Clyro Community Council
APRIL 2006 MINUTES
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF CLYRO COMMUNITY COUNCIL
held in the Village Hall on
TUESDAY 11th APRIL 2006 at 8pm
PRESENT: Cllr. B. Morgan (Chairman) Cllr. Price (Vice Chairman) Cllr. Hood
Cllr. Herdman Cllr. M. Morgan Cllr. Smith
Cllr. Wheeler
County Cllr. Morris
The Chairman extended condolences to the Clerk.
APOLOGIES: Cllr. Williams
MINUTES: The minutes of the March 2006 meeting were approved by Councillors and signed by the Chairman.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: none.
PLANNING MATTERS
Update re PR2606/01 Change of use of agricultural barn and extension to provide blacksmith/fabrication shop ad erection of one dwelling and installation of new septic tank at Bryn-y-Garth, Painscastle.
Update re PR6399/00 Erection of a barn and lean to store for hay and implements and change of use of land for siting of log cabin for holiday let and installation of septic tank at Hom Mill Farm (formerly Lower Cwmgwannon
The Chairman and County Cllr. Morris attended site visits in connection with these applications on 17th March. No recommendations were given. The applications have been returned to the applicants for more detail regarding access, which is across National Trust land.
Update re Old Pottery appeal – Hearing: 10am Tuesday 4th April
The Chairman and County Cllr. Morris attended and spoke at the hearing (with Rhona Muirhead attending on behalf of the Clyro Forum). The inspector’s decision is not yet known.
Permission received: PR311403 – Erection of a new garage at Waverley, Clyro
Clyro Community Council’s recommendations regarding materials were not received in time to influence this decision. The Clerk had questioned the planning officer as to whether he had considered the fact that the garage is within the conservation area, and is overlooked, and was told that: since the garage is screened on two sides and not in a conspicuous or sensitive area, the house is rendered, and the garage is close to Begwyn’s Bluff (not stone and slate), requests for better materials could not have been justified.
Permission received: PR645400 – Erection of a 2 storey domestic extension at Cefn-y-Blaen.
MATTERS ARISING
:
HIGHWAYS MATTERS UPDATE
THE STEP OUTSIDE THE OLD VICARAGE
The Clerk to contact Richard Hobbs asking that Highways remove the step on the pavement. Cllr. Williams will alter the height of the second step which is within his property.
REPORTS ON DOCUMENTS READ; MEETINGS ATTENDED; ACTIVITIES ETC.
LIGHTING OPPOSITE OLD VICARAGE, AND 21 THE VILLAGE, STEP ON FOOTPATH TO BEGWYNS BLUFF
The Chairman and Cllr. Smith met with Bryan Davies (County Streetlighting).
If the step outside the Old Vicarage is to be removed, no light is considered to be necessary here.
Concern has been expressed about lack of light by the steps on the Begwyn’s Bluff path, but people don’t want a standard light here. Highways have offered no other solution.
No light to be installed by the church wall.
These will be reviewed at a later date but no additional lighting within the village is to be requested by the Community Council at present, nor additional lighting by the junction at the Hereford end of the village on the A438. The County Council however will install lighting regardless if they consider that an area is dangerous.
Cllr. Hood commented that there is still a loose lighting cable by the shop.
Re Powys CC: Interim Development Control Guidance on Wind Farm Development
Cllr Hood reported on the document and also on the presentation on this subject given at the Radnorshire Planning Liaison meeting. Windfarms are to be created largely in north Powys. Cllr. Hood talked about the possibility of smaller scale units for use by individuals, which he thought sounded preferable. He said he thought this matter was all arranged anyway regardless of any response to this consultation.
Unitary Development Plan newsletter
The Chairman said that there was no change for Clyro in this. He also commented that the UDP is already being used, although it has not actually been adopted yet.
Radnorshire Planning Liaison Meeting
The Chairman, Cllr Hood and the Clerk attended this meeting, at which presentations were given about windfarms and affordable housing.
Cllr. Hood told Councillors that “affordable” had been defined as £64,000 (3.5 x the average Powys wage). He considered that requiring developers to provide a certain percentage of their new houses at this price regardless of building costs will simply put up the price of the remainder; and said that he considered this and planning gain to be blackmail.
Re: windfarms. In addition to concerns about the appearance of windfarms themselves, others include damage to the landscape caused by the additional roads and pylons needed, as well as the possible and unassessed effects of vibration on local wildlife and people. The installers were reported to have agreed to contribute £5,000 per unit per annum to the local area, which caused those attending this meeting to wonder at their profits, and the price the country will be paying for the electricity generated. One planning officer expressed concern that they might not be able to protect other parts of the county from additional windfarms once the designated areas have reached capacity.
