MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF PORTSKEWETT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
HELD AT ARW SCHOOL TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2010

Councillors present:
Mr. P. Nurcombe (Chair)
Mr. T. Fawcitt
Mr. A. Griffiths
Mr. I. Standing
Mr. B. Richards
Mr. P. Fox
Mr. A. Whiteley

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1. SIGN THE ATTENDANCE BOOK

The Attendance Book was duly signed.

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies had been received and accepted from Councillors Turner, Watkins and Parker.

3. REPORT FROM LOCAL POLICE REPRESENTATIVES

PC Turner advised there had been a drop in crime in the recent bad weather but a large increase in road traffic accidents. He gave his report that included the following:

Complaint of cannabis use in King Harold’s View.
Complaints of cars blocking drives in Sudbrook in the snow.
A resident of Hill Barn View had received a letter regarding a lottery scam.
Insulation had been stolen from the Barratts site.
Two youths were acting suspiciously in treetops, Police attended, no offences were committed.
There had been a few neighbour and partner disputes.

PC Turner advised members that the cost of speed monitoring equipment was:

Speed gun - £3,000 with a maintenance cost of £250 after the first year. The Police and PCSO’s in some cases, used the gun but only when they were on duty.
Speed monitoring sign - £3,600 with a maintenance cost of approximately £50.
This would be in place for 5-7 days and then move to another location. Councillor Fox advised that Caerwent Community Council were interested in sharing the equipment and therefore the cost. Councillors Fox and Nurcombe would speak to Shirenewton Community Council to ask if they would be interested in sharing also.

4. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

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

5. MATTERS ARISING

a) Traffic Calming and Warning Signs for School
Councillor Fox had tried to contact the Diocese but had been unable to. He hoped to be successful in getting an update before the next meeting.
ACTION P.F.
Designation of Bridleway
Clerk had asked MCC for an update but had received no response. She would ask again.

Future of Mill Site.
No progress to report.

Traffic Calming Sudbrook
Councillor Fox would speak to Highways regarding the site meeting.
ACTION P.F.

Noticeboard Near Treetops (Church Hall)
Councillor Griffiths would clarify where the noticeboard could be placed.
ACTION A.G.

Telegraph Pole and Pavement outside Old Smithy
Highways are having difficulty coming to an arrangement with the developer. They are continuing to negotiate with him to provide a footpath that meets Highway requirements. If the developer continues to fail to respond in a positive manner, Highways will investigate what legal action can be taken.

Footpath Sign by Aust Farm
No progress to report. Clerk to ask MCC for a timescale.

Overgrown Hedges on Crick Road
Councillors Nurcombe and Watkins would cut the branches that obscure the signs, when the weather improved.
ACTION P.N. and P.W.
Bench on Foreshore at Black Rock
Awaiting installation of the bench. Clerk asked for any Councillor who was in the area to check if it had been installed.

Barratts Development
Nothing to report.

Dropped Kerb at Canterbury Way
No progress to report.

Stowball Common
Clerk had not received an invoice from Mr Bartlett. It appeared the path was now passable due to the overgrowth dying back but would need cutting to ensure it was clear for the summer.

Bin on Camp Field
Councillor Watkins has removed the bin and would repair it.
ACTION P.W.
Section 106 Money
Clerk had asked Mike Moran from MCC to attend a Community Council meeting to advise the way forward with applying for any money. She had been advised by Mr Moran that, as the development had been won on appeal, only a Unilateral Undertaking would be available. This meant that no money would be available, only a fixed amount for offsite recycling facilities and offsite pedestrian improvements. Both of these would be dealt with by the relevant departments in MCC. No further comments.

Recreation Hall
The Chairman had written to the Committee and had received a response agreeing to a member of the Community Council to be co-opted at the next AGM. The co-opted member would have full voting rights.

Lease at The Quest
Awaiting new lease from MCC.

Missing Fence on Footpath 13
The gate had not yet been replaced. Clerk to ask for a timescale.

Footpath Sign by Stowball Common
Sign had been replaced. No further comments.

Proposed Charter Between Community Councils and MCC
Clerk had contacted One Voice Wales asking for this Council to be associated with the charter. No further comments.

NY254
Clerk had reported to One Stop Shop.

6. REPORT FROM REPRESENTATIVE ON ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS SCHOOL

No meeting had been held. The recent Christmas concert had been very successful, the children’s performance had been excellent. Clerk to write to Mr Murphy thanking him for inviting the Councillors.

7. DISCUSSION WITH COUNTY COUNCILLOR

Clerk advised that she had received complaints from a few Sudbrook residents unhappy that the road in Sudbrook had not been gritted in the recent snow and ice. She had been advised by MCC that the road was not on the gritting schedule as the school was no longer open. The pavements in Sudbrook had also been treacherous.

Councillor Fox advised that the he had been disappointed that the area had not been included in the schedule. MCC had a good supply of grit and salt but had to deploy some to a neighbouring authority who had none. No pavements in the county had been treated to conserve stocks.

Councillor Standing asked what the ‘rules’ were for the grit bins. People were removing grit from the bins and taking it to treat their own drives etc. The bins were for use in the area where they are situated but it was known that people did ‘help themselves’ for their own purposes.

8. NEW CORRESPONDENCE

MCC Planning Committee Agenda. Circulation.

Gwent Levels Flood Alliance Request for grant. Discussed/circulation.

GAVO Monmouthshire Network newsletters. Circulation.

Good Companions Club. Thanks for the donation towards Christmas party. Circulation.

ROSPA Informing Clerk of the prices for this year’s inspections. The cost was £63 per site, MCC prices were £60 per site. Discussed. It was decided to stay with ROSPA as the price difference was so minimal. Clerk would write to ROSPA advising that the Recreation Hall play area should be invoiced separately to them and not included in the Community Council’s bill.

MCC (By Email) Asking what, if any, provisions the Council had in place for helping vulnerable people during the snow conditions. Discussed. The email asked for names addresses and telephone numbers of any such people to pass on to Social Services. Clerk had responded to the email that it could be a breach of Data Protection Act to give such information out, even if the Community Council had it.

MCC Mor Hafren Area Committee Agenda and Minutes. Circulation.

Clerks and Councils Direct. Newsletter. Circulation.

MCC CEDS Application Form. Discussed/circulation. Councillor Fawcitt advised that the Sudbrook Club Committee – ‘Sudbrook Community Project’ would be applying for a grant to improve the facilities. Considerable interest had been expressed by residents, including setting up allotment group, angling club and heritage centre. There is certainly a lot of potential for the club.

Gwent Police Antisocial Behaviour leaflets. Circulation for all Councillors to pass on if they are aware of any residents suffering ASB.

Planning Applications Received
01198 Tiled roof conservatory to rear. 4 Orchard Gardens. No objections.

Planning Applications Approved
None this month.

Planning Applications Refused
None this month.

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Councillor Standing asked for Community Fun Day to be placed on the agenda for February. The recent bonfire event held at The Quest was very successful and it may be a good venue for the fun day. However, the Recreation Hall was ideal because of the toilet facilities there.

Councillor Griffiths reported the potholes in Manor Way were appalling after the recent snow and ice. Clerk to ask MCC when the road would be resurfaced.

10. FINANCE
EMBED MSWorks.Table.4

11. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and gave the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 16th February at ARW School, the meeting was then declared closed at 8.30 pm.

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