MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE  COUNCIL  HELD ON WEDNESDAY 6th AUGUST 2008 at THE INSTITUTE, GORSEINON, commencing at 7pm.   Present; J Curtice (Chairman), G Evans, H Payne, K Jones, M Curtice, S Cannon, S Clayfield,  V Bruno,  A Seabourne,  D J Lewis, D Thomas,.        Prior to the start of the meeting the Chairman noted with regret the recent death of Cllr John      Mathias (Master butcher) of  Pontarddulais Town Council,  who would be sadly missed by      all.The Chairman also reiterated her objectives for the Town Council for the coming year,      summarising the projects she intended would be delivered , and the hope that all Members      would support her in achieving      these objectives.   68. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST .  None  received   69. APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs J Williams, N Rees, M Preece, C Freeman, A       Jopling.   70. POLICE MEETING. Sgt Sharon Gill was in attendance and raised the following matters;   a.   She reported on the ongoing programme of anti social behaviour initiatives being run       throughout the Summer by the Police.    b.   ITV camera crews would be with the Police force throughout the Summer recording their         activities, and may be attending the September Council meeting. c.   The start of a  “Blue light “disco was being  programmed for August / Sept in the Youth       Club. d.   SG asked if the Town Council would be prepared to support the concept of unmarked       Police cars for the local area, funded by the Community Councils in the locality. Members       discussed the  issues involved and gave a commitment to support the concept subject to       further details regarding  costs, level of support by other Councils, and duration of the       programme, all being supplied by the Police and then discussed further. e.   Members raised concerns about the poor attendance at the last PACT meeting, and the fact       that one PCSO was there in attendance, with no senior staff attending. f.    Cllr M Curtice asked why the well supported youth Club was closed for 6 weeks through       the Summer.       Cllr H Payne confirmed that this was a result of the Youth workers  only being employed       on 39 weeks contracts by the Local Authority, and the Authority was short of Youth       workers.   71. APPROVAL OF MINUTES   a.   Council approved the Minutes of the July 2nd 2008 meeting. (proposed M Curtice, seconded S Cannon)   72. MATTERS ARISING   a.   Clerk reported letter from Swansea Council confirming that a new pedestrian crossing at High street  Gorseinon was to be installed by the end of August at a cost of £60000. A traffic calming scheme for High street was anticipated, subject to finance being arranged.   b.   Clerk reported that he and Cllr H Payne had met with Estate manager of Gorseinon College over the new light at the side of the Old Post office. Following approval from the College, new lights  were to be installed by the College electricians during August. The Town Council would fund the  works with the college paying future running costs.   c.   Members sought clarification over min 58b to acknowledge the long service of previous Members. The Clerk confirmed that the intention had been to acknowledge the long service of Cllrs M  Evans, M Thomas and R Beech who had served the Community as Community Councillors, and at on the previous Lliw Valley Borough Council and Llwchwr Councils. Suitable commemorative gifts       were authorized to be acquired .   73.CLERKS MATTERS.   a.  The Clerk took Members through the content of the Councils Standing Orders to raise the      awareness of the contents, which would form part of a future training session for Members. He      then outlined the 3 year Financial programme of the Council, which new Members had not been      involved in previously. As a consequence of the need to move forward with some of the      initiatives, he proposed  the need for sub Committees to be set up tasked with delivering certain      programmes. Members fully supported the proposal and asked for a framework to be provided      at the next meeting in September.   b   Members were asked by the Clerk to nominate a replacement School Governor for Penyrheol  primary   to replace John Mathias who had resigned. Members nominated Cllr J Curtice for the position.          Members were also asked by the Clerk to nominate a replacement School  Governor for Gorseinon Junior school to replace Ray Beech who had resigned. Members reaffirmed that Cllr H  Payne had been nominated for the position at the Annual meeting.     Clerk would notify the Governors Unit at County Hall appropriately.   c.  The Clerk summarised the final draft of the annual Newsletter for Members present, prior to its distribution to the whole community at the end of August.   