Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Penrice Community Council held
on Wednesday 18th January 2012

at the Horton Village Hall at 7.30pm


Members Present:                    Councillor G Roberts (Chair)

Councillor M Williams

Councillor A Glass

Councillor  A Lewis

Councillor J Bowen

Councillor M Barnett

Councillor R Lewis

Councillor B Richards

 

One Member of the public was present                                                                                              Action

106/12                          Apologies for Absence.

 

Cllrs T Methuen-Campbell.

 

107/12                          Declarations of Interest

 

None

 

108/12                          To confirm the minutes of the Meeting held  14th December  2011.

 

Amendment:

Item 99/11   No 4   Add…Cllr J Bowen raised that the CCS Planning Department had not notified the PCC on the status of the Planning Application that had been submitted by Mr I Williams of the Oxwich Bay Hotel.  

 

Item 100/11  Add… the bench on the Hill had been knocked down by a car.

 

With the above amendments Cllr J Bowen proposed that the minutes were a true and accurate record of events.

Unanimous.

 

109/12                          Matters Arising from the Minutes.

 

Item 103/11

Cllr M Williams had reported at the last meeting that the CCS policy had stated that pot holes needed to be 40mm before they are deemed urgent to repair, however it had now become apparent that this may not be the case.  Noted.

 

Cllr A Glass joined the meeting 7.35pm  

 

Item 99/11  no 4

Reported:  The Sign at Oxwich Cross, advertising the Greenways Leisure Park, which had been refused Planning permission, had not been removed.  Cllr R Lewis advised Members that this situation was currently in hand with the Enforcement Team at the CCS.  Cllr Lewis also reported that there had been a site meeting at the location.

 

It was again queried why the CCS had not informed the Community Council of the situation. Clerk to query.    SC

 

Cllr Lewis reported: that the appeal was about to be submitted and that this was within the timescale.  Once the Appeal has been submitted then it will no longer be in the hands of the CCS.

 

Cllr Lewis advised that in previous years, the CCS used to invite a representative of the PCC to site meetings.  Council thought that this was good practice.  Cllr Lewis would investigate to see if this practice could be re-instated.      RL

 

Cllr J Bowen queried if the demolished bench on Horton Hill had been removed?  It is PCC property and should be removed.  Should the Community Council claim for the loss of the bench? 

 

109/12                          Matters Arising from the Minutes cont…..

 

Council considered the queries and felt that the bench was falling into disrepair and was never seen to be used, so decided not to replace it.  The Chairman would try and obtain a quote for the removal of the stone.                     GR

 

Cllr R Lewis queried who still needed to attend the Code of Conduct Training as instructed by the Standards Committee.

Cllr A Glass had advised the CCS that he had attended a training earlier in the year and so did not have to attend again.  Members advised that this may also be the case for Cllr Lewis and that he should contact  Andrew Taylor to confirm.  Cllrs A Lewis and B Richards would still have to attend the training.                                                                       RL/AL/BR

 

110/12                          Community Councils.

 

Cllr B Richards joined the meeting at 7.46pm

 

Cllr J Bowen reported:    80 of the largest Councils were not members of OVW due to the high cost of membership that would apply to them.  Cllr Bowen had proposed a solution that was one of those chosen for consideration.  An update if this suggestion was to be used would be given as soon as it is known.

 

111/12                          Correspondence.

           

1                      CCS Application no 2011/1375  Caravan Rally at Bank Farm Horton 11/5/12   Approved.

2                      Letter from Mr P McDonnell requesting to give a presentation on ‘Stopping Waste on our Landscape’  Council

decided  to write to Mr McDonnell to advise to limit to 15mins.

3                      Oxwich and Penrice Community Hall list of events for 2012                                                         Noted.

4                      Welsh Assembly Government -  Notification on the proposal to move the date of the local government

elections.  Following a brief discussion Council resolved that there was no comment.

5                      CCS – Charter between the CCS and the Community /Town Councils within its boundaries.           Noted

6                      Rural Development Plan News.   Copies handed out to Members.

 

112/12                          Financial.

                                                                                    Chq no                                                 Amount                        

Clerk Salary and expenses                               Information protected under the Data Protection Act

The Ink Store                                                                                                                 £ 27.35

Mazars External Audit Fee                                                                                             £ 162.00

 

Cllr A Glass proposed to pay, seconded Cllr J Bowen, carried unanimously.

 

Cash at bank 22nd December 2011   £ 9237.72.

 

113/12                          Replacement Notice Board at Oxwich Green

 

Cllr J Bowen had negotiated with the CCS to allow the PCC to place a notice board inside the bus shelter. 

 

It was felt, however,  that this may not be the best location and also that it may be difficult to attach to the bus shelter.  Following a brief discussion it was decided to obtain a price for a smaller board than the two at Horton and Oxwich Cross with a view to erecting it in the same location as the one that had collapsed. Prices to be obtained by the next meeting.                                                                                                                                                                SC

 

Also decided to contact Keith Parker to cost erecting a smaller board.                                                    GR

 

114/12                          Marine And Coastal Access Act 2009: Part 4 Marine Licensing Application For A Marine Licence To Extract Marine Aggregate From Western Outer Bristol Channel (Wobel), Area 486, Located To The South Of Carmarthen Bay And South West Of The Gower Peninsula

 

Cllrs felt that this was an enormous amount of material that was being proposed to be extracted.  Cllr M Barnett explained that it was 1mile x 1 mile and 36ft deep to give an idea of the quantities involved.  The location was 7.5 miles off Worms Head.  However the effect of dredging large quantities of sand on the beaches is still not known.

114/12                          Marine And Coastal Access Act 2009: Part 4 Marine Licensing Application For A Marine Licence To Extract Marine Aggregate From Western Outer Bristol Channel (Wobel), Area 486, Located To The South Of Carmarthen Bay And South West Of The Gower Peninsula cont….

 

It was agreed that it is not yet proved either way what effect this practice has on the beaches.

 

Cllr R Lewis advised that the CCS continually monitor the beaches and there is evidence that Rhosilli beach has lost over 300,000 tons alone.  Sand has also disappeared from Horton Beach and Port Eynon Beach which has been witnessed by residents who have lived in the area for many years. Years ago, Cllr Lewis would have to take a tractor to be able to cross the sand, but now a Landrover would suffice. 

Cllr R Lewis proposed that the Council object on principle.  

 

The Council should object and also Members should object as individuals.

 

Members considered that when sand is dredged from an area, this area will back fill in time and the sand shifts to fill the void.

 

The Clerk had received a phone call objection from a local resident advising that they had witnessed the loss of sand from Horton Beach.

 

Council resolved to send a letter of objection to Welsh Assembly Government.                                       SC

 

115/12                          Land adjacent to Shore Cottage – Update.

 

The Chairman advised that the documents from the Solicitors were to be signed at the end of the meeting.

 

116/12                          Matters Outstanding.

 

The Pot Holes on Oxwich Marsh Road, specifically on a bend were extremely bad.  Clerk to advise the CCS                    SC

 

The Gower Broadband Project – Cllr A Glass reported that the submission was to be sent back to the Welsh Assembly Government at the end of February.

 

117/12                          Public Questions relating to the Agenda.

 

J Ellis thanked all for assisting to progress the sale of land adjacent to Shore Cottage.

 

118/12                          The Date and Venue of the Next Meeting.

 

15th February 2012  Oxwich and Penrice Community Hall.

The Chairman signed the documents relating to the sale of land adjoining Shore Cottage received from the Solicitor.

 

 

 

Date_______________Chairman__________________________