Cenarth Community Council 

The meeting of the Council was held on the 4th January 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan. 

Members present:- William Davies, Don Griffiths, Nigel Williams,  Jeff Lewis, Guto Jones, Hywel Bowen,  Anthony John, County Councillor Hazel Evans. Also present were   PCW Awen Williams and PCSO Jeff Kedward from Newcastle Emlyn Police Station.  Apologies received from Samuel Jones, Meurig Thomas (illness) and Richard James (lambing). 

Nigel Williams welcomed everyone to the first meeting of 2018 and wished everyone a Happy New Year. He also thanked the police for their presence and asked whether they had any reports for the area. PCSO Jeff Kedward stated that there had been four break-ins in Newcastle Emlyn town in the last week and he and Awen asked members to spread the word and warn farmers to keep a sharp eye on their machinery and fuel supplies. Everyone was asked to to keep an eye for strange vehicles in the area and attempt to pick up the Registration numbers. They also noted that the Pembrokeshire County were setting up a new Farm Watch Group and were visiting farms and marking vehicles and encouraging farmers to join the scheme. The police were also in the process of setting up a schemes in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in an attempt to cut down on farming thefts. Many questions were asked by members and Jeff promised to keep in touch about developments. The police and members stated that they had received complaints about cars racing round the square at Capel Iwan. The culprits were known to members and the police  - who promised to pay them a visit and issue a verbal warning. Jeff and Awen then left the meeting and Nigel thanked them for their visit. 

The clerk was then asked to read the minutes of the December 2017 meeting. They were proposed as being correct by Don Griffiths and Williams Davies. 

Matters Arising:
1.    Members again raised questions regarding the terrible state of the roads in the district. Councillor Hazel Evans stated that she had again spoken to the Area Supervisor for Road Maintenance in the area Mr Tony Williams and had highlighted the following problems: Deep potholes at Henry Farms m, Cenarth bend and also Blaenpant to Bryngolau bend. Also the road surface and potholes had reappeared on the road by Black Oak Farm. 
2.     Guto Jones stated that the gutters were blocked from Black Oak Farm square down towards Penffynnon and it appeared that the drainpipe may have collapsed. All the surface water was running down the hill and freezing.
3.     Hywel Bowen also stated that surface water was running down Bwlchcaebrith square down towards Blaendyffryn and freezing. The same was true from Gorwel with spring water coming out of the hedge and missing the drainage trench and running  down the hill and freezing. Hywel also stated that large quantities of water was collecting in the dip above Llwynffynnon, Bwlchcaebrith Farm on the road up towards Banc -Penbuarth.
4.     The clerk stated that Samuel Jones had told him that he had been out cleaning and clearing the gutters and gratings on the roadside from Blaengwyddon down to Llain junction. 
5.    Don Griffiths also noted that the drainage pipe taking water from Henry Fields across the road at Pantygarn bend was also blocked and deep pools of water forming there. The clerk and Councillor Hazel Evans were asked to contact the Carmarthenshire Highways Department once again regarding the above complaints. 
6.    County Councillor Hazel Evans produced a copy of the letter she had submitted to the Boundary Commission for Wales regarding the Review of Electoral Arrangements and Boundary changes in the Cenarth ward. Members agreed with the comments made by Hazel and asked the clerk to draft a simular type of letter expressing the Community Councils views and feelings and forward it to the Commissioners.
7.    The clerk stated that he had not received any correspondence from Mr Jason Lawday Countryside Access Unit regarding the footpath from  3 Horseshoe Inn, Cenarth down to the River Teifi. 
8.    Nothing had been heard from Mr Arwel Price (Engineer) - street Light Dept. regarding the street lamps at Penrheol Uchaf, Capel Iwan and Groesffordd. Clerk to contact him again for an update. Same was true regarding the licence for tree cutting at Ffynnon St. Llawddog,  Cenarth. No answer had been received from Mr Nigel Powell - clerk to send another letter for an update. 
9.    A letter of thanks was received from Mrs Julia James  - Secretary of Cenarth Chapel MC Chaired Eisteddfod 2018 thanking the Community Council for their generous contribution towards the running costs. 
10.    William Davies stated that the old bed mattress which had been left in the lay-by on Rhiw-Ddu on the road towards Frondeg, Capel Iwan was still there. Councillor Hazel Evans stated that she would once again contact the Fly tipping Dept. of Carmarthenshire County Council to have it removed. 
11.    A letter of thanks was received from Mr Ieuan James, Local Honorary Organiser for the Poppy Appeal Newcastle Emlyn - British Legion Branch thanking the Community Council for their donation of £20 towards the Remembrance Wreath placed at the memorial plaque at Capel  Iwan square. 

