Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Laleston Community Council held at Blandy Hall on 21 November 2024 commencing at 7.00pm.

Present:. Cllr’s C Davies, V James, S Philpin, I Spiller, C Webster, S Richmond, A Berrow, D Harrison, C Smith, Z Blundell and JP Blundell

In attendance:  Hayley Coburn

1.  19.1542  Council undertook a period of silent reflection.

2.  19.1543   Apologies for absence. None

3.  19.1544   Representation from members of the public.  

Member of the public and candidate for the Cefn Glas Ward 1 vacancy Mike Smith was present at the meeting up until agenda item 19, at which point he was asked to leave due to the item’s confidential nature.

4.  19.1545   Items of business that the Chair deems urgent. None

5.  19.1546   Declarations of Interest. 

Cllr A Berrow – Item 23 – Prejudicial Interest as a Member of Bridgend County Borough Council Planning Committee.

Cllr D Harrison – Item 23 – Prejudicial Interest as a Member of Bridgend County Borough Council Planning Committee.

Cllr I Spiller – Item 12 – Prejudicial Interest as a resident of Carn Wen

6.  19.1547   Approval of Minutes.

Resolved:  The minutes of the monthly meeting of the Council that took place on 17 October 2024 were approved as a true and accurate record.  Proposed by Cllr A Berrow and seconded by Cllr D Harrison.

Matters Arising from 18 July 2024 Council Meeting:

Item 14 – To discuss writing a letter to the Chief Executive of Bridgend County

Borough Council to enquire if there are any plans for a youth club provision in

Bryntirion.

Deferred to the monthly meeting of the Council in January 2025

Item 15 – To investigate obtaining the green space near Tai Arfyn, Broadlands.

Deferred to the monthly meeting of the Council in January 2025

7.  19.1548  To receive applications for the office of Community Councillor and to

Co-opt a candidate to fill the existing vacancy – Cefn Glas Ward 1.

Resolved: Councillors agreed that Michael Smith, as the only candidate would be

automatically co-opted to fill the Cefn Glas Ward 1 vacancy. Proposed by Cllr I Spiller and

Seconded by Cllr A Berrow.

8.  19.1549 To receive applications for the office of Community Councillor and to Co-opt a candidate to fill the existing vacancy – Laleston & Bryntirion Ward (Incorporating Broadlands)

Members mentioned that they were lucky to receive applications from three strong

candidates.

Resolved: Following two rounds of voting, George Mark Fouracre was co-opted to fill the

Laleston and Bryntirion Ward vacancy.

9.  19.1550 To receive quotations, if any. None received.

10. 19.1551 Finance Update

Resolved;

10.1 Members noted the bank reconciliation summary as at 1 October 2024 and 1 November 2024.

10.2 Council approved a list of payments made during September 2024, which were presented with the agenda which included voucher numbers 200 – 221, proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr A Berrow

10.3 Council approved a list of payments made during October 2024, which were presented with the agenda which included voucher numbers 222 – 238, proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr A Berrow

10.4 Council approved a list of receipts received during September 2024, which were presented with the agenda which included voucher numbers 90 – 109, proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr A Berrow

10.5 Council approved a list of receipts received during October 2024, which were presented with the agenda which included voucher numbers 110 – 124, proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr A Berrow

10.6 Council approved a list of salary payments made in September 2024, which were presented with the agenda, proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr A Berrow

10.7 Council approved a list of salary payments made in October 2024, which were presented with the agenda, proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr A Berrow

Cllr C Davies queried voucher no 229 Digital Mapping Software on October’s payments

list. It was explained by the assistant clerk that the use of the software was agreed by

council to be used as an asset management tool and mapping tool. Cllr I Spiller further

commented that this would be an on-going long-term project, to be worked on as and when time allowed.

11.  19.1552 To review the date of next year’s Fireworks event.

Resolved: Council agreed to Saturday, 1 November 2025 as the date for next year’s fireworks event. Proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr C Davies.

