MINUTES of a meeting held on the 5th of October  2009 at the Recreational Hall

 

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

 

APOLOGIES  FOR  ABSENCE Mr. R. Oliver

 

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

 

MATTERS  ARISING

None

 

POLICE  MATTERS,

Police Inspector Chris. O’Brien addressed the meeting, and opened by introducing  P.C.s Davies and Williams, the police officers serving Gower, and who were also present. He advised that he was unable to discuss the recent fatal road accident on Gower Road, save to say that this appeared not to have been a road safety issue. He had however recently been reviewing road safety in the Community. There had been a recent survey of vehicles passing the Hall between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on one Sunday, and the average speed had been 33 mph and no one had been reported for speeding. There was, he said, a shared speed camera available for occasional use in the Village, and this should have a deterrent value. Mr. Ley mentioned the morning rush hour was when speeding was prevalent, and at a point  nearer Hen Parc Lane, but Inspector O’Brien advised that this location was not so suitable for the camera. He also advised that the Community Support Officers were aware of the concerns about speeding, but this was only one of a number of matters that they dealt with. The Police had also reviewed car parking on the hill and near the school. Cars parked on the pavement were to be leafleted, and parking in driveways encouraged, but if the roadway were then clearer, there could be more speeding as a result. The situation would be monitored in future. Cllr. Hood-Williams said that Swansea Council would shortly installing further warning signs.

Mr. Morris mentioned that a lorry driven around the Village recently could have been involved in theft of scrap, and Inspector O’Brien indicated that a greater current concern was ‘rogue traders’ seeking to defraud elderly residents.  Although the Police would help where the could, it was not always easy to evaluate whether a job was priced lawfully or fraudulently.

Vandalism in the area around the Hall, and the cost to the Community of repairs were raised by members. The Hall Manager had reported a serious recent incident of damage of damage to the Play-Area, when broken bottles and litter had also been left. He felt there was a risk to personal safety from vandals, especially in darker evenings, and the arrival of uniformed Police Officers would be the best protection. Inspector O’Brien said he would speak to the Community Support Officers, but their attendance would be restricted, as Upper Killay does not appear as a hotspot of anti-social behaviour. Thus it was important to report to the Police such incidents, so an accurate record were made of their frequency. As things stood, the Village was recorded as a relatively safe area, with low crime levels.

 

SWANSEA  COUNCIL  MATTERS

Cllr. Hood-Williams said that there was little to add to the observations of Inspector O’Brien.

 

HALL  MANAGEMENT

Mrs. Phillips reported on the latest Hall Management Committee meeting, at which Mr Purnell had been designated ‘Hall Manager’. Also, she said new flooring had been ordered, as previously agreed. Uplands RFC were no longer intending to install rugby posts, and so their booking fee would be increased to £30, the same level as for Swansea College. The recent vandalism had been discussed and consideration given to CCTV, to a security guard night patrol and to railings around the patio, but a balance needed to be struck between security and rendering the Hall area too unsightly. There had already been discussions with the Police, and it was agreed to further review security in the light of future experience and the Police’s present awareness of the problem.

The Clerk advised that BT had stated the payphone would be easy to remove from the wall to return to them, but Mr. Purnell said the wiring appeared complicated and the Clerk was instructed to write to BT to this effect.

 

PLANNING

Cllr. Hood-Williams left the meeting.

An application  for removal of a garage at 598B Gower Road and erection of a new garage with attic storage was supported, although a further dwelling at this location would be opposed. Mrs Williams declared a personal interest as friend of the applicant. Retrospective consent for a legal services office in a former garage workshop at 710 Gower Road was supported. Although in a residential location, the business used telephone and internet communication rather than personal visits, and so was not disruptive. A proposed loft conversion at 19 Summerland  Park was supported as an improvement  not adversely affecting adjoining properties. Messrs Baiss and Lowe declared personal interests as neighbours. It was resolved to oppose an application for a new detached dwelling at land adjacent to La Villetta, Fairwood Lane  as undesirable new residential development in a still predominantly rural location. Mr Ley had declared a personal and prejudicial interest as a close friend of the applicant. Cllr Hood-Williams returned at this point.

FINANCES

The following cheques were approved for payment:-

Handprint                                                                 565     76

B.T.                                                                           96    84     

The following payments direct from the Bank in September were ratified:-

Welsh Water                                                              28    00

SWALEC                                                                   63    00

EON                                                                          13    00

It was noted that hall booking income was liable to be reduced as a result of the new system for one-off bookings.

ANY  OTHER  BUSINESS

 

1.     It was resolved that the youth shelter be demolished in view of its semi-derelict state.

2.     It was noted that some information in the website needed updating. The Clerk would speak to Mr. Oliver about this.

3.     From the floor, Mr Richard Gallagher addressed the meeting. He said he lived next to Fairwood Stores, and was the owner of the transit van parked opposite the Hall. The reason he parked where he did, he said, was an access dispute with his neighbour.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was closed.

 The next meeting would be on November 2nd 2009.