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

1. OPEN SESSION
   Chairman opened the meeting welcoming the new clerk and thanking Mr Royds for attending and for his many years of service. PC Cowburn presented the incidents for the month, listed at the end of the minutes. He reported that he and a colleague had undertaken an exercise at Easter monitoring speeds and motorbikes through Llangwm. They stopped 10 and just found one expired tax disc. He said that there would be another meeting about motorcycling at Shirenewton on 24 May which he will attend and suggest that 'motorcycle black spot' signs may be a good option. He also confirmed that a couple of weeks ago he and a colleague had done speed checks in the village. There was no evidence of vehicles travelling above 40mph.
   PC Cowburn reported that the hedge cutting incident referred to in his report had been referred to the RSPB.
   He informed the meeting that he would be leaving mid July and his replacement will be PC Louise Thorpe. It is most likely that the next report will be from her. The Chair thanked PC Cowburn for his valued contribution over the years; PC Cowburn replied that he had always found the meetings pleasant and constructive.

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

3. MATTERS ARISING

   3.1 Highways
   a) Issues of speeding on B4235 - Purchase of speed camera. At the March meeting it was reported that the Chairman had spoken to interested parties on this subject, and the Clerk had written to involve other Community Councils in a joint purchase. However, a reply from Brian Cleary, Highways, detailing all the conditions required for these to be erected and maintained, would appear to make the idea virtually unworkable by local volunteers. The Clerk was advised that Llanbadoc and Llantrisant Fawr have decided not to proceed. The Clerk to Llantrisant Fawr, however, emailed last week to ask if we would join them in a purchase; the Clerk sent him the MCC response, and said he would advise him of the result of our discussion. County Councillor Greenland asked for a copy of Brian Cleary's comments. Despite his earlier statement, the Llantrisant Fawr clerk had, after all, written a separate letter on 18/01, so the Clerk wrote 21/01 to ask for speed limit reduction to 30, 'rumble strips' as suggested by P. C. Cowburn, and that we would welcome flashing speed indicators provided by MCC. Following further contact by the Chairman, the Clerk had written to Paul Keeble again on 27/01 to propose two such devices located at each long straight entrance to the village. Reply from Highways that they have commissioned a county wide motor cycle study, and are reviewing the signage and markings along all of the B4235. Clerk will now contact CC Greenland to follow up his views after he received the comments from Brian Cleary. Clerk to report to next meeting
   b) Mud on the road, George's Delight. This has not been cleaned and MF requested that the Clerk request that MCC have it swept by machine again.
   c) MF reported that is a rut about 1 mile long on California Lane (58.5 and 66.4)
   d) B4235 Right hand side of the road as you are travelling towards Chepstow - there is a tree leaning very precariously 250 yards from the Parish Hall just before Ryecroft.
   3.2 Printer owned by LCC is not compatible with clerk's pc and software system. Having downloaded various drivers and used the internet PC forums the only option left is to contact the HP helpdesk at a cost of £19.99 which is for one query only and lasts for 7 days or £56 for multiple queries over 6 months. The meeting agreed that the clerk should use her own printer at a cost of 10p/sheet if using the residual Llangwm paper supply. Once that is used she will charge 12p per sheet including the paper.
   3.3 OVW membership - Clerk unable to obtain a discount so agreed to send the cheque produced at the last meeting.
   3.4 Email from Shirenewton Community Council regarding a joint meeting with planning. The meeting agreed to this in principle and suggested that Shirenewton went ahead and let us know when the meeting will be.
   3.5 Bridge Inn - Mr Royds has emailed the new owner who has said that he is waiting for his architect to prepare detailed plans to make a presentation to the potential 'trustees'. PG agreed he would now act as the point of contact on this issue.
   

4. FINANCE

   Balances were not available from the Barclays account as the transfer of signatories to the new clerk have not yet been completed, however there have been no transactions since the last meeting

   4.1 Agreed for payment by MS and GR;
   Invoice - E.T Royds, outstanding clerk's expenses, £23.78, cheque no.100533
   Invoice - C. Martin, clerk's salary and expenses for April/May, £ 181.96 Cheque no.100534
   Insurance renewal - Aon, £496.01, cheque no. 100535
   4.2 Notification from MCC that a precept of £2700 has been agreed for 2010/11
   4.3 Monmouthshire Building Society - annual statement - interest to 31/3/11 - £13.66, new balance £2288.97
   4.4 Barclays Bank - changing of the mandate - it was agreed that CM, CE, PG, MS, DW should be signatories. All documentation was completed and signed at the meeting. Clerk will forward to Barclays.
   4.5 Monmouthshire Building Society - changing the mandate - it was agreed that CM, MF and DW should be signatories. Clerk will organise submission of the form to the building society and Cllrs Williams and Foster will go to the branch to prove their identities.
   4.6 Annual return documentation has been received from Mazars.

5. CORRESPONDENCE
   Decisions

   5.1 MCC Rural Housing Forum - 26 May. MF will be attending.
   5.2 OVW - conference and AGM 8 October Ceredigion. No action.
   5.3 MCC - Build your own affordable house - request for community council involvement. Circulate.
   5.4 NAW - Consultation on a draft equality and diversity strategy for fire and rescue - 20 May.
   5.5 GAVO - Gwent Best kept village. Circulate.
   5.6 MCC - Emergency contacts directory. Correct - CM to reply.
   5.7 Final charter agreed between MCC and Community/town Councils. Circulate.
   5.8 Invitation to launch of Home start in Monmouth. No one attending.

   For information only - all circulated

   5.9 MCC - Lower Wye area Committee 6 April
   5.10 MCC - council meetings 14 April, 10 May, 12 May
   5.11 Clerks and councils direct
   5.12 GAVO - Monmouthshire networks
   5.13 Aneurin Bevan Community Health council Agenda 5 April

6. PLANNING
   6.1 Planning committee agenda for 29 March, 12 April and 13 and 17 May. Circulated
   6.2 Planning lists for registered applications - April 2011. File
   6.3 DC/2011/00389 - Garage extension, 8 Tysoi Close, Llansoy, Mons. No objections recommend approval. Circulated.
   6.4 Clerk to write to MCC about plan DC/2011/00291 that was agreed by delegated decision to find out why it was not sent to LCC for consideration.

7. COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
   CC Greenland not present.

8. WARD REPORTS
   See highways issues in 3.1 - nothing else reported.

   Meeting closed: 9.40pm

Next Meeting: July 19

Meeting dates 2011: Sept 20, Nov 15

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PC Cowburn's report

Llangwm & Llansoy incidents March 14 to May 16
.
14/3 Accidental 999 call from a young child at Llangwm.
16/3 Cow lost at Llansoy - located on a nearby farm.
17/3 Cows in the road at Llangwm.
24/3 Spaniel roaming free at Llangwm.
27/3 Complaint of motorcycles speeding on the B4235 near Llangwm.
2/4 Stolen car crashed and burnt out at Wolvesnewton.
27/4 Temporary traffic lights not working near Llangwm.
27/4 Farm entered at Llangwm while occupants were away. Keys and van were stolen.
28/4 Suspect white van seen at Llansoy. Irish males.
29/4 Complaint about bushes being cut at Llangwm. Concern for birds and nests.
12/5 Farm shed entered at Llansoy. Welder and chainsaw stolen.