DARRAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of the last meeting held at Parc Cwm Darran Visitor’s Centre, Deri, of the above Community Council on Thursday 3rd December 2015 at 6.30 pm.

Present Cllr. H. Hollifield (In the Chair) Cllr. P. Duggan Cllr. W. Hughes Cllr. R. Chapman Cllr. G. Matthews Cllr. D. Hardacre

Apologies Cllr. T. Powell Cllr. C. R. Roberts Cllr. P. Thomas

In Attendance Mr. G. O. Williams Clerk Inspector Muirhead Gwent Police

59 Minutes and Apologies The minutes of the meeting of Council held on Thursday 1st October 2015, previously circulated to members, were accepted as an accurate record and signed by the Chairperson Cllr. H. Hollifield. Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. T. Powell, Cllr. P. Thomas and Cllr. C. R. Roberts.

60 Declarations of Interest Cllr. D. Hardacre declared an interest in Planning Application 15/0978/FULL Cllr. D. Hardacre took no part in the voting or discussion thereon. Moved. The Clerk to re-circulate a template to capture and recapture all Declarations of Interest. Moved. All Councillors to complete, and return at the next meeting of Council.

61 Matters Arising 61.1 Minute No. 41.9/51.01. 2015-16. Tree cutting at Cefn Road, Deri. The Clerk confirmed that action had since been completed. Moved. Payment.

61.2 Minute No. 46/51.02. 2015-16. Christmas Lighting 2015-16. Moved. Payment.

61.3 Minute No. 56. Caerphilly CBC NRW & Caerphilly State of walkway between Fochriw & Parc Cwm Darran Moved. Clerk to request a site visit including: Phil Griffiths / Peter Lewis (Caerphilly CBC), Cllr. P. Duggan, Cllr. D. Hardacre, and Cllr. W. Hughes.

62 Gwent Police Inspector Muirhead provided Council with a verbal update of policing activities undertaken and those planned for the future for the Darran Valley. Within his report the Inspector provided an update on the outcomes of a series of patrols relevant to the alleged contravention of the 7.5t limit. 3x patrols resulting in no identified contraventions of the limit. Inspector Muirhead then answered questions from Councillors. Cllr. H. Hollifield thanked Inspector Muirhead for his report and attending the meeting.

63 Planning Applications The Clerk confirmed that were three applications for planning had been received since the last meeting of Council.

Planning Application. 15/0587/FULL Application. Mr. W. Evans Cwm Deri Bungalow, Deri, CF81 9HT Proposal. Erect a two-bedroom side extension and a conservatory to the front of Cwm Deri Bungalow, Deri, CF81 9HT. Moved. Council raise no objections to the proposal.

Planning Application. 15/0776/NCC Application. Mr. W. Evans Gwern Ty Isaf, Mill Road Deri, CF81 9HF Proposal. Remove condition 2 of planning permission 08/0182/COU (convert barn dwelling) to remove the self-catering holiday accommodation restriction at Gwern Ty Isaf, Mill Road Deri, CF81 9HF Moved. Council raise no objections to the proposal.

Planning Application. 15/0978/FULL Application. Mr. M Toms, C/o SLP The Studio Beaufort Yard Devauden, Chepstow, NP16 6NT Proposal. Erect one dwelling at land at Ogilvie Terrace, Deri, Bargoed. Moved. Council raise objections to the proposal. Moved. Clerk to respond as appropriate to the Case Officer. Mrs. M. Davies.

Council also noted minor amendments to the Application under Section 38 of the Commons Act for the surfacing of 170m of existing access track on Merthyr and Gelligaer Common, Merthyr Tydfil.

64 Correspondence 64.1 Email from Cllr. P. Duggan Notification of damage to the second bridge on the walkway between Fochriw and Park Cwm Darran. The Clerk reported that he had been in contact with Mr. P. Lewis (Parc Cwm Darran / Countryside Division) and this damage had since been addressed, Moved. Noted on file.

