Cenarth Community Council

The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Thursday the 6th of June 2019 at Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan at 7:00 p.m.

Members Present:-

Don Griffiths, Samuel Jones, Jeff Lewis, RIchard James, Hywel Bowen, Guto Jones, Nigel Williams, Meurig Thomas,  County Councillor Hazel Evans and PCSO Bradley Davies. Apologies were received from William Davies and Anthony John. The Chairman Hywel Bowen welcomed everyone to the  meeting and especially PCSO Bradley Davies who is now stationed at Newcastle Emlyn Police Station. It was Bradley’s first meeting and Hywel introduced all the members to him. He thanked everyone for the warm welcome and hoped he would be able to assist the Community Council. The Chairman Hywel Bowen asked Bradley whether Jeff Kedwrad had passed any information onto him regarding the area. He stated that no information had yet been gathered regarding the bikers who had been scrambling in the Llwyndu  - Blaen Esgair land area. Also a discussion followed regarding the road works being carried out in the Emlyn Secondary School are. Bradley stated that the Police had contacted the Traffic Control Unit and pointed out the traffic problems that would be caused by narrowing the road and installing wider pavements on both sides of the Vicarage Hill. Also speed ramps had been installed and 20 m.p.h. Speed warning signs. The clerk stated that he had sent letters to the Traffic Control Unit and to the Headmaster at Emlyn School Mr Hugh Thomas stating that they were not happy with the new scheme. Councillor Hazel Evans had also approached the County Council Traffic Officers stating that these new arrangements would not work and would cause traffic jams back onto the main Carmarthen - Cardigan road especially during the school buses deliveries. The clerk had also noted that pupil’s cars being parked on the roadside above the school was causing traffic problems to cars and vehicles coming from the Danrheleg and Capel Iwan direction. This had been pointed out to the Headmaster in the letter sent to him. Hywel then thanked Bradley for his visit and hoped to see him next month.
The chairman Hywel Bowen then asked  the clerk to read the minutes of the Annual   Meeting held on 2nd May 2019. Councillor Hazel Evans pointed out that the Planning Authority was still looking at the application for the construction of further chalets and caravan sites at Penlan Holiday Park. No decision had yet been reached. The clerk to correct the previous months statements. The minutes were proposed as being correct by  Don Griffiths and Guto Jones. 

Matters Arising:-

1. Councillor Hazel Evans stated that so far there had been no decision by the Enforcement Officer regarding the developments at Gellidywyll and Penrhiwolau woods.

2. Members stated that the HIghways maintenance gang had been in the area attempting to fill some potholes  - most of the really dangerous ones had not been touched. Richard James stated that nothing had been done to the road leading up from Hendy cross-roads towards Llechwedd. Areas near Hendy Farm Cenarth and Dolbryn Caravan Park and Bryngolau had not been touched. Neither was the pot-hole by the old school in Capel Iwan and Gorwel, Bwlchcaebrith and down towards Blaengwyddon - road verges collapsed. Samuel Jones stated that the visibility at Llain junction was really bad and dangerous due to the overgrowth and need for trashing. Members noted other junctions that need trashing. Councillor Hazel Evans noted the areas and would contact the Highways Dept. 

3. Richard and Nigel also noted that read mixed concrete lorries were shedding some of their loads when coming up Gellidywyll Hill, Cenarth and leaving lumps on the road surfaces. 

4. Guto Jones also noted that the pot-holes on the road down from Blaenesgair Picnic Site junction towards Blaen Bowi had only been partly filled with tarmac and were still a hazard. Councillor Hazel Evans asked members to make a note of maintenance lorries  registration numbers when they were seen attempting to fill pot-holes. It was stated that there had been no end of complaints about the standard of work being carried out. 

5. Richard James stated that lorries going up the hill from the Cardigan Road towards Pengelli Fach Farm were having problems due to overhanging branches coming out from the nearby woods. Members stated that these woods belonged to the 3rd Williams family - the son being Mr Ben Fitzwilliams who lived in London. The clerk was asked to contact Mr Tony Williams - Highways Dept and request that the branches were cut back.

