KIDWELLY TOWN COUNCIL 10th JANUARY 2012 At the meeting of the FULL COUNCIL held at the Princess Gwenllian Centre, Kidwelly on Tuesday, 10th January 2012 at 6.30pm. Present:- Town Mayor J.Gilasbey Deputy Mayor S.Finch Councillors: H.Gilasbey, J.Lane, B.Huws, T.Burns, D.Jones, K.Davies R.Thomas, R.Davies, A.Jenkins, G.G.Jones Town Clerk Geraint Thomas Project Officer Maria McGerty Town Secretary Anna Padgett Apologies:- Councillors F. Burke-Lloyd Rev Roger Morley-Jones offered prayers prior to the commencement of business. The Mayor presented Mr Wyn Smith with his Certificate of Achievement. 473 MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Minute 493 {4} Councillor S.Finch left the room. Councillor B.Huws has resigned as a director of the Kidwelly Heritage Trust. 474 POLICING MATTERS Inspector James Davies attended. A written report for December 2011 had been circulated:- 26 crimes – 9 detected. 157 crimes to date compared to 218 for the same time period last year. This shows a considerable reduction in reported crime in the area. One arrest has been made for criminal damage to motor vehicles. Investigations are on-going. th The next PACT meeting will be on 18 January 2012. 475 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES AND POLICIES It was RESOLVED that the following minutes be confirmed:- • Full Council 6th December 2011 • General Purposes Committee 6th December 2011 • Estates Committee 13th December 2011 • Finance Committee 13th December 2011 • Establishment Committee 20th December 2011 Matters arising from the Full Council meetings of 6th December 2011 476 HERITAGE TOWN It had previously been RESOLVED to support, in principle, the establishment of a Heritage Town Strategy and other associated items. The purpose of the Trust is to nurture, restore, renovate and regenerate the historic heritage of Kidwelly as a heritage Town. Initially there are to be 2 projects, Kidwelly Town Hall and the launch of a Townscape Heritage initiative. 101 477 COMMUNITY HALLS Canolfan Tywysoges Gwenllian ~ Princess Gwenllian Centre The Mayor’s Charity Pantomime on 5th January 2012 was a success. Forthcoming events:- 14th January 2012 – Cor Meibion Dyffryn Tywi concert, 21st Jaunary 2012 – Burns Night, 28th January 2012 – Kidwelly’s Got Talent. Neuadd Mynyddygarreg ~ Mynyddygarreg Hall The heating is now working. Andrea Gower and Avril Davies are now Booking Secretaries. A website is being constructed. A list of hall requirements has been made. The question of VAT on the Christmas Lights was referred to the Finance Committee. 478 CYDWELI 900 The Civic Society has confirmed that the name for the proposed celebrations should be Cydweli 900. It requested that the Town Council be the lead body for the event as it does not have the resources needed. Lord Rowlands will be asked whether he wishes to be involved, as he was chair of the Society when Cydweli 900 was launched. It was previously RESOLVED that a joint committee be set up to oversee the event. Organisations, interested individuals and members of the public will be invited to participate. 479 COUNCIL OFFICES The Town Clerk informed members that he had been presented with a petition requesting the council to withdraw “The Pelican” from sale and return the council offices to 2 Bridge Street. Councillor B.Huws stated that in view of the lottery rejection of Phase 2, all options regarding the location of the council offices should be considered at this meeting before the Council makes any decision to accept or reject the offer for the Pelican. The Town Clerk requested the meeting go into camera because of the commercially sensitive nature of the matter he had to report. It was RESOLVED to go into camera. He reported that an offer to purchase 2 Bridge Street had been made. He stated the price offered. It was RESOLVED to go out of camera to continue the discussion, providing that the amount of the offer and details of the proposed purchaser were not disclosed at this time. It was noted that the offer was in excess of the valuation made by the District Valuer. It was also noted that the proposed usage of the building would bring employment to the town. It was RESOLVED to sell the property at 2 Bridge Street, Kidwelly. The vote was recorded as follows:- FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN J.Gilasbey S.Finch B.Huws A.Jenkins R.Thomas D. Jones J.Lane H.Gilasbey T.Burns G.G.Jones K.Davies R.Davies The Town Clerk will consider options for the future location of the council offices. 480 CORRESPONDENCE – MAY 2011 4 Lady Dena The Local Government Ombudsman for Wales has reported that there is no case to Lloyd Waterford answer. Note and Close this item. 481 TOWN TOILETS The Town Clerk reported that the toilets on the square had a stay of execution until March 2013 with 3 months notice to close given in January 2013. The Town Clerk, Mayor, County Councillor K.Davies and Councillor R.Davies have met with an officer of the county council and considered the issues of cleanliness and early closing of the toilets during the week. There could be a financial incentive provided if the town council would take over the opening of the toilets at weekends. The county council will carry out a risk assessment. 