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

Wednesday 8th October  08

at the Horton Village Hall

 

 

Members Present:                Councillor G Roberts – Chairman

Councillor J Bowen

                                                Councillor B Richards 

                                                Councillor A Oliver

                                                Councillor A Glass

                                                Councillor R Lewis

                                                Councillor A Lewis  

 

Two members of the public were also present.

 

72/08               Apologies for Absence.

 

Councillor M Barnett

 

73/08               Declarations of Interest.

 

Cllr B Richards declared a prejudicial interest in Items to be discussed – Planning relating to Bank Farm due to owning the property.

 

Cllr A Oliver declared a prejudicial interest in the item to be discussed – high Kiln Bank as this adjoined his land.

 

74/08               To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 16th September 08.

 

Amendments:

Item 59/08  sub item 40/08

To read - A letter had been received from Cllr B Richards to advise the PCC that there was a field available, which was outside the Parish of Penrice for campers who did not have bookings.  This was being provided to try and deter illegal camping on the dunes.

 

Item 64/08 J Bowen not H Bowen.

 

Item 47/08 Cllr Barnett not Burnett.

 

The minutes with the amendments were a true and accurate record, proposed Cllr J Bowen, seconded Cllr A Glass, carried unanimously.

 

75/08               Matters arising from the minutes.

 

Item 59/08 sub item 53/08

PACT meeting Cllr A Glass had attended and reported:

Illegal parking at Slade was raised and Police advised that from the 1st Sept 08 this was now the responsibility of the CCS to issue parking tickets and fines, unless the vehicle was obstructing the road.

 

Following a discussion it was resolved to send a letter to CCS asking how they were operationally going to deal with the responsibility of the problem of illegal parking at Slade.  Also requesting that there was adequate signage provided  for this area in order that this problem does not prevent emergency vehicles accessing the area.                                                                                                                     SC

Also resolved: Cllr J Bowen to raise this at the meeting with Cllr Hague and Carl Humphries at the meeting 28th Oct 08.                                                                                                                               JB

 

Cllr A Glass also reported that the Community Council website was to be made use of to inform other Community Councils of future PACT meetings.

75/08               Matters arising from the minutes cont….

 

Cllr R Lewis  and Cllr A Lewis joined the meeting.

 

Cllr R Lewis advised that the CCS had 4 traffic wardens at present, however this was currently insufficient and more were needed.  These wardens were also responsible for city centre car parks and have taken many calls from the public already. However the CCS had planned to increase the number of traffic wardens in the future.

 

Item 62/08

CCS problems with drainage and flooding at Slade – a letter had been written to the CCS requesting replacement drain covers and Cllr A Olivers details had been given for location instructions.

 

Item 69/08

Meeting with Chris Dale, CCS arranged at 3pm Craig y Don.  Decided to request that Chris Dale invite the owner of this property also to the meeting as the problem surface water ran across Craig y Don.  SC

 

76/08               County Councillor R. Lewis.

 

Cllr R Lewis reported:

The New Library was receiving between three and four thousand visitors per day.

The City Centre road works were nearly complete.  The traffic was now moving quicker and the CCS was happy with the result of the works. 

 

This was queried as the traffic still seemed congested?

 

Cllr Lewis advised that the sequence of lights still needed to be looked at, but was quicker than it used to be.

 

There was 1000 student houses to be built at the Strand, High Street for the university students.  This had been approved approx two months ago.  Which would be finished 2010.

 

Qn: Are the CCS planning on switching off street lights due to the fuel consumption crisis?

 

Ans:  No – Plans were to save fuel in schools, one school – Bishop Vaughan had installed a wind turbine.  Also other renewable sources were being looked at eg Bio Mass etc.

 

Qn:  When does the ‘Bendy Bus’ come into service?

 

Ans: The workshop at Raven Hill is currently being redeveloped to enable this depot to house the buses.  When this is complete 10 buses each costing £300, 000 will be in service.  The buses will run between Morriston Hospital and the university and Singleton Hospital.

 

77/08               Community Councils.

 

One Voice Wales area committee meeting will be held 9th Oct 08.  Cllr J Bowen to attend.            JB

 

Agenda of this meeting and minutes of last meeting.  Noted.

 

78/08               Correspondence.

