BETWS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The monthly meeting of Betws Community Council was held at Capel Newydd Vestry, Betws on Wednesday the 8th January 2020 at 7.00 pm.
PRESENT: Cllr. Loreen Lewis (Chairperson), Cllrs. Jose Picouto, Betsan Jones, Janet Davies, Nolene Morgan, Alex Davies, Lynwen Phillips, Delyth Richards, Maldwyn John and Annette Price.
County Councillor: Betsan Jones
Clerk - Miss Angela Brown
1. Public Questions/Representations
No one present
2. Apologies
Apologies received from the following Councillors: Lucy Jones (work commitments) and Wendy Haines (ill health).
3. Declaration by Members of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests
None
4. To Confirm and Sign the Minutes of the Meeting Held on Wednesday 11th December 2019
Councillor Morgan proposed and Councillor J Davies seconded, that the minutes of the monthly meeting held on Wednesday 11th December 2019 be confirmed and signed by the Chairperson.
5. Dyfed Powys Police
Crime Figures for December 2019 – No one attended.
Assault = Criminal Damage = Drugs Offences =
Burglary = Shoplift = Thefts = Auto. Crime = Misc. =
Total Monthly Crimes Reported =
6. County Councillors Report
6.1. Informed members that the Budget Consultation Meetings had been postponed due to the General Election and that they had been held yesterday, today and tomorrow. The County Council will receive an increased payment of 4.4% from the Welsh Government. They had been informed by CCC Finance Director that during the past 10 years of Austerity £120 million less has been given to CCC and they have made savings of £90 million.
6.2. The proposed Council Tax increase will be 4.89% the Consultation period for this is now. Things are a little better but are still a bit tight. A balanced budget will be given by end of March.
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The County Council can meet the Teachers budget.
6.3. An issue regarding access to a footpath between Argoed Road and Cwmcathan Farm has been highlighted with the style being defaced with Keep Dogs on Leads written and the landowner stopping people using it. Foot path signs are being removed/disappearing with the OS maps indicating that there is a foot path there. It is also overgrown and the attitude and aggression from the land owner puts most people off from using it. The foot path number needs to be identified before reporting. Cllr J Davies has experienced this herself and this has been a long-standing issue which needs resolving and stated that a sign had been placed previously stating “Access is free but the bull might charge”.
RESOLVED County Councillor Jones to contact the rangers regarding this issue.
Cllr Lewis informed members that there is a hole in the bridge by Pantybanwen to Banc Y Wern foot path number 14/1. She had contacted the rangers the Friday before Christmas about this issue.
RESOLVED County Councillor Jones to contact the rangers regarding this issue.
Cllr Picouto brought up an issue to the County Councillor regarding the entrance to the new houses at Nant Y Ffin and Woodland Park that over the past 5 – 6 weeks that there have been a lot of cars parked facing the wrong way, causing obstruction and several near misses due to cars overtaking the parked cars and making the entrance to Woodland Park a blind entrance.
RESOLVED Clerk to email the local Dyfed Powys Police PCSO/Neighbourhood Policing Team/Traffic to highlight this issue to them and ask for regular patrols to monitor and deal with the problem.
RESOLVED Clerk and County Councillor Jones to email CCC Highways asking for a single yellow line to be placed on the 2 bends before Woodlands Park from Nant Y Ffin.
A discussion ensued regarding ensuring that when planning applications are submitted that the Community Council highlight the parking/congestion issues within the village especially when conversion of garages to rooms as this would mean losing a potential parking area which would move the vehicles onto the road.
7. Matters Arising
7.1 The Clerk informed members that she had only received one quote for the work recommended by the company that carried out the Tree Survey for Betws Park. She has been chasing for the other quotes but they haven’t come through in time for this meeting.
RESOLVED Clerk to continue chasing and bring to next meeting.
7.2 Regarding point 7.3 in last month’s meeting the Clerk contact CCC in order that a site meeting be arranged to discuss the potential issues.
RESOLVED the Clerk and County Councillor to contact CCC regarding arranging the site meeting.
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7.3 Regarding point 8.3 of last month’s meeting the Clerk had a meeting on site with the contractor on Monday 6th January to discuss the ideas raised and he will get costings for this. She also checked that the contractor had all the information he needed for the Green Flag Award which he assured her that he did and would indeed have the application completed prior to his annual leave.
This was NOTED by members.
7.4 Cllr Picouto asked about the outcome of the issues regarding substance misuse in Ffordd Y Glowyr – he was informed that there had been regular patrols by the Police Service and that they had now moved on with no further issues reported to date.
This was NOTED by members.
7.5 Regarding point 8.3 from the meeting held on 11th of December 2019 and Betws Park Tennis Courts and the discussion that ensued Councillor B Jones proposed and Cllr Price seconded that due to the similar facilities which are available nearby that this area is enhanced in line with biodiversity guidelines and the points discussed in that meeting.
This was NOTED by members.
7.6 Cllr B Jones informed members that the Family Centre held its Christmas Party in Betws RFC for free with 32 families attending and a buffet was provided and Father Christmas was there too. The event was enjoyed by all who attended.
This was NOTED by members.
