Manorbier.com
Community Council Meeting - Tuesday 6th May 2003
Election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for 2003/2004.
The meeting took place with only councillors Ms Beynon, Malcolm Calver, Patricia Griffiths and David Morgan present.
Apathy seemed to be the order of the day as all the other elected Community Councillors had not made the effort to attend for the election of Chairman and Vice Chairman for the forthcoming year. The clerk did not announce any apologies for those absent.
Councillor Calver queried why Councillor Sharland, who was both Vice Chairperson and the Responsible Financial Officer in the previous year was not being proposed by either Councillor Griffiths or Morgan. Councillor Calver felt that although she seemed to have missed most of the meetings for the year when she was vice chairperson he could not understand why both councillors who had been supportive of Councillor Sharland in her position as vice chairperson and responsible financial officer, were not now prepared to propose her elevation to the Chairmanship for the forthcoming year.
The election for chairman took place with Councillor Griffiths proposing Councillor Morgan with Councillor Ms Beynon seconding the proposal. For the election of vice chairman Ms Beynon proposed Councillor Griffiths with Councillor Morgan seconding. This election had a lower turnout than the recent assembly elections, as only the future officers were present besides Councillor Calver. The three members involved decided amongst themselves who would be presiding over council issues for the next twelve months, as Councillor Calver took no part in the election process insisting he had no faith in any of the new officeholders.
Demolition of Toilet Block
A letter was received from a Pembrokeshire County Council employee Mr Davies, recognising Councillor Calver's concern over the poor demolition and reinstatement of the old toilet block in the village. Mr Davies informed the council that he had passed on the problem to another employee of Pembrokeshire County Council a Mr Howells, who would be looking at the poor attempt to demolish the toilet block and reinstate the area. Councillor Calver raised the point that surely this was the same Pembrokeshire County Council employee, along with Mr Grifffiths from the Pembrokeshire National Park who where responsible for the original fiasco but he indicated he was prepared to wait and see what they proposed to do. Councillor Griffiths the member of Pembrokeshire County Council felt that they should be given a second chance.
Bus Stop at Penuel Chapel
Concern was raised by Councillor Calver regarding the failure of the buses to stop at the shelter (see article on www.manorbier. corn) that had been promoted in the local press by Councillor Hall, Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Local Member Patricia Griffiths and the Director of the department responsible Mr Hugh Roberts as a major breakthrough for public transport in the region. Councillor Calver reported that he had enquired of one of the bus drivers why they do not enter the lay-by to pick up and drop of passengers from the bus stop and was informed that only the school bus was using the newly provided facility.
Councillor Calver was concerned that no or very little thought had been given by the relevant department of Pembrokeshire County Council regarding the positioning of the bus shelter which had been built out of what County Councillors and the employees at County Hall keep referring to as limited resources, in other words ratepayers money.
Due to his concern that Pembrokeshire County Council had failed to provide an adequate entrance and departure facility at the bus stop he had visited the site at the time of the arrival of the bus carrying the children to school in the morning to monitor the situation. He informed the council he had witnessed the extraordinary manoeuvres required of the bus driver to enter the bay which entailed the bus firstly partly entering the lay-by on the Penuel Chapel side and then because of its inability to complete its entrance in one turn, reverse back out into the main road and take another forward movement to enter the lay by. All of this manoeuvring taking place with young children on board the bus. He could only assume that the bus had not entered the lay-by from the school side because the bus would have to cross over to the right hand side of the road on a dangerous bend and road junction. Councillor Calver also pointed out that there was a problem with the new drainage provision in that when it rained there was four inches of water standing in the entrance to the bus shelter (see our photograph). The council decided to write to Pembrokeshire County Council pointing out the danger and also asking for a full report into the fiasco.
Recreation Area alongside Entrance to Manorbier Castle.
A letter was received from Owen and Owen detailing their proposals for the removal of trees and shrubbery that was in their control in and around the Castle. They did not propose to carry out any works within the recreation area. Councillor Morgan and Griffiths again stated the point that there was very little that could be done about this as the trees had either been donated by someone or planted to commemorate some event. Councillor Calver pointed that we cannot let this area be left to grow unrestricted just because someone had donated a tree or it had been planted to commemorate an event. There was a need for the trees to be severely pruned back to allow a view of the sea, as during the summer months the area is complete darkness, which does not encourage use of the area. Pembrokeshire County Council is to be asked to look at the area. Councillor Calver also pointed out the inadequate temporary measures taken by Pembrokeshire County Council to the defective boundary safety fence. A letter is to be sent to Pembrokeshire County Council on the matter.
Entrance Gate to Jameston Play Area
At the start of the discussion on this subject Councillor Griffiths declared an interest as being a director of the development company Rock Estates Ltd but informed the council that although she had an interest she had decided to take part in the debate to which the chairman Councillor Morgan did not challenge her. Although the director of the company Mr Griffiths whose company was carrying out a housing development in the vicinity had provided the gate he was unwilling to erect the gates but did not give any reason for this decision, therefore the financial burden for erecting the gates would have to be borne by the community. Mr Griffiths stated in his letter that he had not received several faxes and letters form the community council but that he had spoken to a representative of the Jameston Community Association some six months previously, when he had indicated that he would be giving the gate on the proviso that someone other than his firm would erect it. The offer of the gate still stood on that basis but if he did not hear from the Community Council within seven days of the date of the letter he would assume the council no longer wished to have the gate.
It was proposed by Councillor Minchin that a Mr Watkins be contacted as he had recently started up and would probably be prepared to carry out such work.
Arrival of Councillor Sharland.
Councillor Sharland arrived into the meeting at approx 8.45pm.
