MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF PORTSKEWETT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
HELD AT ARW SCHOOL TUESDAY 18th MAY 2010
Councillors present: |
Mr. P. Nurcombe (Chair) Mr. I. Standing Mr. B. Richards Mr. A. Whiteley Mr. G. Parker |
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A few residents from Crick Road attended to thank members, especially Councillors Nurcombe and Fox for their support at the recent meeting regarding the LDP consultation.
1. SIGN THE ATTENDANCE BOOK
The Attendance Book was duly signed.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
All Councillors were in attendance.
3.
APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR THE ENSUING YEAR AND SIGNATURE OF DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE BY CHAIRMAN
It had been customary for the preceding year’s Vice Chair to be appointed as Chair but it was felt that due to Councillor Turner’s close ties with CRAG, it may present a conflict of interest for him to take the Chair.
Councillor Standing proposed Councillor Nurcombe as Chairman and Councillor Fox seconded this proposal. Councillor Nurcombe accepted and signed the Declaration of Acceptance. The Chairman asked for nominations for Vice-Chair and Councillor Fox proposed Councillor Fawcitt as Vice-Chairman and Councillor Whiteley seconded this. Although Councillor Fawcitt had informed the Clerk that he may be late, so was not in attendance at this point, he had indicated that he would take the role as Vice-Chair. The Chairman thanked members and the Clerk for their support and work during his previous term.
4. REPORT FROM LOCAL POLICE REPRESENTATIVES
PC Turner had informed the Clerk that he was unable to attend due to illness but had sent the report to the Clerk.
Over the last reporting period there had been 30 incidents reported, the following were worth noting:
Signs of heroin smoking were found outside the recreation hall.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to steal petrol from a car in Sudbrook.
A van was broken into at the Mount Ballan showground and money stolen.
Children camping in the old paper mill. Suitable advice given.
Garage entered in The Close and a power tool stolen.
Border agency carried out checks at the Indian Empire and one male arrested.
Turf was removed from the new play area at the recreation hall. Has been replaced.
A parked van causing an obstruction near the Church opposite Barratts. Fixed penalty ticket issued.
There has recently been a large spate of thefts from sheds and house burglaries in the Caldicot area and a local team of Officers have been committed to investigating these offences. 24 arrests have been made and 22 males have been formally cautioned or are awaiting trial. None of these were from Portskewett or Sudbrook areas.
It was proposed by Councillor Fox and seconded by Councillor Griffiths and agreed that the minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a true record.
6. MATTERS ARISING
a)Traffic Calming and Warning Signs for School
Clerk had emailed Paul Keeble MCC Highways asking if the surface of Crick Road could be attend to during the calming works. No reply had been received, however, the potholes had been patched.
Designation of Bridleway
No progress to report. Clerk to contact Coastal Access Officer to ascertain which landowner needs to respond.
Future of Mill Site.
No progress to report.
Telegraph Pole and Pavement outside Old Smithy
No progress to report.
Overgrown Hedges on Crick Road
Clerk had written to MCC Highways reporting the obscured signs and lights. No reply had been received.
Bench on Foreshore at Black Rock
The bench had been installed in the car park. It was felt that the position of the bench was not particularly good as it was sited looking directly into the car park. Clerk to ask if it could be moved to a more suitable site.
Barratts Development
Nothing to report.
Bin on Camp Field
Councillor Watkins has placed a small bin by the bench whilst the big bin is repaired. He has also placed a bin for dog waste on the field which he has kindly agreed to empty himself.
ACTION P.W.
Recreation Hall
Nothing to report
Lease at The Quest
Awaiting new lease from MCC.
Fence/Gate Footpath 13
Clerk had contacted Coastal Access Officer and MCC Rights of Way reporting that the new gate was not suitable for disabled access. She had received a response advising that the gate could be opened by using a ‘RADAR’ key, available from the One Stop Shop. The gate would not be changed as it was suitable for disabled access using the key. No further comments.
NY254
Clerk reported it directly to Street Lighting. There is no light NY254 in the location given but there is NY524. Councillor Turner advised that it is 524. Clerk asked all members to be careful that they give the correct number when reporting faulty streetlights.
Potential Purchase of Speed Monitoring Equipment
This would be discussed at the next meeting that PC Turner was able to attend.
Use of Network Rail Land
Clerk had received a reply regarding the £1,500 ‘clearance’ fee and had been advised that this would be payable just to apply, regardless of whether permission would be granted or not. This was very disappointing as the NR Area Manager had implied that he would be happy for the area to be maintained by a local group. Clerk to write to NR to ask if a meeting could be held on site to discuss. Councillor Griffiths asked if villagers had got permission to clear the land themselves as this is what he had been told. This was not true as there would be Health and Safety/Risk Assessment implications.
LDP Consultation
A successful meeting had been held on 14th May with approximately 170 villagers present. David Davies MP and officers from MCC were in attendance and gave a full explanation of why the site is on the LDP as a strategic site. Although not everyone was happy, MCC were very open and honest. Councillor Fox advised that lessons had been learned as flaws in the process had been identified.
