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April 2019

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held in 'Yr Aelwyd', Tregynnwr at 6.30pm on Thursday 18th April 2019

PRESENT: Councillor Sandra Thomas (Chair), Geraint Bevan, Robin Griffiths, Paul Totterdale, Alun West, Elwyn Williams, Lee Whatley, Vivian Davies, Jennifer Slate, Dafydd Williams, John Porter, Dave Thomas and Alexandra Trowbridge-Mathews

APOLOGIES: None

Declaration of Interest

None

The Chair informed the meeting that she intended to bring forward item 16: Consider nominations (with seconders)

2. Consider Nominations (with seconders) to be put to the AGM

Chair: Cllr. R. Griffiths proposed by Cllr. S. Thomas and seconded by Cllr. A. Trowbridge-Mathews
Vice Chair: Cllr Elwyn Williams proposed by Cllr. Griffths and seconded by Cllr. Totterdale
Chair of Planning: Cllr G. Bevan proposed by Cllr Elwyn Williams and seconded by Cllr. West
It was agreed (minute 0419-2) that the nomination be formally put at the AGM

:: Cllr Trowbridge-Mathews gave her apologies and left the meeting ::

3. Police Report - PCSO Josie Jones had given her apologies

Date	Type	Call	Resolution
25/03/2019	Criminal Damage	Reports of a bathroom window smashed in a property in Rhos Las, Llangunnor	Ongoing investigation. No suspect identified at this point. Local NPT have visited the victim and provided advice and reassurance
30/03/2019	Criminal Damage	Reports of a smashed window at laser station, Carmarthen	Officers investigating have located the suspect. The victim does not wish for police to progress the matter further as the suspect has agreed to pay for the damage
08/04/2019	Fire	Report from West Wales Fire and Rescue of a fire in the derelict building in Hen Heol Llangunnor	Police attended and on arrival the fire had been put out. Police are currently investigating the offense. No suspect at this point
15/04/2019	Suspicious Incident	Signs of Forced entry to a property in Bron Y Dre, Llangunnor	Officer attended along with scenes of crime. Awaiting for results to come back to possibly identify suspect. Victim has been visited and provided with advice and reassurance. House to house enquires have also been conducted
17/04/2019	Fire	Admin Report received from Fire stating that they receive up to 4 calls per week off MOP with concerns to a derelict building on Hen Heol Llangunnor.	Police attended with Fire to assess the area. Arson reduction team are planning on displaying fire safety signs in the area. NPT conduct patrols in the area daily and are monitoring. Network Rail have been informed but have yet to confirm ownership of the building in question

The above were noted as PCSO Josie Jones was unable to attend the meeting

4. Speed Watch Scheme

The Chair welcomed PS Ian Price to the meeting. PS Price went through the scheme with members, he highlighted that:
• At least three volunteers were needed to run the scheme (obviously more would be ideal)
• The introduction of the scheme has a cost of approximately £250 for purchasing a speed gun and the appropriate signage. High-viz jackets would be provided by Dyfed Powys Police
• Training would be provided by Dyfed Powys Police, usually a couple of hours. Also, DRB check would be required for all volunteers
• All locations which were deemed to be appropriate to position the speed gun would be assessed for Health and Safety by Dyfed Powys Police
• No prosecutions would follow from any motorist caught speeding, but offenders would get a warning letter and continuous offending would result in a Dyfed Powys Police visit
The Chair thanked PS Price for his detailed explanation and it was unanimously agreed (minute 0419-4) that this now be put on the next agenda for discussion

5. Chair's Announcements

The Chair welcomed everyone to what is the last meeting that she would take charge of as Chair of the Council. She thanked all those, who had supported her in her year of office. A litter pick took place, with the school on 12th April - the second one we have completed in the last year. Her thanks to Councillor Robin Griffiths and Councillor Geraint Bevan for helping out. Apologies were given by Councillor Porter. They picked up seventeen bags of rubbish from Sticle and the bottom part of Haulfryn.
A valuation for the Chain of Office had been received from Rone's Jewellers. The new valuation is £7500. This valuation is high because it reflects the likely current replacement price of recreating a handmade version of the original using the same quality materials. She wanted to thank Jake Rone for the wonderful work he has carried out on the Chain of Office and for the detailed valuation, which he has given us. She asked the Clerk to send a letter of thanks to Jake for all his hard work.
The Council website was highly commended in the One Voice Wales National Awards 2019. It is encouraging that our website has been recognised and she had been informed that Councillor Whatley has been nominated for a Carmarthenshire Community Award

