April 2021

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held online at 6.30pm on Thursday 15th April 2021

PRESENT: Councillor Robin Griffiths (Chair), Geraint Bevan, Paul Totterdale, Elwyn Williams, Heather Lewis, Sandra Thomas, Jennifer Slate, John Porter and Paul Price

APOLOGIES: Councillor Dafydd Williams and Steven Richards (Cllr Richards due to a technical hitch did try to join, however was unable to connect)

Also present Howard Davies, (new Clerk), Clive Thomas (former Clerk) and Lee Whatley

None

The Chair advised that he had sent a sympathy card to Her Majesty the Queen upon the death of her husband Prince Phillip The Duke of Edinburgh from the residents of Llangunnor, and the Community Council. He also wished to bring to the attention of the Council, the death of a long-standing Councillor for the Tregynnwr ward Mr Keith Carmody
A minute silence was observed to mark their sad passing

None

It was unanimously agreed and RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the monthly Council meeting held on the 18th of March 2021 (minute 0421–5)

a) Finance committee

Meeting held on 12th April where the accounts were agreed. Please see point 7 below

b) Park & Environment

The next meeting will be scheduled for May after the AGM, where the following points will be placed on the Agenda:
• Review of excessive use of Dog Gloves seen of late being well above normal usage
• Proposal from Cllr Dafydd Williams: To consider placing flower tubs beneath the new notice boards and below the Llangunnor sign on Login Road where apparently there was one some years ago.
• A request from a resident that we consider buying a local red phone box which are being sold off by BT for a £1 to be used for the community’s benefit.
• Look at ways of improving the appearance of land adjacent to the underpass, and to discuss an overgrown area of land adjacent to Peter Johnson’s old yard at Pensarn which has become overgrown and unsightly.
• To discuss better signage at the “mother and toddlers” area, and how this area is being utilised at present.
• Parking outside the park entrance which is creating a danger for park users as they leave the park. In addition, park users are also parking at the bus stop is causing concern from a safety point of view.
• Performance and usage of the “hand sanitisers”
• To discuss our policy on Climate change, carbon emissions and our commitment to plant trees as raised by our resident-Carmarthen Trees.
• Following circulation of the recent footpath report, confirmation to be sought from Carmarthenshire County Council that all paths are clear, safe, and walkable, as requested by Trysor

It was also reported that the repair works on the footbridge at Llangunnor had been completed to an excellent standard and the Council Rangers were to be thanked and commended for their works

c) Web & Media

No meeting this month, however by way of update:
The new web page has gone live, where community feedback has been extremely positive. There have been some small teething problems, but these have now been addressed.
The Chair and the Clerk are to receive training on the webpage shortly from Vision ICT

d) Christmas

No meeting had taken place

The retiring Clerk (Clive Thomas) took the members through the circulated paperwork, that had also been considered and approved at the Finance Committee (12/04/21) and it was
i) unanimously agreed (Minute 0421–7i) that the paperwork as circulated be accepted by Council viz: Financial out-turn year ending 31/03/21; Bank Reconciliation 20/21; Clerk Salary / Allowances / HMRC / Other Payments; Asset Register.
ii) it was unanimously agreed (minute 0421–7ii) that the Clerk (CT) as RFO and the Chair sign the Annual Return and that the appropriate paperwork be presented to the Internal Auditor
iii) the Remuneration Panel Recommendations as put forward by the Finance Committee (0420–F3a: 0421–F3b and 0421–F3c) were unanimously agreed (0421-7iii)

For Clarity: It had not been recorded what the recommendations considered by the finance committee were,
minute 0420–F3(a): that each member be paid the £150 allowance, unless they inform the Clerk in writing of their wish not to receive the payment
minute 0421–F3(b): that an additional payment of £150 be made to the Chair of Council
minute 0421–F3c : that payments in accordance with NJC allowances be made for travelling, subsistence and overnight stay when involvement is approved by Council

The Clerk reported that nominations, duly proposed and seconded had been received for the following for 2021 / 2022
Chair: Councillor Elwyn Williams
Vice Chair: Councillor Geraint Bevan
Chair of Planning: Councillor Jenny Slate

These nominations to be confirmed by a vote at the AGM

It was unanimously agreed that if Councillor Heather Lewis was unable to attend the AGM that Councillor Sandra Thomas be allowed to vote Councillor Lewis onto any additional Committee at her discretion. (Minute 0421–8)

We do wonder whether the wording should be nominate Councillor Lewis rather than vote

“The Terms of Reference of Committees (excluding Planning) be amended so that a maximum of 5 Councillors should sit on each committee (Chair / vice Chair of council to sit on all committees)”

Following a discussion the motion was unanimously carried (minute 0421–9)

Riverside Association - No meeting

One Voice Wales - No meeting

School Governors - No meeting

Training - None

Councillor Williams had nothing major to report, apart from there had been some amendment made to planning laws centrally for developments that had no connections to mains sewerage

It was unanimously Resolved (minute 0421-12) that the accounts submitted be approved.

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

B) Council to note receipt of income: None

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

• Cllr Bevan suggested that Council write to Carmarthenshire County Council to see if the lighting charges will reduce going forward as the lights have now been replaced with more efficient LED bulbs/units. Clerk to query with Carmarthenshire County Council
• Cllr J Porter was concerned that a pedestrian access was in the process of being created at the rear of the last bungalow being constructed at the new development off Roman Road, contrary to planning approval, where the Community Council believed that there was to be no access to be provided onto Roman Road itself. A gateway between two block pillars was in the course of construction. Clerk to write to Carl Atkins Enforcement / Monitoring Officer at Carmarthenshire County Council pointing this out and seeking his clarification.
• Cllr P Totterdale: Several large builder’s bags filled with hedge clippings had been left on the verge below the Police Houses as you turn in to Tregynnwr. It is evident that a large boundary hedge at the bottom of the properties had been cut back, but it was difficult to ascertain which properties the waste belonged to. Clerk drove by over weekend where bags were still there but on a positive note by Monday, they had been removed

The next meeting will be held on Thursday May 20th 2021 at 6.30pm

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