Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 9^th September 2008

1.      Attendance: Attendance: Steve Walmsley (SW) (Chair), Anne Morse-Jones (AMJ) (Vice Chair), Roger Button (RB), Steve Campbell Kelly (SCK), Selina Taylor (ST) (Clerk)
2.      Apologies: Sally Thomas (ST2), Nicola Rees (NR),
3.      Declaration of interests: RB 2008/1701
4.      Minutes of the last meeting: approved as correct
5.      Matters arising: none that not covered elsewhere
6.      National Trust: Ragwort. Response from NT. RB said that JF said that legislation has changed Ragwort only need to move if it is proved to be a hazard. Ragwort only dangerous when dried. JB suggested putting sheep on their in Spring would stop it coming up. Email from SM to say that they were removing the old Rhossili water tanks at the bottom of Rhossili Down. SCK reported that the water tanks at Rhossili are monuments and that NT should not be selective in which monuments they remove. NT have agreed to place cappings over the tanks and then monitor the situation rather than removing them in the first stage. SCK also questioned that the trench for the new phone as it passes near to the scheduled monument. Asked if had done a watching brief. Only Rhossili side of steps. NT have scheduled whole of Warren.
7.      Footpaths: NCI still owe £25 for footpath maps. RB had 100 more maps – owes £25. Talgarths Well FP still very overgrown and remedial work at Bunkers Hill end is useless now. Just a sea of mud. Could hardcore be put down? Timescale on FP 43 and FP 14.
8.      Highways: RB said people are parking between the church and The Green and causing disruption. Causing problem for Coastguard access. Letter to Penrice asking for either no parking signs or obstacles so that people can’t park there. Incident where occupants of Little Hill House couldn’t get out. Advice from Mike Williams first. AMJ mentioned new gate installed onto main road by Kimley Moor. Written previously re. surface water. Have owners had permission to put this new entrance in as water pouring onto the main carriageway in heavy rain. Remedial work in Lower Pitton to be done in next 4 weeks. AMJ said that cutting is now taking place. NR said CCW said cutting 1^st Dec and 15^th Mar wherever possible, do not trim mid Mar and 15^th July. Ask SCC if hedges can be trimmed nearer to July so that cuttings benefit tourists.   SCK reported on flooding of track down towards Little Hill House. Spoke to Colin Davies of Highways about state of water coming down road and flowing down track. 70% of water collecting there coming from road. Suggested putting gully in outside Gallery to take water away. On Friday LHH was nearly flooded and will require further drainage. Ditch was cleared at side of track and at side of stream. AMJ suggested putting curbing up, but would redirect water to next track. SCC not prepared to do anything. Keep an eye on the situation with view to writing to Penrice if this becomes a permanent problem.
9.      Village Hall & car park: nothing to report. AMJ said a lot of lights are left on and SW said that timers are going to be put on main lights. AMJ said that one group had people staying in the carpark. SW said if committee are told then they can prevent that group from staying again.
10. WA correspondence: Guide to Value Wales Framework – for information – passed to SCK. Reviews of electoral arrangements – comments by 19/09/08.   SCK said under represented at Swansea. Representation should be 1:1750, 1:3100 in Gower, 1:2555 Swansea. No comments as unsure as to possible outcomes.
11. One Voice Wales: None
12. Newsletter: One copy per year. Need to contact PV and ask if will do it. Items for inclusion, RCC roundup, CB article on farming, Youth Club, Wednesday Club, Village Hall, Christmas dates, delivered 15^th Nov, articles deadline by beg. of October to ST. Pass to PV by mid Oct. ST to contact.
13. Planning applications: 2008/1147 Hampstead has been APPROVED.
SW said that for a very contentious planning application what do we do with these. Do we call extra meetings? Other CCs have planning sections who report to the CC meeting. Maybe we have a pre-meeting meeting to become informed with the application. RCC agreed. Which of the planning applications fall into this category? 2008/1701 as green field and in open countryside. Thursday 11^th night 7:15pm. Decision meeting 18th
2008/1701 Land off School Lane – RB declared an interest
2008/1713 Middleton Hall – RCC have no comments
New bus shelter in Rhossili – Totally out of character, Very difficult to reconcile the plan with the artists impression, concerned that is not appropriate in style and character for Rhossili village especially since it is in the conservation area.    Doorway needs to be moved as prevailing wind is usually SW and position of door will not give shelter to people sheltering. Doorway would be better facing the church. Plinth makes development look far too big and out of character. Worried about stone not being sourced from Gower and used as it is rather than cut into square stone blocks. Constrict bus turning circle. General idea ok, but not convinced that this is appropriate bus shelter for this area. Invite to next meeting to discuss further. Residents didn’t know about consultation in Worms Head. Not sure exhibition met purpose as advertising was particularly poor.
14. Finance: Payment requisition passed to SW. Current position £1290 in bank. £50 outstanding from sale of Footpath maps. Just about broke even. Probably get grant from sustainable development fund e.g. £500   Produce more simplified version. SCK said if remove field boundaries could be detrimental to some users. Maybe put 4 or 5 walks on the map. If don’t use OS, don’t need to pay copyright. Can we get a grant? Can we get adverts? Propose that we produce a new version. Talk to local people re. advertising and group to design and put together. RB and SCK to work together and bring to next meeting.
15. Correspondence: Community and Town Councils Forum 09/09/08. Clerk and Councils Direct. Glasdon products. Unscheduled Care, Swansea FAQs.
16. Items for the next meeting:
17. Items for the discussion board on the website: none
18. Next meeting: 14^th October