MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF PORTSKEWETT COMMUNITY COUNCIL HELD IN ARW SCHOOL TUESDAY 20 th MARCH 2007

Dr. Kate Smith thanked members for funding the survey that had been carried out in December 2005. This had later led to the Time Team dig. Councillor Nurcombe thanked Kate for starting the project off.

1. SIGN THE ATTENDANCE BOOK

The Attendance Book was duly signed.

•  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies had been received and accepted from Councillor Fox.

3. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

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

4 MATTERS ARISING

•  Traffic Calming and Warning Signs for School
No progress.

•  The Lease on The Quest
Awaiting new lease.

c) Recreation Hall Lease
The Clerk had received the sealed documents from MCC. No further comments.

•  Car Parking at Church Hall/outside School
The Clerk had spoken to Mr. Murphy who had advised her that any person booking the hall should take out their own insurance, most home insurance policies would allow for this. The cost, if any, would be minimal. The Clerk had asked PCSO Withers about the ‘Green Cone' scheme. He had advised her that the school had to request this scheme and that it was not enforceable. The situation would be monitored and possibly request a ‘No Waiting' sign be placed outside the school.

•  Designation of Bridleway
No progress to report.

•  Claim Against Council Insurance
No progress to report.

•  Closure of The Paper Mill
No progress to report.

•  Broken Fence on Harold's Park Side of Sudbrook Bridge
Councillor Parker had seen a site meeting taking place between Network Rail and Highways. Clerk to chase progress.

•  Main Road Streetname
The Clerk had advised MCC of the location of the street sign. Awaiting installation. Clerk to chase progress.

•  Brow of Hill on Crick Road
The Clerk had written to MCC Traffic Section asking if the road could be widened on the brow of the hill and had received an acknowledgement.

•  Car Dealers at Parkwall
Mr Williams had submitted an application but it was not valid. Planning Officer would advise him to submit the correct papers.

•  Warning Signs at Black Rock
No progress to report.

•  Proposed Section 106 Money
No progress.

•  Lights on Sudbrook Road
The lights NY555 and NY556 were still not working although the Clerk had been informed that they had been fixed. She had reported again and copied Dave Harris, Head of Highways. She had also asked the Acting Area General Manager if he could advise what to do to get the fault rectified as seven months was an unacceptable length of time for the lights to be out of service. A reply had been received from the Highways department who advised that the streetlighting manager was meeting with a Western Power Manager and the problem would be discussed then. She had since received an email from Highways, advising that the lights were now working. No further comments.

•  Map Case in Sudbrook
Councillor Watkins asked for help to move the case. Clerk to request cost of new map as the current one is beyond repair following damage by vandals.

•  New Play Area Committee
No progress.

•  Archaeological Study of Harold's Park by Time Team
The Time Team dig had been successful and had uncovered many items of historical interest, including pottery dating back to the 11 th century. The Clerk had written to Time Team to thank them for being so accommodating to people who visited the site. She had also asked for copies of any reports generated as a result of the dig. Photographs were on the website. Councillor Evans asked if interpretation boards would be placed in Harold's Park. Clerk would write to Tim Bradfield. Money for this was included in the location fee provided by Time Team.

•  Laburnam Terrace Streetname
This still had not been replaced. Clerk to chase progress.

•  Community Fun Day
Following last month's meeting where it was decided to hold the even bi-annually, Councillor Evans stated that he was willing to be responsible for organising a smaller event, possibly a sports day. The Council would sponsor the event and donate money for prizes. Councillor Evans would form a plan and bring to the next meeting.

•  Network Rail Wall in Sudbrook
Clerk had written to Network Rail asking for the wall to be repaired. She had received a letter replying that the wall would be inspected and any repairs deemed necessary would be carried out. Councillor Watkins reported that the wall was still in a dangerous state of repair. Clerk to ask MCC Highways to request Network Rail repair the wall as soon as possible.

•  Resurface of Access Lane to Laburnam Terrace
The Clerk had written to the Highways department and had received an acknowledgement. Councillor Evans had also written to MCC in his capacity as a resident and had not received an acknowledgement. Clerk to ask for letter to be sent to Councillor Evans.

•  Damaged Fence and Gate in Sudbrook Play Area
This was now being repaired by the Paper Mill.

•  Amendment of Standing Orders
The Clerk had posted the new meeting venues on the website, in the community noticeboards and had informed relevant parties. An anonymous person had used the Free Press comment board to accuse the Community Council of moving its venues in support of Mr and Mrs Sawley. After consulting with the Chairman, the Clerk had posted a reply stating that this allegation was untrue and offensive. The Clerk also inserted a press release to the Free Press and the South Wales Argus. As a result of this response, anonymous comments were posted regarding the way the Clerk carried out her duties. The Chairman stated that the Clerk had full support of members in the way she operated and that she did her job correctly and in a proper manner. It was proposed by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Nurcombe that the Clerk had the full support of members of the Council. No further comments.

•  BEST KEPT GARDEN COMPETITION

Councillors debated whether members should be allowed to enter the competition and it was proposed by Councillor Parker and seconded by Councillor Standing that the competition would continue to be run in the same way as it always had been. Members would be allowed to enter the competition. No further comments.

•  REPORT FROM LOCAL POLICE REPRESENTATIVES

The Clerk had received an email from PCSO Mike Withers with apologies from himself and PC Turner.

