MINUTES  of a meeting held at The Recreational Hall on the 7th day of January 2008 PRESENT. Messrs. R.Oliver (Chairman), J. Baiss, W.Morris and C.Mowbray, Mrs. J.Williams, and S. Phillips,and Mr. R.K.Evans ( Clerk ). APOLOGIES  FOR  ABSENCE  Mr V. Ley, Mrs. B.Talbot and Cllr. P.Hood-Williams THE  MINUTES   of the previous monthly meeting were approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman. SWANSEA COUNCIL  MATTERS. Forthcoming meetings of the Community Councils’ Forum and for the Spotlight on the Police were noted. Also the Clerk had received the Swansea Council Community Plan update and a technical paper on dredging for aggregates. HALL  MANAGEMENT It was reported that the latest Hall Management Committee had dealt with proposals for the budget. Mr Mowbray is seeking estimates for flooring, and provision would be made for boiler renewal, plastering, signs, the new alarm system and works to the cattle grid. The form of the new Hall sign had been agreed, and this would be ordered. A replacement litter bin has been received and is ready to be put into position. Four geese from the Pond have been donated  to Fairy Hill PLANNING It was noted that an application for conversion of an integral garage at 1 Arethusa Court to a bedroom with facilities for the disabled had been approved by Swansea Council. FINANCES It was resolved to pay the following:-                         £     p  Caretaker                                                                 499     20 Mazars ( Audit fee )                                                 158     62 Wybone                                                                   503     75 B.T.                                                                           94    11 The following payments direct from the Bank in December were ratified :- SWALEC                                                                   63    00 Welsh Water                                                              25    00 E On                                                                          96    60   BUDGET / COUNCIL  TAX  PRECEPT  2008 / 9 The Clerk outlined an initial working paper prepared for the budget discussion. In considering this, it was felt that the new disabled ramp would not be fitted this financial year, but the security system would be installed. For hall development next year there would be provision for £2000 for the ramp, and £2000 retained in a sinking fund towards a new main boiler, and £500 for flooring work. Hall maintenance would be set at £3,000 as work to the outside of the wall was anticipated, and expert advice estimated at £500 would be taken as to the state of the end of the Main Hall roof trusses. Messrs Morris and Mowbray would also look at these, as signifigant expenditure might be needed, even though advice last year from Weavers was that this was not necessary then. There was anticipated to be a further £2000 spent on the playground this year, with the same sum provided for next year. For the field, repairs would be needed to the gate, also tree clearing and shredding, repairs to pond items, flailing, ditch cleaning and hedge cutting. A total of £4000 to include Don Lewis was provided for field maitenance. Miscellaneous expenditure was estimated at £1500, as Swansea Council had advised that £1000 should be reserved for election expenses if there were a contest for seats. £500 would be reserved for hall promotion by way of signs for various activities. After agreement on the above, the precept was discussed. Views were expressed that there should be no increase, and reserves reduced accordingly, but following a debate it was resolved to increase the precept to £18000 to seek to retain a less diminished reserve in case of urgent contingencies affecting the Hall.                                          ANY  OTHER  BUSINESS 1.     The official footpaths map will be retrieved from Mrs Holmes 2.     It was resolved to place cooption on the February agenda, following interest expressed by former member Ms Jan Birch   There being no further business, the meeting was closed.   The date of the next meeting would be February 4th 2008