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January 2022

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held 'remotely' at 6.30pm on Thursday 20th January 2022.

PRESENT: Councillor Elwyn Williams (Chair), Geraint Bevan, Paul Totterdale, Heather Lewis, Sandra Thomas, Jennifer Slate and Charlie Evans

APOLOGIES: Councillor Steven Richards

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

Declaration of Interest

None

3. Chair's Announcements

The Chair advised that matters had been quiet at County Hall and had nothing to report. He wished to advise the Council that he had decided to donate £100 to Philadelphia Chapel, to help with their running costs from The Community Fund, and would also be making donations to Llangunnor Church, and Babell Chapel of the same amount

4. Public Questions

None

5. Minutes

It was unanimously agreed and RESOLVED to approve as a correct record the minutes of the monthly Council meeting held on 9th December 2020 (Minute 0122–5)

6. Committees

i) Finance

Noted that a meeting had taken place on the 19th January and that the minutes were in the process of being written up and circulated. Chair advised for information that the Finance Committee had considered the level of Precept required to fund the budget for the 2022/23 financial year, having considered the level of council balances held, and following a robust discussion it was thought appropriate to retain it at last year’s level of £33,000, with a proviso to revisit next year which was unanimously supported. (Minute 0122-06i)
Cllr Bevan wished to record the Councillors appreciation to the Clerk for all his hard work in preparing a detailed presentation on the Precept calculation and asked for this to be minuted

ii) Park & Environment

Noted the minutes of the meeting held on 16th December had been circulated and uploaded to web site

Matters Arising

The Clerk and Councillors duly met with representatives of Western Power at the park on Saturday 8th January to discuss the relocation of Glanffynnon sub-station to within the park boundary. This proved to be a very constructive meeting where the following proposals were agreed in principle by both parties, and subject to final agreement by Western Power:

1. The new sub-station enclosed within a green cabinet, to be relocated to an agreed position along the bottom boundary hedge behind the bungalows, subject to Western Power undertaking the necessary consultations with residents and liaising with Carmarthenshire County Council our landlord to ensure the necessary permissions are in place, to include planning if required.
2. Western Power to construct and thereafter maintain at their cost a 3-metre-wide tarmacadam access road and hardstanding for the cabinet
3. Western Power to fully fund the cost of providing an electricity supply to a pillar located near to the internal entrance into the park. For accountability the Council would initially have to apply and pay for the installation of power to the pillar, and once completed Western Power would fully reimburse the Council for this cost i.e., at no cost to the Council. The future running costs for electricity supplied to be borne by the Council
4. Western Power was asked if they would consider helping fund the cost of providing CCTV cameras at the park, being a project that the Council is currently evaluating, which would also help to protect and secure their substation, where their representatives agreed to take this away, and to refer it internally to see if any funds could be made available

A further meeting has been arranged for the 26th of January specifically to discuss Annual Inspection Report for Llangunnor Playground

iii) Web & Media

No meeting had taken place

iv) Christmas

Feedback meeting to be arranged for early February

7. To consider application from Ally Wadeward on behalf of Llangunnor PTA to hold an Easter Scavenger Hunt, for children at the park on Saturday 16th April.

Following a short discussion it was unanimously agreed to grant Ally Woodward on behalf of Llangunnor School PTA permission to use the park on Easter Saturday 16th April to hold an “Easter Scavenger Hunt” subject to sight of suitable Insurance cover, completion of an acceptable “Risk Assessment” and full compliance with any change to Covid regulations prevailing at that time.
Whilst the Council were offered a share of any profits to go towards the upkeep of the park, this was declined where the applicant will be advised to retain all profits for the PTA. (Minute 0121–7)

8. County Councillor Report

Cllr Elwyn Williams advised that the Carmarthenshire County Council were busy approving their budgets for the next financial year, with more details to follow, as the costs of the Covid Pandemic continues to impact on both cost and revenue streams

9. Reports from Members Representing Council on other Bodies

Riverside Association - No meeting

One Voice Wales - Cllr Charlie Evans advised that he has been unable to attend One Voice Wales’s Local Committee meeting recently due to a prior commitment. However, he wished to suggest that a sympathy card be sent from the Council to the family of the late Cllr Mair Stephens, who was well known to Council members, being a long serving Local and Community Councillor, current Deputy Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council and Chair of this Committee, which was unanimously supported, Clerk to send a sympathy card on behalf of the Council and its Officials

