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December 2023

Minutes of a hybrid Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held at Babell Zion Newydd at 6.30pm on Thursday 14th December 2023

PRESENT: Councillor Jennifer Slate (Chair), Geraint Bevan, Paul Totterdale, Ally Wadeward, Joan Evans, Stewart Bowen(R), Matthew Williams and Graham Slate

APOLOGIES: Councillor Lee Whatley and Elwyn Williams

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

Declaration of Interest

To be recorded during agenda items

3. Chair's Announcements

Chair thanked councillors Ally Wadeward, Graham Slate, Matt Williams and Joan Evans together with the Clerk for all their hard work at the carol service. Also, thanks to Cllr Stewart Bowen for use of his electricity supply for the event, and the Ladies from WI and Babell for all their assistance in providing hot drinks and food. Grateful thanks also to Brynmeurig Stores for donating all the milk for hot chocolate.

Whilst we had hoped for a better attendance it was still a really good evening. It was noted that we need to ensure in future that we advertise events better possibly using a published calendar

Reminder for Councillors to respond to emails from the Clerk in a timely manner

4. Public Questions

A member of the public sought our assurance that The Council was fully implementing the requirements of the Welsh Language Act 1993 as per our policy by ensuring that all correspondence and marketing material was bilingual, as the new Christmas Banner at the Park, had a greater weighting to Welsh Text as opposed to English in their opinion. The Chair responded by saying that as a Council we endeavour to adhere to the principles of the Act, however, to get the bilingual text to fit within the space available on this occasion there was an increased emphasis placed on the Welsh Text. Their comments would be taken on board when new banners were printed, to ensure an equal weighting of bilingual text and that the clerk would send him a letter explaining the position here.

5. Minutes

It was agreed and RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the monthly Council Meeting held on the 16th of November 2023 (Minute 12/23-5)

6. Approve the Schedule of Accounts

It was Resolved (Minute 12/23–6) that the accounts submitted be approved.

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

Howard Davies Clerical Duties –Gross new salary £944.03 plus £495.27 backpay due from 1st April following new National Pay Agreement for Clerks, plus Gross 3 meetings £150 Total Gross £1589.73, Net salary plus back pay £1206.54 £1689.73

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
E Williams	Playing Field (30/11/23)	97.00
Howard Davies	Salary -	1206.54
	Office Allowance - Dec 2023	100.00
	IT Allowance - Dec 2023	40.00
	Reinbursement:Zoom Monthly Payment	15.59
	Travelling	327.60
One Voice Wales	Training Modules: Chairing Skills The Council meeting Undertaken by J Slate	76.00
City Loo Hire	Toilet Service – November 20th £30 plus £6 Vat	36.00
Barclaycard	Stamps Disposable cups for Carol Service Purchase of two Urns from Amazon Temporary Licence Fee	£11.50 £61.13 £248.69 £21.00
JRB Enterprise Ltd	Dog gloves for park	42.84
Carms C C	Grass cutting park Q2 as per SLA	767.57
Bowen & Weaving	5 Reams Paper & Ink set for Printer	118.20
Comcen	Renewal of Microsoft 365 Licence	167.99
Charles Sams	Hire of electrical cabling, switches, timers to support Xmas Lights switch on £61.75, plus Labour charges £211.20	272.95
R P Hire Ready Plant & Tools Ltd	Hire of Lighting for Xmas Lights Switch On, and Carol Service	81.60
Dragon Play & Sports	10 Operational Inspections for Llangunnor Park Feb-Nov 23 as per agreement at £75 Plus VAT per Inspection	900.00
Tree Consultants Wales	Fee for preparation of Bi-Annual Tree Inspection Report for Llangunnor Park	636.00
HMRC	Tax and NI for Clerk Q3	758.36

Extra Meetings
Events Committee - 22nd November 2023
Site visit (Park - Wayne Hock re Seating and Skateboard) - 18th November 2023
EGM 7th December 2023

3 X £50 = £150 this equates to £120.00 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
Barclay Card	Cash back off card purchases netted off balance owed to Barclay Card	1.00

For information -Expenditure on S137 Donation Requests

should this really be in November minutes

Organisation	Supported	(£) Amount
Carmarthenshire YFC	Yes	60.00
Cerebral Palsy Wales	Yes	60.00
Urdd Gobaith Cymru	Yes	60.00
Wales Air Ambulance	Yes	60.00
Eisteddfod Llandyfaelog	Yes	60.00
Cancer Information and Support Services	No	0.00

For Information payments issued for Christmas Lights Switch on within agreed Budget. – (Minute 11/12 – 12) (Minute 11/23 -12))

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
Cllr J Slate	Food & Selection Boxe	60.76
Cllr A Wadeward	Sundries/decorations	29.93
Miss J Llewellyn (56 Brynmeurig)	Payment for supplying electricity and compensation	200.00

7. ??

7. The Clerk provided a brief update on the current position about getting an Electricity supplier on board for the park. Following the decision of the EGM, he had been back in contact with Utility aid our broker who had suggested that consideration be given to fixing the cost of our supply until 30 September 2026, and the rationale for such had been circulated electronically to all Councillors. He now required Council’s confirmation as to whether we fix to 30.9.26, or to take a 12-month fix. Following a brief discussion is was resolved to take up the recommendation from Utility aid to fix to 30.9.26.(Minute 12/23 -7)

:: Cllr G Slate leaves the meeting at 7.05pm :: ADDENDUM 8. Members Payments and Allowances 2024

The Clerk circulated details of the Draft Annual Report and determinations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales. Council noted that it was required to make a sum of £156 available for members in relation to their additional costs for working from home. Members were to make the Clerk aware in writing if they did not wish to receive payment

Re-numeration Panel Recommendations 2023/24: following a discussion the following were unanimously agreed: Determination 6 (Minute 12/23–8)

Members must be paid £156 a year (equivalent to £3 a week) for the additional costs of working from home

the costs of which will need to be included within our 2023/25 Budgets.

