July 2014

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held in 'Yr Aelwyd', Tregynnwr at 6.30pm on Thursday 24th July 2014.

PRESENT: Councillor Paul Totterdale (Chair), Robin O Griffiths, Alun West, Sandra Thomas, Lee Whatley, Geraint Bevan, G Lloyd, Dafydd Williams, Elwyn Williams, Sarah Howells and Selwyn Thomas

APOLOGIES: Councillor David J Watson.

The Chair thanked the vice-chair for substituting for him at the following:
• School sports - An excellent two days enjoying the effort of all the children.
• Strawberry tea - At Llangunnor church.
• 'Licensing' of The Venerable Roger Hughes, Archdeacon of Carmarthen as Priest in Charge/Transitional Minister.

The following amendments were made to the minutes
a) It was recorded that Cllr Elwyn Williams had arrived at item 5.
b) It was noted that the Philadelphia Concert had been held in the School
c) Item 3 Clerk still awaiting response to query raised regarding school governor positions
d) under item 8 it was recorded that Cllr Elwyn Williams had reported that there was an issue with the paying for swimming lessons for school children, PTA will contact Council.

RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the monthly Council meeting and Planning Sub-Committee held on June 12th (minute 0714-2) Cllr L Whatley and seconded by Cllr Dafydd Williams

Matters raised/resolved outside meetings: June 2014/July 2014

a) Bus Shelter Penymorfa - Awaiting response.
b) Wheelchairs on buses - Designs of buses by manufactures generally only build a space for one wheelchair space - if a vehicle was designed to carry spaces, the seating would have to be reduced. Therefore if two or more try to catch a bus - this often causes problems. The general rule, is first come, first served unfortunately. Also there could be a issue with some motorised disabled scooters, as some bus companies will refuse this type of wheelchair as its motorised, and have raised concerns over the battery acid. Other issues we have been brought to our attention in the carrying wheelchair/motorised scooters - that if they are over a manufacturers recommended weight, the bus companies will also refuse at this would affect the ramp to enter the vehicle.
c) Police Drop in Sessions - Jade is in contact with Carmarthenshire County Council to clarify issues. Cllr Elwyn Williams/Clerk to take up with Council.
d) Sticle Path - Anti-slip surface has been put in place.
e) Amendment made to Welcome Pack re: school place availability - Copies of Welcome Pack to be circulated. Phone number of Education Dept to be included in future.
f) Roman Road - Complaint regarding building material on road referred to Carmarthenshire County Council.
g) Still issues with indiscriminate parking around the park - Clerk to contact Carmarthenshire County Council/Police.
h) Bus-stop sign at Police HQ - Clerk to chase up

Cllr Bevan apologised on behalf of the sub-committee that information with regard to facebook and that no comments could be added was not correct but it had been done in good faith - Councillors accepted this.

Following a discussion the Clerk advised that as the information in the approved minutes was not factually correct it could not stand - it was agreed that minute 0614-6 be rescinded.

It was Resolved (0714-4) that the website and associated facebook (the names be registered to the Council) be placed back on the agenda in 6 months. For 9 Abstentions 3.

i) The Clerk reported that the Council had been successful in getting a £15,000 grant from Cwm Environmental through Grants Scape.

The Park Sub-Committee had met to discuss the project and had made the following recommendations for the Finance Committee to consider and for the Council to ratify.
The Finance Committee had met to consider the recommendations and could confirm that in their opinion that there were sufficient funds within Council accounts to meet the recommendations.

Following a discussion it was unanimously resolved (Minute 0714-5i) that the following be approved:
a) The Community Council meet the £1,705 of 'Contributing Third Party' Donation from General Funds.
b) The Community Council match funds £4144, in reserve from the previous Park Committee, from General Funds.
c) The Community Council agrees to transfer £6,015 from general funds to the Capitol Works Fund. It will make this and the £14,985 already in Capitol Works Fund available to the Parks Project.

ii) Park Sub-Committee also put the following to the Council, which was unanimously approved (Minute 0714-5ii) that:
• The Clerk contact Carmarthenshire County Council to get their views / agreement on the proposed improvements, in particular set up a meeting with the Planning Section a.s.a.p. to see what permissions are required.
• It appeared that the works to the path / improvement of facilities / provision of seats/tables / installation of gym equipment could be done reasonably quickly.
• Clerk to set up meeting with Carmarthenshire County Council to see if swings / roundabouts etc could be realistically refurbished. This could then be done immediately.
• Works in and around the entrance would need a little bit more planning and it made sense for this to be left until the works inside the park were completed.
• Works not to be started until September and children have gone back to school.

"Llangunnor Community Council are extremely disappointed that the Fire Service have asked the Ambulance Service to move to Bridgend with them. It would far better, if the services are to join, then it should be based at Llangunnor, which was only built in the last few years.
The Llangunnor site covers West/Mid Wales which is a very large, mainly rural area, and as the 3 emergency services are all currently housed locally the Community Council is very concerned that moving to Bridgend will not provide anywhere near the same level of service".

The motion was seconded by Cllr Selwyn Thomas, following a brief discussion the motion was unanimously approved (Minute 0714-6), the Clerk forward this to all interested parties.

Following a couple of years without planting it was unanimously agreed that the Clerk enquiry about planting:
a) In the verge in front of Charlies
b) Verge at Philadelphia Chapel,
c) Rear of the school
d) Entrances to estates within Llangunnor.

a) Governors had attended the 'school leaving' service which was held at the school, this was very successful and all were very complimentary of the event.

It was RESOLVED (minute 0714-9) proposed Cllr Glenda Lloyd and seconded Cllr M Jones that the following schedule of accounts be approved (unanimous):

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

B) Council to note receipt of income: None

It was RESOLVED (minute 0714-10) that the following correspondence be noted/action taken.

It was proposed by Cllr Howells and seconded by Cllr Griffiths (minute 0714-11) that standing orders be suspended during the August recess to allow Chair/Clerk to deal with any urgent business.

a) General need to cut overgrown paths in Tregynnwr - Clerk to contact Carmarthenshire County Council.
b) Clerk to follow up on cleaning of bird droppings from bridges.
c) Could the Clerk circulate copies of Welcome Pack to members.
d) Could tree planting in Pensarn be placed on agenda of next meeting.
e) Carmarthenshire County Council still not painted fences/railings at Towy Garage.
f) Weeds growing around empty Carmarthenshire County Council building in Pensarn.
g) The Clerk reported that the group looking into the regeneration of Carmarthen/Pensarn had been very pleased to turn-out for recent consultation, they wished to thank all members of the public and representatives of Llangunnor Community Council for their observations, they will now be presenting a final report to the group in due course.
h) Issue with speeding traffic in area, a particular problem in Roman Road, clerk to contact Jade Jones. Also check when speed gun to be brought to Blaengwastod Road around Park.
i) Litter an issue in the park, Clerk to contact Carmarthenshire County Council.
j) The new banner was shown to Council, Council generally happy with it although Clerk was reminded that any text should get Council approval. It was proposed by Cllr Dafydd Williams and seconded by Cllr Whatley that banner be put up at the park entrance to publicise website. The proposal was carried (minute 0714-11i) For 9, Against 1, Abstentions 2

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 18th September 2014 at 6.30pm

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