SHIRENEWTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Council meeting held on Monday 7 January 2019 at 7.00 pm at the Recreation Hall, Shirenewton.
Present: Councillors: Mr B Allen (Chair), Mr P Butterworth, Mr I Martin, Mrs L Brown, Mr K Morton.
Also in attendance: Mrs J McKenna (potential co-optee) Mrs H Counsell (Clerk to the Council)
The Chair welcomed all to the meeting. He announced the sad passing of Councillor Beverley Moore on Christmas Day 2018, following a long illness. Council members stood for a one minute silence in reflection of her stirling work on the Council and on other organisations within the community.
1. Public Participation. There was none.
2. Apologies for absence were received and accepted from: Cllrs B Price, J Smith-Haddon and J Grose.
3. Monthly police report 16/12/18 – Report of a quantity of Amazon packages ( some with contents still in) found in a rubbish bin in the car park of the T.A pub .Enquiries are ongoing to establish how they came to be there.
21/12/18 – Report of a lorry skidding into the ditch and blocking the road on Batwell Lane, Shirenewton A crane had to be used to free the vehicle so the road was closed for a short while .
21/12/18 – Report of a large mature fir tree damaged in forestry belonging to NRW near Pen-y-cae-mawr. The tree was felled in an unsafe manner with a chainsaw. Reported to NRW.
There were also several reports over the Christmas and new year period of off road bikes and quads using the forestry in Wentwood.
There had been 3 calls to Brookacre since the last report, one on 29/12/18 and two on 3/1/19.
Minute 3772 - To disclose personal and pecuniary interests in listed business. County Councillor Brown gave no opinion in relation to the planning matters considered as she is a member of the Mon CC Planning Committee.
Minute 3773 - To confirm and sign minutes of meeting held on 3rd December 2018. The minutes were approved and duly signed by Cllr P Butterworth, the Chair of that meeting.
Minute 3774 - To consider planning matters.
1. Statutory pre-application consultation – development of 200 houses at Bayfields, Chepstow – response to voice concerns made on 28/12/18.
That there was only one access road into the development so the daily impact of potentially 300+ vehicles leaving and returning via the B4235 would create considerable further conjestion at the junction of this road and the A466 St Lawrence Road. It would be better for access to the development to be via Woolpitch Wood so traffic could then access St 1
Lawrence Road via Barnets Wood or better still via the traffic lights at the St Lawrence Park junction.
Council also expressed concern regarding the potential impact this development may have on places for our local village children at the Shirenewton Primary School.
2. DM/2018/01413 Barns adjacent to Little Grondra Farm Conversion of redundant barns to dwelling including new access. In view of the applicant’s amendments the Council had no further comments to raise.
3. DM/01981/ Rhewl Farm, Shirenewton Conversion of existing redundant farm buildings to four dwellings. Council noted that this application was within the Mathern Community Council area, but was concerned at the high density development of four redundant farm buildings at this site. There are currently proposals to build 11 houses adjacent to Clearview, plus at least two new dwellings at Little Grondra Farm, all of which will use as access this very narrow country lane which has no passing places. There is already an overloaded sewage system between Shirenewton, Mounton and Mathern causing regular overflows at Mounton/Mathern.
Council was further concerned about the over subscription of pupils to Shirenewton Primary School
4. Delegated Panel site visit to Bushes Farm, Earlswood on 21.11.18 – one Councillor was not happy with the response from the Planning Dept at Mon CC following last month’s complaint about the site visit procedure, it did not happen as stated by Mon CC.
Minute 3775 – Finance. To approve items listed for payment –
Expenditure (by Standing Order) Clerk’s salary/allowances - December 2018 £574.11 Clerk’s Pension (Council & Clerk’s contribution) - December 2018 £167.24
Items for payment
Payee Reason for Amount Vat £ Total Cheque No. expenditure £ Mrs H Counsell December expenses 38.15 38.15 101481 Mon CC Play equipment 969.96 193.99 1163.95 101482 maintenance 2018 Merlin Waste Specialist bin emptying 37.50 37.50 101483 (Dec)
Council resolved to make all payments as listed.
Minute 3776: To finalise and approve the draft precept for 2019/2020 for submission by 21.1.19.
Council considered the 2019/20 budget and draft precept and made note of the following points: 1. Noted that the Clerk’s salary and on-costs would increase by 2.4% during 2019/20 as advised by NALC in revised Pay Scales 2018. 2. That no current Councillors wished to take up Councillor remuneration in 2019/20 and had signed forms to confirm they were opting out. However as there were currently two vacancies on the Council £300 was included in the precept.
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3. Purchase of a projector and screen (£1,300) was deleted from the precept. 4. Allowance of £5,000 for renewal of play equipment was also deleted from the precept. This reduced the precept from a potential £28,050 to £21,750 and Council resolved to take the shortfall from reserves. Council further resolved to request a precept for 2019/20 of £21,750 being 3% increase on the 2018/19 precept.
Minute: 3777 - Update on village plan questionnaire The draft questionnaire was considered in detail and some amendments made. Distribution /collection of questionnaire to be considered at next meeting. Clerk to investigate data protection information required.