64.2 Grant Aid Acknowledgements and Thank You Letters / Cards The following acknowledgements were reported: - Deri Indoor Short Mat Bowling - Deri Regeneration Group

- Darran Valley 55 Club - Upper Rhymney Valley NOAPAW Moved. Noted on file.

64.3 Smerdon Tree Invoice for the work carried out at Cefn Rd, Deri, Bargoed. Moved. Noted on file / Payment.

65 Approval of Community Council Cheques The attached list of Community Council cheques were approved by members and amounted to £1,860.96.

66 Report by Mr. P. Lewis Senior Ranger, Parc Cwm Darran Apologies for absence were received from Mr. P. Lewis, Caerphilly CBC.

67 Report of Cllr. D. Hardacre County Borough Councillor Cllr. D. Hardacre provided Council with a written and verbal update of developments within the Darran Valley and invited questions both on his report and / or other subjects. Within his report, Cllr. Hardacre brought Council up to speed on: a range of road closures linked with the installation of a wind turbine mast; the land ownership dispute between Caerphilly CBC and Price & Sons Haulage; a range of road and drainage repairs; the proposed installation of a handrail at Rhodfa Ganol and approval for a Memorial Bench / Seat in Fochriw. Cllr. Duggan requested that Cllr. Hardacre give due considered to the installation of a ‘road crossing’ in the area adjacent to the Community Centre and Shops in Fochriw. Moved. Cllr. Hardacre to investigate feasibility under the Safe Routes to School Programme, and to report at the next meeting of Council. Cllr. H. Hollifield thanked Cllr. D. Hardacre for his report.

68 ROW Update (Mr. Andrew Powell – Caerphilly CBC) The Clerk reported receipt of the below attached ROW report, provided in November 2015.

April Rehang and repaired gates on Bridleway (BR) 141 Inspected Corral and steps on Footpath (FP) 51 and 52 Removed old posts off BR 109 May Resolved water issues on FP 122 June Repaired equestrian handle on FP 53 Inspected and repaired gates on BR 53 Surveyed BR 139, 140 and 141 Changed Ironwork on bridle gates on BR 53 July Carried out works on Corral FP 51 Cut back vegetation on FP 51 Cut back vegetation on FP 59

Cut back vegetation on BR 53 Inspected FP 111 August Inspected flooding on FP 59 Inspected FP 127, gate needs repair and overgrown Inspected BR 18 which has been cut back by a member of the public Cut back around kissing gate on FP 111 Cut back FP 115 September Cut back FP 55 Inspected Nutwood Walk Inspected stile on FP 111

Moved. Clerk to liaise with Andrew Powell / June Piper to request a report relevant to the reinstatement of ROWs following the recent NRW forestry work, south of Fochriw. Moved. Clerk to report at the next meeting of Council.

69 Skateboard Facility. Park Cwm Darran. Moved. Clerk to liaise with Mr. Rhodri Lloyd at Caerphilly CBC regarding other similar projects and they adopted approaches. Moved. Clerk to agenda and report at the next meeting of Council.

70 Summer Scheme 2016. Cllr. P. Duggan reported that following the success of the Summer Scheme in 2015, Street Games (coordinated via GAVO) had been introduced to the Fochriw area. Moved. Summer Scheme 2015. Cllr. D. Hardacre to resolve invoicing of the hire of Fochriw Community Centre with Cllr. T. Powell. Moved. Clerk to investigate options for funding the 2016 Scheme Moved. Clerk to agenda and report at the next meeting of Council.

Date of Next and Future Meetings Thursday 7th January 2016 - Parc Cwm Darran Visitors Centre, 6.30pm. Thursday 4th February 2016 - Parc Cwm Darran Visitors Centre, 6.30pm. Thursday 3rd March 2016 - Parc Cwm Darran Visitors Centre, 6.30pm.

Meeting Closed at 7.35pm.

______Chairperson