Manorbier.com
Community Council Meeting - Tuesday 3rd June 2003
Visit to Army Ranges .
The Editor of the Village Newsletter had failed to notify residents of the parish that the annual meeting on the army ranges was open to individuals as well as village organisations. The clerk was instructed to place a notice on the village notice boards informing residents to make contact with her if they wished to attend or contact individual councillors for inclusion in the visit.
Partially Demolished Toilet Block
A letter was received from Mr W B Davies, a Pembrokeshire County Council employee, which stated he had visited the site and that the toilet block demolition project was carried out, in what he considered, the cost most effective manner taking into consideration the need to export and import as little material as possible. Councillor Calver pointed out there was no point in going over this again as he had carried out an inspection for the last council meeting. It was decided inform Mr Davies that he might have visited the site but the work carried out was totally unsatisfactory so a request would be made that he rectify the situation as per the council recommendation. It was also decided to inform the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park the officer of which Mr Griffiths had been consulted over the demolition and landscaping.
Tourism Growth Area Meetings
No reply had been received from Pembrokeshire County Council. Cabinet member Patricia Griffiths informed the council that she had spoken to Councillor Codd about the issue. She informed the council that he had told her that he had received his copy as one of the representatives. Councillor Calver pointed out to Mrs Griffiths it was of little value to us whether he had received his copy or not as it was our copy of the minutes we are interested in. Councillor Calver informed her that she should contact the council employee Erica Fielding to obtain our copy, as it was crucial that Manorbier, which is more of a tourist destination that Broadmoor, which Councillor Codd represents, should be kept informed as had been promised.
Visit of Councillor Hall
The council was informed that Councillor Hall was adamant that he would not take questions from members of the public when he visited the council. Mr Wales informed the council that Mr Hall was an expert at arranging public meetings in the past and so why was he unwilling to take questions now, perhaps it was his inability as a cabinet member (salary-£23,000 plus) to answer questions on the spot without the guidance of pointy heads at County Hall. Councillor Morgan questioned the value of him attending if it was going to be restricted, as questions would have to be submitted in advance and the public would be denied their democratic right to ask questions.
Councillor Patricia Griffiths, his fellow cabinet member who had initially suggested to the council that Councillor Hall and the Director of Highways should be invited to the council to take questions on highways and other related matters, showed amusement when informed by the clerk that Councillor Hall would only answer questions supplied in advance.
Declarations of Interest
At the previous meeting the clerk had informed the council that declarations of interest forms would have to be submitted. Councillor Calver had questioned the point of doing this before the guidance notes had been issued and had contacted the Pembrokeshire County Council employee Mr Huw James who had informed him that the form was not mandatory. The clerk who had made the original statement was told to contact Mr James to seek clarification.
Painting of railings at War memorial .
The Tenby Sea Scouts had offered to paint the war memorial free of charge if the council would supply the materials. It was agreed to supply the materials with Councillor Calver suggesting that the clerk contact the blacksmith who made and painted the railings for the supplier of the paint.
Safe Routes to School.
The council had received another letter from Pembrokeshire County Council employee Gerson Davies of the Education Department that he had replied to Mr Wales on the 28th March 2003 regarding the matter. Mr Wales informed the council he had not received the letter and that is why he had submitted letters to the community council in March, April and May for the Community Council to supply him with clarification of the responsibility of the Community Council in relation to the safe route to school schemes. The clerk advised the council she had received another letter from Mr Wales on the subject. The letter criticised Councillor Griffiths for her outlandish remarks. {see letter}
Councillor Morgan was not aware that the Community Council had any responsibility and thought that Pembrokeshire County Council would rather we kept our nose out of it and that all we could possibly do to influence the matter would be to stand on the pavement and wave protest flags.
The council decided to forward a copy of the letter it had received from Gerson Davies to Mr Wales. Mr Wales intervened at this stage to say that if the letter of the 28th March 2003 did not answer his queries he would be writing to the community council again on the matter. He then added that Gerson Davies had clearly indicated in his original letter that the community council had a defined responsibility and all he was asking for the community council view on what it was.
Bus Stops
Councillor Calver informed the council that he had inspected the bus shelter at Skrinkle, which was in a deplorable state with paint over the Perspex sheeting and even bum holes in the Perspex. The county council had failed to maintain the shelter in a good condition demonstrated by the fact the roof and side panels were turning green due to lack of cleaning. He also pointed out that many holidaymakers had missed their buses by waiting in the shelter in the centre of the village, as they did not know which side of the road to stand. He asked for the council to write to the local bus company asking them to place direction type signs informing potential passengers which side of the road to wait when going in the Tenby or Pembroke direction.
Jameston Community Association
The Association had not forwarded details of their constitution and financial details as requested at the last meeting. The clerk said she would follow this up. Councillor Sharland informed the council that they proposed to erect a new notice board outside Jameston Court. Councillor Calver suggested that this was not the right place situated as it was on probably the most dangerous bend in Jameston. Councillor Sharland said she would take this back to the next meeting of the Association and report back to the community council.
