September 2008

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held in 'Yr Aelwyd', on Thursday 18th September 2008 at 7.00pm

PRESENT: Councillor Doreen Valentine (Chair), D I Davies, Sarah Howells, Alun West, D Elwyn Williams, Geraint P Bevan, L Keith Carmody, Robin O Griffiths, E Audrey Jones and Richard S Thomas

APOLOGIES: Councillor Clifford Merlin Jones and Anthony Green

IN ATTENDANCE: PC M Richardson, Dyfed Powys Police, I Pollock, Carmarthen Journal

:In the absence of the Chairman, the meeting was chaired by Cllr D Valentine, Vice Chair:

Cllr Valentine welcomed Mr Batt to the meeting. He outlined his general responsibilities and duties as manager of the County Council's housing in the Carmarthen area and explained that Yr Aelwyd provided a specific kind of accomodation incorporating a communal area, which may be seen as having a broader role as a community facility. Public functions held within the building, however, should have the agreement of the residents. Taking a wider view, Yr Aelwyd as a County Council resource, could when possible, benefit the local community by effective use of the communal area. He announced that improvement works are to be carried out inside and outside the building as well as ensuring DDA compliance and works are scheduled to commence in October.

In open discussion Mr Batt confirmed his awareness of the efforts made to establish a part time Neighbourhood Police base in Tregynnwr and specifically at Yr Aelwyd. He agreed that securing Police presence and a 'surgery' facility in the community would benefit local residents and indicated his readiness to consider any fresh proposals

Members accepted that the Tenants Networks offices are now occupied but proposed that utilising the communal lounge on a part time basis may be an option to explore. Mr Batt confirmed that he would welcome further discussion on the proposal but emphasised that nothing could be achieved until the scheduled improvements have been completed in the new year. Chairman thanked Mr Batt for his attendance and stated how much his positve approach towards the neighbourhood Police base was welcomed by the Members

RESOLVED: Refer to Mr Batt a proposal of creating an enclosed office/storage area within the communal lounge in Yr Aelwyd that could be utilised as a part time Neighbourhood Police base

RESOLVED: reinstate standing orders following the summer recess

PC Richardson reported on dealing with youth anti-social behaviour complaints in the Penymorfa area and that he had contributed to the County Council initiative 'Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities', focussed on Llangunnor. Vehicle speed monitoring was scheduled for the area

Cllr D Valentine asked all to stand and observe a minute's silence in memory of Mrs Audrey Jones, wife of Councillor CM Jones the current Chairman of Council, who had recently passed away. She paid tribute to Mrs Jones as a highly respected former Chairman and long serving member of the Community Council and stated that she had conveyed the Council's sympathy to Cllr Jones and his family. RESOLVED: donate £50 in lieu of flowers to the family's named charity, Cleddau Ward, West Wales General Hospital

RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the following meetings as a correct record:
i) The Monthly Council meeting held on 17th July 2008
ii) The Planning Committee meeting held on 17th July 2008
iii) The Special Council Meeting held on 31st July 2008

i) Minute 13ii referring to a previous minute 3ii. Clerk reported that the project had been included in a composite County Council bid for European funding comprising 88 individual projects. The bid has been fully costed with matched funding secured and a final decision is not expected until the late autumn. If successful it is planned that the project work will commence in the 2009/10 financial year. Subject to project funding approval, Members agreed that encouraging community involvement would be essential with a public consultation/visioning event held in the community.
ii) Minute 14. Clerk reported that the Code of Conduct was now in place and that a number of Members attended a briefing for Community Councillors on the Code at St Peter's Civic Hall on 9th September.
iii) Minute 16. Neighbourhood Police Base Petition. Petition sheets containing a total of 657 signatures were tabled at the meeting. Cllr R Griffiths was thanked for his personal effort in gathering the signatures. RESOLVED: Cllr Griffiths to formally present the petition at a meeting of the County Council.
iv) Minute 24ii. Clerk reported that due to funding constraints the proposal of placing a structure on the 'Morrissons roundabout' in Pensarn was unlikely to go ahead. Cllr Griffiths expressed his concern that the loose stones providing drainage around the edge of the roundabout's central island constituted a road safety hazard especially when the grass was cut with strimmers. RESOLVED: i) Not to invite the County Strategic Officer to attend a Council meeting pending further funding decisions; ii) request the County Council to address the safety aspects of the loose stones

RESOLVED: Clerk reported that due to the prolonged spell of wet weather the grass had not been cut as regularly as planned to avoid breaking up the ground surface. Chairman had instructed the Council 'handyman' to replace the broken wooden rails on a Community Council provided bench seat and repair damage to the pavilion. The safety aspects of a leaning tree and a shallow pit dug by youths were referred to the County Council, Sports and Leisure Department. Members drew attention to water pooling causing a muddy entrance to the field. RESOLVED: i) Request the County Council to deposit some hardcore at the entrance; ii) Pay the cost of the handyman for the repair work