School Governors - Cllr Sandra Thomas wished to advise that she had nearly completed the Governor’s training modules and was looking forward to attending her first meeting

Training -

10. Approve the Schedule of Accounts

It was Resolved (Minute 0122-10) unanimously 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 (31/12/21) 97.00
Batteries for Sanitizer (front entrance to park) 5.00
Howard Davies Salary - Jan 2022 £653.71 [*]
Office Allowance - Jan 2022 100.00
IT Allowance - Jan 2022 40.00
Extra Meetings [2](see below) 120.00
Reinbursement: Zoom Monthly Payment 14.39
Reinbursement: Postage £7.92
Reinbursement: Sanitiser 50.40
Clive Thomas Reinbursement: Payment of Windows 2021 Licence fee off his credit card. New arrangements being put in place for future payments to be invoiced direct to Clerk 135.36
Capel Philadelphia Chairs Donation from Community Fund 100.00
Defib World Pads and Kits for Defibs 57.99
Bowen & Weaving Stationery & Ink 104.86
Carmarthen Town Council Purchase, delivery and erection on site of 2 Christmas Trees, at Towy Garage roundabout, and Nantycaws Village 710.00
HMRC Payment third quarter NI Contributions £291.29, & Tax £531.60 822.89
Carmarthenshire YFC S137 Donation 150.00
Carmarthen & District Youth Opera S137 Donation 150.00
Urdd Gobaith Cymru S137 Donation 150.00
Wales Air Ambulance S137 Donation 150.00
Marie Curie S137 Donation 150.00
Carmarthenshire County Council Toy Appeal S137 Donation 150.00

Clerk Salary Adjusted downwards this month by £2 as due to clerical error Clerk paid £656.71 for November and December instead of £655.71.) as per new contract at 55hrs pm wef 1/9/21

Extra Meetings (held 15 December - 18 January 2022)
Finance Committee - 15th December 2021
Park & Environment Committee - 16th December 2021
Site visit (Park) - 8th January 2022 (Meeting with Western Power)

3 X £50 = £150 this equates to £120 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:

Payee Info (£) Amount
Carmarthenshire County Council Precept 3rd Payment 11,000

11. Correspondence

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

No Nature of Correspondence Agreed Action
1 Programme for Government Circulated
2 Carmarthenshire Well-being Assessment Consultation Circulated
3 DPP – Top tips for a happy and safe cyber Christmas - Leaflets Circulated
4 Hywel Dda Community Health Council newsletter Circulated
5 Carmarthen Period Poverty Project Circulated
6 Electoral Information Circulated
7 One Voice Wales Training Courses for Jan, Feb, March 22 Circulated
8 Councillor Remuneration and citizen engagement in Wales – Reports Circulated
9 Carmarthen well-being Assessment Consultation Circulated
10 Correspondence from the Minister for Social Justice Circulated
11 Welsh Government: The Eligible Community Councils (General Power of Competence) (Qualifications of Clerks) (Wales) Regulations 2021 Circulated
12 Hywel Dda Health Board. Building a future after Covid 19 Circulated
13 Local Government and Elections (Wales) Draft Statutory guidance for Community and Town Councils Circulated
14 Letter from Dyfed Powys PCC Office Circulated
15 Request for permission to hold Easter Scavenger Hunt on 16th April 2022 from Llangunnor School PTA Circulated
16 Dyfed Powys Police-Public Consultation Circulated
17 Community and Town Council Liaison Forum Circulated
18 Dyfed Powys PCC Public Consultation letter Circulated
19 Police and Crime Plan – Office of OPCC Circulated
20 Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23 Circulated
21 Guide to taking – The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons Circulated
22 Sing for The Commonwealth & The Queens Jubilee Beacons 2 June 2022 Circulated
23 One Voice Wales Presentation from Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Services Circulated
24 RNID – Hearing Loss Supporting Carers- 12 Jan Circulated
25 Engagement survey relating to additional dog controls Circulated
26 National Lottery Awards - The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Circulated
27 Hywel Dda C H C Newsletter – January 2022 Circulated
28 One Voice Wales Information highlights January Circulated
29 Level 2 Alert re meeting number Circulated
30 Response from Rachael Carter One Voice Wales following our recent update re Sticle Path, Memorial Garden and Llangunnor Park Circulated
31 Boundary Commission -Public Hearing dates Circulated
32 Biannual Tree Report- Paul Cleaver Circulated
33 Violence against Women- Welsh Government Consultation Circulated
34 Press Release from Hywel Dda Community Health Council Circulated

