COUNCILLORS PRESENT: Cllr. Mick Sheath, Cllr. Lyn Bennett (Chair), Cllr. Colin Evans, Cllr Peter Gough, Cllr David Williams, Cllr Gwyn Rowlands, County Councillor Bob Greenland
IN ATTENDANCE: C Martin (clerk), Mr Bob Trigg (public)
APOLOGIES: PC Thorpe, Cllr Mike Foster

1. OPEN SESSION
   As the meeting date had changed no police report was available but the clerk was asked to attach it to the bottom of the minutes when it arrived (see below).

   Mr Trigg was invited to speak by the Chair. He said he wanted LCC to be aware of drains being blocked and the inconvenience that the recent Dwr Cymru works have caused. He said he had approached MCC about this and there had now been some reinstatement of the damaged highways but the contractors had left traffic lights in place longer than was strictly necessary. Cllr Bennett said he had seen Mr Trigg's correspondence and agreed. CC Greenland asked if a proper reply had been received from MCC. Mr Trigg said the real issue was with Welsh Water. Cllr Bennett commented that we really needed to have complained at the time and that there was not much that could be done in retrospect other than to ensure that the drains were no longer blocked. Cllr Sheath said he would note what had been said and would complain if there were any issues with the stretch now being worked on. Cllr Gough recommended that clerk should write to Dwr Cymru to state that were several complaints from residents about
   1. Access to properties being removed and people being inconvenienced.
   2. Blockages in the drains at Duffryn Lane, Ivy Cottage and outside the parish hall
   3. Contractors have driven over the village green in front of Parish Hall and damaged the man hole cover.
   Clerk to send a draft to Cllr Bennett for approval and then copy it to Mike Jones at MCC.

2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
   Minutes from meeting of 15 November 2011 were agreed and signed by LB and CM.

3. MATTERS ARISING

   3.1 Highways
   a) Highways form reply - no reply received to the last form - Clerk to send again.
   b) Additional highways issues identified;
   1. Drains blocked at - B4235- outside parish hall causing water to flow into drive of Mill house and by the turning bay opposite chapel lane and 20m north of Ryecroft.
   2. The advisory 40mph speed limit signs on the B4235 should be removed as is already 40mph or reduced to 30mph.
   3. Clerk to contact MCC again about the ownership of the Tree outside Ryecroft which is becoming more unsafe.
   4. Mr David Evans sent an email advising that the main drain in front of the Llangwm parish hall on the junction of the main road to Cobblers Plain road is silted yup. Also drains on the Hill out of the B4235 towards Chepstow are also silted up.
   5. St Tysoi Close Llansoy - very potholed
   6. Duffryn Lane Llangwm from Duffryn Cottage to the bridge over the stream is pot hoed.
   c) Funding for electronic speed sign on B4235 - CC Greenland said he would take this up with Alan Browne at MCC as he was unsure that the right for area committees to no longer allocate funds could be withdrawn. Cllr Bennett asked him to expedite the request as funding deadlines could run out.
   3.3 Payroll arrangements at MCC. Clerk confirmed that payments of £ 75.80 had been received on 30/12, 30/11 and 20/10.
   3.4 Meeting date changes - as there have been some changes to audit timings the meeting schedule has been changed (see end of minutes). In addition the clerk asked for the March meeting to be changed to 19 March which was agreed.
   3.5 Cllr Gough reported that he had attended the speed reduction meeting in Shirenewton. The clerk had sent the presentation from the meeting via email to councillors. Cllr Gough confirmed that there were several actions from the meeting;
   Circulation of education leaflets - copies given to LCC
   Agreed MCC and Gwent police work with Motorcycle Action Group
   There seems to have been an improvement but this will be monitored.
   Gwent police will liaise with MCC regarding noise
   MCC are keeping a speed - volume - accident record.
   There was a general feeling that the campaign had been effective
   Cllr Gough is happy to host noise monitoring equipment and asked that PC Thorpe contacts him to deploy the monitoring device.

