Clyro Community Council

JUNLY 2008 MINUTES

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF CLYRO COMMUNITY COUNCIL
HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL ON
TUESDAY 8 JULY at 7.00pm

45.a. PRESENT: Cllr B Morgan (Chairman),Cllr V Price, Cllr D Hood, Cllr G Green, Cllr A Williams, Cllr E Brown, Cllr H Wheeler

IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Mrs M Morris, Mr D Davidson and several Members of the Public.

46. APOLOGIES: Cllr P Keylock, Cllr E Thorneycroft, PC F Thomas

47. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: These were accepted as a true record by councillors and signed by the Chairman.

48. DECLARATION OF INTEREST (if any): There were none.

49. RESPONSIBLE PERSON for the duration of this meeting for fire regulations: Cllr B Morgan (Chairman), who pointed out all fire exits.

50. PLANNING MATTERS: No planning applications had been received.

51. 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. Signatories for bank – Forms were passed to Cllr Wheeler and Cllr Brown for completion.

 52. REPORTS ON DOCUMENTS READ, MEETINGS ATTENDED, ACTIVITIES etc. (including)

53. SCHOOL GOVERNORS REPORT

There had been no meeting to report on.

54. POLICE REPORT:

There was no report as PC Thomas had given his apologies for this meeting.

55. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR Mrs M Morris:

Cllr Morris reported that the new planning arrangements were now underway. She stated how important community councils now were, in order for them to get local feeling and for feeding through any concerns that locals had. Not every plan was now looked at and it was very important for the community council to be the ears and eyes and to inform Cllr Morris of any problems. She explained that she had to lodge any concerns within 7 to 8 days. She could then ask for the problem to be brought before the Planning Committee. The comments have then to be read by planning.

The Chairman mentioned that with the planning application at the Smithy Orchard Planning had been turned down, but that we as a council had not heard. Cllr Morris informed councillors that she had not be told, apparently 3 planning applications had been turned down, and she had not been informed of any of them.

56. REPORT FROM Mr David Davidson, Pentwyn/Hillcrest

Mr Davidson stated that no new pupils had been admitted to Pentwyn. There had only been 1 referral. In accordance with CSSIW all referrals would be scrutinized. There were 8 boys in residence, however, 1 was currently in a secure accommodation unit outside London. Another was leaving on Friday, so that would bring numbers down to 6 on site. Discussions were being held about the boy in London, but it was not likely that he would return to Pentwyn.

There had been 9 absconsions since June. Most had been reported to the police especially if the boys had gone onto someone’s property.

Cllr Hood felt that the number of absconsions had increased and that it was worrying neighbours more than before and that it seemed the type of boys at Pentwyn were looking for trouble. Mr Davidson replied that this was more of a nuisance factor at the moment.

Cllr Hood stated that he didn’t think local people would put up with it for much longer. There were more reports to the police and that something had to be done to rectify this.

Mr Davidson agreed that they were contacting the police more at the moment. If boys trespassed on other people’s property, then this had to be reported to the police.

The Chairman pointed out that the sub committee relating to Pentwyn would need to be discussed at a later point in the meeting.

Councillors were worried that as the number of boys had dropped, that staff numbers would be cut. Mr Davidson stated that this was not the intent, as they would not be able to take more boys on.

Mr Davidson then invited councillors to an achievers day which was to be held in July and handed out leaflets, one of which Cllr Hood took to place in the shop, although he did feel that more people would go if the day was to be held on a Saturday instead of Thursday.

57. CORRESPONDENCE:

1. OMBUDSMAN – Revised leaflets/complaint forms. These were handed out the councillors.

2. PCC – Local Development Plan – Consultation on Draft Delivery Agreement, June 2008. This was passed to Cllr Price.

3. WAG – Local Government Partnership Scheme & the Local Government Partnership Scheme Report 2006/7. Enclosing copies if the new scheme. These were passed to the Chairman.

