Ilston Community Council At a meeting of the Ilston Community Council held at Penmaen and Nicholaston Parish Hall on Wednesday, 30 January 2008 Present:        Councillors Mrs. F. Owen-John, V. M. Jones, R. Hanson, W J. Anderson, Peter Burgess and Mrs. J. A. Griffiths. In the Chair:        Councillor Mrs. F. Owen-John. The Chairman wished all present a very Happy New Year.  Members and the Clerk responded accordingly. The Council was saddened to learn of the passing of Councillor John Harris’ sister and the Clerk was asked to send a letter of sympathy to Councillor Harris. 1.    Apologies for Absence.     Apologies for absence were received from Councillors H. John, J. Harris, N. Hollett,           Mrs. J. Llewellyn and Tom Beynon.      2.    Minutes.     The minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2007 were read, confirmed and signed as a true record.     3.    Matters Arising. On 3.6(a) Signage on Cefn Bryn.   Noted matter ongoing with Councillor P. Burgess.     On 4.    Shed at The Forge, Cartersford.  Noted that Rhodri Williams, Planning Enforcement, had been contacted and the matter was being processed. On 5.    Planning Application No. 2007/1826 Byways, Lunnon.  Noted that Jane Lamnea, Planning Department, will report back. On 7(b)    Rural Development Plan.   Noted papers are now with Councillor V. Jones. On 7(c)    Lighting Scheme Guidance, Gower AONB.   Noted letter dated 13/12/07 in reply to the Council’s response (shown as APPENDIX A to this minute). On 6.    Precept for 2008/2009.  Noted letter from Electoral Registration Officer dated 3 January 2008, informing Council of the Community Council Elections on 1 May 2008 and if there were contests for seats, the Council will receive costs involved with the administration.  The Council has been recommended to set aside £2,000 for the election.     Nomination period will open up on Thursday, 27 March and will close at noon on Friday, 4 April 2008.  Nomination packs to be available early February.   Noted the Chairman hoped to pick up packs for Members before leaving for the East on holiday. On 7(i)    Copies of correspondence from Penrice Community Council to Pullman Coaches regarding transfer of bus passengers at Shepherds Parkmill.  Noted Chairman still to further this matter. On 8.1(a)    Highway problems – sign at Parkmill.   Noted letter dated 5.12.07, Traffic Section, C & C of Swansea, stating sign will be ordered but work may not be carried out until 2008/2009 financial year. On 8.1(c)    Hill, Penmaen – west-bound, left-hand side on bend – debris needs clearing, dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, and on other side as well.  Noted still not attended to.    Matter to be taken up again, then, if work not carried out, letter to be sent to Chief Executive.      4.    Reports from Members. Noted Councillor Anderson’s report on Community Councils Forum held on 15 January 2008 at which there was a presentation on Development of the St. David’s/Quadrant and Paxton Street/County Hall areas, and on the City & County of Swansea/Community Councils – The Way Forward.  Councillor Anderson was thanked for his most detailed report. The Chairman reported on her attendances at the Mayor’s Carol Service in December 2007 and at the Mayor’s Buffet for Community Councils on 22 January 2008.  The Clerk regrettably had to decline his invitation to the Buffet because of other commitments. 5.    Planning Applications.     The planning lists were received.     Noted that the following applications had all been dealt with by the Planning Sub-Committee and the Council confirmed the Sub-Committee’s action.      (a)    Planning Application No. 2007/2607 Location:    Field 0031, Ivy Cottage Farm, Nicholaston. Proposal:    Use of land for siting a maximum of five touring caravans from Good Friday or 1 April (whichever is earliest) to 31 October in 2008/2009 seasons. Applicant:    Mr. P. R. Williams. Agreed to raise no objection. (b)    Planning Application No. 2007/2654 Location:    Maes-yr-Haf, Parkmill, Gower. Proposal:    Two non-illuminated, individually-lettered signs and four internally-illuminated, freestanding entrance signs. Applicant:    Mr. C. Ford. Agreed  to raise no objection. (c)    Planning Application No. 2007/2686 Location:    Nicholaston Cottage, Nicholaston. Proposal:    Part two-storey, part single-storey side extension, single-storey rear/side extension, fenestration alterations and a front porch. Applicant:    Mr. & Mrs. Morrish. Agreed to object on the grounds that the proposed plans would destroy what is a typical Gower cottage and will make it look like an urban area. (d)    Planning Application No. 2007/2712     Location:    Crawley Top, Penmaen, Gower. Proposal:    Single-storey rear extension. Applicant:    E. E. Humphreys. Agreed to raise no objection. (e)    Application No. 2007/2599 (Field No. 8270, Fairwood Corner Farm, Fairwood). (f)    Application No. 2007/2601 (Field No. 7267, Perriswood Farm, Nicholaston). (g)    Application No. 2007/2607 (Field Nos. 2463 and 2854, Heatherbrae, Nicholaston).     Proposals for applications (e), (f) and (g) are for use of land for the siting of a maximum of 5 touring caravans from 1 March to 30 November during 2008/2009 seasons.     Agreed to raise no objection to the applications.     Noted period from 1 March to 30 November for 2008/2009.  