MINUTES of a COUNCIL MEETING HELD at the COUNCIL CHAMBER on MONDAY 11Th DECEMBER2017 at 7.00 PM
MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER ON MONDAY 11th DECEMBER2017 AT 7.00 PM
PRESENT:CllrMrs J. Crisp (Mayor)
“ A. Bennett
“ E. Breeze
“ Mrs C. Edwardes
“ Mrs L. Evans
“ A. Griffiths
“ K. Hawkins
“ S. Lees
“ G. McArthur
“ Mrs A. Morgan
“ G. Morgan
“ Mrs P. Smith
Town Clerk
431/01APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Cllr Mrs Margot Jones
431/02TO ACCEPT PERSONAL AND PECUNIARY INTERESTS IN ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Declaration of Interest Forms were distributed and filed with the minutes. Cllr G. Morgan declared an interest in items 6,9,14 and 15 as a member of Powys County Council.Cllrs Crisp, Smith, Bennett and McArthur declared an interest in Agenda item 8, as members of the Burial Board.
431/03MINUTES The following minutes were read and confirmed:-
Minutes of Council Meeting held on 27.11.17 True Record Unanimous The following typos were noted - item 430/15 – me should read be, 430/19 – monies should read money.Councillors thought the format containing margins and action points was unnecessary and therefore Clerk will revert back to the usual layout.
431/04TO RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE:-
a)To receive letter from Action on Hearing Loss Cymru– It was agreed to move to May Finance meeting
b)To receive letter of Thanks from Llanidloes Twinning Committee - Received
c)To receive Information on the next Dementia Friendly Community meeting 23.01.18 - Received
431/05TO DISCUSS LETTER RECEIVED FROM ARWYSTLI MEDICAL PRACTICE REGARDING THE REDUCTION IN SERVICE AT THE PENRALLT DAY HOSPITAL FROM 5 DAYS A WEEK TO 2 DAYS AND THE LETTER SENT TO LESLEY SANDERS FROM TOWN COUNCIL, AND TO DISCUSS ANY REPLIES RECEIVED. Clerk pointed out that Councillors wishing to insert articles into the local press should do so in their own words and not use information from Town Council letters as it amounts to Plagiarism. Cllr Crisp expressed concern with Town Councillors affiliating themselves with a Political Party when they express their views in the local newspapers. Cllr Edwardes asked for a Policy statement on the subject. Cllr G. Morgan thought that it is in order to make statements on behalf of a Political Party. Clerk will check with the Monitoring Officer. Clerk explained that a letter had been sent to PLHB regarding concerns for the reduction in service at the Penrallt Unit – but no response has been received as yet. A letter from the League of Friends was received.
431/06TODISCUSS CHANGES TO DIRECTIONAL SIGNPOSTS TO LIBRARY/MUSEUM AND TO DISCUSS WORKS TO WOODWORM TREATMENT AND DECORATION OF THE STAFF ROOM AREAS AT THE MUSEUM/LIBRARY FURTHER TO QUOTATIONS RECEIVED AND A MEETING HELD WITH KAY THOMAS ON FRIDAY 8th DECEMBER. The Mayor explained that Kay Thomas was unable to attend the meeting due to the bad weather, but the meeting will be rearranged for January.
431/07TO FINALISE PRECEPT REQUEST 2018-19 Cllr Breeze informed Council that the Burial Board still request a precept of £15,000. Councillors Unanimously voted for a precept figure of £131,924 (as the draft budget) which is the same figure as last year – therefore no increase in Precept for the coming year.
431/08TO RECEIVE BURIAL BOARD BANK RECONCILIATION AND TO DISCUSS CONCERNS ABOUT THE DELAY IN FUNERALS DUE TO CARETAKER HOLIDAYS WITH MEMBERS OF THE BURIAL BOARD COMMITTEE, FURTHER TO THEIR RECENT MEETING Cllr Edwardes informed Council that she attended the recent Burial Board meeting but did not speak there. She asked the Mayor if she could request the amount of burials and cremations which have taken place over the past 10 years and asked for clarification on the Accounts for Burials x 4 = £2,610 which was shown on the accounts. The Mayor agreed to request the information required and explained as a Burial Board committee member, that there will be a significant amount of expenditure required for tarmac works and laying of stones due to Health and Safety with Burial Board hoping that in future years, the precept can be reduced. Cllr Smith explained that it currently costs £33,000 per annum to run the Burial Board and that the delay to funerals has been taken out of context. Mr Hughes the Undertaker had taken it as there would be no burials carried out whilst the Sexton is on Holiday, but the Burial Board have given assurance that each burial would encounter a maximum of a 2 day delay over and above the usual lead time. The cost to the Burial Board is very high if a third party is used to back fill graves.
431/09TO DISCUSS ACCESS AND DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION FACILITIES ATTACHED TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT BRYNDU ROAD (Cllr G Morgan) Cllr Morgan declared an interest and stated that he would write a letter to the Town Council in time for the next meeting as he is a Governor at Llanidloes High School. Cllr Breeze reminded Council that planning gain was promised to the Town Council from Mid Wales Housing (Cllr Smith declared an interest and left the room) when the new estate was built next to the Cemetery. Cllr Lees stated that having written confirmation of this in future will be beneficial. Clerk will contact Mr Ackerman at Mid Wales Housing to discuss planning gain.
431/10TO DISCUSS ANY PLANNING APPLICATIONS There were no planning applications
431/11THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS FOR NOVEMBER WERE CONFIRMED
Chq No
100642 Wales Audit Office(External Audit) 299.25
100643 Bufton Engineering(final invoice) 13,311.36
100644 PC-Q 18.37
100645 Viking 87.54
100646 R.A. Owen (wood pellets) 884.52
100647 Smith of Derby (clock service) 268.80
100648 PCC (Rugby Hub Officer) 40.00
100649 Simon Owen (Boiler Room & Millennium Garden) 2,220.00
100650 Bradleys Garage (Petrol) 60.00
100651 Petty Cash 91.44
100652 J.K. Morgan (light bulbs) 40.00
100653 Security Wise Ltd (Museum/Library intruder Alarm) 146.40
100654 PCC (pension) 535.42
100655 Inland Revenue 872.28
100656 Banwy Fuels(wood pellets) 640.58
s/oWages 3,186.51
Total£ 22,702.47
Cllr Mrs A. Morgan asked for details of the invoice no 100649 to Simon Owen. Clerk explained that the invoice was for knocking down the wall and replacing with doors to the boiler room as well as a small cost for removal of a waste bin at the Millennium Garden. Cllr A Morgan was very annoyed and upset that the bin had been removed and stated that the bins were not the responsibility of the Town Council and should not have been moved. Clerk explained that Bob had taken responsibility for the bins for many years and had emptied them regularly. He had found that one of the bins was not being used and suggested moving it to the Recreation ground where Council were short of bins. Clerk had agreed to this. Cllr Morgan asked Cllr Evans if the Millennium Garden committee had been informed of this, Cllr Evans said that they had not.
Clerk stated that she would be glad to replace the bin which had been removed from the Garden if the Committee so wished.
431/12 COUNCILLORS QUESTIONS
Cllr Lees asked if the Town Council should take the reduction of services of the Day Hospital further? Clerk suggested that Council should wait for replies to the letters she has sent.
Cllr Bennett expressed concern about the state of the streets in Town with the snow and ice not being cleared very promptly. Cllr G Morgan explained that PCC have a reduced work force but are doing as much as they can.
Cllr Breeze explained that Mr Mike Morgan, (Hafren Furnishers) has passed away and this Town owes him some gratitude for all the employment his company has provided in Llanidloes over many years. It was agreed that this Council will send a card and attend the funeral as a Council.
431/13 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
The attached list of dates for 2018 meetings was received.
The following items were not discussed as Councillor Davies was not present at the meeting
431/14 TO DISCUSS PCC CONTRACTED HOURS FOR STREET CLEANING (Cllr P. Davies) Refer to January Meeting
431/15 TO DISCUSS RED KITE CAFE (Cllr P. Davies) Refer to January Meeting
The Mayor wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Meeting closed at 7.47 pm
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