Minutes of Monthly Council Meeting held on
Monday 19th January 2015 at Port Eynon Village Hall.
The meeting commenced at 7:30 pm.
Present: Mr. G.Evans, Mr. R. Fisher, Mr. G. Jones, Mrs. Sheila Fisher
Apologies for Absence: Mr. Tom Roderick. and Mrs. L. Newland.
In attendance: Mr. B. Stubbings (clerk),
Chair person: Cllr. R. Fisher chaired the meeting.
091/14. Declarations of Interest: None
092/14 Minutes of Last Meeting (November 2014):
The minutes were proposed to be accepted as a true record by Cllr. Evans, the proposal was seconded by Cllr. S. Fisher and agreed by all. The minutes were then signed by the chairperson.
093/14. Matters Arising:
Defibrillators. Clerk advised that an application had been made to the Lottery Fund and he was awaiting the outcome. Clerk confirmed that the locations he had identified for the purpose of the grant application were as follows:
Port Eynon – Car Park amenity building (with electrical power)
Port Eynon – Village Hall (with electrical power)
Llandewi – Village Hall (with electrical power)
Scurlage – Village Stores OR The Old Pharmacy
Knelston – The Burial Ground (no power) OR school OR garage
094/14. Finance:
Clerk advised that the bank balances were unchanged, as follows:
Current Account £82
Savings Account £13,453
Knelston Burial Ground Account £675
The following funding commitments have been made:
Wooden bench seat (1 no) at Overton – £500
Scurlage Green Improvements – £2,000
Defibrillators (5 no) – £5,000 – Lottery Grant funding applied for.
Port Eynon village green improvements – £2,000.
095/14. Planning:
From previous applications:
2014/0417 Monksland Road, Scurlage – 14 units of new housing.. Councillors had raised concern on the following-
The density of the development and the lack of provision of gardens.
The overlooking issues between the new units and the established properties in Salisbury Close; The reliance of soakaways for drainage which are sited below the ground water table;
The failure to acknowledge the flooding which had occurred for several years;
The extensive hard paving which would further exacerbate flooding;
The reliance on Monksland Road for access which is of substandard width and already suffers from parking and access problems;
The loss of seven existing communal car park spaces which would exacerbate current difficulties; The lack of parking spaces within the planned development;
The failure of similar developments to provide long term social housing as they had been purchased and sold on the open market, most often for holiday homes.
Council were unanimous in recommending that planning approval should not be given until these issues had been addressed. Decision pending.
*[ Chair advised that revised plans had been submitted (see planning portal web site) but
Clerk noted that revised plans had not been circulated for comment.]
*Understood to having been approved by C&CS Planning Committee and now awaiting WAG Section 106 approval.
2014/0960 The Elms, Port Eynon – Alterations to elevations, garages and driveway.
Council considered that the proposed alterations were generally acceptable and recommended approval (Cllr Fisher declared an interest and abstained from the decisions). Amended plans submitted 20th February 2015. Decision pending.
2014/1674 New Dwelling adjacent to Maybank, Overton –
Council noted that this was an ‘Outline Application’ for one new dwelling and productive comments could not be made until the full planning application was received. It was noted that a previous application made in 2007 for a single dwelling had been approved but not proceeded with. Council noted that there was no evidence of a previous dwelling on the site and that the AONB guidelines for new dwellings must be adhered to. It was considered that the indicated size of dwelling house was relatively large and concern was expressed that any development must be sympathetic with its location adjoining the green and with the adjacent properties. Decision pending
New applications
2014/1788 Fairfield Farm, Knelston – Change of use to allow caravan storage.
Council noted that caravan storage had taken place on this site for several years and that this use had been previously referred to C&CS planning enforcement section. Chair appraised Council of the fact that storage had recently been extended to field area immediately adjoining existing houses and that representations had been made to him concerning loss of view, infringement of privacy, etc. He had visited the site and was of the opinion that storage so close to these houses was unnecessary. Council note that the application was for a temporary change of use but no indication was given as to the intended period and this should be clarified. Concern was expressed over access to the site from the A4118 which occurred on the brow of the hill and could be dangerous with manoeuvring of caravans. Council voted against the application with one abstention.
2014/1970 Dwr Cymru Welsh Water – Pumping Station at Scurlage Castle.
Council noted that application was to create improved vehicle access off the A4118 together with off road paved vehicle turning and parking space. Council were of the opinion that the increase in population of Scurlage would undoubtedly require associated improvements to drainage infrastructure by Welsh Water and although this proposal necessitated loss of established roadside hedgerow and some prime agricultural land it should be reluctantly supported.
096/14 Highways & Footpaths.
Nothing to report
097/14 Correspondence:
Clerk provided a resume of correspondence received from mid-November to date.
098/14 Knelston Burial Ground. Nothing to report
099/14 Village Halls
Port Eynon Village Hall : Clerk advised that he had received no response from the management Committee. Council noted that maintenance of the hall appeared to be declining and observed that cash generation may have been reduced following the retirement of Ms Jean Higgins from active participation.
Llandewi Hall – Nothing to report.
100/14 Any Other Business:
Cllr. Fisher advised his concern over the large new entrance that had been created off the A4118 at Moor Corner and the removal of the hedge row between two fields. He requested the clerk to refer this to C&CS Planning.
Cllr. Evans advised that he understood the consultation period on the C&CS LDP had been extended to January 2016.
Date of Next Meeting: Monday 9t March 2015 at 7:30 pm. at Port Eynon Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 9:10 pm. Chairman
- J. Stubbings, (Clerk) R. Fisher