This is being tried in specific areas for a trial period agreed between the Planning Department and Caravan Club – impact will then be assessed.      The Area 2 Development Control Committee Agenda and papers for 4/12/07 and 18/12/07 had already been passed to Chairman in December.   Agenda and papers for 22/1/08 were handed to Chairman at this meeting. 6.    Correspondence     Received and noted:-     a)    D. Cottle Typing Services invoice dated 23 January for typing, etc. to 22 January 2008 in the sum of £187.60.   Agreed payment. b)    Letter R. K. Church, The Barham Centre, Parkmill dated 5/12/07 –  re application to the Welsh Assembly under the Community Facilities Fund seeking a sum of £100,000 to invest in Mount Pisgah to effectively pay off the interest of the URC and to carry out repairs and improvements to the building, and seeking letter of support from the Council.  Noted Councillor V. Jones was attending a meeting at the Barham Centre on 31 January 2008 and would further matters in respect of the letter of support and report back.     Further noted the Council had already given its full support to the Barham Centre and would consider a donation to the Centre’s reserve fund in due course. c)    Letter Lucy Butler, Corporate Marketing Officer, C & C of Swansea – Community Councils Buffet Evening, 22 January 2008 – reported under Members’ Reports. d)    Environment Department, Planning Services letter dated 5.12.07 – Consultation on the Draft Regional Technical Statement. e)    Boundaries Commission letter dated 9 January 2008 – Local Government Act 1972, Section 56(1) – Review of Community Boundaries in the City & County of Swansea.  Agreed that as far as Ilston is concerned, the status quo remains. f)    Planning Services letters dated 14/12/07 and 17 January 2008 – land adjacent to Silverstone, Penmaen.  Appeal following refusal of planning permission – Hearing Wednesday, 27 February 2008, 10.00 a.m., Guildhall, Swansea. g)    Letter 25 January 2008 from Edwina Hart AM re Community Facilities and Activities Programme. h)    Chief Executive, C & C of Swansea letter, 25/1/08 – invitation to Members to have a tour of the Leisure Centre.  Agreed if before 22.2.08 the Chairman and Councillors V. Jones and Mrs. J. A. Griffiths attend. i)    Welsh Assembly letter, December 2007 – acknowledgement to Council’s response to “A Shared Community – Consultation”. j)    Planning Services letter, January 2008, City & County of Swansea Householder Design Guide – refer to Councillors P. Burgess and W. Anderson with authority to respond to the document if needs be and report back. k)    Letter One Voice Wales – Planning Seminar for Community and Town Councillors, 18 February 2008. l)    Notice of Lord Mayor’s Charity Ball, 8 February 2008 m)    SCRAP letter dated 3.1.08 – Introduction to SCRAP (Swansea Community Recycling Alliance Partnership) and invitation to Waste Forum Meeting, 11 January 2008, County Hall. n)    Health Challenge Swansea - Draft Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy 2008/2011 summary document. o)    Swansea in Bloom Group Extraordinary General Meeting, Wednesday, 6 February 2008. p)    Spotlight on Police Meeting, Swansea, Wednesday 30 January 2008, County Hall, Swansea. q)    Shaw & Sons Ltd., Forms, etc. for Local Councils – price list. r)    Peninsular – NT Newsletter for Gower, Vol. 9 No. 3, November 07 – March 08. s)    Clerks & Councils Direct, Jan. 08, Issue 55. t)    Calendar 2008 – Edwina Hart AM and Martin Caton MP, Surgeries for 2008. u)    Swansea Bay – News and information for tourism businesses in Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower, 1st Edition 2008. v)    South West Wales Railway Timetable. w)    Play for Wales, Issue 23, Winter 2007. x)    British Heart Foundation (Linda Ceri Jones) Mid & West Wales – appeal. y)    Letter dated 22 January 2008, C & C of Swansea – Conference, 29 February 2008, Development of the new 2008 Community Strategy – papers to Councillor W. Anderson to apply on the Web to attend. z)    Various brochures for products for Local Councils. 7.    Any Other Business 1.    Litter bin, Shepherds, Parkmill     Councillor W. Anderson reported that the blue litter bin needs to be put back from Shepherds’ car park to its base at the entrance to the footpath alongside Maes-yr-Haf, Parkmill.  Also, the hedgerow from Maes-yr-Haf to the foot of Penmaen Hill is absolutely strewn with litter and needs clearing.  Agreed matters be taken up with the Environmental Health Department. 2.    Pennard Community Council Training Course     Noted Training Course on 7 February 2008, Parish Hall, Pennard, “How to run a meeting” and that the Chairman and Councillor V. Jones would attend and report back. 3.    Seat on path to Torbay     Chairman, on behalf of Councillor J. Harris, asked when the bench, which had been removed for refurbishing, was to be put back.   Agreed matter be taken up with the National Trust. 4.    Road A4118, Nicholaston Church     Chairman reported that the road west of the lay-by to the west of Nicholaston Church appears to be subsiding and that on the north side there is a major collapse in the field under the hedge, taking away the verge.  Agreed matter be taken up with the Highways Department. 5.    Date of next meeting     Noted date of next meeting as Wednesday, 27 February 2008 at 7.30 p.m. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.15 p.m.     Chairman