MATHERN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Council meeting held on Monday 13th January 2020 at Mathern Village Hall.
Present: Councillors – C Ovenden (Vice Chair), J Anderson, J Harris, and C Morton
Also, in attendance:
Clerk – Mrs J Kelley
2 members of the Public
No Police representatives
The Chairperson welcomed Councillors to the meeting and thanked them for attending.
Councillors held a short silence in remembrance of the late Councillor Frank Sainsbury who had stood as a Councillor for many years his contribution will be sadly missed.
64/19 PROCEDURAL ITEMS
(i) Public Comment
Two members of the public attended. One spoke to express how deeply unhappy he was with the comments made by the Community Council to MCC Planners re. his recent planning application. He feels that the community is prejudice and racist against travellers. He said he is able to do what he likes on his land and that he will be building on it and that MCC will be approving this. He was upset that the application was discussed at our closed (to the public) annual Finance meeting in December.
Cllrs advised that Community Councils are asked to comment on applications – (Town and Country planning Act 1990 schedule 1 paragraph 8) and must express the views of the community, not their own views. The decision for planning is with MCC. MCC had refused the Community Council’s request to delay its comments until after its January 2020 (open to the public) meeting so therefore this application had to be discussed, together with 2 others, at the closed December meeting. The Community Council’s response to the County Council had to be within 28 days. His application is due to go to the full County Council Planning Committee in February when a decision will be made.
Report from Community Police.
“There will be no attendance from ourselves at the meeting on Monday evening but please email either myself (PCSO Jones) or Matt if there are any issues you would like to raise. But please use the 101/999 system to report crime etc.”
Here is the report for between the above dates:
11/11/19 – Report of a purse stolen by unknown persons from a customer whilst in the café area of Pwllmeyric Garden centre.
27/11/19 – Report of damage caused to a wall at a property on Trap Hill road, Mounton.
30/11/19 – Report of a 2 vehicle minor injury rtc outside Pwllmeyric Garden Centre.
8/12/19 – A couple of reports regarding a flatbed transit that had been vandalized whilst parked in the Mathern village hall car park. This has been resolved and the owner notified.
Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity/crime via either 101 or 999 if you deem it an emergency. If it is low level you can also report via email on contact@gwent.pnn.police.uk
A member of the public present asked why an incident on his property wasn’t reported and discussed at the Community Council meeting. Clerk took the incident number and will contact police to investigate why this wasn’t on the report.
After the meeting the Clerk contacted our local PCSO. He advised that this crime had been reported to Shirenewton C C in error as they believed Crick was in that ward.
iii) Apologies
Apologies received from Councillors David Harris, David Merrett, Graham Down
County Councillor L Brown.
(iv) v) Declarations of Personal or Pecuniary Interest:
An interest was noted in Planning Application DM/2019/02021, Lime Kilns, by Cllr J Anderson.
vi) Minutes of the previous meeting
Minutes of the meeting held on 11th November2019 and Financial Meeting 9thDecember 2019 were agreed as true record.
There were no matters arising.
65/19 FINANCIAL MATTERS
Payee Amount(£) Cheque number
RBS (Annual Accounts) 202.80 102049
Combens Nursery 30.00 102050
Internet and Telephone 46.49 102051
D D Pension for December 68.11 Employee 37.84 Employer
Online Payment Salary
for December 566.37
PAYE – October 121.65
Internet Payment £13.20 Stock it Ltd. License
Merlin Waste £37.50
Monthly Bank Reconciliation authorisation by Cllr Jayne Harris
Clerk confirmed Precept request submitted and confirmed by MCC
Update HSBC – Safeguarding request – Clerk advised that HSBC are seeking clarification on the working of this Council as it holds a cheque book account with them. The Clerk has needed to visit the local Branch with relevant Identification and now awaits clarification that they have all the information which they require.
66/19 PROGRESS REPORT ON ACTIONS FROM LAST MEETING
i) Response from MCC re Bus timetables at bus shelter, Pwllmeyric – Dog Waste Bin
Dog bin has now been installed.
MCC advised that bus timetables are not now installed in bus shelters as it expects the public to use Smart apps. Cllrs were disappointed with this as most elderly passengers would not have the means to have such apps installed on their phones.
This matter now closed.
ii) Response from MCC re Communities response re planning issues.
A meeting took place on Tuesday 19th November at MCC Head Office in Usk.
