March 20 minutes

RESOLVEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL 

The Monthly Meeting of the Council was held on Thursday 5th March 2020 at 6pm in the Community Centre. 

Present/ Presennol    

Mr A. Morgan –   Chairman/Cadeirydd   

Councillors/Cynghorwyr     

Mr. A Jones, Mr N. Francis, Mr T. Jones, Mr. I Ace, Mr. G Evans, Mr K. Sims, Mr R. Roberts Mr N. Place, Ms K. Kulik

County Member/Aelod o’r Cyngor Sir  

Mr Dean Lewis 

Clerk/Clerc

Mrs C. Payne.

26/20 Apologies for Absence/Ymddiheuriadau am absenoldeb  

Mrs D. Stroud

27/20 Declarations of Interest/Datganiad o ddiddordeb personol 

No declarations received 

28/20 County Councillor/Cynghorydd Sirol – Report and Matters Arising 

Speeding through the village – the speed of the gritter lorries has caused concern to local residents

Cllr Lewis asked to contact department

Disabled access marking required outside gate at the bowling green 

29/20 Minutes of the previous Meeting/Cofnodion y Cyfarfod Diwethaf
The Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 6th February 2020 were accepted as a true record.

30/20   Clerk’s report and Council Matters Arising/Materion yn codi o’r cofn ac adroddiad y Clerc.

The Clerks report was presented and approved. 

31/20  Update on Famers Arms – CADW listing 

A request have been received from a resident in Abergarwed that the Community Council apply for the building to be listed by CADW.  After contacting CADW  it was agreed that the building did not meet it’s criteria.  NPT heritage department will be contacted 

32/20  Litter pick 

Members who are available will meet on Saturday 7th March to carry out a litter pick around the village. 

33/20  Informal checklist for the parks 

A checklist for both parks has been drawn up and approved for informal inspection 

34/20   Purchase of a defibrillator for Abergarwed 

Following the purchase of the telephone box in Abergarwed for the use of a defibrillator it was agreed to go ahead and purchase the equipment. 

Resolved to purchase defibrillator 

35/20  Correspondence

Planning application P2020/0143 – 4 Ardwyn Terrace, Resolven. SA11 4LY – Demolition of existing garage and construction of replacement garage with ridged roof.

No objections recorded 

36/20   Sub-Committee Reports 

Parks/Environment/Hall committee – The minutes of the meeting 12th February 2020 were accepted as a true record

Items not the agenda

Following recent health developments it was proposed to install hot water hand wash units in the toilets at the bowling green.  This was agreed by the members

The proposal to install electric and paint the container was agreed as grant funding is already in place. 

Finance/Funding – The minutes of the meeting 13th February were accepted as a true record

The accounts were presented to the members and approved. 

The next meeting 12th March 2020 

37/20 Chairman’s Report  

38/20 Councillors Reports 

Councillor Trefor Jones gave a verbal report on two meetings held on Wednesday 4^th March.

1. Public Services Board held at Baglan Innovation Centre

Matters pertaining to the Council included:-

1. a) Welsh Government Audit – the audit asked the PSB to consider entry for members of the public at Board meetings. The pros and cons were discussed and it distilled into whether the ability to speak openly and honestly in the meeting trumped the fact that the public had the right to attend sessions. It was pointed out that meetings would include issues that were confidential in nature which would exclude the public in any case. Each member and invitee were asked to seek the opinion of their relevant bodies. In the full Area meeting of One Voice Wales that evening, the issue was discussed fully and it was agreed that the status quo should prevail.
2. b) Drug misuse – members of the Board had attended a meeting in Glasgow to discuss the issue , since Neath Port Talbot is second only to parts of Scotland in mortality due to drug misuse per 100,000. It appears that the issue is treated as a public health issue in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland whereas it is viewed as a criminal justice issue in England. This discrepancy has led to different approaches throughout the UK and the jury was out as to which was the most effective.
3. c) Flooding – a comprehensive report was given on the problems with regard to flooding in the NPT area following three named storms during the month of February. The Council services had been stretched to breaking point and the efforts of both NPT and NRW were praised.
   

2. One Voice Wales Area Committee– Orchard Place, Neath.

Once again the meeting was poorly attended with only 8 Councils sending a delegate.

1. a) Presentation by keep Wales Tidy and the Ecological Partnership – a very interesting talk explained how there were pots of money for community councils aimed at deprived urban councils. However, other councils could still apply.
2. b) Wales Audit ( see above).
3. c) Changes to the audit of Community Councils including the public availability of sub-committee minutes.
4. d) Competence – access to the CILCA qualification by a Clerk would allow a Council to exercise increased powers. At present only a few dozen clerks have the qualification though the issue of extending powers by larger town councils is becoming increasingly popular and will probably be a catalyst for further reform and particularly amalgamation of Town and Community Councils in the future.