Minutes of the Full Council Meeting – 18th February 2021
BRACKLA COMMUNITY COUNCIL
THE NEXT MEETING OF BRACKLA COMMUNITY COUNCIL
FULL COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday 18th February 2021 at 6.30pm
Via Video Link
Members Present
Cllr T Giffard – Chairperson
Cllr D Aston
Cllr E Caparros
Cllr J Chohan
Cllr I Hibble
Cllr K Hughes
Cllr A Pucella
Cllr K Rowlands
Cllr J Spanswick
Cllr T Walsh
Mrs R Keepins – Clerk of the Council
Mr P Ley – Assistant Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer
Miss H May – Admin Officer
159 Public Address to Council (10 minutes only)
None
160 Apologies for Absence
None
161 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 I Hibble declared a personal interest throughout as he is a Civil Servant working for Welsh Government.
Cllr T Giffard declared a personal interest in relation to item 179, Planning Applications, as he is a Member of Bridgend County Borough Council and to item 171, Donation Request – Computers for Children and Older Community
Cllr A Pucella declared a personal interest in relation to item 179, Planning Applications, as he is a Member of Bridgend County Borough Council.
Cllr K Rowlands declared a personal interest in relation to item 179, Planning Applications, as she is a member of Bridgend County Borough Council.
Cllr J Spanswick declared a prejudicial interest in relation to item 179, Planning Applications, 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 K Hughes declared a personal interest in relation to item 179, Planning Applications as he knew the applicant.
Miss H May declared a personal interest in relation to item 168, Recommendations of HR/Personnel Committee as the item involved her job role.
Mrs R Keepins declared a personal interest in relation to item 171, Donation Request – Computers for Children and Older Community as she knew the applicant.
162 Ratification of Minutes of the Full Council 21 January 2021
Resolved:
The minutes were approved with the following amendments, proposed by Cllr K Hughes and seconded by Cllr E Caparros.
That the list for authorised payments be added.
163 Ratification of Confidential Minutes of the Full Council 21 January 2021
Resolved:
The confidential minutes were approved, proposed by Cllr K Hughes and seconded by Cllr J Chohan
164 Clerks Report including matters relating to the Council’s previous meeting
The Clerk provided an update to Members covering the following points:
• Currently seeking quotes for gardeners and nurseries in line with Financial Regulations and the need to have 3 quotes. Members highlighted that whilst quotes needed to be gathered, the Council had to take into account reputation and quality as well as cost as cheaper does not always mean better quality and service;
• The Memorial Bench has been ordered;
• The 10 new bins been ordered – Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) have agreed to store them for us until locations have been finalised;.
• Letters have been drafted ready to send to residents regarding fly-tipping and dog fouling in the area;
• The four Gateway signs are still under discuission with the Clerk in contact with Officers from BCBC to try to resolve the ongoing issues.
165 To discuss any matters concerning the Community Centre
The newly appointed caretakers will be starting next week and a meeting has been arranged to go through their contracts.
The Clerk had a meeting with a BCBC fire officer regarding the fire safety of the Community Centre.
Banana Moon Nursery have used the Community Centre for their Holiday Club and will continue to use the building for their After School Club following half term when children start returning to school.
The Community Centre has been booked for the upcoming Elections in May. Times are to be confirmed.
166 Covid-19 Update
No update at this time.
167 Finance:
(a) Approval of the Schedule of Payments January 2021
Resolved:
The payments for were approved, proposed by Cllr K Hughes and seconded by Cllr T Walsh.
(b) Bank Reconciliation as at 31 January 2021
Resolved:
The bank statement was approved as correct, proposed by Cllr I Hibble and seconded by Cllr T Walsh.
(c) Monthly Budget Review January 2021
Resolved:
The budget review was approved, proposed by Cllr K Hughes and seconded by Cllr J Spanswick
(d) Payments for Authorisation
Resolved:
The payments were approved as detailed below, proposed by Cllr J Spanswick and seconded by Cllr K Hughes
Date Cq No Amount Payee Details
1.2.2021 204646 118.57 Viking Hand Towels,Envelopes and Window Cleaner
1.2.2021 647 61.25 Manpower Centre Caretaker
1.2.2021 648 73.63 NWS Ltd Excess Waste
1.2.2021 649 39.94 NWS Ltd Excess Waste
1.2.2021 650 65.44 Konica Minolta Photocopier
1.2.2021 651 90.00 Fire Safety Direct Bi-Annual Fire Inspection
1.2.2021 652 313.82 NWS Ltd Waste Collection
4.2.2021 653 28.36 Viking First Aid Kit Items
4.2.2021 654 36.40 Viking Paper
15.2.2021 655 88.06 Clerk Part Wages
15..2.2021 656 32.95 Asst Clerk Part Wages
15.2.2021 657 19.5 Centre Cleaner Part Wages
15.2.2021 658 537.26 Admin Asst Wages
15.2.2021 659 917.21 RCT Pension February
15.2.2021 660 644.94 HMRC Paye and NI February
18.2.2021 661 1487.27 MS Property Grounds Maintenance
168 Recommendations of HR/Personnel Committee
Staff Review – Job Descriptions and Roles for Office Staff
Members discussed the recommendations of the HR/Personnel Committee in relation to the Job Description for the Admin Assistant.