4. PCC – BT Payphones – Consumer needs had reduced drastically in recent years, and it was the intention to remove a lot of the public telephones. Notices had been placed in payphones from 8 June and would mark the consultation period, this closes on 6 September. This letter was passed to Cllr Williams to check the situation.

5. ONE VOICE WALES – Receipt for subscription had been received. The letter also recommended that a councillor be nominated to represent the council at the quarterly meeting. This was passed to the Chairman.

6. AON – Home Insurance for Clerks working from home. Clerk to check her insurance company to make sure she was covered.

7. SOCIETY OF LOCAL COUNCIL CLERKS – 2008 – A modern Approach. This was an update for clerks and councillors to be held at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod on Monday 8 September 2008 from 10am to 3.45pm. No one would be attending.

8. ONE VOICE WALES – Introducing the National Training Programme for Community & Town Councils in Wales – This was passed to the Chairman.

9. SOCIETY OF LOCAL COUNCIL CLERKS – 34 th National Conference 17 Oct to 19 Oct 2008. No one would be attending.

10. ONE VOICE WALES – Change of date for the Annual Meeting of the Brecon & Radnor Area Committee now to be held at 7.00pm on Friday 11 July in The Town Hall Talgarth. This was passed to the Chairman.

11. SOCIETY OF LOCAL COUNCIL CLERKS – SLCC membership offer. Clerk was to look at this.

12. CSSIW INSPECTION REPORT PENTWYN SCHOOL 2008 – This was passed to the Chairman.

13. Herefordshire Council Core Strategy – This was passed to Cllr Williams to read and complete questionnaire.

14. The Chairman had been given a letter by Cllr Morris in relation to a complaint that had been received. The letter was complaining of the constant barking of about 20-30 dogs that belonged to some residents of Clyro. It was decided that the clerk should write and ask that in the first instance, the complainant speak to the owners of the dogs to try to resolve the problem. Cllr Morris had spoken to him. No other complaints had been received on this.


58. FINANCIAL:

Bank balances: Current account as at 5 June 08 £2,725.69. No Reserve account statement had been received again. The clerk asked if the Chairman would mention this when he visited the bank.

Payments to include: Clerks Salary of £130.42. This was proposed by Cllr Hood and seconded by Cllr Wheeler.

Cheques drawn: £130.42 and £195.73.


59. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

Cllr Wheeler mentioned that the caravans at the Borders Caravan Site seemed to be much too close together and felt that this was causing a fire hazard. Cllr Morris stated that they would have a fire certificate this would be reviewed every year. It was suggested that Cllr Wheeler phone the Fire Officer and ask if the caravans were parked too close together.

There being no other business, THE MEETING WAS FORMALLY CLOSED AT 7.47pm. The minutes were taken by the clerk.

Members of the public were then invited to speak.

Maris Watkins asked if she could have access to the CSSIW Report. This was agreed.

Mr Bryn Williams stated he was pleased that the planning application had been withdrawn by Hillcrest Pentwyn, although he was worried that as had happened in the past, planning may be applied for in the future. Mr Davidson stated that he could not say whether this would happen. Mr Williams was also concerned as to what criteria was being used to bring the boys into the neighbourhood. He felt the protocol was wrong. Possibly that Pentwyn was not the right place. There needed to be better control in future. Mr Davidson replied that there had been a review of the admissions programme but at the moment only 2 boys who were recent admissions came under this. Others had been there longer and were admitted under the previous procedures. Mr Davidson stated that legally he could not physically restrain the boys from leaving Pentwyn.

Maris remarked that staff of Pentwyn were still smoking outside the premises. Mr Davidson stated that this was not illegal. Staff could not smoke in the grounds of Pentwyn and had no other option but to smoke outside.

Members of the public are invited to attend council meetings and to contribute at the conclusion of business. The Chairman and Councillors accept no responsibility for comments made by the public. Minutes and agenda available by email on request. Also displayed on website.
(01874711866) www.clyro.org

SIGNED:………………………………………… DATE: …………………………