CRYNANT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on 25thFebruary 2016

1.APOLOGIES

Mrs. P Wood

Mr. P Shopland

2.REGISTER OF ATTENDANCE

Community Councillors:Mr. B Michael (Chair)

Mrs. S Phillips

Mrs. A Hart

Mr. M Evans

Mr. R Power

Mr. R Miles

Mr. B Lewis

Mr. C Bevan

County CouncillorMrs K Pearson

PCSO Strangward (South Wales Police)

Mr. R Evans (Clerk)

3.DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Community Councillors as per schedule of Councillor Interests held.

4.APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 28TH JANUARY 2016

The minutes re: the full council meeting held on 28th January 2015. Subject to the amendment to Item 8 (Paragraph 1) that “a new wooden bench had been built at the top of the crescent” and that “a wooden bench had been installed in the bus shelter opposite the Crescent” and subject to the amendment to Item 8 (Paragraph 2) that “The roads in Nant Celyn had not been adopted and home owners should contact the land owners”.

5.MATTERS ARISING

NIL

6.REPORTS

The Council had written to Mr. Eufryl Nicholas thanking him for his long service as Caretaker for the Community Centre and wished him and his family a long and healthy future.

BM said that Lairs in the Cemetery had been agreed, at a number of 10 Lairs. RP asked about provision of a new cemetery in the future.

BM confirmed that the Rugby Club had AGREED to extend the lease for the Council’s use of the car park.

AH stated that three applicants had applied for the post of Caretaker and it was recommended that the post be awarded to Miss Rhiannon Evans, initially on a three month notice. The Council AGREED to the appointment.

A meeting was held on the 18th February between the Council and Mrs. Christina Rees MP for Neath. While the main issue was the matter of the Free Running Project which was thought to be funded through Groundwork and Neath Port Talbot Council and Welsh Government and it was hoped that Mrs. Rees would assist in securing finance which had been lost, Mrs. Rees viewed the matter, however, as that of Neath Port Talbot Council. The Council were disappointed with the outcome, together with other matters, including Policing, Planning and a comparison between the Dulais Valley and other valleys in the Neath Port Talbot area.

FINANCE REPORT (HT)

Bank Balances as at 25thFebruary 2016

Community Council:£30,672

Savings Account:£ 2,798

Community Association: £ 3,867

Total : £37,337

7.COUNTY COUNCILLOR PEARSON

KP said that Officers at Neath Port Talbot Council had been advised that the head gear be taken down at Cefn Coed because of concerns around Health and Safety and CADW wanted each piece of the head gear to be photographed and numbered in an orderly fashion. It was suggested that there would be a time limit of three years from start to finish. Neath Port Talbot Council will also trial and monitor the suitability of new tarmac being laid by contractors outside Cefn Coed.

RM reported another area where litter was being dumped and felt that a CCTV would be useful.

KP said that British Rail had permission for the new culvert and hopefully it would be completed by the next financial year.

The dangerous railings in Mary Street reported by RM at the last meeting, would be inspected by Enforcement Officers in March.

KP said that she had spoken to officers of Neath Port Talbot Council regarding the monies which had to be paid by the Community Council to the Contractors of the Free Running Project. Officers had reported to KP that the Community Council would be able to apply for a Minor Project Grant in the new financial year and possibly apply for a Coal Board Regeneration Grant with a contribution from the Community Council to enable planned projects to go ahead. KP offered to contact the Coal Board and report at the next meeting. This was gladly AGREED by the Council.

ME said that there was a lack of bus stop at the end of Treforgan and that the school bus was reversing in Alderwood Close, causing a danger. It was suggested that the school bus would be less dangerous if it reversed at the Plastic Factory further ahead.

RP reported that Footpath No. 2 – route from the car park in the Kingfisher to the old cart road via the farmyard of Bryncoed Farm – was blocked, while ME stated that water was running onto the highway at the end of Treforgan and freezing over in the cold weather.

An e-mail was forwarded to both the Clerk and KP by a resident in Ynyswen Terrace regarding vehicles breaking the speed limit. KP said that the Borough Council would provide a box to monitor the speed and a report would be made in due course when the information is received and passed to the Community Council and the resident in Ynyswen Terrace.

8.POLICE REPORT: PCSO Rhydian Strangward

There were three recorded crimes in the last month, one of which was to do with harassment, while the others were withdrawn. There were three cases of speeding by vehicles, two of which were in Main Road, Crynant, one in Seven Sisters and one in Aberdulais. There was a collision at the top of The Crescent in Crynant. ME said that a van had broken down outside VG stores for a week and it was not known whether any Police cars stopped to investigate. BM said that two cars had been parked behind the Rugby Club for some time and it was confirmed by PCSO Strangward that the Rugby Club were in order to report the owners. The Clerk had sent a letter to Chief Superintendent Rundy in Swansea confirming the thefts in Nant Celyn and the theft of a quad bike in Ynyswen Terrace.

9. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Application Number:P2015/0864

Applicants Name/Address:Mr Thomas

35 Nant Celyn

Neath

SA10 8PZ

Site Location:35 Nant Celyn

Crynant

Neath

SA10 8PZ

Proposed Development:Works to trees protected by ~TPO. T1 oak Reduce canopy overhanging neighboring property by 1.5-2 m, plus reduce 1 limb overhanging rear boundary by 2 m – 2.5 m. T2 – sycamore – remove deadwood.

Easting: 279427Northing: 205579

Town and Country Planning Act 1990

Observations: Nil

10. AUTHORISATION

Community Council – February 2016

Barclays Bank (DD)£ 4.00

B Michael£ 28.00

R Evans£ 449.15

W E Jones£ 444.90

Cwmdulais Society£ 25.00

Total£1,186.25

Payments proposed: RPPayments seconded: CB

Abstentions: NILObjections: NIL

Community Association – February 2016

EON (Gas)£ 263.00

EON (Electric)£ 129.00

HMRC ( )£ 30.85

Tape/Blue Tac/Receipt books£ 2.50

I Sadler£ 741.70

BT (DD)£1,491.02

Total£1,491.02

Payments proposed: AHPayments seconded: ME

Abstentions: NILObjections: NIL

11.CORRESPONDENCE

NIL

12.ANY OTHER BUSINESS

BM raised the matter of Smart Meters and whether this would be of benefit to the Council. RP said it would be useful to see what our charges are since the Council reduced the opening hours in the Community Centre – whether beneficial or not beneficial regarding costs.

DATEOF NEXT FULL COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY,

25hFEBRUARY 2016COMMENCING at6.30 PM

AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, WOODLAND ROAD, CRYNANT.

Abstentions:Objections:

Signed:ChairmanDate: