CYNGOR CYMUNED GORSLAS COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of Gorslas Community Council held at Gorslas School on Monday evening, 13th October 2014 at 7.00 p.m.

PRESENT: - Cllrs - Darren Price , Terry Davies , Clive Green, Anthony Rees, Tina Jukes, Simon Martin, Ellis Davies , Aled Owen and Terry Jones.

Translator and Clerk.

Apologies for Absence were received from Cllrs Wyn Edwards, Nia Lewis, Huw Davies ,Brian Kirby. Janice Price.

75.0 TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD ON THE 8/9/14.

. The Chairman went through each page of the minutes of the last meeting individually for accuracy. Subject to minor amendments it was proposed by Cllr Terry Davies and seconded by Cllr Ellis Davies and all agreed that the Minutes of the Council’s last meeting be accepted and signed.

76.0 MATTERS ARISING from the last meeting .

1. Growth was reported along the kerb edge and back of footways in general throughout the village of Cefneithin. This has been reported to CCC but no reply has been received to date

2. The Large hole in road near Dan y Bont house Cllr Terry Davies and Cllr D Price have raised the issue once again with CCC and they will be checking on land ownership.

3. Parking problems were reported near Hebron vestry Drefach – Cllr Green raised the issue at the PACT meeting. (see PACT report below)

4. Vacancy for member at Gorslas CCC The clerk informed that a notice had been placed in the Gorslas Notice Board for the required period . The closing date for submission of names was the 3/10/2014. The clerk informed that he had been advised by CCC’s Electoral Section that they had not received a request from ten electors for an election to take

1 place, it is therefore in order for Gorslas Community Council to co-opt a replacement Member. The appointment should be made as soon as practicable and I would be grateful if you could forward the name and address of the new Member in due course.’’

It was agreed that the co-option of replacement member should be placed on the Agenda of the next meeting on the 10th November 2014.

5. Notice Board member information. It was agreed to hold back the placement of members names and contact for the notice boards until a new member is co-opted. It was also felt the Perspex glass of all notice boards should be changed due to deterioration. The clerk was asked in the first instance to contact a firm in Cwmmawr, Drefach.

6. CCC had been informed of the possible land owner from Mansel Arms to Quarry Drefach for contacting regarding the overgrowth adjacent to the footway.

7. An e mail via the Police Commissioners web site was sent expressing the councils concern for the possible closure of Cross Hands Police Station. No reply had been received to date.

8. The need to clean the pathway adjacent to the Post Office had been reported as to the Housing Dept.(CCC).

9. The 30mph electronic sign near the school at Drefach which was not working properly has been reported to CCC

10. The pathway between No 43 and 45 Brynlluan was in need of cleaning Jeff Tipper hire has carried out the work.

11. Spencer Env has been informed that Grass needs to be taken from the parks during his monthly cut.

12. The work to cut back the large branches/tree near the Church boundary wall with Gorslas Park has been completed.

13 All items identified by the footpath officers in their reports have been sent to CCC . The full reports were to be e mailed to the clerk from members but this was not done.

14. Use of Gwendraeth Sports Hall by Mr J Thomas , the coach of the under 10’s , 7’s and Tiny Tots Football Teams. The Chairman agreed to inform/discuss with him with regard to the possible alternative venues available within the community. The chairman informed that the football teams had been given a time slot at the Gwendraeth Sports Hall.

2 77 .0 AREA MATTERS The following issues raised by members will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Cefneithin .

Drefach

Overgrown hedges were reported during the month in the following locations in the village :

1. Along the pavement from Vale Villa towards the primary school .

2. On Heol Tyisaf between Tanya's ( hairdresser ) and Moelwyn Morgan's house , along the side of " Park View " .

3. From the Bron Yr Ynn side of the place where the school crossing patrol operates , along Heol Blaenhirwaun towards Cross Hands .

The above 3 issue has been forwarded to CCC and a reply received stating that they have checked the above locations and the hedges have been previously cut back ,never the less they will send the cyclic gang out to cut some brambles growing from the hedge in Heol Tyisaf.

