Cenarth Community Council

The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Thursday the 5th of September 2019 at Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan at 7:00 p.m.

Members Present:-

William Davies, Don Griffiths, Samuel Jones, Jeff Lewis, Hywel Bowen,  Nigel Williams, Guto Jones, Meurig Thomas and County Councillor Hazel Evans. Apologies were received from Richard James, Anthony John and PCSO Jeff Kedward. The Chairman Hywel Bowen welcomed everyone to the  meeting and asked the clerk to read the minutes of the July meeting. The minutes were proposed as being correct by Nigel Williams and Don Griffiths. 

Matters arising:-

1. The clerk stated that he had spoken to Mr Darren King - Highways Manager regarding the state of the roads in the area and the lack of response from the Highways Depot at Cillefwr, Johnstown. Mr King stated that he had contacted Mr Tony WIlliams - Highways Supervisor and he had sent an email to Mr King with an update on the problems and an apology for the delay in answering. The clerk had received a copy of the email listing the works that had been carried out - namely 

2. potholes - Hendy Farm to Blaenpant had been filled.  

3. Poor road surface from Blaenpant to Penrheol Uchaf - there are short sections at this location which are poor but not defective. We shall continue to monitor and consider including the section in the next years list of surface dressing schemes. 

4. Ready mixed concrete spillage Gellidywyll Hill, Cenarth - spillage has been removed. 

5. Overhanging branches from the wood near Pengelli Fach Farm - this has been inspected and the matter will be brought to the attention of the land owner. 

6. Poor road surface near Black Oak Farm towards the windmills - potholes have been filled and the situation will be again monitored. 

7. Repairs to the gutter and pothole below Gorwel, Bwlchcaebrith - work has been carried out.

8. Pothole by entrance to the Old School at Capel Iwan has been attended to. 

2. The clerk stated that he had sent letters of confirmation to Mr Richard Waters - Highways and Transportation Service Manager stating that Cenarth Community Council would participate in the project to replace the Community Lights with LED versions in the 2019/20 financial year. Also a letter had been sent to Mr Arwel Price  - Public Lighting Manager, Tostre, Llanelli confirming the Councils decision. The clerk had also listed street lamps not working in the area - Penrheol Uchaf - standard and lamp blown down by No 5 Bro Hendy (706-07). The street lamp near Rhydyfelin (706-18) had also been removed when a new pole was erected. 

3. The clerk read a letter and documents from Grant Thornton 11-13 Penhill Rd, Cardiff stating that Cenarth Community Council Audit reports for the year ending 31st March 2019 had been certified by the auditors and were all correct. The report was accepted by the members. 

4. The clerk stated that he had written to Mrs Nia Stokes - Planning Dept regarding the re-installation of the Red Kiosks at Bryn Square, Penrherber and possibly one at Mount Square, Capel Iwan. No answer had been received. The chairman Hywel Bowen stated that he had spoken to Nia and she was hoping to have a meeting with BT Open Reach this coming week and hoped for some kiosks - she would contact us. 

5. County Councillor Hazel Evans stated that she had spoken to the person in charge of Play Equipment Inspectors for Carmarthenshire County Council. He was Mr Nicholas French. They charged £75 for each inspection   - members thought that a yearly inspection would suffice. It was agreed that we wait till Mr William Davies has completed the repairs to the climbing frame and re-erect it. A discussion took place regarding the two picnic tables situated at the village sports field. They were in a poor state of repair and needed replacing. Mr Anthony John had brought a sample table made from recycled plastic to the potted sports event - people were very impressed with the product. Members agreed that the clerk should contact Anthony for replacements

6. Members agreed that Mr William Davies was willing to trash the three local footpaths - Pleasant View to Godremamog, Pentre Isaf to Pleasant and Panteg Bridge to Godremamog Mill.  

7. Nigel Williams stated that he had attended a meeting of the League of Friends of Cardigan Hospital. The main discussion was the amount of money they would give towards establishing an amenity area and play area at the new health Centre in Cardigan. It had been agreed that they would donate £25,000. It was hoped that the new centre would be open in December 2019 .

8. The clerk stated that he had spoken to Mr Arwel Price (Public Lighting Manager) regarding the placing of a new street light near houses at Bryngolau Farm. He had suggested waiting till the new Street Lamp Scheme got under way. 

9. The clerk stated that he had received a complaint from Mr Alun Rees, No 5 Bro Hendy, Capel Iwan stating that the steps leading up from the roadside to the houses were loose and needed re-fixing. Councillor Hazel Evans stated that she would take the matter up with County Council Maintenance Department, Carmarthen. 

10. The clerk stated that he had submitted a letter to Hywel Dda Health Board expressing the local feelings about Re-developing Trauma Services in West Wales i.e. Aberystywth, Llanelli, Glangwili, Withybush, Haverfordwest also expressing feelings about the building of a new hospital in the Llanddewi Velfrey district. There should be greater financial support for the Wales Air Ambulance Service. 

11. The clerk stated that the direction sign to Newcastle Emlyn on the sign post at Sycamore House had been broken off. Also members stated that the sign post at Maudsland Square had been knocked over and needed re-erecting and new direction signs - contact Carmarthenshire County Council Highways Dept. 

12. Members noted that the road surface from Ty Cerrig past Cnwc-y-Fran to Llechwedd junction was in a poor state of repair with potholes everywhere. Guto Jones also stated that there was a deep pothole near the entrance to Lan Farm. 

Correspondence:-

1.   A letter of thanks was received from Ellie Tromans, Blaen y Cwm, Capel Iwan for the letter of congratulations that the Community Council sent her after she had been chosen to play rugby for the Wales team under 18 years of age against England. Wales won 28-22 points at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Ellie will be playing for Carmarthen Quins under 18’s next season and hopefully Wales again. Good Luck. 

2. A letter was received from Carmarthenshire County Council Chief Executive Dept asking the Community Council to advertise that Polling Station staff was needed i,e, Presiding Officers and Poll Clerks. Anyone who is interested is asked to contact the Electoral Services Manager, Block 4, Elections Office, Parc Myrddin, Richmond Terrace, Carmarthen - 01267 228772 or 228889.

3. A poster was received from PSCO Jeff Kedward, Newcastle Emlyn Police Station advertising an open night at Drefach-Velindre Hall on Thursday the 3rd of October 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Officers from Dyfed Powys Police would be talking about the scams and frauds being carried out at the moment and how to safeguard oneself. Also they would have a defibrillator display and demonstrations on how to use the machines. Members agreed to change the Community Council meeting to Tuesday evening Oct 1st 2019 so that members could attend. Posters have been distributed in the area.  

4. A letter was received from Carmarthenshire YFC asking whether the Council would be willing to give a donation towards the running costs of the YFC’s in Carmarthenshire. Members agreed that the movement provided a wide choice of events for young people in rural areas. The local Capel Iwan YFC Club is this year celebrating 70 years since it was first started and members are still reaping the benefits of belonging to such a movement. It was agreed to send a donation of £150 towards the County running costs. 

5. A letter was also received from Capel Iwan Merched y Wawr branch asking whether the Community Council would be willing to give a donation this year again towards the McMillan Cancer Nurses afternoon tea which would be held at the Village Hall  - Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan on the 27th of September 2019. Members agreed to donate a sum of £150 towards this worthy cause. 

6. The clerk read a document from the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales setting out the Carmarthenshire Final Recommendations  for the review of Electoral Arrangements for the County of Carmarthenshire. These have been submitted to the Welsh Government Ministers on the 21st August 2019. The Draft Proposals the Commission proposed was to combine the communities of Cenarth, Llangeler and Newcastle Emlyn to form an electoral ward with 4,406 electors and represented by two councillors. There would be 51 wards in total and 75 members, The ward has been given an electoral name of Cenarth and Llangeler. 

The Commission received four representations in response to the Draft Proposals - the Returning Officer for Carmarthenshire County Council, Cenarth Community Council, Llangeler Community Council and Councillor Hazel Evans (Cenarth). The Returning Officer made no further comments to their initial proposals. Cenarth and Llangeler and Councillor Hazel Evans opposed the Commission’s Draft Proposals stating their opposition to a two member electoral ward. We asked for a boundary change between the two wards to even out the numbers of electors and keep a single member electoral ward in the area. The Commission felt it was inappropriate to propose a boundary change at this point due to the lack of public consultation. The Ward will be given the Welsh language name of Cenarth a Llangeler. 

Planning Applications:-

1.   W/39148-full planning. Construction of a show room with offices and formation of parking area. Location: Land at Pentop Farm, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn. Applicant: Ffenestri Kevin Thomas Windows Ltd, Llechwedd, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn. The council fully supports this application - provides work for local people. 

2. W/39346 - Full planning for One Planet Development and change of use from Forestry to Residential and Forestry, Flatwood, Cenarth, Newcastle Emlyn. Applicant: Oliver Weight, Boncath Uchaf, Boncath, Pembs SA37 0HR. The council object very strongly against this application and feel that a settlement is being developed in a Green Field Site at Flatwood. 

3. W/39374 - Full planning - Retrospective permission for engineering works to create a level platform and extension to storage yard to include additional storage containers at Dragon Storage Depot, Bronygarn, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn. The Community Council have no objection to this application and we fully support young people setting up their own businesses in the locality. Applicant: Dragon Storage, 5 Mill Street, Aberarad, Newcastle Emlyn. 

The meeting ended at 10:00 pm. Next meeting will be on Tuesday 1st of October 2019 at 7:00pm at Y ganolfan Capel Iwan.