MINUTES of a meeting held on the 4th of January 2010  at the Recreational Hall

 

PRESENT  Mr. R. Oliver ( Chairman ), Mrs. S.Phillips and J.Williams, Messrs C.Mowbray,  W.Morris, C.Low, V.Ley ,J.Baiss and T.Porter ,  Cllr. P. Hood-Williams and Mr.K.Evans ( Clerk).

 

APOLOGIES  FOR  ABSENCE None

THE MINUTES of the previous month’s meeting having been circulated were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman

 

MATTERS  ARISING

The Chairman reported back on various documents considered. There was no comment felt necessary upon the Rural Development Plan nor upon Strategic Community Planning. Hall Management Committee had responded to Swansea Council upon provision of  youth services, and the draft guidance from the Ombudsman upon the Code of Conduct would be circulated.

 

SWANSEA  COUNCIL  MATTERS

Cllr. Hood-Williams said that plans were being formulated for safer routes walking around local communities. He also reported upon a shortage of road grit for because of the length of the spell of cold weather, and it was noted that the grit bins in the Village were empty. This was felt by members to be a matter of real concern, and there were already difficulties in Summerland Park. Cllr. Hood- Williams asked to be informed of any further problems. Mr. Baiss mentioned the road surface in Summerland Park was disintegrating again and Cllr. Hood Williams advised that renewal was programmed during the next five years. There had, he said, been signifigant road repairs in Upper Killay in recent years.

 

 

HALL  MANAGEMENT

Mrs. Phillips reported upon the latest Management Committee meeting. There had been leaks through the fire door to the dayroom, caused by extent of the wind and rain. The plumber, Mr Jenkins, has given a quotation for work on the water pressure in the central heating system, following on from an inspection and stopping of some leaks by Mr. Purnell.  During the next year, the Committee would wish to consider additional roof storage, if possible. Pro Tec have, free of charge, refitted a faulty part of the alarm system, which was now working properly again. Off road motor biking had been reported to the Police, and it was learned that this had now been dealt with.

 

PLAYGROUND  EQUIPMENT

The proposed new dome now appeared to be too expensive for the existing budget, as would be likely to be the case for the tube as well.

 

PLANNING

No applications to consider.

 

FINANCES

The following cheques were approved for payment:-

Handprint                                                             599   04

Newhall Janitorial                                                           73    93                          

Whitecross & Son                                                            58   00                

The following payments direct from the Bank in December were ratified:-Welsh Water                                                          28    00

EON                                                                     171    12

SWALEC                                                               59    00              

 

BUDGET  AND  COUNCIL  TAX  PRECEPT  2010 / 11

Figures were discussed for likely expenditure and income for the next financial year. Hall Management Committee took the view that the majority of the development programme was now complete. Desirable further work comprised provision of additional storage, and also upgrading of the external redecoration to improve appearance and in addition providing added protection against weathering. It was resolved to budget £3,500 to improve the hall exterior. Hall maintenance was budgeted at £4,500, of which between £2,000  and £3,000 was estimated to be necessary for maintenance of the flat roof, and essential cleaning and painting of gutters, fascias and bargeboards.  Field maintenance was estimated at £5,700 including between £1000 to £1,500 for  the Pond, and additional work on the Playing Fields, but it was hoped that this would be offset by up to £1250 for rugby pitch hiring. For the Playground,  there would be no purchase during the present year, and so £4,000 was budgeted, to include £2,000 carried over. In the light of the above, the precept was set at £18,000, on the basis that this would reduce Council funds to £5,000 by the end of the next financial year, in accordance with Auditors’ recommendations.

 

 

 

 

ANY  OTHER  BUSINESS

1. The same number of hanging baskets as last year would be ordered.

 

2. A letter from Alun Cairns AM dealing with sand dredging and the Helwick Bank was noted. Cllr. Hood-Williams advised that the existing licence required that dredging should start by August 2010, or the licence would lapse. He felt there had not been adequate local consultation. However the contractors might instead seek to increase the dredging from the Nobel Bank further offshore, instead of from the Helwick Sands.

 

3. The Clerk reported that his information was that the right of access confirmed by the Commoners over Council land was to No 1 Edgemoor Drive. It was stated that there was a long standing access gate at this location, and so no new easement was involved.

 

4. The Council agreed to allow use of the Hall free of charge for an exhibition to mark the centenary of Cila School. Mr. Morris declared an interest  as a Governor.

 

5. A draft plan for a rugby pitch prepared on behalf of Uplands RFC was passed to Hall Management Committee for consideration.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was closed.

 The next meeting would be on February 1st  2010