MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE
ABERDYFI COMMUNITY COUNCIL HELD IN THE
COUNCIL CHAMBER, LITERARY INSTITUTE, ABERDYFI,
ON MONDAY, 15TH FEBRUARY 2016.
Present were :- Cllr B Lloyd Vice Chairman
Councillors :- D Owen
B Bates
C Fowles
D Richardson
M Richards
D Williams
AGENDA ITEM 1- APOLOGIES
CL/132/15.02.16
Apologies received from Cllrs Reynolds, Jones, Pugh and Davies
Cllr Lloyd assumed the Chair in the absence of Cllr Pugh, who conveyed his apologies to Council as his mother was seriously ill.
AGENDA ITEM 2- PRESENTATION – ROB VENABLES
CL/133/15.02.16
In the context of the problems experienced last summer, Rob Venables, pest controller, gave a talk to Council regarding the measures that can legally be taken to control the pest problem of gulls in the village.
An e-mail from an Aberdyfi resident Mrs Morgan, was read out to Council outlining the problems she had encountered last year.
Mr Venables pointed out that the control of seagulls was strictly regulated and that Gwynedd issued licences accordingly.
Unless there was a public health issue, or physical damage, then gulls are protected as a species. However, preventative measures can be taken, such as egg oiling and the installation of spikes to discourage nesting. Mr Venables indicated that oiling costed from £45.00 per nest and that chimney spikes could cost from about £150.00, but varied greatly as some three storey buildings would cost much more. Cllr Fowles asked what a constituted a ‘health hazard’ but there appear to be no set guidelines.
Mr Venables said that early May is the best time to take preventative action, and that one the first actions to take is to try to discourage feeding, particularly on the part of holidaymakers, who are unaware of the damage that such actions can do.
It was suggested that perhaps the erection of signs to warn of the dangers might be a positive move.
AGENDA ITEM 3 – CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Cllr Lloyd complimented the Aberdyfi Players for what many had observed possibly the best village pantomime to date – The Wizard of Oz.
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AGENDA ITEM 4 – MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING 15th JANUARY
CL/135/15.02.16
It was agreed that the minutes were a true and accurate record of the January regular meeting.
PROPOSED by Cllr B Bates and SECONDED by Cllr C Fowles
AGENDA ITEM 5 – MATTERS ARISING
CL/136/15.02.16
A/M88/(18.10.15) School path from Institute
The Clerk has made some progress regarding this footpath and will report accordingly at the next Council meeting in March, after his meeting with Liz Haynes, Gwynedd’s Rights of Way and Footpaths Officer. It is to be hoped that the remedial work can be funded via the Coastal paths budget.
Cllr Lloyd noted that the Pen y Bryn footpath project was now completed and that it represented a major improvement. Cllr Williams suggested that a letter of thanks should be forwarded to Liz Haynes
B/M96/(16.11.15) Network Rail invitation
Still no response to Council’s invitation to speak to Council.
Cllr Owen met with Network Rail at Picnic Island to discuss the provision of a new footpath. It was clear that with current Health and Safety regulations, the project was going to be very costly.
C/M96/(21.12.15) Wharf reconstruction
A revised engineer’s report on the wharf piling indicated that the safe usage deadline can be extended from 2016 to 2020. Snowdonia are still waiting for the completion of environmental reports. Cllr Bates noted that the state of the paving slabs on the wharf is now very poor and constitutes a hazard. Cllr Fowles agreed and felt that elderly people could easily trip and harm themselves. Cllr Owen said he would raise the matter with Barry Davies. Cllr Richardson observed that the poor condition of the slabs was in all likelihood caused by the deteriorating condition of the wharf itself.
D/M116/(21.12.15) Broadband
The Clerk has received no response from BT Geraint Strello regarding the poor broadband service in the area. Cllr Owen noted that the farming community was suffering badly, as all forms for farmers, particularly livestock movement forms, had to be completed online.
E/M116/(21.12.15) Gwynedd Challenge
Cllr Lloyd asked Councillors to respond to the Clerk’s e-mail regarding attendance to the Gwynedd Challenge meeting at Tywyn Secondary School on 10th March.
AGENDA ITEM 6 – PENHELYG PARC – WEDDING RECEPTION REQUEST
CL/137/15.02.16
The Clerk has been approached regarding permission to stage a wedding reception on Penhelyg Parc. Approval needs to be sought from Aberdyfi Community Council for submission to Barry Davies.
Proposed Cllr Williams Seconded Cllr Owen
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AGENDA ITEM 7 – DAVE WARREN PAY & DISPLAY MAINTENANCE
CL/138/15.02.16
The Clerk submitted a plan, prepared by Dave Warren, for ongoing maintenance of the school grounds, and renovation of the concrete lattice surface in the pay & display at the Neuadd Dyfi.
