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June 2020

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held remotely at 6.30pm on Thursday 18th June 2020.

PRESENT: Councillor Robin Griffiths (Chair), Geraint Bevan, Paul Totterdale, Elwyn Williams, Lee Whatley, Vivian Davies, Jennifer Slate, John Porter and Dafydd Williams

APOLOGIES: Councillor Sandra Thomas

Declaration of Interest

None

2. Recording of Meeting

Clerk requested permission to record the meeting for the purpose of writing the minutes, the recording would be destroyed once this had been done -this was unanimously approved (minute 0620-2)

3. Police Report

Date	Call	Resolution
17/5/2020	Abandoned car on old Llangunnor Road	Dealt with by reporting it to the council who deal with abandoned vehicles
18/5/2020	Fireworks being left off in Llangunnor park	Small fire reported and recorded as arson
20/5/2020	Noise complaint in Pensarn	Long standing issue which is being dealt with by Dyfed Powys Police and Carmarthenshire County Council

4. Chair's Announcements

Cllr Griffiths wished to thank:
a) the Llangunnor Covid 19 Support Group for their continued good work in the community;
b) the Clerk, Cllr Elwyn Williams (Vice-Chair) and Cllr G Bevan (Chair of Planning Committee) for their assistance over the past few weeks,
c) to the organisers of the Scarecrow Competition, it had proved very popular and was a great success

5. Minutes

It was unanimously agreed (minute 0620-5) and RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the monthly Council meeting and Planning Committee held on 14th May 2020

6. Committees

Finance Committee meeting arranged for 24/06/20
The Park / Environment Committee meeting arranged for 30/06/20
Web / Media Committee meeting to be arranged in the first week of July

7. Christmas Committee

The minutes of meeting 15/06/20 had been circulated and were noted

8. Motion: Donation to Foodbank - Robin Griffiths

The following motion was proposed by the Chair and seconded by the Vice-Chair and Chair of Planning

“During these unprecedented times many are suffering, this is particularly true with regard to the poorest in our community, with this in mind it is recommended that the Council donate £1000 to the Carmarthen Food Bank”

The motion was unanimously carried (minute 0620-8) and a cheque of £1000 would be sent to the Carmarthen Food Bank

9. Notice of Election

The Clerk reported that there had not been a request for an election and thathe would now arrange for co-option notices to go up and placed on the website. He pointed out that there were now 3 vacancies on the Council

10. Reports from Members Representing Council on other Bodies.

Riverside Association - No meeting

One Voice Wales - No meeting

School Governors - Governors meeting arranged for 19th June

Training - None

11. County Councillor Report

Nothing to report

12. Approve the Schedule of Accounts

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

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
E Williams	Playing Field - (31/05/20	97.00
	Cleaning of children’s area, strimming play area and around benches	60.00
CJ Thomas	Salary - June 2020	638.16
	Office Allowance - June 2020	100.00
	IT Allowance - June 2020	40.00
Clay Shaw Butler	Members Allowances Payroll (£250 + VAT)	300.00
Extreme Tree Services	Cutting Trees as Report (£500 + VAT) [1]	600.00
Cllr Robin Griffiths	Chair’s Support Fund: Scarecrow Competition	50.00
Carmarthen Town Council	Hanging Baskets (£333.33 + VAT)	400.00
HMRC	1st Quarter Payment	507.45
Zurich Municipal	Annual Insurance Premium	832.98
Lyn Llewelyn	Internal Audit	325.00

“There’s one tree (willow tree) up from the play area which has a snapped top and doesn’t look like it’s yours. Need clarifying on the landowner, also we checked the tree this morning for birds and think there could be birds nesting in or around the tree, so it is best to leave the tree till after September. Will take £100 off the bill due to not doing the willow this time”

