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

Tuesday 17th March 09 at 7.30pm

at Horton Village Hall

 

Members Present:       

 

 

Councillor Gavin Roberts (Chair)

Councillor Jill Bowen

Councillor Mike Barnett

Councillor Alan Glass

Councillor Andrew Oliver

Councillor Richard Lewis

Councillor Thomas Methuen-Campbell

Councillor Brian Richards

Councillor Alex Lewis

 

Jan Ellis (minutes)

 

Members from the Oxwich and Penrice Youth Hall Management Committee

Eddy Morgan in connection with Horton Village Hall and five other members of the public.

 

 

153/09                         Apologies

 

Mrs Sam Caswell (Clerk)

 

 

 154/09                        Declarations of Interest

 

None.

 

 

155/09                         Oxwich & Penrice Youth Hall

 

Standing orders were suspended whilst Members of the Management Committee explained the

current issues with the hall and their plans for the future.

 

The hall is in a poor state and needs significant repairs and new facilities. The planned approach

would build on the location and the importance of sustainability by significantly improving energy

efficiency, using natural and recycled materials, making use of the outside area and giving a beach-

inspired feel.

 

To implement such an overhaul could cost between £80k and £85k. The community has raised

approaching £24k. The Committee expects to be able to obtain funds from the ANOB's Sustainability

Development Fund - £30k in 2009 with the possibility of more in 2010. Other sources of funds are the

PCC, the Gower Society, and possibly the Lottery.

 

The project could be phased with the internal work and accessible toilets being in the first phase

(c£60k) and external work in the second.

 

The Committee asked the PCC for: a letter of support which would help them with other applications;

funding of £3740 in this fiscal year to cover electrical work and more help if it were possible; a

commitment to significant funding in the next fiscal year; and help from the PCC's Clerk with funding

applications.                               

 

RL and GR mentioned other sources of funding. MB stated care should be taken because some

funding bodies will not contribute if work has already started. Councillors supported the work the

Committee are doing and the use of community funds to support the hall. AG asked whether parking

at the hall would be adversely affected. Hannah Davies stated they would try to improve management

of the parking area.

 

GR confirmed the £3740 could be allocated to this work and that there were sufficient funds available

whilst maintaining a good reserve. He stated that consideration of SC's possible involvement should

be discussed with her first.

 

It was agreed that the Council would give a letter of support and would allocate £3740 to works at

Oxwich and Penrice Youth Hall. It was agreed to defer consideration of future funding.

 

Proposed: RL        Seconded: JB                                                                                           Action: SC

 

156/09                         Minutes

 

The minutes were agreed to be a true and accurate record of events.

 

Proposed: JB        Seconded: AG

 

157/09                         Matters Arising

 

Item 147/09     Lighting at Oxwich Hotel

 

GR had spoken with Ian Williams who advised that the lighting would be adjusted in the week.

 

Item 144/09     Maintenance of Benches & of Green at Oxwich Green

 

Both AG and GR advised of local interest in this work. SC has prepared a notice and this is to be posted on the noticeboards. GR and AG are to prepare a specification including a list of the benches and their locations. The item is to include on the Agenda.

 

                        Action: GR, AG & SC

 

Item 141/09  No 10      Sycamores on Horton Green

 

MB met with Martin Appleby, CC Swansea's Tree Preservation Officer, at the Green on the 15.03.09.

 

MA was not enthusiastic about any of the trees being removed. Trees and saplings with a trunk diameter of under 75mm  are not controlled. MA has not put a tree preservation order on any of the trees. He has agreed that the clump of trees at the Junction of Talbot Lodge and the Byway (in the north-west corner of the Green) can be removed. He has agreed that the clump of trees further to the south (in view of the RNLI Station) can the tidied and thinned.

 

MB suggested that the Council proceed with the trees identified and with the saplings and the undergrowth opposite the boundary with Serendipity. Other work could be considered at a later time. MA would be sending a list of contractors. RL stated that the Council should use local labour.

