Minutes of the Full Council 15th April 2021
BRACKLA COMMUNITY COUNCIL
THE NEXT MEETING OF BRACKLA COMMUNITY COUNCIL
FULL COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday 15th April 2021 at 6.30pm
Via Video Link
Members Present
Cllr T Walsh – Chairperson
Cllr D Aston
Cllr J Chohan
Cllr I Hibble
Cllr A Pucella
Cllr K Rowlands
Cllr J Spanswick
Mrs R Keepins – Clerk of the Council
Mr P Ley – Assistant Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer
Miss H May – Admin Officer
208 Public Address to Council (10 minutes only)
None
209 Apologies for Absence
Cllr T Giffard
Cllr K Hughes
Cllr C Jackson
210 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct
(and section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992)
Cllr J Chohan declared a personal interest in relation to item 219, Local Government and
Elections (Wales) Act 2021, as he was indirectly involved with the Bill via his work
commitments.
Cllr I Hibble declared a personal interest throughout, as he is a Civil Servant working for Welsh
Government
Cllr A Pucella declared a personal interest in relation to item 231, Planning, as he is a Member
of Bridgend County Borough Council
Cllr K Rowlands declared a personal interest in relation to item 231, Planning, as she is a
Member of Bridgend County Borough Council
Cllr J Spanswick declared a prejudicial interest in relation to Item 231, Planning, as he is a
Member of Bridgend County Borough Council and of Bridgend BCB Development Control
Committee. He agreed to leave the meeting for this item.
Cllr T Walsh declared a personal interest in relation to item, 219 Local Government and
Elections (Wales) Act 2021, as he was indirectly involved with scrutiny of the Bill.
211 Ratification of Minutes of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Committee 3 March 2021
Resolved:
The minutes were approved, proposed by Cllr J Spanswick and seconded by Cllr I Hibble.
212 Ratification of Minutes of the Finance Committee 18 March 2021
Resolved:
The minutes were approved, proposed by Cllr D Aston and seconded by Cllr J Spanswick.
213 Ratification of Minutes of the Full Council 18 March 2021
Resolved:
The minutes were approved, proposed by Cllr I Hibble and seconded by Cllr A Pucella.
214 Ratification of Minutes of the Confidential Minutes 18 March 2021
Resolved:
The minutes were approved, proposed by Cllr D Aston, seconded by Cllr J Spanswick.
215 Clerks Report including matters relating to the Council’s previous meeting
The Clerk provided the following updates to Members:
• The Grass Cutting and Grounds Maintenance Contract has been signed by MS Property
Management for 2021/22;
• Entry to the Wales in Bloom Competition 2021 has been confirmed. The Council will
compete in the Urban Community Category;
• Quotes have started to be gathered for the Memorial Display in the Community Centre;
• It was thought that Spring/Summer Newsletters could be created to promote Council
projects. Members agreed to go ahead with another Newsletter and to have them
distributed via a delivery company providing the costs were low;
• It was agreed that the Community Council would request Bridgend County Borough
Council (BCBC) to carry out a Traffic Survey along Simonston Road;
• There will be a new process in relation to the Annual Audit, meaning a more detailed
Annual Return will need to be completed every 3 years. This process was meant to
commence this year with a cycle having been issued, however, it has been postponed
until 2022.
216 To discuss any matters concerning the Community Centre
The Clerk updated Members that under Welsh Government guidance, Community Centres
could open from 3rd May, however updated guidance on what groups are able to return and
more information had not yet been received. It was suggest that an Extraordinary Meeting nay
need to be scheduled when guidance has been published.
The Clerk referred Members to an email received from Oaktree Surgery, which asked if the
Community Council would allow the surgery to use the Community Centre to hold vital First Aid
Training to the staff. Members also discussed the hire fees for use of the Community Centre
as they had not been raised since 2019.
Resolved:
It was agreed that for the moment the Centre hire fees remain the same for 2021-22, but they
be reviewed in 6 months time to see if there is a need to increase them slightly to cover any
increase in utilities costs.
It was agreed to let the Doctor’s surgery use the Centre in May 2021 for First Aid training for
their staff. It was noted that this was a one-off during the Covid pandemic, where the Centre
was not being used as normal, and should not set a precedent.
