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November 2023

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held at Babell Zion Newydd at 6.30pm on Thursday 16th November 2023.

PRESENT: Councillor Jennifer Slate (Chair), Geraint Bevan, Paul Totterdale, Elwyn Williams(*), Charlie Evans, Matthew Williams, Stewart Bowen(*) and Graham Slate

APOLOGIES: Councillor Lee Whatley, Ally Wadeward and Joan Evans

Also present Howard Davies (Clerk) and two members of the public present Robin Griffiths(*)
(*) joined remotely

Declaration of Interest

None

3. Chair's Announcements

• 1. The results of the Halloween House decorating competition were announced on our Facebook page. 1st place Kerry Reynolds, Runners Up x 2 – Casey Thomas and Peggy Thomas and Highly Commended – Alison Davies & Jensen Roberts. She had visited each household and gave out certificates and prizes awarded from the Chairs Fund. Whilst there were not many entries our footfall and followers to the page increased reaching nearly 2000 people
• I attended the Chairing Skills course 2 weeks ago where I learnt some new skills which I will put into practice and which hopefully will help me to chair the meetings more productively, e.g. a. Moving points on to a vote when they have been discussed sufficiently (i.e., councillors should only speak on each matter once unless there is good reason to raise another point)
b. If a point has already been covered not to allow repeated discussion
c. Ensuring that everyone is clear on what they are voting on by ensuring it is clear what the options are and summarising before the vote
d. Ensuring that meetings run to schedule i.e. no more than 2 hours) and moving items up the agenda which have more importance
e. Having a pre-meeting with the clerk to look at the proposed agenda and agree order etc. This started this week – I will be meeting with the clerk via zoom one week before the meeting to do this. I encourage the Chairs of other committees to also do this as it ensures the Chair is fully appraised of what is being discussed and ensures smoother running of the meetings)
• I was booked to attend the Local Government Finance on Nov 8 but unfortunately this was cancelled due to lack of participants. Next week I am booked onto the Council Meeting training course.
• Please look at the training courses sent out by the Clerk each month and look to see which would be of benefit to you. We have an agenda point this evening to adopt the model member/officer protocol. If any councillor has not attended Code of Conduct training, I would recommend that this is one training session that you look to attend if possible. There is also a training session for New Councillor Induction that I believe we should ask all new councillors to attend going forward. All training is now available via zoom.
• I would like to congratulate Llangunnor Parish church who were the overall winners in the UK for the Nayler Awards for Excellence in Church Maintenance, run with the Pilgrim Trust. Having been there last Sunday I am in total agreement about how well the Church and grounds are maintained. They have an open day on Saturday for members of the public to visit the Church and grounds, and I would recommend to you all to go and visit if you can.
• On Sunday 12 November I represented the Council at Llangunnor Church in laying the wreath and afterwards at the memorial Stone. Later that day I attended Carmarthen Railway Centre where a wreath was laid for the railwaymen who lost their lives.
• I have been reminded that there is a memorial stone at Pensarn Sorting office for the postal workers who also lost their lives in service, and I would recommend that next year, a service is held for those workers after the memorial stone service.
• Last night I was due to attend Dyfed Powys Police HQ Open Doors Event for community representatives, but unfortunately unforeseen work commitments prevented me from attending. Cllr Charlie Evans was going to try to attend in my place.
• I have been invited to attend the Carmarthen Christmas Lights Switch-On ceremony on Saturday 18 November at 4.30pm
• I have been invited to attend the Kidwelly Town Council Christmas Lighting Ceremony on Thursday 23 November 2023 at 6pm. I have been asked to extend this invitation to the rest of council. There will be a procession at 6.25pm with a santas grotto, carols, and arts and crafts stalls.
• I would like to remind you that the Christmas Light Switch On will be Wednesday 29 November. We will be walking back down to the school afterwards for santas grotto and we would like volunteers to assist and any torches etc to light the way would be very useful.
• We have our first carol service around the tree in Llangunnor Park on Wednesday 13 December. We will be serving mulled wine and hot chocolate and mince pies. We have volunteers from WI and Babell along with councillors again working together in the community building partnerships.
• Llangunnor Network on facebook have advertised a festive colouring competition open to all ages. Visit their facebook page for more information.
• A reminder that Babell Chapel open on a Thursday morning 10.30 to 1.30 for tea/coffee.
• I would like to congratulate former Councillor Sandra Thomas on her appointment to President of Carmarthenshire Ladies Bowling Association. She is the first representative from Bro Myrddin Bowls Club to hold the position. I’m sure you will join me in sending her our congratulations.
• I would also like to congratulate Serenar Douch from Llangunnor. Serenar has performed at many of our events over the last few years and was the recipient of a Community Award in 2022. Straight after graduating she has landed a role in the West End in Moulin Rouge. Very well done

4. Public Questions

A member of the Public wished to voice his ongoing concerns about the safety of users of the Skateboard Park and his opinion that railings should be erected. Chair advised that this would be dealt with under point 11 on tonight’s agenda

5. Minutes

It was agreed and RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the monthly Council Meeting held on the 19th of October 2023(Minute 11/23-5)

6. Approve the Schedule of Accounts Resolved that the undermentioned accounts be paid as indicated below : £906.79

It was Resolved (minute ) proposed Cllr and seconded Cllr (unanimous) that the accounts submitted be approved. (Minute 11/23–6)

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

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
E Williams	Playing Field (31/10/2023)	97.00
Howard Davies	Salary - Nov 23	711.20
	Office Allowance - Nov 23	100.00
	IT Allowance - Nov 23	40.00
	Zoom Monthly Payment	15.59
	Extra Meeting	40.00
Babell Zion Newydd	Hire of Babell Chapel for Council, Committeeand Craft meetings, 20th July 5th August 21st September 9th October 19th October, @£30 per session	150.00
City Loo Hire	Toilet Service £30 plus £6 Vat	36.00
Barclaycard	Planning Fee re CCTV Carms C CFee Temp Event Licence – Carol Service 13.12.23 at Park. Stamps £115.00 £21.00 £7.00
Diane Evans	10 weeks toilet cleaning at £10pw	100.00
Cllr Ally Wadeward	3 Christmas Banners for our three tree sites	106.10
Bowen & Weaving	Ink set for Printer	£93.30
Charles Sams	To supply and install feeder pillars and associated wiring in the park as per accepted quotation £3,410.50 plus Vat	4,092.60
Williams Architecture/Pensaerniaeth Ltd	Design fees re CCTV installation, and submission of Planning Application to Carms CC	750.00

Extra Meetings 1 X £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) Extra Meetings held. Park & Environment 7.11.23

B) Council to note receipt of income: None

. Matters Arising 7. ???

Resolved to adopt National Joint Council for Local Government agreed rates of pay for Clerks applicable from 1st April 2023, with the increase to be backdated to 1st April 2023. (Minute 11/23–7)

8. ???

Cllr Jenny Slate introduced her motion “to adopt the /Responsible Finance Member/Officer Protocol from One Voice Wales. Already circulated electronically.”

The motion was seconded by Cllr Bevan and following a short discussion resolved to be adopted by the Council. (Minute 11/23 -8) 9. ???

Cllr Jenny Slate introduced her motion “to adopt the Delegation to the Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer schedule. This is the approved template from One Voice Wales to allow councils to conduct their undertaking so as to avoid undue delay in making payments needed to conduct the business of the council. The details of the motion have already been circulated electronically. The motion was seconded by Cllr G Slate and following a short discussion resolved to be adopted by the Council. (Minute 11/23-9)

10. ???

It was resolved to adopt Llangunnor Community Council CCTV Policy without further amendment (Minute 11/23 -10)

11. Committee

11. Council Committees: i)Finance committee -A meeting to be scheduled asap. ii)Park & Environment - Noted the minutes of the meeting which took place on the 7th November where minutes have been circulated electronically and uploaded to our web page. Three recommendations were received from the Park & Environment and following discussion it was resolved to proceed as follows: 1. Resolved to support the Removal of the Skateboard Equipment following a thorough Risk Assessment on Health and Safety grounds. 2 Resolved not to proceed with the railings at site of The Memorial Stone based on cost, and as it was felt that the risk of somebody slipping on the brushed concrete surface of the plinth to be put in place by Spring would be minimal, due to the very modest fall in levels between the pavement and the base of the stone. 3 Resolved to use Utility Aid to source quotes for the new electricity connection for the park. (Minute 11/23 ii 1,2,3, iii)Web & Media – Last meeting took place on the 7th of June. No recent meetings. Meeting to be arranged before next Council Meeting. iv) Events Committee- Meeting of the Events Committee took place on the 9th of October where minutes have been circulated electronically and uploaded to our web page. 12. ???

Following a discussion it was resolved to agree a budget of £200 with a 10% contingency for the Christmas Lights to facilitate the purchase of sundries for the party to follow as per previously circulated list. It was decided to remove the capital cost of purchasing a generator from this budget and to set aside a separate Asset budget of £500 to purchase a suitable generator/batteries or other forms of providing electricity for the events. (Minute 11/23 – 12)

:: Cllr C Evans leaves the meeting at 7.15pm ::

13. ??

Following a discussion it was resolved to agree a budget of £200 with a 10% contingency for the Christmas Carol Service to facilitate the purchase of sundries as per circulated list. It was decided to remove the capital cost of the urns from this budget and to set aside a separate Asset purchase budget of £450 to purchase suitable urns.(Minute 11/23–13)

14. ???

The arrangements for the Christmas Lights switch on were again discussed and will be finalised at next week’s Events Committee meeting

15. ???

