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A meeting of Llangunnor Community Council will be held at Babell Zion Newydd on Thursday 18th January 2024 at 6:30p.m. To transact the following agenda:
1. To receive apologies for absence.
2. To record all declarations of interest.
3. Chair’s Announcements.
4. 12 minutes for any questions from public.
5. To approve the minutes of the Monthly meeting of Council held on 14th December 2023.
6. To approve the schedule of accounts for January 2024
7. To ratify increasing our Precept request from Carmarthen C C to £41000 with a further review next year to ensure that our running costs are covered, and to continue to look at ways where possible to reduce costs, as per recommendations of the Finance Committee.
8. To ratify the recommendation of The Finance Committee to add Cllr S Bowen to our Signatory panel at Barclays Bank to provide additional flexibility.
9. To consider placing an extra bench made from recycled plastic within the upper play area, at a cost of £400 plus groundworks of £100 – Total £500 as decision now required before the new mulch surface is laid, as it cannot be done cost effectively. once the mulch has been laid.
10. Motion from Cllr Jenny Slate – “To consider purchasing a new “all in one printer” for the Clerks work, to reduce printing costs significantly, given existing printer is aged, and Is no longer efficient, at a cost of £220, which will see repayment within three years based on envisaged savings to ink costs.
11. Motion from Jenny Slate – “during these unprecedented times many are suffering, this is particularly true with regard to the poorest in our community, with this in mind I would like to propose that the Council consider donating a further £1000 to the Carmarthen Food Bank”.
12. Council Committees – a. Park & Environment meeting took place on the 7th of November where minutes have been circulated electronically. b. Finance Committee. Meeting took place on the 10th of January where minutes are being prepared and will be circulated shortly. c. Web / Media Committee – No meeting since the 6th of June 2023. d. Events Committee. Meeting took place on the 22nd of November where minutes have been circulated.
13. To appoint new Governor representative to Llangunnor School following the recent resignation of Cllr A Wadeward.
14. To seek nominations for a replacement Officer to fill the current vacancy on The Web Committee following the recent resignation of Cllr A Wadeward.
15. To note annual salary awards for clerks, where the clerk advises that he is now due two spine increments on his pay scale following a satisfactory performance over the last two years, subject to agreement by Council as per the Terms of his Contract Of Employment. CYNGOR CYMUNED LLANGYNNWR LLANGUNNOR COMMUNITY COUNCIL
16.To Review Clerk’s allowances for this current Financial Year
17. To adopt meeting calendar for this year as circulated by the Chair, and to agree dates for our “events programme”
18. To receive County Councillors Report (Cllr Elwyn Williams) and update on the proposal to create a controlled emergency exit off Charlie’s car Park.
19. To receive feedback from Cllr Whatley Chair of the Task and Finish Group on the 2023 Model Standing Orders and discuss if approved adopt their recommendations.
20. To receive reports from Members representing Council on other Boies/Training. a. One Voice Wales b. School Governors
21. To receive correspondence and agree responses.
22. Councillors Report
23. Date of next Meeting. Thursday 15th February 2024

January 2024

Minutes of Monthly Meeting of Llangunnor Community Council held at Babell Zion Newydd at 6.30pm on Thursday 18th January 2024.

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

(*) joined remotely

APOLOGIES: Councillor Lee Whatley and Joan Evans

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

Declaration of Interest

None

3. Chair's Announcements

The Chair had no announcements to make

4. Public Questions

None

5. Minutes

It was agreed and RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the monthly Council Meeting held on the 14th of December 2024 (Minute 01/24-5)

6. Approve the Schedule of Accounts

Resolved that the undermentioned accounts be paid as indicated below: (Minute 01/24–6)

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

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
E Williams	Playing Field	97.00
Howard Davies	Salary -	795.23
	Office Allowance -	100.00
	IT Allowance -	40.00
	Zoom Monthly Payment	15.59
Cllr Joan Evans	Reimbursement: Cupcakes, cake toppers, serving trays, and cake sprinkles for Christmas party following light switch on	22.56
City Loo Hire	Toilet Service £30 plus £6 Vat (9th November/12th December/10th January)	108.00
Barclaycard (via Direct Debit)	Stamps Ryman: Plastic Document holders Aldi: Purchase of Mulled Wine/mince pies/sundries for Xmas Events	20.50 10.78 145.85
JRB Enterprise Ltd	Dog gloves for park	42.84
Carmarthenshire County Council	Repayment of Lighting Ln Instalment to convert lanterns to LED (£1424.75 plus VAT £284.95)	1709.70
Dragon Play & Sports	Operational Inspections for Llangunnor Park as per agreement at £75 Plus VAT per Inspection	90.00

B) Council to note receipt of income:

Payee	Info	(£) Amount
Carmarthenshire County Council	Precept 3rd Payment	12,666.67
	Transfer 106 Monies re Park Electric connection	3,410.50
National Grid	Reimbursement: for connection charge at Park £828.94, purchase of main electric pillar £683.75, and compensation payment of £487.31 to round up to £2000	2,000.00
Cash/Card Sales	Funds from sales of mulled wine at Carol Service. Cash £165.70 Sum Up £16.71

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. Finance meeting 10.1.24 For information -Expenditure on S137 Donation Requests Agreed - December (Minute 12/23 -) Payee Description Amount £ Carms Youth Opera Donation £60 Urdd Gobaith Cymru Donation Re Fund for All Appeal for 2 children from Llangunnor School £360 Urdd Gobaith Cymru Donation Re Maldwyn £60 For Information payments issued for Christmas Lights Switch on within agreed Budget. – (Minute 11/23-12) Barclaycard Aldi Mulled wine, mince pies, cream, food sundries £145.85 R P Hire Ready Tool Hire Hire of lights/cabling etc £81.60 Proprint Posters for Carol Service £28.00 7. ???