It was agreed that the Wellbeing of Future Generations Committee would take on the item of
the ‘Centre Play area and Fitness Equipment’ as part of their Forward Work Program – to
consider the latest inspection reports and consider how to take any repairs or works forward.
Proposed by Cllr I Hibble and seconded by Cllr K Rowlands
217 Covid-19 Update
No update at this time
218 Finance:
(a) Approval of the Schedule of Payments March 2021
The payments for March were approved, proposed by Cllr K Rowlands and seconded
by Cllr D Aston.
(b) Bank Reconciliation as at 31 March 2021
Resolved:
The bank statement was approved as correct, proposed by Cllr J Chohan and seconded
by Cllr D Aston.
(c) Monthly Budget Review March 2021
Resolved:
The budget review was approved, proposed by Cllr D Aston and seconded by Cllr I
Hibble.
(d) Payments for Authorisation
Resolved:
The payments were approved as detailed below, proposed by Cllr D Aston and
seconded by Cllr K Rowlands:
1.4.2021 204680 100.00 Wales In Bloom Entry Fee
1.4.2021 681 9.89 D Boon Acrylic Polish
1.4.2021 682 1150.00 BCBC Lights in Centre Car Park
1.4.2021 683 60.00 One Voice Wales Training
1.4.2021 684 372.00 Play Inpection Co.
Inspection of Playpark and
Equipment
1.4.2021 685 11.86 NWS Ltd Excess Waste
1.4.2021 686 381.10 NWS Ltd Waste Collection
15.4.2021 687 35.25 Clerk Part Wages
15.4.2021 688 34.77 Asst Clerk Part Wages
15.4.2021 689 700.24 Admin Asst Wages
15.4.2021 690 19.50 Centre Cleaner Part Wages
15.4.2021 691 127.17 Centre Caretaker Wages
15.4.2021 692 109.76 Centre Caretaker Wages
15.4.2021 693 722.32 HMRC Paye & NI
15.4.2021 694 987.53 RCT Pension
15.4.2021 695 1683.27 MS Property Grounds MaintenanceBrackla Community Council c/o Oak Tree Surgery, Whitethorn Drive, Brackla, Bridgend CF31 2PQ
Tel: 01656 767072 Email: clerk@bracklacommunitycouncil.gov.uk
Website: www.bracklacommunitycouncil.gov.uk
219 Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021
The Clerk presented the report to Members which provided details of the first provisions under
the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 that will affect Town and Community
Councils and come into force on the 1 May 2021. These included Access of Meetings whereby
the Act makes permanent provision for remote meetings (multi-location) as well as electronic
publication of documents. The Clerk advised the Council that there was the option of deciding
whether the draft minutes of the Council are published on the website within the required
deadline or alternatively a summary giving the details specified. Members were referred to the
example decision record which could be used as a suitable published summary and asked
what their thoughts were on using this in the future.
Resolved:
It was agreed that the decision record would be used following Full Council Meetings in
accordance with the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, proposed by Cllr A
Pucella and seconded by Cllr K Rowlands.
In relation to remote meetings the Council supported their advantages and also recognised the
need to take this further with possible hybrid meeting in the future. It was agreed that as public
meetings were still not allowed during the pandemic, it was best not to make any decisions on
this at this time. It was agreed to review the item in 6 months’ time when full consideration of
the item could be considered including whether Welsh Government were making grants
available in order to assist with hybrid meetings.
The annual report process required for 2022 was also noted.
220 Purchase of Bench for Pebble Pathway
Members discussed quotations and designs of benches provided by the Clerk and suggested
that a metal bench would not be suitable and to look for other options.
Resolved:
It was agreed that the Clerk would go back to the group and ask if they would be willing to
consider other possible options and designs such as resin or recycled plastic benches with a
plaque in order to reduce the associated cost.
221 Brackla Community Council Storage Containers
The Clerk provided Members with quotations for Storage Containers that would replace the
ones in the vicinity. It was advised that all companies would remove the old containers free of
charge. Members discussed the options of removing both containers and storing all items
inside or in the store at the back of the Community Centre but agreed if they would take on
items from Brackla Environmental Support Team, such as the Trailer, room will be needed else
where.