Clerk outlined previous deliberations on this matter and reported on correspondence received from the County Council advising that the Authority has not yet finalised its assessment of the route between Llangunnor and Ysgol Bro Myrddin. Currently Llangunnor pupils attending Ysgol Bro Myrddin are provided with free transport. Further, the Authority reaffirmed its view that the walking route between Llangunnor and QE High School is deemed safe in accordance with the National Road Safety Officers' guidelines for the assessment of safe routes to school

During discussion Members appealed for reducing the statutory distance for free pupil transport to 2 miles and that pupils attending both Carmarthen secondary schools should be treated equally. Attention was drawn to the position of QE High School providing free bus transport to pupils from outside the normal school catchment area. RESOLVED:
i) Make representations to Mr Carwyn Jones, The Counsel General, Welsh Assembly Government on the differentiated provision of free transport to the two secondary schools in Carmarthen and copy the letter to the Minister for Education, Welsh Assembly Government;
ii) Request QE High School to supply free bus travel to the pupils attending from Llangunnor

The Clerk outlined the general provisions of the plan and its aim of engaging the community in road safety initiatives. Members were reminded of the numerous appeals submitted by Council to the Highways Authority for the introduction of road safety measures in the Llangunnor community that had been disregarded or not enacted. RESOLVED: Appeal to the Highway Authority to engage with the Llangunnor Community in road safety matters in line with the emphasis within the Plan

RESOLVED: Council agreed to trialling five part night light units [Switched Off between 12.30am and 5.30am] and identified the following lamps: 724-42 [Penybanc, Rhiw Babell]; 724-34 & 724-36 [Primrose Hill, Rhiw Babell]; 724-106 [By Brynhyfryd, Nantycaws]; 724-12 [By The Manse, Nantycaws]

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales has a duty to conduct reviews of the electoral arrangements in each of the principal council areas in Wales. Electoral arrangements refers to the number of councillors in a principal area, the number and boundaries of the electoral divisions forming part of the principal area, the number of councillors to be elected in each division and the names of the division

RESOLVED: i) The Commission should review the appropriateness of multi-member divisions and if deemed necessary, only continued in the present areas with members elected via the Single Transferrable Vote procedures;
ii) the number of Councillors per principal area be limited between 30 and 75 inclusive;
iii) the ratio of one member per 1750 electors is acceptable for high density populated areas but should be significantly lower for sparsly populated rural areas

Cllr RO Griffiths drew attention to public consultation being conducted by the Local Health Board on potential sites for the proposed development of a Primary Care Resource Centre for Carmarthen. Various locations in Carmarthen have been identified in the consultation document but only two are demmed suitable for the development - one by Trinity College and the other at the former St David's Hospital site. Cllr Griffiths belived that land adjacent to Southern Terrace, Pensarn was an opotion that could be suitable. RESOLVED: Propose the land adjacent to Southern Terrace to the Local Health Board

RESOLVED: Approve the provision of a community Christmas Tree at the former Tywi Ford roundabout. Lights switch-on at 6.00pm before the Council meeting on November 20th. Clerk to make the arrangements

Cleaner, Greener, Safer Streets Initiative
Cllr Valentine reported on the consultative meeting organised by the County Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinator held in Yr Aelwyd at 2.00pm on 5th September. The Community Council was represented by Cllrs, DV, CMJ, SH, KC, AW and the Clerk. The Coordinator outlined the results of a residents' survey conducted by the County Safety Team aimed at monitoring residents' perceptions of the area, crime fear levels and perceived local problems. Action points identified at the meeting related to waste diposal; environmental cleaning, clearing and enforcement; policing and community safety and engaging the local youth. A specific point for the Community Council related to the local youth meeting with the Community Council to discuss the kind of resources they would like to see in the area. RESOLVED: Invite youth representatives of a future Council meeting

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:

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

a) Refer to County Council:
The poor surface condition of the footpath between Haulfryn and Sticle Close, Tregynnwr; a retaining wall in Haulfryn, Tregynnwr appears unstable; relocate the bin by the bench seat in Login Road

b) Congratulate Mererid Hopood, Awel Tywi on her success in winning the Prose Medal at the 2008 National Eisteddfod in Cardiff. This achievement was exceptional as she became the first woman to win all three main National Eisteddfod literary competitions

c) To include consideration of the status of the green road in Nantycaws from Tynewydd to Parc y Clo on the Agenda of the October Council meeting

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