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Minutes 14th Decmeber 2009
Minutes

Date: 14th December 2009

Time: 7.15pm

Present: Cllr Henderson (in Chair)

Cllr Y Edwards

Cllr T Haycock

Cllr C Pike

Cllr S Mogford

 

In Attendance: Insp G Evans PC 682 A Williams PCSO 69 S Hanif PCSO 177 L Evans

Apologies: Cllr K Jeffs Cllr C Bryant Cllr J Kennett Cllr C Manship Cllr Hancock Cllr Sanders

1. Declarations of Interest

No declarations of interest were made.

2. Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on the 9th November were accepted as a true record and

subsequently signed by the chair, as required in law.

3. Police Representative

Inspector Geraint Evans (Neighbourhood Insp Newport East) attended the meeting accompanied by the Ward Officer PC Williams and the PCSO Hanif Langstone Ward and PCSO Evans Llanwern Ward. He gave an overview of how the changes to Policing in the area were working and reviewed the crime statistics for the last year.

4. Ombudsman’s Final Report

The Chair confirmed that the Ombudsman had written confirming that the complaint made against the Council had not been substantiated. The Ombudsman had stated that the complaint and all information connected with the subsequent investigation would be available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, but it was up to the Council whether it decide to publish the findings or not. Following a discussion it was:

Resolved that this Council will not publish the Ombudsman’s Report.

5. Park Bench on Chepstow Road

The Clerk confirmed that she had obtained three quotes for the supply and fitting of a bench, they were:

WM Garden Services - £549.00 exc. VAT

Gibbons Brothers Limited - £724.50 inc. VAT

Noel Fitzpatrick Limited - £1,784.00 exc. VAT

Following a discussion it was:

Resolved that this Council accepts the quote from WM Gardens Service and instruct the Clerk to inform them accordingly.

6. Bus Shelter – Llandevaud

This item was deferred to next meeting due to the absence of Cllrs Bryant and Atwell

7. Freedom of Information Act 2000 –Model Publication Scheme

The Clerk confirmed that she had published the Councils policies on Recruitment, Complaints, Requests for Information and Equality and Diversity on the website, but had been unable to publish the Model Publication Scheme itself due to the limitations of the website.

8. Planning

(i) CONEX09/1129 Erection of rear conservatory Braeside Chepstow Road Newport South Wales No objection

(ii) CONEX/09/1142 demolition of workshop/garage and erection of a single dwelling land North of and adjacent to Wentwood House Hendrew Lane Llandevaud – Insufficient information provided. (Post meeting note – Clerk contacted planning and was informed application was determined on 17th December, but there was a recommendation for the application to be refused)

(iii) CONEX09/1141 Implementation of ‘Rights to Common’ over Woodland W1 protected by TPO 16 of 2008 at Coed-Y-Caerau Land North West of Shepherds Cottage Coed-Y-Caerau Lane Kemeys Inferior Newport – No Objection

(iv) CONEX/09/1154 Alterations to existing conservatory to renew roof covering and increase height of extension 26 Priory Way Langstone Newport - No Objection

(v) CONEX/09/1181 Proposed loft conversion to include raising of roof and insertion of roof light Mulberry 2 Tregarn Close Langstone – No objection

(vi) CONEX09/1202 Proposed retention and alterations to boundary fencing and construction of new boundary walling The Glen Chepstow Road Newport Objection – no significant change to previous application and as such not in keeping with surrounding area.

(v) Retention of polytunnel and animal compound, Llanbedr Court Chepstow Road Newport – No objection

(vi) CONEX09/0874 Proposed residential development consisting of 60 units and associated highways and drainage Site of Hurrahs Garden Centre Catsash Road Newport South Wales (Amended Plans Received) – Objection - amended Plans show no significant alterations that would change the Councils previous grounds for objecting to the proposed development.

(b) Coed y Caerau Common

Cllr Mogford informed the meeting that there had been no further developments

As 8(vi) above

9. Correspondence

Welsh Assembly Government

Consultation document on Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 – Statutory guidance

Part 1 deals with improvements and business planning by local authorities and National Park authorities;

Part 2 deals with strategic community planning by local authorities and a range of public-sector partners – responses required by Friday 15th January 2010 – Agreed Chair to review and respond.

Consultation document on Proposed Guidance for the Wales Programme for improvement for the Fire and Rescue Authorities in Wales – Responses required by 25th January 2010 – Agreed Cllr Hancock to review and respond.

NCC

Notification for vacancy for Community Council Representative on Newport City Council Standards Committee – application form available from Clerk

Requests for donations

Eisteddfod – Blaenau Gwent

NSPCC

Macmillan Cancer Support

Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod – Agreed no donations to be made as allocation for year had already been made.

One Voice Wales

Proposed Charter – Community and Town Councils of Monmouthshire and MCC Circulated for discussion and views on whether this would work within NCC area – Agreed Chair to review and respond.

