Ilston Community Council __________________________________ At a meeting of the Ilston Community Council held at Penmaen and Nicholaston Parish Hall on Wednesday, 28 March 2007 Present:    Councillors Mrs. F. Owen-John, H. John, V.M. Jones, R. Hanson, W.J. Anderson, P. Burgess, Mrs. J. Llewellyn, 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 Mrs. J. A. Griffiths and N. Hollett.     Prior to the rest of the Agenda being taken, Mr. Roy Church, Trustee of the Barham Centre, Mount Pisgah Chapel, Parkmill, updated the Council on the current position with the Centre and the steps being taken by the United Reformed Church to reclaim the chapel.  Noted the local worshippers have offered to join the URC to retain the chapel and also have offered to buy it.   Nevertheless, the URC have issued legal proceedings which will be very costly to contest.     Mr. Church was thanked for his address, which took a considerable amount of time, and he then left the meeting.     Agreed a sub-committee with pleinary powers be called on Monday, 2 April, at 7.30 p.m. with the following members:  Councillors Mrs. F. Owen-John, P. Burgess, W. Anderson,    V. Jones, to further the matter.     Further agreed that Councillor W. Anderson will act as spokesman if necessary.          2.    Minutes. The minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2007 were read, confirmed and signed as a true record.      3.    Matters Arising. On 3 3 para (b) Traffic problems, Penmaen Hill.  Noted no response to letter dated 2/2/07 or reminder.  Agreed the Clerk write again.   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 4(a)    Code of Conduct for Members.  Noted Councillor T. Beynon had forgotten the copy, but he agreed to hand it to the Chairman before the next meeting. On 6(d)    National Trust – Sian Musgrave letter dated 26/1/07 – work to be carried out on Cefn Bryn.  Noted that Ms. Musgrave had not contacted Councillor P. Burgess regarding the ditch on the Loop Road, Penmaen, and he agreed that he would make contact with her.   On 6(a)    Wales Audit Office return of the Council’s Certified Annual Return for Year Ended 31.3.06.  Noted invoice OP/1003003 dated 1/3/07 and received on          3 March 2007 had been paid on 5/3/07, the Clerk and Chairman being authorised to make payment by the meeting held on 28/2/07.  Council confirmed the Chairman and Clerk’s action and approved the payment. On 6(e)    Fire and Rescue Consultation Paper.  Report given by Councillor V. Jones – no action necessary, merely amendments to the original document which needed no response by this Council. On 6(f)    WA letter 29 June 2007 - Local Service Boards/Agreements.   Report by Councillor W. Anderson who stated the paper was a follow-on from his report at the last meeting and involved the developing of Local Services Boards everywhere in Wales by 2010. On 6(i)    Homes for Locals.  Noted Chairman’s report and that the policy suggestions had been checked out on the web site.  Agreed letter be noted. On 6(o)    Western Power Distribution – Noted report by Chairman. Members concerned were thanked for their reports. On 7(c)    Litter on Gower.  Noted no reply to letter.  Agreed Clerk send a reminder.      4.    Reports from Members     Councillor Anderson reported on the meeting of the Community Councils Forum held on 6th March which discussed the Budget for 2007/08 and the Planning Process.  It was noted that only 15% of applications are dealt with by Committee.  Councillor Anderson was thanked for his report.      5.    Planning Applications.     The Planning Lists were received     (a)    Application No. 2007/0426     Location:    Myrtle Cottage, Nicholaston, Penmaen.     Proposal:    Single-storey side extension, 2-storey front and side extension and conversion of part 2-storey detached garage into storeroom and living accommodation.     Applicants:    Mr. & Mrs. Sherwood.     After discussion agreed to object on the grounds that the north elevation, particularly the entrance “turret”, is not in keeping with the character of the existing buildings. (b)    Application No. 2007/0495         Location:    Willoxton Farm, Ilston, Gower.     Proposal:    Detached garage.     Applicants:    P. & G. Joseph.     After discussion agreed to raise no objection. (c)    Application No. 2007/0563     Location:    Land adjacent to Shepherds Shop/Cafe, Parkmill, Gower.     Proposal:    Variation of Condition 1, Planning Permission 2005/1484 granted on 2nd August 2006 so as to enable alterations to the approved access ramp as well as other minor operations.     