At a meeting of the Ilston Community Council held at Penmaen and Nicholaston Parish Hall on Wednesday, 21 January 2009

Present:            Councillors Rodney Hanson, W. J. Anderson, T. A. Beynon, R. Church, V. M. Jones, Mrs. J. A. Griffiths and Mrs. J. Llewellyn.

1.       Apologies for Absence.

          Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs. F. Owen-John, P. Burgess,           N. Hollett  and  Tom Beynon (Nicholaston).

2.       Minutes.

          The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2008 were read, confirmed and signed as a true record. 

3.       Matters Arising.

On 3.4      Shed at The Forge, Cartersford.  Noted matter still ongoing with Rhodri Williams of Planning Enforcement.

On 3.6(c) Alleged Right of Way from Penmaen to Nicholaston.   Noted letter dated 10/11/08 from Mr. K. O’Carroll, Legal Services, City and County of Swansea, regarding awaited response from Councillor P. Burgess and Tom Beynon, Nicholaston.

On 3(7)    Waste & dog litter bins, Ilston Community Area.   Noted matter still ongoing with Councillor T. A. Beynon.

On 3(6)    Community Council Website Fees.   Noted receipt of two invoices dated 1 April and 24 November 2008 for £30 and £50 respectively in respect of fees for same period.   Further noted Chairman’s report and that he would be looking at fees up to £50 per annum for small councils.  Agreed invoices be given to Chairman to further and report back.

On 3.8(a) Bus Stop (West Bound), Tor Bay Car Park.   Noted letter 4 December 2008 from Group Leader Transportation, City and County of Swansea, stating that he would not wish to move the current stop nearer to any residential dwellings and that he would expect the bus drivers to have sufficient professionalism to stop away from the grass verge in times of inclement weather that would affect the surface adjacent to the bus stop pole.

On 7(a)    Bryn House, Penmaen, Planning Application No. 2007/1510.   Noted letter dated 1/12/08 regarding Council’s comments that the house may not be being built in accordance with approved plans and that this was being looked into.  Agreed further letter be sent, asking as to progress in this matter.

On 7(b)    Planning Applications – Delegated Powers.   Noted letter dated 20 January 2009 from Head of Planning enclosing copy of the Scheme of Delegation which forms part of the Council’s Constitution.  Agreed papers be referred to the Chairman and the Clerk in the first instant to study with Members and report back.

On 7 (c)   Bus Tickets, Veolia Transport and First Cymru.   Noted letter dated 12 December 2008 from Group Leader Transportation, C & C of Swansea (shown as “APPENDIX A” to this minute) and agreed to write back asking that interchangeability is encouraged when companies are asked to re-tender in 2009.

4.       Reports from Members.

(a)     Meeting with Alan Cairns AM and Community Council on Sand Dredging, Bristol Channel, held on 12/1/09, Porteynon.   Noted detailed report by Councillor W. Anderson on Sand Dredging at Nash, Nobel and Helwick Banks.   Agreed to raise with Councillors P. Burgess and Mrs. F. Owen-John who were involved as far as this Council is concerned and, if necessary, write to the Welsh Assembly regarding its current policy on dredging.

(b)     Community/Town Councils’ Forum 20/1/09.   Noted detailed report by Councillor W. Anderson on Highways Management Plan and Presentation on Licensing.

Councillor Anderson was thanked for his reports.

5.       Planning Applications.

          The weekly lists were received.

(a)     Application No. 2008/2380

          Location:        Field No. 3655, Willoxton Farm, Lunnon, Gower.

          Proposal:         Construction of an agricultural building.

          The Chairman declared and interest and was not consulted.

          Agreed to object.  (Objection shown as “APPENDIX B” to this minute.)

          Noted letter dated 1/2/08, Head of Financial Services, City and County of Swansea, formally advising the Council that the Council Tax base for this Council for 2009/2010 is 319 Band ‘D’ equivalent properties.

          The Council Tax base for 2008/2009 was 331 equivalent Band ‘D’ properties and the precept was set at £8.50 which brought in a total precept of £2,813.50 for the last financial year.

          With the precept remaining at £8.50 with 12 Band ‘D’ properties fewer, the precept for next year would be £2,711.50.  

