July 2003

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held at 'Yr Aelwyd' on Thursday 17th July 2003 at 7.15pm

PRESENT: Councillor Steven William John Richards (Vice Chairman), John David James Morgan, Robin O Griffiths, Mair Lloyd, Ieuan M Lewis, Howard R Davies, WD Vivian Evans, Alfred Tyndale Bailey, D Elwyn Williams and Denzil Williams

29. APOLOGIES: Councillor Deryc R Rees, C Merlin Jones, Audrey M Jones and Police Constable C Bond

30. In Attendance: WC Phillips (ex Clerk)

The Chairman informed Members that he had attended Llangunnor School Sports and had presented the awards. He added that it was a very enjoyable occasion. (Via Councillor HR Davies, the school wished to thank the Council for its support for the sports and for its communications generally with the school)

The Chairman announced that Councillor DR Rees, Council Chairman, was making arrangements to hold a Civic Service at Llangunnor Church. In response to a query from a Member, the Chairman confirmed that no letter of invitation to attend the Admiral Court Day had been received from the 'Admiral of the Port'. It was agreed that the Council's disappointment with regard to this matter should be conveyed to the Admiral of the Port

RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of:
i) The Monthly Council meeting held on 19th June 2003;
ii) The Planning Committee meeting held on 19th June 2003

i) (Minute 20 (v)) it was confirmed that the 'Code of Practice Training' would be held at Llangunnor School at 7.15pm on 11th September 2003.
ii) (Minute 20 (vii)) the revised dates and venues of the October and November meetings were confirmed.
iii) (Minute 23 b) after several attempts to meet with the occupier of 'Ty Coch' had failed, Councillor D Williams proposed that the Council should correspond with the occupier. Accordingly it was RESOLVED as follows:
a) To write to the occupier and establish his interest in taking responsibility for the 'redundant' Bus Shelter.
b) Letter to the County Council indicating the Community Council's proposals.
c) To review the matter, following receipt of responses to a) and b)
v) (Minute 24) it was confirmed that tender documents for the provision of Internal Audit Services had been issued to 3 local Accountants. (Mr Cyril Phillips (ex clerk) declared his interest, as on occasions, he undertakes work for one of the three accountancy firms.) It was RESOLVED: a) To issue tender documents to an additional Accountancy firm. b) The Chair, Vice Chair, Chair of Planning and the Clerk to open the tenders and engage a provider.
vi) (Minute 25) The Clerk informed Members on behalf of Councillor CM Jones (apologies) that Councillor Jones was awaiting confirmation details from the Director of Planning. [General Information was provided in the 'Approval of Removal of Planning Condition' granted by the County Council to CWM Environmental Ltd and presented to the Planning Committee following the Council Meeting, but Members agreed that confirmation from the Director of Planning remained a requirement].
vii) (Minute 28(xii)) Installing the seating bench had been actioned

The Clerk requested advice on the method to deal with urgent matters over the summer recess. Proposed by Councillor D J D Morgan and seconded by Councillor D Williams it was RESOLVED that the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chairman of Planning Committee be granted plenary powers to deal with urgent matters as and when requested by the Clerk

Councillor H R Davies updated members on the work of the Association:
i) A preliminary meeting had been held with the Trustees of the park.
ii) A meeting of the Parks Association had taken place.
iii) A joint meeting had been held with representatives of the Action Group.
iv) The Park Association will hold a public AGM in September

Members were appraised of the current position: A BMX track and a Skateboard/Rollerblade facility, together with a Netball spot, would be installed in the Park during the summer,
- The County Council Ground Maintenance Team should be thanked for keeping the grass area in good trim,
- The need for new goal posts,
- The Llangunnor community needs to be made aware of what has been achieved at the park and of the support provided by the Community Council in its development and up keep An overall capital investment of £80k has been made in purchasing equipment for the park. The question of future maintenance and insurance needs to be considered - The parkland has been leased from the County Council for a period of 42 years

The Park Association believes that it has delivered its substantive remit of securing finances for the installation of recreation and leisure equipment at the park and thereby meeting a goal of 'getting children off the streets' by providing alternative activity facilities for them. The Action Group has mooted building a Community Hall at the park, but such a proposal requires careful exploration and analysis. The following points need to be considered in association with the development of a Hall: - The current park Trustees would have to review their positions, as it is known that not all would be prepared to accept liability for the Community Hall project. The Llangunnor Action Group should undertake a feasibility study to explore such key issues as the appropriate location, size, costs and level of community support for a Community Hall.

