Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 13^th November 2007

1.      Attendance: Rob Dyer (RD) (Chair), Steve Walmsley (SW) (Vice Chair), Christopher Beynon (CB),Roger Button (RB), Nicola Rees (NR), Sally Beynon (SB), Selina Taylor (ST) (Clerk)
2.      Apologies: Anne Morse-Jones (AMJ)
3.      Declaration of interests: RD re. Pantomime grant
4.      Minutes of the last meeting: Approved
5.      Matters arising: Recycling. Reply from Recycling Officer to say that there will be no imminent roadside collections of plastic and that it is not viable to put a container for either in the local area. Cardboard will be collected from the kerbside in the near future, but from where and when is not yet confirmed. RB reiterated can recycle plastic at the campsite.
Skips: ST had managed to get quotes from the following: Brisco 4yds £121 no VAT, 8 yds £218 no VAT. Andy Skips 4yds £150 inc VAT, 8yds £180 + VAT, J H Jenkins 8yds £230, Dudleys Metals 3.5 yds £150 no VAT – but no rubble & not regular builders skips. RD said needs further discussion, write to Brisco and say to provide Community use, guidelines as to what should and shouldn’t go into the skip. RB reported that the Rural Development Plan that he had taken home to read was not useful.
6.      National Trust: Nothing to report
7.      Footpaths: NCI still owe for the footpath leaflets. Proposed diversion of F/P RH42 and RH35. RH35 fine, RH42 no objections. SP is aware of the stile.
8.      Highways: ST spoke to the Highways department on the phone to question lack of response. All issues must be logged directly with the front desk and letters are now being acknowledged. Light at School Lane has now been replaced. Bin at bottom of School Lane has disappeared and ask for a larger bin. AMJ suggested that site under evening post box in RVH car park, but CB said that it was dangerous to encourage the children to cross the road. RD spoke to cleansing about emptying of bins, that had gone un-emptied for ages. NT wall between Crossfields and Sunnyside needs repairs, public safety issue. CB mentioned 30mph signs on entrance to Pitton.
9.      Village Hall & car park: ST has the details of the RVH solicitor but has not contacted them because RS said that they were not very efficient. Letter received from the Swinnerton’s solicitors asking for progress. RD said that we will continue with the chosen solicitor. RVH website has gone live www.rhossili.org.uk
10. Bus Service Cancellations: Response from John Davies: I am sorry to hear of the incident which must have been very distressing. I will forward your complaint to Veolia Transport requesting that they respond direct with an explanation and hopefully a solution to alleviate any such problem that might arise in future.
11. Items relating to clerk: ST reported that she now has two filing cabinets and that they are under the stage. The cabinets were free but missing keys. Presented bill for £8.22 for the keys that were cut in order to lock the cabinets. RD proposed accept bill. ST reported that since the last meeting, she has spent 6-7 hours on Council business e.g. Editing the minutes, updating the noticeboards twice, preparing the agenda, dealing with the correspondence, writing letters and sending emails, delivering the minutes and agenda to those Cllrs. not on email. This does not include time spent in the meeting itself, time spent sourcing and moving the filing cabinets, getting the keys cut, writing the article for the newsletter or printing and delivering welcome packs to new residents. ST also asked how RCC would like her to put in expenses e.g. No petrol or stationary has been claimed for a long time.
12. Newsletter: PV said that it is underway and should be complete by the end of the week.
13. Reed Beds: ST reported odours in Lower Pitton and from the drains in the main road above the Chapel and below Green Hayes. CB believes that it is the smell of wet poultry manure in Scurlage. MW said that they are having problems. Outlet side on Eastern side, large amount of plastic waste on top of reed beds. Welsh Water Rob Jenkins, came out and did some manual work and solved problems for two years. Reports that are problems with smell and collection of plastic waste on outlets, speak to someone re. reed beds.
14. Postal Service: CB said that service has deteriorated since strike. RD spoke to postman and not allowed to start at 5am and that now they don’t start until 7am. Letter saying that we are concerned with the deterioration in the postal service, mainly due to later deliveries this has a detrimental effect on business users.
15. Website: CB wondered if our letters can be printed on the website. ST suggested certain threads on the discussion board.   At the last meeting the Treasurer requested £30 from every member Council towards the annual costs of running the website. RD proposed that payment be authourised.
16. WA correspondence: nothing
17. One Voice Wales: The Voice newsletter
18. Planning applications: 2007/1927 Greystones has been REFUSED
2007/2188 Pilton Moor Stables: RCC no objections
2007/2290 Kimley Moor Farm: RCC no objections
19. Finance: £1499 in bank, precept £630 due. Total £2129.
20. Correspondence: AONB Lighting Scheme Guidance consultation – respond by 30/11/07 – passed to RB. Completed Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authourity – Risk Reduction Plan 2008-2009 for information. Peter Black AM, Welsh Lib Dem surgeries poster. Play for Wales Autumn newsletter. Swansea Stakeholder Forum 25/10/07. Macmillan Cancer Care and Bobath15 asking for funds. Clerk & councils Direct. Community and Town Councils Forum 13/11/07. Society of Local Council Clerks wanting us to join. Letter from Helen Griffith asking for grant of £200 for Panto expenses. SW said that she needs to apply to RVH to cover her costs, but we could give a grant should we wish to. CB proposed that we give them a grant of £100, SW seconded it. Vote unanimous.
21. Items for the next meeting: Bus Service Cancellations, Items for Discussion Board, AONB Lighting Scheme Guidance consultation
22. Next meeting: 11^th December 2007