PORT EYNON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Draft – Unconfirmed
Minutes of Monthly Council Meeting held on
Monday 21st July 2014 at Port Eynon Village Hall.
The meeting commenced at 7:30 pm.
Present: Mr. G.Evans, Mr. R. Fisher, Mr. G. Jones, Mrs. L. Newland
Apologies for Absence: Mr. Tom Roderick. and Mrs. P. Pritchard.
In attendance: Mr. B. Stubbings (clerk),
Chair person: Cllr. Fisher chaired the meeting.
051/14. Declarations of Interest: None
052/14 Minutes of Last Meeting (June 2014):
The minutes were proposed to be accepted as a true record by Cllr. Evans, the proposal was seconded by Cllr. Jones and agreed by all. The minutes were then signed by the chairperson.
053/14. Matters Arising:
Jubilee Commemoration Bench Seats – Clerk reported that three MMT bench seats had been received and that he would erect them on site in next few days. An order was still to be placed for a timber bench. Clerk would arrange for suitable plaques to be affixed to the benches with the wording ‘This seat was provided by Port Eynon Community Council to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 2012.’
Bus Shelters. Clerk advised that an order had been placed with ‘Greenbarnes’ for three MMT bench seats, each 180 cm long. Delivery was imminent and he would then place them in the three bus shelters..
Scurlage Green. Clerk to write and advise Sketty Housing Association (C&CS) of proposals for improvements to the green and to seek their assistance. Flower beds to be programmed for next spring. Clerk was requested to research names of local persons who could be included in a war memorial.
Port Eynon Village Hall : Ownership of the village hall and the plot of land on which it was sited, together with ownership of the village green. Clerk reported that documentation provided by Cllr. Evans indicated that the land for the Village Hall was provided to the then Parish Council for the purpose of erecting a hall to the benefit of the residents of Port Eynon and Scurlage. The village hall management committee was originally constituted from representatives of groups of residents who had formed clubs or societies. Concern was noted that the Management Committee no longer included any representation from the residents of Scurlage. For the Village Green, initially enquiries to the Land registry indicated that the green and surrounding waste areas were in the ownership of C&CS. It was agreed that documentation should be obtained and an application be made to register the land as a village green. It was also considered that enquiries might be made to formally lease the land from C&CS although this would then bring an obligation to maintain the area.
054/14. Finance:
Clerk advised that there had been no financial movements in the past month and the bank balances remained as follows:
Current Account £1,102
Savings Account £15,252
Knelston Burial Ground Account £675
There were at present the following financial commitments:
Bench seats (3 no.) – £1,071
Wooden bench seat (1 no) – £500
Bus shelter seats (3 no.) – £463
Scurlage Green Improvements – £1000
One Voice wales membership – £103
Port Eynon Village Hall – £200
Clerk – £800
Council confirmed that these payments should be made.
Clerk advised that expenditure may be required for improvements to Port Eynon village green.
055/14. Planning:
From previous applications:
2014/0417 Monksland Road, Scurlage – 14 units of new housing. Cllr. Heard noted that this site had been identified for housing for over 35 years and had been included in the draft LDP for housing, however the application was incorrect in describing the land as grassland when it was and had been for over 35 years in agricultural use. Cllr. Evans pointed out that the application does not conform with WAG – TAN14. Councillors all 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.
2014/0677 2, St. David’s View Llandewi. Cahnge of use of detached workshop to domestic accommodation for holiday letting. Council were unanimous in that permission should not be granted as the permission for the workshop obtained in 2011 was specifically on the basis that the workshop shall not be sold, let or otherwise occupied. Decision pending.
2014/0617 Berry Farm, Scurlage Replacement of existing telecommunications mast and cabinets. Council noted that the applicant, Vodafone Telecommunications, intended to replace the exiting mast and cabinets with a taller and larger mast. Concern was expressed that the new mast would be visible from further afield, but Council was in agreement that the proposal should be approved. DECISION PENDING.
2014/0690 The Countryman, Scurlage. Alterations to front elevation. Council by majority considered the alterations to the front elevation were acceptable; but noted that this application should have also included the recent alterations to the flat roof which have created a sloping roof.
Council also noted with concern the proliferation of roadside signs in the vicinity of the Countryman which were creating a hazard to traffic safety and a deterioration of the visual environment. DECISION PENDING.
The Ship Inn, Port Eynon Council noted the alterations currently being carried out to the external façade of The Ship Inn and that no planning application had been raised. Clerk was requested to raise this with the C&CS Environment (Planning) Department. C&CS advise that alterations are for minor decorative works.
New Applications:
056/14 Highways & Footpaths.
Cllr. Newland advised that the footpath from Newpark Caravan Site to Bank Farm requires clearance and maintenance.
Cllr . Newland advised that she understood that the hedge rows and verges were not to be cut thi summer following requests from the Penrice Estate and The Gower Society to promote natural growth. Concern was repeated that this presented a danger to pedestrians who were unable to step off the carriageway to avoid vehicles. Councillors also noted an apparent inconsistency between south Gower and North Gower where hedge cutting had continued.
057/14 Correspondence:
Clerk provided a resume of correspondence received from mid-April to date.
058/14 Knelston Burial Ground.
There were no matters to be considered.
059/14 Notice Boards & Web Site
Clerk again reminded Councillors to provide a suitable photograph (head and shoulders) that could be included in the web site detail page on the councillors.
060/14 Any Other Business:
Cllr Fisher advised that the bench seat in the vicinity of the bus stop at Scurlage was in need of replacement. It was agreed to include this in a master plan for improvements to Scurlage Green.
Following the presentation by Adrian Hughes to the Council on the placement of defibrillators, possible action was discussed and it was agreed that suitable locations would be at Carreglwyd and Newpark Camp sites, The Ship Inn, The Countryman, the Smugglers Restaurant, Overton Green and Llandewi Village Hall. Agreed that The Council should plan to place three units in public places and commercial premises be encouraged to install their own units. Clerk was requested to make enquiries of Reynoldston CC as to the grant application that was made by them.
Date of Next Meeting: Monday 22nd September 2014 at 7:30 pm. at Port Eynon Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 9:15 pm. Chairman
B. J. Stubbings, (Clerk) R. Fisher