Among matters discussed at the January meeting of Amroth Community Council, again held online via Zoom, were the following:
Matters Arising
• PCC’s street lighting engineer has agreed a replacement streetlight for near the entrance of Clos Yr Ysgol and sent through the proposed location, decided based on availability of electricity.
• The clerk has written to Llanteg Gardening Group about taking on additional maintenance work on community owned land.
• PCC has had a tree surgeon survey of the trees on the land between the public toilets and Hill House in Amroth. Ownership of this piece of land has still not been established. (It is also infested with Japanese Knotweed which is of great concern to neighbours). PCC has agreed to remove all the ash trees close to the road. The work will be carried out at the end of February. This will require the road to be closed during the working day, the date/s of which will be published soon.
• PCC has agreed to inspect the stone bridge at Wisemans Bridge for safety following holes appearing where stones have been dislodged by the sea. This is a well-used track by walkers. They will apply enforcement on the owner if required.
• The grit bin has been ordered from PCC for the entrance of Clos Yr Ysgol, Stepaside.
• The Play Area, Summerhill. The playground subgroup met to discuss the proposals forwarded by PCC for the future management of the play area. The proposals were included in the December minutes. Clr. Tippett Maudsley is liaising with Amroth and District Community Association to inform them of the proposals and discuss the way forward. A meeting is being arranged with subgroup members and the officer from PCC to fully understand the options available to the community.
• The waste bin by Llanteg bus shelter was removed following misuse.
• Clr. Cormack reported that the wall was being made ready in Stepaside for the new defibrillator to be fixed to it.
• Clr. Harries reported that the new seats for the Memorial Garden in Amroth would be arriving with him the next day. Clrs. Harries, Davies and Phillips would meet in the Memorial Garden to agree where they would be sited.
County
Councillor’s Report
Council Tax 2021-22: On January 13, Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) announced a public consultation on its Budget for 2021-22. The closing date for responses is February 7. I would urge all residents to contribute to this important consultation.
By law local authorities must set a balanced budget; they cannot borrow to finance current expenditure, but can for capital projects. The pandemic is cutting PCC revenue, e.g. from leisure centres, while demand for service is increasing. With one in five Pembrokeshire jobs in the tourism and hospitality sectors and with a relatively large proportion of Pembrokeshire’s workforce furloughed, the pressure on household incomes is severe in the county. Furthermore, a quarter of our county’s population is aged over 65. While those on state benefits, such as universal credit, can claim a Council Tax reduction in whole or in part, there are many just above the benefit level who would be adversely affected by an increase in taxation. Thus, setting a fair Council Tax increase for 2012-22 is a difficult balancing act.
The council meeting on December 10 endorsed the Cabinet’s recommendation of a five per cent increase in Council Tax in the coming financial year. Since then, the Welsh Government has announced its Provisional Settlement of funding to Local Government for 2021-2022 although the Final Settlement will not be announced until March 2. The Provisional Settlement was much better than expected, with Pembrokeshire receiving a four per cent increase in funding compared with 3.8 per cent for the whole of Wales. The Final Settlement is not expected to differ significantly from the Provisional Settlement. The impact of the settlement is to reduce Pembrokeshire’s funding gap from £25 million to £14.5 million.
Consequently, PCC has about £10 million more to spend in the coming financial year than was previously expected, given a five per cent rise in Council Tax. Of this, £1.3 million has already been allocated to cover a net increase in levies, capital financing costs etc. This leaves £8.7 million to be allocated.
I would argue that some of this leeway should be used to moderate the projected rise in Council Tax. I would also argue that the sum of PCC’s reserves should be used on a one-off basis to moderate the projected rise in Council Tax. PCC maintains some reserves to fund specific projects and I would not argue using these. However, PCC does maintain a cash balance of £7 million, which acts as a working balance and a contingency reserve. A once-in-a-century pandemic surely justifies the use of reserves. If they are not to be used in an emergency, why maintain high reserves?
A one percent rise in Council Tax brings in £0.6 million. Thus, reducing the projected Council Tax increase to three per cent would mean that PCC would have to find £1.2 million. I would reduce the extra amount for services from £8.7 million to £8 million and would reduce reserves by £0.5 million. Certainly, the reserves would have to be rebuilt over the next four years, when hopefully the economy is recovering.
I note, in addition, that the Welsh Government has announced that it will provide an additional £1bn in revenue grants and an extra £729m in capital grants. How much of this will come to Pembrokeshire is not yet known, nor have we any certainty on any other Welsh Government grants. However, it is likely that there will be some further monies, but they cannot be relied upon and used to budget.
Given the stress on households, I can see no justification for a five per cent increase in Council Tax in the coming financial year.
A discussion took place. Councillors endorsed the request for residents to fill in the survey, which can be found at https://haveyoursay.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2021-22. The clerk was also asked to add the link to the survey to the ACC Facebook page.
Written comments can also be sent via email or post to County Clr. Baron who will pass them on to PCC. Comments can also be addressed to the leader, David Simpson, or Bob Kilmister, cabinet member for finance.
Councillors debated submitting views on behalf of the community council and agreed to do so.
Planning
Woodland Heights, 1 Clos yr Ysgol, Stepaside - Double storey side extension to provide new holiday let. This application was refused.
Jakar, Wisemans Bridge - Part demolition, alterations and extension to existing residential property to create total of four holiday letting apartments. Construction of new retaining wall on boundary adjoining public highway. This application has been withdrawn.
6 Summerhill, Summerhill - Single storey ground floor extension. This application has been conditionally approved.
Cwm Awelon, Llanteg - Conversion of an existing conservatory to a sun lounge. This application has been approved.
Redwood Lodge, Amroth Road, Stepaside - Permanent rural enterprise dwelling. ACC had no objection to this application.
Craig Y Borian Farm, Amroth Road, Llanteg - Farm diversification scheme consisting of the siting of a butchers cutting room and refrigeration building and associated works for the processing of home reared produce. ACC had no objection to this application.
Jakar, Wisemans Bridge - Jakar House had planning approval for converting part of the property into a self-contained ‘Granny’ annex for the use of an elderly relative approximately 50 years ago. When the relative passed, approximately 40 years ago, the flat was rented out as a self-contained flat ever since. This application was to confirm the existing use as a single dwelling. ACC had no objection to this application.
39 Llanteg Park, Llanteg - First floor extension and internal alterations. ACC had no objection to this application.
Land adj 18 Summerhill, Summerhill - Erection of a dwelling. Reconsultation due to amended plans. ACC had received written and verbal objections to this application, specifically on access issues. ACC submitted comments objecting to this proposal. Following additional communications, Clr. Tony Baron would request that this application be withdrawn from delegated authority and referred to the Planning and Rights of Way Committee for further scrutiny.
New house by The Rookery, Stepaside. Residents had drawn attention to this construction. An application was agreed in 2011 and there had been an amendment since, however it appeared that the actual property had been built at odds to the approved plans. The architect had agreed to submit amended plans retrospectively. Councillors requested that the retrospective planning be dealt with by the Planning and Rights of Way Committee and not be delegated. Clr. Baron would write to this effect.
ACC do not approve of retrospective planning and feels strongly that all applications made in retrospect should be subject to increased costs. This statement is added to all comments on retrospective plans that ACC submit.
Correspondence
• Donation request from Wales Air Ambulance. Clr. Phillips commented that Wales Air Ambulance provide a vital service to the rural community of Amroth. It has been employed on several occasions to road accidents on the A477. It now offers a 24-hour service. He proposed to donate. Following a discussion, Clr. Harries proposed a sum of £500, seconded by Clr. Tippett Maudsley. All councillors agreed. The clerk was asked to invite a representative of Wales Air Ambulance to the February meeting.
• The leader of Llanteg Walking Group had written to say - For anyone interested, Country Walking Magazine are running a challenge to walk 1,000 miles over the year, please see the link below
• A resident had written regarding the possibility of getting Christmas lights for Amroth to complement the displays in local houses. They cheered the village up. The clerk will add this to the June agenda for discussion.
• The War Memorials Trust is providing grants for the repair and conservation of free-standing war memorials.
These grants are intended to help those who are responsible for the upkeep of war memorials. The grants support the care and preservation of war memorials to a high standard, and to prevent the decay of this important part of our built heritage. Grants will normally be for between 25 per cent and a maximum of 75 per cent of eligible costs. The maximum grant is £5,000 for non-freestanding war memorials while freestanding, non-beneficiary war memorials may be considered up to a maximum grant of £30,000.
