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December 2024

The , Amy Evans was also in attendance for observation and introductions.

Minutes of a Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held at Babell Zion Newydd and via Zoom on at 7.00pm on Monday 16th December 2024

PRESENT: Councillor Jennifer Slate (Chair), Joan Evans, Matthew Williams and Graham Slate

Via Zoom: Stewart Bowen and Elwyn Williams

APOLOGIES: Councillor Geraint Bevan

Councillor Graham Slate took the minutes, also present two members of the public, Robin Griffiths and Amy Evans (Newly appointed Clerk)

Declaration of Interest

Cllr Stewart Bowen prepared the Financial Reports
Cllr Elwyn Williams did not vote in relation to a payment to his relative.

3. Chair's Announcements

o No meeting was held in November
o Appointment of the Clerk – Amy Evans was appointed – the opportunity was taken for Amy to introduce herself. Amy was welcomed by Chair and was in attendance as an observer for the meeting. Start date 1st January 2025. Finance
o Remembrance Sunday – Thanks to Cllr M.Williams and E.Williams for attending
o LCC Lights Switch On – Noted as very successful with a choir, band and free hot dogs for children.
o Carol Service – 8th December – Chair attended and did a reading
o Llangunnor School Concert – Chair attended and presented a cheque for £200 to the school, this was well received

4. Public Questions

o Gate in park not secure – new gate has been installed this week
o Query raised regarding response to letters regarding Pensarn traffic

5. Minutes

It was agreed and RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the monthly Council Meeting held on the 21st October 2024 (Minute 12/25-5) Proposed: M.Williams, Sec. Cllr G.Slate. All in favour, J.Evans abstained

6. Financial Report

6) Financial Report detailing all income and expenditure for last two months provided by Cllr Stewart Bowen. £49,292.33 is the balance across all three accounts. It was agreed and RESOLVED as correct (Minute 12/25 -6) Prop. Cllr G. Slate Sec. M.Williams. All in favour, Cllr.S.Bowen abstained.

7. Purchase of new laptop and phone for new clerk

Quote approved and company ready to deliver. Amy Evans to have input on new phone – to liaise with Cllr M.Williams and Cllr.J.Slate.

8. agree date for Finance Meeting8) To agree date for Finance Meeting to consider 2025-26 budget and agree Precept (13 or 14 January 2025 – all to attend)

Dated agreed – Monday 13th January 2025 9. To consider the purchase of Council financial software package9)

Cllr Bowen received information on SCRIBE ACCOUNTS from Cllr.Whatley, he reported that is would help regarding budgets and advantageous that all councillors could have access to view, with password protection. Chair asked for a demo to be made to the councillors to demonstrate once further analysis of the programme and its suitability has been made. It was agreed and RESOLVED that this action should be taken (Minute 12/25-9)

10)

To consider letter regarding pension and expenses claim from former Clerk Pension earned whilst in employment. Expenses of £214.20 for December 2023 to March 2024. After discussion, the proposal by Chair is to write to H.Davies to confirm approval of pension payments but to explain that a decision relating to the expenses payment will not be made until the outstanding property is returned. Once this has happened we will look to reviewing previous expenses claimed and misuse of Barclaycard (£18.00 Fuel) prior to settling of this expense claim. It was agreed and RESOLVED that this action should be taken (Minute 12/25 -10). Prop. Cllr J. Slate Sec. Cllr M.Williams. All in favour.

11) Sustainable Grant update

Awaiting a second signature on payment, should be made by BACS by the end of the week – then confirmation of payment can be sent to Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC). Proposed by Chair to have Cllr S.Bowen as 3rd Signatory for online banking to avoid this delay happening in the future. Prop. Cllr J. Slate Sec. Cllr J.Evans. All in favour. Cllr S.Bowen Abstained.

12. Consider latest play area inspection report

Cllr J.Slate reported that no inspection reports had been received for three months. Communication has been made and confirmation of attendance to site today had been received and therefore a report shall be ready for review next month. Additional mention of the gate being fixed today was made

13. Agree date for meeting re Traffic issues in Pensarn13)

Cllr J.Slate read email from Ps 256 Tom GRACE of Dyfed Powys Police. Suggestion was made for a separate meeting with Police, Traffic and other relevant bodies to discuss the ongoing issues. Date to be agreed at next meeting in January – suggested dates 27th January or 10th February.

