Manorbier.com
Community Council Meeting held on Tuesday 7th October 2003
Council Chairman David Morgan's attempt to remove items that were recorded in draft minutes taken by Councillor Meyrick
The first item on the agenda was the minutes of the community council meeting of the 16th July 2003 regarding the printing of the newsletter. The chairperson Mr. Morgan wanted the council to delete the section, which had been included in the minutes, that confirmed his statement that he had assured the council that correct procedures had taken place in obtaining dispensations for members of his association. He stated that he "had forwarded a copy of the Manorbier Community Association constitution" to Mr. Hugh James when he had applied for dispensation for members he said had been nominated by Manorbier Community Council. Councillor Calver had pointed out that he had made enquiries with the office of the Monitoring Officer who had confirmed that they had not received a copy of the constitution. Councillor Morgan tried to infer that this was not part of the meeting but Councillor Calver insisted it was and he was suspicious why Councillor Morgan wanted something removed that was actually part of the meeting. This is another example of the inaccuracy of the Manorbier Community Council recorded minutes when the chairman tries to delete what was actually said from the recorded minutes.
Newsletter Costs
The clerk had again failed to provide accurate accounts for the production of the newsletter. She informed the council that PAVS had not invoiced the council for some of the work that had been carried out and that also the council had not been paid by some of the advertisers in the newsletter. She then asked what she could do about it. Councillor Calver reminded the clerk that when the annual accounts were produced no mention had been made regarding outstanding debts to the council and there should have been an item for monies outstanding as this was another example of inaccurate bookkeeping. He stated that as for collecting the monies outstanding this was up to the council to decide. She was asked to bring to the attention of the community council a list of debtors and a full breakdown of newsletter costs.
Councillor Ms Beynon proposed that to cut down on the costs residents should be asked to pay a nominal sum of 20p for the newsletter. It was pointed out by Councillor Calver that they are already paying for the newsletter in the high rates that Manorbier Community Council levies on the community.
Conflict of Interest
During discussions regarding the newsletter the Council Chairman Mr. Morgan tried to insinuate that Councillor Calver should be declaring an interest as that he ran a local website that generated income from businesses and should therefore not take part in the discussion on the newsletter. Councillor Calver informed Councillor Morgan that he did not have to declare an interest as firstly this was a discussion regarding the production of the newsletter and not about revenue and as far as he was concerned Councillor Morgan had a conflict of interest as he was chairperson of the Manorbier Community Association which received revenues from the Community Council to produce the newsletter.
Demolished Toilet Block in Village
Mr. Keith Halpin from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park had informed the clerk that all Pembrokeshire County Council were prepared to do was put some more topsoil on the area. Councillor Calver pointed out that if this was a private owner the National Park Authority would be down on them like a ton of bricks. He insisted that there was no useful purpose for Mr. Halpin's attendance as he was only the enforcement officer for the Park. Other councillors agreed with Councillor Calver that a stand should be made on this issue and a farther letter was to be written to the Pembrokeshire National Park and the owners of the toilet block, Pembrokeshire County Council.
Tourism Growth Area Steering Group
Councillor Calver reported back to the council regarding the notes he had received from the TGA steering group which he felt were too brief and that although Pembrokeshire County Council talk a great deal about the Team Pembrokeshire approach we seem only to be consulted after decisions have been made. One of the subjects was the projects' update review to which Anne Robinson stated that for reasons of confidentiality it was not possible to give detailed information on the project applicants but she assured the group that there would soon be an opportunity to feature completed projects and publicise these TGA successes. Councillor Calver was concerned that Anne Robinson had deemed these projects a success even before they were finished and he could not understand the secrecy about who was taking part in the projects after all it was public money they were receiving.
Although the Tourism Growth Area steering group had recorded that issues relating to the JUDP plan were raised and carefully debated they had not consulted the community council on these issues. One major concern to him was an item headed formal objections e.g. the one regarding New Hedges and he could only assume this was the out of town shopping centre. He felt that Manorbier Community Council should be informed in advance of the agenda items so that it was possible to make representations on any issue or observe the meetings if wished. He stated he could not comprehend why these meetings seem to be held in secret.