Newsletter
Councillor Morgan advised the council that no discussions could take place on this, as there were not enough councillors present who were not members of the community association. He had applied to Mr James for dispensation for the members of the association to be granted dispensation to speak on matters relating to the production of the newsletter. A meeting was arranged for the 8th July to discuss the newsletter. Councillor Calver was concerned that it had been highlighted in the newsletter by the clerk's husband that the newsletter had been edited free of charge and as far as he could remember it had always been done on a voluntary basis by Councillor Davies. He also pointed out that St Florence seemed to produce a more informative flyer on two sides of A4. Councillor Sharland the Responsible Financial Officer was more concerned with the loss of income from the advertisers.
Clerk Wages.
Councillor Calver asked the clerk for the breakdown of her hours and was concerned that she had charged the council and therefore local ratepayers for her attendance on him when he inspected the council records. Councillor Minchin started to say that was how they did it at County Hall, but then suggested perhaps he should declare an interest however he did not give any reasons why this was necessary. Councillor Morgan advised members that the clerk was there to assist Councillor Calver but he reiterated that all he required was the folders he did not require any assistance. Councillor Sharland then intervened to say that the reason why it was necessary was for security reasons. Councillor Calver asked her to explain herself as he was quite capable of sitting down to inspect the books as he had been elected and did not need any supervision. He asked her did she think he was going to steal the family silver. Councillor Sharland seemed embarrassed by her statement and declined to make any further comment. One male councillor suggested that he would not mind her being there to sit on his knee to which Councillor Calver replied he did not wish anyone to sit on his knee as he was very happily married.
Councillor Griffiths informed the council she had always asked Mr Hugh James, an employee of Pembrokeshire County Council if it was possible for her to see any information. This employee would then assess if she had a right to know but she did not know on what basis he made that assessment. Councillor Calver felt that this was absurd when an employee had the right to arbitrate on what information held at County Hall was available for an elected representative to inspect. He could not imagine a situation where a director of BP would ask an employee if he was able to inspect any item of company business.
Request for Manorbier Community Council to fund Football Club
The clerk read out a letter from Mr Maytum for the council to provide financial assistance for the purchase of chalk, comer flags, goalposts and footballs etc. for a second team and a youth team.
Councillor Calver asked Councillor Morgan if he, as chairman of the Manorbier Community Association, was aware of the contents of the letter to which he replied that he was aware of the letter but not its contents. Councillor Calver then suggested to Councillor Morgan that surely the community council pays a substantial amount of its revenue into the playing fields and wondered why these items were not being provided for the parishioners and clubs that use the fields. He was also concerned that we seem to be receiving many applications for funding from various organisations and wondered what the football club has done to raise funds for themselves. He would request that the football club provide the council with their account before any money was donated and even suggested that it is getting to the stage that perhaps his wife if she took up swimming should apply to the council for a grant for a swimsuit. Councillor Griffiths also queried how many local people played for the sporting clubs of the parish and how many came from outside the area. Councillor Meyrick also indicated that surely we could not keep funding all these organisations as we will have the cricket club and bowls club also looking for funding. A case was made that surely they should be providing their own funding.
Request for funding from MADCAP
Councillor Griffiths explained that this organisation had provided a very successful event at the Skrinkle Centre and would be carrying out various events this year. Councillor Calver proposed a one off donation of £50, which was seconded by Councillor Patricia Griffiths. Councillor Calver reiterated that his proposal was for a one off donation as this was going to provide for a summer event for local children.
Millennium Shield
It was proposed by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Morgan than their responsible financial officer Councillor Sharland present the shield at the local school.
Planning Applications
Councillor Calver declared an interest in the applications for Fernley Lodge as it borders on family property. He did inform the council that Pembrokeshire National Park had failed in its duty to inform nearby residents of any planning application and the first he knew about the applications was when he received the minutes of this meeting. He was not in a position to comment on the applications but was concerned that other nearby residents who might have wished to comment had not been informed of the applications, which would have enabled them to contact the community council if they had any concerns. County Councillor Patricia Griffiths was also concerned that the Pembrokeshire National Park had not carried out their statutory duty to inform local residents of a proposed application. A letter was to be forwarded to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to seeking clarification.
Councillor Morgan informed the council that the first he had heard regarding a planning application from Orange to site a mast on his farm was when he came to a community council meeting. Councillor Calver found this incredible that a company should be applying for planning permission for a communication mast without first agreeing terms with the landowner.
Discussion on Welsh Assembly Government Review of National Parks in Wales.
All community councillors were in total agreement that the Pembrokeshire National Park Authority failed to take notice of the views of the community council. Councillor Morgan was the only councillor who wished to see another layer of elected councillors to the National Park Authority as all the other councillors rejecting the idea as a complete waste of public money. The representatives on the Pembrokeshire National Park Authority should made up of county councillors who represent areas of the county council that are in the national park with no outside appointees. Councillor Minchin felt that there was too much interference by the Pembrokeshire National Park into farming businesses. Councillor Calver agreed with Councillor Minchin that there was no need for many of the footpaths throughout the area which are proving expensive to maintain, particularly as they were not being used and were originally just for farm workers to take shortcuts to their workplace. Councillor Morgan felt that the National Park should carry out the same degree of interference on the inland areas as they presently do on the coastpath. The clerk was advised to inform the Pembrokeshire National Park of the community council's view.