Minutes of the meeting of the Penrice Community Council held on ~

Monday 17th September 2007

At Horton Village Hall at 7.30pm

 

 

 

Members Present:                 Councillor A Glass – Chairman       

                                                Councillor G Davies

                                                Councillor T Methuen-Campbell

                                                Councillor B Richards

                                                Councillor I Williams

Councillor G Roberts

Councillor J Bowen

 

43/07               Apologies for Absence.

 

Councillors A Oliver and M Barnett

 

44/07               Declarations of Interest.

 

Councillor B Richards declared that he may have a personal interest in Greenways Holiday Park , but would state his interest at the time if appropriate.

 

45/07               To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 11th July  07.

 

The Minutes of the 11th July 2007 were proposed to be a true and accurate record.

 

Proposed Cllr G Davies.                       Seconded Cllr A Glass.

 

46/07               Matters arising from the minutes.

 

42/07               Financial  - Clerk advised members that the additional premium from the Insurance Co was not as originally quoted, but £ 53.59  A refund cheque was due for the difference.

41/07               Mr Chris Dale had accepted an invitation to attend the October meeting.

 

Council decided to alter the order of business to consider the application for the vacancy for the position of Councillor.

 

47/07               Vacancy for the position of the Office of Councillor.

 

Council decided to suspend standing orders in order to discuss the meeting held with

Mrs J Bowen, who was present and who had applied for the vacancy for the position of Councillor.

 

Following a discussion on procedure, Cllr G Roberts proposed that the Council co-opt

Mrs J Bowen to the position with immediate effect, seconded Cllr I Williams carried unanimously.

 

48/07               County Councillor R. Lewis.

 

County Councillor Richard Lewis gave a verbal report:-

  • Schools buildings in Swansea are such that considerable investment is now required to address the basic needs and reduce the poor quality of the premises.
  • Knelston requires £630,000 in order to bring the school premises to a satisfactory standard.
  • The Guildhall requires 28 million pounds of investment to repair.

 

48/07               County Councillor R. Lewis cont…

 

  • The County Council are meeting in October to deal with the problem.
  • More money is to be spent on the roads in Gower.
  • More money is due to be spent in Oxwich on the sewage problems, Cllr Lewis was asked to find out what was proposed.

 

49/07               Community Councils.

 

One Voice Wales – Agendas and minutes of meetings – noted

One Voice Wales – motions to be put at the AGM - noted

Community and Town Councils Forum presentations – noted

 

50/07               Correspondence.

 

  • Common Commissioners – Commons registration act 1965 decision letter  re: Bishopston and surrounding areas – noted
  • The City and County of Swansea -  letter re Register of Interests – read to Members.  Council decided to adopt the Register of interest forms as used by the City and County of Swansea and Clerk to be Monitoring Officers delegate as advised.
  • Horton Village Hall – E Mail AONB Project delayed – noted
  • Selina Taylor – E Mail re Helwick Bank thanks to all who supported the campaign – noted
  • Selina Taylor – e mail re Forum on Gower CC website- noted
  • The City and County of Swansea – review of polling districts and stations – noted
  • The National Trust – Booklet – noted
  • The National Waterfront Museum invitation – Given to Cllr G Davies
  • The City and County of Swansea – Planning Applications Oxwich Leisure Park 2007/1311Refused and Bank Farm Camping and Caravan Rally 2007/1121 approved – noted  Cllr B Richards declared a personal interest in item 2007/1121 and did not speak during this item.
  • EMU Ltd – Letter re Dredging permission application Western Bristol Channel – Clerk to write a letter to Edwina Hart, copy to The City and County of Swansea and Gower Society to inform of PCC support the proposed objection lodged by the City and County of Swansea.                                                                                                                                       SC
  • The City and County of Swansea – Consultation Doc –Sharing in the Community – noted
  • St Andrews Church – Donation request for maintenance – Cllr G Roberts proposed to donate in principle as per budget figure £250/£300 Clerk to check previously agreed amount, seconded Cllr I Williams.                                                                                                    SC
  • Marie Curie – Donation request – noted
  • Childline – Donation request – noted
  • Gower Society Design Awards – noted
  • Wales Rural Observatory Questionnaire – Cllr A Glass to complete.                              AG
  • The City and County of Swansea – Welsh Education Scheme – noted
  • Welsh Assembly – Preparing community strategies document – noted
  • Morriston Phoenix Choir – Financial request – noted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51/07               Financial.

 

 

Clerk pay and expenses were viewed by members.                              

 

Proposed to pay Cllr B  Richards                      Seconded Cllr G Roberts

 

Balance as  @ 31st August  07

Cash @ bank                           8542.13          opening balance   4826.27        

Less Cheques not presented       60.00 receipts               14621.09              

                                                8482.13                                      19447.36                 

                                                                        less payments      10965.23          

                                                                        balance      8482.13       

 

Balance as @ 31st August  07     £ 8482.13 

 

52/07               Planning.

 

Council considered and viewed planning applications:

 

2007/1515 - The Brackens, Horton   Two storey side extension

2007/1633 -  The Pines, Slade           Two storey extension over existing garage.

2007/1897 -  Ash Cottage, Horton       Provision of new pitched roof over kitchen and a single storey rear extension.

2007/1922 -  Robins Rest, Horton        Variation of condition on original approval 2004/2041

2007/1747 -  The Hollies, Burrows Road, Horton       Modifications to existing garage and

extension over garage

 

Councillor T Methuen-Campbell declared a personal interest in item 2007/2006 and 2007/1989 withdrew from the meeting and did not vote on these items.

