Abbeycwmhir Council

MINUTES of Council Meeting Thursday 15th September 2016 at 8:00 pm

1. Attendees: Brian Rees (Chair), Keith Powell, Glyn Powell, Cllr. David Evans, Malcolm Hughes (Clerk) Apologies: Julie Evans, Allan Bennett, Gareth Rees, David Jones

2. Minutes of last meeting held on May 19th 2016 The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting GP/KP

3. Matters arising: There were no matters not already covered as Agenda items

4. Declarations of Interest: None

5. Governance: None

6. Community Book: Fund stands at £3602; receipts since April are £110. BR reported his continuing discussions with members of the defibrillator group (Rhys Thomas and James Stewart). They are buying units in bulk and two have been allocated to this Community. It is hoped that this will be completed in the next few weeks. We will need to form a local committee to oversee the local administration and coordination of the use of these units. Public Liability insurance will be required, however the Rhayader group were investigating blanket cover insurance for all of the units. Cost per unit in the last exercise was £1,000. Training will be provided by Martyn Price for groups of 8-10 people at a time. BR will continue to liaise with the Rhayader committee and attend the next meeting. KP/GP KP/GP Propose/Second

7. Correspondence: 23/05/16 from One Voice : Pro-forma for reporting Council executive remuneration. Circulated to Council by e-Mail for information 26/05/16 from CC: Advising of Powys CC Digital Newsline Service. 07/06/16 from Powys CC Chair Keith Tampin: Invitation for 2 members of Council to Attend a reception at Royal Welsh Show. Circulated to Council via e-Mail. 09/06/16 from RES-Samantha Mayes: Follow on from 31 May meeting, map showing area of benefit. BR to comment on this. 14/06/16 from Powys CC: Summary Planning Decision reports 1st – 16th June 14/06/16 from ACCB Neil King: Minutes from ACCB 31 May meeting. See Item 12 below 16/06/16 from Powys Police Paul Dyer: Notification of Dyfed Powys Notification System, link http://www.dyfedpowyscommunitymessaging.org/. allows you to register to receive the latest crime notifications and community news happening in your local neighbourhood. 17/06/16 from Powys Community Health Council: Notification of AGM, Circulated to Council via e-Mail. 21/06/16 from Powys CC: Notification of report on consultation on closure of CinW School. Circulated to Council via e-Mail. Community Council – Minutes of Meeting

24/06/16 from Powys CC: Notification of closure of Nantmel C.in W. School. Circulated to Council via e-Mail 24/06/16 from Go Safe Wales: News Bulletin June 16 27/06/16 from RES: Advising delivery route for Garreg Lwyd turbine site. Circulated to Council via e-Mail. 28/06/16 from One Voice Wales: Advising new Model Financial Regulations. Downloaded and filed by Clerk 28/06/16 from Powys CC: Summary Planning Decision reports 16-24 June 01/07/16 from Wales Gvnm’t: Announcement on devolved Taxes in Wales. Circulated to Council via e-Mail. 05/07/16 from Powys CC: Announcing Citizens Advice Powys Scammers Alert campaign. Circulated to Council via e-Mail. 05.07/16 from Powys CC: Invitation for Chairman to Armed Forces Covenant Reception. Fwd to B Rees 08/07/16 from Powys CC Planning: See Item 10 below 13/07/16 From Messrs. Coyle Resurfacing: Estimate for works at ‘The Square’. See Item 11c below 14/07/16 from Powys CC: Secondary Schools reorganisation update. Consultation period has ended and matter to be discussed in Council and Cabinet during September 18/07/16 from RES: Notification of road works programme for Garreg Lwyd. Circulated to Council via e-Mail. 25/07/16 from Powys CC: Summary Planning Decision reports 8 – 22 July 26/07/16 from Upper Bridge Enterprises: Confirmation of go-ahead on web-site rebuild. 09/08/16 from Powys CC: Summary Planning Decision reports 22 July – 8 August 14/08/16 from Upper Bridge Enterprises: Confirm receipt of payment 17/08/16 from C.Clr. D Evans: Press release on Waste and recycling drop-ins. Circulated to Council via e-Mail. 22/08/16 from One Voice Wales: Opportunity to comment on Wales Audit office proposals on fees for next year. 25/08/16 from Welmedical: Advert for defibrillator 26/08/16 from RES: Garreg Lwyd newsletter. Circulated to Council via e-Mail. 30/08/16 from Powys CC.: Reorganisation of Secondary Education, Publication of consultation report. Circulated to Council via e-Mail. 02/09/16 from GO Safe Wales: Opinion Survey link. Circulated to Council via e-Mail.

