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Community Council Meeting - Tuesday 4th February 2003
At the start of the meeting Councillor Morgan stated that he had been asked by Councillor Ms Beynon to chair the meeting. Councillor Calver asked what had happened to both Councillor Sharland, who is the vice chairperson, and also to the responsible Financial officer. Councillor Morgan informed the meeting that she would be along later.
Public Discussion on Footpath from Manorbier Primary School to Jameston.
The public participation session at the start of the meeting was taken up with a question and answer session following the proposal of Mr Tony Wales for a footpath to the Manorbier Primary School from Jameston. In attendance were PS Miles of the Dyfed Powys Police and Mr John Price from Pembrokeshire County Council. Concerns were raised when PS Miles stated that the reason for a speed limit not being recommended was that it would be unenforceable. Mr Peter Cooper a local Jameston resident showed amazement at this, as surely it was the duty of the police to enforce the speed limit when one was introduced. Councillor Calver explained that because the speed recordings taken by the police and PCC had shown high readings the police were of the opinion that a 40 mph speed limit would be unenforceable. The method used by the police was to erect advisory signs such as the ones in Llanteg to con the public that they were legally binding, this would reduce speed levels so that when they took second readings which showed lower speeds they could argue that a speed limit was now enforceable because the difference between the recorded readings and the proposed speed limit was lower and could be enforced with little manpower.
Mr Don Beddoes was concerned that the authorities and particularly the Manorbier Community Council and its members did not seem to be listening to local voices and was failing in its duty to notify bodies such as the Jameston Community Association on this, or any issues. Councillor Morgan, who had taken the chair even though the Vice Chairperson Councillor Sharland was present at her first Council meeting for five months, took exception to this.
Mr Moss, whose children walk to the local school accompanied by himself or his wife, felt that it would take somebody being seriously injured or killed before action would be taken. Councillor Calver was concerned that too much emphasis was being placed on a 40 mph speed limit that, even if introduced, would not solve the danger for the parents and their children walking on the road to school. The real problem was the width of the road, which was not suitable for both children and parents.
Councillor Calver informed the meeting that both he and Mr Wales had attended the meeting in Haverfordwest when Ms Essex, the WAG member responsible for roads and paths, had informed them that the criteria for accessing need for a footpath should be based on perceived risk not accident records. He then asked Mr Wales to give an up-to-date assessment. He replied that he asked Sue Essex when we would see an increase in the annual budget of the safe routes to school scheme as that at a meeting on the 6th January PCC officials stated it would be helpful if we were to have an accident in order create a statistic which would support the need for a footpath. Sue Essex replied by saying this was a total nonsense as the safe route to school scheme was very much about perceived risk. Sue Essex informed Mr Wales that she would discuss it with him after the meeting. Councillor Griffiths on hearing that a PCC official had made this remark asked who it was to which Mr Wales replied the County Council road safety officer Mr Gobbi.
Mr Wales further stated that the Minister asked him to keep her informed of future developments on this matter.
Tony Wales informed the Community Council that he was having ongoing discussions with the Minister as how best to resolve this safety issue. A letter with reference to Road Safety Strategy for Wales launched by the Minister on the 23rd January 2003 will be arriving on the Highway Directors desk in the near future following his representations.
PS Miles indicated that because the speed analysis was based on his figures and the PCC figures he could not recommend a speed restriction, but looking at it again if only his speed analysis figures were used he could support a speed restriction. Concern was raised that the PCC speed monitoring was based on only a one 50 minute analysis
Matters arising from the Site Meeting 6th January 2003 at Penuel Chapel
Councillor Calver queried the apology and firmly pointed out that at the site meeting he had queried the non-attendance of the County Councillor Griffiths and the police and was informed by the Clerk that no apologies had been received and that the minutes were not a comprehensive report. The Clerk insisted that apologies had been given by the County Councillor but Mr Wales addressing the meeting said this was untrue. Councillor Calver pointed out that many issues had been raised by those attending that should have been recorded in the minutes, he had himself pointed out that the headmistress had referred to the small amount of children using the road compared with other areas in the village and he would not like to see this being part of the assessment criteria. Due to the inaccuracy of the minutes he would not be agreeing that they were a true or accurate record especially the reference to apologies from Mrs Griffiths. Councillor Morgan, who was still in the chair, even though the vice-chairperson Ms Sharland was still in attendance, used his temporary position to impose acceptance of the minutes.
