MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 7.00 P.M. ON MONDAY 23RD MARCH, 2009.
PRESENT:Cllr D.C. Jones (Mayor)
“ E.J. Breeze
“ Mrs R. Brunt
“ Mrs E.L. Evans
“ Mrs S. Hall
“ R.N. Hamer
“ Lady Hooson
“ Mrs A.M. Jones
“ G. Morgan
“ G. Powell
“ P. Rees
“ Mrs P. Smith
“ N. Venti
“ J. Whittal Williams
Town Clerk
The meeting opened with Prayers
329/01APOLOGIESThere were no apologies
329/02DECLARATION OF INTEREST Forms to record declaration of interest were circulated and filed with these minutes. Cllr Morgan declared an interest in any item relating to PCC on the agenda. Cllr Smith declared an interest in item 36 (b). Clerk declared an interest in item 36 (d).
329/03MINUTES The following minutes were read and confirmed
Council Meeting held on 23.02.09 Cllr Powell pointed out that clerk had omitted the discussion held regarding Trees at Severn Porte.
Meeting with Mr Richard Dix held on 23.02.09
329/04 PLANNING APPLICATIONS Cllr Margot Jones declared an interest in planning application P2009 0168.
329/05LLANGURIG ROAD 20 MPH ZONE Cllr Morgan explained that the item was deferred at the March Shire meeting so that Councillors were able to obtain more information. Clerk agreed to take photographs of the gridlock which occurs at approx 8.40 a.m. and 3.45 p.m
329/06STREET LIGHTING Cllr Morgan stated that he had a meeting with Mr Bryan Davies, PCC on 11thMarch. Cllr Morgan has received an e mail back from Mr Davies outlining a few minor adjustments which he will pass on to the Clerk. Cllr Lady Hooson stated that she thought the Gro Car park was very dimly lit.
329/07TRAINING FOR COUNCILLORS CllrWhittal Williams expressed his disappointment at the content of the Training. Cllr Rachel Brunt stated that she, as a new Councillor, found the training beneficial. Clerk was asked to contact Mr Wyn Richards, PCC to ask if there was any training for Councillors planned in the near future.
329/08LETTER FROM OVW RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP FOR 2009/10 Cllrs agreed that membership would not be renewed for the forthcoming year.
329/09LETTER FROM MID AND WEST WALES FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE REGARDING SAFETY ISSUES AT THE TOWN HALL Clerkwas asked to chase up a second quotation.
329/10CONSULTATION PAPER ON THE PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE OF CHCs IN WALES Cllr Morgan expressed his fears that local branches of CHCs would be closed in favour of a larger CHC and therefore patients in North Powys would not be fairly represented. Cllr Margot Jones agreed that we should support the CHCs remaining local, and agreed to set up a meeting.
329/11POWYS EISTEDDFOD 2010 CllrDavid Jones reminded Councillors that the next meeting will be held at the China Street Chapel school room on Monday 30thMarch. TheProclamation Ceremony will be held 1 year and 1 day before theactual Eisteddfod in October 2010.
329/12QUESTIONAIRRE FROM JOYCE WATSON AM/AC REGARDING VIEWS ON FLOODING CllrRachel Brunt agreed to read through and complete the questionnaire with residents of Dolgwenith.
329/13REPLY FROM PCC REGARDING COST OF COMMUNITY ELECTIONS 1ST MAY 2008 Refer to Finance Panel meeting
329/1415,16, 21,22 REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FROM DYFED POWYS CRIME PREVENTION TRUST BOBBY VAN SCHEME, DAVID SENIOR, NINA GRAVENEY EDWARDS, IONAWR WILLIAMS, PAIGE CRADDUCK, ALZHEIMERS SOCIETY and MONTGOMERY MUSIC FESTIVAL Refer to Finance Panel meeting
329/15LETTER FROM IDLOES PENSIONERS A letter from Idloes Pensioners was read out. Cllr David Jones explained that the letter had been replied to. Cllr Venti requested a copy of the reply.
329/16LETTER FROM RESIDENTS OF DOLGWENITH REGARDING THE DUMPING OF LITTER IN THE FIELD NEXT DOOR. Cllr Morgan stated that the field is in the ownership of PCC, and suggested that maybe the Tidy Towns scheme would help out with the clean up. Clerk was asked to contact the pest control officer. It was suggested that the area could be used for Allotments.
