Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 11^th May 2010

1.      Attendance: Attendance: Steve Walmsley (SW) (Chair), Steve Campbell Kelly (SCK), Roger Button (RB), Selina Taylor (ST) (Clerk)
2.      Apologies: Anne Morse-Jones (AMJ) (Vice Chair), Sally Thomas (ST2), James Beynon (JB), Nicola Rees (NR)
3.      Declaration of interests:
4.      Minutes of the last meeting: NR was present at the 14/04/10.
5.      Matters arising:
6.      National Trust: Sian Musgrave replied to our letter about controlled burning on the Down. “Rhossili Down is a habitat of lowland heath which mainly consists of heather and gorse of several different varieties. Controlled burning is a tool frequently used to manage this type of habitat. It is generally used to keep the heather and gorse in certain successional stages, and mostly used to rejuvenate old \'mop head\' heather. On Rhossili Down, the heather has been burnt extensively in the past (illegally, and not necessarily in areas where we would consider it necessary for the habitat) and it has not been allowed to reach the mop head stage of growth, where controlled burning would be needed - probably on a 10 year rotation.
Rhossili cliffs has also suffered illegal burning of gorse and bracken in the past, as well as on the coastal heath - again, the vegetation has not been allowed to reach a growth stage where we would consider burning to be an effective tool in managing that habitat. Indeed we had undertaken a lot of work with volunteers and contractors around Fall Bay to help the heathland recover and control the spread of bracken (which burning encourages).   There is only one agreement in place with CCW to undertake controlled burning in the Richards Rock area at Mewslade, and this is reviewed each year. Burning can also destroy the soil structure, leading to wind blow and erosion. It also increases runoff as the plants are not available to take up the water from the soil. This in turn can lead to slumps and slips such as the one above the Rectory a few years ago, following extensive burning on the Down. We have been mowing firebreaks on Rhossili Down for many years to limit the spread of wild fires, but obviously these are of limited use when fires are deliberately lit in all compartments, or the wind is so strong that the fire leaps over the fire break. Burning plans are needed for special sites (designated sites) under the Heather and Grass Burning regulations, and these have to be approved by CCW and the landowner, and occupiers. We are taking this forward by involving all interested parties including the commoners for several commons on Gower.
Due to the last couple of wet winters there has been little or no burning on Gower, so it was almost inevitable that any prolonged spell of dry weather at this time of year would lead to fires, and indeed there is not one common which has escaped illegal burning this year. None of these burns have been granted permission from the landowners or CCW, and therefore are illegal and arson. We maintain firebreaks where NT land is directly adjacent to housing - such as at Bovehill, Cheriton, Windy Walls on Rhossili Down, and these buy time for the fire service to get the fire under control. We don’t therefore undertake any controlled burning on NT land on Gower as the habitat is never allowed to reach the stage at which we would consider this to be necessary. We would consider it if the habitats reached the stage where they would benefit - such as the area of purple moor grass around Whitemoor bog, and we are talking to CCW about burning plans for the Down amongst other commons on Gower. I hope this answers your concerns”.
7.      Footpaths: Notice of confirmation of the order of the extinguishment of footpath 20.
8.      Highways: Stephen Miles SCC transport - The communication problem you have highlighted seems to have been endemic across Veolia`s South Wales operations in recent months due to reorganisations and staff reductions at the company. Having said that, Veolia have just appointed a new General Manager (Denzil Calford) for their West operations who will as part of his remit will oversee the Gower operations which are based at their Crofty Depot. I note that you have copied him in to your e mail and I am sure you will see an improvement both to the communication problem and the operation of the services now he is in post. In the first instance please address any future issues to him. However if problems persist, please inform me giving as much detail as possible and I will take it up on your behalf. AMJ sent list to SCK of problems in one week on buses.   Keep on record and monitor situation. Also even though road sweeper could clean drains, they are not doing. Potholes in Pitton have now been filled. ST to resend email to Highways department with outstanding issues. re. erosion at The Green, Penrice reply to say “I will have a preliminary look at this and then get back to you”. No response from SCC or NT.
9.      Village Hall: Copy of car park deeds retrieved from solicitors. Valuation on car park was £10K.
10. Parking in Rhossili: SCK said that since the stones have been placed, it has really helped to alleviate the problem, even though it is not quite finished. RB said that sign is still waiting to be reinstalled.
11. WA correspondence: A Shared Community – guidance on relationship building measures and charters for unitary authorities and community and town councils.
12. One Voice Wales: Information about the Planning Aid Wales Conference which will be held in Cardiff on 29 & 30 April 2010. Appointment of Lay and Legal Members to the Adjudication Panel for Wales. Changes to Accounts and Audit Regulations and Capital Finance and Accounting regulations in Wales – passed to SCK. WCVA’s latest Sustainable Funding Newsletter.
13. Planning:   2010/0253 The Boat House has been recommended for approval.
14. Finance: Footpath map money from NT still not received. No receipt yet received from OVW. ST to chase for confirmation that it has been paid. Payment requisition passed to SCK. Cheque for £1 from Mrs Tucker for 4 footpath maps. Statement balance £1073.45 and year end total. Three cheques issued and not presented, totalling £348.56. Also £50 from NCI so projected balance £774.89 + new precept. Start £1120 and finish £1073. ST suggested that the new noticeboards are re-weatherproofed to ensure that they last as long as possible. SCK will ask Darren what he coated them in. RVH cheque for £60 for meeting room hire and £250 first instalment of clerk’s wages.
15. Correspondence: On Friday May 21st BBC Radio 4\'s \'Any Questions?\' will be coming live from Gowerton School, Swansea. Record RSS playgrounds. Tenovus asking for donations. Clerk and Councils direct. SMP Playground equipment. Kompan playgrounds. Invitation to reps. From RCC to join in the proclamation ceremony Urdd National Eisteddfod. HR, H&S training sessions. Notice of sale of new book “The songbird is singing”.
16. Items for the next meeting:
17. Next meeting: 15^th June 2010