PORT EYNON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Draft – Unconfirmed
Minutes of Monthly Council Meeting held on
Monday 15th June 2015 at Port Eynon Village Hall.
The meeting commenced at 7:30 pm.
Present: Mr. G.Evans, Mr. R. Fisher, Mr. G. Jones, Mrs. S. Fisher, Mrs. L. Newland and Mr. A. Wright
Apologies for Absence: none.
In attendance: Mr. B. Stubbings (clerk),
Chair person: Cllr. R. Fisher
013/15. Declarations of Interest: None
014/15 Minutes of Last Meeting (April 2015):
The minutes were proposed to be accepted as a true record by Cllr. Evans, the proposal was seconded by Cllr, Newland and agreed by all. The minutes were signed by the chairperson.
015/15. Matters Arising:
Defibrillators. Clerk confirmed that he had received the six defibrillators and they were currently held by him pending receipt of the cabinets. He expected the work to be carried out in the next two weeks.
Clerk confirmed that the locations were to be
1 Port Eynon – Car Park Amenity Building
2 Port Eynon – Village Hall
3 Port eynon – St Cattwg’s Church
4 Llandewi – Village Hall
5 Scurlage – The Old Pharmacy
6 Knelston – The Garage
At present it had not been possible to find a suitable location for a unit to be placed in Overton It was agreed that if a location could be found then the Council would consider purchasing a further unit.
Overton Lane (drains)
Drains at the top of The Boarlands and along Overton Lane. Cllr. Evans advised that the problem of foul odours had not reoccurred..
Port Eynon Car Park
Port Eynon and Horton public car parks were being closed at 8 pm and that this was giving rise to people having difficulty parking when attending local events held in the evenings. Response was awaited from City Council.
016/15. Finance:
Clerk advised that £5,000 had been received from The Lottery fund for the defibrillators and £1833 from City Council as first precept payment. The bank balances were as follows:
Current Account £6,915
Savings Account £13,453
Knelston Burial Ground Account £675
An invoice had been received from Port Eynon Village Hall for hall rental in the amount of £200. Clerk confirmed that this was in order and it was proposed by Cllr Jones, seconded by Cllr Newland and agreed by all that payment should be made.
The following funding commitments have been made:
Wooden bench seat (1 no) at Overton – £500
Scurlage Green Improvements – £2,000
Defibrillators (6 no) – £3,000.
Port Eynon village green improvements – £2,000.
017/15. Planning:
From previous applications:
2014/0417 Monksland Road, Scurlage – 14 units of new housing..
*Understood to having been approved by C&CS Planning Committee but now awaiting WAG Section 106 approval with regard to policy on affordable housing.
2015/0014 The Ship Inn, Port Eynon – Alterations to front elevations.
Council considered that the principle of improvements to both the elevations and the interiors was to be welcomed. Council however were concerned to note that the submitted plans for the existing building indicated that the single storey part of the building was of two storeys and that this error had then been erroneously incorporated in this application for alteration works. Council were unanimous in their decision that the plans should be resubmitted to correct these errors.
Decision pending.
2014/1614 South Gower Sports Club – permit for one touring caravans to be permanently occupied from March to November
Council expressed strong concerns over this and other applications which would effectually change the nature of usage of the Sports Club to a Holiday Park during the summer period. Councillors were particularly concerned that the infrastructure within the Club would require considerable improvement to facilitate these changes of use. Also that residents had complained in the past concerning late night noise, underage drinking and dangerous traffic conditions associated with camping festivals held at the Sports Club. Council noted that the occupation applied for was inconsistent with 2014/1603. Council recommended by majority that the application should be refused.
Permit refused 21st May 2015
2014/1616 South Gower Sports Club –Change of use of grass sports area to paved area.
Council expressed strong concerns over this and other applications which would effectually change the nature of usage of the Sports Club to a Holiday Park during the summer period. Councillors were particularly concerned that the infrastructure within the Club would require considerable improvement to facilitate these changes of use. Also that residents had complained in the past concerning late night noise, underage drinking and dangerous traffic conditions associated with camping festivals held at the Sports Club. Council noted that this application was solely made to facilitate application 2014/1617. Council recommended by majority that the application should be refused.
Approved with conditions 21st May 2015.
2014/1617 South Gower Sports Club –Change of use of multi purpose sports area to erect a marquee.
