1896. COYCHURCH LOWER COMMUNITY COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 10th October 2019, Williams Memorial Hall

PRESENT – Cllr Penelope Gwilliam (Chair), Cllr Philip Davies, Cllr Jayne Brace, Cllr Robert Hyde, Cllr Helen Evans, Cllr Kate Lloyd, Cllr Norman Griffiths and the Ms M. Thomas (Clerk)

1896. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Cllr Venables (conflicting appointment at the school)

1897. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - None

1898. COYCHURCH PAVILION AND PLAYING FIELD A representative from BCBC outlined the current status and condition of the Coychurch Pavilion and Playing Field. The area is no longer available for development as it forms a part of the required percentage of green space that the village should have. The pavilion has been locked as it is deemed unsafe and there will be a survey undertaken early in 2020 to determine what works will be necessary to bring it back into operation. BCBC will be cutting the grass 4 times through the season in 2020. BCBC is moving to a full cost recovery system of charging for groups using their facilities which could greatly impact local sports groups. 2 sports groups in Brackla have expressed interest in, together, taking a 35 year lease under the County Council’s Capital Asset Transfer scheme. It was agreed that a meeting will be arranged between BCBC, Coychurch Lower Community Council and the sports groups involved at the pavilion to discuss a way forward that will be beneficial to the all interested parties. The representative from BCBC also provided some contact details of possible sources of funding for community councils for improvements to pavilions and community halls and sources of funding available to sports groups for pitch maintenance/development. The Chairman thanked the representative from BCBC for their time and input to the Council’s deliberations. When the representative from BCBC left the council considered various options and levels of involvement. It was decided to see what comes from the meeting at the pavilion and progress from there.

1899.CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC There were no members of the public present.

Page 1 of 4 Initials: ______1896. COYCHURCH LOWER COMMUNITY COUNCIL

1900. RATIFY THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING ON 8th October 2019 These had been circulated previously. It was proposed, seconded, and agreed unanimously that the minutes be approved and they were signed by the Chairperson.

1901. RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT  Asset Transfer: Awaiting the Head Lease from Bridgend CBC legal department.  Defibrillator: New defibrillator now sited at the east corner of the junction of Meadow Close and Main Road.  The dog bin for Duffryn Close has been ordered and we are awaiting an update from BCBC.  Festive Lights for December 2019. These have been fitted to lamp posts in Coychurch Main Road and in Waterton Close, Waterton. All switched on and working. The tree at the west end of the village has also been decorated.

1902. TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS The following planning applications had been received and previously circulated to councillors:

APPLICATIONS P/19/891/RES - Robert Hitchins Ltd Location: Land at Central Park off Western Avenue Bridgend Industrial Estate CF31 3TY Proposal: Reserved matters to P/16/358/OUT (amended by P/19/761/NMA) for a new industrial unit (B1, B2, B8 uses) P/19/782/FUL - Mr P Brocklehurst, 11 Duffryn Close Coychurch CF35 5TA Proposed ground floor rear extension to extend kitchen & dining room

P/19/684/FUL - Mr D Aston, 7 Glebeland Close Coychurch CF35 5HE Proposed Porch to front side of garage; change existing flat roof of garage to pitched roof

COMMENTS – None received OBJECTIONS – None received

1903. TO RECEIVE THE FOOTPATHS REPORT Cllr Davies explained that a meeting had been held with BCBC Footpaths Dept. to discuss the proposed route of the Coychurch Circular Walk. The diversion on one of the Rights of Way is not now being implemented so the route can be confirmed as proposed. The Clerk will check with BCBC whether the BCBC or the landowner will be responsible for repairing/replacing the gate.

Page 2 of 4 Initials: ______1896. COYCHURCH LOWER COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Another walk of the route will be organised soon to finalise a detailed route description, check on accessibility and take photos for the pamphlet. The Clerk has received a detailed contribution from a resident about the properties that the walkers will pass on Main Road. The Clerk will provide photographs to BCBC of 2 stiles and a kissing gate that need repair/replacement.

1904. TO RECEIVE THE CRIME REPORT Summary of the crime information from the South Wales Police for Coychurch Lower ward: a slight decrease overall.

September 2019 October 2019 All crime 12 18 Anti-social behaviour 0 0 Bicycle theft 0 0 Burglary 0 1 Criminal damage and arson 2 3 Drugs 1 2 Other crime 1 2 Other theft 0 0 Possession of weapons 1 0 Public order 2 2 Robbery 0 0 Shoplifting 1 1 Theft from the person 0 0 Vehicle crime 1 1 Violence and sexual offences 3 6

Source: Website: https://www.police.uk/south-wales/W05000898/crime/+cc32O9/

2 events in Coychurch village (1 criminal damage/arson, 1 public order), 1 shoplifting on the Retail Quarter, 2 events on Waterton Lane (1 violence/sexual and 1 “other”), the rest on the trading and industrial estates.

1905. TO APPROVE THE SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2019 The Schedule of Payments for October/November 2019 was reviewed. It was proposed, seconded and agreed unanimously that the Schedule of Payments be approved and it was signed by the Chairperson.

Page 3 of 4 Initials: ______1896. COYCHURCH LOWER COMMUNITY COUNCIL

THE PRECEPT FOR 2020-21 1906. TO RESOLVE TO VARY THE CURRENT PRECEPT BUDGET The proposal to vary the current precept so that remaining money can be used to purchase some of the capital items required for 2020-21 was proposed, seconded and agreed unanimously.

1907. TO AGREE THE BCBC PRECEPT FOR 2020-21 The variance of the current precept budget enables the council to keep the BCBC precept increase to a minimum and still progress the actions presented at the Resident’s meeting in November. The council also has some accrued funds from previous years, some of which will be used this year and in the budget for 2020-21. The precept request to BCBC for 2020-21 will then be £26,155 an increase of 2.8%. It was proposed, seconded and agreed unanimously that the precept request for 2020-21 be £26,155.

1908. RECEIVE MATTERS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE PUBLIC – None present

1909. RECEIVE MATTERS BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCILLORS  Grit Bin, Meadow Close, is full of water and the grit will be unusable. The Clerk will follow up the request for action with BCBC Highways.  Speeding traffic and volume of traffic on Main Road while roadworks are happening on the A473. A template letter has been provided for residents who wish to make representation to the police about dangerous parking. This is available from the Clerk.  Despite providing dog waste bins throughout the village there has been a marked increase in dog faeces on the pavement, particularly on Main Road. Dog faeces carry viruses that are harmful to human health and wildlife. Children going to and from school are particularly at risk on dark evenings. It was suggested that a name and shame approach may now be the only way to encourage people to pick up after their dog.

1910. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be on Tuesday March 10th 2020 at 7pm 1911. The meeting closed at 8.34pm

Signed by the Chairperson: ______Date: ______

Page 4 of 4 Initials: ______