Minutes of the Virtual Ordinary Meeting of St Arvans Community Council Held Via MS Teams on Tuesday 14Th July 2020 at 7.00Pm

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Minutes of the Virtual Ordinary meeting of St Arvans Community Council held via MS Teams on Tuesday 14th July 2020 at 7.00pm.

2007.01 ATTENDANCE: Cllrs S Banfield (Chair), R Edwards, P Farley, B Howells, V Kennedy, M Davies, M Sunderland ALSO: Clerk, Mrs K Houghton; MCC Ward Cllr A Webb APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: none

2007.02 DECLARATION OF INTEREST IN ITEM(S) ON THE AGENDA Cllr Farley declared interest in item 2007.06c. (iii) Section 137 funding request from Monmouth County Citizen’s Advice

2007.03 PUBLIC SESSION Three residents attended. Ref item 2007.07d update Boyer / SA Brains Ltd – Land Adjacent to Piercefield public house, Council was requested to distribute information via Round Robin.

2007.04 TO RECEIVE & NOTE MONTHLY NOTES (in place of Meeting due to Covid-19 restrictions) 9th June 2020 NOTES were received, read and noted by: Cllrs Banfield, Edwards and Howells

2007.05 TO RECEIVE, READ, NOTE REPORTS from a. Community Police crime and traffic report: CSO Andrew Jones 7/6/2020 – Two off-road bikes in woods near The Cot; recent high visibility patrols in the Tintern, St Arvans and Wentwood areas to deter off-road bikes. First operation carried out with the Rural Crime Unit and NRW who own most of the woodland which these bikes are accessing illegally - we will continue to monitor. It would be appreciated if, when residents see a van unloading scrambler bikes in wooded areas, they take number plate of vehicle without putting themselves in harm’s way and pass that information to us. 15/6/2020 4 males in Spar taking cases of alcohol during the day – ongoing enquiries to identify them. 19/6/2020 Tree falling and blocking road on A466 near turn to Upper Wyndcliffe car park, road closed for some time to be dealt with by officers. 30/6/2020 vehicles parking on pavement near entrance to the Racecourse and drivers watching racing ‘run behind closed doors’. 2/7/2020 sheep on road near racecourse; farmer owner advised and attended to return sheep to field. b. MCC Ward Cllr A Webb 1. With towns opening gradually there are additional 1-hour free parking spaces in Chepstow, together with an additional 15 extra spaces allocated for the less mobile. 2. Chepstow public toilets (near Library Hub) re-opening on Saturday 11th July. 3. £22.8m has been allocated for Business Grants; Start-up Grant Applications have opened. Contact Cllr Webb if any local business has not received Government Support. 4. SA Memorial Hall has received a £10,000 grant; The Meeting Rooms have not applied. 5. Hedges overlapping pavements: requests for trimming back imminent to allow better opportunity for social distancing. c. Dell Primary School Governing Body: WG announces ‘back to school’ plans for 1st September. Thanks to Head Teacher Steve King and staff who have worked diligently to accommodate the mandatory and advisory requirements to ensure well-being of their pupils. d. Local Democracy Boundary Commission Wales: 14/07/20 OVW confirmed sufficient response from Monmouthshire TC & CCs to ask Boundary Commission to carry out Review. e. Lord Lieutenant for Gwent: Request for nominations for Queen’s delayed Birthday Honours list to be publicised on noticeboards and Round Robin. f. MCC Give Dog Fouling the Red Card virtual meeting 09/07/2020: arrangements for publicity week at end of September.

2007.06 FINANCE a. to note balances at bank & building society HSBC @ 30/06/20 £ 5,815.47 MBS @ 30/06/20 £ 9,201.16 total of cheques not presented at 30/06/20 £1,247.23

b. to note schedule of payments and receipts

PAYMENTS Agenda 2007.06 14th JULY (V/MEETING) FINANCE REPORT 11/06/2020 DD Three (Hg3) mobile Clerk mobile phone (monthly) 18.77 26/06/2020 101353 Merlin Waste Emptying dog waste bins monthly 4166 46.80 30/06/2020 101354 E Bennett Village maintenance - June 2020 99.00 30/06/2020 101355 Connor Hayden KGF Grounds Maintenance 260.00 S Jeffries Stonemasonry KGF/Sycamore Court 30/06/2020 101356 Boundary Wall 95.00 30/06/2020 101357 K Houghton Clerk salary - June 2020 242.62 30/06/2020 101358 E Bennett KGF paint & repair Slide 163.01 30/06/2020 101359 Connor Hayden KGF Grounds Maintenance 70.00 Chepstow Accountancy Payroll/Accountancy services July 2020 55.00 01/07/2020 101360 Services 03/07/2020 101361 RoSPA Play Safety Ltd KGF Playground inspection - annual 115.80 1,166.00

