MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF PORTSKEWETT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
HELD IN ARW SCHOOL TUESDAY 11th DECEMBER 2007

As the Chairman and Vice- Chair were not in attendance, Councillor Standing kindly offered to take the chair for the meeting.

1.         SIGN THE ATTENDANCE BOOK

            The Attendance Book was duly signed. 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
   
   No apologies had been received.  Councillors Evans, Watkins, Watts and Richards were not in attendance.
   

3.         MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

 
It was proposed by Councillor Turner and seconded by Councillor Griffiths and agreed that the minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a true record.

4.         MATTERS ARISING

1. Traffic Calming and Warning Signs for School
    No progress to report.
   
2. The Lease on The Quest
   Awaiting new lease.
   

e)   Designation of Bridleway
      No progress to report.

1. Broken Fence on Harold’s Park Side of Sudbrook Bridge
   The fence had now been repaired.  No further comments.
   
2. Brow of Hill on Crick Road
   No progress to report.
   
3. Warning Signs at Black Rock
   The Clerk had contacted the Health and Safety Manager at MCC. He advised he had spoken to the Countryside Manager who would look at putting larger signs in the area.
   
4. Proposed Section 106 Money
   Mr Moran of MCC had been in contact with other groups who had expressed an interest in accessing the money.
   
5. Map Case in Sudbrook

             Awaiting the case to be re-sited outside Walker Flats.

1. Interpretation Boards Following Time Team Visit to Harold’s Park
   Dr. Kate Smith had provided Councillor Griffiths with a copy of the draft text.  As this was quite lengthy,  the Clerk would précis the document to enable it to be included on the final draft.  Councillors discussed the siting of the boards.  Clerk to contact CADW to ask if the boards could be placed just inside the gates of Harold’s Park.
   
2. Laburnam Terrace Streetname
    Awaiting new sign to be installed.  Clerk had emailed MCC to ask when it would be installed.  Despite several emails and telephone calls she was getting no response.  She had copied in the Area Manager of Severnside to ask him to chase the progress.
    
3. Pavements in Camp Road and Post Office Row
   No progress to report.
   
4. Presentation of 2006/07 Accounts
   The audit had now been completed.  Clerk had advertised the conclusion of the audit in the noticeboards.  No further comments.
   
5. Surface of Manor Way
   No progress to report.
   
6. Overgrown Trees Belonging to The Mill
   Councillor Watkins was not at the meeting so could not give an update.
   
7.  Additional Land Purchased by Barn Developer
    The Clerk had replied to Mr. Grace informing him that the Council are vehemently opposed to surrendering any land it currently leases from MCC.  She also emailed CADW.  CADW had responded that it would be unlikely that encroachments onto the land would be acceptable.
   
8. Planning Application for 40 Dwellings on Sudbrook Road
    No progress to report.  A further amended plan was expected.
   
9. Development of Old Shipyard Land in Sudbrook
    No progress to report.
   
10. Planning Application to Infill Railway Cutting on Black Rock Road
    The application would be considered at the Planning Committee meeting on 8th January. Councillor Fox would speak in his capacity as County Councillor and Councillor Standing in his capacity as Community Councillor.  The Clerk informed members that the Community Council’s objections and notes from the public meetings did not appear on the planning portal.  She had informed Phil Thomas of the Planning Department and requested they be included as soon as possible.  Councillor Fox thanked the Clerk for her work in producing the notes from both the meetings in a timely manner.
     
11. Dog Fouling Signs in Harold’s Park
    Awaiting installation.
    
12. Bilingual Streetsign – King Harold’s View
    Clerk had reported to Amanda Perrin and was awaiting a response.  Councillor Fox advised members that there appeared to be a ‘softening’ in the Welsh Language Board’s stance on the bilingual signs in the border counties.  No further comments.
    
13. Warning Hump Sign on Crick Road
    Clerk reported to One Stop Shop.
    
14. Streetlight at Side of 1 Oaklands Park
    Clerk reported to One Stop Shop.

1. REPORT FROM LOCAL POLICE REPRESENTATIVES
   
   PC Turner reported that 28 calls had been logged in the last month, 10 of which were significant.  Crime in general appeared to be down until the past week when there had been 3 thefts of large amounts of fuel from the Severnbridge Industrial Estate.  Footpaths to the rear of the estate had been improved, allowing easier access to the rear of the estate.  A fence to the side of one of the businesses had been destroyed.
   
