Minutes of the Grovesend & Waungron Community Council Meeting held on

Tuesday, 6th March, 2012

Present:

Mr. L. Jones, Chairman

Mr. J. John

Mr. M. Jones

Mrs. T. Rees

Mr. B. Williams

Mr. A. Hamilton

Mrs. C. Knox

Mr. B. Moon

Councillor D.I.E. Jones

Mr. J.I. Burge (Secretary)

5 members of the public present

1557.   Apologies.

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs. S. Morgan, Mrs. T. Morgan and Mr. D. True.  Councillor A. Jopling was absent.

1558.   Disclosure’s of personal interest.

Mr. A. Hamilton declared an interest in Agenda item 9: HM the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee request for financial assistance.

1559.   Minutes of the meeting held on 7th February, 2012.

Approved.

1560.   Matters arising from the minutes.

1553(i) An update was provided from the residents of Clos Pengelli regarding the possibility of creating a small car park next to the nursing home.  A site visit was due to take place shortly followed by the submission of a full planning application to Swansea Council.

Residents were grateful to the Community Council for the support provided to date and will continue to update Members in due course.

1553(ii)            Mr. D. Cole informed Members that work on the coffee shop was progress well.  Painting was currently taking place, together with the installation of new lights and some minor building works.  It was hoped that the shop would be ready for opening on 2nd April.

1561.   Local Members Report – Councillor D.I.E. Jones.

Councillor D.I.E. Jones reported on the following:

i)          That he would be standing down as a Councillor for the City & County of Swansea at the May elections due to health issues after a service of some 30 years.

The Chairman responded by saying that it was hoped his health would improve sufficiently to enable him to enjoy his retirement and that he would be deeply missed.  Councillor Jones was praised for being such a huge supporter of the village and Community Council.

ii)         The Council Tax for the coming 2012/13 financial year had been agreed with a freeze on any increase from the current year.

iii)         The LDP filtering process had commenced.  It was envisaged that this was going to be a lengthy process given the thousands of submissions made.

1562.   Ten-minute Public Questions.

i)          Mr. Brian Davies informed Members that he had been told by Jeff Green of Swansea Council that the application for funding for a new pelican crossing had been withdrawn due to pressure of cut backs at Swansea.

Resolved:         That the Secretary would contact Alison Gough at Swansea Council to obtain an update.

1563.   Planning Applications.

None.

1564.   Box Road/Pentre Road Renewal of Grass Cutting Contract.

The Secretary informed Members that he had received notification from Swansea Council that the grass cutting contract was due for renewal.  The cost for the season ahead was £476.

Resolved:         Members agreed to the renewal for a further 12 months.

Mr. A. Hamilton declared an interest in the following item.

1565.   HM the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee request for financial assistance.

The Secretary informed Members that he had been made aware that a second request for financial assistance was to be submitted for consideration shortly from a different source.

Resolved: Members agreed to postpone any decisions pending receipt of the second application when both could be considered together.

1566.   Swansea Citizens Advice Bureau Request for Members.

The Secretary read out a letter from the CAB which provided details of a merge between the current Swansea and the Neath Port Talbot Bureau’s to form a new wider reaching combined Bureau.

As part of the new service CAB were seeking to recruit new Member Organisations to its membership and keen for Community and Town Councils to register.

Resolved:         That the Community Council would register itself as an Organisational Member with Mrs. C. Knox and Mrs. T. Rees representing the Community Council.

1567.   Secretary’s Report.

The Secretary reported to Members on the following:

i)          The next meeting of the Community/Town Council Forum at Swansea Council was on Wednesday, 21st March.

Resolved: That Mr. J. John and Mr. L. Jones would both attend to represent the Community Council.

ii)         That with the Community Council elections taking place on Thursday, 3rd May those that will be elected must by law be sworn in within 5 days of the election taking place.  Therefore, rather than have two Community Council meetings within a week of each other, the Secretary proposed that the May meeting should be pushed back a week to be held on Tuesday, 8th May, instead of 1st May. 

Resolved:         That the May meeting of the Community Council takes place on Tuesday, 8th May and that the April meeting would be the final meeting of this Community Councils term of office.

iii)         The Secretary asked Members whether they wished to recognise the work that Councillor DIE Jones had given to the village to mark his retirement.  Members unanimously agreed that the Community Councils appreciation should be shown.

Resolved:         Following discussion it was agreed that at the final meeting of the Community Council prior to Councillor Jones retirement i) a small buffet be put provided.  Mrs. M. Williams (member of the public) volunteered to make and provide some sandwiches; ii) Mrs. S. Morgan would be asked if she could purchase a crystal tankard and have it inscribed with a short message of good wishes; iii) Flowers would be bought for Councillor Jones wife who would be invited to attend the thank you gathering; iv) Mr. M. Caton MP and Mrs. E. Hart AM would be invited as the local Member of Parliament and Member of Welsh Government respectively.

1568.   Election of Chair and Vice for 2012/13.

The Secretary suggested that given that there remained only one meeting of the Community Council left until the elections, Members may wish to consider postponing the election of a new Chair and Vice until the May meeting when a new Council would be elected.

Resolved:         Members agreed that the current Chair & Vice would remain in office until the May meeting.

1569.   Any Other Business.

i)          Mr. B. Williams informed Members that roads throughout Waungron were now beyond repair and full of potholes.

Resolved:         That the Secretary writes to the Highways Department to enquire as whether the entire stretch of road could be re-surfaced.

ii)         Mr. A. Hamilton informed Members that the grit bin located at the junction of Station Road and High Street had been turned upside-down three times recently and emptied of its contents.

Resolved:         That the Secretary asks Swansea Council for the bins to be bolted to the pavement to prevent any further vandalism.