Resolved:
The Full Council agreed to award the Admin Assistant a six-month contract for 18 hours a week at a rate of pay in line with the Real Living Wage. The job description as put forward by the HR/Personnel Committee was approved. Furthermore, the Clerk’s salary increase to Scale Point 26 was formally agreed as of the new financial year. This was proposed by Cllr K Hughes and seconded by Cllr T Giffard.
To consider the Grass Cutting and Grounds Maintenance Contract
The Council discussed the recommendations of the HR/Personnel Committee in relation to the grass-cutting and grounds maintenance contract whereby minor amendments were made at paragraphs 1.1,1.3, and 5.2. The Clerk explained that if the payments were to be separated between summer and winter, the separation needed to be a 6 months split i.e. summer from beginning of April to end of Sep and winter from beginning of October to the end of March. This would enable the contract to suitably align with the financial year. It was agreed that if extra grass cuts were needed either earlier or later, these could be covered either by approval via the Clerk, in place of other work on the schedule, or as additional ad hoc work.
Resolved:
The Grass Cutting and Grounds Maintenance contract was approved by Full Council with the above amendments and recommendations of the HR/Personnel Committee. This was proposed by Cllr J Spanswick and seconded by Cllr A Pucella
Caretaker Contract of Employment
Resolved:
The Caretaker Contract was approved by Full Council, proposed by Cllr T Walsh and seconded by Cllr K Rowlands
169 Town and Community Council Fund Application – Update
Members considered the various options presented to them regarding the Community Centre works with the aim of determining which one to go forward with for the Town and Community Council Fund application. Members again raised some concerns regarding achieving around £40,000.00 worth of work in one financial year and the increased workload this would create. Members also acknowledged that should the Council not be successful in obtaining the full amount applied for, priority had to be given to health and safety work identified and then external.
Resolved:
It was agreed to go with option 1 applying for £51,350.00. This was proposed by Cllr K Hughes and seconded by Cllr K Rowlands
170 Defibrillator Appeal
The Clerk informed Members that she had been unable to get in touch with the Family Centre regarding a defibrillator being placed outside but will continue trying. A letter has been drafted to send to Brackla Co-op to ask them to consider placing one in or around their shop.
It was suggested that Spar Brackla should be informed of the Council’s Donation application process to see if they wanted to apply for assistance with funding for their defibrillator.
171 Donation Request – Computers for Children and Older Community
A letter that had been received from the Porthcawl Covid-19 Strategy Group was read out to Members. The letter asked for financial assistance towards providing computers for children and the Older Community. Members expressed apprehension over the lack of evidence of actual need in the Brackla Area particularly given the fact that many computers had already been provided and donated, both by local schools themselves and the Local Authority. This, coupled with the lack of information over what exactly the funding would be providing, as the computers were donated from elsewhere and reconditioned, resulted in a unanimous agreement that funding could not be justified for this application at this time.
172 Community Centre Memorial Display
The Council discussed the possible proposals for a Covid related memorial display in the Community Centre in recognition of those that have worked so tirelessly during the pandemic.
Cllr K Hughes suggested that a plaque should be place inside the Community Centre alongside photos of the pebble pathway and explanations as to what had been created. It was also suggested that an updated news article on the Council’s website should be done with new pictures and videos of the pebble pathway that show the progress.
Cllr J Spanswick suggested a rainbow display inside that Members of the public could write on, however given the current restrictions this was agreed not possible at this time.
Resolved:
It was agreed for a plaque to be created and displayed inside the Community centre and a news article be published on the website with updated information and pictures. This was proposed by Cllr K Hughes and seconded by Cllr D Aston.
173 Possible Relocation of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr – Feasibility Study and ‘Save Our Field’
Members discussed the recent welcome announcement from the Local Authority regarding the Brackla Hill site and it not being suitable for the relocation of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr. Since this announcement there had been much discussion on social media regarding what could be done to protect this site as well as others with suggestions such as Asset Transfer and Fields in Trust.
