At a meeting of the Ilston Community Council held at Penmaen and Nicholaston Parish Hall on Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Present:            Councillors R. Hanson, V. M. Jones, Mrs. J. Llewellyn, Mrs. F. Owen-John,        Peter Burgess, R. Church, N. Hollett, W. J. Anderson and Mrs. J. Griffiths.

In the Chair:    Councillor R. Hanson

Councillor Hanson thanked his Vice Chairman for chairing the March meeting in his absence.

Before the Agenda was commenced, Mr. Gareth Jones of the City and County of Swansea, in the absence of Richard Beale, gave a brief preamble to the Rural Development Plan  -   Euro funded from the Common Agricultural Policy and a project takes 15 months to put in place.   Example of a project which Mr. Jones is running – youth activities in rural communities.  

There is funding for this and many other projects up to 2011.  A project for funding should be in by December 2009.

Contacts are Susie Mayhew and Paul Relf, Euro-Funding Officer, and Gareth Jones, Tel. No. 450830.

Councillor Roy Church raised the possibility of a music youth group in Parkmill which he could well pursue.

Noted that it was hoped that Richard Beale would be able to attend the May meeting when matters could be further explained.

Mr. Jones was thanked for his attendance.

1.       Apologies for Absence.

          Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Tom Beynon (Nicholaston) and           T. A. Beynon (North Hills).

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 3(6)    Community Council Website Fees.   Noted Chairman was able to produce the mislaid invoice.

On 7(a)    Bryn House, Penmaen, Planning Application No. 2007/1510.   Councillor Mrs. F. Owen-John reported that amended or new plans had not yet been submitted and confirmed the Council would be consulted when they were submitted.

                 Clerk reported that the Good Councillor’s Guide 2004 was up to date and the Planning Officer had not yet responded on a Planning Code of Good Practice for the guidance of community councils.   The Clerk will further this matter with the Planning Officer.

On 7(b)    Planning Applications – Delegated Powers.   Councillor Peter Burgess reported on Delegated Powers in relation to planning applications which, in the main, are delegated to Area Development Control Councillor and/or Head of Planning Services, except where:-

(1)   a Member has requested at any time prior to the determination of the application that it be reported to the appropriate Area DCC;

(2)   the application is contrary to the provisions of the development plan and is being recommended for approval by the Head of Planning Services;

(3)   the application is the subject of a Petition of Objection containing 30 or more signatures and the petitioners have indicated that they wish to exercise their right to address the ADCC;

(4)   the application should, in the opinion of the Head of Planning Services, be determined by the appropriate ADCC or the Planning Committee.

After the report, it was felt by Council that on really controversial applications, a Petition of Objection is signed by 30 or more petitioners and submitted to the Authority.

Councillor Burgess was thanked for his report.

On 8(a)    Potholes – North Hills, Penmaen.   The Clerk reported he had furthered this matter and the Inspector felt work was not necessary at present.

On 8(b)    Loop Road, Penmaen – badly damaged road.   Noted Highways Department had reported problem was being looked at.  Agreed a further letter be sent to Highways, asking current position and when may the road be repaired.

                 Noted Councillor Church would contact Richard Beale regarding his addressing the Council on the Rural Development Plan between the AGM and the monthly meeting on 27 May 2009, and he would advise the Clerk accordingly.

4.       Reports from Members.

          Noted there were no further reports.

5.       Planning Applications.

          The weekly lists were received.

(a)     Letter 20 April 2009, Application No. 2007/1826.   Appeal to the Minister for Environment, Sustainability & Housing in respect of Byways, Lunnon SA3 2EJ, following refusal of planning permission by the Council.   Appeal Ref. A09/2101915.

          Noted that correspondence on this application sent by the Council to the Planning Officer will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate.

(b)     Application No. 2009/0143

          Location:        Land adjacent to Lilac Cottage, Penmaen.

          Proposal:         Replacement of existing storage shed.

          Applicant:       Countryside Council for Wales

          Agreed to object on the grounds that the Council is unable to properly appraise the impact of the development in this sensitive location without “before and after” plans.          