•  REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES

a) Governing Body for Ysgol Y Ffin
Councillor Nurcombe reported that a meeting had been held recently and governors were now in favour of the move to Sandy Lane site as Ysgol-y-Ffin was filling up and would probably be full by September 2008. The new school would have more capacity.
A finance meeting had also been held recently. A WAG directive had required a Welsh Medium school in Monmouthshire and had provided funding to set it up. The school was now successfully standing alone from this funding. The children had really enjoyed their visit to the Time Team dig and Mrs June Chandler and the children had started to produce a very nice book illustrated with photographs taken at the visit.

b) Governing Body for ARW Primary School
Councillor Griffiths reported that a recent meeting, it was discussed that allotments could be created from land at the school. This was all part of the school being used as a ‘Community Focus' school. Clerk to put notices in the boards asking for expressions of interest. She had placed copies of rules regarding Council's responsibility for allotments in the circulation file.

•  REPORT FROM RECREATION HALL REPRESENTATIVE

The Clerk informed members that the Chairman of the Management Committee had informed her verbally that, as the Community Council were no longer regular users of the hall, they had lost their representative. Until this was relayed to the Council in the proper manner it would be ignored. As Councillor Evans was Chair of the new Play Area Committee, he was a regular user. Councillor Evans stated that he had not been informed that the AGM was taking place and therefore had not been in attendance.

9. DISCUSSION WITH COUNTY COUNCILLOR

Councillor Fox had sent his apologies.

10. NEW CORRESPONDENCE

•  MCC Planning applications received. Circulation

•  MCC Planning Committee Agenda. Circulation

•  MCC UDP Consultation Draft Planning Guidance Note. Discussed.

•  MCC Consultation on Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance. Discussed.

•  Clerks and Councils Direct. Newsletter. Circulation.

•  MCC Annual Accounts 2005/06. Circulation.

•  Rec Hall Committee. Letter requesting proof of Community Council insurance covering bonfire event. Minutes of meetings and accounts for 2006. Discussed/circulation.

Planning Applications Received
00129 30 Main Road , Portskewett. Demolition of garage & workshop, alterations & extension. No objections.
00089 10c Norman Way , Severnbridge Ind. Est. Modification of M3899 – allow for repair and sales of vehicles & change of part of building for accounts office. No objections.

Planning Applications Approved
01687 22 Leechpool. Erection of conservatory & ancillary works.
00914 St. Pierre Caravan Park . Hard landscaping to accommodate approved layout of caravans.

Planning Applications Refused
None this month.

11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

•  Councillor Evans stated that he had been to the Planning Committee at County Hall but had been advised that Councillor Fox had asked for a site meeting to be held. Councillor Evans had had a wasted journey as a result of poor communication.

•  Councillor Griffiths stated that the verges in some streets in Bulwark were being removed for parking. When this council had asked for the same to be done in The Close, they were informed that no money was available.

•  Councillor Parker reported that a manhole cover had been placed on the village green as part of drainage works carried out by the developer of the Old Smithy. This was private land and no permission had been sought. Clerk to speak to the developer.

•  Councillor Watkins asked if a new map and Perspex could be purchased for Sudbrook. Clerk to obtain prices.

•  Councillor Watkins reported that the pavements in Camp Road and Post Office Row in Sudbrook were in a very poor state and needed to be repaired or resurfaced. Clerk to report to Highways.

•  Councillor Watts asked if access to Mr Little's barn was only for agricultural use. If in the future the barn was sold for development, would access be allowed across the green. Clerk to check with Mike Grace.

•  Councillor Watts reported that loose wood and branches were overhanging the highway on Crick Road . Clerk to report to Highways.

•  Councillor Richards said that the village green was in an extremely poor state after being dug up by various agencies relating to the developments. Clerk to contact Cwrt Properties and Bellway Homes to request a site meeting to discuss.

•  Councillor Standing asked the Clerk to request the caretaker to do a litter pick in the area by Pike House and Crophthorne Farm.

•  Councillor Standing reported that a power pole by Cropthorne Farm had exposed cables at its base. Clerk to report to Highways.

•  The Clerk reported that she had received a telephone call from MCC asking if the same cuts as last year were required on ‘The Bowl' on Harold's Park. This service had been budgeted for.

•  The Clerk informed members that she had received a telephone call from Allianz Cornhill who had advised her that the play equipment in Sudbrook had been deleted from the Management Committee's insurance policy in February. This had resulted in the equipment not being insured. The Clerk consulted Councillor Fox (as she could not reach the Chair or Vice-Chair) who had spoken to the Chairman of the Management Committee. He had advised Councillor Fox that he had not asked for the equipment to be deleted from the insurance but had asked for a quote without the equipment. As the equipment was not insured, the Clerk, after consulting with the Chairman had advised Allianz Cornhill to include the equipment on the Council's insurance policy with immediate effect.

12. FINANCE

The Clerk had received a Worksheet from the Caretaker, Mr Spooner for 4 weeks, £214.00 plus 3 hours overtime, totalling £230.05

The Clerk had received the following invoices for payment. MCC, annual lease of The Quest, £4.00, Recreation Hall, 2 months hire of hall for meetings, £14.00, Wales Audit Office, audit 2005/06, £141.00, Church Hall, hire of hall for Planning Meetings, £18.00.

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

The following cheques were then presented for signature:

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 17 th April 2007 at 7 p.m. at Ysgol-y-Ffin school. The meeting was then declared closed at 9.00pm.