4. No reply had been received from CCC regarding the repair to a post of the boundary fence between the old age bungalows and Drefach Park . A progress report was requested . The clerk was asked to remind CCC housing dept.

5. Cllr Clive Green informed that Mr J McEvoy CCC had agreed to arrange a meeting of interested parties with regard to the type of penalty that should be issued to repeat offenders in the 20mph zone outside Drefach Primary School.

Gorslas

1)A request was made for the speed control motor bike to be situated on Black Lion Rd near.Tŷ Clyd on thhe approach to Gorslas School near the flashing school warning sign The clerk was asked to e mail Cross Hands Police Station to request the action and that it should also be brought up at the PACT meeting.

2)Despite repeated requests and site meetings with Mr J McEvoy and promises to remove ,no action had yet been taken by CCC for the removal of the ‘one lane’ speed reduction measures introduced some time ago near Cwm Cerrig Farm on the Cefneithin to Gorslas Road .

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3) Cllr Ellis Davies informed that once again at his request the clerk had written to Mr Rodway the Toilet attendant and gate keeper at Gorslas park to remind him of his duties and time of cleaning and gate closure. Whilst recently there had been some improvement. the clerk was asked to send him a letter specifying that the toilet cleaning should be done at night at approx the same time as the gate was closed –no later that 8.30pm to ensure that it would be clean for the next day. Jeff Tipper will also be reminded to replace the gate opening times on the top barrier.

78.0 PARK MATTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE CONCERNING SAFETY

An Annual report was received from CCC – The main issue raised was the severe rot on one of the timber posts supporting the double swing at Drefach Park ,also on this item there were missing bolt cap covers on the frame and underneath the seat. The rotting post was considered to be HIGH risk and the item has been taped off to prevent use. Jeff tipper hire has been requested to replace the frame post

All other matters raised on the report were considered to be low or very low risk . However Jeff Tipper will be asked to carry out the work shown on the report.

Cefneithin.

Nothing reported

Gorslas.

Jeff Tipper will also be reminded to replace the gate opening times on the top barrier.

Drefach.

The Rotting /Damaged post on one of the swings mentioned above will be repaired as soon as possible

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79.0 Future Agenda Items

Questions were raised as to the need for ‘local matters’ to be an agenda item. The clerk felt that the local issues during the month should be sent to him as they crop up so that action can be taken as quickly as possible. It was also felt that members should report matters which were the responsibility of CCC directly to them by telephoning 01267234567. They will then be recorded and sent to the appropriate department . Any thing not done or if no reply is received should then be brought up at the Community Council meeting in the following month

Members agreed that this was a sensible approach and that a new ‘ Update on Reported Issues’ Agenda item should be inserted .

80.0 The Three Parks and Community improvement / upgrading plan Progress report

Gorslas Park

All items of equipment and installation works have been ordered and will be installed in the next few weeks. Members asked that the Half Term week (if at all possible) should be avoided.

Drefach Park

The new pathway had been completed .

The remaining items were:- i)The installation of a bin and compass point by the new meeting point along the new pathway. ii)The installation of a boundary galvanised fence to the play area. iii)A play tunnel to be installed in the extended children’s area and the iv)biodiversity area near the old age bungalows .

Cefneithin Park

No work had yet been undertaken or ordered but consultation has been undertaken and the Options had been agreed and costs are being sought

The clerk also informed that he will be ordering new information signs for all parks.

Cllr Aled Owen asked what consultation had been carried out at Gorslas as he had not been involved in any such exercise . He thought that the council had agreed that a group of members and clerk would meet to set priorities. Gorslas members informed him that consultation on the Park matter had been

5 undertaken through the welfare committee in the same way as the Drefach and Cefneithin Wards .