Cllr D Harris, Cllr C Ovenden and County Councillor L Brown attended.
The matter was raised regarding poor communication and that a more proactive response to local comments and views was needed. Cllrs hope that following this meeting, a better relationship will result, with the Community Council’s comments being taken on board.
iii) Quote for Bench repair.
A quote has been received and was agreed at the December meeting. Work to commence in March.
iv) Archiving Village School Records
Cllr C Ovenden is happy to take the box to Gwent Archives when the scanning is completed. The annual fee of £26.00 was agreed.
v) Possible work on boardwalks – Bishop Mead
MCC feel that the work they have already completed is adequate – Cllrs to monitor this walkway and advise Footpaths Officers if they think it is deteriorating further.
vi) Response from Living Levels grant application
Our application is still being reviewed. However it may be that we will not receive a grant for both a projector and a new website.
Clerk to photograph the plaque at St Tewdric’s Church and forward to Living Levels as an example of the type of plaque we would like to be installed at St Tewdric’s Well and in Mounton village.
67/19 Highways
• Speeding through Mathern (Graham Kinsella -? any response)
No response received. Clerk to ask County Cllr Brown if she has received one from him.
• Trees- centre of Mathern – Hedges Barn Lane
Trees have been cut. Work in Barn Lane not completed
• Gully cleaning. This has been carried out. However following more rain, they need to be cleared of leaves again.
• Mounton Village trees
Work on the trees has started.
• New items to report
• Fence alongside Mounton Brook from Mounton roundabout to Trap Hill has collapsed.
• Rumble strips still not completed at bottom of Pwllmeyric Hill.
• No Through Road sign damaged (R143 – 68.1) Bottom of Moynes Court drive
• Mature trees overhanging in Barn Lane – Tree officers to check
• Under motorway bridge – debris following recent storms blocking drains.
• Leaves – Mounton village. Roads very dangerous.
68/19 COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS/CLERKS REPORT
a) One Voice Wales – Representative to be selected. Next Meeting 16th January 2020. Apologies to be sent.
b) b) Defibrillator- Monthly Checking
Monthly check on the Millers Arms defibrillator carried out by Cllr C Morton for December. Fully functioning. Mounton Brook Lodge defibrillator also checked and in full working order.
c)County Councillor’s Monthly Report
County Councillor Brown advised: No monthly report due to meetings cancelled following General Election.
69/19 PLANNING MATTERS
a) New submissions:
DM/2019/02021 – Lime Kilns – Single storey extension and single porch to the front with new double garage with storage area and office in loft space.
Comments: Cllrs happy with the application assuming that the new office is to be used for home office purpose. If it is to be used as a commercial office, Cllrs feel that any resulting increase in traffic on this small lane would detrimental to the residential nature of the area.
b) Decisions and appeals – None
c) Enforcement- None
70/19 CORREPONDENCE AND FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
OVW National Awards Conference 26th March 2020.
16th January Boundary Commissions Presentation Usk 6.30 – Cllr C Ovenden to attend.
15th January Cluster Meeting at Chepstow Hub – Cllr G Down to attend.
16th January – Transition Chepstow – Cllr C Morton to attend.
71/19 OTHER MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
Damaged noticeboard – Pwllmeyric
Clerk to order the parts. To be delivered to Cllr J Anderson’s home address as he has volunteered to carry out the work.
72/19 PROJECTS AWAITING COMPLETION
Nomination for work within the Community.
Clerk to forward Gov site to Cllr Ovenden to investigate this.
Update Website.
This has been added to the 3-year forecast for next year.
Eddie Parry Plaque – Ivy Cottage Pwllmeyric. Councillor G Down to speak to the new owners – cost of plaque also added to the 3-year forecast.
Cllr Morton brought up a matter under Any Other Business (AOB). However, One Voice Wales inform us that AOB should not appear on our agendas. As the subject was not agenda-ed, it will instead be put on the agenda for February.
Cllr. Morton would like to see to see the hourly bus which travels from Newport – Caldicot -Portskewett to Chepstow to also stop at Mathern –Clerk did point out that the Grass Routes bus can be booked with 24 hours notice, to come at time of choice.
In future, Community Councillors will be asked to submit any items they wish to be discussed to the Clerk so that they can appear on the agenda.
73/19DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on the 10th February 2020 at 7pm in the small room of the Village Hall. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9.35 pm.
Signed …………………………….. CHAIRMAN Date……………….