Minute: 3778 – To receive the Clerk’s Report
Earthworks near Mynders Farm, Earlswood – reported to Enforcement, new case opened .8.10.18. Exact location provided to G Delamere on 16.11.18. Chased up 1.1.19. Response on 2.1.19 G Delamere unable to locate any enforcement issue but willing to meet with Councillor if required.
Refurbishment of Tan House pub – owner confirmed on 15.10.18 that internal work is taking place. It appears that it will re-open as a pub at some time in the future. There is currently an Enforcement case open – E18/340.
Sign post at West End – rotten post needs replacing and sign realigned. Report 2898491 made on 16.11.18. 28.11.18 – under review. Reported again 1.1.19 (No: 3051672). Helen Crane, Highways Admin advised that post has been straightened and signs realigned.
Play area equipment - Council resolved to purchase a new piece of equipment at the December meeting – Home multi seesaw to replace rocking horse ordered on 24.12.18 from Kompan (last day of 50% discount). Quote to be received to include removal of rocking horse and installation of seesaw.
Mynyddbach bench: Council resolved to purchase a new bench at the December meeting – not yet ordered.
Councillor business e-mail addresses – Distinct IT, Newport is the company currently hosting the website at a cost of £75.00 pa, adding dedicated e-mail accounts with an unlimited mailbox sizes would increase the cost to £120.00 pa. Council agreed to go ahead with this.
Financial Regulations action plan – a backed up copy of the external hard drive of the Council pc was passed to the Chair for safe keeping off-site.
Minute 3779 - Items of local concern (information only) - It was reported that the community defibrillators were coming to the end of their two year battery life. They are not the responsibility of the Council but future options must be considered. - The Council representatives are not able to attend the OVW Area meeting on 17Jan and the Lower Wye Committee meeting on 23 Jan – Councillors asked to check their diaries for availability to attend in their places.
Minute 3780 - Correspondence. Council noted receipt of the following correspondence:
E-mail from the WI asking how much use the Council would have for a projector and screen that they are considering purchasing via a Lottery Grant. Council felt it would be useful at monthly meetings, to display planning applications and at public meetings.
Monmouthshire County Council
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- Budget proposals – to be discussed further at the Lower Wye Area Committee meeting on 23 January at 10am at Chepstow Leisure Centre. - Budget Access for All event on Friday 25th January from 10.30am – 12.30pm at Usk. Discussing budget proposals for disabled or vulnerable people. - SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Statutory Guidance) information and implementation on the mandatory use of SuDS on new developments for flood and water management (Circulated 2.1.19). - Information on Mon CC recycling changes to take place from 4th March 2019. All households to receive explanatory letters by the end of February.
Welsh Government Consultations
- Guidance to school governing bodies on school uniform and appearance policies. - Connected communities – tackling loneliness and social isolation.
Minute 3781: To receive short reports from meetings attended: No meetings had been attended during December.
County Councillor’s monthly report – County Councillor Brown advised the following:
There is a consultation on a major development at Bayfield’s Chepstow for outline planning permission for 200 houses. It commences on the 14 January for 21 days.
Outline planning permission is also being made for 11 houses on the outskirts of Shirenewton on land adjacent to Clearview court, the public consultation period for that application commenced on the 7th of January for 21 days. A local press report on the 8 January 2019 failed to make it clear the difference between the pre-application consultation and the consultation itself. Lower Wye Committee and Budget Proposals The Lower Wye Committee on the 23 January at 10am at Chepstow Leisure centre will also consider the Budget as well as the draft Road Safety Strategy and the public are welcome to attend.
In addition, there will be a special access for all forum on the budget for people with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities 10.30am to 12.30 am at the Memorial Hall Usk on the 25th of January 2019 with free transport available by contacting MCC if required.
A full list of the budget proposals can be found at the following link: https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/budget-2019-2020 It includes changes on waste and recycling as well as introduction of a permit scheme for use at waste sites by Monmouthshire residents only, to save on the processing of waste of those who live outside Monmouthshire, who if they live nearby can pay for an annual permit, if they wish to do so.
Changes on car park charges are part of the Budget proposals, including approx.10% increase in charges, charging from 8am to 6pm rather than between 9am and 5pm and introducing parking charges for the disabled and on a Sunday. It is important to respond to the budget consultation. Schools and Secondary School Catchment areas A consultation on secondary school catchment areas is expected to open towards the end of January and it is important to respond in order to ensure our ward stays in the Chepstow Comprehensive school area. It is part of the agenda for the Lower Wye Committee on the 23 January but as there are a number of items on that agenda, it may possibly be covered at a later meeting. 4
The Public and the Press were excluded from the next item in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted.
Minute 3782: To consider applications for one co-opted vacancy in the Mynyddbach ward.
During questioning it was established that Mrs McKenna was an eligible applicant for the vacancy in Mynyddbach. Mrs McKenna left the meeting at this point while her application was discussed, Council was satisfied with her application and resolved to offer her the co- opted vacancy. Mrs McKenna came back into the room and accepted the offer. She duly signed an Acceptance of Office and Declaration of Interests and was given a copy of the Code of Conduct. She was welcomed on to the Council by the Chair. Clerk to inform Democratic Services, Mon CC.
Minute 3783: Date of next meeting – Monday 4th February 2019 at 7.00pm at the Recreation Hall, Shirenewton.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.30 pm.
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