 

2007/2006 -  Land adjacent to Hilltop, Oxwich Green, Oxwich      New detached dwelling

2007/1989 -  Ocean Heights, Rossmore, Horton     Erection of new dwelling house on site to

existing house

 

Council decoded that there were no objections to any of the applications and to support all planning applications as presented.

 

53/07               Election of Vice Chairman.

 

Following a discussion, Councillor A Glass proposed Cllr G Roberts for the position of Vice Chairman, seconded Cllr I Williams, carried unanimously.

 

54/07               Greenways Caravan Park.

 

Council decided to defer this item to the end of the meeting.

 

55/07               Sewers in Oxwich.

 

This was discussed earlier in the meeting.  A foul drain had overflowed, caused by a build up of fat, but had been cleared by Kelda.

 

 

 

56/07               Reported incursion into Oxwich Marsh.

 

A new house had received permission to cut back the shrubbery on the marsh.  The CCW had cut back on their area.  The Gower Society had reported to CCW who had investigated and found that this was not intruding on the SSSI area so no action to be taken.  For information, this shrubbery removal was permitted.

 

57/07               A5 leaflet.

 

Jan Ellis suggested that current issues such as dredging be included in the leaflet.

New Vice Chair- to be listed

Council decided to print and circulate.

Council offered thanks to Jan Ellis and Cllr G Davies who had put this together.

Council decided to print 200 copies.  Cllr G Roberts offered to print the documents.

 

58/07               Matters Outstanding.

 

SLCC Model contract for Clerks to be sent to Cllr T Methuen-Campbell for consideration.     TMC

 

The Oxwich Youth Hall sign on the crossroads is pointing to church and not to the Youth Hall.      AG

 

Broadband in Gower – The general problems of accessing broadband in areas known as ‘notspots’ along with general connection issues were discussed. Points raised:

Ceri Fitzpatrick of BT would come and discuss any issues.

Forum for discussion.

Publicize the problem to ascertain full extent of lack of service to all areas.

Council decided that Cllr G Roberts and G Davies along with Jan Ellis to put on leaflet, to see if PCC can find out extent of problem.

 

54/07               Greenways Caravan Park.

 

A statement was read by a member of the public:

 

“ I am speaking on behalf of the residents of Oxwich Green and Slade.  We have recently had several meetings to discuss the planning applications approved by Swansea City Council for the ever-increasing number of caravan and campsite places in this small rural area.  It is obvious from your minutes dating from 2005 to 2007 that as a council you have received numerous complaints that the planning regulations have been constantly flaunted.  We are very concerned about the lack of rigour in ensuring that the views of the residents are taken sufficiently seriously.  We are surprised too that there has been very little positive action by most of the council as a whole, to meet the serious concerns of residents.

 

As a council you rightly acknowledge, as recorded in your previous minutes, that there has been a lack of action re the enforcement of planning decisions and of monitoring arrangements.  But this has not been followed up to ensure that the Swansea CC takes this fact fully into account when they receive future planning applications.  We would be very interested to hear the council’s view on the document that has been circulated prior to this meeting.”

 

A document had been compiled by Mr J Bowen, in an attempt to summarize extracts of the minutes of Penrice CC from May2002 to June 2007 and distributed to members for the purpose of discussion and to obtain the Councils’ views.

 

Cllr B Richards stated that under the section ‘Sept 2005’ extract, it stated that he had ‘been censured’. Cllr Richards stated that this was inaccurate and had never occurred.

 

54/07               Greenways Caravan Park.

 

A discussion followed and the following points were raised:

 

Greenways had been improved during Mr Mead’s ownership.

 

Trust had been lost - dialogue must be maintained.

 

The City and County of Swansea had stated the exact planning permission that had been granted, PCC must ensure that enforcement must be carried out.

 

A balance must be struck to ensure that strength of local feeling is represented and appropriate action then taken in order to represent the feelings of the community.

 

Residents were concerned that their properties would be de-valued.

 

Members of the public accepted that the running of the site had been improved since under

Mr Mead’s ownership, but were very concerned with any further expansion or plans of expansion.

 

Reference was made to summary of minutes October 2004 – “Greenways did not have a licence for touring caravans….”  Penrice CC nor The City and County of Swansea had acted on this information.

 

Cllr I Williams proposed that the Chair meet with Mr Mead and present the facts and show him the minutes.  Mr Mead had lost the trust of the PCC due to having apparently misled the Council about what permission he had. PCC must maintain dialogue in order to sort out problems.

 

PCC to keep pressure on the City and County of Swansea, in order that the enforcement department ensures and enforces that the planning permission granted is adhered to.

 

A letter received three years previously stating that Mr Mead has an open licence for certain fields was referred to.

 

Members of the public were concerned that by enforcement not acting, then Greenways could obtain permission by established use.

 

Clerk to send letter to the Enforcement Department, The City and County of Swansea to ascertain what action has been taken, if any.                                                                                                     SC

 

County Councillor  R Lewis  offered to arrange a meeting with B Graham, Rheena Owen and John Hague along with planning officers.

 

Also Mr J Bowen to attend to represent the residents group.

 

Council decided that The Chair, Cllr A Glass, Cllr A Oliver , Cllr G Davies and Mr J Bowen to attend this meeting.

 

Residents stated that they wanted the support of PCC – this was agreed by all present.

 

Meeting ended 10.15pm