Agenda Item 4 Minutes of the Bryn Y
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Agenda Item 4 Minutes of the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee Meeting held at Llanfair Kilgeddin Village Hall, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny on Wednesday 9th October 2013 at 2.00 p.m. PRESENT: County Councillor M. Hickman (Chairman) County Councillors: D.L. Edwards, G. Howard, S.G.M. Howarth, D.W.H. Jones, S. Jones, S.B. Jones, M. Powell and J.L. Prosser OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE: Mr. T. James - Bryn y Cwm Area Services Officer Mr. W. McLean - Head of Strategic Partnerships Mrs. D. Hill-Howells - Estates & Sustainability Manager Mr. R. Williams - Democratic Services Officer BRYN Y CWM COMMUNITY FORUM Mrs C.D. Edmondson - Chair Mr. R. Cole Mr. A. Michie TOWN / COMMUNITY COUNCILS Mr. C. Woodhouse - Abergavenny Town Council Mr. R. Adam - Chairman of Llanover Community Council INVITED GUEST Dr. D. Studdert - Cardiff University Five members of the public were in attendance. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 1.- Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors R.F. Chapman, R.G. Harris, R.P. Jordan, K. Williams and from Mrs. J. Barnes. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 2.- Declarations of interest are recorded under the relevant minute. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME 3.- The Chairman invited members of the public present to put questions to the Area Committee, or to raise issues of concern: Page 1 Agenda Item 4 Minutes of the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee Meeting held at Llanfair Kilgeddin Village Hall, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny on Wednesday 9th October 2013 at 2.00 p.m. Highways issues on the B4598 The Chairman of Llanover Community Council provided the Area Committee with details of vehicle incidents on the B4598 that have occurred and been recorded by the Community Council since 31st March 2013. The Chairman of the Community Council also provided the Area Committee with the following information: This information has never been undertaken before and no one previously has noted minor – not reported to the police – cases. Many of these incidents are extremely serious and it should be pointed out that others have occurred and have not been noticed or notified to the Area Committee. The Bryn y Cwm Area Committee created a sub-committee over three years ago but very little has been achieved to lessen the dangers of this road. There is a general trend that drivers are driving too fast for the road and the conditions, and in very minor cases with complete disregard for the law. The concern for the welfare of the community using the roads within the community, especially at weekends, has prompted Llanover Community Council and the local County Member to raise in six weeks a petition to reduce the speed limit to 50mph on the B4598. This was recently presented to full Council. The Community Council was pleased that a mandatory speed limit was being carried out near Llanfair Kilgeddin Primary School. There have also been two positive meetings with the Police Commissioner regarding policing the law on the following roads – Abergavenny to Usk B4598 and the minor roads to Raglan. The Community asked for the Area Committee’s support to install a mandatory speed limit to 50mph on these two dangerous roads to protect the community and to safeguard farming and hospitality industries. A large majority of the drivers that exceed the speed limit on these roads live outside Monmouthshire, e.g., Cambridge, the Midlands, London and the Bristol area. They have no social Page 2 Agenda Item 4 Minutes of the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee Meeting held at Llanfair Kilgeddin Village Hall, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny on Wednesday 9th October 2013 at 2.00 p.m. responsibility for this community and their leisure speeding activities are a concern to the whole community. Members considered that the evidence gathered by Llanover Community Council was excellent and expressed their support for the Community Council that the speed limit on the B4598 should be reduced to 50mph. It was noted that Inspector Rowland Giles has been invited to attend the next Area Committee meeting. We resolved that the petition, received at full Council recently, should be forwarded to the appropriate committee for consideration. Car Parking Charges A local resident asked the Area Committee whether any changes were being made to the current car parking charges within Monmouthshire, in particular, whether the changes might affect Blue Badge holders. The Chairman of the Economy and Development Select Committee stated that the Select Committee was awaiting a report on this matter which would be received in the coming weeks. We resolved that the Bryn y Cwm Area Services Officer writes the Cabinet Member, County Councillor P.A.D. Hobson, to bring this report to the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee when available. Monitoring of bats In response to a question raised by a local resident regarding the monitoring of bats, it was noted that currently there were no bats using the bat boxes at the slaughterhouse. However, this was being monitored by Morrisons. BRYN Y CWM AREA COMMITTEE MINUTES 4.- The minutes of the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee meeting dated 24th July 2013 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman subject to the following amendment: Shale Lorries – B4598, second paragraph of this item, page 3: Remove reference to Pontrilas Saw Mills. This matter refers to lorries holding soil at the new market site. The Head of Infrastructure, Networks and sustainability has spoken to the contractors regarding this matter. Page 3 Agenda Item 4 Minutes of the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee Meeting held at Llanfair Kilgeddin Village Hall, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny on Wednesday 9th October 2013 at 2.00 p.m. In receiving the minutes, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Environment, Public Services and Housing stated that there were no plans to close the libraries at Usk and Gilwern. BRYN Y CWM CASTLE MEADOWS TASK AND FINISH GROUP 5.- We received and noted the minutes of the Bryn y Cwm Castle Meadows Task and Finish Group dated 6th September 2013. In doing so, it was noted that the Y Fenni Bridge would be officially opened by the Mayor of Abergavenny Town Council on Saturday 19th October 2013. NEXT STEPS AND FUTURE PROGRESS OF THE BRYN Y CWM WHOLE PLACE PLAN 6.- We received a presentation by the Head of Strategic Partnerships regarding the next steps and future progress of the Bryn y Cwm Whole Place Plan. The Area Committee was provided with the following information. Current Position • Whole Place Plan – developed. • Vibrant and Viable Places Funding – outcome received. • Work undertaken within Monmouthshire County Council to align work to the Whole Place approach. • Next steps proposal – ideas developed. Vision – Abergavenny and District A vibrant market town with superb local environment that looks after everyone, offers quality of life experiences to all and welcomes visitors with open arms. Theme 1 Abergavenny Town Centre and the wider business environment. Theme 2 Making sure no one gets left behind. Page 4 Agenda Item 4 Minutes of the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee Meeting held at Llanfair Kilgeddin Village Hall, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny on Wednesday 9th October 2013 at 2.00 p.m. Theme 3 Strengthening Education and business links. Theme 4 Creating a sustainable settlement. The Whole Place approach is a new way of working involving public sector, local businesses and voluntary groups with an emphasis on collaboration, co-production, sharing responsibility and ownership. Traditional partnership structures and programme management approaches may not be fit for purpose. Opportunities and Developments • Borough Theatre – creation of a Trust. • Breakin’ Out Festival – 2nd year of success. • Park Street Project – community resource. • Gilwern Cycle Track / Centre – awarded funding. • Cycling Road Race Championships – finalists. • The Hill – development of a business plan. • Local Development Plan – final stages of approval. • Housing - 900 new homes, S106 money and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions. • Food tourism – Food Festival and Monmouthshire as Food Capital of Wales. • Brecon Beacons National Park – S106 money. Local Government Funding • The outlook is severe, is deteriorating and is very real. • Current financial modelling highlights a projected shortfall in excess of £9 million in 2014/15 rising to in excess of £23million by 2018/19. Page 5 Agenda Item 4 Minutes of the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee Meeting held at Llanfair Kilgeddin Village Hall, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny on Wednesday 9th October 2013 at 2.00 p.m. • If schools budgets were fully protected this would result in an average 28% reduction in all remaining budgets. • If schools and social services budgets were both protected this would result in an average 49% reduction in all remaining budgets. • Council services will either change, stop or be led by others going forward. What’s Important? • Action – it is critical that we all deliver a visible impact in the area. • Structure – one that allows all parties to participate in decision making and action. • Success – we can show our progress to auditors, grant funding bodies, own governance structures. • Openness and honesty – key stakeholders need to say what they can contribute, how and when. Existing Groups • Bryn-y-Cwm Area Forum (and its sub groups). • Bryn-y-Cwm Area Committee (and its sub groups). • Abergavenny Civic Society. • Abergavenny Business Club. • Transition Abergavenny. • Town and Community Councils. • Community Groups The Programme Board could • Take ownership of the vision and coordination of the activity. • Be responsible for driving the programme forward. • Monitor progress against outcomes. Page 6 Agenda Item 4 Minutes of the Bryn y Cwm Area Committee Meeting held at Llanfair Kilgeddin Village Hall, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny on Wednesday 9th October 2013 at 2.00 p.m. • Approve updates to the delivery plan. • Take a strategic view the work. • Ensure that projects are developed in a way that minimizes resources whilst ensuring maximum benefit.