SHIRENEWTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL	

Minutes of the Council meeting held on Monday 7 January 2013 at 7.30 pm 
at Shirenewton Recreation Hall.

Present:
	Councillors:
	Mrs L McCombe (Chair)
	Ms B Moore
	Mrs C Jones
	Mr P Moles
	Mr I Moore
	Mr D Adams
	Mr T Hughes
	Mr P Harris
	
Also in attendance:
	County Councillor G Down
	Wpc L Thorpe
	Mrs G MacDonald
	Mrs H Counsell (Clerk)
	
The Chair welcomed all to the meeting and regretfully notified the Council of the death and funeral details of Mr John Bonsey, previous Chair of this Council, also the recent unexpected death of Mr Llewellyn, a teacher at Shirenewton Primary School.

1	Public participation -  There were 5 members of the public present.

2.	Apologies were received and accepted from:  Councillors K Morton and 
	Mrs L Prosser.

3.	Police report

The police report for December was distributed prior to the meeting and presented by Wpc Thorpe, who explained that because of shift patterns, she may not always be able to attend meetings, however she encouraged those present to contact her if concerns arise .

There was a report of a transit van being stolen from a farm in Shirenewton followed by break ins to three outbuildings and equipment being stolen at a farm .  There was also a report of a horse being found with a plait in its mane at Earlswood, a sign of it being earmarked to be stolen.

There had been 4 reports in December of cattle on the B4245 and Wpc Thorpe advised that the police would be visiting the owners.

There have been 5 missing person reports made from Brookacre during the month, although it was noted that 3 new residents had been placed there during December. A police visit is to be paid this month as part of a police patrol.

The issue of the vehicle that constantly parks opposite a footpath that is a Safe Route to School  was raised again, Wpc Thorpe advised that she has checked this on a couple of occasions but agreed to send pc’s this week to monitor and speak to the vehicle owner.

She further advised that off road bikes were not allowed to access the green lanes in the forestry.  Mr Gable of the Forestry Commission had notified her that there are traffic regulation signs throughout the forestry to advise of this.

When responding to a question about an incident at Gaerllwydd crossroads on New Years Eve involving several police cars, Wpc Thorpe replied that she believed this concerned the possible theft of horses from Monmouth.

Minute 2862 - To disclose personal and pecuniary interests in any item of listed business.
There were none.
	
Minute 2863 - Minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2012 were approved and duly signed by the Chair.

Minute 2864 - Planning.

1.  Appeal Ref: E6840/A/12/2187469, Planning Application DC/2011/00008	
Tredegar Farm - Change of use to proposed touring caravan park and facilities block. 
Following discussion it was resolved to submit a response to the Planning Inspectorate by Wednesday 9.1.13, to include the original observations made, plus additional points made at this meeting of the contamination of the waterway and a recent serious road accident.

2.  DC/2012/01010  Gaerllywd Farm 
Change of use for a redundant agricultural building, into a dwelling.
This Council recommends approval. It was noted that the there was no separate application for change of use of part of the field or any of the farmyard or specific provision for car parking.  There were also concerns over further sharing of the limited water supply.

3.  DC/2012/01008 The Old Barn, Lower Argoed, Shirenewton 
Kitchen extension (Revised design to DC/2008/01073).
This Council recommends approval.  

4.  DC/2012/01024  Old Home, Earlswood  
Demolition of some disused and structurally unsafe outbuildings to be replaced by an annexe.
This Council recommends approval in principle, but was unable to say definitively as Mon CC plans did not specify dimensions of the proposal.  The applicant attended the meeting with plans that showed the dimensions so that Councillors were able to see the footprint of proposal.

5.  DC/2012/00996  The Grondra, Shirenewton.
Change of use from first floor garage storage area to a self contained residential annexe.  No significant alteration to the external elevations.
This Council recommends approval with the condition that the three vehicle ground floor garage remains as a garage.  	
It was noted that access to the site was denied by the agents on three occasions as the owners were away and the entrance gated, therefore Councillors were unable to view the proposal.  It was further noted that the stairway was internal on this application but had been external on previous applications. It was felt that this was an opportunity for the owner to have a second detached dwelling built within the curtilage of the main house, a Grade II Listed building. This application will only provide 415 sq m of living space (less the internal stairwell) and will require its own services such as heating, foul drainage, etc.

Minute 2865 -To consider donations to local organisations from the 2013/2014 precept.

Following discussion, Council resolved to issue the same amount as the 2012/2013 precept.  £1,200 to named organisations and a further £300 by application from organisations within the community.  This completed the precept setting decisions, as previously discussed at the December meeting. The precept will be set at £14,967 for 2013/14. Clerk to inform Mon CC of the precept amount by 21.1.13.

Clerk has issued application forms to local organisations to apply for the £300 available from the 2012/13 budget, the closing date is 21.2.13 and applications will be considered at the March meeting.

Cllr Jones requested an additional £200 from the 2012/13 budget for the Recreation Association as an application had been made to the Wye Valley Community Chest for £1,100 for replacement goal posts on the playing field.  The Community Chest awarded £700, with the Rec Association contributing £200 and the Council resolved to contribute a further £200 towards the purchase.

