Prior to the commencement of the meeting Mr David Glennerster gave a report to the Council regarding the possibility of replacing the three information boards within the village. The size, position, possible planning requirements and potential costs were discussed. The Council agreed to add this heading to the March meeting to consider all the above and the funding of such by means of a grant, donation made by the Council or for the Council to fund 100 per cent of the project.

Cllr P Bradbury proposed that the Agenda item on Penally Abbey Woodland Management planning application be brought forward; Cllr Neal seconded the proposal with all Council in full agreement. Three members of the public were given the opportunity to address the Council.

Following consideration and discussion the Council concluded that woodland management is required but raised the following concerns: How many trees are to be removed; Who makes the decision as to which trees are to be removed and how is this process monitored; No surveys have been carried including Bat and/or Ecology; The number of hard core roads/pathways to be constructed. The Council would like to suggest that an alternative natural surface be used.

Cllr P Bradbury proposed that the Council advise the Planning Authority that whilst the Council agree that woodland management is a necessity the Planning Authority take into account the above considerations/concerns; Cllr Neal seconded the proposal with all Council in full agreement.

Consideration of new co-opted Councillor

Cllr P Bradbury advised the Council that a meeting had taken place the evening before where several Councillors met with Mr Jason Williams-James who had expressed an interest in being considered as a Councillor to represent Penally Ward.

Cllr P Bradbury proposed that Penally Community Council accept Mr Jason Williams-James as Councillor for Penally Ward; Cllr C Bradbury seconded the proposal with all Council in full agreement.

The Clerk to advise Mr Williams-James accordingly.

Planning Applications

19/0884/PA Brackenlea, Penally, SA70 7PN - Erection of golf shed for ancillary use in connection with dwelling.

Following discussion the Council noted that the plan submitted by the applicant did not accurately depict the surrounding buildings.

The Council raised major concerns regarding this application. It was considered that to add the proposed golf shed would create overcrowding and overdevelopment. The Council consider this application should be refused.

Correspondence Received

• Email received from Ministry of Defence

FIRING FOR MARCH 2020 Saturday 7th, Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd

• Email received from Keep Wales Tidy advising of the forthcoming Spring Clean Cymru project and offering advice on how to dispose of refuse responsibly.

• Notice from Pembrokeshire County Council Planning Authority – Extension to existing balcony at 20 Penally Heights – Conditionally Approved.

• Notice from Pembrokeshire County Council Planning Authority – Erection of one fixed timber holiday unit with decking, pedestrian link and landscaping (resubmitted) at land North of Penally Heights – Refused.

• Email received from Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations advising of the Take Me Too Project. A lift sharing project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund which matches people who need a lift, or who would like to share a lift with someone who is going their way. For more information call – 01437 775033

• Poster received advertising the London Male Voice Choir concert to raise money for the Sandy Bear Charity.

• Email received from Cllr Carl Willett advising the Council that due to a change in his business circumstances he has made the decision to resign as Councillor. Cllr P Bradbury acknowledged Cllr Willetts resignation and requested the Clerk to inform the Returning Officer accordingly.

County Councillor Jon Preston’s Report

Budget - The consultation period for PCC’s 20-21 budget closed on Monday 27th January 2020.

All responses will now be compiled into a report and used to inform an integrated impact assessment.

These documents will be made available to Council for consideration in its final decision making. This decision will made at the Council meeting on Thursday, February 27.

Despite a welcome increase in Aggregate External Finance from Welsh Government and the increased income generated from Council Tax there remains a projected funding gap of £6.2m for the 20-21 budget net revenue expenditure. This is considerably less than the £21.4m funding gap the Council faced for the 19-20 budget. Any council tax increase will offset the efficiency savings required to meet or come close to the total budget figure. As an example; a 2.5 per cent increase would generate £1.5 million but we would then need to achieve a £4.7 million efficiency saving across the authority. At the other end of the scale a 10 per cent increase would generate £6.0 million reducing the efficiency saving target to £0.2 million. It is worth remembering that £70,000 is of public money is used to sponsor major events. I have asked the cabinet member for finance and the director to provide a full business case to support this spend.