          Location:        North Hills Farm, Penmaen, Gower.

          Proposal:         (1) Construction of agricultural building (application for Prior Notification

                                       of Agricultural Development).

                                 (2) Change of use of part of farm building to farm shop and store (Class A1)

          Applicant:       Mr. David Beynon.

          Agreed on (1) to raise no objection.

          Agreed on (2) to raise no objection but to ask for a full noise & lighting survey to be carried out to protect nearby residents.

          The Accounts were received and it was noted that the year’s expenditure amounted to £1,810.   The Deposit Account Balance stood at £3,309 (which included interest for the year of £19, and the Current Account Balance stood at £767.

          Council resolved that the Accounts be approved and they were signed by the Chairman.

7.       Matters for the AGM to be held on 27 May 2009.  

          Noted there would be no other matters to be added to the AGM Agenda.

          Further noted, with great regret, that the Chairman, Councillor Rodney Hanson, will stand down at the AGM because of pressure of farming work and family commitments, and will also resign as a Community Councillor.

          The Council sadly accepted the Chairman’s resignation which will take effect from the AGM and the Members thanked the Chairman for his Chairmanship and his contribution to the Council since election in 2004.  It was hoped that he would not lose complete contact with the Council.   The Clerk, of course, wished to be included the Members’ sentiments.         

          Received and noted:-   

a)       Gower Community Council Website invoice dated 24 November 2008 in the sum of £50 for the year ended 31 March 2009.  Noted payment approved at the meeting held on 25 February 2009 but unfortunately the Chairman had mislaid the invoice and payment could not be made. Council reaffirmed approval for payment.

b)      Allianz Insurance Plc Invitation to renew policy from 1 June 2009 (dated 31 March 2009) in the sum of £294.82 (increase of £10 from last financial year).   Agreed payment.

c)       Letter dated 25 March 2009, MAZARS Southampton – Notice of audit of accounts for the year ended 31.3.09 with the appointed date being 29 September 2009.  Agreed consideration of the Annual Audit Return for year ended 31.3.09 be placed on the agenda for the next meeting to be held on 27 May 2009.

d)      Letter Legal Services dated 17 April 2009 re Proposed Diversion of Public Footpaths PM5, PM6, N16 and N17 in the Community of Ilston (Grid Ref. SS528879) – matter referred to Councillors Mrs. F. Owen-John and Tom Beynon Nicholaston to report back – date for response 29 May 2009.

e)       Democratic Services Officer, C. & C. of Swansea – next meeting of Community/Town Councils Forum 21 May 2009, 5.00 p.m., Civic Centre, Swansea – agenda to follow.

f)       Welsh Assembly letter 17 April 2009 – Managing the Safety of Burial Ground Memorials.

g)      Environment Department, Planning Services, C. & C. of Swansea letter dated 6 April 2009 – City and County of Swansea Local Development Plan – closing date for representations 29/5/09 – to Councillor Burgess in first instant.

h)      Heritage in Wales magazine from CADW, Issue 42, Spring 2009 – to Councillor R. Church in first instant.

i)       Electoral Registration Officer – Notice of European Election, 4^th June 2009.

j)       Play for Wales magazine, Issue 28, Spring 2009.

k)      Information Commissioner’s Office – latest instructional DVD.

l)       Bishopston Comprehensive School – School Newsletter, Issue 10, Spring 2009 – circulated to members.

m)     Image Makers magazine, April 2009.

n)      Really Welsh – bulb growers’ price list for daffodils.

o)      Queensbury Shelters – brochure.

p)      Kompan – playground equipment brochure.

(a)     Potholes, Furzehill Lane. 

          The above matter was raised again by Councillor Mrs. J. A. Griffiths.  Agreed Clerk take up with the Highways Authority.

(b)     Date of next meeting. 

          Noted date as Wednesday, 27 May 2009, with the Annual General Meeting at 7.00 p.m. followed by the monthly meeting at 7.30 p.m. (with, hopefully, a talk by Mr. Richard Beale on the Rural Regeneration Plan in between the meetings).

Chairman