GOWERTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
CYNGOR CYMUNEDOL TREGŴYR
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council held on Wednesday 5th May 2010
PRESENT: Cllrs Peter Johns, Ros Holt, Lynne Carey, Mike Egan, Barbara Small, Ann Guard, Sue Jones, Gareth Morgan, Mike Sander, John Fitzjohn, Linda Bolchover and Gareth Evans.
ALSO PRESENT: Clerk - Serena Thomas
1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE - Colin Staples
A minutes silence was taken in remembrance of ex-Community Councillor Eirwen Taylor.
2   TO RECEIVE THE REPORT OF THE RETIRING CHAIRMAN
Cllr Ros Holt gave the following report:
The final official engagement was to represent Gowerton at the Mayor of Gorseinon’s Civic dinner. This was the first of what is to be an annual event. It was to celebrate the good works down by various residents of Gorseinon - youth leaders, cub and scout leader, football coach - charity fundraisers etc. All were presented with dragons made by Mr. Les Howells (resident of Gowerton).
All surrounding village Mayors and Chairs of Councils were invited plus the deputy Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Swansea. There was an excellent three-course meal served and there was also entertainment including singers, harpist, welsh poetry, an electric fiddler and a magician and conjuror (also a resident from Gowerton. An enjoyable evening was had by all. Gorseinon is very fortunate to have such a fine building as the Canolfan Centre.
Finally, Cllr Holt stated that she had had a very enjoyable year as Chairperson and has been very proud to represent Gowerton at various meetings and functions, and the charity chosen for the raffle funds was Maggie’s Centre.
3.   ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
          Cllr Gareth Morgan was elected as Chairperson.
4.       ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
            Cllr Mike Sander was elected as Vice-Chairperson.

5. DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS:

Cllr Susan Jones left meeting prior to applications being discussed, and Council decided that from now on, any planning matters would be moved to the last item on the agenda.

6. a) TO RECEIVE ANY PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS
b) MEETINGS WITH:
None arranged.

7 COUNCIL MINUTES
21^st April 2010
a) the Minutes were accepted as a true record except to amend that any application in response to advert for Arriva train vouchers were to be discussed at Council meeting to approve.
b) Matters Arising: The written report of the Clerk regarding matters arising and subsequent actions taken was noted.

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(A) REPRESENTATION

RESOLVED
1. that the following Members represent Council on the following bodies:-
a) One Voice Wales Area Committee                                                                                    Cllrs Gareth Morgan and Mike Sander
b) CCS / Community Council Forum                                                                                    Cllrs Gareth Morgan and Mike Sander
c) Area 2 Development Control Committee sites visits                     Cllr Linda Bolchover
d) Planning Committee (to be implemented only when timescale
does not allow before next meeting within consultation period)       Cllrs Gareth Morgan, Mike Sander and Ann Guard
e) Rechabite Community Hall Management Committee                   Cllr Gareth Evans
f) Governing Body – Tregŵyr Infant School                                                            Cllr Sue Jones
g)   Governing Body – Tregŵyr Junior School                                               Cllr Peter Johns
h) IMCO consultative meetings                                                                                             Cllr Linda Bolchover
i) Carmarthen Bay SAC                                                                                                                                 Cllr Sue Jones
j) Web site liaison                                                                                                                                           Cllr Mike Egan
k Link person – Adopt a station scheme                                                                    Cllr Mike Sander
l) Safer Swansea Partnership representative                                                               Cllr John Fitzjohn
m) Tower Committee                                                                                                                                      Cllr Lynne Carey
n) PACT Meeting Representative                                                                                                       Cllr Peter Johns

9(B) INTERNAL AUDITOR

RESOLVED:

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

9(C) FIX DATE AND TIMES OF MEETINGS FOR THE YEAR

COUNCIL MEETINGS 2009 / 2010

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 2010.
b) Special Meetings if required are held on the third Wednesday in September 2010 and February 2011 to consider applications for financial assistance and any matter of urgency.

(C) COMMITTEE STUCTURES and WORKING PRACTICES

RESOLVED that:
i)         a)         Standing Orders - No change
     b)    Equal Opportunities Policy - No change
     c) Racial Equality Scheme - No change
     d)    Health & Safety Policy - No change
     e)    External contracts
It was decided that Clerk would contact social/inclusion unit to clarify any new policies, such as the ‘Diversity Policy’ and present to Council to adopt as appropriate.