Councils must either pay their members £52 a year for the cost of office, consumables required to carry out their role, or alternatively councils must enable members to claim full reimbursement for the cost of their office consumables

Council unanimously agreed not to pay their members £52 a year for the cost of office consumables required to carry out their role, but instead. allow them to claim full reimbursement for the cost of their office consumables.

9. Committees:

i) Finance

Next meeting will take place on 10th January 2024

ii) Park & Environment

Noted the minutes of the meeting which took place on the 7th of November where minutes have been circulated electronically and uploaded to our web page

iii) Web & Media

Last meeting took place on the 7th of June. No recent meetings. Meeting to be arranged early in 2024

iv) Events

Meeting of the Events Committee took place on the 22nd of November where minutes have been circulated electronically and uploaded to our web

10. ??

Cllr Matthew Williams was unanimously elected as the new Chair Of Planning. (Minute 12/23 – 10)

11. ??

Cllr Stewart Bowen was unanimously elected to fill the current vacancy on The Web And Media Committee. (Minute 12/23 – 11)

12. County Councillor Report

Due to C Cllr Williams inability to attend due to prior commitments it was decided to receive his report at next month’s Council meeting. (Minute 12/23 – 12) 13. ??

Due to Cllr Whatley’s inability to attend due to prior commitments it was decided to receive his report on the Work of The Task and Finish Group at next month’s Council meeting. (Minute 12/23 – 13)

14. Reports from Members Representing Council on other Bodies

Riverside Association -

One Voice Wales - No report

School Governors - No meetings had taken place

Town Forum - No report There is currently a vacancy for a representative following the resignation of Cllr C Evans. It was agreed to revisit at next months Council meeting

Training -

15. Applications for Financial Assistance

received from the following Organisations and Groups were considered: i) Carmarthen Youth Opera ii) Urdd Gobaith Cymru – Eisteddfod Maldwyn 2023 iii) Urdd Gobaith Cymru – The Urdd Funds For All appeal seeking £180 to cover the cost of 5 days stays at one of our Residential Centres, to send children whose families cannot afford the cost

In pursuance of the power conferred by Section 137 of The Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and being the opinion that expenditure satisfies the requirements of that section it was unanimously resolved this year to support each applicant to the level of £60 per applicant, apart from application number iii) where it was unanimously decided to fund two places for the benefit pupils of Llangunnor School to attend one of their summer camps. (2 x £180 - £360) (Minute 12/23 – 15)

16. Correspondence

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

No	Nature of Correspondence	Agreed Action
1	Planning Application PL/06823	Circulated
2	Webinar Invitation to a webinar –Remuneration Panel for Wales IRPW Consultation event	Circulated
3	Freedom of Information request received from a member of the public to receive a copy of the latest monthly and annual safety inspection reports for the skateboard park
4	Resignation Email-Charlie Evans	Circulated
5	Notice of Councillor Vacancy	Circulated
6	Road Closure C2070 Llangunnor one network	Circulated
7	One Voice Wales Cost of Living Crisis Team	Circulated
8	Open invitation to Christmas Carol service at Babell 10.12.23	Circulated
9	Consultation – Draft Service Plan 2040- Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service runs from 6th November – 15th January 2023	Circulated
10	Planning Application PL/068038	Circulated
11	Round 4 Sustainable Communities Fund	Circulated
12	Thank you, Email from Nat Grid	Circulated
13	Utility Aid updates	Circulated
14	One Voice Wales Training Awards Conference 27.3.24	Circulated
15	IRPW Presentation	Circulated
16	New Consultation: Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill
17	Thanks 20 Newsletter November 2023	Circulated
18	Playground Inspection Report November -Dragon Play	Circulated
19	Thank you emails Cerebral Palsy and Welsh Air Ambulance	Circulated
20	1VW News Bulletin	Circulated
21	Quote for new electricity connection at park-Corona Energy	Circulated
22	Public Ombudsman Wales Press Release	Circulated
23	Audit Wales Newsletter	Circulated
24	Wales Climate Weeks starts – 4th December	Circulated
25	OPCC Survey Policing Budget Consultation	Circulated
26	Thank you email from the Urdd re recent donation	Circulated
27	Road Closure C2070 Capel Dewi	Circulated
28	Biannual Tree Report – Paul Cleaver	Circulated
29	Map of 20mph zones for Llangunnor	Circulated
30	Police Budget Consultation closing on 17th Dec	Circulated
31	Funding assistance requested from The Urdd	Circulated
32	Planning Appeal Approved PL00228	Circulated

17. Councillor's Report

• Cllr Bevan wished to advise his fellow Councillors that The Remembrance service had received favourable coverage in the local magazine Y Cwlwm.
• Cllr Totterdale wished to thank the Clerk for all his assistance and guidance throughout the year. The Clerk thanked him for his kind word of appreciation.
• Cllr J Evans has been approached by several residents who were concerned at the lack of activities available for the older generation locally since Covid. She had signed posted them to the activities being held at Babell Chapel, which they were unaware of, and asked if the Aelwyd had now reopened up its facilities posr Covid. Action point: Clerk to write to the Manager of Yr Aelwyd to see what was now available.
• Cllr J Slate asked the Clerk to write to Carmarthen C C to register a complaint as the Christmas Tree had not been illuminated for long periods of time due to an ongoing electrical problem with the underground electrical cabling at Pensarn roundabout, and to see if we could be compensated. Action point: Clerk to write to Arwel Price Public Lighting at Carms C C.

18. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 18th January 2024 at Babell Zion Newydd

Meeting closed at 8.20pm

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