7.7 Cllr J Davies enquired if Cllr B Jones had enquired with Carmarthenshire Planning Department regarding point 11.1 of last month’s meeting. Cllr B Jones to chase the matter up.
This was NOTED by members.
7.8 Cllr B Jones informed members that the Community Council need to inform her should they receive complaints about obstructions with the drains such as fallen leaves/debris and she will ensure that the relevant department deals with the issue.
This was NOTED by members.
8. Correspondence
8.1 The Clerk informed members that the Carmarthenshire Water Safety Partnership has ordered the new vandal proof Life Buoy cabinet which is to replace the one near the bridge at the far end of the park due to the life buoy being repeatedly removed from the current cabinet.
This was NOTED by members. . 8.2 The Clerk informed members of an article that unrecorded bridleways are to be extinguished in 2026 under the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000. The British Horse
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Society has a toolkit that can be found online to record bridleways that are not marked on the County Council’s definitive map.
https://www.bhs.org.uk/our- work/access/campaigns/2026?...ium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignln&utm_content =Access
This was NOTED by members and the Clerk to send the article to Cllr J Davies. . 8.3 The Clerk informed members of the revised Statutory Guidance relating to The Playing Fields (Community Involvement in Disposal Decisions) (Wales) Regulations 2015 which have been updated due to an error at the end of paragraph 7.4(a). The Regulations can be accessed via the Welsh Government website.
This was NOTED by members.
8.4 The Clerk informed members regarding correspondence received from the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees within Carmarthenshire. They are promoting their work and want to invite Town and Community Councillors to have more participation to attend the meetings as observers. They can also suggest items for discussion at future meetings by writing or emailing to: Scrutiny Support, Democratic Services Unit, Chief Executives Department, County Hall, Carmarthen, SA31 1JP or [email protected] .
They have 5 Scrutiny Committees with responsibility for: Policy and Resources, Communities, Education & Children, Environmental & Public Protection and Social Care & Health. Each Scrutiny Committee will be shortly looking at developing a forward work programme for 2020/2021 and would welcome suggestions from Councils.
This was NOTED by members.
8.5 The Clerk informed members about the Press Release received from the Community Health Council regarding Surgical Disruptions in Hywel Dda University Health Board due to the extreme pressures this winter. Also their Newsletter regarding current and future projects. Enquiries can be made to [email protected] or telephone 01646 697610, option 2.
This was NOTED by members.
8.6 The Clerk informed members of an email received from Carmarthenshire County Council’s Built Heritage team regarding a Listed Building Fair being held on Sunday 9th February 2020 at Newton House, Dinefwr Park, Llandeilo. There are a number of listed buildings within the County. Their aim is to support/inform owners through the Listed Building Consent application process.
For further information contact the Tywi Centre website https://www.tywicentre.org.uk/whats-on/ or telephone 01558 824271 or book a free ticket on https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/null/t-jpzamz
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This was NOTED by members.
Cllr John left the meeting at 20:30.
9. Planning Matters
a. E/39988 – Non material amendment on external finish to land adjacent to 100 Colonel Road, Betws, Ammanford, SA18 2HP
b. E/37271 – Erection of 3 dwellings on land within the development limits of Betws/Ammanford - Land off, Colonel Road, Betws, Ammanford,SA18 2HP
c. E/40029 – Construction of Four Residential dwellings and all associated works at Land at Ffordd Y Glowyr, Betws SA18 2JZ.
RESOLVED the Clerk informs CCC regarding the discussions on the above planning matters.
d. E/39376 – Outline permission for construction of a dwelling (dormer bungalow) on land adjacent to 90 Colonel Road, Betws, SA18 2HP = Outline granted.
e. E/39768 – Change of use of the garage building to a hair dressing salon at Land adjacent to Maes Y Ffin, Betws SA18 2PA = Full Refusal.
10. Payment of Accounts/Donations/Funding Request/Internal/External Audit
Clerk informed members VAT refund for 1/4/17 – 31/3/18 has been received = £4271.00
Precept billing form signed by the Chair and Clerk regarding the decision in 13th November 2019 meeting to increase the precept by £5,000 to £37,000.
10a Payment of Accounts
1. Clerks Income Tax/NI/Emp NI £ 156.17 2. Clerks Salary and Allowances £ 637.88 3. Postage Costs £ 3.00 4. Wrenvale Nurseries and Landscapes £4,974.00 5. Parks and Play £1,045.20
10b Donations/Funding Requests
Capel Newydd Cemetery,Betws £ 200.00 Eglwys Dewi Sant Cemetery, Betws £ 200.00 Eglwys Dewi Sant, Betws – Xmas Lights £ 50.00 Capel Newydd, Betws – Xmas Lights £ 25.00
11. Reports
11.1 Cllr Price brought up that the Christmas lights were different this year normally they are a golden white colour however, this year they were blue/white/pink Clerk to query the change with
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SSE as the Community Council paid for the original ones. The lights were still on the tree when were they going to be removed?
11.2 Cllr Price asked that the Clerk obtain prices for a Remembrance bench like the metal one near Argos in Ammanford Town so that it can be placed in Betws Park.
12. Exempt Reports
Update regarding Betws RFC, a discussion ensued.
Meeting closed at 21:20.
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