December 2008

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held in Llangunnor School, on Thursday 11th December 2008 at 7.00pm

PRESENT: Councillor C Merlin Jones (Chair), Alun West, Geraint Bevan, Robin O Griffiths, Richard S Thomas, Sarah Howells, D Elwyn Williams, DI Davies and James Anthony Green

APOLOGIES: Councillor Doreen Valentine, L Keith Carmody, EA Jones and Selwyn H Thomas

IN ATTENDANCE: I Pollock, Carmarthen Journal, PSCOs B Hodginson and J Thomas

PSCOs reported on their work patrolling the area and monitoring the 'no cold calling zone' in the Tregynnwr area. Members asked how other residential areas could be included and were advised that the request should be referred to the County Trading Standards Officer. Increase in the theft of fuel and heating oil from households in the area was reported and the need for vigilance was emphasised. Chairman thanked the officers for the report RESOLVED: Refer request for the designation of Elder Grove and Penymorfa as 'no cold calling zones' to the County Trading Standards Officer

The Chairman reported on the excellent Christmas concert he had attended at Ysgol Llangunnor School and asked Cllr Griffiths as Chairman of the school governors to convey his congratulations to the school. He thanked the Clerk for getting the Christmas tree in place and for arranging the switch-on event, and was pleased with the large audience that attended on the evening. Members were reminded to declare any pecuniary interests and appropriately record in the attendance register

RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of:
i) The Monthly Council meeting held on 20th November 2008;
ii) The Planning Committee Meeting held on 20th November 2008

i) Minute 56) Police requested identification of unlit roads where cars are left parked without lights. Clerk to notify Police that cars are parked without lights in Old Llangunnor Road.
ii) Minute 57): Chairman will donate £50 in support of Hannah Gleeson.
iii) Minute 58v) referring to a previous minute 51, Glass recycling Bins - Clerk reported that residents had objected to locating a bin in Penymorfa. The lay-by opposite Ysgol Llangunnor School was suggested as an alternative. RESOLVED: recommend the lay-by as a possible site to the County Recycling Officer.
iv) Minute 55c) Confirmation received from Chief Constable that he will attend the 19th March Council meeting. RESOLVED: Members to notify Clerk of issues to be raised in order to brief Chief Constable beforehand.
v) Minute 68: TI Davies, developer of Golwg Tywi, has requested the County Council for a price to bring the road to adoption standards

Clerk reported the County Grounds Maintenance Team confirmation of its decision not to trim the boundary hedges and perimeter this year due to the prolonged wet autumn weather, but had notified that the work would be carried out in early spring 2009. Cllr R Thomas expressed disappointment with the situation and emphasised the importance of annually maintaining the boundary hedges to avoid the Park reverting to its poor condition prior to its development by the Park Committee. He also strongly argued that the County Council, as the owner of the Park is letting standards slip and was failing in its civic duty. Clerk reported that the County Council estimated a cost of £1948 to prepare the football posts and mark the football pitch. Councillor Bevan informed that he had approached the proposed football team organiser to establish whether a youth team is to be formed and was awaiting confirmation

RESOLVED: i) reluctantly accept the County Council decision to defer cutting the hedge until the spring;
ii) seek confirmation that the hedge will be cut back in this financial year

Certification received from the External Auditor confirming successful completion of the Audit for the year ended 31st March 2008. The Auditor had referred to a weakness in the Council's procedures as a risk assessment of its functions had not been undertaken during the year and thereby in breach of Regulation 4 of the Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations 2005. The auditor had reminded Council to take immediate action and rectify the deficiency. Clerk reported that Council had already established a Sub-committee to establish the risk assessment criteria for the Council. RESOLVED:
i) Accept and approve the Certified Annual Return.
ii) To note the requirement to undertake a risk assessment of functions annually.
iii) To thank the Clerk on the successful completion of the audit

The County Council was consulting the Community Council on a proposal to introduce a 40mph speed limit extension in Llangunnor Road as far as a point some short distance to the east of the entrance to the Dyfed-Powys Police HQ. Members welcomed the extension, but argued that commencing eastwards of the former Login School would be far more sensible, since it would not only cover the entrance to the Dyfed Powys Police HQ as proposed, but importantly would incorporate the busy Login junctions, the entrance to Brandon Plant Hire, the new Chapel of Rest and the commencement of the existing 40mph along Login Road. Also Members questioned why appeals for similar extensions along other roads in the community had not been supported by the County Council

RESOLVED: i) Convey the Council's support for the extension but appeal for it to commence beyond the former Login school; ii) request the reasons why other appeals for extensions in the past have not been supported

The Act provides rights of public access to information held by public authorities and requires them to adopt and maintain a publication scheme which has been approved by the Information Commissioner, and to publish information in accordance with the scheme. As of January 2009 there will be one approved model scheme which needs to be adopted by all authorities.

The Clerk presented the model scheme and a guide for the public, which gives details of what information Llangunnor Council will be able to provide under the scheme and the permissible charges to cover disbursement costs. The Clerk confirmed that the model scheme and the guide will be made available on the community website RESOLVED:
i) adopt the model scheme and agree the information guide as presented by the Clerk;
ii) levy a charge of 10p per photocopied sheet [black and white] and the actual postage costs at standard 2nd class post;
iii) the clerk to monitor the workload commitment involved and report to Council

15 applications received for grant aid. RESOLVED: £40 each to: Carmarthenshire Age Concern; Wales Air Ambulance; Carmarthenshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs; Carmarthen and District Hospice; Cerebra - for brain injured Children and Young People.
The Chairman agreed to donate £25 to Capel Dewi Community Association

RESOLVED: Clerk to submit questionnaires completed by individual Members

No reports were presented by Members

RESOLVED: approve the monthly income and expenditure schedule presented by the Clerk:

A) Council is requested to consider and approve the following items of expenditure:

B) Council to note receipt of income: None

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

i) Refer to County Council:
Slippery path between Bron y Dre and Penymorfa Lane
Need to sweep pavement of hedge clippings in Rhoslas
Report substantial amount of litter frequently falling off open carts on the road in Nantycaws that needs to be gathered regularly [Cllr DI Davies provided with copy of County Litter Management Plan]
Need to focus on the regeneration of the Pensarn area

ii) Public Address System Cllr Griffiths proposed that the Council should have a public address system available at events such as the Christmas tree lights switch-on RESOLVED: Clerk to obtain prices

vi) Carbon Zero Status Cllr Bevan reported on a meeting held with the Carbon Reduction Officer engaged by Menter Cwm Gwendraeth, aimed at exploring ways of reducing the 'carbon footprint' of Llangunnor Community Council. During the meeting it was noted that parts of the Llangunnor parish may be within the boundary of Cwm Gwendraeth for funding purposes RESOLVED: Clerk to establish whether this is the case

iv) Speed Limit - Heol Capel Dewi. Cllr Green notified Council that the residents of Tywi View Residential park propose to petition the County Council for the extension of the 40mph speed limit northwards beyond the entrance to Tywi View. Members indicated that the Council had appealed previously to the County Council for the extension but it had been rejected. Cllr Green was advised that petition signatures should be confined to residents living in the community and particularly those directly affected by the speed limit. RESOLVED: Council declared full support for the petition

Every effort has been made to check the above for accuracy however if you find a mistake please contact us.