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July 2023

Minutes of a hybrid Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held at Babell Zion Newydd at 6.30pm on Thursday 20th July 2023

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

APOLOGIES: 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

4. Chair's Announcements

• The Chair warmly welcomed Cllr Stewart Bowen to his first meeting of full Council
• Most of my time since the last meeting has been spent preparing for the Fun Run and Family Event on Sunday 16 June
• Riverside Festival – This has now been postponed to Monday 28 August. We will not be meeting again before then so wanted to bring it to your attention. Riverside had invited the Council to participate but we were unable to due to our event being the same weekend. We now have an opportunity to do so. The email says Our original idea was to ask the Llangunnor Council if they would like to site, say, the funfair, (which comes free) on the opposite (i.e., your) side of the River, for example. This is how we were planning it until you were unable to participate. We would certainly welcome Llangunnor Councillors and staff in helping with on the Festival day and the run up to it, and perhaps you might like to seek your Councillors view and perhaps suggestions. You could perhaps run the Raft Race, which actually starts from your side of the river going downward/seawards (weather permitting). Last year because of high winds we to had start from our side going upwards. "both support physically and financially would be very welcome".
• Clerk Appraisal – For your information, the senior officers of the council will be carrying out the Clerk’s annual appraisal in accordance with his contract of employment over the next few weeks. To be clear, the completed appraisal document will not be available for scrutiny by council members, but we will feed back any pertinent points at the next meeting

5. Public Questions

None

6. Minutes

It was agreed to delay the approval of the record the minutes of the monthly Council meeting held on the 15th of June until our September meeting as an omission was identified in the narrative for the makeup of the Clerk’s June salary as an amount for gross salary had been quoted as opposed to net, to allow time for the clerk to correct. The clerk apologised for the error which was accepted and confirmed that the net figures was indeed correct. The remaining minutes were deemed to be an accurate record. (Minute 07/23–6)

7.

The clerk provided a brief update on the following issues

i) Legal papers were signed last week by the Chair and the Clerk at Morgan La Roche Solicitors, in respect of the release of an area of land at the park to accommodate the re sighting of The Glanffynnon Electric Sub Station.
ii) Our application for a Sustainable Communities Grant for 10k to Carmarthen County Council had been successful. This will now allow us to move ahead with the installation of CCTV, resurfacing of the upper children’s play area, and replacement of the faulty yellow gate subject to the approval of the full Council given that funding for both schemes is now in place.
iii) The damaged rubbish bin on Login Road has been replaced

8. Committees

i) Finance

A further meeting will be scheduled for September

ii) Park & Environment

Noted the minutes of the meeting took place on the 3rd of May. A further meeting has been arranged virtually for Tuesday evening 25th July

iii) Web & Media

Last meeting took place on the 7th of June. No recent meetings

iv) Events

Noted the minutes of the meeting held on the 7th of June have been circulated, and the working group have continued to meet regularly over the weeks prior to the event. A successful scaled down Fun Run and Party was delivered on Sunday 16th July which was relocated to Llangunnor School at short notice due to the adverse weather forecast

9. Discuss how best to prepare and put in place a 5-year Development Plan for the Council

The Chair asked her fellow Councillors for their vision and suggestions on how best to prepare and put in place a 5-year Development Plan for the Council. After a robust discussion it was agreed to set up a working group to deliver this piece of work made up of the following Councillors: Cllrs C Evans, Paul Totterdale, Geraint Bevan, Matthew Williams, and Jenny Slate who will report back to the Council in early Autumn with their proposals. (Minute 0723–9)

10. Discuss how best to prepare and put in place a 5-year Development Plan for the Council Cllr Jenny Slate introduced her motion

“To consider whether Thursday evening Is still the most appropriate night to hold the full council meeting Given there have been so many changes to the council members over the years it would be prudent to check whether there is more suitable night of the week to hold council meeting going forward.”

The motion was seconded by Cllr P Totterdale. A robust discussion was held where it became clear that there was not one evening that suited everyone.