c. to receive any other updates i. Audit Wales response to 2017/18 accounts audit document has been returned with the original figures, not the amended figures presented in November 2019. This is being queried ii. Draft accounts spreadsheet 2019/20 to be circulated to Councillors for comments and to be approved at August meeting. iii. Section 137 funding request from Monmouthshire County Citizens Advice to be considered at a future date.

2007.07 PLANNING a. to note new planning application(s) received: i. DM/2020/00809 Meadow View, Devauden Road two storey extension to existing dwelling-house. As application did not appear on public portal until 03/07/20, Planning Office have been requested to allow time for discussion at August meeting. b. to note progress of current planning applications: i. DM/2019/01911 1-9 Forge Gardens/A466 rebuild of entire wall for MHA. AP Waters commenced work 06/07/20 with demolition of stone wall and removal of large tree stump. ii. DM/2020/01252 St Arvans Lodge – Dean Close Nursery extension. Query was raised re dimension which was discussed with owner and clarified – matter resolved. c. to note Monmouthshire Local Development Plan 2018-2033 – call for potential candidate sites: Expressions of interest have been made regarding 3 sites in the St Arvans ward area – future progress to be noted. d. to note update of Boyer / SA Brain Ltd – Land Adjacent to The Piercefield public house, St Arvans. Following local concern re planning proposal for this site received in 2018, recent enquiries show that no planning application has been submitted to MCC. However, in view of local interest it was agreed to send details of original proposal via Round Robin for information.

2007.08 HIGHWAYS Monmouthshire’s Roadworks Review: diversion signs were recently installed in SA relating to traffic control from Devauden of which no-one was aware and could not been found in MRR, although MRR is not a user-friendly document, may benefit from modification for clarity. a. Clarification of footpaths near Oakgrove Stud: recce required to ascertain public footpaths in this area, and possibly produce pamphlet to help local walkers in order to prevent ingress on Stud land.

b. Request to MCC asking whether broken drain under pothole had been repaired before tarmacking hole in Wyndcliffe Court Drive: Clerk has not received a reply to this request; Cllr Webb to investigate. d. Request to MCC asking for removal of protruding rock on B4293: Cllr Webb to investigate.

2007.09 ENVIRONMENT & RECREATION a. King George’s Field Playground i. to note maintenance re dead trees and overgrown shrubs; contractor carried out tasks as required, but removed two small cherry trees in front of Sycamore Court in error; matter to be resolved. ii. to note repair to rusting paintwork on slide: completed. iii. to note repair to stone wall boundary with Sycamore Court; work completed and cost jointly divided between owner of 8 Sycamore Court and SACC. iv. installation of two waste bins: completed. v. grass maintenance: MCC have arranged to provide very short cut on 17th vi. to note RoSPA inspection report: to be discussed at Working Party 30th July 2020; SACC is indebted to Dr N Bell for Covid-19 risk-assessment and provision of poster, prior to reopening Playground as per WG guidance on 20/07/20. b. SA Playing Field i. Grass maintenance; a shorter cut is required for use by Garden City F.C. which is not possible With existing contract; solution to be discussed with GCFC. ii. Chepstow Racecourse licence to be discussed further. iii. Wye Valley Villages (AONB) Consultation Plan; tender document has been distributed on behalf of MCC and Devauden, St Arvans, Tintern, Trellech United CCs – submission deadline 27.07.2020 d. Steering Group i. ADVENTA program; contact has been established with MCC Deserie Mansfield who is willing to assist along with colleague Ryan Coleman. ii. MCC Welsh Church Fund has awarded £1000 for items and repairs to KGF Playground. iii. Lottery Fund application to be re-submitted. e. SA Community Competition - Best Front Garden/Hanging Baskets 2020: judging in August with final decision 11.08.20, announcement of winners in September; rules same as 2019.

