MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, TOWN HALL, ABERGAVENNY ON WEDNESDAY 10th APRIL 2019 AT 7.00PM
Present:
Chairman – Cllr T Davies (Mayor)
Cllr T Konieczny
Cllr M Hickman
Cllr G Jones
Cllr N Tatam
Cllr P Simcock
Cllr R Harris
Cllr M Harris
Cllr M Groucutt
Cllr T Thomas
Cllr F Morgan
Cllr M Lewis
Cllr D Simcock
In attendance:
J Lee (Town Clerk)
Prior to the commencement of the meeting, Cllr Davies thanked Councillors for their support during her Mayoral year. Cllr D Simcock proposed a vote of thanks, all agreed.
| 145/18 | Apologies |
| 146/18 | Declarations of Interest To be declared during the meeting. |
| 147/18 | Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 13th March 2019 The Minutes of Council held on 13th March 2019 were received and adopted as a correct record. Proposed by Cllr Jones, seconded Cllr Hickman Matters arising The Town Council has contacted MCC Environmental Health for an update regarding evidence gathering of air pollution along the A40 through the town A more detailed report on taking forward the closure of White Horse Lane toilets was considered at Projects Committee on 27 March Action to arrange another Policy Committee is carried forward Contact has been made with MCC Engineers regarding the Llanfoist/Abergavenny Cycle-Pedestrian bridge. Councillors were informed that MCC have lodged the appeal with the Planning Inspectorate but have not yet been given any indication of timescale. A letter was sent to Cllr D Simcock wishing him well. Cllr D Simcock thanked the Council for his letterThe proposal for the setting up of a Creative Youth Award is carried forward The revisions to the small grants scheme have been made Festival organisers have been informed of the Council’s decision re sponsorship The Town Council response re community arrangements were sent to WG. An acknowledgement has been received. A Strategy sub group meet and revised the strategy |
| 148/18 | Minutes of Planning Committee held on Wednesday 13th March 2019 The Minutes of the Planning Committee held on Wednesday 13th March were received and adopted as a correct record. Proposed Cllr Morgan, seconded Cllr Konieczny. Matters Arising Cllr Konieczny informed Council that the planning application for the pavilion in the Castle Grounds had been refused by MCC Planning Committee. Cllr R Harris informed the meeting that as the recommendation by MCC Planning Committee was against officer recommendation, the application will return to committee. The Town Clerk was asked to contact MCC Planning to establish whether the Town Council’s representative could address MCC Planning Committee when the application returns. |
| 149/18 | Minutes of Artefacts Committee held on Monday 11th March 2019 The minutes of the Artefacts Committee held on Wednesday 20th February were received and adopted as a correct record. Proposed Cllr Konieczny, seconded Cllr Thomas. Matters Arising The following recommendations were agreed That the Mayoral Chain & Consorts chain should be repaired at an estimate of £1350 each That the Deputy Mayor & Mayoress medallion should be cleaned and re-enamelled That Fattorini is approved as the Town Council’s preferred supplier for civic insignia That all furniture (except 3 Council Chamber tables) is sold at the next furniture auction That the Twinning Associations are contact to help find new homes for surplus twinning pictures. That surplus twinning books are offered the Associations after which they will be offered to Broadleaf Books for free That surplus ornaments are sold at auction The repairs are made to the robes. |
| 150/18 | Minutes of the Projects Committee held on Wednesday 27th March 2019 The minutes of the Finance Committee held on Wednesday 27th March were received and adopted as a correct record with the addition of recording the apologies from Cllr Dodd. Proposed by Cllr M Harris, seconded by Cllr Konieczny. Matters Arising The following recommendations were agreed £5000 of the summer playscheme budget is used for activities for 12+ age group. Town Council writes to MCC to express importance of a properly resourced Youth Service and disappointment that the Youth Service currently does not have the capacity to potentially accommodate a larger programme of summer activity should funding from sources additional to the Town Council become available. This concern was expressed after the Town Clerk provided feedback on discussions with the Youth Service regarding making an approach to Rotary & Round Table to increase the summer activity programme. Town Council pursues the transfer of Bus Station, Castle Street & Brewery Yard toilets when acceptable transfer terms have been negotiated (vote carried, with 3 against) and that the Town Council continues negotiations with MCC with 2019/20 being a transition year and in the meantime continues to contribute to keep the four blocks open and for opening arrangements of Bailey Park toilets to continue . |
| 151/18 | Minutes of Events Committee held on Tuesday 2nd April The minutes of the Events Committee held on Tuesday 2nd April were received and adopted as a correct record with the addition of recording the apologies of Cllr Davies and changing the venue of the next meeting to Central Chambers. Proposed Cllr Konieczny, seconded Cllr Morgan. Matters Arising The Town Clerk informed Councillors that the date of the Play Event in north Abergavenny is Sunday 12th May not 19th May as stated in the minutes Cllr Konieczny reminded Councillors about the Choir Concert on Sunday 14th and requested help with the set up at 10.30am on Sunday morning Cllr Morgan informed Councillors that at Events Committee he requested that consideration is given to organising different types of events such as raft races. |