4. FINANCE

   Balance at 31 December - Barclays account £1831.30 Monmouthshire Building Society £2288.97

   4.1 Agreed for payment by the meeting and signed by clerk and MS;
   Invoice - C. Martin, clerk's expenses for Dec/Jan £36.35 Cheque no.100543
   Mazars - 2010/2011 audit fee £60.00, Cheque no 100544
   Joan Bennett - expenses for best kept village competition materials £80.94, cheque no.100545
   Llangwm Parish Hall rental - 7 sessions plus electricity £140.02 cheque no 100546
   4.2 Receipt -£900 MCC precept 20 December
   4.3 Reconciliation for period. Approved by the meeting and will be circulated by email.
   4.4 Budget projection at 31 December. Agreed by the meeting and will be circulated by email.
   4.5 MCC precept request - based on budget projection at 31 December meeting agreed to keep the precept static at £2700. Agreed that any election costs would come from reserves and that the precept could be increased accordingly in 2013/14.
   4.6 Annual return - the annual accounts for year ending 31 March 2011 - Returned by Mazars Llp. No recommendations or actions recorded. Conclusion of audit form will be put on Llangwm notice board by 28 January by LB.
   4.7 Barclays notice of variation changes to customer agreement. File.

5. CORRESPONDENCE
   
   Decisions
   5.1 MCC -Community council clerks briefing session 19 January - 2012 local elections. File
   5.2 OVW - amendment to model standing orders, paragraph 30. Meeting adopted the amendment to the model standing orders. Unanimously agreed to adopt - File.
   5.3 GAVO community directory - Clerk to update with LCC details and return.
   5.4 MCC - register of electors for 2012 - distributed to MS, GR and DW. MF copy to be posted.
   5.5 MCC - LDP consultation on site representations - consultation deadline 3rd February. Circulated in blue box.
   5.6 MCC - local elections briefing sessions 25/26 January 2012. Distributed.

   For information only - all circulated in blue box
   5.7 MCC - Wales coastal path event 5 May 2012
   5.8 MCC Budget consultation meeting 18 January.
   5.9 GAVO - Monmouthshire Network newsletter
   5.10 MCC - Lower Wye Area Committee agenda 14 December.
   5.11 MCC - Central Monmouthshire Rural Forum agenda 19 January and dates for 2012.
   5.12 OVW - Area meeting agenda for 12 January.
   5.13 Clerks and Council's direct.
   5.14 MCC agenda 12 January
   5.15 MCC Planning code of practice.

6. PLANNING
   
   6.1 Planning committee agenda for 13 December. Circulated.
   6.2 Plans approved by MCC -nothing reported on MCC website for the period
   6.3 DC/2011/01155 - Single storey extension to Brook Cottage, Llangwm Cllr Gough recommended approval, seconded by Cllr Sheath and agreed unanimously.
   
   
7. COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
   
   County councillor had nothing further to add and asked if there were any questions. Cllr Sheath enquired about progress with Abergavenny market. He replied that MCC was seeking the repeal of an old act that said the council had to have a cattle market in Abergavenny town. This will free up the site for supermarket development. However as there is an objection there could be a judicial review even if the Senydd approve the repeal.
   
   
8. WARD REPORTS
   
   LB - Referred to the proposals for Lower Ty Fry Woodland sent by the clerk and it was agreed that his comments would be forwarded to Abersenny Ltd who consulted with LCC on the proposals for woodland felling.
   He also presented an email from Cllr Foster about the Lower Wyes meeting on 22 November and asked Clerk to contact Cllr Foster for further clarification.
   

Meeting closed: 9.00pm

Next Meeting:

Dates agreed for 2012 meetings as 19 Mar, 15 May, 25 Jun, 18 Sep, and 20 Nov

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Police Report

Llangwm and Llanos incidents between 14th November 2011 and 17th January 2012

18/12 - a white Peugeot connect van index W285PRB seen to be collecting scrap in the Llangwm area then headed towards Chepstow on the Usk Road. No offences reported at this time.
19/12 - theft of a quad bike from an outbuilding overnight in Wolvesnewton
I am not sure if you cover Wolvesnewton, but you should be made aware of this crime as a reminder to do a security check on your property.
To let you know I have also been in contact with MCC Environmental Health in relation to the noise monitoring of the motorbikes and I will update you soon.