Llangwm Home:Llangwm Community Council

Minutes of Meeting
held on Tuesday 15th July 2008

at St John's Church Hall, Llangwm
  1. Apologies for absence

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

    Apologies were received from County Councillor Greenland. In attendance, P.C. Mike Cowburn part time.

  2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

    The minutes were agreed by those present and signed by the Chairman.
    The Clerk reported four email messages from P. C. Cowburn.
    The Chairman asked P.C. Cowburn to address the meeting, and his report is attached to the minutes.

  3. Matters Arising

    8a Highways.
    Surface repair at Millbrook and bridge repair at Pentre Farm Llangwm still to be done.
    The Wolvesnewton/Cobblers Plain sign has been replaced satisfactorily.
    The Clerk wrote again 9/6 to Devauden C C re surfacing between Gaer Fawr & Gaer Llwyd. It was suggested that perhaps County Councillor Greenland could ask Devauden for a response.

    The Clerk commented that he checked the weekly email report on highway repairs from MCC.
    Cllr. Rowlands reported that the "Church Road" road sign adjacent to his property had been damaged by a late night traffic collision, the offender having fled the scene.

    Matters Arising under Any Other Correspondence.
    Flooding at Llangwm. Interested residents had a mostly positive meeting on site with a Mr Martin Wright, whose company has been employed by MCC to carry out a project assessment on our flooding problem. The Clerk produced a short summary of the meeting to those involved, but, in essence, Mr Wright is confident his report will persuade WAG to give a grant which will cover 85% of the total cost. He believes the problem lies further both upstream and downstream of the village, and will endeavour to avoid recommending work on the actual bridges, which could be prohibitively expensive. The Clerk to pursue Martyn Evans, MCC.

    Bridge Inn, Llangwm.
    The property has now been taken off the market, and the Clerk has discovered that this is because the applicant and alleged owner has come up with sufficient money to the mortgagee to be able to reclaim possession. The mortgagee still however retains an interest in the property. Decision by MCC on the application still awaited. Cllr. Gough queried if there was not a time limit for a decision to be reached, and Cllr. Sheath pointed out Llanynant Cottage, Llangwm, was also still current.
    The Clerk has chased Mr Sandison re writing to the agent for compensation for infringement of our copyright.

    As required, the Clerk has advised County Councillor Greenland of Councillors' email addresses.

    The Clerk has written 8/06 to the National Assembly saying we see no need to report either now or annually on our Council's issuing of fixed penalty notices.

    Cllr. Bennett queried if there was any news of the June auction of land by Miss Van Lieshout, but there was no such information.

  4. Finance

    The Clerk tabled the financial statement for the three months May to June, showing reserves of £3,256.29. Note receipt of VAT return of £35.82 (mostly purchase of the laser printer) and £373.18 from the Llangwm Neighbourhood Watch funds which he has transferred to our MBS account.

    The Council now owe Mr Bill Savage £170.19 for new Neighbourhood Watch signs. Cllr. Foster said he was hoping to erect these soon.

    Mr Savage has carried out a satisfactory internal audit of our 2007/8 accounts, which the Clerk has now sent to the external auditors.

    Invoice for the election costs has yet to be received. Cllr. Foster submitted travel expenses of £17.69.
    The Clerk asked for the payment to Mr Savage, Cllr. Foster, and of his salary, to be agreed. This was so agreed.

  5. Any Other Correspondence

    The following documents were tabled for circulation:-

    A) Documents requiring decision:

    From MCC:-
    Planning applications:-
    DC/2007/01048, Mr & Mrs Jenkins, revised plans for a three bedroom dwelling and detached garage, land at The Bungalow, Chepstow Road, Llangwm. Includes a ten page submission from the agent which in summary pleads for the new building to be allowed to be bigger and different from the original, which was in such a poor state. The application previously agreed was for a two bedroom dwelling. After discussion, the amended application was agreed.
    DC/2008/00674, Mr I Parkhouse, amended design of conversion of redundant chapel to dwelling, Peniel Chapel, Llangwm. This was previously agreed by MCC May 2006. There was some discussion as to the propriety of the suggested re-use of grave headstones, but, since this was in the previous application, the amended application was agreed.
    Cllr. Bennett queried if the Clerk had received any information on the results of the appeal by Mr Parry, but nothing had been received.
    Request for updated feedback on highway matters from the new Operations Manager; copies distributed to all Councillors.
    Community Workshops on the L.D.P., sent to Cllr. Foster, Cllr. Bennett and Cllr. Sheath.

    From One Voice Wales:-
    Training course for Councillors, £15 per member.

    From Other Bodies:-
    Email from newly appointed Play Development Worker, who could encourage bids for funding of play groups for 8-12 year olds. The Clerk advised no such group existed in Llangwm/Llansoy.
    Business Plan from Western Power Distribution, comments by 25th July.

    Requests for financial assistance from The Shire Hall, Monmouth; Shelter Cymru. These were refused.

    B) For information only:-

    From MCC:-
    One set of Council papers
    One set of Cabinet papers.
    MCC accounts for 2007/2008.
    Four sets of Planning Committee agenda.
    Letter from Murray Andrews, MCC Solicitor, on the new Code of Conduct. The Clerk has advised both him and the Ombudsman that our Council has adopted the code.
    MCC Countryside newsletter Issue 6.
    Copies of a guide to using posters in public places. On this issue, Cllr. Sheath referred to his annoyance that posters advertising a Shirenwton Drama Group play - a project supported by MCC - had been removed, without consultation. They had to be recovered from the Monmouth recycling site. Other posters in the area were very apparent. It was stated on the leaflet that permission should be sought from MCC Highways.
    Notice placed on Llangwm noticeboard regarding forum meeting on LDP at MCC's request. It was suggested that presumably this was an approved site.
    Three sets of papers relating to Area Fora.
    Agenda and Strategy of Monmouthshire Local Service Board Stakeholder Conference in May, at Chepstow Racecourse.

    From One Voice Wales:-
    Request for help at the National Eisteddfod at Cardiff in August.
    Agenda and minutes of their last meeting.

    From the National Assembly:-
    Local government Partnership scheme, report 2006/7 and March 2008.

    From Other Bodies:-
    The Ombudsman, Annual Report 2007/8, and booklets on How to Complain about someone breaking the Code of Conduct.

    Leaflet on Working Together in Monmouthshire from the Countryside Council for Wales.

    Monmouthshire Network leaflet, Summer 2008, from G.A.V.O.

    Conference on Climate Change organised by the W.I., at Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, 21st July.

    Severn Tidal Power, Stakeholder conference, SWALEC Stadium , Cardiff, 23rd July.

    Society of Local Council Clerks National Conference, 19th October.
    Clerks and Councils Direct, July issue.

  6. Any Other Business

    Cllr. Foster reported that he had attended a LDP Workshop at a Rural Forum meeting.
    At a Prison Liaison meeting, it was stated that all offenders were risk assessed. There had recently been another absconder.

    Cllr. Foster asked if the Clerk had received any new bus time tables, which had been altered. The Clerk had not.

  7. Date of Next Meeting

    Due to the Clerk's holidays, this was agreed for the second Tuesday, the 9th September at St. John's Hall. Llangwm.