Ilston Community Council __________________________________ At a meeting of the Ilston Community Council held at Penmaen and Nicholaston Parish Hall on Wednesday, 25 October 2006 Present:    Councillors Mrs. F. Owen-John, H. John, V. M. Jones, Rodney Hanson,             W. J. Anderson, Mrs. J. A. Griffiths, P. J. Burgess, W. J. Harris and T. Beynon.      In the Chair:    Councillor Mrs. F. Owen-John. 1.    Apologies for Absence.     Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mr. J. Llewellyn and N. Hollett.            2.    Minutes. The minutes for the meeting held on 27 September 2006 were read, confirmed and signed as a true record.      3.    Matters Arising. On 3 3 para (b) Traffic problems, Penmaen Hill.  Noted report by Clerk who stated that Mr. John English, the officer responsible for signage, was on long-term sick leave and that a Mr. Toby Olden was covering his duties.  The Clerk had brought up all matters on Penmaen Hill again with Mr. Olden.  Mr. Olden had furthered matters with Mr. Geoff Green, responsible for road safety, and had promised action would be taken as soon as possible.     Agreed the Clerk would write again to the Authority and also draw attention to debris at the side of the road on the right after the bend, going east. On 3.3.7(a)    Fly Tipping.  Noted matter ongoing with Councillor R. Hanson. On 8 (b)    Drainage off Cefn Bryn.  Noted matters ongoing. On 3.9(b)    Highways Asset Management Programme 2005/2010 – Work scheduled to be carried out on A4118 from Nicholaston to Oxwich.  Agreed further letter be sent to Mr. Chris Gibbons of the Highways Department. On 3.6(a)    Hedgerow adjacent to Byways, Lunnon and the garden and land adjacent to Byways Lunnon.  Noted that the Clerk had made contact with Mrs. Merlin Kingham who had again furthered the matter with the Authority (her letter dated 25 October 2006 with copy of letter to Mr. Appleby was noted) and for the time being did not wish the Council to take further action.   Mrs. Kingham would report back to the Council in due course on the hedgerow and on the land and garden adjacent to Byways. On 3.8(a)    Land North of Western Farm, Nicholaston.   Noted letter dated 5/10/06 from the Enforcement Section stating the owner had been written to in relation to the caravan but not referring to the physical work carried out on the Common which would appear to constitute development.     Agreed the Clerk take this matter up again with Mr. Rhodri Williams. On 7.    Speeding and Road Safety in the Community Area.  Councillor R. Hanson reported back after his discussions with Sion Brackenbury, Commons Initiative Project Manager.  Report shown as APPENDIX ‘A’ to this minute.     Councillor Hanson was thanked for his report.     Noted Councillor Anderson would report back after a further meeting of the Community Councils Forum.      On 9(a)    Gower Management Plan.   Noted Councillor H. John had obtained further copies which were handed to Members.     The Council’s thanks were extended to Councillor H. John. 4.    Reports from Members     The Chairman reported on the following meeting which she had attended: (a)    Age Concern AGM, Dolphin Hotel, 4/10/06 – talk by Chief Constable Barbara Wilding. (b)    Lord Mayor’s Civic Service, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 8 October 2006. (c)     Better Swansea Stakeholder -Forum, 18 October 2006. The reports are shown as APPENDIX ‘B’ to this minute.     The Chairman was thanked for her reports. 5.    Planning Applications.     The weekly lists were received.     There were no planning applications for consideration on this occasion. The Area 2 Development Control Committee Agenda and papers for 3rd October 2006 had been handed to Councillor H. John on 16/10/06 and the papers for 10th and 24th October were handed to him at this meeting. 6.    Correspondence.     Received and noted:- a)    City and County of Swansea letter dated 2 October 2006 – Swansea Stakeholder Forum, 18th October 2006 – Noted attended by the Chairman and already reported on. b)    Letter dated 14 October 2006 from Mr. L. Shinner, Gower Court, Parkmill – in appropriate car parking on the A4118 at Parkmill – agreed  after discussion that a copy of a letter be sent to the Police for their observations.  (Letter shown as APPENDIX ‘C’ to this minute.) c)    Letter dated 7 October 2006 from Hugh Jones, The Croft, Reynoldston, Gower, Swansea – 3rd Gower Scout Group – Sports Council Wales grant of £5,512 towards an overall project cost of £6,890 leaving shortfall of £1,378.  The Group is confident it can raise £800 within the necessary timescale and ask if this Council would consider contributing £100 towards the project.   After discussion agreed Clerk would write to Mr. Jones asking how much the Group had raised themselves and what is the timescale. d)    Commons Commissioners Bristol letter dated 18/10/06 – hearing of cases Monday, 23 October 2006 to Friday 27 October 06. e)    Welsh Assembly letter dated October 06 – Consultation on draft Guidance on the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 – papers to Chairman in 1st instant (comments no later than 29/12/06). f)    SCVS AGM, The Marriott, Swansea, 23 November 2006. g)    Welsh Assembly letter 9/10/06 – Special Needs Conference 17/11/06, Church Hall, Penllergaer, Swansea. h)    WA South West Wales Regional Committee – Meeting held on 20 October 2006, Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. i)    Safer Swansea Agenda for meeting 17 October 2006, Guildhall, Swansea. j)    Letter Oct. 6, Peter Black AM, Surgeries poster Oct. 06 to March 07. k)    Bobaeth Cymru letter 10/06 – financial appeal. l)    Macmillan Cancer Support letter, 11 October 06, financial appeal. m)    Malta Products – playground equipment brochure. n)    City and County of Swansea Improvement Plan – Moving Forward 2006/07 and summary thereof – papers to Councillor W. Anderson in 1st instant. 9.    Any Other Business     1)    Precept 2007/08.  The Clerk stated that consideration of the Precept 2007/08 will be placed on the Agenda for the next meeting and Members should give serious consideration as to the level of the precept for the ensuing year, bearing in mind their proposals for expenditure and the increase the Council imposed on the Community during the current financial year.     2)    Potholes and River Bank, Ilston.  Councillor Mrs. J. Griffiths raised the problem of bad potholes just below Ilston Cottage, Ilston as you go onto the path for the Church.  This was given Job No. ID 138379 on 4/7/05 and still nothing has been done.         Councillor V. Jones again raised the problem that the river on the way out of Ilston towards Fairwood Common, just above the Old Quarry, is undermining the road.  This problem has been raised on many occasions over the past years and still nothing has been done.  Agreed Clerk take up with the Highways Authority.     3)    Grazing, Fairwood Common.   Noted that bulls were grazing on Fairwood Common and the Clerk was instructed to write to the City and County of Swansea as landowners and Commons Registration Authority, asking what are its views and powers in relation to bulls grazing common land and the consequential Health & Safety risks to the public.     4)    Clerk’s availability November, December 2006 and January 2007.   The Clerk informed the Council that his daughter Diana was due to give birth early in December 2006 and as she lived London he could possibly be away at very short notice.         The Clerk gave his assurance that Council business would not be disrupted in the event of his absence.     5)        Date of next meeting.  Noted date of the next meeting as Wednesday, 29 November 2006, at 7.30 p.m.      There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.46 p.m.  This early closure was noted with pleasure by the Members present and their sentiments were wholeheartedly endorsed by the Clerk. Chairman.