Consultation document regarding Code of Conduct – Draft Guidance from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales – comments required by Friday 12th February 2010 – Agreed Clerk to review and respond

NCC

Copy of Summons and Agenda for meeting of NCC – Tuesday 10th November 2009 - Noted

Notification of Liaison Meeting with Community Councils – Thursday 10th December 2009 – Cllr Kennett

Notification of dates for Neighbourhood Committees – Langstone Thursday 1 April 2010 St John’s Hall, Penhow - Noted

Customs and Excise

Notification of requirement to file Employers Annual Return online – Clerk

Samaritans

St David’s Hospice

Air Ambulance

Letters of thanks for £100 donation - noted

10. Finance

(i) Auditor’s Report

The Clerk confirmed that the Auditor’s had approved the LCC Accounts for 2008/9.

(ii) Clerk’s Contract of Employment

Ongoing

(iii) New Standing Order – Clerk’s Pay

A new Standing Order for £490.29 was signed.

(iv) BACS Payments

Bank Charges £10.85

S/O Mrs S Hancock – Salary £379.03

(v) Receipts:

£159.25 LVH Administration Services October 2009

£159.25 LVH Administration Services November 2009

(vi) Payments for approval

Resolved: that this Council authorises the following payments

Cheque No 000729 £91.00 NCC – Rent Park End Playing Fields

Cheque No 000730 £25.00 One Voice Wales – Cllr Manship ‘The Councillor Course’

Cheque No 000731 £155.25 Mazars LPP – External Audit Fees 2008/0 Accounts

Cheque No 000732 £1366.58 Mrs S Hancock - Clerks back pay/overtime/travel and subsistence courses 12/23 Nov 2009 (£1686.40 – £379.03 = £1307.37) Printer cartridges/Cash Book (£30.94/£28.27)

Cheque No000733 £96.39 Petty Cash

Resolved that this Council increase Petty Cash held to £100

Cheque No 000734 £34.19 Cllr C Pike – reimbursement of expenses in respect of LCC Christmas Concert

Cheque No 000735 £100.00 Priory Gardens Community Carol Service – Payee to be confirmed (Post meeting note Mr G Jones)

(vii) Chairman’s Fund

The introduction of a Chairman’s Fund to cover out of pocket expenses in connection with the Chair’s role was discussed and it was:

Resolved that this Council approve the inclusion of a £200 Chairman’s Fund in the 2010/11 Budget

(viii) Approval of Budget for 2010/11

It was agreed to postpone this item until January meeting as the Tax Base for setting the Precept had not been received.

11. Vacancies for Community Councillors

The Clerk confirmed that Cllr Hancock had signed his acceptance of Office and that the Notice of Casual Vacancy due to the resignation of Cllr Sanders was ready for posting on the LCC notice boards on 15th December 2009 – Electoral Officer to be sent a copy of the relevant notice.

12. Park End Play Area

(i) Park Lease

The Chair informed the meeting that Mrs D Carr had agreed to act on the Council’s behalf.

(ii) Provision of Litter Bins

The continuing provision of bins within the Park End Playing Field was discussed and it was agree that the Council would continue to provide bins within the Park End Playing Field

13. Christmas Concert

It was agreed that the Concert had been a success and should become an annual event. The Clerk was requested to book the Saturday but one before Christmas for 2010 and put note in the diary to place article in Community First in September.

15. Highways Issues - Cllr Kennett

Cllr Kennet not present at meeting however requested LCC contact NCC regarding following Highways issues:

(1) Caerlicyn Lane.

Water carrying leaves & detritus washed on to A48. Drainage ditch non- functional - has not been cleared for years. This is not the total problem as water emerges from elsewhere.

(2) Rosedale resident has created a rubbish tip adjacent to road. This is not temporary - It has been there for months. Also sells vehicles on grass verge of A48 from time to time

(3) Germania car sales, Tregarn Road, increasingly using footpath for sales & sometimes grassed areas opposite. Customers using area should be directed to lay-bys 50M away of which there are two.

(4) Britannia car sales, A48 & Hendrew Lane, continue to display vehicles on grass verges & obstruct foot path with a single vehicle regularly.

(5) A skip is "permanently” parked in a lay-by at Catsash, presumably part of the highway, this is not waste from an adjacent property, I have seen stuff being transferred to it from a lorry presumably being brought in from elsewhere. It is also unlit at night

Cllr Mogford advised that the skip referred to in (5) was not parked on the public highway and did not require to be lit due to its position under a street light; this had been confirmed by the Council inspector who had made several visits following complaints.

It was agreed that the Clerk should write to Cllr Atwell Highways Dept. NCC in respect of points (1) – (4), but that whilst (5) maybe an eyesore it was not illegal and had already been brought to the attention of NCC.

16. LCC Meetings

The inclusion of a Clerk’s report giving an update on any action between meetings was agreed subject to the Clerk receiving delegated authority to act on behalf of the Council in relation to agreed matters. Clerk to investigate the delegated powers provided by other Councils to their Clerk’s.

.17. Any Other Matters of Interest

Cllr Mogford informed the meeting that she was to act as Historical Consultant on a Film being made about the Resistance, and the film company would be visiting the Secret Bunkers.

At 2125pm there being no further matters for discussion the meeting closed

The date of the next meeting is Monday 11th January 2010

Signed:

Chair LCC