Following a brief discussion it was Resolved to accept the recommendation of the Finance Committee to increase the Precept to £41000 for the next financial year (Minute 01/24–7)

8. ???

Following a brief discussion it was unanimously Resolved to add Cllr S Bowen to the signatory panel at Barclays Bank. (Minute 01/24 – 8)

9. ???

Following a brief discussion it was Resolved not to place another bench within the upper play area, based on cost, and the availability of sufficient existing seating nearby. (Minute 01/24 -9)

10. ???

Cllr Jenny Slate introduced her motion

“To consider purchasing a new “all in one printer” for the Clerks work, to reduce printing costs significantly, given existing printer is aged, and Is no longer efficient, at a cost of £220, which will see repayment within three years based on envisaged savings to ink costs”

The motion was seconded by Geraint Bevan. After a brief discussion the motion was adopted (Minute 01/24 -10)

11. ??

Cllr Jenny Slate introduced her motion

“during these unprecedented times many are suffering, this is particularly true with regard to the poorest in our community, with this in mind I would like to propose that the Council consider donating a further £1000 to the Carmarthen Food Bank”

The motion was discussed, and C Cllr Elwyn Williams said he would support if the motion was amended to give £500 to Christ Church Food Bank, based at Christ Church Carmarthen, and £500 to Carmarthen Food Bank based in Johnstown, as he felt that we needed to donate locally to ensure maximum benefit for the resident of Llangunnor notwithstanding that some of our residents do attend the Johnstown facility. Cllr Slate was happy to amend her motion to give £500 to each Foodbank, and this was then seconded by C. Cllr Elwyn Williams. After a brief discussion the motion was adopted (Minute 01/24 – 11)

12. Council Committees

i) Finance

Meeting took place on the 10th of January, where the minutes are being circulated.

ii) Parks and Environment 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. Next meeting will be arranged for early next month

iii) Web and Media

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

iv)Events

Meeting took place on the 22nd of November where minutes have been circulated electronically and uploaded to our web page. Next meeting to take place February 2024

13. Appointment of a new Governor representative to Llangunnor School

It was decided to move this point onto next month’s agenda given that 3 Councillors were unable to attend this month’s meeting and had tendered their apologies.

. . Committee

14. Cllr G Slate was unanimously elected to fill the current vacancy on The Web And Media Committee. (Minute 01/24 – 14) :: In order to discuss the salary increases now due to the clerk, the clerk and a member of the Public were asked to leave the room whilst this discussion took place :: 15. ??

Following completion of their discussions the Council agreed to award the clerk the two spine increases now due to his salary which will now place him on spine 26 of the National Association of Local Council’s pay scales at an annual salary of £34834 pro rata. It was noted that a further two future increments would be due under his “contract of employment” subject to a satisfactory performance review and approval by the Council. The increases are to be backdated to April 2022. (Minute 01/24 – 15)

:: The Clerk and a member of the Public were re admitted :: 16. Clerks Allowances

It was decided to move this point onto next month’s agenda given that 3 Councillors were unable to attend this month’s meeting and had tendered their apologies, and to allow time to review what the payment covered. The Clerk’s Terms Of Employment clearly state that “The council pays an allowance for working from home currently £100/ month”

17. ??

It was resolved to adopt the calendar of meetings as presented, and to provisionally hold the fun run on May 19th, and the Community Event on the 23rd of June. Chair to approach Llangunnor School to agree Christmas dates for our planned events to ensure that they do not clash with end of term activities at the school. (Minute 01/24-17)

18. ??

C. Cllr Elwyn Willams advised that Cllr Edward Thomas had advised him that the scheme was in the final stages of appraisal and was being costed. Carmarthenshire County Council were looking to proceed subject to funding, which was encouraging news. Secondly, he advised that much discussion was going on at County Hall to agree next years financial budgets given funding constraints and the need to make 20 Million of savings, where Council Tax increases will be inevitable, and certain front-line services reduced to save money. He will keep us advised, but there are tough decisions to be made at County level.

19. ??

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 01/24–19)

. Committee

. Committee

. Committee

20. Reports from Members Representing Council on other Bodies

One Voice Wales - No report

School Governors - No meetings had taken place

Town Forum - 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 -

. County Councillor Report

21. Correspondence

The following correspondence be noted/action taken:

No	Nature of Correspondence	Agreed Action
1	Road Closure C2070 Capel Dewi	Circulated
2	Update -Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales’s draft report online form (survey)	Circulated
3	Determinations agreed last year	Circulated
4	Thank you letter YFC	Circulated
5	Vision ICT Newsletter	Circulated
6	OPCC Bulletin	Circulated
7	No requirement for an election following resignation of C Evans
8	Planning Consultation PL06974	Circulated
9	Road Closure PL06974	Circulated
10	Future spending purposes for dormant asset funding in Wales.	Circulated
11	Response from Carmarthenshire County Council re Power Outage at site of Pensarn Xmas tree.	Circulated
12	Resignation of Cllr A Wadeward	Circulated
13	Training Dates Feb & March 2024 1VW	Circulated
14	14. Lamp Light of Peace.	Circulated
15
16
17
15

. Councillor's Report

None

> 23. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 15th February 2024 at Babell Zion Newydd

Meeting closed at 7.55pm

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