B) Council to note receipt of income: None

13. Correspondence

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

No	Nature of Correspondence	Agreed Action
1	Vacancies on Llangunnor Council notices	Noted
2	Carmarthenshire County Council: Improvement work at park entrance - “Sorry but due to the official government lockdown restrictions, we are only undertaking small emergency / essential type works at the moment, unfortunately there are no planned construction works being done”	Noted
3	Latest News from Carmarthenshire County Council - 19/05/2020	Circulated
4	Hywel Dda CHC's April's Newsletter - 19/05/2020.	Circulated
5	Update for the Third Sector - 24/05/20	Circulated
6	Land Church Road Carmarthenshire County Council Response: “I have received a response from the occupier and met them on site yesterday. It was a productive meeting and my primary objective was to establish a motive for the works conducted due to some assumptions in previous emails. The land in question that abuts this verge does in fact belong to a neighbour and the occupier has no claim to that. The occupier was fully aware that the land is highways and has made no claim to that either. I was unaware that the verge was overgrown with brambles and overhanging trees. I noticed in the time I was there that vehicles were using the gravelled area as a passing place due to the narrow passage further up the lane. In effect the planting of fruit trees were replacing the existing trees that were coppiced. If I recall there were a variety of approximately 5 fruit trees planted a number of metres from the road.I was concerned about the beech saplings that were approximately a metre from the road and the occupier has agreed to remove them and that will be done tomorrow. I do feel that the work done generally was to the benefit ofthe highway and could not establish a motive that would benefit the occupier apart from an aesthetic position	Cllr Griffiths expressed concern on behalf of local residents with regard to the grass verge having been replaced by chippings. He moved a motion that the Council follow this up with Carmarthenshire County Council, the motion was not seconded. Members were satisfied that Carmarthenshire County Council were monitoring the situation and that “The occupier was fully aware that the land is highways and has made no claim to that either”
7	Mark John: I live in Cedars, Mount Pleasant, Llangunnor, Carmarthen and was wondering if something could be done to the grass verge on Mount Pleasant and Brynmeurig junction. A lot of people walk past this grass verge and I've had conversations with walker's who mentioned that it would be nice if the grass verge could be made into something more positive. Examples could be flower garden or a seating area. It is a busy road so I believe it would be nice to showcase Llangunnor in a positive way and prove what a lovely part of the world we live in.	Circulated - Referred to Park & Environment Committee
8	Covid 19 Latest Update Welsh Government Newsletter - 08/06/20	Circulated
9	Welsh Trunk Road Agency: Thank you for your enquiry received below and please accept our apologies in the delay in our response. Please be advised that the repair has taken place and the underpass is in working order	Circulated
10	Stewart Bowen: Issues with flooding	Progress deferred until site visits resume - Noted
11	Hywel Dda CHC's May’s Newsletter	Circulated
12	Reported to Carmarthenshire County Council: The stile on footpath 28/4 at the top of Heol Blaengwastod (opposite Brynena) is rotten and loose. Response received -Please be aware that the Ranger Service is currently only attending to high priority or emergency work as Covid 19 has imposed severe restrictions on the Rangers work and there is an inevitable backlog of work	Noted
13	As a resident of Llangunnor (Rhodfa Morgan Drive) it concerns me that several youngsters are riding at speed on electric scooters, sometimes in convoy, on the pavements of my road, other pavements in the area and around the paths in the park. I understandthat these vehicles should only be used on private land. I have spoken to several neighbours who have also expressed alarm at their use on pedestrian paths/pavements and also on the road within Rhodfa Morgan Drive. On more than one occasion I have had to move very quickly and fortunately I was able to - once coming around a corner when faced with these vehicles and also on the path into the park from Maes Lewis Morris. These vehicles, which are able to travel at considerable speed,pose a risk to people who are walking on pavements and taking exercise in the park. I’m not sure what can be done to remove this danger, but I believe that a sign banning their use at least within the park would be a good first move. I would appreciate a response in relation to this matter	Response sent to Mrs Lynas Clerk has informed Dyfed Powys Police, officers made aware of issues, also been in touch with Carmarthenshire County Council, officer currently on leave.

14. Councillor's Report

a) Cllr Slate highlighted the condition of the underside of the bridge at the bottom of Babell Hill due in the main to the pigeons, Cllr Bevan also reminded members that there is a plague there highlighting the middle of the old village of Pensarn. Other members were of the opinion that something permanent needed to be done to prevent the birds roosting there. Clerk to enquire about getting it cleaned, also with regard to some permanent fixture be introduced
b) Cllr Bevan asked whether there had been any response following request for consideration been given to the introduction of 30mph limit in Llangunnor Road
c) Several members highlighted issues with dog fouling in the park – to be considered by Park & Environment Committee

15. Officer Nominations

The Clerk reminded members that nominations would be required for Council ‘officials’ for the July meeting

16.Emergency Item - Sanitisers

Members had highlighted that Carmarthen Park had introduced sanitisers at the entrances, the Clerk had made some enquiries and the units would cost approximately £570 each delivered and fixed with 5 litres of sanitising liquid. Although members were supportive of their introduction there were concerns with regard the cost. It was unanimously agreed that a Special Meeting of Council be arranged for the 25th June to discuss further, this would allow the Clerk to see what other alternatives were available

17. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 16th July 2020 at 6.30pm

Meeting closed 7.15pm

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