CYNGOR CYMUNED DINAS POWYS COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

MINUTES    of a Meeting of the Commons, Open Spaces, Allotments, Cemetery and Footpaths Committee (COSAC) held in the Committee Room, Parish Hall, Dinas Powys, on Tuesday, 22nd June 2010.

 

PRESENT:   Cllrs.  Mrs. V.  M.  Hartrey  (Chairman),  Mrs.  N.   A.   Foxwell,  R.  R.  Grigg, M. Hartrey,  K.  Hatton  and  J.  H.  Williams.

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Mr.  A. Sullivan (Footpaths Warden).

 

01.     APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Cllr. C. J. Williams.

 

02.     APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR THE YEAR 2010/2011

 

Cllr. Mrs. V. M. Hartrey  proposed  and  Cllr.  K.  Hatton  seconded  a  Motion  that Cllr. Mrs. N. A. Foxwell be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Committee. The Motion was carried unanimously and Cllr. Mrs. N. A. Foxwell was duly appointed.

 

03.     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – Cllrs. K. Hatton and Mrs. V. M. Hartrey declared an interest in the allotments and took no part in any allotments decisions.

 

04.     CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES – The Minutes of the COSAC and Footpaths Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, 6th April 2010 having been previously circulated were taken as read, and on the Motion of Cllr. K. Hatton and seconded by Cllr. Mrs. N. A. Foxwell it was RESOLVED  - THAT such Minutes be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

 

05.     MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

 

          Handrails – The Twyn

 

The Clerk confirmed that it was possible to fit a disabled ramp to the opposite side of the Twyn from where the new handrails had been fitted.  However, the Clerk expressed concern about the safety of such an alteration as disabled persons would only have access to the ramp via the busy adjacent road which has no pavement adjacent to the Twyn entrance.  Committee  AGREED  -  NOT to proceed with the matter and noted that a wide entrance was available via the Britway Road entrance to the Twyn.

 

The Old Scout Field/Cross Common

 

The  Clerk  advised  that  two  quotations  had  been  received  for  undertaking major tree  reduction  works  at  the  Old  Scout Field.   The quote from Cardiff and Vale Tree Services was £2,450.00 and £2,221.00 from Acorn Tree Services.  Committee  AGREED  on the proposal of Cllr. Mrs. N. A. Foxwell and seconded by Cllr. K. Hatton to recommend to both the Finance and General Purposes Committee and Full Council that the works should proceed and be undertaken by Acorn Tree Services.

 

 

The Clerk further advised that JDW Landscapers had visited Cross Common with the Clerk and that JDW had indicated a cost of circa. £2,300 to clear the site for allotments, erect fencing and create a parking area.  The Clerk also advised that he had spoken to the Commons Officer at the Vale who had indicated a time frame of 18-24 months for approval to be obtained via WAG for the change of use of common land to allotments. Committee noted that the current demand for allotments in terms of additions to the existing waiting list was subdued but that this may change in the future.  Committee instructed the Clerk to fully establish the exact legal process  and  the  prospective  costs for consideration at the next Meeting of the Committee.  The Clerk confirmed soil samples would be dug on the 23rd June and the results advised to Members of the Committee.

 

Footpaths

 

The Clerk advised that a map of footpaths and comprehensive details of two walks had been included on the Council’s web site at the time of its original development.  Committee AGREED  -  THAT  Mr. A. Sullivan should provide the Clerk with an up to date list of all current walks for inclusion on the Council’s web site along with Mr. Sullivan’s and Cllr. Mrs. V. M. Hartrey’s contact details for anyone who wanted further details of the walks available.

 

Burial Board Report

 

Committee confirmed receipt of Cemetery charges for Wenvoe, Penarth and Barry previously circulated by the Clerk via email.  Committee  AGREED  to review the Council’s Cemetery charges at the next Meeting, which would allow sufficient time for Committee Members to review the charges of other Cemeteries as provided by the Clerk.

 

The Clerk advised Committee that Messrs. Vennings of Penarth were in the process of preparing a quotation for the supply of special grave marking stakes as used by Penarth Town Council.

 

Committee  AGREED - THAT  the bench kept in the Cemetery by the Romany community should be concreted into a permanent position as it had been noted that the bench was still being moved from time to time.

 

Allotment Report

 

Committee AGREED - THAT letters confirming the one allotment only policy should be sent out after the Village Show.  The Clerk confirmed that a letter had been sent to all allotment holders confirming a maximum height of four feet for allotment fences and hedges and confirmed that the holder of Allotment No. 2 had now complied with this policy.

 

 

 

 

 

Horse Riders on Dinas Powys Common

 

The Clerk advised Committee that the Rugby and Cricket Clubs had not agreed to contribute to the costs of additional signage.  Committee instructed the Clerk to nonetheless proceed with the erection of two additional signs to be exactly the same as the sign erected in early 2009. 

 

The Clerk advised that Roy Walters had undertaken chain rolling and harrowing.