 

It was agreed the item should be included on the Agenda for the next meeting so that quotes could be invited.

MB also proposed that consideration be given to the telephone post on the edge of the Green which is secured with a cable extending into the Green which is a possible hazard. He will look into this. This item should also be included on the Agenda.

                        Action: MB & SC

 

During the discussion AL arrived and apologised for his late arrival.

 

Item 138/09     Work on Sewers in Oxwich

 

AG gave details of the work being undertaken. He reported that although the work had been dragging on it appeared that progress was now being made.

 

JB raised concerns about the impact on the roads. RL stated that they would have to be reinstated and AG confirmed that there would also be a two year bond on this work.

 

 

158/09                         County Councillor R Lewis

 

  1. RL reported on the popularity of the Central Library and gave an update on road improvements in Swansea and the planned introduction of the bendy bus. The Council is now looking at other transport projects.

 

  1. AO stated that he understood that RL was going to liaise with Mr Hague to prioritise local road repairs and asked if there was any progress on this schedule. RL stated that some money had been spent but the Council did not have the same money it had had before and that there was an ongoing schedule.

 

  1. GR asked whether that schedule was available. RL stated that he would ask Mr Hague.

 

               Action: RL`

 

 

159/09                         Planning

 

 There were no applications to consider.

 

 

160/09                         Community Councils

 

The following items were received and noted.

 

1.      Information on eTrading for Community & Town Councils from One Voice Wales with enclosure Your Guide to our Frameworks - Value Wales.

 

2.      Notice of a Meeting of the Community/Town Councils Forum to be held on 17.03.09 from CCS.

 

161/09                         Correspondence

 

1             Letter from E&J Beynon dated 17th March 09 and signed as pp by their daughter-in-law Kate Beynon.

 

The letter concerned an inspection visit made by representatives of CCS on 28th October 2008 [as a result of complaints made by the PCC about illegal parking and the road collapsing in Slade.] The letter refers to actions and comments made by AO.

 

  1. Having checked the minutes of the next PCC meeting he could see that the minutes didn't exactly state what he had said and he should have picked up the discrepancy.

 

  1. There had been confusion over two separate matters. He had said that the problems with the coastal path were partly caused by coastal erosion and partly by rainwater running off the land. He was willing to carry out some work on his own land to try and reduce this. Separately,

 

 

 

161/09                         Correspondence cont…

 

higher up in Slade there was a problem of rainwater being diverted to the road because of works carried out by another land owner.

 

c.   RL queried whether CCS had taken minutes. JB, who had also been present, believed not.

 

 

2             Letter from E&J Beynon dated 17th March 2009.

 

a.   The letter concerned an inspection visit made by representatives of CCS over 18 months ago as a result of concerns over the state of the public footpath. The letter refers to actions taken by AO & JB.

 

b.   AO stated that he was invited to meet with the CCS representatives as a local landowner and that he is allowing part of the footpath to be redirected over his land.

 

c.   AO stated that the Beynons were his farming neighbours. That he had been given little notice of the inspection visit, two years previously, but that he had informed the Beynons on the day.

 

  1. JB stated that she was not a Councillor at the time of the visit. As a local resident she had

expressed concern at the state of the footpath and as a result she had been invited to observe when the CCS representatives visited.

 

3          Response to complaint that Community Council Clerks are having difficulty getting replies from CSS. More/specific details requested.                                           Action: SC

 

 

4         Letter from Horton Village Hall asking permission to hold Easter activities on Horton

Village Green and advising that the Hall Committee now has insurance cover for events

away from the Hall.

 

AG advised that previously a PCC member had to be on the Committee organising the event

to ensure the PCC insurance was effective.

 

AG commented that this seemed a positive use of the Green.

 

It was agreed that permission should be given on the terms outlined in the letter.

 

                                                                                                                                                Action: SC

 

5             Acknowledgement from CCS of PCC Letter seeking clarification of Caravan Exemption Certificates.

 

6             Letter from Jane Davidson regarding Dredging and enclosing a copy of the original letter granting the dredging.