6. Public Questions

None

7. Minutes.

It was unanimously (minute 0419-7) and RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the monthly Council meeting (updated to show attendance of Cllr Whatley on Understanding Law Training) and Planning Committee held on 21st March 2019

8. The Park / Environment Committee

Meeting arranged for April 24th, the contractor who was installing the new equipment in the park had informed the Clerk that he had issues with the weather in the early part of the year, one sub-contractor had been dismissed, and that there had been a problem with the supply of the artificial grass - he would be commencing on the 29th April and hoped to be completed within three weeks

9. Web / Media Committee

Meeting arranged for April 24th

10. Finance Committee Cllrs R Griffiths and Elwyn Williams declared an interest in item 10c and took no part in the discussion or voting

Minutes of the meeting held on the 11th April had been circulated and the Clerk asked if there were any questions from the members, he also advised the meeting of the recommendations of the Committee. It was unanimously agreed that (minute 0419-10a) that the accounts 18/19, as presented be accepted and forwarded to the internal auditor (Mr Lyn Llewelyn); and (minute 0419-10b) it was confirmed that each member be paid the £150 allowance, unless they inform the Clerk in writing of their wish not to receive the payment and (minute 0419-10c) a payment of £150 be made to the Chair of Council for the extra responsibility and work involved in carrying out the role

11. Christmas Decoration Sub-Committee

Meeting to be arranged following the AGM

12. Valero Monies

Meeting to be arranged following the AGM

13. Defibrillators

The Clerk confirmed he had been in touch with Yr Aelwyd / The School / Welsh Hearts and they were now arranging for their installation

14. Motion: Amendment to Standing Orders - Councillor Robin Griffiths

"Councillors should not take any responsibility or managerial tasks because these are discharged by the Clerk. Problems will occur when Councillors sometimes try to take over the role of Clerk, all correspondence / contact with anybody should be made through the Clerk i.e. queries to be sent to Clerk who will then forward to the appropriate body"

(Seconded by Cllr Slate)
Cllr Griffiths insisted the motion was to ensure that there was no confusion when different organisations, but primarily Carmarthenshire County Council were approached by members, he argued in order for there to be continuity all enquiries should go through the Clerk.
Other members were concerned that the wording of the motion may make contact with outside bodies e.g. 1VW difficult, others were concerned that the role of locally elected members could be compromised. Although the intention of the motion was generally supported it was agreed by the mover / seconder that that Cllr Griffiths and the Clerk amend the wording and bring it back to the next meeting

15. Motion: Chair's Fund - Councillor Lee Whatley

"Llangunnor Community Council has previously allocated a sum of money to the Chair of Council, a fund or allowance and historically this has been used by the Chair to support local groups with donations which could be considered as grants. Advice from One Voice Wales makes it clear that this fund/allowance is for the payment of expenses incurred by the Chair and not for grants. The council should establish a Chairs Support Fund, this should be used to support in respect of, for example, transport (physical transport or mileage costs), secretarial support, charitable giving (purchasing tickets, making small donations or buying raffle tickets), clothing and civic events. The council should also adopt a grants policy to ensure that local groups have a clear route to apply for money from the council"

Following a discussion an amendment was proposed that at the end of the third sentence that

"and the Council establish a Community Fund for grant awards to community groups, the sum for each fund to be determined at the AGM"

this was accepted by the mover / seconder and unanimously approved (minute 0419-15)

16. Motion: - Councillor Paul Totterdale

"In order for continuity in the work of the council's sub-committees I propose that at the AGM the committees are elected for a period of two years"

Under a point of order Cllr Elwyn Williams explained that this motion was not allowed, the council could adopt a protocol to allow committees to sit for two years but they could not be elected for a period of two years. Cllr Totterdale withdrew his motion