   Youths in Sudbrook had been going through the village banging on parked cars.  Letters had been sent to parents.
   A continental lorry had reversed into a wall on Canterbury Way as he was turning in the road.  6 – 8 feet of the wall had been damaged.
   A resident of Station Road had received a bogus Spanish lottery letter.  PC Turner advised anyone who received such letters to contact the police as a dedicated officer had been employed to deal with such scams.
   Youths had damaged a sign and their parents had paid £350 to replace it.
   Underage youths were drinking outside the recreation hall. 
   A gentleman had noticed a suspicious vehicle with a fork lift truck loaded.  The truck had been stolen from the industrial estate.  The suspicious vehicle had no tax or insurance and was confiscated by the Police.
   A purse found in the Mitel area had been stolen from Chepstow in a burglary.
   Noisy youths on the village green, alcohol was found and a fixed penalty notice issued to an older teenager who was supplying the alcohol.
   
2. BUDGET 2008/09 APPROVAL
    
   Councillors voted unanimously to approve the budget.
   
3. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES
   
   a)         Governing Body for Ysgol Y Ffin
               The move to Sandy Lane had been ratified.  This would happen in September             2008.
   
   b)         Governing Body for ARW Primary School
               Nothing to report.
              
4. REPORT FROM REPRESENTATIVE ON OTHER COMMITTEES
    
   a)         Area Forum
               Councillor Watts was not in attendance.   Councillor Fox reported that the       structure of the Mor Hafren (previously Lower Wye and Severnside areas) was being piloted.
   
   b)         Portskewett and Sudbrook Youth Club
               Councillor Watts was not in attendance.
   
   c)         New Play Area Committee
                Councillor Evans was not in attendance.
   
   d)         Magor Flood Group
               Nothing to report.
   

9.         DISCUSSION WITH COUNTY COUNCILLOR

 Councillor Fox reported on the County Council’s budget.  Council Tax was likely to be increased by approximately 5.2%, some authorities would have to increase by 8 – 10%.  The WAG grant from Westminster had been raised by 3.5% but only 2.1% passed on to MCC.  In its time WAG had received an 81% increase in its funding but local government had only received 49%.

10.       NEW CORRESPONDENCE

1. MCC Planning Committee Agenda.  Circulation
   
2. MCC New Planning Enforcement List.  Circulation
   
3. Monmouthshire Health Alliance  Health, Social and Well Being Strategy.  Circulation.
   
4. Adjudication Panel for Wales  Annual Report.  Circulation.
   
5. MCC Highways Dept.  Proposed communication with Community Councils on 19th February.  Discussed.  Clerk would inform highways that 2 representatives would attend.
   
6. MCC Improvement Plan Summary. Circulation.
   
7. Good Companions Club  Request for financial support for Christmas Party.  Discussed.  It was proposed by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Turner that £50 be donated.
   
8. MCC  Intergenerational Newsletter.  Circulation.
   
9. Caldicot CAB  Request to increase donation.  The Clerk informed members that despite reminding them to cash the cheque for £300 issued in May, it still remained outstanding.  Clerk to write again.
   
10. MCC  Consultation on Draft Regional Technical Statement.  Circulation.
    
11. County Farms Newsletter.  Circulation.
    

Planning Applications Received
01424  Single Storey extension.  43 Leechpool  Recommend  Approve
01470  Erect five storage units.  Packsafe, Severnbridge Inustrial Estate.  Recommend Approve
01481  Outline perm for 1 dormer bungalow.  Part of garden 47 Main Road.  Recommend Refuse
 
Planning Applications Approved
01265    Replace existing conservatory.  8 Wedgwood Drive.

Planning Applications Refused
None this month

11.    ANY OTHER BUSINESS
 

1. Councillor Parker asked about the possible future of the school site in Sudbrook when Ysgol-Y-Ffin relocates to Caldicot in September 2008.  Councillor Fox advised that the site will be sold as the Council cannot retain it.  If  a robust business plan were put forward it was possible that renting the site could be looked at but this was unlikely.
   
2. Councillor Turner reported that a Woodstock Waste skip had been left in the layby on the B4245 for over a week.  Clerk to report to Caldicot One Stop Shop.
   

12.       FINANCE

The Clerk had received the following invoices:
Mazars Audit – Annual audit, £158.62, SLCC – annual renewal, £91.00
 
The Clerk had received a Worksheet from the Caretaker, Mr Spooner for 4 weeks plus 3 hours overtime,  £237.36.

It was proposed by Councillor Nurcombe and seconded by Councillor Fox
that the above-mentioned payments as well as the following payments be authorised: 

           


13.       DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and gave the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 15th January at 7 p.m. Ysgol-Y-Ffin Sudbrook. The meeting was then declared closed at 9.00 pm.