The Chairman informed that the meeting of a group of members including the Chairman, Vice Chairman ,Past Chairman and Internal financial examiner plus 1 member from each ward ,was for the purpose of community need / budget setting which was to be done in Nov/Dec time. Since the subject was brought up the Chairman asked for names of members from the three wards to attend this meeting The three members selected were Cllr Simon Martin (Cefneithin Ward), Cllr Aled Owen (Gorslas Ward) and Cllr Wyn Edwards (Drefach Ward). It was agreed that the first meeting would take place in November at Drefach Hut (time and date to be confirmed)

81.0 POLICE PACT MATTERS

a)Pact meeting 25/9/14 report from Cllr Clive Green

Present : 10 public + 2 Police New PCSO welcomed to Cross Hands .

CRIMES - August : 23 with 65% detected . Llannon 9 Llanddarog 3 Pontyberem 2 Penygroes 1 Gorslas 8 ( 5 in Gorslas ; 2 in Cefneithin ; 1 in Drefach . ) CRIMES - September : 13 with 70% detected . Llannon 5 Pontyberem 4 Penygroes 4 which means that at the time of the meeting there had been NO CRIMES in Gorslas Council's area .

Since September 1st there has been a new campaign called " Gan Bwyll / Go Safe " which concentrates on the monitoring of 20mph zones around schools . In the Cross Hands Police area , the focus has been on Drefach Primary , the former Gwendraeth School , and Llechyfedach Primary . Persons caught by the camera van face the normal range of penalties . He reported that our council had expressed its opposition to the Commissioner's plan to close Cross Hands Police Station and had written accordingly to the Commissioner . Cllr Green reported the two problems : parking on the pavement outside Camau Bach Nursery and opposite outside Hebron Vestry ; and the dog dirt found in the tunnel of the play equipment in Drefach Park . These locations will be patrolled . He also thanked the police for their swift response to a potential ASB incident in Drefach Park and commented that it took twice as long to get a 101 response as it did for the police car to arrive from Cross Hands .

Priorities for next month : Parks monitoring , especially Drefach , Pontyberem and Tumble

6 b) Other Police Issues Having had a telephone conversation with John McEvoy earlier in the week , Cllr Green again raised the question of an incremental increase in penalty for re- offenders caught exceeding the 20mph limits at Drefach. John McEvoy had suggested a three way meeting ( Police , CCC & Gorslas Council ) to discuss this matter further and to clarify responsibilities .

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82 .0 MEMBERS REPORTS

The Chairman informed that he had attended the Mothers Union Event at Gorslas Church Hall.

83.0 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FOR COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING 13/10/2014.

1. CCC Standards Committee at their meeting on the 12th Sept 2014 received a report on the Code of Conduct training provided for Town and Community Council representatives. In addition the committee was provided with data regarding the number of dispensation applications submitted by Town and Community Councils during the preceding year and the number of Code of Conduct Complaints received by the Ombudsman for Wales. The committee noted that a large proportion of dispensation applications originated from one Town Council and that the remaining 71 town and community councils generated very few dispensation requests. The committee are keen to establish the reasons for this and to satisfy themselves as to the level of compliance with the code across all councils particularly in relation to declaration of interests. As such they request the provision of the following information:- a) Whether members of your council received any Code of Conduct training during the 2012/13 financial year or the 2013/14 financial year. b) Also whether members of your council made any declarations of personal interest at council meetings and if they did on how many occasions during 2012/13 and 2013/14.

The clerk informed that he had gone through 2 years of minutes and had sent the information regarding declarations of interest to the Standards Committee as requested

With regard to the Code of Conduct training he had spoken to CCC as all training has been done through them and they have the details to hand.

2. CCC inform that nominations are now being invited for 12 categories of awards at the 2014 Sports Personality ceremony in January 2015. 7 The awards are organised by Carmarthenshire Council's Sports & Leisure Team, in partnership with the Carmarthenshire Local Sports Council, and recognise the sporting achievements of athletes, coaches and volunteers across Carmarthenshire.

Categories: *Sports Personality of the Year *Young Sportsman of the year *Young Sportswoman of the year *Disabled Sportsman of the year *Disabled Sportswoman of the year *High Performance Sports Coach of the Year *Community Sports Coach of the Year (NEW award for 2012) *Sports Volunteer of the year *Young Sports Volunteer of the year *Team of the year *Young Team of the year *The Ryan Jones memorial award for outstanding services to sport Carmarthenshire Sporting Hall of Fame. This category provides an opportunity to honour sportsmen, sportswomen and others from Carmarthenshire who have contributed to the legacy of sport and who are an inspiration for the next generation of sporting champions.

