MAELOR SOUTH COMMUNITY COUNCIL Minutes of the meeting held via Zoom on
Tuesday, 6th April 2021 at 7:30p.m.
Present: Cllr. J. Griffiths, Cllr. J. Blanchard, Cllr. Mrs. W. Sime, Cllr. Mrs. S. Rodenhurst, Cllr. Mrs. H. Dearling, Cllr. R. Toms, Cllr. J. McCusker, Mrs. L. Houston (Clerk). Cllr. Mrs. H. Pike, Vice Chair of Willington and Worthenbury Community Council, was welcomed as an observer.
Apologies: Cllr. S. Hill(work commitment) Cllr. Mrs. B. Coupe, (illness)
1. Declarations of Interest. There were none. 2. Minutes of the last meeting The minutes were agreed to be a true record of the last meeting and were signed virtually by the Chair 3. Matters arising. Footpath in Bettisfield – no reply from Sean Hanratty of WCBC. Clerk to contact Rambler’s Association to seek advice on establishing a Permissive Footpath with landowner’s agreement. Freedom of Information request – no further information provided by WCBC. Clerk to research reporting to Ombudsman. Playground gate in Penley has been fitted in red which is difficult for people with impaired vision to see. It also opens in the wrong direction. Consider signs - ‘No dogs allowed’ and ‘Please keep this gate shut’. 4. County Council Update Cllr. McCusker reported that Keep Wales Tidy will provide 12 months insurance cover for groups carrying out litter picking. After that it will cost £70 per annum, which Cllr. McCusker said he would cover. This is in addition to the Community Council’s own policy which covers either volunteers or employed people carrying out work on behalf of the Community Council. Keep Wales Tidy contact is Shane Hughes – [email protected] Cllr. Mrs. Rodenhurst asked for support to address problem of rubbish blowing out of refuse collection vehicles. Cllr. Mrs. Dearling has reported fly tipping in Bettisfield by a contractor paid by an organisation to dispose of the material correctly. 5. Open Forum No community members attended. 6. Finance: Payment of Bills
Cllr. Mrs. Rodenhurst proposed and Cllr. Toms seconded that the following bills be paid: Payee Amount For Cheque Number Ray Parry 2,844.00 Gate for playground, 001073 Penley Matthews Electrical 102.00 Re-siting 001074 defibrillator, Penley Bettisfield Chapel 35.00 Defibrillator 001075 electricity, Bettisfield L. Houston Clerk expenses: 001076 20.99 Printer cartridge 14.39 Zoom subs, March 10.20 Postage stamps 44.73 Litter pickers 90.31 Sticky Beak Web 79.00 Annual hosting fee 001077 Design J. Williams 108.00 Litter picking, bin 001078 emptying and grass cutting in Penley.
Income and Expenditure Date Debit Credit To/from Balance 24.02.21 12,050.31 Current account 10.03.21 80.00 J. Bell 11,970.31 11.03.21 96.60 Start Traffic road markers 11,873.71 11.03.21 28.78 Zoom, Jan + Feb 11,844.93 11.03.21 26.26 Litter pickers 11,818.67 15.03.21 125.00 Donation, Nightingale House 11,693.67 16.03.21 27.00 J. Williams 11,666.67 16.03.21 500.00 Donation, Bettisfield Village 11,166.67 Hall 16.03.21 125.00 Donation, Wales Air 11,041.67 Ambulance 17.03.21 425.00 Donation, Penley Church 10,616.67 17.03.21 125.00 Donation, Macmillan 10.491.67 22.03.21 300.00 Donation, Church Wardens, 10,191.67 Bettisfield 24.03.21 125.00 Donation, Hope House 10,066.67 Deposit 5,598.00 Account 8.2.21 10.03.21 1.29 Interest 5,599.29
Total Funds 15,665.96 Less unpresented cheques 1059 50.00- 1063 60.00 Less April bills 3258.31
12,297.65
There were no questions or comments regarding income and expenditure.
