Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 11^th December 2007

1.      Attendance: Rob Dyer (RD) (Chair), Steve Walmsley (SW) (Vice Chair), Roger Button (RB), Nicola Rees (NR), Sally Beynon (SB), Selina Taylor (ST) (Clerk)
2.      Apologies: Anne Morse-Jones (AMJ), Christopher Beynon (CB)
3.      Declaration of interests:
4.      Minutes of the last meeting: Approved
5.      Matters arising: Letter sent to Brisco – no reply as yet.
6.      Gower AONB warden: did not arrive
7.      National Trust: Letter sent re. dangerous wall opposite Crossfields – no reply as yet. ST to remind. ST mentioned the number of negative comments she had received re. management of the Vile following the article in the last newsletter. SW suggested right to reply in the next newsletter.
8.      Footpaths: NCI paid £27.50 for 60 footpath maps received previously and 50 more also received. ST reported that she found out that Mr Scott is the treasurer, so she will be liaising directly with him re. maps in the future.
9.      Highways: ST emailed Highways department and now has had some response having gone through the front desk. Chevron at Margam Cormer, Ivy at Newton Lodge, drainage of ditches between Pilton Green and Pitton Cross, 30mph signs opposite High Priest & on entrance to Pitton have both been passed to crews to attend. Emptying bin at bottom of School Lane and provision of another by the hall comes under Environmental Health and has been passed on. SLOW sign to be painted on bend before Gallery has been passed to Traffic. Single cut on hedges has been passed to Parks dept. Paul Garner from Parks dept. phoned and asked us to highlight the areas in our Community where we would like a 2nd cut and he would see what he could do, but did not want to set a precedent as the responsibility is with the landowners. Top at Pitton Hill and Pilton Green both entrances to common, bend at Newton Lodge lhs towards Scurlage. Settlement sign at Rhossili is broken. Flooding that cut us off at Newton Lodge – three drains between Margam Corner and Newton Lodge on lhs of main road towards Scurlage ask to be cleared. Re. comment on website under 2^nd cut of hedges saying that CCs don’t use the power given to them and that they should be more proactive - reply RCC feel that comments should be addressed to his own CC who would no doubt welcome your contribution as a Cllr after the next elections. SB mentioned that Knelston School Bus is travelling too fast and not staying on correct side of road. Letter to Veolia saying that residents have expressed concern about the Knelston School Bus whose speed is perceived as excessive through the village and the narrow country lanes, particularly on Pitton Hill. We would be grateful if you could bring this matter to the attention of your drivers.
10. Village Hall & car park: ST produced a letter for RD, ST and SW to sign to get deeds from bank. RCC met with Swinnerton’s prior to the meeting, to discuss replacing the fence on the boundary of the land that they are purchasing from us with a wall. Letter of agreement to Swinnerton’s saying that we are in agreement.
11. Bus Service Cancellations: No response from Veolia Transport. Email to John Davies re. no response and speed of buses through the village.
12. Items relating to clerk: ST reported spending approx. 6 hours since the last meeting in Council business. Also paperwork for Nicola Rees has never been submitted.
13. Rhossili Noticeboard: ST received a complaint from Linda Bartlett about the noticeboard in Rhossili being in a bad state of repair and it not reflecting well on the community. She suggested contacting Darren Powell for a quote to replace. ST has now received this estimate for £97.98. RCC agreed to accept the estimate.
14. Newsletter: This has now been distributed.
15. Reed Beds: ST phoned Welsh Water and someone was sent down the next morning. He phoned to ask where the property “The Reed Beds” was in Rhossili! ST told him the correct situation and heard no more. MW told ST that he had spoken to his contact who was going to investigate. Defer to next meeting.
16. Postal Service: Letter sent to Mike Evans at Gorseinon – awaiting reply. Union rep. suggested that a copy was sent to Andy Parvin in Swansea.
17. AONB Lighting Scheme Guidance Consultation: RB reported that the report was about using appropriate lighting and keeping light to a minimum, giving examples of situations. Not relevant for us to comment on.
18. WA correspondence: nothing
19. One Voice Wales: OVW have relocated. Next meeting 13/12/07. Also 2007-2008 National Salary Award for Local Council Clerks and 2007 Conference Papers.
20. Planning applications:
2007/2620 Field 2872 Mewslade View – RCC no objections
2007/1820 Field 6512 Rhossili – RCC unable to consider the application as we have no benchmark to compare the plans to.
Amended plans can you please highlight the changes when you send out the plans? Why are the planning notices different colours? SW to ask?
21. Finance: Notification of precept 2008/2009 forms. RCC agreed to increase precept by inflation to £645 to £1935. Invoice for audit to 31/03/07 £58.75 RCC agreed. £1474 in bank and new precept due which will take us up to over £2K.
22. Correspondence:   Clerk & Councils Direct Update, Ambition is Critical, Invitation to Chair for City Carol Service 20/12/07, Forms, records & registers for local councils, Community Councils Forum 15/01/07, Spotlight on Police meetings in January RSVP, Adjudication Panel for Wales annual report, ARRIVA railway timetables, Urdd Eisteddfod asking for funding, Commons Commissioners irrelevant as land not in Rhossili, rekk.co.uk, Glasdon products, Blue Damson hanging baskets
23. Items for the next meeting:
24. Items for the discussion board on the website: Amended planning applications with no reference to originals passed or amendments indicated. Colour of forms.
25. Next meeting: 15^th January 2008