Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Laleston Community Council held at Bryntirion & Laleston Community Centre on 19 May 2022 commencing at 7.00pm.

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

In attendance: Gail Jewell

1. 19.1040 Council undertook a period of silent reflection.

2. 19.1041 Apologies for absence. None

3. 19.1042 Representation from members of the public. None

4. 19.1043 Items of business that the Chair deems urgent

The Chair allowed the following urgent item to be included on the agenda for discussion:

The Chair explained that contact had been received from the Explorers Scout Group to highlight donations had not been received from the Council dating back to 2018. The Chair clarified that the Clerk had confirmed that money had been donated to the 3rd Bridgend Scouts Group to cover the Scout Hall rent along with a donation to the Explorers, but that it did not total the full amount agreed by Council.

Resolved: Council agreed for the Clerk to reimburse the Explorers any unpaid donation money.

5. 19.1044 Declarations of Interest.

Cllr V James – Item 4 – Personal Interest as a relative of the contact from the Explorers Scout Group.

Cllr A Berrow – Item 15 – Prejudicial Interest as a Member of Bridgend County Borough Council Planning Committee.

Cllr D Harrison – Item 15 – Prejudicial Interest as a member of Bridgend County Borough Council Planning Committee.

6. 19.1045 Approval of Minutes.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of Council on 17 March 2022 be approved as a true and accurate record. Proposed by Cllr A Berrow and seconded by Cllr C Davies.

7. 19.1046 Finance update:

Resolved:

· Members noted the Bank Reconciliation as at the end of a) March and b) April 2022.

· Council approved payments which were presented with the agenda which included vouchers numbers 332 – 377and 1 – 26. Proposed by Cllr A Berow and seconded by Cllr C Davies.

· Council approved receipts which were presented with the agenda which included voucher numbers 139 – 169 and 1 – 17. Proposed by Cllr A Berrow and seconded by Cllr JP Blundell.

· Council approved a list of salary payments for March and April 2022 which were presented with the agenda. Proposed by Cllr S Philpin and Seconded by Cllr A Berrow.

· Council reviewed the Internal Audit Report and were pleased to note that no financial risks were identified for 2021/2022.

· Following presentation of the Annual Return 2021/2022, Members approved the figures on the return and duly answered all questions outlined on the Annual Governance Statement to the best of their knowledge and belief.

· Council noted the explanation of variances 2021/2022.

· Due to the changes to the membership of Council following the elections, Members agreed to amend the current bank mandate to include the following Councilllors as signatories:

Cllr A Berrow, Cllr D Harrison, Cllr J Cook, Cllr S Philpin and Cllr P King.

8. 19.1047 Hybrid Meetings

The Clerk outlined that the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 sets out that community councils are required to take steps to allow meetings to be held from multiple locations and duly presented costings for a device that would provide the solution to hold hybrid meetings.

Resolved: Following discussions, Members agreed to:

· purchase the Owl Pro to service hybrid meetings.

· explore costing for installing Wi-Fi at Blandy Hall.

· inspect and test the Hearing Loop System currently in Blandy Hall.

9. 19.1048 To receive an update from the Clerk

The Clerk provided a brief update on the Allotments, Blandy Hall and Bryntirion & Laleston Community Centre.

Resolved:Following the update provided, Council agreed to take up Cllr P King’s offer to meet with the Clerk and the Veterans at the allotment site on Monday, 23 May 2022 at 1.30pm to discuss the promotion of Plot 32 and to add allocating a liaison officer for the Allotments to the next agenda.

Members further noted the update relating to legal assistance being acquired to register the lease for Bryntirion & Laleston Community Centre with Land Registry.

10. 19.1049 Community Pantry Update

The Clerk invited Members to nominate themselves to the list of volunteers that collect the food for the Community Pantry from Bryncethin Community Centre on a Wednesday afternoon and drop off to Bryntirion Community Centre.

Resolved: Cllr C Smith, Cllr A Berrow and Cllr D Harrison agreed to undertake collections and deliveries on a rota basis. In addition, due to the popularity of the Community Pantry, Members agreed to add the costings of increasing the amount of food delivered to the next meeting of Council.

11. 19.1050 Playparks

The Chair presented an issue that had been raised by a member of the public regarding the accessibility from the play park in Bryntirion to the main road behind. He explained that a child had ran through a gap in the hedge and onto/or near to the main road behind and asked that the gap be remedied.

In addition, the Clerk raised concerns relating to the lack of communication and reports being received from Bridgend County Borough Council relating to the inspection and maintenance of the parks.

Resolved:

· Council agreed that the Clerk to into costings for installing a metal fence at the back of the park, from the working kissing gate to the fence already in situ.

· Members agreed that the Clerk obtain costings from an external company to undertake inspections and maintenance of all playparks and equipment.

· In addition, Council agreed to obtain costings for completing the footpath from the wooden kissing gate to Park View.

12. 19.1051 To receive quotations, if any.

	Quotations Received	· Comment
1	Supplier A – To lay a weed block barrier at the Pound as requested. £2,160 (inc VAT)
2	Supplier B – To lay a weed block barrier at the Pound as requested. £1333.00 (inc VAT)	Resolved: Council agreed to progress with the quotation received from Supplier B to carry out the works.

13. 19.1052 To receive Personnel Issues, if any.

The Clerk explained that the Facilities Assistant was currently off work and invited Members to nominate themselves, to assist during this time, to open/lock up Bryntirion & Laleston Community Centre on a Tuesday and Thursday evening.

Resolved: Cllr A Berrow confirmed he would cover a Tuesday evening, opening at 6.30 and closing at 7.30. Cllr S Philpin confirmed she would cover a Thursday evening, opening at 6.30 and closing at 8.30.

14. 19.1053 To receive Correspondence, if any

	Correspondence Received	· Comment
1. 1	Hedgehogs R Us Highway Project £150 per box which includes 50 hedgehog surrounds, 50 information leaflets and a display box and a window sticker.	Resolved: Members agreed to purchase a Hedgehogs R Us Highway Project box and to contact all schools within the ward area to offer to purchase on their behalf.
2.	Roy Williams – Donation for wildflower garden in Broadlands – £200	Resolved: Members agreed to the donation and since this was an annual donation, that it be added as a budget heading.
3.	Cllr C Smith raised concerns regarding the potential outcome of the LDP Consultation and suggested that Council create a task and finish group.	Resolved: Members agreed that the Clerk contact the Cabinet Member for Communities for a timeline following the consultation in the first instance.

15. 19.1054 To consider Planning Applications

Planning Application	Comment
Planning Application No.: P/22/292/FUL Applicant: Mrs D Mofidi Location: 2 Heol Y Fronfraith Fawr Broadlands CF31 5FR Proposal: Dormer extension to rear to provide games room Date: 10/05/2022	No objection.
Planning Application No.: P/22/293/FUL Applicant: Mr B Fiather Location: 8 Ffordd Candleston Broadlands CF31 5DU Proposal: Convert garage into a habitable room Date: 10/05/2022	No objection.
Planning Application No.: A/22/12/ADV Applicant: One Stop Stores Ltd Location: Unit 1 Ty Talbot Elm Crescent Bryntirion CF31 4EA Proposal: Item 1: 19 x ACM panels; Item 2: 4 x poster case Date: 10/05/2022	No objection.

There being no further business, the meeting ended at 8.15 pm.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 16 June 2022 and will commence at 7.00pm.