Present:    Mr. A. Glass - Chairman          Mr. G. Davies

                Mr. A. Oliver                             Ms. E. John – Clerk

                Mrs. E. Wakeford

Apologies were received from:

Mr. I. Williams

Mr. G. Evans

Dr. J. Hilliard

Mr. T. Methuen-Campbell

Mr. A. Oliver Declared an Interest in Planning Application 2006/2124.

The Minutes were agreed to be a true record.

Proposed by:     Mr. G. Davies               seconded by:     Mr. A. Glass

Mr. A. Glass reported that he could not contact anyone about the dangerous pothole (Minute No: 06/243 – November 2006) as he was unsure as to the whereabouts of the pothole.

The Clerk to contact Mr. I. Williams to clarify the matter.                                 EJ

No Report.

The Clerk and Mr. A. Glass reported on the Training Meeting held at County Hall on 21^st November 2006.  The Meeting was organised by One Voice Wales and the Gower Website Working Party.

It was agreed that it was more a discussion and exchange of views meeting rather than training.

Mrs. E. Wakeford, Mr. A. Glass and Ms. E. John attended on behalf of Penrice Community Council.  Mr. A. Oliver apologised for not being able to attend.

The discussion topics were based on 5 Key Questions:

1)  What are the Key functions currently being delivered by your Council?   It was generally agreed that Councils dealt with planning issues, in conjunction with the City and County of Swansea, liaised with the City and County of Swansea about road surfacing, gritting, potholes, flooding, signposts etc. and supported local Churches and village/Youth Halls by granting money under Section 137. Some Councils owned grave yards and playing fields.

2)  What functions do you, and your electorate, think should be introduced and delivered in future?   This varied from Council to Council.

3)   How can your Council deliver their services, and cooperate with others more effectively and more efficiently?  The general consensus of opinion was to receive more communication, advice and information from local Council.  Also through Charities and organisations such as the W.I.

4)   What skills do you think Councillors are going to need to meet the challenges of change and further develop their effectiveness?  All Councils agreed that more training in all aspects of Community Council work would be needed.

5)   What are the big issues facing your Council?   It was apparent that Penrice is a small Community Council with a small precept compared to some, such as Mumbles.  Fortunately, we do not have the expense of a graveyard.

Details                                      Chq No:           amount             VAT                Total

Kath Laws                                 290                 50.00                 -                    50.00

Horton Methodist Church           291                350.00 Sctn137     -               350.00

Horton Village Hall                     292                350.00    “           -                  350.00

Oxwich/Penrice Youth Hall     293                    350.00    “           -                  350.00

St. Illtyds Church                      294                 350.00    “           -                  350.00

Horton Village Hall – Party     295                      75.00                -                    75.00

Oxwich/Penrice Youth Hall     296                      75.00                -                    75.00

SLCC – Subscription 2007      297                   65.00                -                    65.00

Horton Village Hall – Hire         298                   55.00                -                    55.00

Clerk – Pay and Expenses        299                 255.48               -                   255.48

The Clerk reported that cheque No: 288 to Simone Robbins, Florist (Minute No: 06/248 – November) has been cancelled because it was made out to the wrong person, the cheque should have been payable to Mrs. Kath Laws.

The Clerk reported that details of Precept payments for 2007/2008 had been received.

Payments would be made – last working day of April, August and December 2007.

The Clerk to send notification of Precept requirement for 2007/2008.              EJ

Community Councillors agreed that Mr. A. Oliver should approach B&Q about the purchase of 2 x 56lb bags of bulbs to be planted on Horton and Oxwich Greens.

It was agreed to agenda ‘Sign Posts and Rubbish Bins’ for discussion in January 2007.                                                                                                                   AO

The Clerk asked if a cork backing could be fixed to the notice board in Oxwich Cross as it is very difficult to pin items to the hard wood. Community Councillors agreed that the clerk buy the cork tiles and Mr. A. Glass would attach them to the board.

                                                                                                                             EJ/AG

The Clerk reported that £200.00 would be carried forward previously budgeted for the bench in Oxwich which is still outstanding.

Mr. G. Davies suggested that maybe a newsletter could be produced on a quarterly basis, it was generally agreed that the annual newsletter was sufficient.

Mr. G. Davies suggested that maybe an eye-catching poster, asking the public what issues would interest them, could be displayed on the notice boards and in the Halls and Churches, hopefully making the public more aware of problems that the Community Council can help with.  A draft poster to be produced and discussed at the next meeting.                                                                                                          GD

The draft budget was accepted.

Proposed by:         Mr. A. Oliver           Seconded by:  Mrs. E. Wakeford.

Currently the amount of grant that can be awarded under Section 137 by Penrice Community Council is £2,141.00.

• St. Andrew’s Church – Penrice – Thanking the community Council for £350.00 grant under Section 137.
• 3^rd Gower Scout Group – Thanking the Community Council for a donation of £100.00.
• British Heart Foundation – asking for a donation – not in budget
• Alzheimer’s Society – asking for a donation – not in budget
• The Clerk – Journal for November 2006
• City and County of Swansea – gritting in Oxwich – Clerk to send letter of response                                                                                                    EJ
• Wales Audit Office – Report on the Ambulance Service in Wales.        AO

Proposal:  Replacement of existing 17.1 metre high mast with new 17.5 metre high mast and its re-siting within the existing compound, relocation of existing dishes and antennae onto new mast and addition of one No: 0.3 metre diameter dish and three No: antennas, relocation of existing equipment cabinets within compound, addition of two No: equipment cabinets and two No: cable trays.

Mrs. E. Wakeford Declared an Interest and left the meeting.

Penrice Community Council was not quorate during the debate of this planning application and was therefore unable to vote.  However, concern was expressed about the rights of way and means of access to the mast.

Proposal:  Increase of ridge height by 1.4m to provide first floor accommodation with balcony and two storey side extension (amended description).

Penrice Community Council supports this application.

Proposal:  Addition of pitched roof to existing single storey side extension.

Resolved to Approve with conditions.

Proposal:  use of land for a caravan rally for a maximum of 60 units from 21^st July to 4^th August 2007 (inclusive).

Resolved to Approve with conditions.

Mrs E. Wakeford reported that new Planning Applications had been received by the City and County of Swansea Planning Department concerning Greenways Holiday Park, Oxwich, and Coastlands, Oxwich, Swansea.  The relevant information had not been received by the Clerk.  The clerk informed the Community Council that the Plans etc for these items would probably be received on the 8^th or 9^th December.  A Special Meeting was provisionally arranged for the 21^st December in Oxwich to discuss the two applications.

Mr. T. Methuen-Campbell had apologised for being unable to attend the meeting, and reported that no amendments were necessary to any of the documents.

Distributed.

a)   Mrs E. Wakeford reported that certain members of the public had shown concern about over zealous comments made by Councillor R. Lewis at the meeting in November 2006. 

Mr. A. Glass explained that the community Council meeting includes a slot for Councillor Lewis.  He is a Representative of the Community but his position with the Community Council must be clarified. 

Mrs Wakeford expressed the opinion that he should possibly sit with the public at the meeting and raise his hand to speak.

The clerk to verify the situation.                                                                        EJ

b)   Mr. A. Glass expressed concern that some Community Councillors are not attending meetings regularly. Also, it would be much appreciated if as much notice as possible could be given beforehand for apologies for absence at a meeting.

The Meeting closed at 9.55pm.