Cllr Whatley pointed out that Councillors were aware that the Council met on the third Thursday of every month when they joined the Council

Following discussion Cllr Slate withdrew her motion

11.Cllr L Whatley introduced his

“Llangunnor Community Council needs to develop and publish a training plan for councillors and council staff setting out its proposals in relation to the provision of training.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Charlie Evans. Subsequent discussion revealed that the Training Plan was now a Statutory requirement and as such the clerk advised that he was now working on a draft version. He reminded everyone that details of the training courses provided by 1VW were circulated monthly and suggested that all Councillors read the Course menu which accompanied the course details which gave a brief overview of all modules to ensure that they would be suitable for their individual training need. Courses available through Carmarthen C C were also circulated on a regular basis upon receipt. He re-emphasised that attendance of Councillors at training courses was not compulsory, and entirely voluntary as it was down to the individual Councillor to partake of training that they thought would benefit them. He also mentioned that there were 8 free places available for attendance on the most popular courses this year through 1VW. As ever please let the Clerk know of your requirements. The motion was adopted. (Minute 0723 -11)

:: Cllr Graham Slate left the meeting for another personal commitment at 7.10pm ::

12. To receive an update from our Chair regarding last Sunday’s Fun Run/ Party in the Park

The Chair gave a brief summary of the financial position for the recent Fun Run/Party in the Park based on information/costings presently to hand which was deemed to have been both a financial success, and an organisational success for the organising Events Committee delivering a hugely enjoyable event for the Community of Llangunnor in the most challenging of condition where many arrangements had to reworked at short notice due to adverse weather. She wished to firstly thank Brian Jones MD of locally based Castell Howell Foods for opening the event, spending the day with us both at the park, and later down at Llangunnor school, and for his generous donation of £1000 and the provision of bottled water towards the event costs which was much appreciated. Thanks, were also extended to Stef Davies of Sgiliau for £150 sponsorship support of the children‘s races. Secondly it was pleasing to see all Councillors in attendance, along with the Clerk, and a special thankyou to all our volunteers on the day too numerous to mention individually, business partners for the supply and loan of equipment, along with the numerous local and business’s from further afield who had donated raffle prizes for our hugely successful raffle. A further report will be provided at our September meeting

13. Reports from Members Representing Council on other Bodies

Riverside Association -

One Voice Wales - Cllr Whatley had attended both the recent Area meeting and the Innovative Conference at Builth Wells. Reports to follow

School Governors - No meetings had taken place

Carmarthen Town Forum -

No meetings had taken place. The clerk confirmed that he had not received a response to his earlier asking if were allowed to send a deputy should Cllr C Evans be unable to attend, Further email to be sent seeking clarification on this point

Training -

14. Approve the Schedule of Accounts

Resolved to approve with (Minute 07/23–14) subject to the Clerk including details of his net salary as opposed to gross which will be attended to prior to the signing of the cheque payment)

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

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
E Williams	Playing Field (30/06/2023)	97.00
	Spraying weeds/nettles at main entrance and toddlers’ area	30.00
	Removal of dangerous old wire and netting near Oak Trees adjacent to skateboard park	40.00
Howard Davies	Salary - July 23	711.20
	Office Allowance - July 23	100.00
	IT Allowance - July 23	40.00
	Zoom Monthly Payment £15.59
	Stamps £6.60
	One extra Meeting £40.00 net
Carmarthen Town Council	Flowers for 8 Hanging Baskets and 20 troughs	874.00
Bowen & Weaving	Ink and Envelopes, holders, A4 refill pads	129.42
Zurich	Additional premium to cover Generator and P.A system for Fun run/Party in the Park	112.00
One Voice Wales	Conference Fee – Cllr L Whatley to attend Innovative Practice Conference July 5th	60.00
RP Hire	Toilets, generators, and 8 barriers for Party in the Park	423.60
City Loo Hire	4 Services 15/6,20/6,27/6 & 6/7	144.00
Centerprise International Ltd	Laptop and bag as per accepted quote	796.02
Diane Evans	Toilet Cleaning 26/5 – 30/6 5 sessions £60 plus cleaning materials £5.13	65.13
Wrenvale nurseries	Refilling of flowers at entrance troughs	84.00
Babell Zion Newydd	Hire of Babell for Council monthly meetings, March, April. May, & June @ £30 pm	120.00
Cllr L Whatley	Travelling expenses to attend IVW Innovate Practice Conference – 5.7.23	47.70
Barclaycard	Camera, Speakers, and cables to run hybrid meetings purchased from Amazon as per statement. Medals purchased for fun run. Copy of statement circulated. To go onto direct debit from next month,	668.61

B) Council to note receipt of income:

Income Donations and Income to date for Fun/Run Party in the Park.