Standards Committee – amended regulations
The Chairman had nothing to report.
Powys County Council –Policy for the organisation of primary schools
Cllr Herdman has now passed this on to Cllr. Williams. She reported that at this stage the County is assessing every school according to a points system regarding running costs, transport, distance to the next school etc. Those scoring poorly will be reviewed immediately. Clyro school is to be reviewed not because it has scored low but because it is adjacent to schools which are being reviewed. Clyro in fact scored 11 out of 12 possible points.
CPRW – “Caring for Today and Tomorrow”
Cllr M. Morgan said she was disappointed in this leaflet, which looked beautiful but which offered no helpful advice other than joining the organisation.
Review of council areas and electoral arrangements
The Chairman told Councillors that there will be no change in Clyro, where the number of electors is rising.
SCHOOL GOVERNOR’S REPORT
Cllr. Herdman said that the Friends were hoping to start work on the supergrounds project in the next two weeks. All is going well in anticipation of the schools inspection. After the inspection there may be an open day, during which people could come and see the whiteboards and proposals for the grounds.
POLICE REPORT
P.C. Swales was absent from the meeting.
REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR MORRIS
County Cllr. Morris explained to Councillors that until recently, Powys County Council had been non-political, all Councillors standing independently. However, at the last election, some Councillors stood on party tickets, and four of those elected promised to form a group. This has meant that those on other tickets feel they must also form groups. This will affect the make-up of committees, as all will now have to be politically balanced, whereas at present committees reflect the numbers of Councillors in the counties not their political allegiance. This has come at a bad time, following on as it does from country restructuring. (County Cllr. Morris stands as an independent.)
Changes are coming in connection with local members’ options regarding planning decisions. They may opt to have a voice, as local member, or to be an impartial decision maker.
CORRESPONDENCE
FRIENDS OF CLYRO SCHOOL
Update on grounds project & request for donation. This letter thanked Community Councillors for their donation towards whiteboards.
BUTTERCUP MEADOW RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Speed of vehicles is causing concern. A request for a 30mph speed limit has been sent to Highways.
CHRIS POSNETT re NEW BOUNDARY FENCE
Chris Posnett discussed this with Powys County Council.
JANICE BOWEN re STREETLIGHTING
RHONA MUIRHEAD – re STREETLIGHTING
FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY
Summary of the Risk Reduction Plan received. No action taken.
LAND REGISTRY INFORMATION
Taken by the Vice Chairman.
PAVO NEWSLETTER
Taken by the Chairman.
THE OMBUDSMAN
Information received about changes regarding complaints procedures, with new booklets regarding same. These were distributed to Councillors who wanted them.
FINANCIAL MATTERS
BANK BALANCES
Current Account: £1,886.51 as at 5th April 2006.
Reserve Account: £2, 670.48 as at 5th April 2006.
AIR AMBULANCE
Information and request for funding.
No action taken.
NATWEST BANK
Information about saver account option. Taken by the Chairman.
CLYRO HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Invoice for use of the hall received: 12 months hire + 1 extra meeting: £104. Payment was proposed by Cllr. Hood and seconded by Cllr. Herdman. All agreed.
Re: funding for the Village Hall: no action will be taken at present to donate to the Hall Committee. The Hall Committee is happy with this.
CLERK’S SALARY
Payment of £86.95 was proposed by Cllr. Hood and seconded by Cllr. Herdman and agreed by Councillors.
PAYMENTS
Cheques drawn: Clyro Hall Management Committee: £104.
Clerk’s salary: £86.95
OTHER BUSINESS
Cllr. M.Morgan said that the gates onto the playing field were tied up with string.
She asked also whether there was a timetable for the removal of the step outside the Old Vicarage.
Cllr..Herdman asked about the possibility of having a dog bin by Castle Estate. The Chairman said that the Projects Team had considered this, although Cllr. Hood asked who would be responsible for emptying it. County Cllr. Morris will ask the County Council about this.
Cllr. Herdman told Councillors that the Friends of the School are organising a clothing collection for May 18th.
The Chairman then thanked all those who had come to the meeting and
THE MEETING WAS FORMALLY CLOSED AT 9.15pm. Minutes were taken by the Clerk. .
CHAIRMAN:
………………………………………… DATE …………………………..
THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF CLYRO COMMUNITY COUNCIL
WILL TAKE PLACE AT 7.45PM on TUESDAY 9TH MAY .