102 482 QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE Notice has been received by the Electoral Services Manager at Carmarthenshire County Council with regards to the lighting of beacons to celebrate the event. It was RESOLVED to light a beacon on Mynydd y Garreg mountain. Estimated costs will be obtained and advice sought from the Fire Service. 483 CORRESPONDENCE –OCTOBER 2011 2 Letters from Four letters regarding the conduct of Councillor B.Huws had been received. The Town the public clerk informed members that the council was not in a position to take action on this matter. He will inform the complainants of this and notify them that they have the right to take their complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman for Wales. Note and Close this item. 484 PROJECT OFFICER’S REPORT Kidwelly Quay – The Project Officer presented the updated project design for Phase 2. Environment Agency – It was RESOLVED to permit the agency to carry out work to clear the banks of the canal. Part of the project also involves land owned by the county council. Environmental Projects – The Project Officer is working with Councillor Ray Davies to prepare a discussion document outlining proposed environmental projects for the area. Phase 2 – The Steering Group has met to consider the rejection of the application for funding from the Big Lottery. The Project Officer has identified sources of alternative funding. WVSA – Marketing the Gaps – The Project Officer gave a presentation, updating progress on leaflets, panels and planning. It was RESOLVED to accept the amendments and proceed with the leaflets. 485 REPORTS; SCHOOL GOVERNORS, YOUTH COUNCIL, OTHER REPRESENTATIVES Ysgol y Castell - The Newsletter was circulated. It was noted that a pupil from the school was first in the Christmas card competition. Ysgol Mynydd y Garreg – no report was available. Ysgol Gwenllian – The new headteacher commenced work in January 2012. The Newsletter was circulated 486 MAYOR’S DIARY DATE APPOINTMENT Wednesday 4th January 2012 Environment Agency meeting 10.30am Thursday 5th January 2012 Peter Pan – Mayor’s Pantomime 6.30pm Monday 9th January 2012 Kidwelly Welfare Committee 6.00pm Monday 9th January 2012 Mynydd y Garreg Hall meeting 7.30pm Tuesday 10th January 2012 Full Council, General Purposes Policy & Strategy Committees 6.30pm Wednesday 11th January 2012 CCC Highways meeting 10.30am Wednesday 11th January 2012 PGC Phase 2 steering group 4.30pm Thursday 12th January 2012 Kidwelly Partnership 10.00am Saturday 14th January 2012 Concert – Dyffryn Tywi & Swindon Male Voice Choir 7.00pm Monday 16th January 2012 Town Forum 6.00pm Tuesday 17th January 2012 Estates and Finance Committees 6.30pm Wednesday 18th January 2012 PACT meeting 6.00pm Thursday 19th January 2012 CCC Quay meeting 10.00am Friday 20th January 2012 Kidwelly Industrial Museum 10.00am Saturday 21st January 2012 Burn’s Night 7.00pm Thursday 26th January 2012 PGC Trustees meeting 6.00pm Saturday 28th January 2012 Charity Knitathon – commencement of 24 hour event 1.00pm Sunday 29th January 2012 Charity Knitathon – closing of 24 hour event 1.00pm Note and Close this table. 103 487 FORTHCOMING MEETINGS DATE APPOINTMENT JANUARY 2012 Tuesday 10th January 2012 Full Council General Purposes Policy & Strategy Committees 6.30pm Thursday 12th January 2012 Kidwelly Partnership 10.00am Tuesday 17th January 2012 Estates and Finance Committees 6.30pm FEBRUARY 2012 Tuesday 7th February 2012 Full Council and General Purposes Committees 6.30pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 Estates and Finance Committees 6.30pm Note and Close this table 488 E BOOK FESTIVAL A three day ebook literary and arts event is planned beginning on 25th August 2012. It aims to encourage literacy in young people and promote new talent. It was envisaged that the castle and surrounding streets would provide a location for the events. However, it appears that the venue will now be Ffoslas Racetrack. The Town Clerk will clarify the details. 489 INFORMATION BOARDS The Town Forum has suggested that an information board be placed in the Town Square to enable residents to comment and make suggestions about key issues affecting the town. As the office window in Bridge Street will not be available as an information site, an alternative needs to be sought. It was agreed to look into the matter. Budget provision needs to be made. 490 TOWN FORUM SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT OFFICER The Town Forum has requested a meeting with the town council to discuss obtaining future funding for the Project Officer. This was agreed to and a meeting will be arranged to consider this.