 

1.         EMU an environmental consultancy firm advisory letter stating that representations had been received regarding sand dredging and that the response time had been extended to allow more responses.                                                                                                                                   Noted.

2.         CCS Planning Department – Letters of notification

            Application no: 2008/1418  1 Underhill Lane – Approved

            Application no: 2008/0192  Horton Nurseries – Approved.

3.         Planning application survey -                                                                                                  Noted.

4.         CCS - Civic Service  19th October 08 Ebenezer Baptist Church                                          Noted.

78/08               Correspondence cont…..

 

5.         The Gower Society newsletter – Cllr A Glass to read.                                                          Noted

6.         Bobath Childrens Charity -     Financial request                                                                    Noted

7.         Welsh Assembly Government  - Guidance for Community and Town Councils – Clean Neighbourhood Act.                                                                                                                        Noted

8.         Rural Development Bulletin – The Rural Development Plan – Cllr J Bowen             Noted

9.         Lord Mayors Fashion Extravaganza invitation  29th Oct 08 Tickets £10                                Noted

10.       Consumer Focus Wales -                                                                                                      Noted

11.       Simmonds Hurford Solicitors and Councillor Brian Richards letters. A photograph of the proposed site of the application and CCS Notes.

            Cllr B Richards declared a prejudicial interest in this item as he had written the letter and also the content of the letter was concerning Bank Farm, Horton of which he is the owner and withdrew from the meeting.

            Cllr R Lewis stated that he had no financial links with Cllr B Richards or Bank Farm, but declared a prejudicial interest in this item as he is a friend of Cllr B Richards and withdrew from the meeting.

            Cllr A Lewis declared a prejudicial interest in this item as he is a friend of the family and withdrew

            from the meeting.                                                       

 

The two letters that had been received 7th October 08 were read to the meeting.  Councillors had received a scanned version, but due to work commitments had not had time to properly read the information in full.

 

The original plans of the application were also viewed again.

 

The planning application to the CCS, made by Cllr B Richards, Bank Farm Horton was originally considered at the meeting of the PCC held 19th May 08.  Cllr B Richards was present at this meeting, but due to declaring a prejudicial interest he withdrew from the meeting at the time that this was discussed.

 

A photograph had been supplied along with the letters showing one viewpoint of the proposed site.

 

It was considered that this photograph does not correctly show the proposed plans.

 

Points that were considered and raised by Members:-

 

1.      The letter requested a response within a short period of time, however the letter was received so near the meeting that the proper consideration time could not be given. Therefore a full response could not be given.

 

2.      Cllr B Richards could send a letter directly to the CCS disputing the observations of the PCC.

 

3.      Details in the letter are factually incorrect.

 

4.      Some Councillors felt annoyed and concerned to receive a letter of this nature.

 

5.      An extra-ordinary meeting may need to be called.

 

6.      The Gower Society refers to a previous application in their comments supplied.

 

7.      Viewing this proposal from most aspects was of concern.

 

Resolved: a holding letter to be sent to Simmonds Hurford  and to take legal advice from One Voice Wales                                                                                                                                                         SC

An extra-ordinary meeting may be called to decide the response from the Council.

 

 

 

 

79/08               Financial.

 

Name                                                  chq no                                     amount

The Ink Store                                       359                                          £19.84

 

The Clerk reported that the printer had been not using the ink and had also broken in some areas

Due to printers being so inexpensive proposed to replace Cllr J Bowen, seconded Cllr A Oliver.

 

Clerks wages and expenses              information protected under the Data Protection Act

 

Proposed to pay Cllr R Lewis , seconded Cllr A Glass  Unanimous

 

Cash @ bank  29th Sept 08  £ 6352.61

 

80/08               Planning.

 

·         County Councillors personal interests and actions during Community Council meetings when sitting on the Planning Committee of the City Council.

 

The Clerk advised that letters had been sent to One Voice Wales Legal Dept and also CCS Monitoring Office to ascertain the correct procedure in this situation.  Currently awaiting a reply.

 

Cllr R Lewis advised that 99.9 % of items discussed he has no interests to declare.  Bank Farm, when discussed at the CCS, he declares an interest.  If he discussed any planning application at this level, then he would be unable to discuss or take part in the debate at the City Council level.  Cllr Lewis had received advice from the CCS Legal Dept regarding interests and they advised that it does not matter if he withdrew from the meeting as long as he does not participate.  Cllr Lewis also suggested moving the planning item to the end of the meeting and then he could leave.