Cllr Lloyd pointed out that the school grounds would be funded through the Enterprise Trust, and the car park through Community Council.
It was agreed unanimously to commence as presented.
AGENDA ITEM 8 – GWYNEDD COUNCIL REPORT
CL/139/15.02.16
Cllr Owen reminded Council of the meeting at Tywyn on 10th March, presented by Dilwyn Williams, in the context of the full Gwynedd Council meeting on 3rd March.
There has been much talk about community councils taking responsibility for some aspects of services and time will tell.
Cllr Richardson raised the issue of how councils can finance such ambitions and Cllr Owen said that some councils were uplifting the precept to provide the necessary funding. He also observed how, in his view, the there was much waste in the way in which all Gwynedd correspondence was in Welsh and English and that surely this was a waste of resource. Although this was likely, Cllr Owen pointed out that this was a programme funded entirely by Welsh Government.
Cllr Lloyd said that there was no way Aberdyfi could afford to, for example, take over the running of the toilets. Perhaps there was an argument to request a contribution from the main car park revenues.
Cllr Bates noted that he was having problems with Gwynedd Refuse disposal bags not being supplied when requested.
Cllr Richardson, speaking as a JP, pointed out that Dolgellau Magistrates Court was closing and that there were suggestions that suitable premises might be sourced to enable video link hearings to take place. He expressed grave concerns about the imposed isolation of rural communities in the context of the access to justice for all.
AGENDA ITEM 9 – PLANNING
CL/140/15.02.15
PLANNING
NP5/50/639/C 13 Treflan, Aberdyfi
Construction of side balcony, rear balcony and replacement rear extension
APPLICATION
NP5/50/669/B Tir yn Glygyrog, Aberdyfi
Full application for a rural enterprise building
APPLICATION
NP5/50/532/C TIC Building, Aberdyfi
Installation of Bi-fold doors and part change of use to A3 (café)
APPLICATION
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NP5/50/532/C/D TIC Building, Aberdyfi
Installation of Bi-fold doors and part change of use to A3 (café)
APPLICATION
NP5/50/532/C/D 52, Copperhill Street Aberdyfi
Kitchen extension
APPLICATION GRANTED
AGENDA ITEM 10 – TREASURER’S REPORT
CL/141/15.02.16
The Treasurer’s report was accepted and minuted as a true record.
PROPOSED by Cllr Bates SECONDED by Cllr Richardson
AGENDA ITEM 11 – COMMITTEE REPORTS
CL/142/15.02.16
Cllr Richardson noted that the dog poo bag committee were active around the village, to good effect and requested replenishment of poo bags from the Clerk
AGENDA ITEM 12 – CORRESPONDENCE
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CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
SLCC Notification of change of legal status
Meirionydd Access Group Thank you letter for donation.
Meirionydd Access Group Copy of thank you letter to Cllr Bates, thanking him for his contribution to the Access Committee.
Dail Dysynni Thank you letter for donation
Urdd Gobaith Cymru Thank you letter for donation
HM Courts & Tribunal service Letter confirming the closure of 86 court and tribunal buildings, retaining just 5.
Gwynedd Highways Re-build of wall at Penhelyg after traffic accident
Road edge cracking, rebuilding of retaining wall, by cemetery
Gwynedd Corporate support Advice of meetings to discuss the Gwynedd Challenge. Request for numbers of attendees from Aberdyfi at Tywyn Secondary School, 10th March. 18.00 to 22.00
One Voice Wales Membership renewal letter
Gwynedd Council Confirmation of next Harbour Consultative Committee meeting. Thursday 10th March, Neuadd Dyfi.
AGENDA ITEM 13 – PUBLICATIONS
CL/144/15.02.16
None
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AGENDA ITEM 14 – ANY OTHER BUSINESS
CL/145/15.02.16
- Cllr Richardson noted that the Queen’s birthday celebrations were being planned. Should Aberdyfi join the lighting of beacons around our coast? Cllr Williams suggested that volunteers be organised to light a beacon on Cllr Jones land.
- Cllr Williams noted that the RNLI building project was delayed but not unduly. He also informed Council of an initiative driven by RNLI in trying to organise a national life saving initiative that might include, for Aberdyfi and Tywyn, information and warnings of tide issues and the permanent flying of red flags. The aim is not to frighten people from enjoying the sea and its environment, but to be aware of the issues. It was felt that quality signs would be a good starting point.
- Cllr Bates noted that the gas works site was difficult to access because of the overgrowth and the Clerk pointed out that the degree of maintenance allowed by NRW was strictly controlled.
- Cllr Owen expressed his annoyance at the continued presence of advertising posters around the village, for the Wizard of Oz.
AGENDA ITEM 16 – ITEMS FOR THE PRESS/RUSHLIGHT
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- Seagulls
- Pantomime congratulations
- Pen y Bryn Footpath
- Open meeting for the school project
- Clean for the Queen
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.30pm
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