Resolved:
It was agreed that a letter be drafted to BCBC welcoming the recent decision and the fact that the voice of the community had been listened to. It should also, however, include the disappointment once again over the lack of communication and respect between the Local Authority and the Community Council. Firstly in that BCBC did not notify the Community Council of the outcome of the Cabinet decision, as they had agreed to in earlier correspondence. Members had found out simply via social media. Furthermore that the Cabinet announced that they would investigate the possible transfer of the Brackla Hill site to Brackla Community Council without any prior discussion or communication with the Community Council. Whilst the Community Council have expressed an interest to explore options for adopting or protecting green space across, no discussion with the Local Authority over this has yet taken place.
It was agreed that the plan to take this forward was to support local community groups who wish to consider options such as Fields in Trust for the Brackla Hill site and to also look at all green space across Brackla and how best to protect them for the future. As had previously been agreed, this was an item that the new Wellbeing of Future Generations Committee would be looking at as part of their Forward Work Programme. This was proposed by Cllr T Giffard and seconded by Cllr K Rowlands
174 Brackla Community Council 5 Year Plan
It was agreed the Wellbeing and Future Generations Committee should meet and suggest items for the Community Council’s 5 Year Plan which will then be shared at the next Council meeting for Full Council to agree.
175 Crime Statistics for Brackla
Members considered the latest crime statistics and the Clerk provided an update on the response she had received from the Local Authority in relation to speeding in Brackla. The response stated that as enforcement of inappropriate and excessive speed was dealt with by the Police and Gosafe and did not fall under the remit of the council, residents who have concerns should report it to their Neighbourhood Policing Team or via the telephone on 101 for the Police, or by reporting the complaint to the Gosafe Camera Partnership for them to take action against any offending drivers.
It also included the proposal that if the Community Council wished to have traffic or speed surveys undertaken or any related investigations, the Community Council would need to fund these. They would therefore be unable to commit to attending a Community Council meeting at this time but would do once they have analysed the data from any future speed survey.
Resolved:
It was agreed that the Clerk would confirm why it was that the Community Council would have to fund speed and traffic surveys etc as the Local Authority have allocated funding for this.
176 To Receive Reports from Members
Cllr I Hibble – asked the Clerk if the contractor had noticed the Community Council bins being heavier or fuller recently as he has noticed a van parked near the Community Centre bin store a number of times and didn’t know if they were trying to use them. The Clerk said she hadn’t received anything on this but would ask the contractor to keep an eye out and report any changes. She advised that the bin store is locked and no one has access to it except the contractor and Community Centre caretaker.
Cllr D Aston – Bryn-y-Cae Nursing Home staff have complained about a trailer that has ben parked in the street, causing access problems. Cllr J Spanswick advised Cllr D Aston that this had already been reported and should have been resolved. He suggested that the local PCSO should have been called to have it removed.
Cllr K Hughes – attended Planning Training on the 8th February along with the Clerk. He reported that he had also recently attended a School Governors meeting at Ysgol Bro Ogwr.
Cllr T Giffard – thanked Cllr J Spanswick on behalf of the Council for his volunteer work in getting members of the public to and from their Covid-19 vaccines.
The Chair agreed to suspend Standing Order 3w and allow the meeting to continue beyond 2 hours.
177 Forward Work Programme
It was agreed that the Communication Strategy be taken off the forward work programme but that the tree planting item remain as there was a larger objective within the Local Authority and on a National scale to increase the number of trees in Wales. It was agreed to add this to the 5 Year Plan.
178 Date of the next Full Council Meeting –Thursday 18 March 2021
179 Planning Applications
Cllr J Spanswick left the meeting.
• P/21/11/OUT – Briary Wood – No Objection
• P/21/54/FUL – Maes Glas Veterinary Clinic – No Objection
• P/21/28/FUL – Easterly Close – No Objection
P/21/86/FUL – Hunters Ridge – The Community Council consider that there is not enough detail contained in the plans relating to the shared driveway and any possible imposition this may have on neighbours. The Community Council therefore request an extension on the deadline to be able to receive more information and consider this in more detail.
• P/21/11/OUT – Briary Wood, Briary Way – The Community Council considered and discussed the draft response from the Planning Committee and unanimously agreed the submission subject to the following comments being added and minor amendment made:
• The Visitor car space shown on drawing 25 falls outside the red boundary’ be added to the section regarding the application itself.
• In the SoltysBrewster Woodland Management Plan pages 16-23, whilst it mentions a great deal about the removal of trees and habitat there are no plans to plant any new /replacement trees whatsoever.
Replace ‘Planning Committee Considerations’ with ‘Planning Committee Comments’
Meeting Closed at 8:55pm
Print Document