Penley Village Hall donation The Chairperson had replied to the Clerk outlining planned improvements to the building and stating that a donation would be very welcome. However, in the light of a recent Licence Application, it was agreed to withhold the £700 donation earmarked for the Village hall as the Community Council should not use public funds to support a commercial business venture. The Village Hall trustees will be contacted. Community Fund It was agreed to contact both schools in Penley and the Rainbow Centre to let them know about money available to help families in difficulty. For Bettisfield residents, this would be advertised via the village Facebook page and newsletter. There was some discussion as to how this money could be paid to recipients. It was agreed that a cheque would be inconvenient and that cash/shopping vouchers should be used.
7. Planning Applications P/2021/0191 – Land to the rear of Brookfield Close, Penley – Conditions relating to P/2019/0312 - Clerk to contact Planning to request detailed information about the surface water drainage system. P/2021/0257 – Bridge House, Vicarage Lane, Penley Demolition of Existing dwelling and erection of replacement dwelling. NO OBJECTIONS P/2021/0231- Hill Farm, Breadon Heath- Extension to existing Farm Building NO OBJECTIONS Licence Application – Penley Village Hall. The Community Council will write to register its concerns that the building is unsuitable for such a venture for the following reasons: Lack of fire escape Limited toilet facilities and the current septic tank system All electricals would need to be upgraded. Kitchen facilities not suitable Noise nuisance for neighbouring properties- suggest initially limiting opening hours. Parking Proposed outdoor seating too close to road. Dymock Arms. It was noted that the building has been sold and the new owner will have to satisfy WCBC Planning Dept. and CADW that the listed part of the building will be protected.
Decisions P/2020/0801 – Farm between Pigeon Lane and Lion Lane – REFUSED P/2021/0107 – Penley Mill Wildflower meadow – PENDING P/2020/0871 –Lane End, Penley- PENDING Hillcrest – Clerk to ascertain with WCBC Planning whether enforcement notice would apply to just the structures on the land or to the fence surrounding the land as well. 8. Village Projects Village Well-being Garden, Penley Cllr. Griffiths asked for feedback on the presentation he had written and circulated. Cllr. Mrs. Sime stressed that it was not to be a formal garden, but a space for everyone to enjoy. There was a discussion around the vision for the space and it was agreed that it should be beneficial for the whole community, especially as there could be a mental health crisis looming as a result of COVID. However, it was agreed that this would not be the right location for a bike park, which is the wish of many younger residents. They could possibly be guided towards another space with the young people developing it with support from the Community Council to foster community engagement. It was proposed that the name be changed, possibly to ‘Community Open Space’, but other ideas would be welcome over the next few days. The Governing Body meeting at The Maelor School is scheduled for May and the plan is to circulate the presentation to Governors prior to the meeting so that the allocated time can be spent on discussion and hopefully a decision. It was agreed that the school councils from both schools could be involved in the consultation process. Footpath, Bettisfield Clerk to write to the Rambler’s Association Penley Playground The grass surface under the zip wire and swings has worn away and is very muddy. Clerk to request that Ray Parry lifts the matting and re-seeds in the early autumn with a suitable amenity grass mixture. Clerk will also advise Mr. Parry on desired positioning of the cantilever swing. 9. Streetscene Clerk to report the following problems to WCBC: • Gulleys opposite Madras School and Grange Road need to be emptied. • Bollard outside Maelor school not lit. • Main streetlights out near to Penmere Park entrance following BT work. • Several streetlights not working – bulbs gone? • Potholes on Red Hall Lane, Ellesmere Lane(bridge) and Vicarage Lane, Penley. Clerk to copy Cllr. McCusker into these emails.
10. Any Other Business.
Community Agents increase in hourly rate to meet the National Living Wage For the financial year 2021-22, Community Councils were being asked to fund the shortfall on a pro-rata basis for their ward. This would cost Maelor South Community Council £290 for the year. Councillors agreed to meet this cost, but would be unable to cover any shortfall if other Community Councils were unable to meet the cost for their ward. Clerk to reply to Caroline Tudor-James.
Problems at Penley Stores – youths from Overton are causing trouble in the evening and being very abusive towards the shop owner. This has been reported to the Police, but Clerk will write to PCSO to ask if patrols can be stepped up.
Parking outside Park Villas, Penley is a problem at school pick up and drop off times, with vehicles completely blocking the road. This will also be reported to PCSO.
Maelor School pupils using the playground at lunchtime are leaving litter behind, despite bins being empty. School will be asked to deal with this.
A litter pick will take place in Penley on 26th April 2021
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.10p.m.