GOWERTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
CYNGOR CYMUNEDOL TREGŴYR

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council held on Wednesday 3^rd May 2006

PRESENT: Cllrs Mike Sander, Linda Bolchover, Barbara Small, Anthony Yardley, Sue Jones, Gareth Morgan, Gareth Evans, Ros Holt, Peter Johns and Mike Egan.

ALSO PRESENT: Clerk - Serena Thomas

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillor Ronald Thomas - Ward Member

.

2 DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS:

3          PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS: None received

4             COUNCIL MINUTES
5^th April 2006
            a) the Minutes were accepted as a true record.
            b) Matters Arising:
            The written report of the Clerk regarding matters arising and subsequent actions taken was noted.

5 REPORT OF THE RETIRING CHARIMAN

Cllr Gareth Morgan Reported the following:
It has been a very rewarding year, has been a pleasure to work with the Council and Clerk. In this year the police relationship with Council has been improved, also the Christmas Festival has been an excellent success. In this year Gowerton have had the Bronze award for Swansea in Bloom. Cllr Morgan also stated he has enjoyed contributing the Chairman’s allowance of £500.00 to different charities each month.
Finally Cllr Morgan wished the new Chairperson an enjoyable year and continuance of good work.

6 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Councillor Mike Sander was elected Chairman for the forthcoming municipal year.

7 ELECTION OF VICE - CHAIRMAN

Councillor Gareth Evans was elected Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming municipal year.

8 CHAIRMAN’S ALLOWANCE

The written report of the Clerk was noted. RESOLVED that in pursuance of S34 (5) Local Government Act 1972 the Chairman’s allowance for the forth-coming financial year is set at £500.00.

9(1) REPRESENTATION

RESOLVED
1. that the following Members represent Council on the following bodies:-

a) One Voice Wales Area Committee                                                                                Cllrs. Jones and Gareth Evans
b) City & County / Community Council Forum                                                 Chairman& Vice-Chairman
c) Area 2 Development Control Committee                                                                    Cllrs Mike Sander, Gareth Evans,
Site visits/Planning Committee                                                                                            Cllrs. Bolchover & Yardley
d) Rechabite Community Hall Management Committee                                Cllr. Peter Johns
e) Governing Body Tregŵyr Infant School                                                                    Cllr. Barrie Guard
f) Governing Body Tregŵyr Junior School                                                                Cllr. Gareth Morgan
g) IMCO Consultative Meetings                                                                                                          Cllr. Bolchover
h) Carmarthen Bay SAC                                                                                                                                 Cllr. Jones
i) Gowerton Safe Routes Group                                                                                                  Cllr. Bolchover
j) Link person – Adopt a Station scheme                                                                         Cllr. Mike Sander
k)         Safer Swansea Representative                                                                                     Cllr Jones/Bolchover
l)          Web site Representative                                                                                                             Cllr Mike Egan

9(2) INTERNAL AUDITOR

RESOLVED:

that Mr. Lyn Llewellyn is asked to continue to act as internal auditor for the forthcoming financial year
the Chairman and Cllr. Holt are delegated authority to act in financial maters of urgency.

9(3) COMMITTEE STUCTURES and WORKING PRACTICES

RESOLVED that:

i) no alterations or additions are made regarding the following documents and practices:
     a)      Standing Orders
     b)    Equal Opportunities Policy
     c) Racial Equality Scheme
     d)    Health & Safety Policy

ii) the Working Party system continues on an ad-hoc basis.

iii) the review of the current grounds maintenance contract is deferred to the meeting in February 2007

10 COUNCIL MEETINGS 2006 / 2007

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Standing Order 1, that:

a) Ordinary Meetings of Council shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month (except August) at 7.30pm at the Rechabite Community Hall and that the next Annual Meeting is held in May 2006.

b) Special Meetings are held on the third Wednesday in September 2006 and February 2007 to consider applications for financial assistance and any matter of urgency.

11 COMMENTS by the INCOMING CHAIRMAN

Cllr Sander stated that he is looking forward to the ensuing year.