The arrangements for the inaugural Christmas Carol Service around the Christmas tree at the entrance to Llangunnor Park, were again discussed, and will be finalised at next week’s Events Committee meeting. In the interim it was agreed for the Events Committee to put together a programme for the evening. It was confirmed that Carmarthen Wind Band had agreed to play at the service. (Minute 11/23-15)

:: Cllr G Slate leaves the meeting at 7.35pm ::

16. County Councillor Report

Cllr Williams advised that November been relatively quiet to date, but much discussion had taken place how the Council and Dyfed Powys Police were going to recoup their costs incurred in managing the protests at former Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli site that had been earmarked for housing asylum seekers were total costs for both being estimated at circa 570k. The Home Office has now decided not to proceed with this proposal

17. Committee

Due to Cllr Whaley’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 11/23–17)

. Web Committee

18.??

Cllr Jenny Slate gave a short informative presentation on the make-up and methodology of “risk score calculations” that appear on our monthly /annual Park Inspection Reports to improve our understanding of risk etc.

19. Reports from Members Representing Council on other Bodies

Riverside Association -

One Voice Wales - Cllr Whatley due to unavoidable absence this evening had emailed the clerk the following report: "Meeting began with a presentation from Justin Horrell, Digital Project Manager with One Voice Wales who gave an overview of his role and the work that was being looked in to - basically will be looking at the digital requirements for councils and the tools required for councils to achieve amongst other things to have greater digital inclusion.
One Voice Wales is looking to develop some training regarding the Finance and Governance Toolkit, and the National Executive Committee have decided that area committees will be held in the majority virtually to free up officer time and travelling costs"

School Governors - No meetings had taken place however, a remembrance service had taken place, which had to be scaled down as the vicar was unable to attend

Training -

20. Applications for Financial Assistance

received from the following Organisations and Groups were considered: 1. Eisteddfod Gadeiriol Llandyfaelog 2.Cerebral Palsy Wales 3.Urdd Gobaith Cymru 4.Wales Air Ambulance With the permission of the Chair the Clerk was allowed to add two late requests received this week. Late requests were received from: 5. Carmarthen YFC 6.Cancer Information & Support Services CCIS

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 6 from CCIS a South West Wales charity based in Swansea. Little is known of its activities, and it was felt that this went against our principles of supporting charities that provide benefits locally for the residents of Llangunnor. (Minute 11/23 – 21)

21. Correspondence

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

21. OPCC Bulletin Circulated

No	Nature of Correspondence	Agreed Action
1	Polling Districts and Polling Places Review	Circulated
2	IVW Training October, November, December 23	Circulated
3	Sports Actif Awards Nominations	Circulated
4	Review of Democratic Health in the Community	Circulated
5	Estimates from J R Fabrication re Provision of Skateboard Park basic railings and railings for the Memorial Stone	Circulated
6	Support for Climate and Ecology Bill	Circulated
7	Update from C Cllr Edward Thomas Carms C C re emergency exit for Charlie’s car park onto Pensarn Road	Circulated
8	Local Places for Nature Garden Packs	Circulated
9	Advice and Advisory bodies list available on our website – Public Ombudsman for Wales	Circulated
10	Training Plan -Statutory requirement-Email from Carms C C	Circulated
11	Consultation Draft Service Plan 2040-Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Services	Circulated
12	Strategic Equality Plan 2024-2028	Circulated
13	Councillor Allowances - Homeworking arrangements and consumables	Circulated
14	Invitation from Carms Domestic Abuse Centre	Circulated
15	Notification of Planning Submission for CCTV and additional planning fee payable of £115	Circulated
16	Audit Wales Paned a Sgwrs webinar 9.11.23	Circulated
17	Llangunnor Church winner of a National award for maintenance	Circulated
18	New National Pay awards for Clerks 2023-24	Circulated
19	Member/Officer Protocol	Circulated
20	Fire Service Community Risk Management Plan Consultation 2040	Circulated
15		Circulated
22	Emergency Road Closure Llangunnor	Circulated
23	Training dates by Module Nov & Dec.	Circulated
24	Further details from Roman Solutions re Seating for Upper Play Area	Circulated

22. Councillor's Report 22.Local issues brought up by Councillors. Cllr Totterdale wished to report that the speed advisory sign on Babell hill Llangunnor as you proceed up the hill, and before the turning into Tregunnor was not working. Action point: Clerk agreed to report the outage to Carms C C. Cllr Totterdale also enquired why the large flower tubs provided by the Council on Blaengwastod Road, and along Pibwr Flats had not been collected. The Clerk was able to update Cllr Totterdale following an earlier discussion with our colleagues at Carmarthen Town Council as follows: Due to their weight, they will remain in situ ready for next years planting, where the old flower growth will be cleared over the coming weeks. Cllr M Williams stated that he had been approached by park users to see if some form of lighting could be provided to illuminate the paths now the dark evenings and mornings are upon us.

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>Clerk responded that he has asked our Electrician to investigate this, to see what Cost effective options were available. 23. Date of next meeting: meeting -Thursday 23. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 14th December 2023 at Babell Zion Newydd Vestry, with option to join virtually if required

Meeting closed at 8.30pm

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