12. Consider nominations from members for Community Awards

Nominations for the Council’s Community Awards for 2021 were discussed at length, where presentations to the following individuals, businesses and groups were deemed to be both appropriate and merited
i) Ena Thomas: Long serving Organist at Philadelphia Chapel, Nantycaws
ii) Pensarn Sorting Office: For maintaining postal services to the Community throughout the challenging Covid Pandemic
iii) Llangunnor Covid Support Group: For supporting the Community throughout the Covid Pandemic
iv) Serena Douch: For singing at and supporting all the Councils activities over the years

Clerk to arrange for the certificates to be prepared for presentation

13. Finding a suitable candidate site for a bench to be placed along Heol Pen Y Morfa

This was again discussed, where Councillors regrettably felt that despite all their efforts no suitable site had been located. Councillors had considered the width of the pavement itself, the possible objection from nearby property owners, and the positioning of utility cables in coming to this decision

The Clerk was asked to write to one local resident who had suggested the provision of such a seat, advising them of our decision and the rationale behind it. Furthermore, it was suggested that if they could advise of a suitable site along this stretch of road to let him know, to enable matters to be revisited

14. How is the Community going to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee in June?

A long discussion took place on how best the Community was going to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
In conclusion the Councillors decided to engage with the residents via a post on the council Facebook page asking for suggestions on how they wished the Community to celebrate this auspicious occasion. A small working group consisting of Cllrs Sandra Thomas, Jenny Slate and Charlie Evans, be formed to oversee the response, and to present back to the Council at the February meeting with their findings (Minute 0122-14)

15. Councillor's Report

i) Cllr Totterdale wished to report that the speed advisory sign near to Bolahaul Mansion was not illuminating. Additionally, he asked if the Clerk could ascertain from Mike Jacob when the traffic calming works will be completed at the entrance to the park Action point: Clerk agreed to immediately report the matter to Carmarthenshire County Council Public Lighting and will chase up Mike Jacob for a revised timeframe for these long awaited safety improvements to be completed.
ii) Cllr Bevan asked if we could again get back in touch with Nigel Owens to arrange a mutually convenient time for him to unveil the commemorative plaque, for the late former Councillor Alun West now that he had hopefully fully recovered from Covid. Action point. Clerk to contact Nigel Owens and to liaise with all concerned to come up with a mutually convenient date and time for the unveiling ceremony to take place.
iii) Cllr Lewis expressed her disappointment that despite attending a site visit with the Council’s Lighting Officer back in early September, an estimate had still not been received as promised outlining the costs for the provision of two new streetlamps on the Ger Y Nant footpath. She acknowledged that the Clerk has regularly been seeking updates from this Department without success. County Councillor Elwyn Williams agreed to take up this matter with the Carmarthenshire County Council Public Lighting Department in view of the delays being experienced

16.Update from Clerk

The Clerk provided a quick update on the following matters:

i) Painting of Park entrances: Clerk advised that he had sought three estimates, where quotes are awaited.
ii) Repairs to Skateboard arena: Clerk advised that he had chased up J R Fabrications for their quote.
iii) Biannual Tree Survey: Clerk advised that a copy of this report had been circulated to every Councillor and was pleased to advise that the survey had not identified and major concerns.
iv) Ratification was unanimously given to pay the cost of improvements to the fence at the park entrance and associated concrete works from 106 funds held by Carmarthenshire County Council. Whilst this was discussed and agreed at last month’s meeting due to clerk’s oversight this was not minuted

17. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 17th February 2022 at 6.30pm

Meeting closed 7.55pm
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