Minutes of the Full Council – Thursday 21st November 2019
BRACKLA COMMUNITY COUNCIL
FULL COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday 21st November 2019 at 7pm
Boardroom of Oak Tree Surgery
Members Present
Cllr J Spanswick – Chairperson
Cllr T Giffard
Cllr I Hibble
Cllr K Hughes
Cllr C Jackson
Cllr K Rowlands
Cllr T Walsh
Mrs R Keepins – Clerk of the Council
Mr P Ley – Assistant Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer
Miss H May – Admin Officer
134 Public Address to Council (10 minutes only)
The Council received a presentation from two members of the public regarding issues they were experiencing associated with a property within Brackla.
These can be summarised as follows:
• Illegal parking;
• Lack of enforcement of planning restrictions;
• Noise pollution;
• Retrospective planning applications;
Resolved:
Members agreed that they would take the subject forward as a Community Council and organise a meeting with the Chief Executive, Leader and other key senior officers from Bridgend County Borough Council to discuss the issues that were raised.
135 Apologies for Absence
Cllr D Aston
Cllr J Brett
Cllr A Pucella
136 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 – Civil servant working for Welsh Government – personal
Cllr J. Spanswick – Prejudicial interest in relation to item 144 as he knows one of the applicants.
Cllr T. Giffard – Personal interest in relation to item 144 as he has previously provided funding as a County Borough Councillor to the one of the applicants through the Community Action Fund initiative.
Cllr K, Rowlands – Personal interest in relation to item 144 as she has previously provided funding as a County Borough Councillor to the one of the applicants through the Community Action Fund initiative.
137 Ratification of Minutes of the Full Council Meeting 17th October 2019
The Clerk added that there were two minor additions to the minutes including the request from Councillors under item 115 that the Clerk follow up on recovering the cost via a Small Claim application against a Community Centre user dating from 2017. The second was the addition of Cllr K. Hughes under item 116 as he had requested that the ‘Love it, Don’t Trash it’ campaign be presented to the Council.
Resolved:
That the minutes be approved subject to the additions noted above. This was proposed by Cllr C Jackson and seconded by Cllr I Hibble.
138 Ratification of Confidential Minutes of Full Council Meeting 17th October 2019
Resolved:
That the minutes be approved, proposed by Cllr T Giffard, seconded by Cllr K Hughes.
139 Report by the Clerk relating to matters from the previous Full Council Meeting
The Clerk provided a general update to Members reporting on various actions that had been taken since the last meeting. These included the following:
• ‘Love your Village, Don’t Trash it’ Campaign – Invoice received and cheque to be sent after signed at November meeting.
• VE day celebrations – Initial discussions and research has been undertaken in the office – plan to bring item for further discussion to December Council meeting.
• Grass-Cutting and Grass Maintenance Contract – Companies have been notified accordingly. Work schedule has been issued to Contractor. Need to get contract officially signed within next few weeks.
• Repair to Archbishop McGrath School Fence – Repair actioned. Company agreed to tighten fixings around goal area as far as possible but couldn’t promise to be able to have time for whole fence around field. Any extra call outs to tighten brackets and fixings around whole of field would be £500 per time.
• Signage – Brackla Signs and Wales in Bloom Signs – Have contacted Porthcawl Town Clerk who has provided some valuable information in relation to costs and process. Have also received information from Planning as well as Traffic and Transportation regarding process. Chair has also sent query to Planning department where we have confirmed we can combine the applications for the signs. The early indications estimate approximately £1500 per sign which includes the cost to pay the county borough to erect them.
• Wildflowers – An informal meeting has been held with our gardener regarding flowers to discuss VE Day flowers and wildflowers – early plans and costings etc. Plan to get further information regarding both including possible suggested locations for wildflowers for December or January meeting.
• Staff security – The Clerk has spoken with the Practice Manager regarding security phones which contain an alarm button as well as a doorbell option. Training to be explored.
• Website redesign – quotes scheduled for this meeting for consideration.
Resolved:
Members requested that the Clerk look into quotes from other possible companies to erect the signs in order to provide a comparison. This as well as quotes for various types of signs to be presented at a future meeting.
Members also agreed to go forward with purchasing a staff security phone.
140 To consider all Correspondence received by this Council since the last meeting.
(no decisions to be made on correspondence).
The Clerk presented the correspondence report to Members adding that further correspondence had been received in relation to further training sessions from One Voice Wales. There had also been emails received from Bridgend County Brough Council on: the Election Parliamentary notices; the Polling Station Review outcome of early consultation; Town and Community Council Funding allocation for 2020/21; and Sports and Playing Fields Community Asset Transfers.
The Clerk also informed Members of the resignation that had been received from Cllr A. Johnstone. The County Borough had been notified and the Clerk was now awaiting any action regarding the advert for the vacancy.