05/09/16 from Powys CC: Summary Planning Decision reports 19 August – 2 September Clerk also advised the meeting of two recent communications: Welsh Government publication and web site link of reorganisation of local government. Powys Community Health Council notification of a forthcoming Council Meeting in on 21st September

KP to provide e-mail details to Clerk GP/KP

8. Finance: a. Cheques signed since previous meeting:

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1Cheque To Reason Amount 0100423 y Sarnau Grant. Replaces Chq 100415 £250 0 Community Centre which was incorrectly addressed 4 100424 Upper Bridge Enterprises Annual website fee £144 2 b. Cheques to be signed at this meeting: None c. Financial Report: Audit update: i. External Audit received back from Auditors and approved with one comment that a formal letter of agreement be raised with the internal auditor. This had been anticipated and an agreement has already been put in place. (This information had been provided) ii. The formal notification of receipt of the audit and the right to inspect this was posted on 26th August for 14days. d. Performance against Budget. Clerk presented reports for the two quarters elapsed since the last meeting. Expenditure is in line with budget e. Budget 2017-2018. Clerk will prepare next year’s budget for the November meeting. Council agreed that the Internal Audit fee be increased to £50 (last reviewed for 2008/9 f. The Annual grant to Wales Air Ambulance was approved for the current year, Clerk to raise cheque for this. KP/GP

9. Training None

10. Planning Application P/2016/0716, 08/07/16: Erection of single storey replacement at Hafod Wen. Circulated to Council and discussed with Chairman. In the absence of any comment a special meeting was not called to discuss this

11. Highways matters a. Survey on road speed and usage in village. Council decided that no further action be taken on this item. Item now Closed b. Road Repairs. Work had taken place as agreed and reported at the last meeting. No further action at this time c. Refurbishment of area fronting St. Mary’s church. A quotation to resurface the “Square” had been passed to the Clerk. This proposal had arisen from discussions between Lyndsey Williams and John Jones. Discussion in Council raised concerns over actual ownership of the land, whether any access or other rights existed in other property deeds, the lack of detail in the quote obtained and the nature and understanding of the agreement between the interested parties. It is clear that Council cannot take ownership of the project as it does not own title to the land but it can donate to a local initiative to resurface the “Square”. There was also concern that supporting such a venture might create precedent in Council’s support of such projects when historically it had not done so. It was agreed: i. The matter be deferred to the next meeting to allow further discussion when other members would be present. This would also allow time to gather more information ii. DE will look into possible other funds to support this project and also check Council maps for ownership of this land. iii. It was suggested that J Jones, L Williams and J Berriman be invited to the next meeting to discuss the matter, establish legal ownership (if possible) and agree the commitment of interested parties if the project goes ahead. GP/KP

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12. Wind Farms: BR reported on meetings and discussions regarding the Gareg Lwyd Hill turbines and Community Benefit Fund: a. At an ACCB meeting a map detailing benefit boundary at 8km from the turbines was defined by RES. This also defines representation for the Fund panel from the four immediately concerned Communities having a significant proportion of their area within the 8km circle. This would exclude Abbeycwmhir by definition, which is not what was original understood by some. b. However recent discussions between BR and Clr J Brunt suggest that this may still be challenged. c. BR reported that the fund stands at £150,00 p.a. but approximately £90,000 of this is allocated to subsidies in the immediately affected areas. d. ACTION: BR to continue discussions with J Brunt to clarify if there is a case for this Community to receive benefit KP/GP

13. General Matters a) Website rebuild: Upper Bridge Enterprises have been given permission to proceed with this work, which is not expected to begin before October. b) Clerk Position: The Clerk has advised the Chairman of his intention to move from the area. The Chairman had discussed this with Mr Neil Nuttall who may be willing to take up the position temporarily. Mr Nuttall to be invited to the next meeting as an observer.

14. AOB a. Clerk advised Council of their obligation to adopt the revised Model Code of Conduct prescribed by The Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2016 (No. 2016/84). This was agreed and the revised Code adopted. KP/GP b. Clerk reminded Council that Local Authority elections would take place in 2017. Briefing meetings for Clerk’s would take place in February or March next

15. Next meetings The following dates are for statutory meetings to be held on the third Thursday in the month through the next twelve months. Councillors are asked to ensure the dates are noted in their diaries.

Date: Meeting: Comments: Thursday Nov. 17th 2016 Council Approve budgets Thursday Jan. 26th 2017 Council (Re)Appoint Internal Auditor Thursday May 18th 2017 AGM & Council Approve Accounts Thursday September 21st Council Consider Budget Items 2017 Ad hoc meetings between the dates noted above will be arranged as Council business dictates; Councillors will be notified as necessary. Meetings will start at 8:00pm (except the AGM which will start at 7:30pm)

The meeting closed at 10.00 pm.

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