Llangwm Home:Llangwm Community Council

Minutes of Meeting
held on Tuesday 18th November 2008

at St John's Church Hall, Llangwm
  1. Apologies for absence
    Apologies received from P. C. Cowburn, and also on behalf of Cllr. Mike Foster, who is in hospital. It was understood that County Councillor Greenland had suffered an accident and would not be attending.

    Members present:
    Cllr. Colin Evans, Chairman
    Cllr. Lyn Bennett
    Cllr Peter Gough
    Cllr Gwyn Rowlands
    Cllr. Mick Sheath
    Cllr David Williams

  2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

    The minutes were agreed by those present and signed by the Chairman.
    The Clerk tabled ten emails from P. C. Cowburn on local incidents, and one general warning on pyramid selling. P. C. Cowburn's report is attached to the minutes.

  3. Matters Arising

    Possible closure of local church.
    The Chairman asked the Rev. Kevin Hasler to speak; who said he had received some individual responses after the public meeting. The PCC will be meeting shortly and issuing another flyer. It was hoped to reach a decision some time next year.
    Cllr. Bennett agreed with the general view that there was no single Council opinion on this subject, but said that if the PCC concluded that it was possible to support both churches, the Community Council should give their support, despite their very limited finances. This was agreed by all.
    Querying ownership of the hall, arising under Any Other Business, the Clerk wrote to Mr Nigel Williams 11/09 asking for his advice. Replied 16/09, saying ownership probably vested in the Monmouth Diocesan Trust, and gave me the address of the secretary. Following the same query to the secretary, he replied that the hall was "owned by the parish" and definitely not the Diocese of Monmouth.
    The Clerk has obtained Land Registry details, via Rev. Hasler, of the sale of the School House, Llangwm, from the Diocesan Trust to Robert Evans in 1990. This excludes the Hall, and Rev. Hasler had stated that there is no Land Registry record for that ownership, and the title deeds have yet to be found.
    Rev Hasler now said that some documents had been found, perhaps including the deeds, but there was as yet no conveyance.
    In reply to Cllr. Sheath, the Reverend said the two Llangwm parishes had been joined by a declaration some years ago, and that he would provide the Local History Group with a copy.

    8a Highways.
    Bridge parapet repairs at Pentre Farm, damaged in November 2007, still not done, details supplied to County Councillor Greenland at the last meeting.
    Llansoy 'Church Road' sign has not yet been replaced, the Clerk to pursue items.
    The hedge at Nant Y Bwthyn Llangwm was cut shortly after our last meeting.
    The missing sign raised by Cllr. Bennett has been replaced, but he pointed out that this was not on the Wolvesnewton road, as reported by the Clerk, but the Duffryn.
    Emailed 10/09 re signs warning of pedestrians especially at the Mill, no response.
    Surface of pavements here 'not an immediate hazard', to be raised at next budget review.
    The Clerk emailed 11/10 that the lower sign to Wolvesnewton was detached again, apparently by a deliberate act. Repaired 15/10, when vandalism was confirmed.

    Matters Arising under Any Other Correspondence.
    Highways will clean gullies on B4235 just below Bridge Inn and investigate why they fail so often.

    Flooding at Llangwm. The Clerk chased MCC again 22/10; the application is still with the W.A.G.

    Bridge Inn, Llangwm.
    Continuing to deteriorate, now with some vandalism - four bulkhead lights along Pentre Lane smashed. The Clerk has informed the mortgagee. Following a meeting with the Planning Applications Manager, the Clerk has queried with him why this remains undecided after a year. The Manager replied, just the previous day, that "we have now had the appraisal back from the consultant regarding which we will be consulting interested parties, including the Community Council".

    The Clerk also raised Llanynant cottage, apparently undecided since June 2007, but the decision was actually taken in September 2007 but not published on the website. Will be re-submitted. (Still 'current' on 18/11).
    The Clerk has reminded Mr Sandison of the outstanding infringement of copyright by Savills.

    Matters Arising under Any Other Business.
    The Clerk queried, 11/09, with One Voice Wales and Mr Andrews, MCC, whether our Council had compulsory purchase rights. Mr Andrews did not reply. OVW said no, but if our negotiations failed we could raise this with MCC, to be eventually authorised by WAG.
    He also wrote to ask Mr Bob Evans if he would sell/lease/rent his field to the community; no reply received.

  4. Finance

    The Clerk tabled the financial statement for the seven months April to October, showing reserves of £3,475.01.
    The annual accounts had been received from the external auditor, with a comment on the need to update the asset value to include the laser printer. The public notification of the right to inspect has been exhibited as required. The fee of £58.75 for the audit is now due.
    The Clerk had received an urgent message that the charge for the renewal of the local website, £116.33 was overdue, and after consultation took steps to pay this directly, so that VAT could be reclaimed. This action was agreed.
    The election expenses of £106.00 was requested by MCC on 2/10, with a reminder on 30/10.
    The Clerk requested that all the above payments be authorised, together with his salary. This was unanimously agreed.

    The Clerk had received from Swansea Building Society, proposed by O.V.W., a suggestion that we hold surplus funds with them. The Clerk would recommend remaining with our local Society, and this was agreed.

