MINUTES OF THE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE MONTHLY MEETING IN THE LITERARY INSTITUTE, MADE TO CONDUCT COUNCIL MATTERS VIA EMAIL AND TELEPHONE ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY 20TH AND 21ST APRIL, FOLLOWING THE AGENDA AS PUBLISHED
Councillors Present :-
Cllr D Williams – Chairman
Cllr Brian Kelly
Cllr Dewi Owen
Cllr Megan Reynolds
Cllr Sara Bradbury Willis
Cllr James Bradbury Willis
Cllr Dai Owens
Cllr Mike Richards
Cllr Gareth Jones
AGENDA ITEM 1- APOLOGIES
CL/172/20.04.20
None
AGENDA ITEM 2 – CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
CL/173/20.04.20
Chairman Cllr Williams wished to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Mike Richards, on his retirement from Council, for his valuable contribution to Aberdyfi Community Council, in particular his work on the old running track, a project very much ‘work in progress’. We all wish he and Linda all the best for the future.
AGENDA ITEM 3 – APPROVE MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING 16TH MARCH
CL/174/20.04.20
Approve minutes of the ordinary Council meeting 16th March.
Proposed: Cllr M Reynolds Seconded: Cllr B Kelly
AGENDA ITEM 4 – MATTERS ARISING
CL/175/20.04.20
M/165 Treasurer’s Report
Cllr Sara Bradbury Willis enquired about Rushlight printing costs. The Clerk explained the cost as indicated in the Treasurer’s Report was for the printing of the Rushlight mastheads at Y Lolfa, which are then overprinted each month in the office after Council meetings.
Regarding Cllr Bradbury Willis request for further clarification on another matter, the Clerk informed her that agreed minutes are printed on special printed minute sheets, signed off by the Chair, and then archived as a permanent record, for the lifetime of this Community Council.
M/85 Website
The website is up and running and has been well received. The Clerk would like to thank Nigel Upton for his total commitment to the project resulting in a successful outcome. Work is ongoing – a website is a dynamic medium – and a solution to the Google translate inaccuracies seems to have been found. The Clerk will advise over the next couple of weeks or so.
M/158 Coronavirus
The Clerk is liaising with Steve Lister and Clerk in waiting Sandy Andrews over the forthcoming Internal Audit and completion of the Annual Return. Arrangements for the AGM will be confirmed once he coronavirus situation has settled – or otherwise. It is the intention to adhere to published audit deadlines, even though there is some flexibility in the current scenario.
M/107 Childrens’ Playground
Cllr Sara Bradbury Willis informed the meeting that one of the companies quoting for the playground project had managed to carry out a site visit before lockdown is continuing to work on design suggestions. The other companies pitching for the business are not visiting until after lockdown is lifted. The lottery funding people have been approached as there was a deadline for application before the end of March. I did ask that one of the committee members to confirm what the COVID-19 pandemic would mean for applications but I haven’t heard back. I’m sure things will be able to be reviewed and applied for at a later date. Watch this space.
M/158 Councillor Vacancy Interviews
The result of the secret ballot resulted in Catrin O’Neill and Nigel Pearson being voted onto Council. They will assume their positions at the Council AGM in May.
M/108 Picnic Island Bridge
Although the Picnic Island Bridge project has stalled, it is still very much alive. The Clerk has been liaising with Network Rail and understands that the engineering solution is a work in progress. They have requested the plans of the cyclepath and an aerial photograph of the start of the route, in order to help find a solution to the access issues. In the meantime Network Rail have confirmed they are able to offer a number of ownership, lease or legal access options allowing the project to progress across Network Rail land.
M/151 Tree Sculpture
This project is now, inevitably, on hold.
M/155 Blocked drains by Old Catholic Church
After further conversations with Gwynedd Council Highways Inspector, all drain gully work is in abeyance.
M/167 Allotments
The Clerk can confirm that the allotment plot vacated by Gareth Pugh has been snapped up by a village local.
M/167 Application for Wild Flower Seed Planting
The Clerk has received confirmation that ACC has been successful in its application for a wildflower planting package for the village. Details to follow.