17. Nominations AGM

This item was moved to the beginning of the meeting

18. Consider arrangements for 2019 AGM

Date May 9th 2019 at 7.00pm. Clerk confirmed that invitations had been sent out, the school choir would be in attendance and that all arrangements were in hand. Cllr Griffiths expressed concern over the number of chairs in the room and it was agreed that the Clerk contact the warden and that Cllr Elwyn Williams also make representations

19. Consider Requests for Financial Support

It was unanimously agreed to support as per table below (minute 0419-18)

Organisation	Supported	(£) Amount
Cruse Bereavement Care	Yes	60.00
Children's Wales Air Ambulance	Yes	60.00
Carmarthen Bar Navigation Committee	Yes	60.00
Carer's Trust Crossroads Sir Gar	Yes	60.00

20. Reports from Members Representing Council on other Bodies.

Riverside Association - No report

One Voice Wales - Cllr Whatley attended the annual awards conference and presentations on community engagement by Blaenavon and Neath town councils and a presentation on tourism projects with Mold and Carmarthen town council. The awards meanwhile were of a very high standard and Llangunnor did well to be commended for their website. He had also attended an area committee meeting in Whitland where executive member County Councillor Peter Hughes Griffiths was the speaker

School Governors - A Special meeting of the governors had taken place to discuss the school becoming a category 1 welsh school, further consultation will take place

Training - None

21. County Councillor's Report

Four candidates had been shortlisted for the Chief Executive Post

22. Approve the Schedule of Accounts

It unanimously Resolved (minute 0419-20) that the following payments be authorised:

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

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
E Williams	Playing Field (31/03/19)	97.00
CJ Thomas	Salary - April 2019	597.32
	Office Allowance - April 2019	100.00
	IT Allowance - April 2019	40.00
Bowen & Weaving	Paper (£16.75 + VAT)	20.10
Phil Wait Design	Stands for Interpretation Boards	2,086.38
Clay Shaw Butler	Setting up new PAYE Scheme & Completion of P60's £400 + VAT	480.00
Lee Whatley	Travelling: Builth Wells - 1VW Conf & Whitland Area Committee	59.40
Sandra Thomas	Chair Expenses during 18/19	109.70
	Travelling (2 x St Clears)	19.80
Arts, Crafts & Chat Group	Donation: Chair's Fund	150.00
Carmarthenshire County Council	Project Management (Nantycaws)	336.72

B) Council to note receipt of income:

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
Carmarthenshire County Council	S106 Monies: Park Equipment	20,948.50

23. Correspondence

The following correspondence be noted/action taken.

No	Nature of Correspondence	Agreed Action
1	Request received from Carmarthen Stars Football Team (both boys and girls team). Chair / Vice had expressed their support - members to confirm this decision)	Actions of Chair / Vice approved (minute0419-21 (1)
2	Lighting on Penymorfa path: - Awaiting information from Carmarthenshire County Council	Noted
3	Land / Building Old Llangunnor Road: Both Dyfed Powys Police and Carmarthenshire County Council following up issues - On-going issues, see Dyfed Powys Police Report	Noted
4	The website was commended in the awards at One Voice Wales Conference	Noted
5	Notes of meeting of the Community & Town Council Liaison Forum - Cllr J Porter	Circulated
6	One Voice Wales Newsletter	Circulated
7	Gweithdy Rheoli Llecynnau Gywrdd - Managing Green Spaces workshop	Circulated
8	Received email from resident of Brynmeurig regarding barking dog - advised that they should contact Carmarthenshire County Council	Noted

24. Councillor's Report.

a) Cllr Griffiths wished it be recorded the Council's thanks to the handyman for his excellent work on refurbishing the seats in the community
b) Could the Clerk arrange for a replacement bell for meetings
c) Still issues with the bins in the community
d) Footpath 28/5 - This is the path near the trailer place and appears to have been blocked - this is one of the paths we are going to be promoting
e) Members to have one final look at Interpretation Panels before the final proof is agreed
f) Underpass at bottom of Babell Hill needs a clean, Clerk to check if anything can be done to stop birds roosting there
g) Clerk informed the members that he had been quoted a price of approximately £125 for two 'pull-up' banners - it was unanimously agreed that the Clerk goes ahead and orders them (minute 0419 - 23g)

25. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 16th May 2019 at 6.30pm

Meeting closed 8.30pm

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