Following a detailed discussion of the key issues it was RESOLVED as follows
i) Thank Councillor H R Davies for his thorough report.
ii) The condition governing repayment of the £1,500 interest free loan by the Community Council to the Park Association [Minute 109 b) ii - Council meeting 15/02/01 refers] to be amended as follows: 'The loan be subject to annual review by the Community Council'.
iii) The Chairman (Councillor H R Davies), Secretary (Richard Thomas) and the Treasurer (Jeff Lewis) to be thanked and congratulated for successfully leading the Park Association in the development of a quality amenity for the community

Councillor S W J Richards had reported on the joint meeting with the Park Association during the discussions in 34a) above, but added that the Action Group would welcome postponment of the Park Association AGM to a later date. He also expressed thanks on behalf of the Action Group for the work achieved by the Park Association in catering for all ages at the park. The Group will need to give consideration to the matter of Trustees and a feasibility study, in respect of the Community Hall project.

Councillor H R Davies, Chairman of the Park Association responded by stating that he did not envisage difficulties with the postponement of the AGM and would be pleased to convey the thanks of the Group to the Association

Funding a display cabinet for the Tapestry was considered and it was RESOLVED: to accept the quotation received from the school and to advise the school that the Community Council should be invoiced directly by the supplier

The Council noted the written representation received from Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM on behalf of residents at Talar, Tregynnwr, but reaffirmed its priorities as set out at the Monthly Council Meeting, 20th February 2003 (Minute 114 (2002/03) refers). A letter responding to the priorities had been received from the Head of Street Scene, Carmarthen County Council noting: -
i) The new lamps installed at Penymorfa and near 'Yr Aelwyd' have been removed from the Community Council's footway lighting account and have been adopted as highway lighting by the County Council. Alterations to charges would be made once annually in January.
ii) Due to limited staffing, the Public Lighting Section of the County Council was unable to undertake a survey of the Community's lighting, as requested by letter after the 20th February 2003 meeting and suggested that the matter be referred to the maintenance contractor STEILL

Members RESOLVED as follows:
i) To reaffirm its list of priorities and to convey to the Assembly Member that it will review the Talar request at a future meeting.
ii) To note the County Council's re-charging procedure.
iii) To raise with the Chief Executive of Carmarthenshire County Council concern over the delayed response received from Street Scene.
iv) To approach STEILL regarding undertaking the survey work.
v) To give further consideration to lighting at the October meeting

In discussion, various names were proposed and after due consideration it was RESOLVED to convey the following observations to the County Council: - i) the area where the development site is located has always been known as BRYNHYFRYD. ii) the initial application for development referred to the site as BRYNHYFRYD. iii) Llangunnor Community Council views that the appropriate name for the site is BRYNHYFRYD as it embraces both historic references and the contemporary names used and adopted in that area of Llangunnor. iv) The Council exercises a bilingual policy and would suggest Mount Pleasant as a translation to be adopted in conjunction with BRYNHYFRYD

The monthly schedule of expenditure was considered and it was RESOLVED to approve as follow:

RESOLVED to receive the monthly schedule of correspondence and agreed action as follows:

i) It was reported that Mr Nigel Evans, 3 Brynmeurig had been awarded the MBE for services in the Armed Forces. RESOLVED: to present Mr Evans with the Council's Certificate in recognition of the honour; Councillor H. R. Davies to write the entries on the certificate; to send letter of congratulations to Mr Evans and his parents.
ii) RESOLVED to bring the following concerns to the attention of the Community Policeman, PC. C Bond: - Van regularly parked in Bus Stop bay in Pensarn Parked trailers obstructing flow of traffic at Login Square Local Service Bus regularly stopping for passengers at the bottom of Rhiw Babell causing danger to traffic.
iii) RESOLVED to raise with the County Council the need to repair damage to a parapet wall lamp on Carmarthen Bridge

As this was Mr WC Phillips' last meeting after 20 years service as Clerk to the Community Council, warm words of personal tributes were exchanged between Mr Phillips and Members. Appreciation was also expressed on the successful handover of duties achieved between Mr Phillips and the new clerk. The transition had been smooth and effective and both were congratulated. Mr Phillips was thanked for providing a 3-month handover period.

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