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February 2021

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held remotely at 6.30pm on Thursday 18th February 2021

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

APOLOGIES: Councillor Dafydd Williams

Also present Howard Davies, Lee Whatley

Declaration of Interest

2. Police Report

No police report had been received

3. Chair's Announcements

The Chair wished it recorded his thanks to the Clerk for the work involved in appointing a new Clerk. He asked members if they would observe a two minutes silence,for family and friends lost by residents of Llangunnor due to Covid

He expressed concern that a member had made a Freedon Of Information request to Dyfed Powys Police with regard correspondence with the Community Council and County Councillor, he stated that as the Council was an ‘open’ one, any request could have been sent straight to the Clerk

Finally, he stated that he had received a request from Cllr Bevan to give some background to the interpretation boards

Councillor Bevan: Interpretation Boards:

Cllr Bevan said that this had been many years in the making, initially the information for the boards were put together by Menter Gorllewin Sir Gâr in 2009, unfortunately the company went into liquidation and the project was stopped. Mr Eirian James of Carmarthenshire County Council then approached the council to say that different grant money may be available to resurrect the project, a further hiccup came when all grant funding was redirected to the London Olympics. Finally, with the help of Trysor (Jenny Hall & Paul Sambrook), who did a lot of the research into the historical information on the boards, they were ready to be erected. Covid then put this on hold, but it is very satisfying to see them up and the reaction from the community has been very positive

4. Public Questions

Mr Whatley asked how the Community Council were informing the community of meetings of the Council. The Clerk replied that currently this was done through the Noticeboards and through the Council website, he added with the Council’s Facebook page about to go live that this would be a further platform for advertising meetings

5. Minutes

i) it was unanimously agreed and RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the monthly Council meeting held on 21st January 2021 (minute 0221–4i);
ii) it was unanimously agreed and RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the extra-ordinary Council meeting held on 8th February 2021 (minute 0221–4ii);
iii) the notes of the appointment committee (11th February 2021–[appendix 1]) and the Interview Panel (15th February 2021-[appendix 2]) were noted

6. Committees

a) Finance Committee

No meeting had taken place

b) Park & Environment Committee

No meeting had taken place

i) The Clerk reported that he had now received two estimates for the renewal of the fence at the entrance to the park, he reported that this improvement had been previously approved. Following a discussion,it was unanimously agreed (minute 0221–5bi) that the estimate submitted by Wicksteed to the value of £4,492 + VAT be accepted.
ii) Improvements at Memorial Stone

Details to be provided for Parks Committee or next monthly meeting whichever takes place first. Cllr Price agreed to join this Committee

c) Web & Media Committee

No meeting had taken place, Clerk was awaiting a link to the new website to circulate to members, Vision ICT had offered some training to the new Clerk

d) Christmas Committee

No meeting had taken place

7. Appointmentof Clerk

The Clerk reported that, as noted in the notes from the Interview Panel, an appointment had been made. Following a discussion, it was unanimously agreed (minute 0221–7) that Mr Howard Davies, Llysawelon, Drefach, Llanelli be offered the post of Clerk to Llangunnor Community Council subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and working a probationary period of 6 months; furthermore, should there be any issues with the appointment, that the post would not be re-advertised but offered to Mrs Gaynor Lewis

8. Motion from Cllr Griffiths - seconded by Cllr Totterdale

That a memorial stone be place in Llangunnor Park to include the following inscription ‘In remembrance of all those, who died in Wales, as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. Always loved, Never forgotten, Forever missed’

Following a lengthy discussion, the motion was amended, and the following unanimously agreed (minute 0221–8)

That a memorial be placed in Llangunnor to include the following inscription ‘In remembrance of all those, who died in Wales, as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. Always loved, Never forgotten, Forever missed’ / ‘Er cof am bawb a fu farw yng Nghymru o ganlyniad i bandemig Covid 19. Yn ein calon, yn ein cof ac yn ein hiraeth am byth'

The type of memorial and its location be deferred for discussion at the next meeting of the Council

9. Reports from Members Representing Council on other Bodies

Riverside Association - No meeting

One Voice Wales - No meeting

School Governors - A school governors meeting had been arranged for the 26th February, Councillor Griffiths confirmed that as he was retiring from the Council at the AGM, he had informed the headmaster that he would be resigning his position as a School Governor (new appointee would be made at the AGM)

Other - Councillor Porter reported that he had attended a virtual meeting of the Community and Town Council Liason Committee to discuss the setting of the budget for 21/22, due to some technical issues it had been a difficult meeting to follow, the upshot of it was that a Council Tax increase of 4.32% be introduced for 21/22, this was confirmed by County Councillor Elwyn Williams

Training - None

10. County Councillor Report

Cllr Elwyn Williams had nothing to report

11. Approve the Schedule of Accounts

It was unanimously Resolved (minute 0221–11) that the accounts submitted be approved.

