MEMBERS PRESENT:                         Chairman Councillor R. Cooper

                                                                  Councillors P. Hood-Williams, R. Sweet,             R. Griffiths, G. Nicholls, J. Guy, Mrs. P. Guy,  Mrs. A. Lewis-Pudduck,  Mrs. S. Davis,           P. Tucker, A. Godfrey.

97.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:

Apologies were received from Councillor P. Rees.

98.         TO RECEIVE DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INTEREST FROM MEMBERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT ADOPTED BY LHCC ON 13^th DECEMBER 2001:

Councillor Mrs. S. Davis declared an interest in respect of the contractors account for grounds maintenance, agenda item 8.

City & County Councillors Hood-Williams and Tucker declared an interest in respect of matters relating to the City and County of Swansea.

99.         CO-OPTION OF MEMBER, TO FILL VACANCY, THREE CROSSES WARD:

This item was deferred to the next meeting.

100.     CHAIRMAN’S REPORT/REMARKS:

The Chairman thanked Councillor Mrs. Lewis-Pudduck for standing in for him at the Remembrance Sunday service.

He advised that he had attended a recent PACT meeting at Llanmorlais.  He commented upon the lack of pavement from the Ship and Castle to the school and asked Members for comment.  There was general discussion including reference of a forty year proposal for a pavement over the bridge.  Councillor Tucker said that highways officers had attended to assess the situation.  Councillor Griffiths made reference to ‘Safer Routes to Schools’ policy and Councillor Nicholls spoke of proposals to create a path within the school grounds.  Councillor Tucker advised that safer routes, as an alternative to the bridge, were being considered.  

The minutes of the Council meeting held on Thursday 18^th October, 2007 were confirmed as a true record.

Councillor Mrs. Lewis-Pudduck thanked those responsible for organising the opening of the female/disabled changing facilities at Penclawdd. 

The Clerk attended the Town and Community Council Forum at County Hall, 13^th November.  This included a tour of the new Contact Centre, West Glamorgan Archives and a visit to the library which is arranged over two floors with the lending to the ground floor and reference above.  A café will also be provided on the ground floor.  A brief presentation was provided in respect of the new leisure centre, which has been rebuilt within the original footprint providing enhanced facilities at a cost of some £32m.  A presentation was also made in respect of the Gower website, which Council saw in September.

An equal opportunities policy had been obtained and hopefully this could be amended to suit this Council.  This matter to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.

The Clerk advised that a PACT meeting would be held at St. Hillary’s Church Hall on 26^th November, 7.30. pm for residents of Three Crosses, Dunvant, Killay and Upper Killay.

The remedial works requested by insurers to the roundabout, Penclawdd playground, had been completed.

The accounts as detailed and agreed by the Clerk were passed for payment.

Councillor Mrs Lewis-Pudduck advised that the works undertaken at Crofty playground had improved the appearance.

Councillor J. Guy produced an artists impression of a multi-sports facility, a proposal for consideration at Llanmorlais, preliminary costings were in excess of £100,000.  He re-iterated his motion from the last meeting that Council is restricted in terms of avenues open for grants and must talk to organisations within the villages to open up other possibilities for funding.  Assurances must be given from this Council that the groups will be grant aided in respect of their part of the bid.  Following discussion, it was agreed ‘in principle’ that Council should proceed on this basis.  It was confirmed that Llanrhidian Higher Sports Association, a properly constituted body, was still in existence.

Councillor Hood-Williams said that Council should look at extending the Hall at Three Crosses as soon as possible and if grants were not available then Council must proceed alone.  There was general discussion on the formation of trusts and bodies for negotiation to access grants.  It was felt that the users of the Hall should play a part in creating a vehicle to obtain funds.  Councillor Hood-Williams referred to a priority list of work in which Llanmorlais tennis courts had now been completed and the next proposal was Crwys Hall.  He stated that there had been no expenditure in Three Crosses for many years and that council tax payers saw nothing for their expenditure.  The Chairman summed up the discussion suggesting that steps need to be taken by Three Crosses Members to enable grants to be applied for and that Council would make £25,000 available for building work.  Councillor Guy suggested a committee be set up of Councillors and user groups to report back to Council in January.  It was agreed that a meeting be held at the Hall, 22^nd November at 7.00 pm. 

The Clerk advised that planning permission had been granted for extensions to Crwys Hall.

Correspondence had been received from Welsh Water advising that there was a water leak at the changing rooms Hendy Road.  Council had paid a contractor to undertake this work but it was apparent that it had not been done.  The water authority proposed to enter the building on 28^th November to undertake the work.  It was agreed to advise the contractor of the circumstances.  The football club was to be advised to turn off the water supply when the building was not in use.

The charges for the public address system organised for the Remembrance Sunday service were reported as £275-00 plus VAT.  It was suggested that these costs were high and that Council should achieve best value.  Following discussion in respect of purchase of equipment, leasing equipment and safety aspects, it was agreed by majority that Council continue with present policy.

The Clerk had met with Mr. Lewis who had sought consent to place a wooden bench at Hermon cemetery.  The 2-3 seater bench would be 1.5m in length and 0.5m high.  It would be sited beneath a tree at the bottom of the cemetery.  It was agreed that consent be granted.

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Councillor Tucker withdrew.

Applications received from the Local Planning Authority were read out.  The applications considered were:

2007/2282; 2007/2344; 2007/2348; 2007/2367; 2007/2375; 2007/2411; 2007/2453.

Councillor Mrs. Lewis-Pudduck referred to application 2007/2344, proposed development 60, Pencaerfenni Lane and asked that the Local Planning Authority be made aware of objections that had been received.  Councillor Godfrey said the proposal was for a three storey house which was surrounded principally by bungalows.

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Councillor Tucker returned.

(i)                      National Coastwatch – letter of thanks in respect of donation given.  Noted.

(ii)                     Local Health Board – reporting upon their achievements in the last year.   Councillor Hood-Williams advised that the Welsh Assembly had told the Local Health Board that they must re-visit tertiary care provisions, for example proposed closure of Fairwood. 

(iii)                   One Voice Wales, Swansea Area Committee – Christmas Party to be held at Gowerton R.F.C. 3^rd December, 7.30 pm, cost £5-00 per person.  Noted.

(iv)                   C.P.R.W. – Autumn edition of Rural Wales.  Noted.

(v)                    Environment Department, City and County of Swansea – Lighting Scheme Guidance for Gower AONB: Consultation.   The report was passed to Councillor Griffiths.  Councillor Hood-Williams asked for Members comments on the possibility of switching off street lights from 1.00 a.m., but opinions varied.

(vi)                   Eisteddfod – seeking donations for 2008 National Eisteddfod, to be held in Cardiff.  Noted.

(vii)                 Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Authority – Risk Reduction Plan 2008-2009.  Noted.

The Chairman advised that he had discussed the possibility of a pamphlet showing footpaths with Mr Dale, Footpaths Officer.  The possibility of match funding was discussed and Council agreed that this proposal be taken forward.

Councillor Hood-Williams advised that he had attended a Safer Swansea Partnership meeting.  It was reported that whilst crime had fallen within the last five years the fear of and perception of had increased.

The next meeting of the Council will be held at Penclawdd Community Centre on Thursday 17^th January, 2008 commencing at 7.00.p.m.  This to be followed by a Finance Committee meeting.