6. The Clerk stated that he had spoken to Mr Arwel Price - Public Lighting Engineer at Trostre Depot regarding the street lamp at Penrheol Uchaf and Brynderw. This had been disconnected  by OpenReach engineers when connecting the Broadband cables. The western Power suppliers wanted the Community Council to pay for the reconnection and we had refused. Arwel Price was now looking at a way to have it reconnected and had promised an answer in the next week. 

7. The Clerk read a letter from Ms Ruth Mullen, Director of Environment regarding the complaints made by Mr Gary Wilson, Fronwen, Capel Iwan Road about the state of the road in front of his property and the material being washed into his drive from the Highway. She stated that Mr Wilson’s queries and the Community Councils highway problems had been forwarded to Mr Darren King, Carmarthenshire County Council Highways Service manager and that he should contact the Community Council for a response. 

Correspondence:-

1. The clerk read a letter of thanks from Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales, Cardiff who treat about 1800 children with Cerebral Palsy every year. They have to raise £1.5m this year to keep the service operating. The Cenarth Community Council had donated a sum of £100 towards their costs. 

2. The clerk read a letter from Barclays Bank Mandate Change Team stating that they had received  our request to add three new members to the Council’s Mandate Signing arrangement. The three members were given identification forms to complete and present themselves to the local Barclays Bank. The clerk would then complete the transaction. 

3. An email was received  from Issy R Gibbs of Grant Thornton Uk LLP stating that the Auditors had received Cenarth Community Councils 2019 Annual return and they would start work on it in the next few weeks. The clerk had also forwarded photographs of locations of audit reports and a copy of Council Standing Orders. 

4. The Independent re-numberation   Panel Wales requested that Council members should state whether they wished to be paid for their services. All the members stated that they did not want to be paid for their duties. The clerk provided a form for each member to sign non payment. 

5. A letter was received from Carmarthenshire County Council Admin and Law Division stating that the Annual Code of Conduct Training sessions for Community Councillors would be held at the County Hall, Carmarthen on the 16th July 2019 at 6.p.m. It was agreed that the chairman Hywel Bowen and the Vice Meurig Thomas would attend. The Clerk to inform the Dept. 

6. A letter was received from Menter Gorllewin, Sir Gar stating that the Gwyl Canol Dref Parade would be held in Carmarthen on    the 13th July 2019. 

7. A letter of thanks was received from Carmarthenshire County Council Street Scene, Environment Dept thanking the Community Council for part-taking in the extension to the Dog Control Public Protection Order 2016. This Order has now been extended and will come into force on the 1st July 2019. 

8. A letter was received  from Un Llais Cymru and Carmarthenshire County Council inviting the Council to attend a liason forum on Wednesday 19th June 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council’s chamber, Carmarthen. An important  item on the Agenda will be a discussion on changing sodium light street lamps and costs involved. It was agreed that Council Hazel Evans and the clerk Ken Davies should attend.  

Planning Applications:-

1.   Application W/38828  full planning - change of use of buildings and Surrounding area at Cenarth Paintball Games access and parking area to a joinery and woodworking workshop. Alltygelli, Cenarth. Applicant R McCartney, Gellidywyll, Cenarth. The council had no objection but do not support living accommodation. 

Any Other Business:-

1. Members  discussed the replacement of the Red Kiosk at Bryn Square, Penrherber. The original was destroyed in a car accident and the County Council promised a replacement kiosk. Nothing has been heard since and so the members agreed that the clerk   should contact Mrs Nia Stokes at the Planning Dept. to revive the application. It was also agreed to ask whether the old type of kiosk could be re-erected at Capel Iwan Village Square where the old one used to be. 

2. Discussion took place as to whether we could re-erect the sliding platform and climbing frame at the village sports field. It had to be taken down when the village school was sold. Councillor Hazel Evans stated that the County Council ran a programme for village play equipment and inspection. She offered to make enquiries as to the costs involved. 

3. Don was also asked whether he would be willing to paint the wooden sports cabin and the picnic tables at the sports field. Don stated that the tables needed some repair work carried out. Check on the situation. 

4. Members also asked Richard James whether he could cut the grass before the potted sports night on 5th July 2019. 

The meeting ended at 9:00. The next meeting will be on Thursday  4th July 2019 at Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan at 7:00 p.m.