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

10 COMMENTS by the INCOMING CHAIRMAN

Cllr Morgan stated that it was a pleasure to be Chairman for a second time, and hopes to continue good work undertaken by Community Council.

11 PLANNING MATTERS

The Clerk commented upon her written report.

2010/0653 - 61 Brynymor Rd

, Gowerton. Proposed conversion and single storey extension. No Objection
2009/1036 - 48 Cefn Stylle, Gowerton. Replacement dwelling. No Objection.
2009/0675 - 23 Cecil Rd, Gowerton.

23 Cecil Rd

, Gowerton. Detached dwelling. No Objection.
2010/0338 - Land at rear of Gurnos House. Change of description of application. No Objection.

12 REPORT BY THE WARD MEMBER:

Cllr Sue Jones reported the following;

The date of next years Gorseinon Food Festival is 16^th April 2010. Clerk to write and congratulate Centre on excellent event.
Sue has been made the Shadow Governor for the Joint Colleges - Tycoch and Gorseinon.
A Community Health Council meeting was attended, and some discussion was raised in relation to car parking charges in doctor’s surgery.
Several parking issues in village are being dealt with in village.
Cllr Jones has a surgery this coming Saturday in Library.

13 REPORT OF THE CLERK

(1) Miscellaneous
RESOLVED that:

a)       Newsletter. Any articles to be given to Clerk urgently.
b)       Village appraisal question suggestions.
c)       Advertising for Community Service Award to be put in newsletter.

13 (2) Financial Matters
The written report submitted by the Clerk was noted. RESOLVED that:
the following payments are authorised:

	Creditor	Item	£ Amount	VAT inc

a)	Virgin Media	Telephone Adv. Charges	35.00	Yes
b)	Clerk	Mileage Allowance (46 miles x 60.1p per mile)	27.65	Yes
c)	Bay Landscapes	Monthly Cutting Charge	384.30	Yes

13 (3) Correspondence

The items of correspondence were noted.

14 QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO COUNCIL BUSINESS
Following questions raised by Members it was RESOLVED that:
a) The Pelican crossing on Cecil Rd is still not in operation due to electrics. Clerk to contact Jeff Green to clarify issues delaying operation and timescales estimated.
b) Drains in Gorwydd Rd. Whilst some of the Gorwydd Rd drains have been cleared and show good improvement, many were unable to be cleared due to cars being parked over pavement therefore restricting access. Clerk to request that

Gorwydd Rd

drains are cleared twice yearly.
c)     Drain clearing is also required in Mount Street, Mount Pleasant, top of Springfield Close, Bottom end of Talbot Street, on corner of Mill Street/Inner relief rd (diagonally opposite doctor’s surgery) and outside 34 Sterry Rd. Clerk to contact Stewart Goulden to request.
d)    The storm gulley at end of Brynymor Rd has had hawthorn tree cuttings thrown into gulley, and need removing. Cllr Sue Jones to chase up.
e)     Bethel Chapel Graveyard is in poor repair with tree shoots growing out of many of the gravestones. Cllr John Fitzjohn to look into clarifying ownership of land. Clerk to obtain quote for removal of trees and clear up of area.
f)      Cllr Mike Sander attended the Arriva station conference on 24.04.10. The main news to be reported is that Swansea and Newport train stations are having work carried out, Swansea should be started in June 2010 and finishing May 2011. Contracts for having dual track’s in Gowerton have been issued and not yet signed. And finally there is the possibility of a new train bridge by existing Loughor Bridge, as existing bridge cannot take another track, however this is dependant on money. For info.
g)     The land opposite Sterry Rd round about has still not been developed, and looks unkempt. Cllr Sue Jones to check if any progress is being made.
h)     Resident has commented that pavement outside Welcome to Gower Pub is very small. For info. Noted.
i)       Carpark behind library is being locked during day stopping any access for pedestrians. For info. Noted.
j)       Complaint received from Elba resident in relation to neighbours keeping chickens on their land attracting rats. For info. Noted.
k)     Branch overhanging pavement off the top tree on the triangle. Clerk to arrange with Bay to have branch lopped to avoid any potential problems.
l)       The ex-off license on Sterry road (previously ‘aperitif’) has remained empty for some time. Cllr Sue Jones to contact empty property officer to clarify any information.
m)   Resident has complained that there is a lot of dog mess on pavements in

Gorwydd Rd.

Clerk to advise Environment Officer - Carl Watkins.

Meeting closed at 9.25pm ………………………………….………
Chairman