2007.10 COMMUNICATIONS a. Website Accessibility Statement: small working party; Cllrs Banfield, Edwards, Farley and Howells to investigate quotes. b. items for Fiveways magazine and website: Community competition; advertise Round Robin further

2007.11 SACC VACANCY: application for co-option will be processed in line with Covid-19 regulations

2007.12 CORRESPONDENCE: miscellaneous email (unless otherwise indicated) correspondence received, noted and appended to minutes.

2007.13 DATE OF NEXT ORDINARY MEETINGS MS Teams Virtual meeting arranged for Tuesday 11th August at 7pm Future meeting dates: 8th Sept; 13th Oct; 10th Nov; 8th Dec

Working Party Thurs 30th July 2020 10am: Finance, Planning, Highways and ERAG – Chair to confirm time slot of each; agendas to follow

CORRESPONDENCE APPENDED TO MINUTES 14/07/20 03.06.20 MCC Press Release: Perfect Time to Foster (digital version poster 03.07.20) 03.06.20 Wye Valley AONB: Funding available to Councils for Environmental projects 05.06.20 OVW World Environment Day - New Funds for Nature: National Forest Community Woodland Grant Fund AND Local Places for Nature Capital Fund 05.06.20, 12.06.20 and 26.06.20 Welsh Gov – various consultations 05.06.20 Welsh Gov – Natural Resources bulletin 09.06.20 MCC Press Release: Spotlight shines on amazing Carers for Carers Week 2020 12.06.20 Welsh Gov – GWLAD Newsletter (Top story: Rural Payments Wales [RPW] Statement on Coronavirus [Covid-19]) 12.06.20 Gwent Police: Do you know the signs of Elder abuse? (Gwent Police & Crime Commissioner is urging residents to learn how to spot the signs of physical, emotional, and financial abuse of older people) 15.06.20 Glasdon UK: Minimise litter, control dog waste and help keep open spaces safe 16.06.20 MCC Press Release: Riverbank litter poses problems for volunteer campaigners 16.06.20 MCC Press Release: Multi-million redevelopment proposals unveiled for Caldicot Leisure Centre 16.06.20 NSPCC Childhood Day 26th June 2020 16.06.20 One Lottery: Has your fundraising adapted to the new normal? (for Charities and Voluntary groups regards launching their own fundraising lottery) 18.06.20 MCC email: Reopening our High Streets (addressed to Town and Community Councillors) 19.06.20 OVW e-bulletin (June 2020): Chief Executive’s update, new Environmental Grants, Council of the Month 19.06.20 Gwent Well-being Champions Coronavirus (Covid-19) Newsletter, edn. 11, 12th June 2020 23.06.20 MCC Covid-19 Emergency Restrictions (Chepstow) 23.06.20 MCC Press Release: Council launches new “Request & Collect” library service 24.06.20 MCC Press Release: Birth Registrations given green light 26.06.20 MHA – introducing Project Liaison Officer Forge Gardens Wall re-build 26.06.20 Welsh Gov – GWLAD Newsletter (Top story: Dairy Support Scheme) 29.06.20 MCC Press Release: County offers informal fostering information service 29.06.20 MCC Press Release: County takes steps to welcome visitors back to Monmouthshire 29.06.20 MCC Covid-19 Emergency Restrictions (Tintern) 30.06.20 Welsh Church Fund (Monmouthshire): KGF application successful - £1000 awarded 30.06.20 Vision ICT – does our website meet Accessibility requirements for September 2020 regs? 30.06.20 Monmouthshire County Citizens Advice: Section 137 Funding request 30.06.20 Give Dog Fouling the Red Card – invitation to MS-Teams virtual meeting Thurs 9th July 01.07.20 OVW: Welsh Gov Electoral Newsletter June 2020 02.07.20 RoSPA Play Safety Inspection Report 02.07.20 Chepstow Racecourse – Behind Closed Doors fixture list (June, July, August 2020) 06.07.20 OVW: Julie James (Minister for Housing and Local Government) letter to Local Council colleagues re post-Covid 19 recovery plan “our future Wales” 06.07.20 Welsh Gov regarding Virtual Town Hall 15th July 2020 08.0720 MCC Wye Valley Villages (AONB) Project – request for tendering