Minutes of a Meeting of Aberaeron Town Council Held on Tuesday 9Th September 2014 at Committee s1
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF CYNGOR TREF ABERAERON HELD ON
TUESDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2016 AT COMMITTEE ROOM 2, MEMORIAL HALL, ABERAERON AT 7.00 pm
PRESENT: Councillor Rhys Davies (Chairman); Councillors Phillip Davies, Elizabeth Evans, Owenna James, David Jones and Eleri Thomas.
Mr Denfer Morgan, Clerk to the Council.
2037. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mair Harrison, Neris Lloyd and Thomas Williams.
2038. RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLOR AND FILLING OF VACANCIES
The Clerk reported the receipt of letter from Councillor Michael Welham resigning from the Council with immediate effect, due to work commitments.
The Clerk advised further that there were now three vacancies on the Council.
It was RESOLVED:
i) to thank Councillor Welham for his services to the Council; and
ii) to schedule the procedure for filling the three vacancies with the timetable for the EU Referendum in June.
2039. CHAIRMAN
In the absence of the Mayor, Councillor Thomas Williams, the meeting was chaired by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rhys Davies.
2040. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS
Councillors Phillip Davies, Rhys Davies, Elizabeth Evans, Owenna James, David Jones and Eleri Thomas disclosed a personal and prejudicial interest in the matter referred to in Minute 2044 b) below and took no further part in the matter.
2041. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 12th JANUARY
2016
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the monthly meeting held on 12th January 2016 and they were then signed as being a correct record by the Chairman.
2042. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
a) Minute 2033 – contribution to County Council services
Councillor Eleri Thomas referred to a sign displayed in the public toilets at Borth indicating that it was being supported financially by the Borth Community Council and suggested that the County Council be approached to enable similar signs to be placed in the South Beach Toilets and the TIC as it was a good way of acknowledging and publicising the contributions being made by this Council to maintaining the provision of facilities in Aberaeron and it was RESOLVED to request the Clerk to request the County Council accordingly.
b) Minute 2036 – Dredging of the River Aeron
It was RESOLVED to note the contents of a letter dated 21st January 2016 from Natural Resources Wales stating that the river was inspected once a year and that the last inspection had been undertaken in May 2015.
2043. FINANCE
It was RESOLVED:
i) to approve the following invoice for payment and cheques were later signed:-
D T Evans (Internal Auditor) £150
Ceredigion County Council (South Beach Toilets Contribution) £5070
Ceredigion County Council (Grass Cutting, Parc-y-fro) £2188.33
One Voice Wales Annual Subscription 2016-17 £228
ii) to defer consideration of the contribution to be made in respect of the use of Peniel Chapel vestry for the 2015 Community Christmas event for further investigation by the Clerk.
2044. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Consideration was given to the following two applications:-
a) Planning Application A151018. The Royal Oak, 30 North Road, Aberaeron. Re-configure existing toilet configuration and install new female toilets the interior of the building. Including relocation and handing of fire escape door to side elevation.
It was RESOLVED not to object to the application but to draw the attention of the Local Planning Authority the need to improve the provision of on-site facilities for storing bins.
b) Planning Application A160099 - Y Beudy, Lon y Felin, Lampeter Road, Aberaeron. Retention of: Lawful building works (4 years), lawful uses as a dwelling C3 (4 years), non compliance with a condition (10 years).
No observations as all Members present had disclosed a personal and prejudicial interest in the application and took no further part in the matter (see Minute 2040 above).
2045. TREE PRESERVATION ORDER (GALEN, ABERAERON)
Consideration was given to the Ceredigion County Council consultation on the proposed Tree Preservation Order in respect of two walnut trees at Galen, South Road, Aberaeron.
It was RESOLVED to support the Tree Preservation Order.
2046. USE OF SQUARE FIELD
It was RESOLVED to agree to the request for the use of Square Field for the Junior Football Festival during 30th April – 2nd May 2016.
2047. REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
It was RESOLVED not to consider any requests for financial assistance due to the increased demand being made on the Council to finance the provision of local services.
2048. ABERAERON TIC
Consideration was given to the request of Ceredigion County Council for a contribution of around £3000 in 2016-17 to support Sunday opening of the TIC. The Clerk reminded the Council that a sum of £2250 had been included in the budget.
It was RESOLVED to defer consideration of the request in order to seek an explanation for the increase in the amount being requested.
2049. CEREDIGION COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPT A PATH SCHEME
Consideration was given to the information received from the County Council with regard to a proposed Adopt a Path Scheme.
It was RESOLVED to note the information provided and await further details of any proposed scheme.
2050. NRW CONSULTATION
Consideration was given to the Natural Resources Wales Consultation on proposed Special Areas of Conservation for Harbour Porpoise and proposed and new and extended Special Protection Areas for Seabirds.
It was RESOLVED to support the proposals; and also to make representations to the Welsh Government opposing the proposals for the Proposed New Management Measures for the Scallop Fishery in Cardigan Bay currently out to consultation.
2051. TOWN NOTICE BOARD
It was agreed to await developments.
2052. PLANNING TRAINING
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk request Councillor Mair Harrison whether she wished to attend a planning training workshop for community and town councillors on Monday, 21st March at Canolfan Edward Richard Centre, Ystrad Meurig.
2053. DRAFT LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL 2015
The Clerk referred to the following main proposals with regard to town and community councils:-
· a new County Council comprising Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire
· the creation of ‘community councils with competence’
· the creation of ‘Community Area Committees’
· the review of town and community councils to be undertaken by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales
· compulsory training for community councillors and clerks.
It was RESOLVED to note the current position.
2054. REPORT OF COUNTY COUNCILLOR ELIZABETH EVANS
Councillor Evans referred to the following:
· County Council budget preparation: The Cabinet was recommending a 5% increase in Council Tax and the Member Workshops were continuing prior to the forthcoming Council meeting.
· a Traffic Management Committee meeting had been held recently when it was stated that there was no scheme being proposed as yet to regularise traffic use of the bottom of Rhiwgoch; it had been stated that the proposed one way scheme for Water Street was on hold due to lack of funds; and that there was no indication that the review of on-street parking would be commenced soon.
· A weather warning had been issued by the NRW in respect of the last high tide and residents along Quay Parade had been called upon that evening and advised to put their flood doors in place. The NRW was providing a one-off initiative to provide flood doors to householders who had yet to obtain them. The County Council had provided sand bags in this instance.
2055. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
a) Councillor David Jones referred to the lamp posts which had been removed at Quay Parade and Councillor Evans advised that she had been advised of this by the Officers of the County Council and had taken steps to publicise the matter. The replacing of the festoon lights would need to be ensured when the lamp posts were replaced.
b) It was agreed that an item be placed on the agenda for the next meeting with regard to the future of Square Field.
c) Councillor Owenna James referred to comments she had received about the obstruction being caused by a vehicle being parked at the entrance to the Pwllcam car park near the slipway and it was agreed to refer the matter to the County Council.
d) Councillors commented that graffiti had reappeared on structures within the town.
e) The Clerk advised that Councillor Neris Lloyd had stated that she had received concerns about the condition of the trees at the woodland at Panteg and it was agreed to draw the attention of the County Council to this matter.
The meeting closed at 8.10 pm.
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