Correspondence
1.    A letter was received from Cyngor Sir Gar - Director of Corporate  Services, County Hall, Carmarthen asking for Cenarth Community Councils Precept requirement for year 2018-2019. The clerk produced figures for payments and receipts for years ending 31st March 2016 and 2017. Members discussed the present balance and projects for year 2018-19. The clerk also noted that Windjen Power Ltd, Colwyn Bay were still contributing a Community Grant every year in respect of the three windmills at Blaenbowi Wind Farm. It was finally proposed by Jeff Lewis and Don Griffiths that the Precept should remain at the same level a sum of £9000 for the year 2018-2019. The claim form was duly signed by the Chairman - Nigel Williams and the clerk - Ken Davies
2.    A letter was received from Carmarthenshire County Council - Head of Highways asking for the Community Council's views on proposed x2 road lumps to be installed as traffic calming on the B4333 road Aberarad to Newcastle Emlyn at a point approx. 62m east of the centre of its junction with Glaspant Terrace. Members discussed the proposal and agreed that it would most probably reduce the traffic speeds through the existing priority give way system for vehicles coming from the Cynwyl Elfed direction. The clerk to forward the Councils observations.
3.    A Christmas letter was received from Councillor Mike Cuddy - chairman of One voice Wales setting out what had been achieved by the society in 2017-2018 and plans for the coming year. The office was always open and ready to assist every Community Council. 
4.    HM Revenue and Customs informed the council that they were updating some of their older IT systems. As Cenarth C C use claim form VAT 126 to reclaim VAT payments this new change would affect us. A new reference number will be forwarded later in the year. 
5.    A meeting will be held on Tuesday 9th January 2018 at 2.00 p.m. in Bronwydd Hall, Carmarthen to discuss Transforming clinical Services update in the NHS ( Hywel Dda University Health Board).
6.    A Christmas letter was received from the Carmarthenshire County Council Chief Executive Mr. Mark James setting out goals reached in year 2016-2017. 250 jobs have been created to boost the areas economy, place 1600 people in volunteering, 344 into jobs and 3127 into training. The Council also supported the creation of 33 new enterprises and secured over £23.5 million in investment/funding. He wished everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
7.    A letter was received from Kevin Thomas  Windows drawing attention to the terrible state of the road past Llechwedd up towards Pantybwlch. Also he asked whether salt and grit bins could be placed on the stretch of road especially near Ffynnon-wen and Blaenycwm - here the road surface has completely broken up. This is causing extra expenses to us in running costs for tyres and vehicles repairs, some filling has taken place but has even washed away with heavy rainfall.
8.    A letter received from Carmarthenshire County Council - Department for Education and Children - Governance and Inclusion stating that there would be a vacancy for one  minor  authority representative on the Governing  Body of Ysgol y Ddwylan,  Newcastle Emlyn. Cenarth Community Council were asked to consider filling the vacancy. Members discussed the matter and two names were suggested  - Samuel Jones and Anthony John. The clerk contacted Samuel but he stated that he had already served  a term and suggested that Anthony's name should be forwarded to the Department for Education. The clerk has spoken to Anthony and he has agreed to have his name forwarded.

Any Other Business
1.    Jeff Lewis stated that lights had been seen in the forestry clearing near Gellidywyll bend and there might be somebody camping there. Nigel also stated that the owners of Penrhiwolau had seen people walking around the clearing and had told them that they were on private land. They had stated that they were thinking of applying for planning permission. Also Nigel stated that there were people living in the wooden building situation on the old paintball site. Councillor Hazel Evans stated that the matters had been reported  to the County Council Enforcement Officer. Also a development at Gwalia house, Capel Iwan was being investigated. 
2.    Ms Jenny Wheeler had told the clerk that people were calling at the Village well in Capel Iwan to collect drinking water. A certain person had reversed onto the green last week and the car had got stuck and help was needed to get it out with the result that the green was all churned up. She was asking whether the Community Council would be willing for her to buy some fencing posts and she would do the  work free of charge to fence the area off and protect the village green. Members agreed to the proposals. 

Planning Applications
1.    W/36596. - Discharge of Planning Cond 7 of Lighting Scheme of W/33601 - Barn at Pantygwenith, Penrheol, Newcastle Emlyn. Applicant Mr John Sutton, the council had no objection.

The meeting came to an end at 9.00. The next meeting will be held on Thursday the 1st February 2018 at 7:00 p. at Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan.