May 2009

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held in Llangunnor School, on Thursday 14th May 2009 at 6.45pm

PRESENT: Councillor Doreen Valentine (Chair), Alun West, Geraint Bevan, Robin O Griffiths, EA Jones, Sarah Howells, Selwyn H Thomas, James Anthony Green, D Elwyn Williams, DI Davies and L Keith Carmody Councillor L K Carmody left the meeting after item 5

APOLOGIES: Councillor C Merlin Jones and Richard S Thomas

IN ATTENDANCE: D Gilbert, County Director of Regeneration and Leisure. P Snaith, County Special Projects & Strategic Development

Cllr Valentine welcomed all to her first meeting as the Council Chairwoman for the year 2009-10

[Prior to the meeting six Members and the Clerk had met with Mr Gilbert and Mr Snaith in Pensarn to observe the environmental concerns being raised by Council] Cllr Valentine welcomed Mr Gilbert and Mr Snaith and invited them to address the meeting.

i) Mr Gilbert thanked Council for the invitation and for raising the environmental issues supplemented with photographs and for the site visit. During his visit he could see that there was much untidiness and environmental neglect that needs to be addressed. He commented that some could be achieved via enforcement, particularly in relation to unauthorised commercial signage. He identified that a key challenge would be to marshal the support of the private landowners and commercial businesses and engage their commitment to tidy up their forecourts and maintain in a presentable state. The answer has to be a partnership approach involving the public bodies and the commercial sector and believed a starting point would be to 'map out the land ownership' of the Pensarn area. This is not a straight forward task as obtaining details of 'title' could be a complicated process. Nevertheless he agreed that in the interest of the community the area needs a better presentation and must be tackled.

ii) In open discussion Members welcomed the recent improvements that had been carried out by the County Council but in general the issues of overgrown vegetation, litter, garish signage, proliferation of temporary shed type buildings, untidy business frontages remained. During the discussion the following action was identified:
a) The County Council will undertake the mapping exercise.
b) The Director will pursue the unauthorised signage.
b) The Community Council should identify its priority needs for the area.
c) Public sector landowners should be requested, via the Assembly Member if necessary, to de-litter their area and to keep it tidy and presentable.
d) A follow up meeting to be convened after the mapping exercise has been completed.
The Chairwoman thanked the Officers for attending RESOLVED: Include the identification of needs on the agenda of the June meeting

PC Richardson reported on his involvement in the community including dealing with anti social behaviour, unleashed dogs and the incidence of hitting golf balls in the park deliberately aimed at adjacent properties. Using a portable vehicle activated device speed monitoring has been undertaken resulting in a number of drivers receiving warning letters RESOLVED: obtain confirmation of the action taken by the Police on the hitting of golf balls in the park

Cllr Valentine had attended the Carmarthen Town Mayor inauguration ceremony. She announced that the Llangunnor Civic Service will be held in Babell Independent Chapel at 2.00pm on Sunday 7th June 2009

RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of:
i) The Monthly Council meeting held on 16th April 2009;
ii) The Planning Committee Meeting held on 16th April 2009

i) Minute 109iv) Rubbish Bunkers, Llangunnor Road: Clerk and Cllr Griffiths to meet with County Principal Waste Officer
ii) Minute 127i) Home to School Transport: awaiting response from the local MP

:: Councillor L K Carmody left the meeting ::

Cllr R Griffiths believed that much could be done to further enhance the appearance of the two roundabouts on the A484 by the Morrisons Superstore and at Pibwrlwyd. Discussion featured sponsorship by local businesses. RESOLVED: Approach the County Council to establish their views on sponsorship

Cllr R Griffiths believed there was a demand for a bus shelter in the vicinity of the Headquarters of the Dyfed Powys Police Force and the Probation Service in Llangunnor Road. Discussion focussed on a suitable location and whether the Police Force and the Probation Service would be prepared to contribute towards the overall cost. RESOLVED: Seek the County Council view on this request and approach Dyfed Powys Police and Probation Service for their views

Councillor West and the Clerk reported on the site visit convened by the Local Assembly Member to establish the County Council's proposals for reopening the carriageway and removing the temporary traffic lights. County Highway Officers reported that the road is within an area of 'Special Scientific Interest' and before any proposals can be finalised a thorough ecological survey has to be completed that will inform the proposals. Hopefully a report on the proposals will be finalised in the autumn and will focus on protecting the highway from further erosion. The cost will have to be borne by the County Council and prioritised within the county forward plans for highway improvements from April 2010 onwards. RESOLVED: to note the report and review progress at the end of 2009

Cllr West and the Clerk reported on a site meeting with the County Highways Engineer to assess the need for a lower speed limit on Roman Road. It is a derestricted (national speed limit) road and the imposition of a lower 30mph speed limit rests on the definition of a village or town based on the criteria - a frontage development of 20 or more houses (an average density of 3 houses per 100m) and a minimum length of 600 metres. An automatic restriction of 30mph is created by the presence of street lamps 183metres apart. Based on the observations made during the site meeting and cognizance of the above criteria, the Engineer cannot recommend the imposition of the 30mph speed limit on Roman Road RESOLVED: Noted the report and the recommendation of the Highways Engineer

On an urgent basis the County Council will erect temporary signs prohibiting playing golf on the park. Confirmation had been received from the County Council that a safety training course was now available for the 'handyman' to attend and the course fee would be waived. RESOLVED: Handyman to attend and associated costs paid by Llangunnor Community Council

None were reported

The National Joint Council for Local Government Services issued the arbitration panel settlement for the 2008-9 final salary awards for local council clerks and recommends that the salary scales of Clerks be adjusted accordingly. The Clerk detailed the salary implications for the Council RESOLVED: Accept the recommendation and adjust the Clerk's salary accordingly

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: No change for the year 2009-10

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

i) Refer to County Council:
On occasions the extended A48 filter lane at Nantycaws is insufficient to take the volume of traffic
Request early hedge cutting of the two lanes leading to Llangunnor Church.
Request that the grass on the roundabout by Tywi Service Station and the grass bank in Old Llangunnor Road be cut on a regular basis

ii) Bench seat alongside the wetlands footpath in Pensarn
Clerk reported that the seat had been vandalised. Repair estimate from 'handyman' £120 [labour & materials] RESOLVED: request the handyman to carry out repairs

iii) Identification of individuals that contact the Council by revealing their names and addresses in Council meetings and publishing in the minutes. Discussion ensued on how much information can be revealed on individuals contacting the Council subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act. RESOLVED: Obtain the advice of Un Llais Cymru/One Voice Wales on this matter

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