141 To discuss any matters concerning the Community Centre
The Clerk asked Councillors whether they would approve a mobile phone for the Caretaker. The Clerk also requested clarification on the charge for hiring the Community Centre by fundraising groups who were using the centre for events to raise money for their nominated charity.
Resolved:
Members agreed that a mobile phone could be purchased for the Caretaker of the Community Centre.
It was also agreed that the rate for fundraising groups would be the same as that for any Charity groups whereby they receive the reduced charity/not for profit rate.
Members further agreed that the first meeting of the Community Centre Committee meet in the new year to consider the future hire costs as well as other items such as the development of a maintenance plan for the Centre.
142 Committee Chairperson Appointments
To appoint the Chairpersons for the newly formed Committees of the Community Council.
Cllr I Hibble proposed Cllr D Aston to Chair the Finance Committee, Cllr K Hughes put his name forward as chair of the same committee.
Resolved:
Following a vote, Cllr K Hughes was appointed as Chair of the Finance Committee.
Cllr C Jackson nominated Cllr J Spanswick, seconded by Cllr I Hibble, to Chair the Community Centre Committee.
Resolved:
That Cllr J Spanswick be appointed as Chair of the Community Centre Committee.
Exclusion of the Public
Proposed by Cllr I Hibble, seconded by Cllr K Hughes
Resolved: That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve 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.
143 Brackla Community Council Website Redesign.
144 Section 137 Applications
Resolved:
It was agreed that the following groups would receive donations under Section 137:
Brackla FC – £250
Golden Oldies – £250
Proposed by Cllr C Jackson, seconded by Cllr K Hughes
It was proposed and agreed to return to open session.
145 Council Motion Request Regarding National Community Energy Campaign.
Resolved:
Members agreed that due to the fact that Parliament has been dissolved prior to the election scheduled for 12 December 2019, any consideration of this item be postponed until more is known about its future.
146 To confirm arrangements for the Annual Community Events:
(a) Seniors Christmas Tea Update
The Clerk provided a general update on the preparations for the Seniors Christmas Tea and presented some estimated quotes for consideration.
Resolved:
Members agreed to go with the quote provided by Mrs A. May for the catering of the event.
147 Finance:
(a) Approval of the Schedule of Payments October 2019
Resolved:
That the payments be approved; proposed by Cllr C Jackson, seconded by Cllr K Hughes
(b) Bank Reconciliation as at October 2019
Cllr T Walsh signed the bank statement on behalf of the Council
Resolved:
That the statement for October be approved.
(c) Monthly Budget Review October
Resolved:
That the budget review be approved, proposed by Cllr C Jackson, seconded by Cllr K Rowlands
(d) Real Living Wage – Annual Increase
Resolved:
The Council agreed to increase the Community Centre Staff wages inline with the Real Living Wage. This was proposed by Cllr K Hughes, seconded by Cllr C Jackson
148 To Receive Reports from Members
Cllr C Jackson thanked staff and Councillors for organising and helping at this years Firework display. He continued by saying he has received all positive feedback with some calling it the best display we’ve held.
Cllr K Rowlands informed members there was one minor complaint made online about not enough food stalls and suggested we could consider more in the future. She also suggested that we could keep the music on after the display to encourage people to stay a little longer and purchase items from the stalls.
Cllr K Hughes added that the flames were very good and kept the public entertained while the Sound company resolved an issue with their generator. It was also suggested that next year we should tape off the field next to Tremains School as there was a number of people stood on the field, which is the firework drop zone.
Cllr K Hughes told members that he attended a School Governor’s Meeting at Ysgol Bro Ogwr. He shared the importance of the Governors and expressed thanks to the Council on behalf of the school for giving them a Governor.
Cllr K Hughes also requested that the Planning item remain on the agenda for each Council meeting so that if there are any planning applications that need to be discussed during the timeframe of the meeting there is the opportunity to do so as part of Full Council.
Cllr T Giffard suggested that for next years firework display there should be signs showing where the Pushchair and Wheelchair access is on the gates.
Cllr J Spanswick thanked everyone involved in the Firework Display and suggested that we look into having music in the carpark or in the grounds of the school as the music couldn’t be heard that much by the public stood near the food stalls.
He also informed Members that he had represented the Council at this year’s Remembrance Parade in Bridgend Town and lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of the Community Council.
149 Agenda items for December 2019 Full Council Meeting
VE Celebrations
Biodiversity
Funday
Precept 2020-21
150 Date of the next Full Council Meeting –Thursday 19 December 2019
Signed by the Chairperson 2019/20
Cllr John Spanswick ………………………………………………..
Dated: ………………………………………………
Print Document