Matters arising from the Council Meeting 7th January 2003
Demolition of Toilet Block in Manorbier Village
No reply had been received from Pembrokeshire County Council regarding the partial demolition of the block. Councillor Calver reported that this area was now being used as a dumping ground and that Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire National Park should be instructed to carry out a proper demolition of this block and fully landscape the site to its original condition.
Annual Inspection of Manorbier Council Owned Properties.
Councillor Morgan had reported at the previous meeting that he had carried out an inspection of Council properties and had asked councillors to carry out an inspection by this meeting. Councillor Calver felt that there was no need for all councillors to undertake this task as surely one going round and reporting back would suffice and wondered had Councillor Morgan prepared a report for the meeting that we could all discuss. Councillor Thompson and Councillor Griffiths had taken a drive around the estate owned by the council and reported back on the dangerous state of the play areas with various faults and poor state of repair of both equipment and boundary hedges/fences. County Councillor Griffiths reported that she had checked with the Council employee responsible for safety and had been informed that everything was up to a safe standard. Councillor Thompson stated that, in her opinion, various items of equipment were in a poor state of repair with rusty metal likely to cause an injury to children. Councillor Griffiths said she could only repeat what she had been told that the play areas had been inspected and were safe. Councillor Calver felt there seemed to be a contradiction with both councillors stating they were not safe and yet Councillor Griffiths, the Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member under Cllr Maurice Hughes stating the employees they were responsible for, contradicting both her and Ms Thompson's report. Councillor Calver again raised the point with County Councillor Griffiths if she agreed with the Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet decision to pass the financial responsibility for playfields over to the local community to fund, without a subsequent reduction in the community charge. Councillor Griffiths although she was part of the decision making it could not now be altered.
Councillor Calver felt that the council should unload the Bier House project that had been commissioned with SPARC/Planed, which was of no use to the tourism industry and would be better used for some other purpose.
He also questioned the council charging the resident in Jameston for the fenced area behind their house and surely it would be better to either give or sell it to the present owner of the property. Other Councillors would not support Councillor Calver on this as they felt that as this was common land it should be retained by the community with Councillor Thompson concerned about the Jubilee Tree that was planted in the area fenced off.
Matters arising from the Meeting held on 14th January 2003
Training Course for Clerk.
No scheme had been found to train the clerk. Councillor Thompson informed the meeting that Microsoft Money would suffice. Councillor Calver asked the clerk what she found difficult about her job and what was she not able to do. The clerk found her duties in the field of accounting and her legal position regarding dealing and supplying information to members of the public were her greatest concerns. He then suggested she listed her areas of concern and where she felt required training and inform the next council meeting of the outcome.
Precept for Year 2003/4
As discrepancies had arisen at the previous meeting Councillor Calver questioned what had been added or taken away to allow the balancing of the accounts. The clerk informed him that she had queried with the auditor his statement altering the balance at the end of the year and he had provided her with the reasons. Councillor Calver pressed the issue as we need to know what change had taken place whether it had been added or subtracted to make the books balance. Councillor Thompson said they were right all along. Councillor Thompson at this stage informed the meeting that she had audited the accounts. Councillor Calver asked what had happened to Mr Crisp who was to be asked to complete the task. He was informed that Mr Crisp did not want to do it. Councillor Thompson informed the meeting that she had audited the accounts for Kilgetty and was concerned regarding where she should send the bill for the 17.9 miles travelled in connection with her expenses. Councillor Calver at this stage gave up after raising the point several times that something must have been altered to balance the books. Councillor Davies who was not at the previous meeting queried the large amounts in the yearly accounts for the newsletter. She queried the figures in the accounts for travelling and time spent on the newsletter by the clerk and informed the meeting that the advert revenue covered the newsletter. Councillor Morgan who is chairman of the Manorbier Community Association, which is responsible for the printing of newsletters could not answer Councillor Davies queries. Councillor Calver felt it was quite simple as all the clerk had to do by the next meeting was to produce figures showing receipts for the adverts against costs for printing, distribution and advertising.
