Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 14^th February 2006

Attendance:          Rob Dyer (RD) (Chair), Steve Walmsley (SW) (Vice Chair), Christopher Beynon (CB), Anne Morse-Jones (AMJ), Roger Button (RB), Pauline Bevan (PB), Selina Taylor (ST) (Clerk)
1.       Apologies:             none
2.       Declaration of interests: RD & PB 2005/2260
3.       Minutes of the last meeting: Approved
4.       Matters arising: none
5.       National Trust: SJ replied to say that will cut their brambles back, but that the other owner of the fields, BB, needs to be contacted. Email from SM re. Ongoing investigations into how the Vile developed, wanting old photos of the Vile and Rhossili in general.
6.       Footpaths: CB asked for a new walk-through stile by Red Chamber. Steve Parry now wanting feedback. Redirection of footpath 35. No objections.
7.       Highways: Letter re. New signs inappropriate and can only be read with difficulty.
8.       Village Hall: Work ongoing but very slow.
9.       Gowercc website: Next meeting 28^th February. ST asked if could put an events list up for Rhossili Village Hall for free, to serve as an example for other Community Councils. Approved. Events outside peak season and spring bank, for promotion grants.
10.    Mobile Library: PB said a resident asked if premises could be made available in the area (with other CC’s) to house books on a permanent basis. Wait until we receive notification of what is actually happening.
11.    Police meeting on Gower: Received letter from Mike Williams to say would go ahead on 28^th February. ST asked for date to be 28^th March in order for all CC’s to be notified and questions posed in an agenda. Questions for next meeting. Also received letter re. Results of spotlight on Police from SW Police Authourity.
12.    Public Inquiry into dredging: SW attended meeting chaired by The Gower Society. Public Inquiry or formal chat, SW responded to say Public Inquiry. Request for photos showing impact of dredging over last few decades. RB said that Gower Forum wanted a united front to present the case. Meeting in Port Eynon for statements and photo gathering.
13.    WA correspondence: Letter from WA re. Appropriate sum under section 147 of the Local Government Act 1972 – passed to SW. Loan sanction for 2006-07. Local Government Partnership Scheme Annual report 2004-05.
14.    One Voice Wales: Next committee meeting 09/02/06. Nominations for chairs of CC to attend Buckingham Palace garden parties. Planning handbook – can purchase further copies. Newsletter. National salary award for local council clerks.
15.    Planning applications: 2005/0099 Land adjacent to Middleton Hall. RCC object to any alterations other than the plans passed 2003/0380. Very controversial development and for the applicant to continue to try changing the plans is unacceptable. Still waiting for a reply to our letter on the heights and positioning of the plots. Send with copy of heights letter and post to sign for. We require an answer urgently cc RL. CB asked RD to meet with RL and take copies of letters.
2005/2260 Middleton Hall Farm – no objections.
New stables in field in Pitton are on skids with towing bars but is on a hard standing which has been made level. Query that if it is not moved for 6 months, if it denotes permanence and therefore considered a building. Letter to SCC note with concern that we now have several mobile stable buildings, some of substantial size, being erected on improved sites and in prominent situations. The CC would appreciate possible action that the planning authourity could take to enforce planning conditions in these situations. Include photo from road and CB’s yard.
Mr Eagles said that Worms Head Hotel plans to erect a marquee on land behind Ash Cottage and hold weddings in there. Monitor situation.
Planning irregularities. Want to see what other CCs do. Include in Police letter. Procedure on reported breaches of planning. Try for common approach.
16.    Finance: Bill for audit £58.75. NT footpath map bill still not been settled. SW asked PB to take to shop and ask to fill in new supplier form. Letter detailing precept payment dates 2006/07, passed to SW. ST presented bill for laptop of £559.82
17.    Correspondence: Play for Wales – pass to Youth Club. SCVS newsletter. Safer Swansea meeting 08/02/06. Gowerton Spring Ball 01/04/06. Tickets £19.75 pp inc. 3 course meal. Hywel Williams re. Tax relief on SIPPS. Program of Eisteddfod asking for money. Teenrek. Application 2006/0308 acknowledged 08/02/06 retrospective planning application received by SCC.
18.    Items for the next meeting:
19.    Date of next meeting: 14^th March 2006