess public reaction to the closure of the Lane as a consequence of the construction of the Southern By-Pass. At the meeting a petition had been submitted signed by all the residents of the Lane objecting strongly on grounds of safety and amenity to any suggestion that the Lane be reopened to vehicular traffic by providing a link road to the new By-Pass It had been accepted by all present that the building of such a Ilnk road could not be justified on cost benefit grounds even if the Welsh Office were agreeable to the idea which they were not at such a late stage in the progress of construction.

However the provision under the scheme of stiles at the two points where the Lane was severed enabling the public to cross the new road on foot was considered to be highly dangerous and it had been suggested that a site meeting be arranged with representatives of the Welsh Office at which an alternative proposal put to the public meeting would be examined and discussed.

It was RESOLVED:
(i) that the Chairman's report be noted and that the suggestion of a link road be not pursued;
(ii) that the suggestion of a site meeting with the Welsh Office to discuss an alternative footpath route be adopted

It was RESOLVED that the under-mentioned nominations and resolutions be submitted to the Welsh Association for debate at the Annual Conference to be held at Aberystwyth on Saturday, 7th November:

(i) Nominations
that the Association's present officers be renominated for 1981/82;

(ii) Motions
(a) that Conference object to any proposal to move the Welsh Headquarters of British Rail from Cardiff to London;
(b) that Conference object to any proposal to move the Welsh Headquarters of the Department of Health and Social Security from Cardiff to Bristol as a consequence of the Department's Wales and South Western Regions;
(c) that Conference seek greater democratic representation on the Board of the Welsh Water Authority preferably by direct elections held contemporaneously with ordinary local government elections

The Director of Works had written to say that bilingual signs had been ordered for Babell Hill, Login Road and Blaengwastod Road.
It was RESOLVED that the information be noted.

It was RESOLVED to note that the Carmarthen Motor Club intended to hold its Annual Autumn Rally on Saturday 24th October 1981, starting at Pensarn.

It was RESOLVED to accept an offer by the Organiser of the Carmarthen Citizens Advice Bureau to supply a speaker to address the Council on the history and work of the Bureau in Carmarthen.

The Clerk reported that he had been informed by the Director of Works that the bill for the repair of the Sticle footbridge should not be paid pending investigation of the question of liability for maintenance of the footpath. The path had always been considered by the Director of Works to be a District Council responsibility.
It was RESOLVED that the position be noted.

It was RESOLVED:
(i) that a grant of £10 be made towards the Special Appeal Fund launched by the Wales Council for the Disabled;
(ii) that no grants be made towards the 1982 Wales Commonwealth Games Team Appeal Fund or towards the Welsh Appeal Fund launched by the Welsh Centre for International Affairs for disabled children (particularly in the Sudan)

It was RESOLVED:

(i) to confirm the payments by the Clerk to the under-mentioned accounts:

(ii) to pay the under-mentioned accounts:

(iii) to authorise the transfer of £1,000 from the Council's Deposit Accounts to its Current Account

It was RESOLVED that Councillor W G Tucker be requested to replace the bar at the entrance of the Playing Field which had been removed by persons unknown as a matter of urgency in view of the danger of children running directly from the Field into the path of traffic using the adjoining Blaengwastod Road.

It was RESOLVED to request the Director of Works to repair the damaged railings at Penymorfa Lane as soon as possible in view of the danger to young children

It was RESOLVED that the proposed development of No 7 Southern Terrace, Pensarn as a car body spraying depot be placed on the Agenda of the next meeting for consideration

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