RESOLVEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The Monthly Meeting of the Council was held on Thursday 1st October 2020 at 6pm in the Community Centre.
Present/ Presennol
Mr N. Francis – Chairman/Cadeirydd
Councillors/Cynghorwyr
Mr. A Jones, Mr T. Jones, Mr. I Ace, Mr. G Evans, Mr A. Morgan, Ms K. Kulik, Mr K. Sims
County Member/Aelod o’r Cyngor Sir – Mr Dean Lewis
Clerk/Clerc
Mrs C. Payne.
78/20 Apologies for Absence/Ymddiheuriadau am absenoldeb
Mr R. Roberts, Mrs D. Stroud, Mr N. Place
79/20 Declarations of Interest/Datganiad o ddiddordeb personol
No declarations received
County Councillor/Cynghorydd Sirol – Report and Matters Arising was held prior to the Annual Meeting
Matters Arising
Railings at Cross Street – A request for railings in Cross Street at the entrance to the skate park and outside Sardis Community Hall has been put forward to NPT and will be completed in due course
Dram –Still waiting for this item to be repaired
Posts for Neath Road – ongoing
Pelican Crossings – Cllr Lewis reported that a survey has been completed by NPT which says that the village does not qualify for pelican crossings around the school area. Despite this Cllr Lewis has asked for another more comprehensive survey to be carried out, and will continue to lobby NPT for these to be installed.
Blocked Culverts – Cllr Lewis reported that the culverts at Waterfall Road and Neath Road have been cleared.
Ynysfach School – Cllr A. Jones wished to thank NPT via Cllr Lewis for the new windows and toilets recently installed at the school and the ongoing repairs to the walls.
Road Sweeper – A request for a manual road sweeper to come to village to assist the mechanical sweeper, which only covers the centre of the roads and not the gutters which is where all the rubbish gathers.
Abergarwed – Concern has yet again been expressed at the landslips at Abergarwed particularly since the logging by NRW.
80/20 Minutes of the previous Meeting/Cofnodion y Cyfarfod Diwethaf
The Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 3rd September 2020 were accepted as a true record.
81/20 Clerk’s report and Council Matters Arising/Materion yn codi o’r cofnodion ac adroddiad y Clerc.
The Clerks report was presented and approved.
Matters Arising
82/20. Muirhall Energy – Donation
The suggestion to contact Muirhall Energy for a donation towards the disabled path was not recommended by both parks and finance committees, in order to maintain complete transparency by the Community Council
83/20. British Legion – Remembrance Day
The British Legion has folded in Resolven and a request was made by Mr David Richards that the Community Council take over the responsibility of organising the annual Remembrance Day event. Following discussion, as it was such short notice, and due to current restrictions it was agreed to facilitate wreaths this year, and hold the event next year providing no restriction in place.
84/20 Correspondence
Melin Court Chapel – A report has been received that 3 stone steps and stone from the raining walls have been stolen from the chapel. If anyone has any information please contact the Police or Mr Ken Lewis on 01639 711400
85/20 Sub-Committee Reports
Parks/Environment/Hall committee – The minutes of the meeting 9th September 2020 were accepted as a true record. – No matters arising
Finance/Funding –
Matters Arising
Ty Banc Information board – This item will be put into the precept for next year
86/20 Chairman’s Report
NPT Safe and Well scheme has been in touch to check what we have in plan f0r a second wave of CO-vid. I advised them that we still have the community helpline we set up, and the help group Resolven Facebook page. They informed me that there would be no food parcels given out if there was a second wave of shielding and they check the telephone numbers of the local shops chemist and food takeaways
87/20 Councillors Reports
Cllr T. Jones – A Report on the virtual meeting of One Voice Wales Area Committee 30/9/20
Despite it being a virtual meeting, only six councils attended. Paul Egan stated that this was typical of some areas but not all, for instance Swansea had a full attendance.
Relevant matters: –
- a) County Ward – the changing of the County ward boundaries was discussed, and the amalgamation of Tonna and Resolven was raised. Tonna CC is in agreement with Resolven that the present ward structure should be preserved. Paul Egan stated that a letter would be sent via the Chief Executive of OVW to that effect, but he needed the reasons from the Clerks.
- b) Contracts – any employee, must have a contract from the day starting work, not within 8 weeks as at present/including any holiday pay.
- c) Meetings – OVW is happy for meetings to take place observing social distancing, however, would prefer digital meetings. Other meetings, such as groups much have a “reasonable excuse”. For instance breakfast club,or Food bank but not coffee mornings.
- d) Elections – possibility of STV coming into local elections but not likely for next round.
- e) Councillor allowance – the HMRC will not budge on the fact that it can lead to a cancellation of benefits.
- f) Councillor Training – online training continues in the form of webinars, and are well subscribed. Bursaries from Welsh government t exist up to £100, covering 50% of the cost of the meeting.
