91 a. PRESENT: Cllr B Morgan (Chairman), Cllr V Price, Cllr M Morgan, Cllr M Smith, Cllr G Green, Cllr D Hood, Cllr Wheeler, Cllr Herdman

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

b. APOLOGIES: Cllr A Williams

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.

P2008 0190 – Full: Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Consultation – Removal of modern door, window and walling to north elevation of kitchen. Construction of store room to west, half of which will be built into bank; limewashed, lime rendered blockwork. Construction of small extension to kitchen with glazed north wall and pitched room 3 no. conservation roof lights – SO24 SW at 21 The Village, Clyro (2 plans were received). There were no objections, all were in favour.

P2008 0130 – Full: Erection of stable block and general storage shed plus new compacted hardcore access roads and concrete yard. Part OS Plots 3000, 3487 and 3992, Pantycae, Clyro. There were no objections, all were in favour.

P2008 0183 – Full: Erection of new accommodation unit including staff bedsits and classrooms, installation of water treatment plant, alterations to existing access and creation of car parking area SO24 SW at Hillcrest, Pentwyn School, Clyro. All councillors raised objections to the planning application.

After some discussion the main points raised and reasons given were:

There would be problems with the car park and entrance; water would run off the tarmac into the brook.
There was shown on the plan the possible demolition of part of the building and the intention to do some rebuild, there was no permission for this.

PC Thomas was also asked for his comments. He stated that there had been cause for concern in recent weeks, with residents absconding. There had been a change in the policy of restraint and how residents could be detained, residents cannot now be stopped from leaving and minimal force could be used. Police have spoken to staff regarding this. It takes up a lot of police time and effort in finding residents who are missing. There were also cost implications such as sending out a search helicopter. Problems were being experienced almost on a daily basis. However, he did state that the school did do some good work with the children but felt that with more residents would come more problems.

It was decided that the clerk would write a letter giving the reasons for the objections to this plan being passed, to Mr Bailey, Principal Planning Officer at PCC. All councillors were in favour of this.

93. 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. PCC – Part Night Lighting – The Chairman had contacted about 75% of residents who were in favour, but he would complete the survey and report back.

c. Speed humps – Castle Estate. Again the Chairman had completed about 75% of the survey and most of the residents were in favour of some sort of traffic calming. He would continue with the survey and report back to the next meeting.

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

95. SCHOOL GOVERNORS REPORT:

There was no report as such this month, although Cllr Herdman informed councillors 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.

97. POLICE REPORT:

Overall figures for crime were down over the last 2 months. There had been a large operation set up between Powys, West Mercia and Shropshire police forces, utilising different groups, including crime cars and armed response, which had taken place over a week. The groups stayed in and around Hay and Clyro. There had been a few arrests for theft, wanted people and missing people picked up during that time. Work was carried out throughout nights as well. A good message had been sent out to criminals who came into this area. There was to be a step up against anti-social behaviour, such as speeding in and out of the town, particularly on Brecon Road, out of Hay. Section 9 warnings were given and if the anti-social behaviour carried on the vehicle could be seized and the owner of the vehicle would have to pay for it’s return.

PC Thomas then asked if there were any issues that councillors wished to bring to his attention. Cllr Green mentioned the usual squealing tyres on a Friday night between 1 and 1.30am. Cllr Hood mentioned ‘fly tipping’. He had been contacted regarding an incident whereby someone had seen fly tipping. He was disappointed that when he had phoned the number given, to report this, there was little interest shown. PC Thomas would check this. Cllr Herdman was concerned about the increase in people asking for scrap. Apparently the price of scrap had gone up, which had resulted in the increase of people collecting it. She also mentioned that she thought that since the speed limit of 20mph had been brought in, this had only made a marginal difference.

Cllr Morris stated that since the footpath to Hay had been partially kerbed, that it was very poorly done. It was not level. She had asked if the whole of the footpath would be kerbed and was assured that this was the case, it would also be tarmacced. This work would be carried out before the next Hay Festival.

Cllr Morris informed the meeting that she had contacted the planning department of PCC regarding the seepage from Baskerville Hall onto the road. She reported that nothing had been done on this and that it was no longer a highways issue and the matter had been passed on to Environment Health.

She stated that the plan to have just one Planning Committee for the whole of Powys had now been passed. The Shire meetings had finished and planning meetings would now be held in different parts of Powys. Meetings would be held every fortnight.

She asked the councillors to be wary of the signatures on election nominations, as the signature must be the same as on the electoral roll.

Cllr Price mentioned that he thought the new kerbing to the footpath, at the bottom of Longlands near the entrance to the net house, had narrowed the road, and needed putting back 2ft or so, Cllr Morris was going to chase this up.

1. POWYS COUNTY COUNCIL – Local Government Elections. Guidance notes for Community Council Clerks, plus Notice of Election and Election timetable, nominations packages, notices of withdrawal, and maps of community and copy of election newspaper. The nomination forms were handed out to councillors.

2. POST OFFICE – Invitation, Post Office Ltd’s Network Change Programme on 19 March 2008. The Chairman and Cllr Hood may attend.

3. ONE VOICE WALES – Membership 2008/9. After some discussion it was decided that the clerk should contact One Voice Wales to find out whether a decision on membership could be deferred until after the elections in May.

4. WAG – Local Government Members Code of Conduct Section 183, advising authorities of action that needs to be taken by all elected members and those co-opted members with voting rights by 1 May 2008. Chairman to read and report back.

5. ONE VOICE WALES – Area Committee, revised arrangements, B&R Area Committee has been postponed until Friday April 11, 2008. This was accepted.

6. G L JONES PLAYGROUNDS – New Catalogue. Cllr Herdman to look at this.

7. WALES RURAL FORUM – Developing the village shop. 18 May at the Pavillion in Ceredigion, for anyone running a shop to discuss ideas and experiences. No councillors would be attending.

8. SCOPE – House to house collection, asking for our support between 7 and 27 April. Councillors declined.

100. FINANCIAL:

Bank Balances: Current account as at 20 Feb 2008 – Balance of £2583.30. No current statement of Deposit account.

Payments to include:

Clerk’s salary £130.42 plus admin expenses of £20.62 = £151.04. This was proposed by Cllr Herdman and seconded by Cllr Wheeler.

Cheques drawn: £30 donation to British Legion

The Chairman read out letters which he had received from Mr Tom Fairfield. The letters stated that there were serious ecological problems with planning applications. The clerk was asked to write to PCC outlining Mr Fairfield’s questions and concerns.

The Chairman informed councillors that a review of the Risk Assessment would need to be done at the next meeting. Also a review of the Standing Orders in May.

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

SIGNED: ……………………………………………….. DATE: ……………………
CHAIRMAN

Prior to the meeting proper, in response to many phone calls and letters, and to inform councillors, the Chairman asked members of the public present for their thoughts and comments on the planning application in relation to Pentwyn School, Clyro. Maris Watkins gave an outline of the letter she had sent to the Planning Department of PCC. Some of the objections raised were: