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

1. OPEN SESSION
   No members of the public present. Clerk read out an email from PC Thorpe outlining the incidents for the period that are summarised at the end of the minutes.

2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
   Minutes from meeting of 20 September 2011 were agreed and signed by LB and CM.

3. MATTERS ARISING

   3.1 Highways
   a) Highways form reply - latest report received from MCC from September 26. Finally received an email from MCC regarding the precarious tree near Ryecroft in Llangwm, confirming that tree notices have been issued. Clerk to enquire who the owner is as the community council thought it was MCC.
   b) Additional highways issues identified;
   1) It would be a good idea to have a notice of the side road adjacent to Oakfield Farm at the junction of B4235 and R63.3
   2) George's delight R63.3 is a significant rut. MCC to contact CC Mike Foster for further details.

   3.2 Email from Shirenewton Community Council regarding purchase of speed camera. It would seem that the area committees are no longer funding so Shirenewton are not interested at the full cost. Llantrisant Fawr CC has discussed it at their meeting and want to proceed as are of the opinion that funding would be available. Clerk to contact Alan Brown at MCC. Clerk to continue to involve CC Bob Greenland in correspondence and updates.
   3.3 Email from MCC regarding the motorbikes on B4235 meeting dates. Clerk to respond on behalf of CC Gough to say it can't make the meetings as at work during the day, but that we want to be kept informed.
   3.4 LB enquired of the clerk if she had any more information about payroll arrangements at MCC. Clerk confirmed that no information had been received.

4. FINANCE

   Balance at 31 October - £1283.38

   4.1 Agreed for payment by DW and MS;
   Invoice - C. Martin, clerk's salary and expenses for Oct/Nov £ 185.20 Cheque no.100540
   Worldwide Internet services - renewal of gold package Unix 1 year £118.80. Cheque no 100541
   M Foster travel expenses for meeting at Raglan £37.26, cheque no 100542
   4.2 Receipt -£19.25 VAT reclaim, 6 October.
   4.3 Reconciliation for period. Approved by the meeting and circulated.
   4.4 Budget projection at 31 October. Agreed by the meeting and circulated.
   4.5 Annual return - the annual accounts for year ending 31 March 2011 - Have received a letter from Mazars to confirm is acceptable except there was one error - CM has checked this and it was a transposition error when copying figures from the accounts to the form. CM and LB initialled the amendment and signed off the audit.
   4.6 Risk Assessment and asset register signed and approved by LB. File.
   4.7 Sign off of change of details for Monmouthshire building society. Signed by CC Foster and clerk to submit to Monmouthshire building society.
   4.8 LB proposed that documents up to 20 pages could be printed off by the councillors and claimed through expenses at 10p per sheet. Anything bigger than this would have to be approved by the meeting. Unanimously agreed.

5. CORRESPONDENCE
   
   Decisions
   5.1 MCC - enquiry about the usefulness of the OSS van at village halls. Clerk to reply based on there being very little known by the councillors as none of them had used it and had not had much feedback from residents.
   5.2 MCC emergency contacts directory. Contacts remain unchanged.
   5.3 MCC - street light management. Clerk to request the maps and information that explains the implications for LCC.
   5.4 Abergavenny Eisteddfod. No action.
   5.5 Vale of Glamorgan National Eisteddfod. No action.
   5.6 Society of Local council clerks - membership information. Circulated
   5.7 Queen's jubilee - information on beacons. Circulated.
   

   For information only - all circulated in blue box
   5.8 Aneurin Bevan Health council agenda 4 October.
   5.9 MCC -Improvement Plan performance.
   5.10 OVW area meeting agenda 10 November.
   5.11 OVW - The voice newsletter.
   5.12 OVW - agenda for AGM 8 October.
   5.13 Llangwm R81 - temporary road closure.
   5.14 Llangwm C63.1, C63.6 Chapel Road, temporary closure.
   5.15 MCC countryside newsletter.
   5.16 Welsh Water - works on supply.
   5.17 Central Monmouthshire Rural Forum
   5.18 Monmouthshire network newsletter.
   5.19 Lower Wye Area Committee 10 October, 9 November.
   5.20 MCC - meetings 23/9, 14/10, 4/11.
   5.21 MCC - Local development plan.
   

6. PLANNING
   
   6.1 Planning committee agenda for 18 October and 15 November. Circulated.
   6.2 Plans approved by MCC - DC/2011/00737 - conversion of attached barn to form part of living accommodation and rear extension to farmhouse, amendments to DC/2010/00030, Pentre Farm, Llansoy, NP15 1DF.
   6.3 Letter from David Swanson outlining proposed changes to planning process. Circulated.
   6.4 DC/2011/000634 - Removal of agricultural occupancy conditions, Lynbrook, Llangwm. CC Bennett referred to recent contact from MCC planning requesting a recommendation in light of information now available on the website. CC Sheath declared an interest as he knows both parties (refer to his email sent to the clerk 21/10/11) and said he would abstain. CC Foster proposed that the application is refused, seconded by CC Williams. 5 voted in favour and 2 abstained. Clerk to reply to MCC planning.
   
   
7. COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
   
   No county councillor present
   
   
8. WARD REPORTS
   
   MF - Gave central Monmouthshire rural forum meeting report from 22/9. Much of the discussion was about the grass roots bus as CC Foster objected to the way the USK Abergavenny route was being pre booked. This has been left with Debbie McCarty to look into. CC Foster will report back at next meeting. Also a talk on recycling.
   One Voice Wales meeting - a talk by Rhodri Thomas about sustainable development. Report circulated.

   It was agreed that Cllr Foster is to represent LCC at the Charter Liaison Meetings in Chepstow.

   PG - informed the meeting about the requirement for residents with septic tanks to have them registered by end of December 2011.
   

Meeting closed: 9.45pm

Next Meeting: 17 January

Dates agreed for 2012 meetings as 17 Jan, 20 Mar, 15 May, 19 Jun, 18 Sep, 20 Nov

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Police Report

Llangwm and Llansoy incidents between 17th September and 14th November 2011

06/10 - three males were arrested for firearms offences and poaching (a pheasant)at Llansoy after a report that they allegedly pointed a weapon at someone.
16/10 - approximately six goats on the road between Llansoy and Raglan.
02/11 - report of a suspicious van - a white Renault tipper, registration CK54SXR called at a farm in Llangwm. It was looking for scrap surprisingly. It was also seen in Devauden the same day.