d.  Clerk had received letter from Cllr Ken Jones asking to investigate lack of dog fouling bins in the  Alexandre rd area. Clerk had contacted Swansea Council over the issue and new bins would be installed shortly.   e.  Clerk / Cllr H Payne had met Swansea Council representative in the Town Centre over Swansea  Councils concerns about the Regeneration litter bins and Health & Safety issues over the emptying   of the bins. Clerk had advised it was not the Town Councils responsibility or the Development  Trust, and the bins were considered to be the property of Swansea Council. Members discussed  what options were available to replace/restore the existing cast iron bins that were the problem.     Clerk showed the plastic bins that Swansea were intending to replace them with. Members then discussed whether the Town Council should be having any involvement in the matter. Members voted ( 8 for, 3 against) to ask Clerk to investigate further the options but clarified that it had no responsibility for the existing litter bins, and he was only exploring what could be done with the  redundant cast iron bins, that were to be replaced by Swansea Council at their expense.. (Cllr A Seabourne voted against any further involvement by the Clerk at all in the matter) .   f.  Members authorised  the Clerk to order the Winter troughs/hanging baskets from Swansea Council. The order form had confirmed 8 lampost/18 trough baskets for Winter 2008/9 at a cost of.£688+VAT.   g. Parc y Werin floodlights. The Clerk and Cllr M Curtice had met Swansea Council Leisure dept staff   Mr Ian Beynon and Mr Mark Russ to investigate whether it was feasible to put floodlights around the  football pitch in the Park to allow extended evening use by local youngsters.The idea was not supported  by officials because of the likely additional  wear and tear on the  existing pitches.     As an alternative however the future use of the burnt down pavilion site was discussed. Council Parks officers appeared to support the idea of the reuse of the secured fenced area for  some form of multi use  play area. Members supported the idea and asked that the principles / grant opportunities be explored further, and a report brought back to the meeting on options available.   74. VARIOUS CORRESPONDENCE   a.  Request for funding received from the Leucarum sea angling Club and Air Ambulance. The      applications  were deferred  to  the February 2008 Finance meeting.   b.  Letter from J M Davies Senior Inspector South Wales Police advising of his promotion and departure from the division. He would be replaced from Sept 1st by Mr Richard Jones who would be  contacting  the Council in due course.       75.REPORTS FROM  COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER.  Deferred as Cllr Alan Jopling  not present .   76.REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES.   a. Cllr V Bruno updated Members on progress towards the preparation of a new web site for the Town   Council which was being progressed with the staff of the Regeneration Trust. Little progress had been During July, whilst the staff  were settling in at the new Canolfan centre .   b.  Cllr J Curtice (Mayor) reported on her Mayorial duties during July / August which included ;   9 July 08     Presented lottery cheque Heol Dewi Sant sheltered Homes 10 July        PACT meeting 11 July        Alzheimers awareness week 31 July        Lantern parade meeting 1 Aug          Meeting Loughor Town Council 2 Aug          Community police Open day Penyrheol 8 Aug          Mayors charity event Canolfan centre.    She also indicated to Members her intention to use the new Canolfan Centre venue for her Annual  Mayors dinner next April /May, if it proved feasible.   c. Cllrs D Thomas / V Bruno gave feedback to Members on the Cheltenham Conference in July, that  three Members had attended. The Members felt that the course had been a useful networking  exercise, and had discussed the theme of “sink or swim” with regard new Government initiatives.   d  Cllr H Payne reported back on the recent Canolfan open day which had received 300+ people. The Official opening was to be on Sept 5th , with the building opened by Mr Byron Lewis. The crèche  was fully occupied and the business tenants were described . An Internet café was now established,  and open for business .   e.  Institute . Clerk reported letter from Institute Management Committee to all user groups about the    relocation of the phone, and new fees of £7  for hire of Grenville room and  Main hall . An  ongoing    programme of Improvements would continue with the Foyer lighting being improved   77. ACCOUNTS.    a.  AGREED that the following accounts were to be passed for payment.   