MINUTES of a meeting held on the 15th of August 2011  at the Recreational Hall

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

A number of members of the Village were present, and Mr. Phil Owen, Chairman of Uplands RFC

The Chair was taken by Mrs Phillips as Mr Oliver had a personal interest in the sole agenda item

APOLOGIES  FOR  ABSENCE Mr. C. Mowbray

DECLARATIONS  OF  INTEREST

Mr. Morris declared a personal and prejudicial interest, as his home backs onto the Uplands RFC ground. He remained in the meeting as this was open for public observations to be made, but took no part.

Messrs Oliver, Low,Baiss and Porter declared personal interests as living near to the ground, and in Mr Low’s case also as a Club member.

Cllr Hood-Williams declared a personal interest as a member of Swansea C.C., and took no part.

The Clerk advised a conflict of interest as a Club member, and would be unable to advise on any contentious or controversial issues

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT UPLANDS RFC

The Clerk briefly outlined to members that the discussion to follow was not upon the planning merits of the Uplands ground for residential development. The Council had already expressed a view to Swansea CC that it was opposed to such development at this location, as well as at the other LDP candidate sites in the Village. There was no proposal to change the Council’s stance upon this.

What was to be considered was the Council’s response to a request by the Club for agreement in advance to an easement over the unadopted end of Fairwood Lane, to permit access in the event that a planning application proposed by Club were successful. The type of scheme indicated by the Club was for a village green type development limited to, say, nine houses, and the Club was reluctant to commit to the cost of the application unless assured of access if it did succeed. There would be a payment to the Council if the easement did go ahead, and provisional confidential advice about this to the Council had been obtained from Mr. Nigel Aubrey F.R.I.C.S.. The Clerk finally reminded the Council of its position as Trustee of the Recreational Hall Trust, in which the relevant land was vested, and its duty to manage the charitable lands prudently.

There followed a discussion. It was understood that the Club would sell on to a developer, and there were concerns that despite any initial restriction of an easement, attempts would be made to intensify any development, with adverse effects on the Village. The status of the land in the AONB was emphasised, and views were expressed that as a matter of principle the Council should withhold consent to maintain the integrity of the AONB, even if the Planning Authority did permit development. Members were unwilling to commit the Council at this stage, without sight of the precise terms of any planning consent that might be granted. However concern was also expressed about the Council’s position as Trustee, and whether a refusal of consent if planning were granted would be open to challenge on the basis of loss of potential funds for the Charity and the Village. No final decision was therefore made, and it was resolved to consider the matter again if there were a fresh application by the Club on the basis of a specific planning permission that had been obtained. In the meantime, One Voice Wales and the Charity Commission would be approached for any advice they were able to offer.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed.