December 2022

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held remotely at 6.30pm on Thursday 15th December 2022

PRESENT: Councillor Geraint Bevan (Chair), Paul Totterdale, Lee Whatley, Elwyn Williams, Joan Evans, Sandra Thomas, Jennifer Slate and Ally Wadeward

APOLOGIES: Councillor Graham Slate, Charlie Evans and Matthew Williams

Also present Howard Davies (Clerk) and one member of the public present (Robin Griffiths)

Councillor Elwyn Williams declared an interest as his brother is the repair person Cllr Elwyn Williams declared an interest given that he represents Carmarthenshire County Council on the School Governor’s

I welcome the news that a new train service will be connecting West Wales with Paddington railway station. The service is expected to run five times a day and to start in 2024. This open access link will start in Llangynnwr and stop only at major railway stations on the route and will provide a speedier service. This will significantly improve our connectivity with all points east and will no doubt support our local economy.
• I was invited to the National Botanical Garden of Wales for the opening of their winter lights event. The display was very impressive and would happily recommend the event to members of the council.
• I have received a number of messages congratulating the council on our Christmas lights display and agree that they look particularly good. I along with all the members of the council and the Clerk attended our Xmas light switch on and at the party at Babell chapel. The event was very well attended and I would like to thank everyone for their support and for the efforts made to make the event the success it was. I also would like to thank all those community groups and local businesses that supported the evening and showed the best of our community on the night.
• Finally, and sadly, I would like to remember Bryn Thomas tonight. He was buried at Philadelphia chapel last week. Bryn and his wife Ena who passed away in the Summer were long term residents of Llangynnwr and were faithful members of their local chapel. Both had been deacons and Ena played the organ for services in Philadelphia for nearly 50 years. Bryn was also a former member of this community council. I am sure all members of this community council will join me in mourning their passing. Our thoughts go out to their children

Mr Griffiths wished to advise The Council that Mrs Mair Lloyd the oldest surviving retired member of the Council was still hospitalized following her recent bad fall, and that he would advise the Council when she was back home and taking the visitors as our Chair wished to visit her.

It was agreed and RESOLVED (Minute 1222–5) to approve as a correct record the minutes of the monthly Council meeting held on the 24th of November 2022

i) Finance

Noted that a meeting took place on the 14th December, and the minutes were being compiled. The Clerk gave a quick summary of our current financial position as at the 30th September being halfway through our current financial year, against our budget.

ii) Park & Environment

Noted the minutes of the meeting held on the 29th of September had been circulated. Further meeting to be arranged for January.

iii) Web & Media

Noted the minutes of the meeting held on the 10th of November had been circulated. Further meeting arranged for 18th January 2023.

iv) Events Committee

Noted the minutes of the meeting held on the 10th of November had been circulated. Further meeting arranged for 18th January 2023.

The Clerk provided brief updates to the Council on the following matters:

a. Regrettably Councillor Edward Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, and Infrastructure Services, was still trying to arrange a site meeting between us and Mr Pillner Head of Transport & Engineering at Carmarthenshire County Council re new exit at top of Charlie’s carpark onto Pensarn Road. Councillor Thomas remains supportive of our efforts to create a new exit here, and fully understands where we as a Council are coming from, and is keen to arrange a meeting.
b. The chaser letters asking for support for creating a new exit off the top of Charlie’s carpark from those businesses on Pensarn Retail Park will be going out over the next week.
c. Clerk advised that an application had been submitted to Carmarthen County Council for 106 funding to cover the installation works associated with getting an electricity connection into the park.
d. He had received an email from Andrew Morgan, Traffic Engineer at Carmarthenshire County Council stating that a new speed sign unit had finally been received, and he was looking to fit it at Bolhaul Road hopefully before Christmas. This was indeed good news as the old defective sign had been out of action for a lengthy period of time.
e. He had received two requests from residents of Llygad Yr Haul, and Rhodfa Morgan Drive, that the estate roads be gritted due to treacherous driving cinditions, caused by the freezing weather currently being experienced, throughout the area. He had reported to Highways Dept Carmarthenshire County Council and was pleased to advise that both had been quickly dealt with. Richard Thomas of Llygad Yr Haul was extremely complimentary of both Council’s actions given that his wife was dependent on an ambulance being able to access their property, to take her to hospital for regular dialysis treatment.
f. South Wales Transport Agency had now attended Sticle underpass and had confirmed to the Clerk that all the lights were now working.
g. Jones & Maher Building Contractors had moved the toilet to the entrance today, and that he would now arrange for it to be serviced once the present frozen period had ended.
h. The Clerk shared with the Councillors the Police Report of crimes committed. The figures were as follows:

Councillor Ally Wadeward introduced her motion

“I would like The Council to consider donating a sum of money to Llangunnor School, to help with the repair and replacement cost of equipment and associated playground material recently damaged following a senseless act of vandalism.”

Photographs of the damage have already been circulated to you via electronic email The motion was seconded by Cllr Paul Totterdale

Following a robust discussion, where both sides of the argument to support or not were considered, as some Councillors feared a precedent would be set if we were to provide financial support to an organisation or business that had suffered senseless vandalism with our community. However, following further discussion, a number of Councillors felt that we should support given our close relationship with the school, and at the end of the day it was felt that a precedent would not be set, as all requests would be considered on an individual standalone basis. Additionally, it was felt that the school would be helping to educate some of our future Councillors, that the school was the lifeblood of our Community and should be supported as this position was not of their own making and could not be planned for. To move matters, forward an amount of £200 was suggested and was put to a vote, where six Councillors supported, Cllr Lee Whatley voted against, and Cllr Elwyn Williams abstained having previously declared an interest, and took no further part in this discussion.

