Minutes of the Meeting of Penrice Community Council held on Wednesday 8th February 2006 at Oxwich and Penrice Youth Hall.

 

 

 

Present:            Mr. A. Glass – Chairman                  Mr. A. Oliver                         

                          Dr. J. Hilliard                                    Mr. T. Methuen-Campbell

                          Mrs. M. Iles

                          Mrs. E. John – Clerk

 

06/141      Apologies for absence

                        Mr. I. Williams                                   Mr. G. Evans                              

                        Mr. B. Richards                                  County Councillor R. Lewis

                        Mrs. E. Wakeford

 

 

06/142      Declarations of Interest

                 There were no Declarations of Interest.

 

 

06/143      Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 10th January 2006

There was one amendment to Minute number 06/140.

 

The Minutes were then agreed to be a true record.

 

Approved by:     Mr. T. Methuen-Campbell.   Seconded by:  Dr. J. Hilliard.

 

 

06/144      Sand Dredging at Helwick Bank

Standing Orders were suspended to discuss the application for a new licence that has been applied for by Llanelli Sand Dredging Ltd with a view to dredge up to 300,000 tonnes of sand over the next 15 years.

Dr. Tony Dobbs, Chairman of Port Eynon Community Council attended the meeting.

The Planning Inspectorate wants views from the Community as to whether a Public Inquiry or a Hearing should take place.  It was the general view that a Public Inquiry would be preferable.

Dr. Dobbs explained that he would accept statements from local residents who may remember the state of the beaches 40 years ago, to attempt to build evidence to be presented at the inquiry.  Local residents strongly object to the proposal to extend and increase sand dredging.

There will be meetings on Sunday 19th and Monday 20th February at Port Eynon Village Hall for people to take relevant documents for scrutiny and possible copying by scanning.   Evidence has to be submitted to The Planning Inspectorate by 2nd March 2006.

Mr. Nino Williams, Reporter for the Swansea Evening Post Publications also attended the Meeting and agreed to publicise details of Public opinion, and dates of meetings etc.

Community Councillors agreed that the City and County of Swansea should make a stance on the issue of Helwick Bank.  The Clerk to write to Councillor John Hague.

Proposed by:   Mr. A. Oliver.       Seconded by:   Mrs. M. Iles.                     EJ

 

 

 

06/145      Matters Arising

A)  Mr. A. Oliver reported that Mrs. E. Wakeford had received an interview for the appointment of one Community Councillor to fill the vacancy on its Community Councils Standards Sub-Committee.

 

b)  Mr. A. Glass reported that the galvanised bin had not been returned to its site at Oxwich Crossroads, but improvements had been made to the ground.

 

06/146      County Councillor R. Lewis

No report.

 

06/147      Community Councils

The Clerk reported that the following had been received:

 a)   A copy of the Planning Handbook Publication from One Voice Wales.  Community Councillors agreed to read the Publication in turn before returning it to the Clerk. 

b)   The Voice- One Voice Wales Newsletter.

c)   From One Voice Wales – 2006/07 National Salary award for Local Council Clerks – agreed between the National Association of Local Councils and The SLCC.

Revised Scales recommended (3%) for adjustment from 1st April 2006.

Councillors requested that this should be discussed at the meeting in March 2006.

d)  From One Voice Wales – Details of Buckingham Palace Garden Party to be held on July 11th 2006 for Chairmen of Community and Town Councils.  Mr. A. Glass and his family were nominated.                                                                                        EJ

e)  From City and County of Swansea – Details of Membership of Better Swansea Alliance.

 

f)  Mr. A. Oliver had attended the Community Council Forum Meeting where they were given details of the Proposed Development of the Leisure Centre in Swansea.

 

 

06/148       Financial

 

a)   Accounts approved for payment at 8th February 2006
Payable to:             Purpose:         Chq No:    VAT:    Total

E. John – Clerk     Pay & Expenses    265            -         £250.17

Staples                  Stationery              266          £1.42    £    9.54

 

b)   Balances as @ 8th February 2006
    

Cash @ Bank   £5,506.00           Opening balance   £2,152.80

Less cheques

Not presented       -                Additional Receipts    11,260.00

                                                                                 £13,413.49

                                               Less payments               7,907.49
                        £5,506.00       Balances                    £  5,506.00

 

c)   The Clerk reported that the following information had been received:

*    Welsh Assembly Government – Details of Borrowing by Community and Town Councils – Loan Sanctions for 2006/2007.

*    Welsh Assembly Government - Appropriate sum under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.  The maximum sum increases by 2.7% for 2006/2007.

*    City and County of Swansea – Details of precept payment dates for 2006/2007.

 

d)   The Clerk reported that the Wales Audit office had requested a copy of the invoice concerning cheque number 201 for the amount of £68.00 which had not been minuted.  A copy has been sent.

 

 

06/149      Correspondence

Noted correspondence from the following:

 

  • Mrs V. Ball – Horton, about the Community Councils views on the Alleged Public Footpath at the former Tennis Courts, Horton.