Councillor Calver was concerned that Councillor Sharland had failed to attend council meetings and enquired what had happened to her promise to paint the "no dogs allowed" sign in the village play area. Councillor Morgan took expectation to Councillor Calver asking Councillor Sharland a direct question relating to her non-appearance at council meetings to which he replied if she only occasionally turns up at council meetings how are we going to know what progress has been made. Councillor Sharland stated that the person who was going to paint the sign had injured herself but would be doing it in the near future.
Item in minutes relating to a letter from Mr Wales
The council agreed to include the request of Councillor Calver that the minutes of the previous meeting should be changed to record his statement that a reply should be forwarded to Mr Wales, which had been omitted.
Failure of Community Council to reply to a letter from Mr Wales.
Mr Wales had written to the community council (see letter) to express his disappointment that the council had refused to reply to his letter at the previous meeting.
The clerk read out the letter when County Councillor Griffiths made the amazing statement that she did not believe that Mr Wales had written the letter and went one stage further to state if he did, he had not written the other letters he had submitted in the past. Mr Wales who was in the public gallery shouted out "did this make me a liar" to Mrs Griffiths who then would not reply. Councillor Calver asked Councillor Griffiths if she was so confident that he had not written the letter, which was obvious by her statement, whom she thought might have written the letter. This was a very serious accusation to make especially as the letter was signed by Mr Wales and perhaps as she seemed to have the ability to decide he had not written the letter perhaps this ability could be utilised to tell us who had written the letter. Councillor Griffiths failed to pass on this information.
Councillor Calver felt that the Community Council was failing in its duty to reply to a specific question from a resident and asked the council to reconsider its decision. Mr Gerson Davies had originally written to Mr Wales asking him to appraise (apprise) himself of the respective responsibilities of the Manorbier Community Council. Mr Wales had written asking the council to make him aware of its responsibilities but Councillor Griffiths seemed to want to brush the matter under the carpet by not replying to Mr Wales. Councillor Calver proposed that as the council was unaware of what its responsibility was, it should contact Mr Davies and then forward his reply on to Mr Wales. Councillor Griffiths who had originally raised the issue with Pembrokeshire County Council employee Gerson Davies in her capacity as chairman of the school governors, seemed to want this matter taken out of the public arena and suggested that Mr Davies be contacted and asked to reply directly to Mr Wales but Councillor Calver stated surely we as a council should be also made aware of our responsibilities which would not happen if the matter was kept between Gerson Davies the Pembrokeshire County Council employee and Mr Wales.
To keep the matter out of the community council arena Councillor Griffiths proposed that the Pembrokeshire County Council employee Gerson Davies be asked to reply directly to Mr Wales.
Proposal from Mr Matum. Castle Inn for the Community Council to finance the Manorbier Football Team.
A letter was received from the Manorbier Football club to pay for the Nets, Balls, Corner Flags, Mini Goals and other items used by the football club.
Due to the fact this was financial aid it was decided to hold it over to the next meeting.
Development land opposite Manorbier School
An e-mail was received regarding the Pembrokeshire County Council application for planning permission on the land next to Manorbier Nurseries (opposite primary school) from a Mr Ciaran Whyle. Mr Whyle had recently purchased a property in Manorbier and was requesting the council forward him with the relevant information as to who to contact regarding the development. Councillor Griffiths who had declared an interest in the planning application at previous meetings, stated that planning permission had not been granted. Councillor Calver suggested that Mr Whyle should be informed that although the application for development had been for proposed residential development and a extra wide gateway with side panels had been paid for out of public funds, that he should contact the owners whose address could be found by taking a look at the relevant file at the National Park offices in Haverfordwest.
Changes to Bus Timetable
Mr Powditch from the Skrinkle Estate had written to the council informing them that it was impossible for him to catch a bus to the school just in time to collect his children from the school.
Councillors felt that it was crucial for children to arrive at school in time for lessons but the bus service through the village is fairly frequent and there are areas of the parish that do not have any bus service. He also concerned that parents had been asked to drive a car full of kids to the fire station for a recent visit and wondered what the legal implications had have been if there had been an accident. Councillors felt this was a matter for the school and its governors.
Planning Permission at Jameston Court.
Councillor Griffiths and Morgan raised concern over the access to the proposed development, as the development already contained a studio extension. Councillor Calver felt that if the Highways Department was concerned that there was a danger they would point it out to the National Park and proposed therefore that no objection to the application be lodged.
Annual visit to Manorbier Camp.
An article was to be included in the newsletter regarding dates for the proposed visit ai arrangements for anyone interested in attending.
Proposed dates. 13th Sept, 26th Sept, 4th Oct, 11th Oct, 18th Oct and 25th Oct.
Councillor Morgan proposes Earth Houses be built in Manorbier
Correspondence from Pembrokeshire County Council employee in Housing Commissioning.
Mr J S Lewis a Pembrokeshire County Council employee in the housing commissioning section requested the Manorbier Community Council view on future housing needs. Councillor Calver suggested that there was a need for all types of housing in the community council area and proposed that this was the reply that should be forwarded to him. Councillor Ms Beynon thought that we should be more innovative. When Councillor Calver questioned here it what manner we should be more innovative she did not know how to be more innovative just that we should be more innovative and when prompted by him did she mean design... said yes. He suggested that perhaps she meant that any future housing should be of timber frame construction. She rapidly agreed with his statement but when he then put it to her that how would that alter the appearance as they both looked the same on completion the only difference was in speed of erection. Councillor Morgan proposed that any new houses should be built of mud construction. This concerned Councillor Calver as this was a backward step for modern house construction especially as the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park had spent a great deal of public taxes trying to eradicate stone age dwellings from the north of the county. A suggestion then came from another councillor that perhaps we could use straw for new house construction. Councillor Calver asked who had proposed that but failed to find out who had suggested this method.