Cenarth Community Council 

The meeting of the Council was held on the 7th of September 2017 at 7:00 p.m. At Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan. 

Members present:- Nigel Williams (Chairman), William Davies, Samuel Jones, Jeff Lewis, Don Griffiths, Richard James, Guto Jones, Meuirg Thomas, Anthony John and County Councillor Hazel Evans. Apologies received from Hywel Bowen and PCSO Jeff Kedward. 

Nigel welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked the clerk to read the minutes of the July 2017 meeting. They were proposed as being correct by Jeff Lewis and Don Griffiths.

Matters Arising:
1.    Councillor Hazel Evans stated that the road surface from Bwlchpal to Penbuarth had been completed. Members stated that no work had been done to the road near Danrhelyg. Neither had the pothole on the road from Blaenpant to Bryngolau been filled. The clerk stated that four shovel fulls had been placed on the road from Penrheol Square to Derlwyn Square and by now the rain had washed it off.  The Highways Dept. were waiting for contractors with cameras to investigate the drain blockage at Gelynnen, Capel Iwan. Hazel stated that she had not received  any information about the island and t Ty-Cerrig junction. She would be meeting the Area  Surveyor Mr Tony Williams next week and would raise the above problems with him again. 
2.    Nigel Williams had been in contact with Mr Hywel Bowen regarding the foundations for the public seat near Argoed Farm Caravan Site. Hywel had been delayed and Nigel was now making fresh arrangements and would inform the members for assistance and contact Richard James for delivery of the the seat to Cenarth. 
3.    Jeff Lewis gave a report on the progress of registering the footpath "3 Horseshoes Inn", Cenarth down to the River Teifi. Jeff stated that he had 13 letters of support from regular users of the path and these would be included with the forms of application for registering a footpath on the Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way.  The application would be submitted to the Unit at Tumble. Members discussed the matter and agreed that the clerk and Jeff Lewis should proceed and fill the forms and submit the application. 
4.    The clerk stated that he had been in contact with Mr Nigel Powell - Head of the Footpath Rangers Dept. regarding the overhanging branches at St. Llawddog's Well and Picnic Area at Cenarth. Nigel Powell had stated that he would have to apply for a special licence before he could cut the offending branches as Cenarth village is an S.S.I. Area. He also wanted a letter of request from the Community Council to carry out the work. Councillor Hazel Evans stated that she was under the impression that no licence would be required  if the branches were a danger to the public and property. This was the case in St. Llawddog's Well and branches could fall on the public and damage the Well and picnic tables. Members asked the clerk to contact Mr Nigel Powell again to see whether a licence was needed. 
5.    The clerk had been in contact with Mr Arwel Price (engineer at Street Lighting Dept.) Tostre regarding the two street lamps not working in the Capel Iwan area. 1. Lamp 706/04 at Groesffordd had been removed because BT were carrying out Broadband Cable installation in that area and they had promised to reinstall the lamp when the work was completed. The Street Lighting Dept had been in contact with BT several times asking them to reinstall the lamp which they had promised to do. Mr Price would contact them again. 2. Lamp 706/18 Penrheol Uchaf, Capel Iwan had been disconnected by the Electricity Board as BT Broadband Engineers  stated that the feed wire was too low and close to their cables. The Lighting Dept now wanted to install a new feed wire from an adjacent transformer pole and they had given the Community Council an estimate price of £2679.66 (inclusive of Vat). Members were shocked at the price and County Councillor Hazel Evans suggested that the work should be covered by the maintenance costs we pay annually. The clerk was asked to contact Mr Arwel Price (Engineer) and state the above fact and ask him to look again at the estimate price. The clerk stated that a deflector plate had been fitted to the street lamp opposite No. 1 Bro Henry, Capel Iwan.

Correspondence
1.    A letter of thanks was received from the Urdd Gobaith Cymru-Carmarthenshire area for the Community Council donation. Also a letter of thanks from Newcastle Emlyn a'r Cylch Eisteddfod 2017 for the council's donation. 
2.    A letter was received from the Boundary Commission  for Wales stating that a presentation on the review of Electoral Arrangements for the Carmarthenshire Area would be held at the Council Chamber, County Hall, Carmarthen at 5.30 on Wednesday 20 Sept 2017. It was agreed that the chairman Nigel Williams and the clerk Ken Davies should attend.
3.    A letter was received from  Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymreag stating that a meeting would be held at the Library Carmarthen on Saturday 30th Sept 2017 at 10 a.m. The main topic would be to discuss the drop  in the number of Welsh speakers in the county. At the moment the Welsh speakers are in the minority. Since 1901 the number was near 90%. In 2011 it was down to 45%.
4.    A letter was received from the Carmarthenshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs asking whether then Community Council would be willing to support the movement financially in the coming year. Members felt that the movement gave the young people of the district a spectrum of opportunities to compete, travel overseas and attend various events at Wales and NYFYC level. It was agreed to send a donation.
5.    The clerk stated that he had completed the Signing Agreement (mandate) with Barclays Bank for year 2017-18.
6.    A letter of notification was received from the Wales Audit Office (Audit arrangement) that Grant Thornton UK, LLP had passed the Cenarth Community Council Audit of accounts for year ending 31st March 2017.

Planning Applications
1.     No W/35897 - Replacement of existing and agricultural building Pentop, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn - applicant - Mr K Thomas.
2.    W/35931 - proposed erection of single dwelling at land adj. to Erwlas Danrhelyg,  Newcastle Emlyn for Mr and Mrs G&S Thomas.
3.    W/36000 - Certificate  of Lawfulness - Existing for Outdoor Adventure Business, Aspirations Outdoor Activities, Maudland House,  Cynwyl Elfed for Richard Cheney. 
The Council had no objections to the above. 

Any Other Business
1.    Don Griffiths stated that the Countryside Footpath Rangers had been in the area and cleared the local footpaths. Also the surface water drains from Gwynfa, Capel Iwan down to Maesgwyn were still blocked. The clerk and Hazel to contact the Highways Dept again. 
2.    William Davies stated that there were two deep depressions on the road surface adjacent to Closglas, Capel Iwan junction. It looks like a collapsed drainage pipe. - contact Highways. 
3.    Nigel Williams asked County Councillor Hazel Evans whether it would be possible for  Highways to bring a lorry of dumped chippings etc from the Penrherber road side tip and place them in the deep trench that had developed opposite the lay-by on Gellidywyll Hill on the forestry side of the road. Cars were now avoiding the area resulting in traffic blockage and people having to reverse for long distances. 
4.    Hazel stated that she had been promised a litter bin to be located outside the housing estate at Gelli, Tanglwst. 
5.    Members complained that people were taking their dogs down to the Village Sports Field behind the Community Hall and not using their doggy bags to clear the dog fouling. Members proposed setting up a No Dogs Allowed sign at the entrance to the sports field. 
6.    Councillor Hazel Evans stated that the Highways Dept. would not cut the trees growing out on the Danrhelyg area as they did not present a danger to the public. 
7.    The clerk stated he had received a letter from the Capel Iwan branch of Merched y Wawr asking whether the Council would be willing to support heir annual Coffee and Tea afternoon to be held in the Community Hall, Capel Iwan at 1.30p.m. on Friday the 29th of September 2017. All the proceeds would be given to Macmillan  Nurses - Carmarthen area. Members felt that such a good cause should be supported and agreed to donate £150 towards the event.

The meeting came to an end at 9.15p.m. The next meeting will be held on Thursday the 5th of October 2017 at 7:00 p. at Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan.