Llangwm Home:Llangwm Community Council

Minutes of Meeting held on
Tuesday 15th March 2011

at the Parish Hall, Llangwm
  1. Apologies for absence

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

    Apologies from Cllr Gwyn Rowlands and P. C. Cowburn.

    In attendance County Councillor Greenland. The Chairman introduced Mrs Carleen Martin, Clerk to Devauden C.C., who was attending, and had been appointed, 19/01, as Llangwm's next Clerk, officially starting on 1st April. This she had accepted, 31/01.

  2. Minutes of the Last Meeting.

    The minutes were agreed by those present and signed by the Chairman. The Clerk tabled eleven emails from P.C. Cowburn, and read out his report, which will be attached to the minutes.

  3. Matters Arising.

    8a Highways.
    Road safety.
    a) Purchase of speed camera. 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.
    b) Speed limit. 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. The Clerk understands there will be another all party meeting on road safety on 29th March, which the Chairman will attend with Cllr. Gough, and they will endeavour to clarify the position on speed detection cameras.
    The potholes at Wern Panna were mended, albeit badly, the day after the Clerk's complaint. County Councillor Greenland commented that because of the road surface conditions and the shortage of funds, Highway policy was to fill potholes roughly as quickly as possible, and do a better job, or complete resurfacing, at a later date. Additional crews had been taken on for this work.
    Cllr. Foster raised again the potholes on California Lane, in Devauden CC, and County Councillor Greenland said potholes should be mended, but the resurfacing had been delayed to the next financial year.
    The Clerk had raised by email, 21/01, the question of surface water on the road by The Pwll, and discussed this with Steve Lane, who said work will be done to discharge water from a new spring which is causing the problem. Cllr. Williams confirmed this had been done.
    Also mud on the road, George's Delight. The Clerk was advised this had been cleaned, but he told MCC there was still debris. Cllr. Foster confirmed this was still the case, and asked for this to be swept by machine.

    County Councillor Greenland advised that the Highways Section had been restructured; the previous Head of Highways had gone, and the new post of 'operational manager' was now filled by Mr Glyn Edmunds. Mr Dave Harris was now involved with flooding policy, and was in semi retirement.

    Matters Arising under Any Other Correspondence.
    Bridge Inn, Llangwm. Cllr. Gough had had some thoughts about the requirement for 'trustees'; the Clerk had heard nothing further from the owner. Cllr. Gough confirmed that he could now get together a group of willing people, and Cllr. Bennett suggested the Clerk should prompt the new owner for the more detailed proposals he had promised. The Clerk agreed to remain the contact on this subject, for the time being.

  4. Finance.

    The Clerk tabled the financial statement for the eleven months April to February, showing total assets of £3,113.77. The payments authorised at the last meeting had been made, with thanks received from Llansoy and Llangwm.
    Barclays had advised they would change the charging on business accounts from quarterly to monthly billing, but confirmed our account was on a free banking tariff.
    Renewal of our membership of OVW was now due at £43, below our budget. Carleen suggested that as clerk to two Councils she would query whether it was possible to agree a reduced membership fee. In response to a comment from Cllr. Foster, Cllr. Bennett suggested the present Clerk should query whether a separate meeting, more geared to rural situations, was better than the present one, where Newport's problems dominated the agenda.
    MCC had advised the number of children attending the Usk Playscheme, which seems to justify our decision not to support it financially.

    The Clerk had requested the precept of £2,700 previously agreed, and drawn up a revised interim budget. He would finalise the accounts for the twelve months to the financial year end, 31st March, and also the definitive budget for the next financial year, and circulate this with the minutes.
    He requested payment of the last instalment of his salary, which was agreed, and would submit his final expenses to the next Council meeting. He also requested payment of travel expenses of £36.06 already incurred by Mrs Martin, and £18.63 for Cllr. Foster. These were also agreed.
    The Clerk pointed out that the new clerk would need to alter the present banking arrangements as she thought best.

  5. Any Other Correspondence.

    The following documents were tabled for circulation:-

    A) Documents requiring decision:

    From MCC:-
    Planning applications:-
    DC/2011/00057, Mr H Rowlands, proposed extension at 2 Church Cottages, Llansoy. This was agreed.
    DC/2011/00156, Mr & Mrs G Roper, proposed garage and store, Penrhiw, Llansoy. This was agreed.
    DC/2011/00182, Mr S Hodges, store for logged timber, Ty-Gwair, Gaer Fawr, Llangwm. This was agreed.
    Our comments were requested on an eighteen page proposal for woodlands management at Church Farm, Llansoy, but it was confirmed that this was located in Devauden's community area.
    Invitation to the Chairman to the MCC's Chairman charity event, 30th March.
    Invitation from the Civic Trust in Wales to take part in Open Doors, a celebration in September of architecture and heritage normally not open to the public.

    Requests for financial assistance from Noah's Ark appeal and Walk for Life (Kidney Foundation). These were refused.


    B) For information only:-

    From MCC:-
    Notification of the adoption of 'The Charter', and invitation for Chairmen and Clerks to attend the signing ceremony on 23rd March.
    One set of Council papers - note total Council Tax increase of 3.3%, and provision of IT facilities for County Councillors.
    Agenda and minutes of Lower Wye Area committee and Central Monmouthshire Forum.
    Four Planning Committee Agenda.
    Notification of meetings in February concerning the draft strategy on flood risk along the Severn estuary.
    Quarterly newsletter 'Boost' of the Rural Development Plan.
    Notice of polling station locations, put on noticeboard.
    Notification of services offered by the Local Service Board Bus, which is on a six month trial.

    From One Voice Wales:-
    National training programme for Councillors.
    Request for volunteer responders to sector policy consultations.

    From G.A.V.O:-

    Request to nominate a deserving volunteer or community group.

    From Other Bodies:-
    Agenda and minutes of the Aneurin Bevan Health Council.
    Energy Saving trust - a community wide renewable energy programme
    The Electoral Commission, notification of the referendum.
    Report of the Local Government Boundary Commission proposals. They suggest a revised community of Devauden, Llangwm, and Llantrisant Fawr.
    Clerks & Councils Direct, Issue 74.

  6. Any Other Business.
    Cllr. Foster reported on his meetings concerning the Usk Prison, and the open prison, Prescoed.
    He had also attended the Area Rural Forum, where a presentation was made by Mr John Parfitt, MCC Housing Renewal Manager.

    Cllr. Bennett asked County Councillor Greenland if there was still grant money available from the Lower Wye Area, but this was though unlikely. County Councillor Greenland confirmed that a new planning application had been put in by the gypsy establishment at Lower Mardy, and that it was acceptable for the original objectors to object again on the same grounds. The Clerk to pursue.

  7. Date of Next Meeting.
    This was agreed for Tuesday 17th May at the Parish Hall. Llangwm, and would be the A.G.M.