 

Dinas Powys Common – Bench Replacement

 

The Clerk confirmed that the Chairman of the Civic Society had not responded positively to the request for funding assistance for a new bench in memory of Mr. Doug Matthews as he felt that members of the Civic Society should make any such requests and not the Community Council.  In the circumstances, the Committee requested the Clerk to contact Dinas Powys Rotary and the Chairman of the Civic Society with the suggestion that a plaque be attached to the jointly funded new bench on the Twyn in memory of Mr. Matthews.

 

06.     MATTERS RELATING TO FOOTPATHS

 

Mr. A. Sullivan, Footpaths Warden, advised Committee that eighty-one walkers attended the recent four walks – a little less than last year.  Mr. Sullivan also confirmed that this year’s Boxing Day walk would commence at 2.00 p.m.

 

The  Clerk  and  Mr.  Sullivan advised the Meeting of youth annoyance problems (rubbish,  old  tents,  clothing  left  in  stream,  style  damage  etc.,) at Millbrook Field past the nursery in Lettons Way.  The Clerk was asked to contact the landowner (Woodlands Trust).  In the meantime, Cllrs. Mrs. V. M. Hartrey and Mrs. N. A. Foxwell  AGREED  to   undertake  a  litter  pick  in  the  area  on  the 7th July 2010 at 4.00 p.m.

 

07.     BURIAL BOARD REPORT

 

The Clerk confirmed that since the last Meeting, two new graves had been utilised and there had been two reopenings.

 

The Clerk was requested to submit recommendations to the next Meeting for an extension to the Cemetery.

 

08.     ALLOTMENTS REPORT

 

The Clerk advised the Meeting that an allotment holder (Mr. V. Kacal) had complained about his allotment charge for water as he held two small allotments which in total he felt did not amount to one large plot. Committee  AGREED  -  THAT  Mr. Kacal should be refunded £10.00 and possibly Mr. L. F. Evans subject to checking plot sizes.

 

 

 

Committee  AGREED  with a suggestion from Cllr. R. R. Grigg that allotment holders be encouraged at the next allotments renewal date to establish an Allotment Holders Association that could be the voice for any representations to the Community Council on allotments matters.

 

09.     RENEWAL OF NOTICE BOARDS

 

Committee discussed  the  dilapidated  state  of  notice  boards  in  Dinas Powys. Cllr. Mrs. V. M. Hartrey referred to a new wooden notice board recently installed in Michaelston that she felt might be suitable for replacements in Dinas Powys. The Clerk was instructed to contact Mr. Skelton (Clerk to Michaleston-Le-Pit Community Council) for details.  Committee Members AGREED to advise the Clerk of potential sites around the village for new notice boards.

 

10.     SOUL IN DINAS POWYS

 

The  Clerk  referred  to  voluntary work shortly to be undertaken by Soul in Dinas Powys.  The Clerk had agreed with Soul in Dinas Powys that they could repaint the chains around the War Memorial.  The Meeting  AGREED  -  THAT  the Clerk could identify any other activities that Soul in Dinas Powys might undertake.

 

11.     WAR MEMORIAL RESTORATION

 

The Clerk advised the Meeting that the War Memorials Trust had agreed a £2,500 grant  for  restoration  of  the  War  Memorial  and  that  a  planning application had been submitted to undertake the work.  CADW had declined to provide matched funding.  The Clerk confirmed that the approved quote cost of restoration was £5,247.00 plus VAT (via Mossfords).  Cllr. R. R. Grigg proposed and Cllr. K. Hatton seconded a Motion that the Committee recommend that the works proceed on the basis of the Community Council funding the balance of the cost after the grant and subject to agreement of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and Full Council. The Motion was unanimously carried.  The Clerk was instructed to establish as to how long the works would take and the lead time to commencement.

 

12.     PLAYGROUND EQUIPEMENT – DINAS POWYS COMMON

 

Committee  acknowledged  the  need  to  upgrade  playground  equipment  on Dinas Powys Common.   The Clerk confirmed that Creative Rural Communities had run out of grant funding for new playground equipment but the Council would be advised when further funds become available.  In the meantime, the Committee instructed the Clerk to obtain playground equipment catalogues for consideration at a later date and also to put details of existing play areas on the Council’s web site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.     ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

          Dinas Powys Common – New Trees

 

Cllr. Mrs. V. M.  Hartrey advised  the  Meeting of  new trees that had been planted outside Mr. B. Morgan’s residence adjacent to the Southra part of the Dinas Powys Common.  Councillors at the Meeting  AGREED  to inspect the trees after conclusion of the Meeting in an effort to establish as to whether they had been planted on Community Council land which the Meeting noted would require Community Council consent.

 

Dinas Powys Station Approach – Litter Problem

 

Cllr. J. H. Williams referred to a litter problem at the approach to Dinas Powys Station. Cllr. Mrs. V. M. Hartrey confirmed that she had drafted a letter to Railtrack regarding the matter and which she would send shortly.

 

14.     DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Tuesday, 7th September 2010 at 6.30 p.m.