Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 20^th September 2005

Attendance: Rob Dyer (RD) (Chair), Steve Walmsley (SW), Roger Button (RB), Christopher Beynon (CB), Selina Taylor (ST) (Clerk)
Apologies: Pauline Bevan (PB), Anne Morse-Jones (AMJ)

1.       Declaration of interests: None
2.       Minutes of the last meeting: Approved
3.       Matters arising: None
4.       New Councillor: ST reported that no applications had been received for the vacant post and that the advertised closing date has now passed. RCC decided to continue without a full Council and re-advertise at a later date.
5.       Footpaths: Steve Parry wrote to say that work is going to start on B21 – Keenmoor Lane. ST to write to ask to cut back B21 as well. Path down to Ramsgrove, where it meets the coastal path also needs clearing.
Official notices re. extinguishment of FP 38 and diversion of FP 38 and FP 47
Maps: Riverside (10), Cliff Studio (10) - £5 paid. Awaiting payment from Mrs Smale (50), Worms Head Hotel (50) and RB (200), also £25 advert and 50 from NT. Invoice from printers £495 passed to SW. Comment re. footpath map was unreadable. RD may consider drawing a map for the next print run.
6.       Highways: Water leak in Pitton has been resolved. 06/09/05 Phone WW 0800 281 432 ref. 17387308
Stewart Goulden phoned ST on14/09/05 re. outstanding work. Explained that department is sub-divided and everything that goes directly to him needs to be delegated. Suggest in future to phone with problem to get a direct contact. The jet patcher will be sent down in the next few weeks to repair the edge of the carriage way as deemed appropriate. Seat next to the bus shelter will b put there within the next week. If we want a seat in the shelter, we need to contact him to find out who we need to speak to. Chevron on Margam Corner has been reinstated. Will chase Pitton Hill chevron and come back to us. Problem with the buses breaking up the area outside the Rectory and Church House – not Highway land. Area around bus stop is un-adopted. Residents need to pursue with bus company in first instance. Pavement outside Ivydene will be done. Suggestion of bins in Middleton has been referred to Cleansing Dept. Will send “Street Works” team to investigate dip in road outside Village Hall and deploy Welsh Water if necessary.
RD reported that the road outside Brook Cottage is disappearing. Has happened before. Will keep an eye on it.
7.       Toilets: ST wrote to SCC and was phoned back by Keith Coxon, The Cleansing Manager from the Environment Dept. Said that the “Radar Key” system is in place across the country, whereby people registered disabled can buy a key that will fit all the disabled toilets locks. Cost about £3. System implemented to decrease vandalism and homeless people from sleeping in them.
8.       Drains: ST phoned Welsh Water who sent inspectors to the site. 06/09/05 0800 085 3968 WW Ref. 1105117 – looked in inspection chambers and couldn’t find anything.
9.       Our environment – Our Future – Your Views: A Consultation on an Environmental Strategy for Wales. SW to respond by 03/10/05
10.    SCC Deposit Draft Unitary Development Plan: SW will report when new plan comes out.
11.    Environment Agency for Wales – consultation re. The Tawe, Loughor and Gower Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS).   RD reported that this is looking at new abstraction schemes to see how much water can be taken out. Leave until get proposed strategy.
12.    Mobile Library: Received a letter Peter Gaw, Strategic Manager of the Libraries. RCC not convinced of the intentions. ST to write to Richard Lewis, enclose copy of letter sent & response and ask to monitor situation on our behalf.
13.    Planning applications: 2005/1086 conservatory Seafield has been APPROVED
RD reported that RB has submitted retrospective plans for the shop. Received by SCC on 05/08/05 & due to an internal breakdown have not been dealt with. Matter ongoing.
2005/1918 Broad Park, Rhossili – alterations to fenestrations + additional window of 2004/2104. Noticed 1 extra window on South elevation, 1 extra velux and 1 extra window on Northeren elevation of garage. Reply to say No objection in principle to the plans. However, we note with concern that this is a retrospective planning application and in view of the applicant’s position, would have expected work to have awaited a proper decision. We note that the application and the plans relate to the building as a ‘garage and workshop’ and we would like to reiterate that we raise no objections to this application based on this usage only.
re. 2005/0009 It has been brought to our attention that there are two extra velux widows on the building. This does not correspond with the plans presented to us. Could you give us your observations?
14.    Finance: RD apologised that had lost bill from OB for account audits. Now found and passed to SW. £20 to Jeff Higgins for auditing the last accounts. £10 donation to Pitton Chapel for use of the building in August. SW sent the accounts 2003-04-05 and posted notices around the village. Accounts now passed to RD.
15.    Correspondence:   RD reported on “Local Works”, asking for us to support a bill to go through Parliament to reduce decline in rural areas. Bill not supported by many MPs. Leave for now.
South Wales Police announcing new Sector Inspector. ST to write and remind about Gower meeting. One Voice Wales newsletter. Swansea’s first community plan “Ambition is critical”, Community Councils Forum 18/10/05. ICM Foresters. Plea for funds from Children’s Therapy Centre. Peter Black AM poster. South West Regional committee 14/10/05. Invitations for Clerk & Chair to Lord Mayor’s Civic Service. Clerk & Councils Direct.    Lord Mayor’s Charity Fashion Extravaganza 20/10/05. One Voice Wales meeting 21/09/05. Nightout.org.uk passed to the Village Hall Committee. Advert received from Gowerton Home Services, wanting to put in noticeboards. RCC decided against personal advertising in the boards and suggested that they may wish to put an advert in the newsletter instead.
16.    Items for the next meeting: Newsletter (DL on Vile, article on wells, road resurfacing in Gower).
17.    Date of next meeting: 11^th October 2005