The motion was therefore supported in the sum of £200, Clerk to arrange payment to Llangunnor School. (Minute 12/22-8)

Applications for Financial Assistance received from the following Organisations and Groups were considered: 1. Carmarthen & District Youth Opera 2. Carmarthen Federation of YFC’s 3.Gwyl Canol Dre 4.Urdd National Eisteddfod Sir Gaerfyrddin 2023 5.Wales Air Ambulance

Following discussion, it was unanimously agreed this year to support each applicant to the level of £60 per applicant whilst acknowledging their support given to our residents. (Minute 1222-9)

As there was no candidate’s forthcoming to be appointed onto the Riverside Association/Bar Navigation Committee, at last month’s meeting, it was resolved that the Clerk write to Councillor Lee Whatley to see if he had any interest in joining the Committee at the Council’s representative, given his previous involvement with this organisation as a volunteer.

The Clerk duly wrote to Councillor Whatley, who had not had the courtesy to reply

Cllr Whatley apologised to the Clerk for his oversight and stated that he would not be taking up our offer, citing his reason for declining as the lack of support from Llangunnor Community Council for a donation that he sought to make to this organisation, during his previous term on the Council, and as such he would feel embarrassed to represent the Council on this Committee.

Clerk to advise that currently there is no interest amongst our Councillors to serve on this Committee. (Minute 1222–10)

Councillor Williams advised that Welsh Government had agreed an 8.5% below inflationary increase in the Rate Support Grant but would not be making a three million grant to Mid And West Wales Fire Authority, advising that this had been included within the funds allocated to Carmarthenshire County Council from this source, which had not gone down well. Much discussion was taking place on how to save and protect key Council Services, where the Council will have some tough decisions to make over the coming months.
He had been voicing his concern over the impact of rising inflation on Council costs and future budgets for some time, and it was pleasing now that the Council was beginning to take note of what he had been saying. He stated that he had still not received any contact from Mr Pillner, Head of Transport and Engineering. He had nothing further to impart.

Riverside Association -

One Voice Wales - Councillor Whatley advised that he had not been receiving communications from One Voice Wales as our representative. Clerk will again advise them of his contact details.

School Governors - Councillor Sandra Thomas wished to advise that the Chair of Governors at Llangunnor School had resigned, and a new Chair had been recently elected - Mr Gareth Gravell.

Training -

It was Resolved (Minute 1222–13) that the accounts submitted be approved.

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

Extra Meetings
Finance Committee - 14th December 2022

1 X £50 = £50 this equates to £40 after tax (Extra meetings - @ £50 meeting – salary includes 11 meetings + AGM, all others treated as extra meetings over 4 hours will be paid at £100 (Minute 0920–F4)

B) Council to note receipt of income: None

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

• Cllr Paul Totterdale thanked his fellow Brynmeurig Councillor Matthew Williams, for gritting the road and pavements, in the immediate area during these severe weather conditions shovelling grit from the recently provided grit bin.
• Cllr Whatley asked if the Clerk had obtained a tariff for the new Electricity supply going into the park, and to ensure this was at a competitive price, and value for money.
The Clerk replied that he could not source a tariff until the supply was granted, and pointed out to Cllr Whatley that the usage would be minimal as it was envisaged that the pillar connections would be used to power the Christmas tree lights, potentially the CCTV installation if approved, and any event at the park which required an electriCounty Councilonnection. Against this we would save on the cost of hiring in generators, where we paid £325 for the Jubilee event alone. The Clerk further reminded Cllr Whatley that he had been quoted verbally circa £15000 to bring an electrical connection from across the road into the park entrance, where the present deal that the Council had negotiated would cost us circa £3500 therefore excellent value for money was being demonstrated, and the availability of a power supply would open up so many possibilities for the park to run and support local events, and to power any building placed on the park subject to connection. Furthermore, for comparison purposes we had recently been quoted £7500 by Western Power to bring in a new supply to the Pensarn Pillar, which would enable the Christmas tree lights to function independently of the streetlights lightening cycle. Additionally, the connection would be three phase as opposed to single phase at no extra cost to us, which means that we could run either single or three phase off this connection.
• Cllr J Slate wished to discuss the opening hours for the toilet which had now been successfully moved by Jones & Maher to the entrance, which will improve viability, and hopefully prevent more acts of senseless vandalism that we have recently been subjected to. She stated that she and her husband were willing to continue to look after the toilet until Spring. After a brief discussion it was agreed that it be left to Cllrs Slate and the Clerk on their own initiative as to when the toilet would be opened during this period, with a view of opening on key days when the park was expected or seen to be busy. The Clerk advised that once the low temperatures had subsided, he would be getting the toilet serviced, and would be asking Diane Evans to give it a thoroughly clean.
• Additionally, she asked that following our successful switch on of the Christmas Lights, at Pensarn, that thankyou letter be sent to the following local businesses/organisations:
1. Castel Howell who donated one hundred selection boxes for the children
2. Aldi stores- Food for refreshments at Babell Chapel.
3. Babell Chapel for the provision of the venue.
4. Llangunnor WI for their £20 donation towards the cost of food and refreshments, and for helping on the night.

Finally, The Chair wished everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year, thanking everyone for their hard work and contribution to the Council over the past twelve months.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 19th January 2023 with format and location to be agreed. Clerk to confirm in advance

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