At a meeting of the Ilston Community Council held at Penmaen and Nicholaston Parish Hall on Wednesday, 27 May 2009

Present:            Councillors Mrs. J. A. Griffiths, Mrs. J. Llewellyn, Mrs. F. Owen-John, P. Burgess, T. A. Beynon, R. Church and Tom Beynon (Nicholaston).

In the Chair:   Councillor Mrs. J. A. Griffiths.

In attendance: County Councillor Richard Lewis

Noted, prior to the commencement of the Agenda, a talk by Richard Beale, City & County of Swansea Rural Development Partnership and his team, on finances available for specific projects in rural areas.

This was received with much interest and will be pursued.

The Council’s thanks were expressed to Mr. Beale and his team.

Further noted with great regret the formal notice of resignation from Councillor R. Hanson, current Chairman, which took effect from the AGM, and the election of Councillor Mrs. J. A. Griffiths as Chairman and Councillor P. Burgess as Vice Chairman at the AGM held prior to this meeting.

1.       Apologies for Absence.

          Apologies for absence were received from Councillors V. Jones, W. Anderson and N. Hollett.             

2.       Minutes.

          The minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2009 were read, confirmed and signed as a true record.    

3.       Matters Arising.

On 3.4      Shed at The Forge, Cartersford.  Noted still ongoing.

On 7(a)    Bryn House, Penmaen, Planning Application No. 2007/1510.   Noted new plans now in and consideration had been given to them at a meeting on 19^th May 2009 which would be presented to the Council at the next meeting.

                 Further noted report by the Clerk that Planning Services had informed him that they do not have a Planning Code of Good Practice for the guidance of Community Councils.   However, there is a book called Community Councillors’ Handbook – The Land Use Planning System in Wales, obtainable from Planning Aid Wales, Bay Chambers, West Bute Street, Cardiff CF10 5BB, price £6.  The Clerk has asked for a copy which will be forwarded today together with the invoice.

                 Confirmed Clerk’s action and agreed payment of £6 be made to Planning Aid Wales.

On 8(b)    Loop Road, Penmaen – badly damaged road.   Noted Clerk’s report and that Mr. Stuart Golden of the Highways Department had reported again last week that this matter is still ongoing and that the Authority will carry out repairs eventually.  In the meanwhile Inspectors are looking at the problem and also Planning Enforcement are involved.

                 Further noted that Councillor Richard Lewis will now further this matter and report back.

On 8(d)    Legal Services letter 17/4/09.   Proposed Diversions of Public Footpaths PM5, PM6, N16 and N17 in the Community of Ilston – matter referred to Councillors Mrs. F. Owen-John and T. Beynon (Nicholaston) – no objection from the Council’s point of view and the small area in question may belong to the Penrice Estate.

                 Council confirmed action taken and the Clerk would reply accordingly.

On 8(g)    Planning Services letter dated 6 April 2009.  C & C of Swansea Local Development Plan, closing date for representations 29/5/09.   Councillor P. Burgess to respond asking how it is going to happen.

4.      Reports from Members.

         Councillor Mrs. F. Owen-John gave a brief report on the Community Councils Forum held on 21 May 2009 which discussed the Model Charter, and Council noted that a full report would be given by Councillor W. Anderson to the next meeting.

         Councillor Mrs. F. Owen-John was thanked for her report.

5.      Planning Applications.

         The weekly lists were received.

         Noted Applications No. 2009/0243 and 0245, Land at rear of Llethryd Cottages, Llethryd were not in this Council’s area and Planning Services had been informed.

         Further noted that the applications had all been dealt with at the Special Meeting held on 19 May 2009 (the minutes to be presented at the next meeting).

         County Councillor Richard Lewis stated at this stage that from 8 October 2008, all planning applications are being called in.

         Resolved that approval of the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009 be reaffirmed (the accounts having been approved at the meeting held on the 29^th April 2009 and at the AGM held on 27 May 2009).   Resolved that (1) the Statement of Accounts contained in the Annual Audit Return for the year ended 31 March 2009 be approved and (2) that the Annual Governance Statement be approved and the accounts be passed to the Council’s Internal Auditor for his report.

         The Council reaffirmed the appointment of Mr. J. G. Bennett of Southgate, Gower, as the Council’s Internal Auditor for the ensuing year, with its grateful thanks to Mr. Bennett.

         Received and noted:-   

a)      Invoice D. Cottle Typing Services dated 21 May 2009 – typing, etc. to 20 May 2009 in the sum of £187.05.  Agreed payment. .

b)      Agenda – Community Councils Forum meeting 21 May 2009, Civic Centre, Swansea – already reported on.

c)      Planning Services letter 18.5.09 – Consultation Draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Guidance – consultation period to 3 July 2009.  Copy of guidance at www.swansea.gov.uk (5106) – Councillor P. Burgess to take up and report back.

d)      Communications Division, C & C of Swansea letter, May 2009 – Swansea Bus Station redevelopment – leaflets circulated to members.

e)      Letter Planning Services dated 19 May 2009 –

         Appeals – Land at Fields 1229, 0726, 2038 and 2839

         Site Location – Nicholaston Farm, Penmaen

         Proposed Development – Change of use of the land from agricultural development to land used for agriculture and camping.

         Enforcement Ref. – ENF 09/0022

         Planning Inspectorate Appeals Refs. – C09/2104267, C09/2104268, C09/2104275 and C09/2104276

         Appellants’ Names – Mr. Tom Beynon and Mr. & Mrs. Trevor Beynon.

         Appeal start date – 14 May 2009.

         Appeals against 2 Enforcement Notices issued by the Local Planning Authority which both require the cessation of the use of the land for camping purposes within one month from the date on which the Notices take effect.

f)       Welsh Assembly letter 8 May 2009 – Consultation on proposed changes to the Account & Audit (Wales) Regulations 2005 – Council noted the papers.

g)      Electoral Services Officer, C & C of Swansea letter, May 2009, re display of Notice of Poll – European Parliamentary Election 4^th June 2009 – Notices displayed.

h)      C & C of Swansea Tourism Section – Swansea Bay Information, Summer 2009

i)       Fire Service Action Plan 2010/11 & Strategy Plan 2010/15 – to Chairman in first instance.

j)       Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2009, Issue 63, to Chairman in first instance.

k)      Society of Local Council Clerks Conference 7 July 2009, Llandudno.

(1)     Open Evening, Barham Centre, Parkmill

          Councillor R. Church invited Members to attend on 29 May 2009 at 7.00 p.m.

(2)     Petty Cash Reimbursement. 

          The Clerk stated the petty cash expenditure amounted to £140.91 for the Council year ended 31 May 2009.  After scrutiny, Council agreed reimbursement to the Clerk in the sum of £140.91.

(3)     Swansea Rural Development Partnership. 

          Agreed that this matter be placed on the Agenda for the next meeting.

          Noted again the problem with the road from Nicholaston Cross to the Towers at Oxwich, reported by Councillor Mrs. F. Owen-John, and the ditch on Lunnon Road reported by the Chairman.  This matter (having been reported on several occasions in the past) would now be pursued by the Local Member, Councillor Richard Lewis, who would report back.

          Noted date as Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 7.30 p.m.

Chairman