05.2017

council The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Llanover community 8 May 2Ol7 at 7'30 p'm' held at the Llanddewi Rhydderch Yillage Hall on Monday

Present:- A Letton, Mrs M Shooter Mr G Thomas (in the chair), county councillor Sara Jones, Mrs (Clerk) and Messrs R Evans, J Vater, R Adam and H Candler

Apologies:- Tod eiologi., for absence were received from Messrs I Tweddle and J

Neighbourhood Policing:- Policing Team' but the There was no attendance bly ,"pt"r"ntatives of the Neighbourhood Crime Report for March hadpreviously been circulated by the Clerk'

Declarations of Interest- It was agreed that these be raised as and when appropriate'

Chair's Reportl- He-was also thanked by The Chair circulated his written Report. See attached on page 15' her work. cllr. Adam took the opportunity to say county councillor Jones for his suPPort for that Cilr. Thomas had been an excellent and hard working Chair.

Election of Chair and. Yice-Chair for 2017/18:- Evans that c}lr. Tweddle be the chair It was proposed by cllr. Adam and seconded by cllr. that he would accePt the post' for the coming year. Although he was absent it was assumed

that cllr- Thomas should be It was proposed by cllr. shooter and seconded by cllr. Letton Vice-Chair for the coming Year.

absence of Cllr' Tweddle' It was also agreed that Cllr. Thomas Chair this meeting in the

Minutes:- on Monday 3 April 2017 The minutes of the previous meeting held at Llanfair Kilgeddin Hall were approved by the meeting and signed by the Acting Chair'

Matters Arising:- i (i) Llanover l\+O47 through Llanover ClIr. Evans reported that following th* resurfacing of the the following matters remained to be dealt with:- . , Extension of white lines r Plastic netting tarmacadamed into pavement a Pavement needs sweeping a Dropped kerb by junction with Tre-Elidyr a Kerb stones damaged at top of entrance to Ty Uchaf

Cllr. Evans confirmed that former Councillor Nevill had written about these matters to the representatives of the Contractor and SEWTRA on 10 April but a reply was still awaited. The Clerk will chase for a reply.

The Clerk had not yet been able to contact Jan Aitken to chase him to liaise with Rev. John Collier over the construction of railings on the slope of the footpath leading to St Bartholomew' s Church.

With regard to the proposed new streetlight by the junction of the A+0+2 and the entrance to Tre-Elidlr County Cllr. Jones reported that she had chased Roger Hoggins who had promised to write to SEWTRA to request a connection with the electricity located along the side of the road. She will also urrite to the Clerk and Cllr. Evans to suggest some times and dates for a meeting on site to discuss the location of the proposed streedight. The Clerk reminded County Cllr- Jones that another issue was who would pay. He confirmed that t}is Council felt that a streetlight should have been erected at this iocation when the streetlight system was first erected so that the cost should not fall upon the Community Council.

The Clerk read out a letter received ftom Tom Jones, the Resident Agent to the Llanover Estate, with regard to the problems of parking in Llanover Village and particulariy at the Hummingbird Caf6. Mr Jones had agreed that there was a need for additional parking but that there were "issues about responsibility, lighting, healt} and safety, ongoing maintenance, litter removal and policing". County Cllr. Jones confirmed that she had had a meeting with Mr. Jones at which these issues had been discussed. Cllr. Shooter felt that Mr. Jones was making th" issue too complicated. County Cllr. Jones said that she will be discussing the matter with the Tourism Department of Mon. CC. ClIr. Shooter mentioned that funds might be made available through Destination Management Strategy. It seems that the Llanover Estate is not hrppy for its Business Park to be used as a tourists' car park on weekends. The Acting Chairman pointed out t}at Llanover as a Model Viilage is a Grade II listed village which is a draw to tourists. Cllr. Evans then pointed out areas of difference of opinion between the Estate and the Village Hall Committee over car parking in the village. It was felt that the issue of car parking in the village was one which was not likely to be easily resolved.

(ii) Llanfair Kilgeddin There was no news about the proposed development of the School Field at the former Llanfair Kilgeddin Church in Wales School.

It was reported that the Police and in particular a Speed Camera van and supporting

10 Police motorcyclists had been in action over the Easter weekend and subsequently. Not surprisingly the Police blitz had been broadcast through the Biker network and there had been less bikes on the road. County Cllr. Jones reported t}at the County Council were keen to prevent anti-social behaviour by road users and particularly motorcyclists. Cllr. Adam regretted that no traffic calming measures had been introduced, as had occurred in Dorset, Wiltshire, Surrey and Hampshire.

