1 a. PRESENT: Cllr B Morgan (Chairman), Cllr V Price, Cllr M Morgan, Cllr M Smith, Cllr S Herdman

IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Mrs M Morris, several Members of the Public

b. APOLOGIES: Cllr H Wheeler and Cllr G Green

c. RESPONSIBLE PERSON FOR DURATION OF MEETING for fire regulations: Cllr B Morgan (Chairman)

d. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING:

The minutes of the last meeting were approved by councillors and signed by the Chairman.

e. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: There were none.

Prior to discussing the following plans, the Chairman read out a letter that had been received from WAG re Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994. The purpose of the letter was to draw attention to local planning authorities’ (LPA’s) responsibilities in relation to European Protected Species (EPS). In particular he highlighted 2 sections of the letter as follows:

Your Authority needs to bear in mind the potential risk of fines (amounting potentially to £ millions in some cases) should the European Court of Justice find against the United Kingdom in proceedings arising from an Authority’s failure to comply properly with its duty under the Habitats Regulations’.

P2008 0313 – Full: Grid reference: 319152/244201 – Erection of log cabin for holiday use and installation of septic tank (SO 14E) at land at Lower Cwmgwannon, Clyro. All were in favour subject to regulations in the above mentioned letter.

P2008 0344 – Grid reference: 321212.65/243809 for Full: Erection of 2 low cost cottage style houses for local persons at land near St Michael’s Church, Clyro.

The council had received letters from residents of Clyro who were against planning permission being granted. After some discussion the main reasons for refusal were identified as follows: inside conservation area, outside development area, need should be shown, access, habitat regulations. Also the term low cost housing was misleading. All councillors were in favour of rejecting the planning application.

3. MATTERS ARISING: These will include:

a. Community Council Assets – Cllr Morgan confirmed that the assets had been inspected and there were no problems to report.

b. One Voice Wales – Membership. Clerk inform councillors that she had contacted OVW and it had been agreed that membership could be deferred until the May meeting.

c. WAG – Local Government Member Code of Conduct – Chairman to report. The Chairman handed out copies of the new code of conduct for councillors to sign. The clerk witnessed the signatures.

4. REPORTS ON DOCUMENTS READ; MEETINGS ATTENDED; ACTIVITIES ETC, including:

5. SCHOOL GOVERNORS REPORT:

There was no report as such this month, although Cllr Herdman reiterated that a talk was being given on 16 April at 6.00pm on the implementation of the foundation phase for children. Anyone was welcome, particularly those who had pre-school children and babies.

PC Thomas reported that since the last meeting when he had been informed of squealing tyres on a Friday night between 1 and 1.30pm at Clyro Court, he had visited the area at this time but no problems had occurred.

He had also done a check in relation to cold calling of so called scrap metal dealers. This he reported seemed to have stopped, although there had now been an increase in people offering to carry out tarmaccing, some from as far afield as North Devon.

He reported that anti social use of vehicles had been targeted. There had been a number of spot checks and speed tickets given out. They had increased the profile of the police. No one had been spotted in Clyro but had been in the Hay area. There had been one arrest, also section 59 warnings given - 1 ^st stage in seizure of cars and if the behaviour continued, section 65 – which would mean seizure of the vehicle.

Easter had been a busy time. Welfare cases and domestic incidents were up, but assaults were down. There had been quite a few volatile mental health cases, which had been safely resolved. There had been a fire arms incident at Llangattock.

He also mentioned the appalling incident that had occurred at Clyro Church . Two people had been arrested within an hour and the property stolen had been recovered. They were now on bail. CID had assisted and they had had a good response from door to door enquiries, with 3 witnesses coming forward, 2 have already given statements and a third is due. He stated the community had obviously been very upset. The press had written a piece in the local paper about the incident, but didn’t appeal for witnesses. PC Thomas asked that if they knew of anyone who had witnessed anything then please pass on the information. He handed out leaflets for contact.

P C Thomas then asked if councillors had any questions. Cllr Morgan asked why the 2 who had carried out the burgulary at Clyro Church had been allowed to return to Pentwyn. He explained that this would be the case with anyone who was allowed bail, they would return to their own home to await sentencing.

The Chairman stated that he had received letters regarding Pentwyn, one in particular he read whereby parents were becoming too frightened to let their children play in their own gardens as some residents of Pentwyn were jumping their boundaries and running through the garden. Other people had complained about this as well. PC Thomas said there had been an increase in residents absconding and causing a nuisance to locals. Hopefully something would be done to try to stop this happening.

The Chairman gave PC Thomas a letter from a resident regarding boys running through the gardens.

In relation to the matters of:

1. DYFED POWYS CRIMINAL JUSTICE BOARD – Posters. Letter asking if we could place them in prominent positions.

2. BDO – Enclosing their Local Council Briefing for 2008, to assist with completing the audit. Audit packs will be sent out at the beginning of April.

3. PCC – Invitation to the Planning Liaison Meeting to be held on Wednesday 23 April at 7pm, Antur Gwy, Builth. Chairman and Cllr Smith to attend.

4. ONE VOICE WALES – Clarification of dates following the Local Elections. Clerk read out the dates. The Chairman confirmed that the AGM would be held on second Tuesday in May, which was within the regulatory 14 days after councillors take up office.

5. PCC, County Councillor G D Price – Letter asking the council to write to the Chief Executive regarding the count for contested seats of County Council and Town and Community councils taking place at Neuadd Brycheiniog, Brecon again. Councillors declined to write.

6. WAG – Draft Fire and Rescue National Framework Consultees 2008-11. There was no comment on this.

7. ONE VOICE WALES – Brecon & Radnor Area Committee will be held on Friday 11 April at 7pm in the Council Chambers, Brecon. No Clyro community councillors would be attending.

8. WALES RURAL FORUM – Poster and flyers advertising the Developing the Village Shop to be held on 1718 May 2008 at the Pavilion, Pontrhydfendigais, Ceredigion. These were to be passed to Councillor Hood.

9. PCC – Planning Lists – The Clerk informed the meeting of the lists giving full planning permission.

10. THE HON. MRS LEGGE-BOURKE – Letter to the Chairman inviting the councillors to attend the County Service of Commitment to world peace and remembrance to be held on Sunday 11 May at 3.15 in Montgomery Parish Church. No councillors would be attending.

9. FINANCIAL:

Bank Balances: Current account as at 20 Feb 2008 – Balance of £2583.30. No current statement of Deposit account, however the balance given as at Jan 2008 was £2770.64.

Payments to include:

Clerk’s salary £130.42. This was proposed by Cllr Herdman and seconded by Cllr Morgan.

Following this, the Chairman thanked those councillors who were leaving for their help support and commitment over the last four years.

He also advised that the next meeting would be preceded by the AGM which would take place at 7.30pm. He then informed the meeting that following the commencement of the new councillors there may be a change in the time of future meetings to possibly 7.00pm.

Cllr Price stated that he had heard that there had been as Air Ambulance swindle, whereby people collecting money had stolen £600,00, it had been in the press and on teletext. This was bound to have an effect on future donations.

There being no other business, THE MEETING WAS FORMALLY CLOSED AT 9.42pm. Minutes were taken by the Clerk.

Following the closure of the meeting a discussion was held with members of the public regarding Pentwyn School. Apparently planning had been delayed because the ecological reports were not correct. This situation was an ongoing issue. CCW were trying to improve matters. In Powys planning permission was granted subject to ecological surveys, this should not be done. PCC should have a designated ecologist, and the community council should only get plans for discussion after an ecological survey had been completed.