Council expressed strong concerns over this and other applications which would effectually change the nature of usage of the Sports Club to a Holiday Park during the summer period. Councillors were particularly concerned that the infrastructure within the Club would require considerable improvement to facilitate these changes of use. Also that residents had complained in the past concerning late night noise, underage drinking and dangerous traffic conditions associated with camping festivals held at the Sports Club. Council noted that existing similar provisions for weekend functions were well provided for in this area and further provision at this time was unnecessary. Council recommended by majority that the application should be refused.
Approved with conditions 21st May 2015.
2014/1775 The Rickyard, Burry lane, Burry – Change of use of agricultural storage building to provide for housing of livestock.
Council noted that this application was made in respect of an agricultural building which was erected following planning application 2012/0280 in 2012. At that time concerns were raised that the planned building was unsuitable for storage of farm machinery and winter feed due to its limited headroom. Councillors noted the receipt of two letters from immediately neighbouring properties which expressed concern over the proximity of the barns to their properties and disturbance which would mostly likely arise from storage of livestock. Councillors agreed with these concerns and also noted that there appeared to be no provision for storage and environmental disposal of waste arising from housed livestock particularly with regard to the proximity of Burry Pill to the site. Concern was also expressed at the likely need to service the facility on a daily basis with large agricultural or waste disposal vehicles when this stretch of Burry lane was restricted to usage by large vhicles and caravans. Council recommended by majority that the application should be refused.
Approved with conditions 21st May 2015
2015/0446 Gower Holiday village – Change of use to allow for overspill caravan and camping pitches May to September.
Council by majority recommended refusal.
Application refused 21st May 2015.
2015/0734 Alex Lewis Motors, Llandewi – Erection of additional and new industrial shed. After due consideration Council were of the opinion that the application should be approved.
Decision pending.
New applications
2015/1042 Llanddewi Castle Farm – Agricultural Building
Demolition of existing stone barn and erection of steel framed agricultural building. Council noted that the existing barn had been severely damaged by fire and that the new barn would provide more appropriate facilities for this active farm. Application was recommended for approval.
018/15 Highways & Footpaths.
Cllr. Newland raised concerns over the number and siting of brown tourist signs in Port Eynon. After discussion it was agreed that advice should be sought from City Council on the policy being adopted for siting of brown tourist signs particularly as this would appear to be in conflict with recent efforts to reduce signage and improve the local environment.
Cllr. R. Fisher raised concern over the ‘village’ signs on the approaches to Scurlage. Some were missing and others were damaged and required replacement.
Cllrs Newland and R Fisher relayed concerns of residents over the overgrown nature of the verges and hedgerows which in places were restricting traffic to single file and excessive delays trying to pass pedestrians and cyclists. After discussion it was agreed to approach the City Council on the possibility of adopting the verge and hedgerow cutting.
019/15 Correspondence:
Clerk provided a resume of correspondence received from mid-May to date. Of particular note was letter received from Knelston School requesting the Council to nominate a representative to act as a School Governor. Cllr. S. Fisher agreed to accept this position. Also letter received from Rev. D. Griffiths requesting support for ‘Gower Christian Youth Work’, – it was agreed that Council could consider a specific request for equipment or teaching items but not for non-specific funding of staff costs, etc..
020/15 Knelston Burial Ground. Nothing to report
021/15 Village Halls
Talbot Hall (Port Eynon Village Hall) : Clerk advised that the letter concerning ownership and the Trust Deeds had been sent to the Hall Management Committee. . Cllr. Newland reported that the matter was considered at the meeting of the Management Committee on 12th June and that the Committee disagreed with the contents of the letter.
.
Council discussed the apparent encroachment of the site boundary by the neighbouring owner of the Highfields Camp Site and Clerk was directed to raise the matter with the owner.
Llandewi Hall – Council agreed to invite chair of Trustees to attend a Council meeting to discuss the future of the Hall.
022/15 Communications Cllr.. Tony Wright presented a number of options with regard to production of a Council newsletter. It was proposed by Cllr Newland and seconded by Cllr. Evans that Council proceeds with a quarterly newsletter extending to 8 full colour pages and with a print run of 400 or 500 copies. A budget allowance of £1,000 was allocated. A working meeting would take place on 29th June to consider format and content.
023/15 Any Other Business:
Councillor R.Fisher expressed concerns over one or two residents who had reverted to crossing Scurlage Green in their vehicles. It was agreed to approach Sketty Housing Assn with a view to placing further timber posts at the vulnerable access points.
Date of Next Meeting: Monday 20th July 2015 at 7:30 pm. at Port Eynon Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 9:30 pm. Chairman
- J. Stubbings, (Clerk) R. Fisher