When clearer timescales had been identified, this would be communicated.
Community Fun Day
Most things had been sorted for the day. The event would be advertised on the website. It had been mentioned that trained marshalls would be needed that may incur a cost. However, residents could be trained as marshalls. It was agreed to inform the Police of the event but they would not provide a presence but would attend if an incident occurred. The Public Events department at Police HQ at Cwmbran should be contacted.
Councillor Standing asked if organisations from Caldicot could attend the event for fundraising. This had not been allowed in the past as the day was to ‘give something’ to Portskewett, Leechpool and Sudbrook residents.
‘No Fear’ Valeting
The company appeared to be moving premises. No further comments.
Accounts 2009-10
The accounts had been audited by the internal auditor. No issues had been raised.
7. DONATION TO CALDICOT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
After a short debate it was proposed by Councillor Parker and seconded by Councillor Griffiths that £400 be donated, the same as last year. If it could be proved that there had been an increase in usage by residents in the Portskewett area, a further donation may be paid.
8. APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF INVOICE TO INTERNAL AUDITOR
The invoice amounted to £164.50. It was proposed by Councillor Nurcombe and seconded by Councillor Richards that this amount be paid.
9. REPORT FROM REPRESENTATIVE ON ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS SCHOOL
Councillor Whiteley reported that a presentation had been given on a new system of reading and writing and had resulted in very good development of the children’s understanding during the past six months. Police representative had also been present and talked about internet safety.
Councillor Standing reported that funding was being lost due to the mix of KS1 and KS2 children. Schools need to be running as efficiently as possible. It was hoped that the school could be used more as a Community Focus school in the future.
There was still not resolution to the car park being used for users of the Church hall.
10. DISCUSSION WITH COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Councillor Fox reported that the new Chief Executive had been looking at the structure of the Council and had implemented change. There would no longer be Corporate Director for areas, Moyna Wilkinson had been appointed as Deputy Chief Executive. The previous post of Corporate Director had been replaced with Chief Officer post. As a result of the Review of Area Working, the posts of Area Manager had been deleted. Three new posts had been created – Customer Access Manager – to make the service more customer efficient, Citizen Engagement Manager – to build relationships and the Charter between Community and Town Councils and MCC. A further post of Business Improvement Manager has been put on hold at present.
Councillor Fox was congratulated on his re-appointment as Leader of MCC. The cabinet had been reduced from 8 members to 7.
Significant efficiencies need to be made, including staffing efficiencies. Agile working was being introduced, creating more flexible ways of working. The Wales 1 building in Magor had been purchased that would create 200 workstations, facilitating 400 members of staff.
11. NEW CORRESPONDENCE
MCC Planning Committee Agenda. Circulation.
Clerks and Councils Direct. Newsletter. Circulation.
Wessex Archaeology. Publication of Time Team’s investigation at Harold’s Park. Circulation
WAG Guidance on relationship building measures and charters for Community Councils. Circulation.
MCC Mor Hafren Area Committee. Agenda and minutes. Circulation.
MCC Highways Ryder Cup traffic arrangements. Discussed/circulation..
Planning Applications Received
None this month.
Planning Applications Approved
None this month
Planning Applications Refused
None this month.
12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Councillor Griffiths reported that the new streetlights on Sudbrook Road do not work and the area is very dark. Clerk to report.
Councillor Turner asked if the tree that had recently been felled at a property in Leechpool had a TPO on it. Planning permission had been approved.
Councillor Turner advised that he would be willing to undertake Marshall training.
Councillor Turner said that at the recent LDP MCC had inferred that correspondence had been relayed in 2008 and he asked the Clerk to check. Clerk advised that it was impossible to keep all correspondence and any correspondence is circulated. He thought that MCC should have informed all residents by way of leaflet drops etc. Councillor Fox advised that MCC did go through proper consultation process, although shortcomings had been identified and would be addressed in the future. Councillor Fox went on to say there had been some misleading information on the leaflets that had been distributed.
Councillor Turner asked if CRAG could display newsletters in the noticeboards. It was felt that this would not be possible as it would set a precedent for any groups to do this. A resident of Treetops had put saveourvillage.com on the internet.
Councillor Turner reported flytipping on Crick Road. Clerk to report.
Councillor Parker reported the new roundabout had been installed in the Sudbrook play area.
Councillor Parker reported some cables (electricity or telephone, but would check and clarify to Clerk) were hanging in the bottom Leechpool Lane.
Councillor Fox reported flytipping on both sides of the road by Withy Beds. Clerk to report.
Councillor Fox also reported an overgrown hedge on bottom Leechpool lane was totally obscuring the ‘Slow Bend’ sign. Clerk to report.
Councillor Watkins asked if there would be any further allotments available in Sudbrook. No more were available. Maybe people wanting them could offer to help out with OAP’s gardens.
Councillor Fawcitt advised that he had £500 damage done to his car as he pulled in to allow the bus access to pass on the bottom Leechpool lane. The foundations of the bank were protruding. Clerk to report.
13. FINANCE
14. 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 June at ARW School, the meeting was then declared closed at 9.00pm.