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

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
E Williams	Playing Field (31/01/2021)	97.00
CJ Thomas	Salary - Feb 2021	655.70
	Office Allowance - Feb 2021	100.00
	IT Allowance - Feb 2021	40.00
	Reinbursement: Postage	1.83
	Reinbursement: Zoom Monthly Payment	14.39
Carmarthenshire County Council	Ground Maintenance	2,343.00
JRB Enterprise Ltd	Dog Glove Refill £32.75 + £6.55 (VAT)	39.30

Payments under Renumeration Panel Recommendations

Name	Amount (£)
1. Sandra Rose Thomas	120.00
2. Dafydd John Williams	150.00
3. Robin Owen Griffiths	240.00 (Incl Chair Allowance)
4. Paul Edward Totterdale	150.00
5. Geraint Pugh Bevan	120.00
6. Phillip Lee Whatley	100.00
7. Jennifer Joy Slate	120.00
8. Dewi Elwyn Williams	120.00
9. John Charles Porter	120.00

Note: Cllr Richard Ingram & Heather Lewis confirmed in writing that they did not wish to receive the payment. Cllr Paul Price & Cllr Steven Richards will be offered the payments in 21/22

B) Council to note receipt of income: None

12. Correspondence

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

No	Nature of Correspondence	Agreed Action
1	Un Llais Cymru / One Voice Wales: Courier Frauds	Circulated
2	Un Llais Cymru / One Voice Wales: Latest Covid Vaccine Scam	Circulated
3	WLGA coronavirus email update 26.01.2021	Circulated
4	Un Llais Cymru / One Voice Wales: Remote training sessions (February 2021)	Circulated
5	Ombudsman for Wales: “I can confirm that you can inform the next Council meeting, and record in its minutes, that the Ombudsman has decided not to investigate the complaint made against former Councillor Lee Whatley”	For information
6	WLGA coronavirus email update 29.01.2021	Circulated
7	Information on 2021 Census	Circulated
8	Latest news from Carmarthenshire County Council 29/01/21	Circulated
9	Un Llais Cymru / One Voice Wales: Bwletin Newyddion / News Bulletin 09-02-21	Circulated
10	Carmarthenshire County Council: Crossing by Tywi Garage “The pedestrian counts and gap analysis suggest there are not high enough pedestrian levels to justify a signalised crossing, especially given the proximity to the roundabouts and signals and the wider impact this would haveon the network. In light of this Nick is progressing the design of the lane narrowing for the east bound traffic lane leaving the roundabout which will improve the crossing point for pedestrians and slow the flow of traffic coming off the roundabout. Given the point we are at in the financial year we are cutting it fine to get this constructed, especially with Covid working restrictions etc however I remain optimistic that we will get it in. Please be assured that we are doing all that we can to deliver this scheme despite the circumstances”	For information
11	WLGA coronavirus email update 12.02.2021 / Diweddariad am y coronafeirws gan CLlLC	Circulated
12	Panel Annibynnol Cymru ar Gydnabyddiaeth Ariannol -Adolygu Fframwaith Taliadau Cynghorau Cymuned a Chynghorau Tref | Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales: Review of the Remuneration	Agreed to wait for consultation document to be produced (minute 0221–12.12)
13	February Facebook Phishing campaign	Circulated
14	Un Llais Cymru / One Voice Wales: Remote training sessions (March 2021)	Circulated
15	Letter of thanks from Headmaster of Llangunnor School for donation towards ipads	Noted
16	New draft Guidance Code of Conduct	Circulated

13. Councillor's Report

a) Cllr Griffiths asked that members be informed when the Council’s page goes ‘live’
b) A letter of thanks be sent to ex Cllr Whatley thanking him for his services to the Council and expressing the hope that he would re-join sometime in the future
c) The litter issue in Pensarn was highlighted, and it was unanimously agreed minute 0221–13c that the Clerk write to the Post Office and Aldi asking if they could clear their area
d) It was reported that some of the daffodils recently planted were starting to appear, although it was apparent that some members had been more successful than others

14. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday March 18th 2021 at 6.30pm

Meeting closed 7.35pm

APPENDIX 1: Notes from of Appointments Committee held online at 6.30pm on Thursday 11th February 2021

PRESENT: Cllrs Robin Griffiths (Chair), Elwyn Williams, Geraint Bevan, Jenny Slate, Sandra Thomas, Heather Lewis

2. Discussion on interview procedure for the role of Clerk to the Community Council

The following were agreed:
a) Each member to introduce themselves at the start of the meeting
b) The candidates be interviewed in the following order, Mr H Davies, Mrs L Davies, Mrs G Lewis
c) The interviews to commence at 6.15p.m on February 15th 2021; each one be allowed 45 minutes - up to five minutes per question
d) Each candidate to be emailed the questions 15 minutes before their allocated interview time
e) The five questions were agreed by the panel, one question to be in welsh
f) Members will mark each question out of 5
g) Although Cllr Heather Lewis was a reserve she be asked to attend the meeting for two reasons a) in case a member loses their zoom connection her scores would then count; b) she be asked to score the welsh question together with Cllr Williams and Bevan
h) Each candidate be given the opportunity to ask any question at the end of the interview
i) The successful candidate be notified at the end of the process, this will be subject to approval of full council (18th February) and receipt of appropriate references

Meeting closed at 19.20

APPENDIX 2: Notes from of Interview Panel held online at 6.00pm on Monday 15th February 2021

PRESENT: Cllrs Robin Griffiths, Elwyn Williams, Geraint Bevan, Jenny Slate, Sandra Thomas, Heather Lewis

2. The Clerk reported that Ms Lowri Davies had recently started a new post and was therefore withdrawing

3. Although Cllr Heather Lewis was a reserve she attended the meeting for two reasons a) in case a member loses their zoom connection then her scores would then count; b) she be asked to score the welsh question together with Cllr Williams and Bevan

4. Each candidate was emailed a copy of the 5 questions 15 minutes before the commencement of their interview

5. Each candidate was given up to five minutes to answer each question and given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the interview

6. Following the scoring of each question it was unanimously agreed that the post be offered to Mr Howard Davies subject to the receipt of satisfactory references; and, working a probationary period of 6 months

7. The unsuccessful candidate, Mrs Gaynor Lewis be informed that it had been very close and that the panel would be recommending to Council that should there be any issues with the appointment, that the post would not be re-advertised but offered to her

Meeting closed at 19.40

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