  5. Any Other Correspondence

    The following documents were tabled for circulation:-

    A) Documents requiring decision:

    From MCC:-
    Planning applications:-
    DC/2008/01046, Mr & Mrs Mills, Ger y Llan, Llangwm, change of use of disused building to office; and extend existing utility room. This was agreed.
    DC/2008/01214, Mr & Mrs Parry, Pentre Farm Llansoy, certificate of lawful use, erection of dwelling house. (Resubmission after refusal and a meeting with the MCC Enforcement Manager.) After much discussion it was felt that this application should be refused on the grounds that if granted it would lead to subversion of the UDP regulations regarding dwellings in rural areas.
    DC/2008/01136, Mr & Mrs Light, the Old Rectory, Llangwm, extension to existing building (as built in July 2006). This was required because of changes to the materials used, and was agreed.

    The Clerk issued requests for a copy of the Electoral Roll for Councillors, and completed a request for councillors' names.
    MCC requested volunteers to test their new website - passed to Cllr. Bennett, who said he had logged on.
    Application for Community and Economic Development Scheme grants, dated 15/9, must be in by 29/9, received 1/10 because of the Clerk's holiday.
    Request from County Cllr. Val Smith for comments on recycling sites in our area.
    Invitation to our Chairman to the MCC Chairman's Charity Evening, 30/10.
    MCC Local Development Plan Options Workshops for stakeholders, 10 and 11 December, County Hall.

    From Other Bodies:-

    Local Government Boundary Commission, workshops on 1st and 10th December.
    Information Commissioners Office, new model publication scheme on their website. This new model Freedom of Information was tabled and formally adopted by Council.
    Local Health Board Clinical Futures meeting on 10/11.

    Requests for financial assistance from Urdd National Eisteddfod; National Eisteddfod; British Heart Foundation; British Red Cross. These were refused.

    B) For information only:-

    From MCC:-

    Two sets of MCC Cabinet papers.
    Four sets of MCC Council minutes, including relocation of the Gwent Records Office, and interesting details of the Draft Options of the L.D.P.
    Five agenda of the Planning Committee.
    LDP Candidate Sites for Assessment. Three for Llansoy and three for Llangwm, including land adjacent to The Bridge Inn. One for another fishing lake at Pentre Farm Llangwm was queried with the landowner.
    Notes on a Planning Training meeting, 6th November, attended by the Clerk, Cllr. Bennett and Cllr. Sheath were tabled. This was felt to be very useful. The Enforcement Manager indicated the possibility of using a section 215 notice which would instruct a landowner to tidy up unsightly areas, but later the Clerk believes this can only be used in a Conservation Area. It was agreed he should pursue this possibility, with regard to the Bridge, or land opposite The Mill.
    Five copies of the results of the Highways feedback received, with the four year maintenance programme.
    Two Mor Hafren committee meeting minutes.
    Central Monmouthshire Rural Forum, minutes and notice posted.
    MCC review of taxi ranks.
    Summer Holiday Activities, Chepstow Area..
    Emergency Contacts directory entries confirmed.

    From One Voice Wales:-
    Summary of an address by the Wales Audit Office. Note that they state MCC will be introducing charges for grass cutting MCC next year.
    Nominations for Chair and Vice Chair for Monmouthshire /Newport Area Committee.
    Two sets of OVW meeting minutes.
    Agenda and motions for the A.G.M., 11/10.

    From GAVO, Monmouthshire Network for Autumn 2008.

    From the National Assembly:-
    Guidance on Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act.

    From Other Bodies:-
    Monmouthshire Health Alliance Partnership News, Summer 2008.
    Consumer Focus Wales - a new statutory consumer champion, based in Cardiff.
    Local Health Board, Clinical Futures programme bulletin.
    Local Government Boundary Commission, review of Community Council election results. Conclude that the present arrangement does not provide for effective democratic local government. The Clerk commented that small Community Councils would always try to avoid the expense of elections.
    Notification that Mrs Jessica Deathe is the Llangwm representative of the Roger Edwards Almshouses Charity.
    Clerks and Councils Direct for November 2008.

  6. Any Other Business

    Cllr. Gough said that a static caravan had arrived at Bailea, and asked the Clerk to obtain clarification as to its use.
    He also queried that no flyers on recycling for Llangwm had been received, and the Chairman said he would ask Mrs Sue Evans to follow up her contact here.
    The Chairman offered to provide Llansoy with the notice board previously at Llangwm.
    Cllr. Gough advised that he had responded to the Highways report on the criteria for setting speed limits.
    Cllr. Bennett asked the Clerk to establish who was responsible for the 'Think Bike' road signs.
    He also asked him to report a failed street light in Llangwm car park.
    In view of Cllr. Foster's temporary absence, Cllr. Bennett proposed, and it was seconded, that Cllr. Sheath should temporarily take his place at Area meetings. Cllr. Sheath said he would do so if possible, with the back up of Cllr. Bennett. The Clerk to advise the next meeting.
    Cllr Evans reported seeing an official road sign in England saying 'Road unsuitable for heavy traffic, ignore sat. nav. directions'. The Clerk to query if such were available here, especially for the road to Llansoy from the glider field.

  7. Date of Next Meeting

    This was agreed for Tuesday 20th January 2009 at St. John's Hall. Llangwm.