12 PLANNING MATTERS

The Clerk commented upon her written. RESOLVED that:

The following delegated decisions are ratified:
2006/0746 - 81 Brynymor Rd, Gowerton - TPO - Re: Overhanging trees : No Objection
2006/0196 - AMENDED PLANS - Cefn Gorwydd fawr Farm, Gowerton. No Objection

2006/0710 - 2 Brookside, Bishwell Park, Gowerton. No Objection, providing the proposed application does not exceed building line
2006/0395 - AMENDED PLANS - Single Storey side/rear extension, three rear dormers - No Objection
2006/0841 - 16 Brookside, Gowerton. - Garage & Dormer Bedroom with en-suite, single storey rear extension, loft conversion with Velux windows and front porch - Object due to overbearing nature of proposals, also over-development of property.

13 REPORTS BY THE WARD MEMBER:
Clerk spoke to Councillor Ronald Thomas by telephone and reported on the following:

a) Currently area of Gower Rise, Gowerton is still under legal ownership of the developers. City and County of Swansea are currently pursuing this.
b) At entrance way to Drovers Point under plans there should be a roundabout for access to this estate, however this has not yet been actioned. Cllr Thomas is currently pursuing this matter as this roundabout should have been in place before occupancy of houses.

14 REPORT OF THE CLERK

14 (1)               Miscellaneous
RESOLVED that:

a)        Allianz Cornhill, Insurance due for renewal. Noted

b)       Dog Fouling within Gowerton. Feedback received from CCOS - Environment Department. Noted.

c)        LCAS Bulletin - Health and safety Course - to be arranged - Clerk

d)             Gowerton Railway Station - Further feedback will be sent from CCOS in due course.

e)        Swansea Health Consultation Meeting - meeting on 04.05.06 - Noted

f)        Welsh Assembly Government Language Forum - 16.05.06 - Noted

g)        Resident Complaint : Re: Library Car-park - Clerk to meet with Highways to Discuss

h)        Inland Revenue Training Course date: Noted

i)        Co-Option of new Councillors, final interview to be held on 17^th May 2006. Final decision to be resolved on 7^th June 2006 meeting.

j)        Police - were invited to meeting but due to Sgt Tyrone Rees being recently in car accident, there is only PC Pauline ……… available for any Community Meetings.

k)        Fire and Rescue Authority Risk Reduction Plan. Noted.

l)         A Guide to the Welsh Education Scheme 2006-2011. Clerk to write and advise that Council agree that education should be equal for English and Welsh Speakers, however cut backs are not being made in Welsh schools, but cuts are being made in English Schools.

14 (2) Financial Matters
The written report submitted by the Clerk was noted.    RESOLVED that:

a)       Cheque book signatories: that Cllrs. Mike Sander, Gareth Morgan and Sue Jones are authorised to sign the Council cheque books and that the current practice of two signatures from the three continues.

b)       the following payments are authorised:

	Creditor	Item	£ Amount	VAT.
a)	NTL	Telephone advance charges	28.49		Yes
b)	Wales Audit Office	03/04 Audit Fee	293.75		Yes
c)	Bay Landscapes	Invoice No: 00140	72.00		No
d)	Bay Landscapes	Invoice No: 00138	350.54		No
e)	Temple URC	Annual Rent of Storage Shed	350.54		No

14 (3) Correspondence

The items of correspondence were noted and the Clerk informed Members of the
1 additional item received. RESOLVED that the report be noted.

15      QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO COUNCIL BUSINESS

Following questions raised by Members it was RESOLVED that:

1)     Drovers Pont Junction off Gorwydd Rd: Currently cars are parked up to edge of junction, obstructing vision when attempting to drive out of development. Clerk to meet up with highways to discuss.
2)     Inner Relief Rd: There are deep track marks made by heavy vehicle on side opposite new car-park - where Police Bay is. Clerk to establish whether this has been caused by recent cutting.

3)     ‘Welcome to Gowerton Sign’ - Clerk to cost

4)     Elba: Many trees have been snapped. Major problem in area on Good Friday, approximately 70-80 youths, many of which are youths not from the area. Youths have been known to become abusive. Parks department have recently turned off park lights earlier. Clerk to pursue with police.

           Meeting closed at 9.00pm

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                                                                                                                                   Chairman