Minute 2866 - Finance - to consider items for payment 

Expenditure (by Standing Order)

Clerk’s salary/allowances  - December 2012				£402.20
Clerk’s Pension (Council & Clerk’s contribution) - December 2012		£  97.72

Items for payment

Planning Aid Wales booklets							£  12.00
2012/13 Donation to Recreation Association				£300.00
2012/13 Donation to Earlswood Memorial Hall				£300.00
2012/13 Donation to Shirenewton PCC					£150.00
2012/13 Donation to Shirenewton Playgroup				£100.00
2012/13 Donation to St Peter’s Newchurch					£  60.00
2012/13 Donation to Gaerllwyd Baptist Chapel				£  60.00
2012/13 Donation to Earlswood Hope Church				£  60.00
2012/13 Donation to Earlswood Valley Methodist Chapel			£  60.00
2012/13 Donation to Chepstow Citizens Advice Bureau			£  60.00
(Cheques for the above items have already been signed and issued).

Clerk’s December expenses							£  55.29
Francis & Co Solicitors - renewal of Recreation Hall Lease			£340.00

Minute 2877 - Responses to consultation documents.

Responses had been requested from Mon CC LDP consultation on Focused Changes, also the One Voice Wales Sustainable Development Bill.  Councillors agreed no further responses were required.  The Clerk asked for clarification on whether to agenda such items.  It was resolved that in future the Clerk distribute such requests by e-mail and only add them to the agenda if specifically requested, otherwise they will be listed as items of correspondence.

Minute 2878 - to consider making an application to Monmouthshire Housing Association’s ‘Love Where You Live’ Project.

The application details were passed to Cllr Jones as there may be an opportunity to apply for a grant towards the Best Kept Village Competition (closing date 31.1.13).

Minute 2879 - QE II initiative Councillors considered the type and possible location of the plaque, it was agreed that a plinth would be preferred.  Cllr Adams offered to locate a suitable stone plinth.  Clerk to return order form for plaque.

Minute 2880 - Items of local concern

•	Current activity at the Tan House pub was reported and that the owners plan has not changed since last September, inclusion of a village shop/Post Office is still under consideration.  Security at the site has been a concern recently and members were asked to report any security concerns to the police.
•	C Cllr Down was asked whether the resurfacing of the non-slip surface opposite the Huntsman Hotel will be taking place, he responded that the issue had been raised with K Byrne, a Chief Executive of Mon CC on  18.12.12 and is being actioned.
•	‘Abandonment notices’ regarding five Shetland ponies had been placed at Gaerllwyd crossroads, requesting the owner to claim them within 2 weeks.
•	C Cllr Down was thanked for pursuing road repairs at Earlswood and he further offered to report a damaged grit bin there. He confirmed that resurfacing at Earlswood would take place in Year 3 of a four year cycle (we are currently in Year 1).
•	C Cllr Down reported that Mon CC needs to plug a budget gap of £4.8 million and he alerted the Council to some of the proposals under consideration:
	Increasing the cost of school meals,
	Charging for green waste removal,
	Increasing car park charges by 10%,
	Introducing a commercial ‘start to finish’ planning consultancy service,
	Merging Highways, Waste and Street Scene,
	Collaborative procurement,
	Providing a low interest borrowing rate to businesses installing renewable 	technologies.

Minute 2881 - To receive the Clerk’s Report

1.	Planning training - Joint OVW Planning training to take place at Chepstow TC offices on Weds 30.1.13 from 6.30 - 9pm. The following Cllrs have confirmed their attendance - PH, IM, DA, PM, LP and the Clerk.  Clerk to check with KM.

2.	Poor Land field - C Bambridge Mon CC has advised that the field is not 	registered at the Land Registry and Mon CC has no ‘interest’ in it. She will 	check further.  Clerk to progress registration.

3.	Registration of land at Gaerllwydd - Clerk to progress with Tudor Baldwin, 	Mon CC.

4.	Registration of footpath to Llanmelin Hill Fort - Estates Adviser, WAG has 	responded that no footpath has been registered and asks that we keep them 	informed of our proposals.  	A joint meeting between SCC, CCC and CADW 	will be held at 10am on Weds 9 January 2013.

5.	Recreation Hall Lease - the lease has been signed by all parties and 	returned to the solicitor on 17.12.12 for land registration. Cllr B Moore was 	thanked by the Chair for progressing this issue.

6.	Notice boards at Gaerllwydd and Mynyddbach - maintenance to be 	undertaken by Spencer Hughes, but recent prolonged bad weather has 	prevented the 	work from being done yet.	
	
Mon CC Determined Planning applications for Shirenewton Wards - 

DC/2012/00494	Land East of Ridge House Stables		Approve
DC/2012/00097	The Old Rectory				Approve

Minute 2882 - To receive items of correspondence

1.  Council Tax Precept for 2013/14 received from Mon CC, SCC precept to be notified to them by 21 January 2013. 

2.  National Assembly for  Wales Consultation on Local Government (Democracy) Wales Bill - Response form to be completed by 31 January 2013.

3.   One Voice Wales Strong Roots Project - ‘Green Futures’ Training Programme (Training dates and booking form included).

4.  OVW notification of the next meeting of the Monmouthshire/Newport Area Committee meeting on 10 January 2013 at Llandenny Parish Hall.

5.  Mon CC Consultation on Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. Response to be submitted by 15.2.13.

5.  Two copies of the One Voice Wales Winter 2012 Newsletter ‘The Voice’ - copies available from the Clerk.

The Clerk also distributed copies of the Caerwent Community Newsletter, January 2013 which contained a statement from the Environment Agency on the current situation with Wormtech at Caerwent.

Minute 2883 - To present short reports from meetings attended.

The Chair reported that at the recent One Voice Wales Charter meeting it was announced that the Charter is to be relaunched in April/May 2013.  

Date of next meeting:  The next meeting will be held on Monday 4 February 2013 at 7.30pm at Shirenewton Recreation Hall.
Meeting closed at 9.45pm.