Resolved:
Members authorised the purchase a 20ft lined container and the removal of the two existing
ones. Following checks by the Clerk on two of the quotes as to whether they were lined or not,
it was agreed to progress with the lowest priced option.
It was also agreed that the Council would accept the kind donation of the trailer and equipment
from the Brackla Environmental Group.
Furthermore, on the subject of refurbishing the small brick building to the rear of the
Community Centre, it was agreed that this would be considered as a separate item along with
options including building a separate, new storage area instead.
222 Wellbeing of Future Generations Committee Draft Terms of Reference
Resolved:
The draft Terms of Reference for the Wellbeing of Future Generations Committee were agreed
along with the following recommendation following further clarification on the process and
rights:
It is recommended that Members explore the option of having a Youth Councillor to sit on the
Full Council once again and that they also be encouraged to sit on the Wellbeing of Future
Generations Committee so as to ensure that the voice of young people is represented.
Proposed by Cllr D Aston and seconded by Cllr J Chohan.
223 Town and Community Council Fund Application
The Clerk informed Members that the Community Council had been successful in their
application for the Authority’s Town and Community Council Fund and had been awarded the
full £25,675.00 which would then be match funded by the Community Council to undertake
refurbishment works on the Community Centre.. Members thanked BCBC Cabinet for making
the decision and awarding the Community Council with the funding.
Resolved:
It was agreed that the Community Centre Committee take the lead on the refurbishment
project for the Centre but that any major decisions are still taken to Full Council. Proposed by
Cllr K Rowlands and seconded by Cllr J Spanswick.
It was resolved that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the
following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of
exempt information as set out in Paragraphs 12 of Part 4 and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of
Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government
(Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007 following the application of the
public interest test.
This was proposed by Cllr T Walsh and seconded by Cllr J Spanswick.
224 Donation Requests
Resolved:
It was agreed to donate £250.00 to the ‘Follow Your Dreams’ charity.
In relation to the Spar application, the Council determined that it would await further financial
information on exact figures and would postpone the item until this was received.
Proposed by Cllr D Aston and seconded by Cllr J Chohan.
It was unanimously agreed to return to open session.
225 Community Council Events
Members discussed the possibility of organising an event for the NHS, Social Care and
Frontline Worker Day on 5th July. Due to Pandemic and uncertain times, it was agreed that an
afternoon tea like the organisers suggested may not be suitable and other arrangements may
need to be thought of. The Clerk advised Members that a logo for the event has been designed
and is available on flags, banners and bunting to promote the day.
It was suggested to not hold an afternoon tea as restrictions may not be eased by this date, but
to instead encourage people to donate items such as cakes and biscuits that can be distributed
to Key Services in the Brackla Area. It was also suggested that members of the Public could
nominate residents who have worked throughout the Pandemic to win a Hamper.
Resolved:
It was agreed to purchase a banner and bunting to be displayed outside the Centre and that
the public be asked to donate cakes etc to be distributed to local key workers and possible
hampers to nominated individuals in the community. Proposed by Cllr J Spanswick and
seconded by Cllr D Aston.
The Chair agreed to suspend Standing Order 3w and allow the meeting to continue
beyond 2 hours.
226 Brackla Community Council 5 Year Plan
No Update was reported.
227 Crime Statistics for Brackla
Noted
228 To Receive Reports from Members
Cllr D Aston reported that members of the public had contact him regarding a missing handrail
along the footpath and steps near Brackla Primary School. County Borough Cllrs agreed to put
in a Member Referral to request that BCBC put a handrail along the footpath to make it safer
for users.
Cllr J Spanswick met with Banana Moon Nursery to plant bulbs and spread Wildflower seeds
on the banking of grass outside the community centre, in line with the Keep Wales Tidy
Project. He asked if the contractor could be informed not to cut the grass through the summer
to allow for the flowers to grow.
229 Forward Work Programme
Members noted the Forward Work Programme.
230 Date of the next Full Council Meeting –Thursday 20th May 2021
231 Planning
T/20/84/TPO – No objections
P/21/174/FUL – No objections
Meeting closed at 20:45pm
Print Document