AGENDA ITEM 5 – GWYNEDD COUNCIL REPORT
CL/176/20.40.20
Cllr Owen confirmed that, given the coronavirus situation, all Gwynedd Council meetings have been cancelled until further notice, or until video/conference facilities are set up.
AGENDA ITEM 6 – PLANNING
CL/177/20.04.20
NP5/50/469D 5 Penhelig Terrace, Aberdyfi
External alterations
AGENDA ITEM 7 – TREASURER’S REPORT
CL/178/20.04.20
Proposed: Cllr B Kelly Seconded: Cllr S Bradbury Willis
AGENDA ITEM 8 – COMMITTEE REPORTS
CL/179/20.04.20
There were no committee reports
AGENDA ITEM 9 – CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
CL/180/20.04.20
Wales Air Ambulance – Thank you letter for ACC donation of £200.00
Liz Saville Roberts – Email to this Council about the coronavirus situation. Observe wherever possible the restrictions imposed by Government, but – ‘Please think twice before rushing to judge other people’s situations. This is a difficult time for everyone, and we need to hold true to values of tolerance and humanity more now than ever.’
Cllr Sara Bradbury Willis – Email 22/03/20 to inform Council that she and another GP from the Machynlleth practice have posted an open letter on Dyfi Valley Health Facebook page.
Cllr Sara Bradbury Willis – Email 23/03/20 observing that the biggest enemy during the coronavirus situation is complacency.
Cllr Sara Bradbury Willis – Email 07/04/20 expressing concern over the number of visitors in the village during lockdown.
AGENDA ITEM 10 – PUBLICATIONS
CL/181/20.04.20
None
AGENDA ITEM 11 – ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AT FUTURE MEETINGS
CL/182/20.04.20
Cllr Brian Kelly noted that the overhanging trees at the Old Catholic Church constitute a serious problem for those walking along Burma Road.
He also noted, whilst walking the beach, that the amount of plastic washed up on the beach was considerable and suggested that anyone also taking exercise along the stretch of beach may consider taking a bag with them to collect rubbish.
He noted that the closure of Penrhos Caravan Park and the necessity to refund owners will impact severely on village income and hence AA&I. This in turn will impact on community investment for the foreseeable future.
Cllr Reynolds Penrhos caravan park remains closed as instructed by WAG. We regularly communicate with the owners who are extremely observant regarding the existing Coronavirus restrictions.
Following a request from Cllr Owen she met with the police and supplied them with the contact details of the letting agents in the village. They intended to visit the properties to ensure they were not being occupied contrary to the regulations stipulated by WAG on 26 March at 16.00. Anyone who sees a violation should report it to the police on 101. I think the local population should be aware of this perhaps you could put it in Rushlight.
Cllr Sara Bradbury Willis requests an electronic copy of the constitution before the AGM and thinks a communication solution needs to be found ASAP in order to be able to meet via telephone or video etc. She notes the matter is under discussion and asks who is part of the discussion process as we just seem to be told that the options raised don’t satisfy one counsellor and many other counsellors are happy with the options. She suppose it’s down to the chairman to decide. However if she can have meetings with health board members and medical directors and heads of nursing, ward sisters, GPs and patients alike, then she felt sure a solution can be found for an open council meeting.
Cllr Sara Bradbury Willis raised the issue of the Clerk working from the Council office and also that she had received reports, from an unnamed source, that individuals had visited the office during lockdown. The Clerk informed Cllr Sara Bradbury Willis that the Clerk had not received visitors and requested the source of the allegations. No such information has been forthcoming. Regarding working from the Council office, in isolation, this is entirely acceptable in the context of requiring access to Council records in order to carry out Clerk’s duties.
Cllr David Owens endorsed Liz Saville Roberts sentiments in the context of Coronavirus and her plea to maintain our humanity in difficult times.
AGENDA ITEM 12 – ITEMS FOR RUSHLIGHT
CL/183/20.04.20
Coronavirus General Update and thank you to local residents who are helping.
How to liaise with the police regarding any contraventions of the Coronavirus Regulations.
Wild Flower Seed Planting