GOWERTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL-CYNGOR CYMUNEDOL TREGŴYR

 

Minutes of a Meeting of Council held on Wednesday 3rd March 2010
PRESENT:             Cllrs. Ros Holt, Linda Bolchover, Barbara Small, Ann Guard, John Fitzjohn, Susan Jones,
Mike Sander, Gareth Morgan and Lynne Carey.
ALSO PRESENT:      Clerk Serena Thomas, PC Phil Barrow
95 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:  Cllrs. Mike Egan, Peter Johns, Colin Staples and Gareth Evans

96 DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS: 

Cllr Susan Jones declared interest in all Planning matters and left meeting for all discussions.
97 MEETING WITH:   
Police - PC Phil Barrow gave the following report:
There have been some problems with car break-ins, approx six cars recently broken into, and some of these in car owners driveways, but they are mainly preventative crimes as on these occasions, valuables have been left in sight i.e. SAT NAV’s and mobile phones.
The Police have arrested two people in connection with various crimes in the areas.
In the Woodlands, unknown vandals pulled up some plants, however other than that the area has been very quiet.  PC Barrow requested that any information that becomes known on this incident would be gratefully received, as the incident happened on a Friday night, but was not reported until Monday morning.
PACT meeting in next Monday following meeting, although currently Gowerton has no major issues to be raised.
Clerk requested PC barrow to supply information in relation to preventative crimes for information for residents for the newsletter.
Council commended the Police for crossing children by junior school.
98 PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS:
None received

99 COUNCIL MINUTES   - 3rd February 2010

a)       the Minutes were accepted as a true record. Matters arising: Noted.  The written report of the Clerk regarding matters arising and subsequent actions taken was noted. 
100  REPORT OF THE WARD MEMBER

 

Cllr Sue Jones gave the following report:

·     It is a challenging time for budget at City and County of Swansea as they have only received 1.9% from the Welsh Assembly Government. Particularly challenging is the education budget- in Wales the amount given per head is £527 less than a child that lives in England.

·     Sue has been dealing with other issues such as, Tennis Centre in area, Merger between Longfields and Wallingham (a countrywide organisation for people with learning difficulties), and lots of involvement with youth services looking at youth provisions and Sue has been reporting on the accommodation strategy- finding of which will be put forward to look at provisions in area.

·      Cllr Jones also stated she has visited Cwmbwrla Day Centre today.

·     In Gowerton Sue has ensured the car park by Library has been cleared of rubbish and the leaves on footpath by Park Rd shops and infants school and Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr have been cleared.

·     For information the official creation of a Bridleway at Cae Mansel Lane.

·     Also there has been a survey made of the speed of traffic in Clos Morgan Owen - as it had been reported by residents that speed was an issue- however the survey showed there was not a problem.   Community Councillors expressed concern of the validity of the data collated within this survey.

·     The Pelican crossing in Gowerton - the main work is done, it is now a case of waiting for electrical’s to be completed.  Hopefully there will be a grand opening.  A Community Councillor stated they were concerned in relation to the placement of crossing, however Sue clarified that the Road Safety Officers have inspected the site and stated this is the safe option.

·     Finally Sue advised of her Surgery date of 6th March 2010 at the library between 11-12 in partnership with the Police.

 

101    PLANNING MATTERS

 
No registered applications received.

 

 

102    CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chairperson Cllr Ros Holt had no report.

 

103 CLERK REPORT
(A) MISCELLANEOUS
  1. Review of Councillors’ Allowances Regulations. For circulation any comments to be made by 11th June 2010.
  2. Review of Community Boundaries in the City and County of Swansea. No amendments to be made to Gowerton boundaries. For circulation.
  3. Gowerton Comprehensive school Senior Awards evening - Wednesday 24th March 2010.  Noted
  4. Community/Town Councils Forum - Committee room 1, Civic centre - Tuesday 16th March 2010 at 5.00pm.Noted.
  5. Gowerton School Brangwyn Hall event - Wednesday March 17th at 6.30pm.  £1 tickets. All members welcome.
  6. Creation of Public Bridleway at Caemansel Lane, Gowerton. As members may recall, in 2009 informal consultation was made in relation to the creation of a bridleway- it was already being used as such, however it had not been legally defined as a bridleway. A creation order has now been made and a notice of its making.

 

(B)  FINANCIAL MATTERS

The written report submitted by the Clerk was noted.  RESOLVED that:

a)       the following payments are authorised:             

Creditor
Item
£ Amount
VAT
 inc
a)
Virgin Media
Telephone Adv. Charges
33.00
Yes
b)
City and County of Swansea
Lottery permit
20.00
No
c)
Clerk
Mileage Allowance
82.34
Yes
d)
Neat Ideas
General Stationary
83.08
Yes
e)
Clerk
Bay Landscapes
384.80
Yes

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No S137 Grant Aid Requests authorised

 

 

(C)  CORRESPONDENCE
The items of correspondence were noted.

 

104  QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO COUNCIL BUSINESS

Following question/issues raised by Members it was RESOLVED that:

 

a)   Cllr. Gareth Morgan requested that Aprils Council meeting be changed due to it overlapping with the Easter Holidays and many people are away.  This was agreed and it would be advertised in due course for either the second or third Wednesday of the following month.

b)   The drains in Gowerton - particularly Gorwydd Rd have still not been cleared.  Cllr Sander had taken photos over a year ago, and they are still in same state currently. *

c)   The pavement on Gorwydd Rd is not in a good condition, and needs maintenance work.

d)   The hedge which border pavement from land at 127-137 Gorwydd Rd are encroaching onto footpath this does include Japanese Knottweed.  A litterpick needs to be done before cutting of grass.

e)   The road sweeper lorry recently seen on Gorwydd Rd seems ineffective and spews dirt back onto road.

 

*Cllr. Jones stated that she has recently spoken to Stewart Goulden - Highways and there is an inspection to take place of the drains and for them to be systematically cleared.

 

f)     There has still been no progress made on the area of pavement on Elba Street.  This is a repeated request and has still not been responded to or actioned.

g)   The hedge on the triangle - Clerk to chase up whether this can be cut down substantially.  (Clerk authorised to action if permission given up to amount of £350).

h)   BT Phonebox by triangle is in a state of disrepair - needs to be cleaned and repaired.

i)     Minutes on Website to be kept more regularly up to date.

j)     Chimney behind Ballard Homes seems unstable.  Children play in area.  Cllr Small to confirm ownership before Clerk enquires.

k)   There has been some vandalism on bushes in the Woodlands.  Already being dealt with by Police.

l)     There have been issues with noise from Industrial Timet works, with a huge amount of smoke coming from chimney stacks.  Last time the noise problem was in relation to a fan and was dealt with.  Environment Agency has been informed.

m) It was suggested that clerk is to find any outstanding issues and send out letters to departments to chase up problems.

n)   Clarification needed as to whether agendas could be emailed out to councillors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting closed at 9.00pm                                                                                                                                 …………………………………
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Chairman