HELD AT PENCLAWDD COMMUNITY CENTRE
ON THURSDAY 6^th NOVEMBER, 2008 AT 7.00p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chairman Councillor P Hood-Williams

Councillors Mrs. P. Guy, J. Guy, Mrs. A. Lewis-Pudduck, Mrs. S. Davis, P. Tucker, W. Smart, Mrs. J. Usher,   C. Jones.

95.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:

Apologies were received from Councillors T. Snell, R. Cooper and G. Nicholls.

96.         CHAIRMAN’S REPORT/REMARKS:

The Chairman welcomed Councillor John Hague, Deputy leader of Swansea City Council and Cabinet member for Environment to the meeting and thanked him for his attendance. He defined the purpose of the meeting as a question and answer session, to enable Councillor J. Hague to answer the concerns of the members of Llanrhidian Higher Community Council regarding environmental issues in the Swansea area. Councillor J. Hague also expressed his willingness to answer questions outside his department where possible.

97.         Issues Raised
i.      Councillor Mrs A. Lewis Pudduck raised the issue of affordable housing in rural areas. She expressed particular concerns that the lack of affordable housing is leading to the young people of the Llanrhidian Higher ward being forced to relocate out of the ward. Councillor Mrs A. Lewis Pudduck asked for information on the City and County of Swansea’s policy in this area.

Councillor J. Hague replied that in rural areas the best way of providing such housing was via Housing Associations. Councillor J. Hague proposed to contact the local housing associations on this issue and ascertain if the associations had any plans for the Llanrhidian Higher ward. The Councillor agreed with the concerns of the Council and pointed out that housing in the Llanrhidian Higher ward had problems arising from land availability and planning permission.

Councillor Hood-Williams referred to the City and County of Swansea’s Unitary Development Plan and the provision for affordable housing contained in it, he expressed the regret that the plans requirements did not apply to the small developments currently popular in rural areas. Councillor Hood-Williams expressed the hope that the Local Development Plan currently under development would be more applicable to rural development.

Councillor J. Guy expressed the opinion that more social housing and council housing was required in the Swansea area and the regret that insufficient Council owned housing at a fair rent was not available. He expressed the hopes that the City and County of Swansea could, in the future engage in such a house building program.

Councillor J. Hague expressed the City and County of Swansea’s commitment to council housing.

Councillor Mrs S. Davis commented that it was regrettable that City and County of Swansea could not purchase empty houses in the village and use them for council housing.

Councillor W. Smart expressed the hope that in the future, housing units in the form of flats or bedsits would be built rather than large individual houses and that this would be a better utilisation of available land, especially in the current economic climate.

Councillor J. Hague noted the opinions of the Councillors and agreed to look into what could be done on these issues.

ii.     Councillor J. Guy raised the issue of the lack of play areas owned and operated by City and County of Swansea in the Llanrhidian Higher ward. He asked if in the future jointly funded projects would be possible to the advantage of all.

Councillor J. Hague responded favourably to this proposal and agreed that this was a reasonable request. He agreed to speak to the cabinet member for leisure on this issue.

iii.   Councillor J. Guy raised the issue of the removal of the cricket wicket at Craig-y-coed playing field and asked for clarification of the future of the wicket.

Councillor J. Hague agreed the importance of sports facilities in the villages and his belief that the wicket should be reintroduced. He agreed to contact the relevant department and investigate the situation.

iv.   Councillor Mrs A. Lewis Pudduck raised the issue of hedge cutting in the ward. She referred to complaints she had received over cuttings and debris being left on the roads. She also referred to road maintenance and resurfacing and the need to keep the roads in rural areas in good condition.

Councillor J. Hague agreed that leaving cuttings and debris in the road needed to be addressed especially as the Llanrhidian Higher ward is part of an area of outstanding natural beauty.  He informed the Council of the City and County of Swansea’s road maintenance plans and the implementation of a rolling program that he hopes will help address the needs of all in the City and County of Swansea.

Councillor J. Guy expressed the opinion that the City and County of Swansea’s workforce was not flexible enough in its approach to the needs of the City and  it’s  wards.

Councillor J. Hague agreed that the City and County of Swansea was not getting sufficient value for money out of its workforce. He expressed the hope that in the future this would change.

Councillor C. Jones expressed the view that the City and County of Swansea  should be employing local residents with some pride in their community to carry out the work of the City and County of Swansea.

v.    Councillor Mrs S. Davis raised the issues of litter and refuse collection in the ward. She indicated the need for more bins in the ward, especially in the locality of shops and businesses and the need for regular emptying of the bins. She further drew attention to the problem of animals and birds getting in to the bins and making the situation worse.

Councillor J. Hague agreed the situation needed attention and that more bins should be provided. He agreed to a site meeting with the officer in charge of this department and any interested Councillors to assess the need for bins and their location.

Councillor P. Tucker reported on the fish and chip shop in Penclawdd and their willingness to help in this matter.

vi.   Councillor Mrs P. Guy raised the issue of recycling in the ward and asked for clarification on City and County of Swansea’s policies in this area especially with regard to the recycling of plastics.

Councillor J. Hague reported that City and County of Swansea hoped to have plans in place to deal with the recycling of plastic soon. He reported that by August 2009 all the houses in the area would be on the garden waste recycling scheme.

Councillor J. Guy gave the opinion that recycling plastic was more of an issue than green waste and that encouraging composting would be a better use of City and County of Swansea recourses.

Councillor P. Tucker commented on the need for more responsible packaging of goods.

Councillor Mrs S. Davis reported on the need to purchase garden refuse sacks for kerbside collection and the feeling in the community that this was unfair when some wards are having their garden refuse collected free. The Councillor also commented on the need to travel to Gorseinon to purchase the bags.

Councillor J. Hague reported that two thirds of Swansea was in the same situation so the ward was not being discriminated against. He felt a supply of kerbside bags should be available to purchase locally.

vii.      Councillor Mrs A. Lewis Pudduck reported that the Welsh Assembly had asked all local authorities to produce a ‘local affordable housing delivery statement’. The Councillor wished to know if such a statement had been submitted by City and County of Swansea.

Councillor J. Hague agreed to find out and if possible forward a copy of the statement on to the Llanrhidian Higher Council.

viii.     Councillor J. Guy asked for clarification on the car parking situation on Cefn Bryn, he commented that the lack of a suitable car park is to the detriment of the whole of Gower.

Councillor J. Hague agreed that we should be utilising the assets of the Gower better but that pressures from local groups were preventing the building of a suitable car park. He agreed to pursue this further at every opportunity.

Llanrhidian Higher Community Council expressed its support on this matter.

98.         Closing remarks
The Chairman, on behalf of Llanrhidian Higher Community Council expressed his thanks to Councillor J. Hague for attending the meeting. He also expressed his pleasure on the wide variety of subjects covered and on behalf of Councillor J. Hague assured Llanrhidian Higher Community Council that Councillor Hague would follow up the issues raised and report back to the Council in the near future.

Councillor J. Hague thanked Llanrhidian Higher Community Council for its invitation and apologised for not attending sooner. He expressed his pleasure at meeting with the Council and his resolution to get what answers he can for the Councils next meeting and also to follow up with any additional information as it becomes available. He expressed his willingness to attend a further meeting in the new year to further the issues raised in this meeting.