Resolved: Cllr I Spiller to investigate the possibility of building a raised platform at next years event to aid visibility for those in attendance standing at the back of the audience.

12. 19.1553 To discuss adding H lines to dropped curbs at Carn Wen, Broadlands to prevent cars parking across pedestrian areas.

Resolved: Council voted in favour of adding H lines to dropped curbs at Carn Wen, Broadlands.

13. 19.1554 To agree to progress with the installation of the designed white lines at the Dell and Wind Street, Laleston.

Resolved: Council agreed toprogress with the installation of the designed white lines at the Dell and Wind Street, Laleston. Proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr A Berrow.

14. 19.1555 To receive an update on Christmas lighting and to agree to timings and switch on date.

Resolved: Members noted that the Christmas lights had already been turned on by Centregreat when they were installed due to Centregreat’s busy schedule. Members also agreed that the lights would be turned on between the hours of 3pm-midnight.

Resolved: Members agreed to Centregreat’s offer of converting 16 lighting columns along Merlin Crescent up to the junction at St Winifred’s Road and to install the new lights purchased last year during the BOGOF offer, which were purchased for this location. Provided the work is invoiced over a period of two years, commencing in the new financial year. Proposed by Cllr A Berrow and seconded by Cllr S Richmond.

15. 19.1556 To agree the purchase of a re-usable 3.5m Christmas tree with installation of concrete base opposite the shopping precinct in Broadlands, adjacent to the CCTV camera and planters/benches/bins installed by LCC.

Resolved: Council agreed to the purchase of a re-usable Christmas tree at Broadlands and agreed to the purchase of a similar tree to be installed at Bryntirion for Christmas 2025. Spend to be added to precept calculations for 2025.

16. 19.1557 To agree the purchase of 6 benches to commemorate the 80th anniversary of WW2.

Resolved: Council agreed to the purchase of the 6 benches in the proposed locations.

17. 19.1558 To consider the purchase of large lamppost poppies for display along the main roads in Broadlands / Cefn Glas & Laleston for next Remembrance Day.

Resolved: Members agreed to the initial purchase of 80 poppies with a view to adding names of local residents lost in conflict to the poppies via information from local groups and the church. Proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr S Philpin.

18. 19.1559 To consider donating the two table tennis tables.

Resolved: Council agreed to donating the two table tennis tables to local groups. Post to be placed on social media.

19. 19.1560 To receive a confidential recommendation from the HR & Personnel Committee

Resolved: Council received a confidential recommendation from the HR & Personnel Committee and agreed to the recommendations in the report. Proposed by Cllr C Webster and seconded by Cllr A Berrow.

20. 19.1561 To receive any recommendations and or comments from Committees –

HR & Personnel Committee

Resolved: Members noted that the new staff payscales for 2024/2025 have been

accepted by the HR & Personnel Committee.

Resolved: Members agreed to look at co-opting a councillor to the Biodiversity and

Allotments committee during December’s meeting of the council to replace P King who has

resigned. Item to be added to the agenda.

21. 19.1562 To receive the draft minutes of any Committee meetings held since the last meeting of Council and note any delegated decisions made – a) Finance Committee b) HR & Personnel Committee c) Biodiversity & Allotment Committee

Resolved: Minutes of the HR and Personnel Committee meeting that took place on Wednesday, 13 November will be distributed at the next meeting of the Council

22. 19.1563  To receive correspondence, if any.

None received.

23.  19.1564  To consider Planning Applications.

Planning Application	Comment
Planning Application No.: P/24/514/FUL Applicant: Mr A Carter Location: 2 Bryntirion Cottages Bryntirion Hill Bridgend CF31 4DZ Proposal: Conversion of detached garage for use as commercial physiotherapy clinic/gym Date: 22 October 2024	Objection raised due to concerns with access. Proposed by Cllr I Spiller and seconded by Cllr S Richmond

There being no further business, the meeting ended at 8.37pm.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 19 December 2024 and will commence at 7.00pm.