1.. Inland Revenue NI contributions / Tax                                          £  289.27    2.  Clerks salary                                                                                 3.  Stationery / admin stamps                                                              £    15.18      cartridges  / storage cds  / comp items                                                laser printer cartr.                                                                         £   41.37 (vat 7.24)      Xmas lantern lights / batteries                                                        £   40.96 4.  Clerk monthly mileage 130m  x 55.8pmile                                       £   72.54 5.  Members monthly expenses                                                           6   Audit Commission fee 2005/6                                                      £ 411.25(vat 61.25) 7   SLCC Members conf  Llandrindod Wells Sept 8                             £ 115 (vat 20.12)   b. The Clerk confirmed receipt of the External Auditors (Accounting Solutions) End of year      statement for the Town Council Accounts. The Chairman / Clerk signed  the 2007/8 Year End   accounts as a true record, and also signed the appropriate Governance statement  accompanying   the accounts, to submit to the Wales Audit office.    c.  Financial overview;       Bank account balance  25 July                                                                     £   3174     Savings account      (including all precepts due  for 2008/9)                          £ 62267                                                                                                   78. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GORSEINON TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING    COMMITTEE, HELD ON WEDNESDAY 6th August 2008, AT THE INSTITUTE, LIME  ST. GORSEINON, COMMENCING at 6.30pm       Present; Mayor J Curtice, G Evans, H Payne, K Jones, M Curtice, S Cannon, S Clayfield,  V Bruno,  A Seabourne,  D J Lewis, D Thomas,A Jopling.   a.   DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.      None received.     b.   APOLOGIES were received from Cllrs J Williams, N Rees, M Preece. C Freeman.   c.   Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on July 2nd 2008  were agreed  as a true record, and signed accordingly by the Chairman.    d.   NO OBJECTIONS were raised to the following applications;   ·         2008/1359  two single storey front extensions,Caersalem Church Princess St Gorseinon   ·         2008/1416  Extension to garage to convert to garage,/loft conversion with dormers                                   59 Brynteg rd Gorseinon   ·         2008/1492  1detached dwelling/integral garage, adjacent 24 Penyrheol rd Gorseinon   ·         2008/1493  1detached dwelling/integral garage, adjacent 24 Penyrheol rd Gorseinon     e.       OBJECTIONS were raised to the following application;    2008/1526  Retrospective consent for double garage/store/play area , front wall                           side extension , 56 Alexandre rd Gorseinon               Committee noted that this work has already been signifigantly completed,and that             enforcement action to secure its removal had been reported to the July Committee             Objection was raised to the garage structure off the rear lane which is considered to             be  too large for the locality and the residential surroundings. It would set a precedent             for other over large development off the rear accesses in Gorseinon to the detriment             of  residential amenity and acceptable forms of development. Members noted that the             wall/side enclosure to the house was constructed on the old boundary wall without             suitable foundations, and the troughs overhang the adjoining property. Committee             considered that despite the authority for enforcement action, should the application             ever be allowed conditions should be imposed to ensure no residential conversion of             the garage takes place.   2008/1565  New side/rear extensions, fire escape, 11-13 Brighton rd Gorseinon   Committee felt the development of this site has now reached capacity, as further incremental development would encroach upon the amenity area of the property and residents.Members were mindful of previous objections from neighbours, and were concerned about the impact of additional on street parking, service deliveries etc as a result of a  bigger commercial operation in this predominantly residential street.   f.          VODAPHONE Mast Lime Street Gorseinon. Cllr Bruno asked that the issue of the             unauthorised development be placed on the September agenda for discussion.               THE MEETING ENDED AT 7.00pm