Extra Meetings
Audit Meeting - 5th July 2023

1 X £50 = £50 this equates to £40.00 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)

:: Payments already made from Fun Run Party in the Park Agreed Budget spend ::

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
Brian Jones	Donation (Fun/Run Party in the Park)	1,000.00
Fun Run Party in the Park	Cash Receipts	357.60
Fun Run Party in the Park	Refreshment stall (30/06/2023)	128.80

The Clerk was requested to separate payments on the expenditure list so that councillors could see the individual amounts of each item. (Minute 0723-15)

15. Correspondence

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
Jenny Slate	Race Bibs and wrist bands	35.98
	Line paint and reward stickers	19.80
Carmarthen Party Ponies	Ponies and rabbits for Party in the Park	100.00
St Johns Ambulance	First aid cover for Fun run	208.00
Trots	Deposit for hire of tent (Refundable)	150.00
Pro Print	Event posters/Flyers	201.00
M Williams	Guide ropes	32.89
A Wadeward	Purchase of Sum Up Card Reader and purchase of banner for Party in the Park	101.61
H E Rees	Hire of Face painting Artist	120.00
Rees Sound Systems	Hire of P.A System	303.60
Association of Running Clubs	Race Membership & Insurance	75.00
Clayton Watts	Children’s Entertainer	145.00

No	Nature of Correspondence	Agreed Action
1	20 mph Newsletter - June	Circulated
2	Hywel Dda Health Board – Future Children’s Services	Circulated
3	Carmarthen C C Licencing Review	Circulated
4	Planning Appeal -AP 7164 -Land at Penbryn Farm, Llangynnor Carms	Circulated
5	Plan and photograph of recent concrete finish works undertaken received from D W Furlong	Circulated
6	IVW Innovative Practice Conference 5.7.23	Circulated
7	Note from Nicola PCSO re attendance at our Party in the Parc	Circulated
8	Planning Application PL/06139 Re Extension to Davies Cranes Garage	Circulated
9	Tree works license granted to undertake tree works on the Oak Trees near Skateboard park	Circulated
10	20 mph summit	Circulated
11	Email received from Robert Goodridge re concern of Ash Trees at the junction of Gey Y Nant lane	Circulated
12	1VW Area Meeting 12.7.23	Circulated
13	Training Courses 1VW, June & July	Circulated
14	Planning Application PL06195	Circulated
15	Regional Equality Survey	Circulated
16	Gwyl Ganol Dre 8.7.23	Circulated
17	Thank you Email received from SSAFA re recent charitable donation	Circulated
18	OPCC Bulletin	Circulated
19	Ack from SSAFA re recent donation	Circulated
	Confirmation of Sustainable Communities Grant	Circulated
21	Estimate for Tree and groundworks at the bottom of the park	Circulated

16. County Councillor Report

There was no report received as County Cllr E Williams was on holiday

. Councillor's Report

Cllr Charlie Evans reminded everyone that the extended funding for local bus services was due to come to an end at the end of the month, and that no further news had been received yet, and for all Councillors to remain vigilant of the situation

17. It was resolved that the following proposal be adopted to cover payments that required to be made during August. “The council resolves to grant the clerk, delegated powers until the next monthly meeting in September, where necessary, the Clerk will consult with the Chair on any important matters and be authorised to pay essential payments up to the value of £1000” (Minute 0723–17)

18. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 21st September 2023 at Babell Zion Newydd Vestry, with option to join virtually if required

Meeting closed at 8.10pm

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