 

a.         MB summarised the matters which might be relevant to the local community. The letter granted dredging for 7 years as long as specific conditions relating to surveys, working and other procedures were followed. MB commented that if the surveys were not already underway it would be difficult for the dredging company to achieve the deadlines but the current status of the surveys is not known. Unfortunately, a baseline survey on Port Eynon Beach now would reflect the poor state it is in now.

 

b.         RL stated that if the dredging company failed to meet the conditions then the conditions could well be changed.

 

 

 

161/09                         Correspondence cont…

 

It was agreed that MB should prepare a letter querying the status of the surveys and that SC should

copy to AMs, Pt Eynon CC, and press.

 

Proposed: JB    Seconded:  AG   Action: MB & SC

 

At the end of this discussion RL apologised for his early departure and left the meeting.

 

7          Response from Nick Edwards of CCW to letter of complaint regarding litter received.

 

Nick Edwards would like to speak at PCC meeting. It was agreed SC should make arrangements with

him for next available meeting. SC should also confirm that original respondent had been kept

informed.                                                                                                                                 Action: SC

8          Response from Sian Jones of National Trust to letter of complaint regarding litter received.

 

Sian Jones explained situation and invited PCC to work with National Trust.                       Noted.

9          Acknowledgement from CCS of PCC Letter seeking clarification of Exempt Caravan Clubs.

10        Invitation to Promotion of Welsh Language Meeting from Welsh Assembly.  Noted.

11        Information on proposed diversion of footpaths 12 & 13 through Oxwich Woods.

 

This is a remapping so that the maps reflect what is happening on the ground. There were no issues

with this.

 

162/09                         Financial

 

1          Ongoing Membership of One Voice Wales and payment of the £90 fee was agreed.

 

Proposed: JB      Seconded:  AO      Action: SC

 

2          Details of payments due to Clerk were circulated and payment agreed.

 

Proposed: BR     Seconded:  RL      Action: SC

 

3          Statement of finances was circulated. GR stated that finances were being managed with the aim of keeping a reserve of £3500.

 

163/09                         Greenways Appeal

 

JB had prepared a statement of the recent planning hearing which had been circulated. She had

been advised that a ruling should be made by Easter.

 

164/09                         Rural Development Plan

 

This had been circulated but not everyone had had a chance to read it. TMC has had difficulty

reading attachments circulated by email.

 

JB felt it was an important item which should therefore be deferred to the next meeting. GR agreed

that it should be put on the agenda at an earlier slot.                                     Action: SC

 

165/09                         Land at Shore Cottage

 

Nothing to report.

 

 

 

 

166/09                         Matters Outstanding

1             TMC reported bad pot holes outside Pitt Farm on the road between Penrice & Oxwich. It was agreed

SC should send a letter to Karl Humphries about this.                                              Action: SC

 

2             TMC reported a litter problem between Nicholston and Reynoldston Police Station. The Litter Line was mentioned. It was agreed SC should enquire who manages the Litter Line and what they do and also send a letter the Environment Department about the problem.    

Action: SC

167/09                         Public Questions

  1. Phil Davies commented that the grass on the Green at Oxwich Green is growing fast and asked that the maintenance of the Green be included on the Agenda until the matter was finalised. Gavin Roberts agreed this made sense.                                         Action: SC

 

  1. Jeremy Bowen stated that the road in Slade is diabolical and that the roads in Oxwich will be a problem over the holiday season if the works and road repairs are not dealt with quickly.

 

Jill Bowen stated that she had spoken to the authorities that day and that they were waiting for the

weather to improve before commencing work on the roads.

 

  1. Shirley Osborne stated that litter is often caused by waste is collected by local authority. Others agreed.

 

      4. Brian Richards asked who had surfaced the RNLI lane.

 

Gavin Roberts advised that the RNLI had, as it had been a safety issue.

 

 

168/09                         Next Meeting

 

               This will be at 7.30pm on 15th April 2009 at Horton Village Hall.

 

 

Meeting closed at 9.20 pm.