 

A          Planning Application: 2008/1886   The Caravan Club   Bank Farm. Horton

Caravan rally 50 caravans 1st – 4th May 09

B          Planning Application: 2008//1884   The Caravan Club   Bank Farm, Horton

Caravan rally 35 caravans 10th – 12th July 09

 

Cllr B Richards declared a prejudicial interest in this item, due to owing Bank Farm, Horton and withdrew from the meeting.

Cllr R Lewis declared a prejudicial interest due to being a friend of Cllr B Richards and withdrew from the meeting.

Cllr A Lewis declared a prejudicial interest due to being a friend of the family and withdrew from the meeting.

 

Due to the total number of caravans for rallies such as these applications, the Council following discussion decided to contact the Gower Society to see if their caravan monitoring information could be accessed.                                                                                                                                        SC

 

The Council is concerned as they are unaware of the volume of caravans attending these rallies.

 

Council decided to respond that there were no objections subject to the aggregate total for that week not being excessive.                                                                                                                               SC

 

C         Application no: 2008/1950  J Melly, 119, London Road Neath 

Application site: Land opposite Betty’s Meadow, Slade.

Cllr  A Oliver declared a personal interest due to being a neighbouring property and did not speak or vote.

Adjoining neighbours had voiced objections to Cllr J Bowen.

Following a discussion Council resolved to object for the following reasons:

To intense a development in this area, Highways access concerns, Loss of greenery,  too small a plot to build a house and there is already too much traffic on Oxwich Hill.                                                  SC

 

81/08               Possible sale of land adjoining Shore Cottage, Horton – Update

 

The Clerk reported:   Copies of the District Valuers Report and the Land Registry Office Copies had been sent to the William Waters, of Morgan La Roche Solicitors.  It had been requested to receive quotation for the conveyance work prior to commencing the sale of the land to ensure that J Ellis is happy with the quote. 

Decided:  to proceed with the sale of the land if J Ellis is happy with costs to be incurred.              SC

 

82/08               Horton Village Green

 

1        ‘Village Green’ status the options

J Ellis had researched the legal implications of village green status and common status.  This document had been circulated prior to the meeting.

J Ellis gave a verbal explanation to the meeting. The following areas of concern were highlighted:

1.      The protection depends on the ownership.  If the PCC were to be disbanded then the ownership would pass to the CCS.  This then would only be a small parcel of land in amongst many other areas of land. Would this area still stay protected?

Cllr R Lewis - The CCS currently maintain the land and if ownership was transferred then would be unlikely to change status.

2.       Is it possible to be influenced by the local community?

 

Points for consideration:

·         Access

·         Recreation

·         Work to be carried out

·         Management

·         Activities

 

J Ellis was thanked for this preliminary work.

Decided: J Ellis to continue to produce a spread sheet with various options for Members consideration. Prior to final decision to ensure that the correct legal advice is sought.                                        SC

 

2          To consider whether to cut back or replace the sycamore trees on the green.

 

Deferred until next meeting.

 

3          Bonfire/fireworks display.

 

Decided: Bonfire and fireworks display to be held again this year.  Clerk to advise the Insurance Co. SC

 

83/08               High Kiln Bank, Slade – A development in the garden

 

Cllr A Oliver declared a personal interest in this item and withdrew from the meeting.

A photograph showing the work of clearing the garden, with no planning permission received for this.

Following short discussion, Council resolved to pass this information to the CCS , Unanimous.        SC

 

84/08               Matters Outstanding.

 

Dates of meetings had been circulated.  One Councillor currently has a seat on Port Eynon CC and some of the dates clash.  Council resolved to alter the meetings to ensure that as full a turnout as possible can be achieved.  Third Wednesday of every month at Horton Hall and third Tuesday of every month at Oxwich Hall.  Clerk to circulate.                                                                                                            SC

 

85/08               Date and venue of next meeting.

 

18th Nov 08 –subject to availability of the Oxwich and Penrice Youth Hall

 

Mr J Bowen from the floor read a letter sent by Mrs Methuen-Campbell to the evening post regarding the proposed plans of the Greenways Leisure Park for 51 log cabins.