Mr. A. Oliver, who will be attending the forthcoming Hearing, wished it to be known that he would remain impartial.  The Community Council agreed.

The matter will be on the agenda at the next meeting on March 9th 2006.

  • Mr. P. Davies – Oxwich , about development of land at Greenways Caravan

Park, Oxwich.  The matter will be raised at the meeting in March.  Mr. Davies will be informed.                                                                                            EJ

  • Welsh Assembly Government – Local Government Partnership Scheme

Annual Report 2004/2005.

  • Welsh Assembly Government – Health Challenge Wales – Issue 1.
  • The Clerk – Journal - January 2006.
  • City and County of Swansea – Ambition 3 Event.

 

 

06/150   Planning
a)   New Planning Applications:

 

Application No:   2005/2635 – Oxwich Bay Hotel, Oxwich, Swansea.

Proposal:     Compliance with conditions 3 and 5 of planning permission

                     2004/1741 granted on 11th April 2005 to show new hedge and

                     background lighting for the marquee and overspill car park.

Applicant:   Mr. I. Williams.

 

Two letters of objection were received from Residents.  Comments within the letters were taken into account.


Penrice Community Council object to this application.  The lighting is grossly excessive and inappropriate in the rural setting, and out of context in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  The owner of the Hotel has been asked to tone down the lighting.

 

 

 

 

b)   Decisions of the Local Planning Authority.

 

Application No:   2005/1496 – Land adjoining Coastlands, Oxwich, Swansea.

Proposal:     Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of one detached

                     dwelling house.

Decision:     Approve.

 

Application No:   2005/2406 – Coastlands, Oxwich, Swansea.

Proposal:     Demolition of existing dwelling house (application for Conservation

                     Area Consent).

Decision:     Approve.

 

   

c)   Delegated Decisions.

 

Application No:      2005/2275 – Field 0818 Bank Farm, Horton, Swansea.

Proposal:           Use of land for caravan rally for approximately 25 units from the

                           14th to 17th April 2006 (inclusive).

Applicant:         Auto Camping Club.

Determination:   Grant Temporary Permission.

 

 

d)   Recommendations by Area 2 Development Control Committee.

 

Application No:      2005/2571 – Badgers Hole, Oxwich, Swansea.

Proposal:          Conversion of outbuilding to separate unit of residential

                          accommodation, increase in ridge height of roof by 2.6m, two

                          storey side/rear extension and addition of three dormers on front

                          and side elevation.

Recommendation:    Refuse.

 

 

06/151      Flooding Issues

Mr. A. Glass reported that he had spoken to Mr. Stuart Goulden of the Highways Authority.  Mr. Goulden remarked that the steep bank of earth which had been left uncovered following work carried out in Oxwich in December 2005 was inadequate and he would ensure it was netted to avoid further collapse.

Within 2 days of the conversation with Mr. Goulden, gulleys and drains were cleared of leaves.  There was no update regarding the sewer.

Mr. T. Methuen-Campbell reported that there were concerns about the dryness of the Marsh and the situation would be monitored.

 

 

06/152      Gower –50 years as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Celebrations 2006

Details of Gower Exhibition at Swansea Museum to celebrate the 50 year Anniversary had been received.  Mr. T. Methuen-Campbell had attended the meeting.

The Exhibition will include information from Organisations, Societies and Farming Communities who have specific interests relating to Gower.

The title for the Exhibition will be ‘GOLDEN GOWER’.

 

Mrs. M. Iles was elected to the Sub-Committee to help organise events in Horton and Oxwich.  The Clerk to contact Horton Village Hall Committee who would like to be involved. Meetings to be arranged.                                                                   EJ

 

 

06/153      Matters Outstanding

 

a)   Benches

 

Dr. J. Hilliard and Mrs. M. Iles had met Mr. E. Humphreys to decide the location of the bench in Horton.  Dr. Hilliard reported that the building of the bench in Horton would be started before the end of February 2006.

Mr. Humphreys would like to start building the bench in Oxwich as soon as possible.

Mr. T. Methuen-Campbell offered to discuss the matter with George Bathurst’s wife.

                                                                                                                             TMC

 

 

b)   Gower Community Councils Website

The Clerk reported that at the meeting on 23rd January 2006 there was an amount of £475.00 in the account of which £225.00 would be needed to pay outstanding bills.

The Committee had been unsuccessful in obtaining a grant from National Lotteries All Wales, but were going to send another application with the help of Swansea Council for Voluntary Services.

Mr. A. Glass reported that a facility was to be set up on the website to advertise the 50 year celebrations of Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  This will be discussed more fully at the meeting in February.

Selina Taylor agreed to set up a web page, free of charge, for information concerning Helwick Bank.

Mr. A. Glass requested that the website address and Penrice Community Council email address should be displayed on the Councils Headed Paper.

 

 

 

The Clerk requested that Community Councillors bring the information on The Alleged Public Footpath at the former Tennis Courts, Horton, which was circulated in January, to the next Meeting.

 

 

 

 

The Meeting ended at 9.35pm.