Cenarth Community Council

The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Thursday the 1st of November 2018 at Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan at 7:00 p.m.

Members Present:-

William Davies, Don Griffiths, Samuel Jones, Jeff Lewis, Meurig Thomas, Anthony John and PCSO Jeff Kedward from Newcastle Emlyn Police Station.  Apologies were received from Nigel WIlliams, Guto Jones, Richard James, Hywel Bowen and County Councillor Hazel Evans who is still receiving hospital treatment at Prince Philip - Llanelli. Hazel noted that the clerk should contact  her if there were any County Council problems. She was in constant telephone contact. Everybody wished Hazel a speedy recovery.

The Chairman Anthony John welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked PCSO Jeff Kedward, Newcastle Emlyn Police Station for his presence. Anthony asked Jeff whether he had anything special to report. He stated that he had been attending a Crime Prevention course for the last two weeks at Police Headquarters, Carmarthen. The purpose of the course was for police officers to call at households where there had been break-ins and robbery and advise and help owners on what security measures they should take in future. Jeff stated that it had been a worthwhile two weeks. Two officers would be covering the area in West Carmarthen. Two of the Council members expressed concern about two cars who were constantly speeding in and out of Capel Iwan village and taking no notice of the 30mph speed limit. It was noted that a silvery white Ford Escort and a Corsa together with a black small version of a BMW were the main culprits. Members mentioned the owners and PCSO Jeff Kedward stated he would pay an official call next week to issue a warning. Jeff then left the meeting to attend a Flood Damage Assessment at Newcastle Emlyn after the recent storm and flooding in the town. Anthony thanked Jeff for his visit.

The Chairman then read the minutes of the October meeting and they were proposed as being correct by William Davies and Meurig Thomas.

Matters Arising: -

1. Councillor Hazel Evans had spoken to the clerk regarding County Council matters and noted that she had forwarded the photos of the damaged drain pipe below Black Oak square towards Tanglwst taken by Guto Jones to the HIghways Dept.

2. Nothing had been heard from the Enforcement Officers Office regarding the container vehicles that were being located at the Forestry Site Gellidywyll Woods, Cenarth. County Councillor Hazel Evans had stated that she had spoken to Mr Stephen Thomas - Head of the Section and he had also promised to investigate further.

3. The clerk read a letter he had received from Mr Martin Murray - Public Rights of Way Development Officer thanking the Community Council for taking over the maintenance of four footpaths in the area. The County would still assist in the upkeep of styles and gates and removal of large fallen trees. He was recommending three cuts a year. He also stated that he had been in contact with Mr Stephen Edwards - the Tree Officer regarding the overhanging branches at St Llawddog’s Well, Cenarth. It was obvious that several of these were rotten and needed removal - a proper danger to the public. No Answer had been received and Martin had emailed Stephen asking him to carry out a site visit as a matter of urgency.

4. The clerk stated that he had called at Barclays Bank, Newcastle Emlyn regarding the changes to the Mandate Signing and the misunderstanding was now being rectified.

5. Don Griffiths stated that no action had been taken so far to remove the Japanese Knotweed growing on the roadside leading down to Pentref Isaf, Capel Iwan. The clerk was asked to contact the County Highways Dept once more.

Correspondence:-

1. The clerk read a letter of thanks from Mr Gethin Page - Development Officer for Urdd Gobaith Cymru -Carmarthenshire for the Cenarth Community Councils donation of £50 towards the running and development costs locally.

2. The clerk stated that he had sent the Annual Return for 2018 to the Charity Commissioners covering the Allotment for Recreation i.e. the two fields belonging to the Community Council - Blaenesgair and Fly-on Meribah. The returns were sent online and accepted by the Commissioners.

3. The clerk read two letters which had been sent to the Boundary Commission for Wales regarding the Electoral Arrangements for the County of Carmarthenshire and their proposals to combine the Communities of Cenarth, Llangeler and Newcastle Emlyn to form an electoral ward of 4,406 electors. After a canvass of local inhabitants it was felt that a two member ward would never work out. As figures stand Llangeler has 2,756 electors and Cenarth and Newcastle Emlyn has 1,650 electors thus giving Llangeler a majority of 1,106 electors. Hence it would be possible to have our two County Councillors from the Llangeler ward and Cenarth and Newcastle Emlyn not represented at County Level. This we feel is not a fair democracy. The general feeling is that the best option would be to keep Cenarth as a single member ward and Llangeler also as a single member ward. It was suggested that the level of variance could be lowered if boundary changes were brought in and properties that used to be in Cenarth Ward many years ago should be returned and we go for natural boundaries such as roads, rivers and valleys and combine similar postcodes. It was urged for the Commissioners to look carefully at any two member wards as the rate payers are not always getting the best for their wards and especially in rural areas this is even more of an issue.

The clerk stated that the County Councillor Hazel Evans had also sent a letter to the Commissioners stating her reasons and objections to a two member ward. Both the clerk and Hazel’s letters were also sent to Mr Mark James - Chief Executive of Carmarthenshire County Council.

4. The clerk read a letter and distributed posters announcing the launch of NHS111 across The Hywel Dda Region - the new non-emergency telephone number for people to access GP Out of Hours Services and NHS Direct Wales. The number will officially go live on Wednesday 31st October 2018. The    NHS111 was launched as a pilot in Carmarthenshire last year pending the full rollout across the whole health board area. The number makes it easy for people to get the advice, support or treatment that is right for them all in one place.

5. A letter was received from Carmarthenshire County Council Head of Property offering free advertising opportunity for all halls and meeting rooms in the County. The project is being supported by Welsh Government, CAVS and One Voice Wales. The clerk had returned the necessary forms and information advertising The Ganolfan at Capel Iwan.

6. A letter was received from Carmarthenshire County Council Department for Education and Children Statutory Play Sufficiency Assessment is due to be submitted to Welsh Government on 31st March 2019. The Council is attempting to build a picture of the play opportunities available to children in the communities. The clerk was asked to complete the survey for Capel Iwan Sports Field and play area.

7. A letter was received from Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion, the conductor being Mr Islwyn Evans. The choir is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and hundreds of young children in the locality have benefited from being members. As everything else it is costing a great deal to keep the choir going and this year alone they have performed at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham and the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen and this term again they will be attending the School Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. They were asking whether the Council would be willing to support them financially. Members noted that the rule was that an up to date balance sheet should be produced and then a decision made. The clerk to contact their treasurer and conductor.

Planning Applications:-

1.  The clerk stated that he had written a letter of objection as voted by members against the extension to the Holiday Park at Penlan, Cenarth. The owner wanted to build an extra 23 new lodges and 8 touring pitches and ask for retrospective planning site work already carried out. Local people and present lodge owners felt that it was too large a development in a rural area, the approach roads were also narrow to deal with increased traffic. Lodge owners felt that they would lose their privacy and tranquility.  

Any Other Business:-

1. Members agreed that a poppy wreath should be placed at the Memorial Plaque on Capel Iwan Village Square to remember the crew that died at the crashed aircraft site near Gors Farm, Capel Iwan. The clerk and Don Griffiths to make the arrangements. The wreath should be laid by the Chairman - Anthony John on Sunday the 11th November at 9:15 a.m.

2. Local members stated that the grass had been mowed at Cenarth Cenotaph ready for the remembrance Service on Sunday morning the 11th Nov after the service in the village church.

The meeting ended at 9:15. The next meeting will be on Thursday 6th December  2018 at Y Ganolfan, Capel Iwan at 7:00 p.m.