          Further noted Current Account stood at £1,189 with the Deposit Account standing at £3,308, with expenditure estimated at £1,890. 

          After lengthy deliberation, Council felt that with a reduction of 12 Band ‘D’ equivalent properties, a small increase of .25p in the precept to £8.75 was justified and would give a precept of £2,791.75 (£22.25 less than last year).

          Resolved that the precept for 2009/2010 be increased from £8.50 to £8.75 (twenty-five pence increase) giving a total precept of £2,791.25, i.e. 319 Band ‘D’ equivalent properties x £8.75 and that the Head of Finance, City and County of Swansea, be informed accordingly.

7.       Road Calming Measures and Pavement and Lay-By Project at Pisgah Chapel, Parkmill.

          Noted  Councillor Richard Lewis had not attended this meeting, even after telling the Clerk personally in December 2008 that he would attend.  Furthermore, Councillor Lewis did not send an apology.   Agreed this matter be placed on the Agenda again for the next meeting and Councillor Lewis be asked to attend.

          However, as certain work had been carried out on the east side of Pisgah Chapel, the Chairman asked who owned the land and Councillor Julia Llewellyn asked how many trees had been cut down.   Councillor Roy Church stated that the Barham Centre (Pisgah Chapel) owned the land, it having been purchased from Shepherd family, Parkmill, and four trees (sycamore) had been cut down with permission from the Countryside Council for Wales.

          Received and noted:-   

a)       Invoice dated 14 January 2009, D. Cottle Typing Services in respect of typing, etc. from           1 August 2008 to 14 January 2009 in the sum of £196.46p.   Agreed payment.

b)      Letter Legal Services dated 12 December 2008 – Proposed Diversion of Footpaths numbered 3, 8 and 9, Nicholaston Woods.  Agreed matter be referred to Councillor Tom Beynon, Nicholaston, and if he felt there was no problem, the Clerk be authorised to inform Legal Services that the Council has no objection to the proposals.

c)       Planning Services letter dated 12 June 2009 – Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – calendar and a copy of the National Association for AONBs Newsletter – “Outstanding”.   Newsletter to Councillor Anderson in first instant.

d)      NT latest copy of Peninsular, November 2008 – February 2009, Vol. 10 No. 3, to Councillor J. Llewellyn in the first instant.

e)       South Wales Police Authority – Budget Proposals – Consultation - noted.

f)       Adjudication Panel for Wales – Annual Report for 2007 – 2008 – Noted.

g)      Independent Panel on Members’ Pay and Allowances, National Assembly.   Letters from the Clerk to the Panel, November 08 and January 09.   Call for Evidence and Public Meeting – Consultation.   Noted

h)      Calendar 2009 giving notification of Surgeries 1009 for Martin Caton MP and Edwina Hart AM – distributed to Members.  

i)       Clerks & Councils Direct – Jan. 09, Issue 61.

j)       Appeals for Financial Assistance, Nov. 2008, received from: 

          1.    Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

          2.    MacMillan Cancer Support.

          3.    Alzheimer’s Society.

k)      Winter 08/09 brochures for latest products, Glasdon & Wicksteed.

l)       Play for Wales, Issue No. 27 – to Councillor Roy Church in first instant.

          Councillor R. Church reported that the footpath from the Gower Inn, Parkmill, to Ilston Church needed repair work and removal of fallen trees.  Councillor V. Jones reported that work needed to be carried out on the footpath from Ashgrove Wood, Lunnon, to Green Cwm.

          Agreed the Clerk take up the matter with the Footpaths Officer, C & C of Swansea.

(b)     School Transport, children of Mrs. A. Huffer, Aldergrove, Ilston, Gower (Route 735, Pennard Primary School).  Councillor J. Griffiths brought correspondence for Council’s perusal in respect of problems being experienced by Mrs. A. Huffer’s children with pick-up and drop-off places.

          Agreed to support Mrs. Huffer’s request for school transport to collect and drop her children at Furzehill for safety reasons – and the Clerk to write accordingly.

(c)     Date of next meeting. 

          Noted date of next meeting as Wednesday, 25 February 2009 at 7.30 p.m.

Chairman