Councillor Griffiths suggested that Councillor Codd should come and give us a talk on the group as he was the community representative. Councillor Calver said this suggestion was of little use, as we needed an input into the group not a talk from a County Councillor. A letter was to be forwarded to the group voicing the community council's concerns.
Bus Stop at Penuel Chapel
Councillor Wales informed the meeting that he had been talking to the Rev Fiddy regarding the parking in the lay-by and he had informed him that the permission for parking was only outside his chapel not in the lay-by. Councillor Calver was sure this was not correct but he would check the report from the planning inspector who carried out the appeal report. Again we have the situation were a much-trumpeted Pembrokeshire County Council scheme has failed when the buses cannot enter the bus bay safely. Councillor Griffiths informed the meeting that more money was now available under the scheme. Councillor Calver suggested that maybe it took two attempts by Pembrokeshire County Council to put the shelter in the right place.
Bus Timetables
It was reported that Pembrokeshire County Council had at last placed the timetables on the notice boards alongside the bus shelters.
Poor state of the village and its signposts
A Mr. Duckett-Anderson had written to the council regarding their complaint that the signposts in the village are poorly kept and the situation seemed to have deteriorated since the change of personnel on the roadwork's gang. Mr. Duckett thanked the council for the information that had been passed on to him but did not seem to be going to do anything about it. The council are to inform him it was no use thanking them for informing him, what they wanted to know was what he was going to do about it.
Fernley Lodge
Councillor Calver did not take part in the discussion on this item as he had family interests alongside the property.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park reported that the applicant had withdrawn his planning applications for the site but they were concerned regarding the missing cocks and hens from the boundary wall. Councillor Wales proposed that the council make representation to the National Park that the owner replaces the missing stones.
Skrinkle Bus Shelter
It was reported by Councillor Beynon that although she had missed many meetings lately she had taken an interest in the discussions on removing the graffiti from the shelter and Pembrokeshire County Council's endeavours to find a solution to remove it. She pointed out that she had visited the bus shelter and found that it was quite easy to remove and could not understand therefore why Pembrokeshire County Council were making excuses.
Hedges at Skrinkle
Councillor Calver had received a letter from Mr. Duckett Anderson informing him that Pembrokeshire County Council would no longer be cutting the hedges on the Skrinkle Estate, as they are the property of the tenants or owners. Councillor Calver was concerned that Pembrokeshire County Council were again trying to cut back on the services they have always carried out on the estate and asked Councillor Griffiths if there was a policy to cut back on hedge trimming. However she did not have an answer. He was concerned that Pembrokeshire County Council had informed him that the tenant who had first brought this matter to his attention was now responsible for a hedge bank that was outside the post and rail fence on what he thought was his boundary. The tenant was concerned as he was quite happy to leave the hedge there as it provided both security and shelter for him and all the back gardens on the row from the prevailing west winds. Pembrokeshire County Council was to be asked if and when their policy had changed as these hedges have always been cut by the county council. Also a request should be made that they look into the cutting of hedges as some now have started to overgrow the paths.
Possible Problem on Beach
Welsh Water informed the council that it had arranged a meeting with Councillor Calver to inspect the possible outflow of contaminated material on to the beach and as a result no contamination had been found. Councillor Calver reiterated what he had said on the issue at a previous meeting that was he had seen no sign of possible sewerage entering the manhole on the beach before it went to the outlet pipe. Councillor Wales was concerned regarding the information that Councillor Calver had given him and questioned him farther on the meeting he had with Welsh Water and what he had found. He pointed out to Councillor Wales that as a builder he was well aware regarding the construction of manholes, and what should have been there, such as a channel and benching from inlet to outlet and what was there was a stone bottom which as he had already informed Councillor Wales would have shown sewerage debris. The only use Welsh Water had for this pipeline he was informed was during possible surface water outfall.
Jameston Play area Access
The risk assessment officer from Pembrokeshire County Council Mr. Fades had reported back that there was a risk and suggested that the Community Council rectify the situation with a suitable path. Councillor Griffiths informed the council that as the area concerned was in the ownership of Mr. Lindsey who in the past had not been particularly cooperative towards Manorbier Community Council as he had not replied to their letters and it was felt it would be difficult to get an answer from him. Councillor Calver suggested that we should at least try and contact him regarding this issue. Councillor Morgan proposed that we contact the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and ask them to make this an official path as it had now been used for many years as access to the play area.