(iii) General The Cierk reported that he had been expecting Mike Powell of the RDP to attend this meeting to discuss both Village Hal} Digital Inclusion and Fast Broadband coverage. Former CIlr. Nevill attended the early part of the meeting atd helpfully read out an Update on the Village Ha1l's Digital lnclusion Project. See page 17.

Mike Powell has agreed to attend the next meeting on 5 June, by which time it wili be known if both the Leader and RCDF applications have been finally approved.

With regard to Fast Broadband coverage County Cllr. Jones reported on the TV White Space Trial which had recently taken place on 10 properties in Llanarth. She also reported on the meeting of t}e Economy Select Comrnittee of Mon. CC which had been attended by representatives of tlle Welsh Assembly. They had been unable to answer questions put to them concerning the fact that there was only 72Yo coverage in Monmouthshire instead of the promised 95o/o. The relevant Minister will be summoned to a further meeting of the Economy Select Committee. Also, County Cllr. Jones said that she will arrange another meeting to be attended by BT in Llanover. BT have said that the wiring etc in Llanover is a "big mess" and they plan to sort it out. Cllr. Shooter said that BT were inefficient, in particular by not recording where connections were located in order to help the succession of BT operatives who need to find them. It was also reported t}at AB Internet Limited was likely to be dissolved, in which case there would be an inquiry into the waste of puL,lic money which had occurred through this company's failure to improve Fast Broadband coverage in Monmouthshire.

Mr Nevill said that he will attend the June meeting for the discussion on Village Hall Digital Inclusion and Fast Broadband coverage. He was thanked for attending this meeting.

The Clerk reported that he had received a letter of thanks from St David's Hospice Care for this Council's donation of t50. The letter stated that last year St David's had cared for over 3300 patients and t}eir families/carers.

Community items:- (i) Llanover Cllr. Shooter reported that there had been further fly tipping in her area recently. A settee, chair and lavatory bowl had been dumped on the C10.7. She had Tported 11 \\ ( qlrnsr this incident to Mon. CC's Environment Department and the items dumped were removed within two days.

Cllr. Evans reported that the blocked road drain reported in February had not yet been cleared. In the same iocation, i.e. between 14 and 16 Tre-Elidyr at the entrance to a grass path down to Swing Field, the metal cover of one manhole has been broken and the cement round the other manhole has broken up.

Cllr. Shooter reported that she was hoping to meet Andrew Welsh of Mon. CC's Highways Department on site to fiscuss issues in Upper Llanover. County Cllr. Jones reported that she too was also chasing Mr Welsh. The issues referred to are earth dumped on the C10.1 and drainage from the C10.1 onto Hendre Glyn Farm with the consent of Mr Alan Williams.

(ii) Llanfair Kilgeddin The Acting Chair reported that work had recently been carried out on the sewerage plant. He feared that this might be preliminary to a planning application for a housing development adjacent to Gethin Place.

Cllr. Letton said that the road drains on St. Mary's Hill will need cleaning out before the Spring rains come. County Cllr. Jones said that she will chase for the Consultant's Report on surface water drainage which is still awaited.

(iii) Llangattock-nigh-Usk Cllr. Adam reported that John Denton had recently been appointed a new Director of The Bryn Trading Post Limited. He said that the Trading Post is surviving. However, the Post Office had been slow about getting their outreach programme working to replace the former Sub Post O{fice.

Cllr. Adam reported that last year The Bryn and District Oil Club had saved its members (present number 55) an average of S,185 per annum through bulk ordering of oil. However, he said that more members would bri.g greater benefits. He also said that The Bryn Village Hall was going from strength to strength with regular Petanque sessions and other social events.

Correspondence:- (i) General The Clerk referred to correspondence which had previously been circulated including the following:

l' I.tffiflT:,*'*'ffi and New Drivers, res,s and Village of the Year Competition,"":-,;. ";,,"-es road closure at Llanfair Kilgeddin, a proposed meeting on the Velothon (Cllr. Shooter complained that the

L2 Velothon organisers had not done what they had agreed to do. They had been to Llanfoist and Usk. She asked County Cllr. Jones to arrange a second Public Meeting in Llanover);

(b) from One Voice Wales, training on new Councillor Induction and Code of Conduct, on WEFO Priority 3 Call for Small Scale Community Energy Proposals, Social media policy template (it was agreed that this item be further considered at the June meeting since Community Counciis are required to have a social media policy where one is necessary, letter from Auditor General.