14) Report on new Electricity supplier

The contract has now been moved from Corona to British Gas – a saving of £184 per year based on usage. Smart meter to be fitted with new supplier to avoid the need for meter readings. Final bill is due from Corona.

15. Report - Christmas Carol Service – Wednesday 27 November 202415)

Loss of £109 reported however was not a profit motivated event and was successful and well received. Comment made in relation to the need for more helpers to make such events sustainable going forward. 16. Progress Report for Fun Run 202516)

Agreed medals to be provided for the children only, but trophies for all winners. Cllr G.Slate to check details of First Aider for this event

17. Progress Report Party in the Park 202517) Progress Report Party in the Park 2025 – 22 June 2025

Volunteers needed, suggestion of getting local groups involved in this. Cllr J.Evans confirmed Ukelele band is booked

. 18) Consider purchase of council email addresses for councillors @ £61.77 each per year

Chair read correspondence regarding the advice given to councils on the matter. In summary email addresses should be setup by the council and only for council business, with each councillor being assigned one. Eight council provided email addresses would cost £494.16, there is already one in place for the clerk setup with Microsoft 365 incorporated. It was agreed and RESOLVED that this action should be taken (Minute 12/25 -18). Prop. Cllr J. Slate Sec. Cllr S.Bowen. All in favour.

19) Appointment of Clerk/RFO Public excluded and Amy Evans left the room at 20:38 as meeting went into closed session to discuss personnel matters.

One Voice Wales email regarding pay scales advised that the salary scales increased on 1st April 2024, these will be applied and backdated as necessary. Completing training will increase spine point. Pension to be processed by Clay Shaw Butler using NEST – there is a £50+VAT fee for this - percentages agreed at 5%/3%)

It was agreed and RESOLVED that this action should be taken (Minute 12/25 -19). Prop. Cllr J. Slate Sec. Cllr M.Williams. All in favour.

Public and Amy Evans readmitted to the meeting at 20:55.

20) Consider Charitable donation to bench in memory of Cllr Paul Totterdale Budget of £500 agreed and Cllr M.Williams to investigate best placement in the Park. It was agreed and RESOLVED that this action should be taken (Minute 12/25 -20)

21. Speedwatch scheme

21) Report from Cllr Lee Whatley regarding potential Speedwatch scheme Cllr L.Whatley not present, this agenda point shall be deferred till next months meeting

22. Reports from Members Representing Council on other Bodies

Riverside Association -

One Voice Wales - No report

School Governors - Cllr J Evans and Cllr E Williams attended governors meeting. School is looking at the safety of children on Llangunnor Road and the moving of the gates back to allow traffic to turn. No further update

Town Forum -

Training -

23. Correspondence

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

No	Nature of Correspondence	Agreed Action
a	Consider email from member of public regarding warm space - Response from Carmarthenshire County Council and Yr Aelwyd. Residents pay for the heating on top of their rent costs, therefore use as a regular warm space would not be possible. Use in an emergency could be a possibility. They would welcome both use by local groups and attendance to the Community Bingo on a Thursday.	Circulated
b	COVID Day of Reflection Councillors will look at information regarding the possible activities for this day of reflection – possibly in partnership with Carmarthen Town Council.	Circulated
c	Paul Cleaver – Tree Management – Reminder of the work needing to be completed. Cllr G.Slate and Cllr M.Williams to investigate current situation
d	Wales Air Ambulance request for charity donation – to discuss at the next meeting	Circulated
e	Time Saving email – to refer to the new clerk	Circulated
f	One Voice Wales: Training Modules and Courses – Chair and Vice Chair to attend	Circulated
g	10 Top things for Community Councils – confirmed we are doing all points raised already	Circulated
h	The Range Crossing – request to hear back – no update	Circulated
i	VE Day – 80th anniversary – 8th May – Lighting of the Beacons, Church Bells and other community events to be looked into	Circulated

24. County Councillor Report

Planning meeting are not currently taking place regularly due to lack of numbers attending

25. Councillor's Report

• Cllr J.Evans – Speed Camera in attendance on road
• Cllr S.Bowen – Speeding outside school
• Cllr G.Slate – Request for Handyman invoice to be more detailed. Provided confirmation that the snowman was back in place
• Cllr M.Williams – Reported missing bin the park. The bin still in situ is required to be painted and rust repaired by the handyman. Request for removal of phone number from the website.

26. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Monday 20th January 2024 at 7:00pm at Babell Zion Newydd and via Zoom

Meeting closed at ???pm