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329/17E MAIL FROM CLLR P REES Clerk had received an e mail from Cllr Rees requesting copies of e mails. Clerk explained that she was not allowed to receive orders from individual Councillors, and worked for the Council as a whole, taking orders and duties from Council meetings where decisions were made.This information had been received from SLCC. Cllr Margot Jones (who had the minutes to hand, all stapled to the agenda) stated that Cllr Rees had already received the minutes attached to an Agenda sent out by Clerk. CllrRees argued that the minutes were not forthcoming. Cllr David Jones requested that Cllr Rees had made his point and asked him to sit down. Cllr Rees objected to being asked to sit down and requested that the point was minuted.It was agreed to supply Cllr Rees with copies.
329/18INFORMATION FROM DIGITAL UK OFFERING ADVICE ON SWITCH TO DIGITAL TV Clerk was asked to request 14 Copies
329/19INFORMATION FROM OVW ON E TRADING FOR TOWN AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS Received
329/20LETTER FROM LLANI LTD REGARDING VACATING THE OFFICE AT THE TOWN HALL. Received
329/21LETTER FROM ST IDLOES MASONIC LODGE ASKING APPROVAL FROM COUNCIL TO INCLUDE THE TOWNS’COAT OF ARMS ON A LODGE BANNER Therewere 2 declarations of interest. It was agreed to grant permission.
329/22LETTER FROM PCC REGISTRATION SERVICES MANAGER INFORMING COUNCIL OF CHANGES TO LOCATION AND OFFICE HOURS Received
329/23COMPLAINT FROM RESIDENT REGARDING PUBLIC TOILETS AT THE REAR OF THE TOWN HALL Cllr Rees stated that he was cleaning the Toilets on a voluntary basis and had been unable to do so as regularly as he would have liked due to him working away recently. CllrVenti stated that Llani Ltd had been involved in applying for funding to re open the Toilets and that he was aware of the problems with the paint peeling away from the walls. This is being looked into. CllrDavid Jones explained that he had had a verbal complaint regarding the state of the Toilets, and thecomplainant had assumed that the Town Council were responsible.
329/24SNOOKER ROOM Clerk explained that the Snooker room Caretakers were concerned that Councillors were not getting involved in the running of the Snooker room. At a previous meeting, it had been decided that Cllrs Venti and Rees would aid the setting up of a Snooker Club. Cllr Venti agreed to forward a Constitution to the Clerk.
329/25TOWN HALL REPAIRS/RESTORATION It was agreed that Council should adopt the plan at bottom of page 1 attached, and spend the monies required to
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carry out necessary repairs to the front of the building. Cllr Venti requested that we could look at the finances and budgets to see if we can afford to carry out works in the next couple of months to the rear ofthe Town Hall.
329/26HIRDYWYLL WIND FARM PROPOSAL An e mail was read out confirming a meeting with Neon Energy for 6.30 prior to the April meeting.
329/27ACCOUNTS The following accounts for FEBRUARY were confirmed
Chq No
103993Wages(05.02.09)866.32
103994Mc Colls 5.20
103995Elyo (Service of Boiler, T. Hall)180.82
103996Charles Cowan (T. Hall consultancy)956.92
103997P.C.C. (C. Tax Comm Centre)291.60
103998Wages & P. Cash (12.02.09)918.87
103999Inland Revenue824.28
104000Wages(19.02.09)866.12
104001Wages (25.02.09)866.32
Total £ 5,776.45
329/28ELECTION OF MAYOR FOR 2009/2010 Cllr Margot Jones was elected Mayor (Cllr Margot Jones 9 votes, Cllr Peter Rees 5 votes)
329/29ELECTION OF DEPUTY MAYOR FOR 2009/2010 Cllr David Jones was elected Deputy Mayor (Cllr David Jones 8 votes, Cllr J Whittal Williams 6 votes)
329/30MAYOR MAKING Arranged for 8thMay, 2009 and Mayoral Sunday 10th May 2009.
329/31NEXT COUNCIL MEETING 27thApril, 2009
329/32LETTERS FROM CAMBRIAN NEWS Received. Cllr Morgan stated that he thought it would be wise to take some pragmatic steps with regard to (a) and (b) of item 36 on the agenda, and suggested that the 2 items will not be discussed because they are now subjudice in that they are being dealt with by the Ombudsman and therefore should not prejudice the ombudsmans’ enquiry. Councillors agreed by majority.
It was resolved that
Pursuant to Section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 it is resolved that, because of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, the public and press leave the meeting during consideration of :-
c)It was agreed that Council pay the wage increase to Mr Bob Smith assettled by arbitration, as P.C.C.
d)It was agreed that Council pay the wage increase to Clerk as settled by SLCC Terms and Conditions.
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