The Clerk referred to the following correspondence which had not been circulated; (.) from former County Councillor and Abergavenny Town Councillor Doug Edwards, an emaii addressed to all Town and Community Councillors in North Monmouthshire suggesting that the North Monmouthshire Liaison Committee be amalgamated with Cluster Meetings, i.e. include representatives of Mon. CC. (The Clerk gave his view that this would not be a good idea because the benefit of NMLC meetings is that it allows local Councils to discuss issues where there might be conflict with Mon. CC. He himself gave the view that there was no real point in having Cluster meetings as well as the proposed Bryn-y-Cwm (Abergavenny and District) Area Committee meetings. The Acting Chair, who had attended NMLC meetings during the past year, agreed with the Clerk. Accordingll, the Clerk will write to other local Town and Community Council Clerks for their view on the issue).

Finances:- The meeting approved payment of the following invoices:

ICO (Data protection registration renewal) ,35.00

Samantha McDona1d-Elliott (secretarial services during February and March s103.05 2017)

G Thomas Erq. (reimbursement of payment for purchase of bars of L+l.5+ Chairman's badge of oflice plus engraving)

Planning The Acting Chairman reported on the outcome of the following planning application:

Application No. Description of application DC/2017 /01310 Glamping site at Llanfair Kilgeddin. The Acting Chairman had attended the Plu*irg Committee

13 t\ t1 =*^^ meeting on 25 April at which this application had been approved overwhelmingly. One member of the public, the Architect Glyn Buckle, had not been allowed to speak against the application because he had not given the appropriate notice. County Cllr. Jones had not been able to attend because the meeting had been brought forward from May so that it could be dealt with before the County Council elections. She had sent a Statement of her objectfons and requested that it be read out but this had not happened. She had received an apology for this regrettable error ftom the Head of Planning. The Acting Chair had spoken at the meeting and objected to the application but the four minutes of time allotted had not been enough for him to expand upon his objections.

Reports'.- (i) The Acting Chair reported the meeting of the Newport Area Committee of One Voice Wales which he had recently attended. There had been a presentation by the new Police Commissioner. 600/o of current crime in Monmouthshire was cyber crime. The Commissioner had said that speed cameras had been successful though he and the Community Council representative covering the Liangybi had reported on the use of safety camera vans in their area. The Acting Chair had said that this Council was still waiting for a site for the location of a safety camera van to be agreed and prepared as promised by County Councillor Brian Jones who lived locally and was the Cabinet member responsible for Highways.

AOB:- (i) The Clerk reported that former Cllr. Lesley Ball agreed to continue to operate tJre Council's website and did not want any pafment for this. The Clerk will thank her for agreeing to continue this arrangement even though she is no longer a Community Councillor.

(ii) The meeting approved Cllr. Adam's proposal to nominate Alison Denton of The Bryn Village, who is a secondary school teacher and previously a member of Rogerstone Cornmunity Council to replace former Cllr. Christian Brown as the representative of the Llangattock-nigh-Usk Ward. He will bring her to the next meeting so that she can see how this Council operates.

The next meeting of this Council will take place on 5 June 2A17 at the Sir John Herbert Memorial Hall at 7.30 pm

\ 6 6-t1 L4 d* CHAIRMANS REPORT 2016.2017

M:ty 2017

Another year has quickly passed ending with community and council elections for a new 5 year term . At the end of this new term the landscape under which we now operate will have vastly changed with the assembly currently consulting and reviewing the role and reform of community councils, this to include haining of clerks and councillors,more department led accountibility, possible clustering of rural councils making it more difficult for those who give their time freely to support and represent our sometimes isolated rural communities, Llanover Community Council has been fortunate to have as councillors experienced advocates of local issues each bringing their own unique skill set to enhance all ow council meetings. Unfortunately Lesley Ball, Christian Brown andAndrewNevill have not sought re-election for the new term and their experience, knowledge and commitment in representing their wards will be greatly missed. \.v We have sometimes been successful in ensuring that some of the major concerns in our rural ward are addressed as part of their statuatory duties by the county council e.g road maintenance ,but there are still many issues that we still press for. After intensive lobbying of the Highways Agency the trunk road A4042 through Llanover has now been resurfaced (to the relief of the residents of llanover village) but the noise pollution from the fast A40 still remains despite repeated promises from the WelshAssembly of instillation of Whisper Thrmac to reduce traffic noise. Dealing with contentious planning applications is always difficult with the frustration at some of the planning committees decisions always an issue for ourselves as is the long awaited publication of the assembly funded report into causes and a possible solution to the flooding issue in Llanfair Kilgeddin village which, without emergency action by several villagers would result in regular flooding of several properties. Despite the 50mph speed limit installed on the R64 and 84598 antisocial driving by some motorists is still a major concem. In July a workparty of councillors well organised by Roy Evans tackled and cleaned up some large bramble thickets in Llanover churchyard which enhanced the appearance of the church to visitors particulary those visiting the grave we maintain of the celebrated harpist John Jones. !v InAugust the National Eistedford Of Wales being held inAbergavenny used several sites in our area to provide free parking and transport which allowed visitors to appreciate the beauty of our ward. I am gratefull to our recently retired councillor Andrew Nevill for his enthusiastic advocacy in applying to the Rural Community Development Fund to equip our four village halls with superfast broadband for the benefit of each community, several of which due to geographical and logistical reasons cannot access this needed infrastructure. He has offered to continue monitoring this application until succesfully installed. One of our continuing causes for concern has been the effect of the annual Velathon which continues to disrupt and frustrate residents with its apparent lack of planning and disregard that the closure and restriction on several roads cause. : One of my more pleasant duties as Chairman was representing the council at the Llanover village Remberance Day service and laying a wreath on behalf of our council in recognition of the sacrifice of all service personnel who gave their lives for our country. I have been very fortunate to have our vastly experienced clerk Hugh Candler to advise, smoothly run our council meetings and prod me to represent our council at the nt.merous meetings that I have attended and supported whilst gaining experience and knowledge of local government and