| 152/18 | Finance Report The following payments were authorised Ricoh (outstanding payment photocopier) £3.43 OVW (conference fee Cllr Davies) £55.00 March Office costs (inc Pension, tax & NI) £4501.68 Specific Allowances £800 Planning Aid Wales (training) £4900 MCC (women’s books) £300 Thursdays Trust (small grant) £1500 Rialtas Business Solutions (software support 19/20) £454 Abergavenny Carnival Group (large grant) £2500 MCC (bunting) £1401.13 Merlin Waste (April dog waste bin emptying) £637.50 Abergavenny-Beaupreau Twinning Association £6000 Office Costs April (inc Pension, tax & NI) £4474.33 Phoenix Singers (donation choir event) £100 Abercappella (donation choir event) £100 AAODS (donation choir event) £100 Tenovus Cancer Care (donation choir event) £100 Abergavenny Arts (sponsorship) £4500 Abergavenny Cycle Group (sponsorship) £4500 Abergavenny Writing Festival (sponsorship) £1000 7 Corners (IYE festival sponsorship) £500 Abergavenny Eisteddfod (sponsorship) £2200 ADTA (sponsorship) £1800 J.Lee Expenses (postage, stationery, signage) £20.57 Month 12 report was accepted. The Town Clerk drew Councillors attention to the balance at the end of month 12 which is approximately £30,000 increase on end of year 2017/18. The Year End Closedown has not yet been done so this figure will change but the level of reserves should be monitored. |
| 153/18 | Town Council Strategy & Action Plan The revised Strategy & Action Plan was approved. Proposed Cllr Morgan, seconded Cllr Konieczny, 13 in favour, 1 against |
| 154/18 | Town Council PSB Wellbeing Annual Report The Clerk informed Council that the template is being adopted by all four Town Councils in Monmouthshire. The report was agreed, proposed by Cllr D Simcock, seconded Cllr Morgan, vote carried unanimously |
| 155/18 | Town Hall Refurbishment Councillors considered the report setting out implications that the Town Hall refurbishment have on the Town Council rooms. The following was agreed: That the items for the Museum are donated not loaned That all Council Chamber furniture (except 3 tables) is sold at auction The Mayoral photos are removed and placed in an album and copies uploaded on the Council website Funding is committed for the refit of the new Mayor’s Parlour A public statement is prepared regarding the sale of furniture and rehoming of artefacts That a revised Asset Register is presented to the May Council meeting |
| 156/18 | Town Council’s response to the MCC Toilet Strategy Councillors agreed the response to the MCC Toilet Strategy with the addition that there should be a Changing Places toilet in Monmouthshire. The response will include the following Abergavenny Town Council would welcome involvement with MCC in determining how to best utilise the one- off £17,200 payment. The issue of drug-taking in toilets across the County requires a county-wide response. Closing toilet blocks or changing opening times may result in the problem moving elsewhere so other preventative measures may need to be considered and implemented. As MCC does not own or manage the majority of public toilets in the County, how does MCC propose to ensure the provision of clean, safe and accessible toilets? Further clarification is sought on what constitutes a sustainable toilet as referred to in paragraph 4.1 “… the Authority seeks to ensure the provision of clean, safe, accessible and sustainable toilets” How has the strategy accommodated future projections of the doubling of over 65’s as identified in the Well being Assessment and referred to in paragraph 7.2 There is little reference to needs of families using public toilets. This is an omission from the strategy. The Town Council would support a grading system or a Loo of the Year Award for the County. Clarification is sought on how Abergavenny Town Council will be included in future Problem Solving Groups relating to anti-social behaviour in public toilets MCC has a role to play in sharing good practice from within the County and across Wales and this should be a separate action Appendix B – A key is required as currently the reader does not know what the letters in the columns represent. |
| 157/18 | Questions from Town Councillors to County Councillors on local issues/Information from County Councillors to members Cllr Lewis asked County Councillors for MCC’s views on whether the installation of 5G poses a health risk. Cllr R Harris informed councillors that this was not a planning consideration. Cllr Groucutt suggested that the Town Clerk writes to the Chair of MCC Stronger Communities Committee to request their view. Cllr Morgan asked for more details on the routes that the civil enforcement team would be taking and what number to ring to report illegal parking. Number would be the main 01633 644644 Cllr Konieczny asked about whether residents parking should be considered for some roads in the town, Cllr Groucutt stated that currently residents can apply. Cllr P Simcock informed councillors that the current criteria would give each resident 1 permit and the street has to be able to accommodate 1 parking space per house. Cllr Tatam asked Cllr Groucutt to confirm whether MonLife is being disbanded. Cllr Groucutt confirmed that this is the case. |
| 158/18 | Members Reports from External Bodies Cllr Groucutt – None Cllr R Harris – None Cllr M Harris – Accompanied Mayor to Gwent Bach Choir, ELSA Cllr Hickman – None Cllr Konieczny – Funeral of Graham Cummings Cllr Lewis – Retirement party for D Skinner Cllr Jones – None Cllr Tatam – BBNPA meeting. Team Abergavenny, OVW Area Committee Cllr P Simcock – NMAC Cllr Morgan – None Cllr S Dodd – None Cllr D Simcock – None Cllr Thomas – None Cllr T Davies – Judging Youth Speaks, ELSA, Bailey Park Lottery Bid meeting, 7 Corners Fundraiser, ADTA brochure launch, Cantref governors, OWV conference |
There being no other business the meeting ended at 8.35pm
ACTION LIST FROM APRIL COUNCIL MEETING
| Action | Name |
| To continue discussions with MCC/WG re gathering evidence re air pollution along the A40 through the town | JL |
| Arrange another Policy Committee | JL |
| That a proposal for the setting up of a Creative Youth Award is prepared. | TD |
| MCC Planning is contacted to establish if Town Council rep can address Planning Committee when the Castle Pavilion application returns | JL |
| To arrange for the restoration of the chains | JL |
| To arrange for the sale of the furniture, rehoming of objects | JL |
| To arrange for the repair of the robes | JL |
| Write to MCC regarding importance of and capacity of Youth Service | JL |
| To continue discussions with MCC re transfer of toilets | JL |
| Submit the MCC Toilet Strategy Consultation Response | JL |
| Letter is sent to Chair of MCC Stronger Communities Committee to request further information regarding reports that installation of 5G could pose a public health risk | JL |