The fund is open to anyone to apply; individuals or organisations, including councils.
The next closing date for applications is March 31, 2021.
• Letter from the National Trust at Colby: I am writing to you on behalf of the National Trust, to inform you that we are planning to change our pricing model at Colby Woodland Garden from a pay for entry site, to a pay for parking site.
Like most organisations, the National Trust has been hit hard by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. We have had to review our operating model at Colby Woodland Garden to ensure we can continue to conserve and maintain the grounds and gardens for ever, for everyone.
We will be submitting a planning application for two pay and display machines, one located in each car park. We will no longer charge an admission fee, as our retail shop where we normally facilitate admissions has closed and our staffing structure at the property has changed. Moving to a parking charge will represent a much more cost-effective day out for visitors to Colby Woodland Garden and the ticket will be transferable across all Pembrokeshire car parks on that day. We believe the new proposals will make Colby accessible to a wider range of people, with funds raised from the pay and display machines directly supporting the conservation of the gardens, grounds and maintaining the facilities. National Trust members will still park for free.
The car parking charge will be in line with our other National Trust car parks across Pembrokeshire (the charge per car will be £6 daily and £3 up to three hours). The charges will be in place from March 1 to October 31, from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Report By Amroth and District Community Association: The hall is closed for the duration of lockdown.
Clr. Tippett-Maudsley stated that she has agreement to represent Amroth and District Community Association in any discussions regarding the future management of the play area.
• Report by Llanteg Village Hall Committee: The hall has been cleaned and sanitised, but remains closed at this time.
Project Updates
• Amroth Good Neighbours - Little increase in demand, although there has been an increase in infection in Pembrokeshire. It will remain active over the winter to support residents.
• Exercise Jantzen - Clr. Harvey reported that he is working on the copy and layout for the information board and will bring proposed copy to the February meeting.
• Play Area, Summerhill - A temporary fix has been carried out on the fence.
• Brown signs - Application to PCC has been redirected to the SWTRA.
Other Matters and Urgent
Business
• Fair Share scheme - Clr. A. Evans has been approached about this being run again in the bus shelter in Summerhill over the summer. Councillors agreed to support this scheme but requested that items be limited to garden produce and plants.
• Maintenance of PCNPA land in Summerhill. This has been carried out by a local resident in recent years who has now left the village. The clerk has written to the Park on this matter, but received no reply as yet.
• Clr. Baron brought up the possibility of a defibrillator at The Wanderers Rest, Llanteglos, for community use. He offered to subsidise half the cost. All councillors agreed. The clerk would contact Tenby and Saundersfoot First Responders to order one.
• Clr. Davies reported that the road drains along the front at the New Inn end of the village were still blocked by pebbles, preventing water from draining off the road. Two drains in the middle of the road were also not draining water. It was agreed that the clerk contact PCC again on this issue and copy in Clr. Baron.
• Clr. Davies also reported significant damage to the end of the promenade, so it now ends with a dangerous eight-foot drop on to pebbles. It looks like water is also going under the foundation of the wall. If this continues the road and the bridge will be at risk. The seat located by the start of the Coast Path is also at risk of being lost. It was agreed that the clerk contact PCC and request that the damage be surveyed and repairs carried out.
• Clr. A. Evans reported that the bus shelter in Summerhill needs maintenance (as do the toilets in Amroth). He asked that PCC be contacted to powerwash the bus shelter and he would be happy to paint it. The clerk was to contact PCC on this issue.
• Clr. A. Evans also reported that the waste bins by the play area had not been emptied recently. The clerk was to contact PCC to ask for them to be emptied.
• Clr. Harries reported that there are no cat’s eyes on the road at the Amroth junction opposite Pen Y Bont on the A477. There are no cat’s eyes on any of the junctions off the A477 travelling through Llanteg. It was agreed that the clerk contact the SWTRA to query this.
• Clr. Harries reported that bags of salt/grit were available from him. Contact the clerk to arrange collection.
The next meeting of the council will be held on Thursday, February 18, at 7 pm, again via Zoom unless informed otherwise. Anyone wishing to observe online, please send your email address to [email protected]