wta how other Community councils deal with concems and issues similar to ourselves . Many people do not recognise that in our County Councillor Sara Jones we have a very strong supporter of our council and ward and I am very gratefrill as I am certain my fellow councillors are in the amount of time and enthusiasm she demonstrates in dealing with our many problems in the ward. I end by thanking you for the support I have enjoyed in my term as Chairman and wish the new Chairman good fortune in dealing with representing Llanover Community Council in the forthcoming term of office

Graham Thomas

@- \\b N\ LLANOVER WARD

VILLAGE HALLS DIGITAL INCLUSION PROJECT

UPDATE TO LLANOVER COMMUNITY COUNCIL: MONDAY MAY 8TH 2017 PREVIOUS UPDATE:

PROJECT STATUS: 1, LEADER 2. RCDF

LEADER o APPROVALS STATUS o The LAG is in the process of commenting on the application. The threshold for approval is 50%. We are currently at 80% . Mike Powell is leaving the online up until may 5th with a further 5 days to get the LAG votes through. o Mike Powell of MCC has met with a community group in Devauden who have managed to get BB into their village hall. By all accounts this is making a huge difference to the viability of the hall. AN is seeking to meet with the hall representatives to find out more . PROGRAMME o Report to LCC June mtg with approvals and programme in place

RCDF o APPROVALS STATUS o Andy Smith, external funding officer, of MCC is awaiting response from Welsh Government enquiry on some governance points. This should be imminent o PROGRAMME o Report to LCC June mtg with approvals and programme in place

ACTIVITY : May-June

. AN to meet MP to progress applications , to formulate programme and fi naces, review offer letter hopefu lly . AN to go to meet Devauden community hall representatives . AN to meet village hall committees to provide updates on project . Develop report to the LCC for Jurie 5th meeting

1+ Llanover Community Council

Payments approved at meeting on 8 May 2017

ICO (Data protection registration renewal) ,35.00

Samantha McDonald-Elliott (secretarial services during February and March €,103.06 2017)

G Thomas Erq. (reimbursement of payment for purchase of bars of L+l.54 Chairman's badge of o{fice plus engraving)

18 BUDGET - Comparison with Actual at 31 March 2016

INCOME

Budget Actual (excl Comments on any vAr) discrepancy over lV/o

Burial fees 700 no burial fees in year is very surprising but not in control of Council Precept 1 1,500 1 1500 OUTGOINGS

Clerk's salary 2,3+A 2,925 One invoice puid twice. Awaiting refund,

Clerk's secretarial and expenses 600 963 Change of Secretary during year and now paid by hour lnsurance 650 5+t Donations and sponsorship Some donations from the General & CAB 900 1 350 previous year were credited and some of tlis year's donations \lrere not yet cre&ted Primary School Sports 150 52 likely contribution over estimated Eisteddfod 150 150 Churchyard maintenance 1,400 1,400 Chairman's allowance 500 s00 Course fees 100 17.50 only one course attended Data Protection Renewal fee 35 35 Hire of halls 150 375 Amount p"id includes one invoice for 9 meetings in 3 previous years Noticeboard repairs 2s0 Work done but no invoice received till after March meeting New streetlight at Llanover 1,500 Order not yet placed Mon. CC - Grass cutting 220 212 - Streetlighting 1,300 1,485 Internal and external audit fees 3s0 395 Miscellaneous 3,000 1,3+9 Less call on reserves than anticipated

L9 \\