Draft Minutes of Council meeting on 22 October 2018

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Port Eynon Community Council

 

Minutes of monthly Council meeting held on Monday 22nd October 2018 at Knelston Primary School.

 

Present                  Councillors: Martin Cox, Gareth Evans, Robert Fisher, Sheila Fisher, Gareth Jones, and Steve Young.

 

Apologies:             none

 

In attendance       Mr.Barry Stubbings – Clerk;

Mrs. Wendy Harris and Mr. Jim Wilson of Gower Holiday Village

 

Chair                       Councillor Robert Fisher took the Chair.

 

 

 

    1. Mrs. Wendy Harris and Mr. Jim. Wilson addressed the Council on the matter of their appeal against a decision of the Planning Committee to refuse their application for 64 pitches for camping/touring caravans in the field adjoining the holiday village. Mrs. Harris stressed that the financial viability of both the Holiday Village and The Monksland Public House were not sustainable and new sources of income were essential. Staff had recently been reduced from 33 to 8 persons. They stressed that the latest application addressed all concerns previously raised and that although the site would initially be served by facilities within the existing Holiday village, once the new site was established a further amenity and toilet block would be built. Council was advised that the Appeal would be made (heard) in December and a portfolio containing letters of support and other information was handed to the council for their consideration. Mrs. Harris and Mr. Wilson then left the meeting.
    2. Minutes                 Clerk confirmed that the draft minutes of the last meeting held on 17th September 2018 had been circulated to all Councillors, displayed on the Council notice boards and posted on the web site. It was proposed by Councillor Martin Cox, and seconded by Councillor Gareth Evans that the minutes be accepted without modification; and agreed by all.
    4. Declarations of Interest      – there were none declared.
    6. Matters ArisingPORT EYNON TOURISM REPORT – Cllr. Gareth Evans advised that he had attended the presentation made by BRO Consultants at the Village Hall and he thought that the public meeting had been quite well attended but that there had been no significant responses from those present. SCURLAGE GREEN – All present confirmed their agreement to the wording and Cllr. Sheila Fisher advised that work by the monumental masons was in progress. Clerk advised that he had requested an update from City Council as to construction of the new footpath, and was awaiting a response. It was agreed to defer a decision on benches until after the memorial stone had been installed.NOTICE BOARDS –Clerk confirmed that he had installed the hasps and padlocks to notice boards at Overton and Port Eynon. Clerk suggested that Council give consideration to an additional Notice Board on the village green at Port Eynon.
    7. SPEED MONITORING AT SCURALGE CASTLE – Cllr Gareth Jones drew attention, again, to speed of vehicles on the section of road through Scurlage castle. Clerk was requested to arrange for speed monitoring strips to be installed by C^CS Highways. Clerk advised that he had raised this with C&CS who advised that monitoring strips would only usually be installed in speed restricted areas and that this location was an unrestricted section of road.
    8. BENCH SEAT AT SCURLAGE GREEN – Cllr Steve Young advised that the seat for which the council had agreed to carry out refurbishment had since been removed by C&CS. Clerk was requested to follow up.
    9.                                 VILLAGE GATEWAY SIGNS – at September meeting the Clerk tabled examples of village gateway signs as used by other Councils and which might create a greater awareness of the need to reduce speed through the village boundaries. Deferred for later discussion.
    10.                                 FOOTPATH TO SPORTS CLUB – Clerk advised that he had been in contact with C&CS Footpaths Officer who was aware of the problems with the path between the Sports Club and Port Eynon Green. Footpath Officer would make enquiries as to land ownership and possible solutions.
    11.                                 DEFIBRILLATORS – Clerk advised that he had been in discussion with Gower First Responders’/Cariad and that they would discuss with Knelston Garage the relocation of the unit at their premises. Cariad advised that an extra unit at The Old Pharmacy in Scurlage was possibly too close to the present units at the Medical Centre and the Sports Club. Cariad would advise costing of further units to be installed at Overton, Scurlage Castle and Port Eynon Youth Hostel.
    12.                                 LANE TO YOUTH HOSTEL – Noted that no action has been taken by City Council.
    16. Finance  Clerk advised that the wales audit office had raised some queries on the audit papers and he was in the process of dealing with them and providing additional information.Committed expenditure was presently:                                                Scurlage Village Green works – £8,000                                                 Defibrillators – £3,000
    17.                                 If all committed expenditure was taken up there would be an overspend of £2,000, although this would be met from the next instalment of annual precept (£1,833) due in December.
    18.                                                 Clerk’s remuneration – £1,000
    19.                                                 Scurlage village awareness signs – £3,000
    20.                                                 Port Eynon Village Green works- £2,000
    23. Planning Council noted that the application was for a relatively large house set in open fields and remote from the adjacent highway. The proposed property would be served by Trumpet Lane which was at present a rural bridleway/footpath. Council considered the planning statement and noted that the house was described as an ‘Essential Agricultural Workers Dwelling’ required to support a relatively new farm holding. Whilst sympathetic to the establishment of a new agricultural business Council were of the opinion that the size of the dwelling was not in keeping with the area and that the location represented unnecessary intrusion into the countryside.                                NEW APPLICATIONS2018/2004 Milestone Court, Scurlage – New detached dwelling house.
    24. Council noted that the proposed new detached house was on land previously designated for gardens and storage areas behind houses 6, 7 and 8. The application was being made in the name of Mr. Andrew Wilson living at house 5. Access would utilise the existing drive way between house 8 and the site boundary with the A4118. Councillors noted that the house size and external appearance was in keeping with the other houses of Milestone Court. Councillors expressed their continuing concern that further development would exacerbate the continuing problems of surface water drainage and foul drainage in the Scurlage area. Councillors expressed their concern that the site fell outside the current village boundaries and represented a ‘creeping’ expansion of the village which was not compatible with the Local Development Plan, Clerk was requested to clarify. Council decision was to recommend acceptance with reservations over drainage and subject to clarification of village limits.
    27. Decision pending.
    28. 2017/2448 Field 7000, Burry – New detached dwelling house.
    29. Clerk provided a resume of applications recently considered.
  • Highways and FootpathsCllr. Gareth Evans queried the status of the footpath which linked the church with the village green in Port Eynon. This path was most popular as it enabled pedestrians to avoid using the narrow road into the village. After examination of the footpath plan it was noted that only part of the path was designated footpath and clerk was requested to press C&CS to designate the remaining part which passed adjacent to the village hall.

 

  • CorrespondenceClerk advised that he had received a number of routine communications and one in particular, which required the Council’s consideration. This was from the secretary to St. David’s Church requesting assistance from the Council towards purchase and installation of a new organ. Chair determined that due to the lateness of the hour this should be deferred to our next meeting and in the mean time he requested that the clerk clarified the ability of the council to make grants to church bodies. 

 

    2.  
  • Communications 

 

    1.                                 Clerk had nothing further to report.
  • Village Halls  

 

    1. Clerk/Chair advised that there had been no further communications with the Llanddewi Village Hall Trustees.
    2. Cllr. Robert Fisher advised that he had been unable to attend the last monthly Meeting of the Port Eynon Village Hall Committee.
    3. Knelston Burial Ground.
    5. Clerk advised that there was nothing to report.
  • Any Other BusinessCllr. Cox advised that there had been a recent incidence of shooting, presumably rabbits, in close proximity of the public footpath within the ‘Sky and Sea’ camp site. It was agreed that such incidences should be immediately referred for police action.
  • Next meeting – 19th November 2018 at 7 pm.There being no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 9: 00 pm. Barry Stubbings (Clerk)                                                                                                       Robert Fisher (Chair)

 

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