Closing date for nominations is November 21.

It was agreed that nominations should be brought to the next meeting of the council on the 10th November.

3. BDO the councils external auditor inform that they have completed their audit for the year ending 31st March 2014 and that the return should be presented along with the issues arising report to council for approval and acceptance. The annual return for the year ending 31st March 2014 was presented to and approved and accepted unanimously by the council .

The plan of action required for the issues arising report was agreed and accepted by the Council at their previous meeting on the 8th September 2014

4. CCC send a Christmas season decoration installation form which needs to be completed in order to comply with section 178 of the Highways Act 1980. This only involves the Gorslas area as the tree is large and next to a main road. (the date of installation was confirmed as the 4th December and the removal date will be the 3 January 2015) . The clerk was requested to send the necessary information

The clerk was asked to check with Cllr Wyn Edwards and Cllr Terry Davies regarding decoration requirements.

5. A Request has been received from Ms Mary Holmes from Cefneithin to site a catering van on the car park in Gorslas Park . It is 18ft in length and is up to date with certificates etc. She informs also that she holds a 5* hygiene 8 rating. After a discussion the council the council agreed not to allow any trading to take place in the car park . The clerk was asked to inform Ms Mary Holmes as to the councils decision.

6. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority Invite the council and its members to provide their views on their Draft strategic Plan 2015-20 and on their Draft Improvement Plan 2015-16 . Both of which can be found on their web site www.mawwfire.gov.uk .

The consultation period runs from the 1st October 2014 to the 28th November 2014.

84.0 Planning Applications Cllr Terry Davies declared an interest as a member of the County Councils Planning Committee and took no part in the discussion or decision making

Full Planning

W/30914 Lounge and garage extension to existing dwelling and alteration works to parking and turning facilities at 23 Llys Newydd ,Heol Blaehirwaun , Drefach

Granted

W/30338 Formation of an ancillary yard to a relocated tyre fitting and vehicle maintenance depot (phase2) at land part of Penybanc Farm, rear of Heol Parc Mawr, Cross Hands Business Park for Tuf Treads Ltd

W/30575 Proposed one detached dwelling or semi detached dwelling at Waundeg , Heol Dinefwr ,Foelgastell.

85.0 One Voice Wales

1.Inform that they are running "A Code of Conduct Training" in St Peters Civic Hall, Nott Square, Carmarthen. SA31 1PG on Wednesday 15th October from 6.30pm-9pm. We have secured sufficient attendees for this training to run therefore we have re-opened the bookings - Limited Spaces Available.. The clerk advised that it was important for members to attend Code Of Conduct Training sessions and for anyone that wishes to attend to phone him as soon as possible. Or e mail [email protected] directly

The cost of the training is £30 for members or £40 per person for non members. You will be invoiced after the training has taken place. 9

There is a bursary available to eligible councils

Start time is 6:30pm until 9:00pm.

2. Send minutes of the Carmarthen Area Committee meeting held on the 9th July and the Agenda of the next Area meeting which is to be held the 28th October 2014 at 7.00pm at the West Wales Craft Centre ,Pentre Rd St Clears.

86.0 Payments

Aber Lanscapes Cut Down and remove dead and dangerous trees at Gorslas Park and cut off overhanging branches around paths in the park £ 744 BDO Stoy £420 Jeff tipper hire £60 Jeff tipper hire £698 Spencer Sept £772,34 Clerks pay exp,etc £1473.80 +£500 Avc CCC superannuation £911.07 M Rodway £484 J Thomas £52 L M Morgan £130 Inland Revenue £1250.19 Spencer Env Oct £1060 including taking away and disposal of Grass collection

87.0 Date of next meeting The next meeting will be at Drefach School on the 10th November 2014, at 7.00pm

The business of the meeting terminated at 9.00 pm.

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