GOWERTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
CYNGOR CYMUNEDOL TREGŴYR
 
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council held on Wednesday 4th Oct 2006
 
PRESENT:  Cllrs Mike Sander, Barbara Small, Anita Bowen, Gareth Evans, Mike Egan, Sue Jones Linda Bolchover and Gareth Morgan.
 
ALSO PRESENT:  Clerk - Serena Thomas, County Councillor Ron Thomas
 
46          APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:  Councillor Lynne Carey, Tony Yardley, Peter Johns, Roz Holt and Barrie Guard.
 
.

47          DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS: 

One received -  Cllr Sue Jones - Clerks Report -  re: Letter received from Ex-Community Councillor Lis Davies. Cllr Sue Jones signed declaration register and withdrew from all discussions in relation to this letter received.
 County Councillor Thomas did leave meeting before any planning applications were discussed.
                               
48          PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS:  None received
 
49    Meetings With:
 
50            COUNCIL MINUTES
To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 4th October 2006:
a)  the Minutes were accepted as a true record, except that Cllr Mike Egan should have been listed in attendance in meeting and Barrie Guard was not in attendance.
            b)  Matters Arising:
            The written report of the Clerk regarding matters arising and subsequent actions taken was noted.
 
51        TO RECEIVE THE REPORT OF THE WARD MEMBER
Councillor Ron Thomas reported the following:
  1. Currently area is experiencing problems with vehicles parking on pavements, and residents are experiencing difficulties with access.
  2. Drovers Point. Access roundabout should have been in place before occupancy of these houses. 
  3. Fairwood Terrace - Council Officers have been looking at this area due to a recent accident and problems with flooding. Cllr Thomas stated that he has suggested light up signs for speed in this are to help alleviate any accidents in this area.
  4. Tregwyr Junior School -  Money from developments should have contributed in paying for new classroom, however negotiations are dragging on.
Community Council raised the following issues with Cllr Ron Thomas to pursue:
Ø     CCTV cameras.  Were promised that no further cameras would be set up due to funding, however a further camera has been erected.  Clerk did advise Council this was due to it being funded via the Housing Revenue Account due to this being a Council Estate.
Ø     City and County of Swansea website is out of date in relation to finding out road developments in the area.
Ø     New Swansea Housing development on Gorwydd Rd - 12 flats.  Council asked whether any clarification could be received in relation to who will be renting these.  Cllr Thomas advised Council, 50% are Council allocated and 5- % are for Swansea Housing to allocate.  These will be for ‘General Housing Needs’.
Ø     Vandalism - Elba - Pursue whether vandalism is going to be repaired, and how Council will be addressing this as this the second time this has occurred.
Ø     O2 mast.  Original planning applications showed mast not by side of road, however complaints have been received as it is only 33” from curb.  
Cllr Thomas left meeting.


 

52       PLANNING MATTERS

 
The Clerk commented upon her written.  RESOLVED that:
 
2006/2075 - 38 Maes y Deri, Gowerton. TPO.  Request replacing of dead tree.
2006/2096 - 123 Cecil Rd, Gowerton.  No Objection
2006/2037 - 47 Mount Pleasant, Gowerton. No Objection providing turning area is kept.
2006/2073 - 4 Roper Wright Close, Gowerton. No Objection subject to Council tree surveyor deems work necessary.
2006/2093 - 94 Gorwydd Rd, Gowerton. No Objection although Council would request vegetation on footpath to remain.
 

53      REPORT OF CHAIRMAN

Cllr Mike Sander Reported the following:
1.   Pact Meeting September -  Viewed meeting as not particularly progressive, does not like set up of meeting, splitting into groups etc.  Panel need to be careful that one person does not take over entire meeting.
2.   Attended Loughor Town Band concert on 23rd September 2006.  Met Mayor of Loughor, and received letter from President of Band. Cllr Sander stated he thoroughly enjoyed this event.
3.   Railway Station.  Planters have been vandalised.  Due to height and weight of planter this muat have been pre-meditated. 
4.   Community Council Forum.  Recently attended, presentation on Swansea Leisure Centre - a dvd played highlighted there would be 180 gym stations and waterpark.  Due to open December 2007, website for this will be up and running in 4-6 weeks.  Next Community Council Forum will be on 21st November 2006 at 5pm to discuss Code of Conduct.
5.   Due to holiday of Clerk, March’s meeting will have to be on 3rd Wednesday in March.
 

54 REPORT OF THE CLERK

(1)               Miscellaneous
  RESOLVED that:
 
a)           Newsletter for Autumn/Winter will be ready for distribution at next Council meeting.
b)       Meeting with Swansea Council Landscapes department re: Pont y Cob.   Clerk to arrange Pont y Cob area to be cut by Bay Landscapes at Community Councils cost.
c)        Health Challenge Wales - New issue - distributed
d)           Christmas Lighting quotation - Prices noted
e)        Card of thanks received from Cllr Barrie Guard.  Card read out and noted.
f)           Community Service Award - arrange to present in December
g)            Christmas party working arrangements - progressing well, all noted by Council
h)        National Training Strategy - questionnaire to be returned. Clerk to arrange
i)         Bernard Smith - phone call of thanks for flowers sent for birthday- noted
j)        Letter received from Ex-Community Councillor Lis Davies.  Letter read to Council in full.  Contents noted.
 
(2)      Financial Matters
The written report submitted by the Clerk was noted.    RESOLVED that:
 
the following payments are authorised:
 
 
Creditor     
Item
£ Amount
VAT.
a)
NTL
Telephone advance charges
28.49
 
Yes
b)
Mileage Allowance
September
20.03
 
Yes
       
 
 
 
S137 Payments - Council resolved to authorise the following amounts:

Brownies - 2nd Gowerton Temple URC - £100.00

 
 (3)  Correspondence
 
The items of correspondence were noted - 1 extra piece of correspondence received - letter from Lis Davies - Read out in Clerks Report. RESOLVED that the report be noted.
 
55      QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO COUNCIL BUSINESS
 
Following questions raised by Members it was RESOLVED that:
 
1.   Talbot Street - Currently developments are under way to reverse the flow of traffic. Currently new signage is covered, however it seems that highways are awaiting lighting for this area, other relevant signage will be erected in approx 3 weeks.  Clerk to request further info on developments being made.
2.   Willow Development - opposite Gibson and Jones Vets, due to digging for services, there is a considerable groove in the road, with no ramps or signage.  Clerk to contact highways to pursue.
3.   Elba fencing - Clerk to chase up correspondence from Iwan Davies at City and County of Swansea - quotes.
4.   Swansea Housing - Development on Gorwydd Rd.  Clerk to write and find out who these flats will be rented to.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
           Meeting closed at 9.20pm  
 
                                                                                                          …………………………………
                                                                                                                                   Chairman