Land opposite Manorbier School
Councillor Calver queried the minute that stated that he had proposed and Councillor Morgan had seconded a letter be sent to Pembrokeshire County Council asking for them to make enquiries regarding the availability of land for parking in the vicinity of the school. Councillor Calver stated that he had proposed that the Community Council write to Pembrokeshire County Council and ask if the land opposite the school, which they had provided with a visibility splay, could be purchased for a car park. Councillor Morgan could not remember seconding the proposal but Councillor Thompson who had declared an interest but remained seated confirmed that he had indeed seconded the proposal and she had replied that the land was not for sale. He asked the clerk for a copy of her letter to Pembrokeshire County Council.
Speech by Councillor Ms Thompson
Councillor Thompson read out a personnel letter that she wanted minuted as being received and recorded in the minutes. Councillor Calver asked Councillor Thompson if she was declaring an interest as the subject was regarding land in her ownership. Councillor Thompson she said she no longer owned the land therefore there was no need to declare an interest. Councillor Thompson then spoke quoting her and her husband's concern about land in their ownership outlining accusations and innuendoes about various persons wasting Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire National Park Authority, and Forestry Commission employees time.
Councillor Calver asked Councillor Thompson who she was referring to as she had not named anyone in her letter, what this had to do with the community council and what the purpose of reading out the letter. Councillor Morgan said he would not allow the letter to be included in the minutes as this would be an abuse of the minutes. He stated that the council had refused Councillor Calver a similar request in the past. Councillor Thompson then said she would withdraw the letter. Councillor Calver then suggested that as the letter had been read out it would now have to be included in the correspondence as a letter received Councillor Griffiths agreed that it would have to be placed in correspondence. Councillor Thompson asked that it be noted as strong correspondence. Councillor Calver asked the clerk for a copy of the letter to which she replied it would be at her convenience. He said he was quite prepared to make an appointment to receive the letter.
Proposed Village Hall in the Manorbier Community Council area to be situated at Jameston
Councillor Thompson had recently attended a recent meeting of the Jameston Community Association on behalf of the Community Council and had been asked to approach the Manorbier Community Council to pay the VAT element of the appraisal for the village hall. Both Councillor Thompson and Councillor Griffiths suggested that the association approach the Community Council to pay for the appraisal in full.
Planning Applications discussed at the Meeting 4th February 2003
The five planning applications listed on the agenda were passed by the council.
The clerk stated that two more planning applications had been received since the Agenda was posted on the notice board. Councillor Calver felt that these should be delayed because any person wishing to make representation would not have known that they were coming before the community council. Several councillors suggested that if nearby residents had been concerned they would have contacted one of the councillors. Councillor Calver pointed out that if any councillor had been contacted by a concerned resident the rules state that councillor then cannot discuss the item in council. Councillor Griffiths disagreed saying they were not the planning authority.
The meeting had failed to cover the agenda and the time for the finish of the meeting came without any correspondence being discussed. Councillor Calver then left the meeting as the council finishing time of 10.30 pm had arrived. He was talking to a resident by the door when the chairperson called and informed him that he, the chairman, had just changed the standing orders regarding finishing time and the meeting would continue. When Councillor Calver protested that rules seemed to change at random and that he had an appointment to go to, the Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member, Mrs Griffiths, then told the chairman to "just carry on" - and they did......