Applicants:    N. & E. Hopkins     After discussion agreed to raise no objection.     The Area 2 Development Control Committee Agenda and papers for 13th and 20th March had been handed to Councillor H. John on 20/3/07. 6.    Correspondence.     Received and noted:- a)    D. Cottle Typing Services, 37 West Cross Lane, West Cross, Swansea invoice dated 6 March 2007 in the sum of £149.38 for typing and clerical services to 1.3.07 with request for payment as soon as possible to tie up with her accounts for the end of her financial year.     Account paid by Chairman and Clerk on 7 March 2007.  Council confirmed the action of the Chairman and Clerk and approved the payment. b)    Letter dated 7.3.07, Finance Department of C & C of Swansea.  Precept payment dates and proportion 2007/08.         On or before                30/4/07    31/8/07    31/12/07         Proportion                £866.67    £866.67    £866.66 c)    Wales Audit Office letter 5 March 2007 – change to the appointment of the Council’s external auditor – current appointed auditor, Gill Lewis of the Wales Audit Office, will stand down and it is proposed that Mazars LLP, a major firm of Chartered Accountants, will be appointed in her stead (Stephen Christopher would appear to be the contact with Mazars) and the fees for audit will stay within the scales for 2006-7 to 2011-12 which the Auditor General  for Wales published last year.        Agreed there were no objections to the proposal and therefore no further action is required. d)    Commons Commissioners Bristol letter dated 20 March 2007 – Commons Registration Act 1965, Land Commonly Known as Penmaen Village Green and Cefn Bryn Common.  Hearings to be held in order to resolve the various conflicts and objections.  Hearings to commence 4 June 2007.  Councillor R. Hanson to inform Mr. Heldey Jones. e)    Commons Commissioner Bristol letter dated 16.3.07.  Land Commonly known as Penmaen Village Green.  Notices of Preference filed by the City & County of Swansea.  Will write again when arrangements have been made for the matter to be heard.   Relevant papers obtained from Brian Humphries, C. & C. of Swansea by the Clerk.     Noted former Parish Council registered the land as Village Green and Commoners registered it as Common.     Reaffirmed the Parish Council’s action and agreed land be retained as Village Green.     Further noted the need to attend any hearing on this matter.     All relevant papers to Chairman for retention. f)    Gower Society Programme April to September 2007 and Newsletter Spring 2007.   g)    Ombudsman for Wales letter dated 26/3/07 – Raising Awareness of the Ombudsman Service – posters displayed.     h)    C & C of Swansea Planning Services letter, 15 March 2007 – Draft Countryside Access Plan – to Chairman in first instance. i)    Electoral Services Officer, C & C of Swansea – Welsh Assembly Elections 3 May 2007 – Display of Notice of Election – Notice displayed. j)    Sports Council for Wales – Grant & Scheme information under cover of a letter from C & C of Swansea, Culture & Tourism Department. k)    G. Butler Consultancy, Aberystwyth – funded by the Lottery to create a web site to promote good practice ideas for community projects. l)    RNID Wales Promenade Consultations, Port Talbot and Newport, March 2007 – support service for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. m)    Welsh Assembly Consultation on additional projections for Recreational Open Space – observations by 15 June 2007 – paper to Councillor P. Burgess. n)    Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2007, Issue 50. 6.    Any Other Business     a)    Signage, Cefn Bryn.         Councillor P. Burgess asked if consideration could be given to more prominent signage prohibiting vehicles driving on to common land in the Penmaen area of Cefn Bryn.  Agreed matter be taken up with the Highway Authority.     b)    Bad road surface, Nicholaston Cross         Councillor J. Llewellyn stated road from Nicholaston Cross North to the house named Whaitawiti, where the tarmac ends, is badly rutted and potholed.  Agreed matter be taken up with the Highway Authority.     c)    Picnic Area, Penmaen         Councillor P. Burgess asked if a sign ‘NO OVERNIGHT PARKING’ could be placed at the picnic area.         Agreed matter be taken up with Richard Beale, Planning Services.         d)    Date of Next Meeting.           Noted date of the next meeting as Wednesday, 28 April 2007, at 7.30 p.m. The Chairman, Members and Clerk congratulated Councillor Tom Beynon on the birth of his baby daughter. As there was no further business, the meeting closed at 9.40 p.m. Chairman.