LDP Deposit Plan - Pembrokeshire County Council is preparing a replacement Local Development Plan. It has produced a full draft of this Plan known as the Deposit Plan. This covers the area of Pembrokeshire excluding the National Park. A consultation on the Deposit Plan is being held between January 15 and March 18, which will provide an opportunity for members of the public to support or object to the plan.

The consultation will include a series of drop-in sessions around the County where officers will be available to discuss the Deposit Plan’s proposals. Hard copies are also available at County Hall, Haverfordwest, in Pembrokeshire County Council Customer Service Centers and in local Libraries, during normal opening hours. If you wish to have your say on the Deposit Plan you can do so using the Representations Form. This form should be used for making comments wherever possible. Please email your representation forms to [email protected] or post to The Development Plans Team, County Hall, Freeman’s Way, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP by 4.30 pm on March 18 2020. The drop-in sessions will take place at several locations around the county.

Planning - I have been asked to brief council of an alleged planning breach within the ward. I have been in contact with PCNPA who are now aware of the details. However, I have now been informed by the clerk that a case cannot be presented by council by an anonymous complainant. This is also the case with PCNPA who cannot or are reluctant to act regarding anonymous information. I will take this up with the PCNPA myself with a view to achieving a resolution.

Fly-tipping - Unfortunately, I have cause to report several instances of fly tipping in the ward. Pembrokeshire County Council is committed to stamping out the illegal disposal of waste. Under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 the penalty for fly-tipping/non-compliance can be a maximum of £50,000 and/or five years imprisonment. Each household in Pembrokeshire has a legal responsibility to dispose of its rubbish in the appropriate manner.

If you have waste removed and it is consequently fly tipped, you could be held responsible and fined. To find a registered waste carrier contact Natural Recourses Wales.

PCC will investigate each case and pursue with legal proceedings where cases have enough evidence. To report instances of fly tipping either contact me or the PCC contact centre on 01437 764551.

I have received notice of some further issues with the new waste collection service.

I understand there have been instances of missed collections with the bio waste (purple bags) which I have reported to PCC and discussed with the cabinet member for environmental services.

A council enforcement officer has reported that there appeared to be more waste in the area and has collected evidence from that location.

Merger Confirmation - Age Cymru Dyfed will be merging with their sister organisation, Age Cymru Sir Gar, on April 1 to form a new organisation, Age Cymru Dyfed supporting older people right across the three counties of West Wales.

The key objective of the organisation is to deliver high quality support services and interventions for older members of the community and their families.

Water Fountain £2k Grant - A grant of £2K may be available to seaside communities to install water fountains at coastal locations. The Sea-Changers Coastal Fountain Fund is available for applicants from UK based community organisations.

They welcome applications from a wide variety of groups and entities. They expect to be able to provide partial funding for water bottle fountain installation projects where other funds are also being sought or are already in place.

I will research how much an installed fountain would cost and speak with PCNPA regarding a possible installation of a water fountain at the railway station car park.

Agenda Items

Pembrokeshire County Council – Local Development Plan Update and

consideration of Council’s draft response: The Council considered the recent information received from the Pembrokeshire County Council appertaining to the Local Development (2) Plan. The Council noted that the candidate site 255 is to remain as Allocation site HSG/097/LDP/01 bearing no change to the current LDP for Penally.

The remaining larger Candidate sites 030, 076, 256, 376, 388 and 289 are not included in the Allocation List.

Cllr Rilstone proposed that the Clerk, on behalf of the Council, respond to the Pembrokeshire County Council LDP (2) advising that the Council acknowledge that candidate site 255 is reinstated as an Allocation Site and that the Council’s considerations remain for the other sites including site 030; Cllr C Bradbury seconded the proposal with all Council in full agreement. The Clerk to write a suitable response to Pembrokeshire County Council LDP (2)

The new revised railway timetable - Consideration of the Council’s letter raising concerns regarding the timing of trains running from Swansea to London have been changed, but times from Penally have not been altered to allow for connecting train

Cllr Rilstone reported to the Council that he had written to the AM and PM as well as Transport Wales regarding the mistiming of the train connections at Swansea resulting in a very short or no connection time for onward train travel. Transport Wales have confirmed that train times will change on May 17 when the summer timetable is adhered to and connection times will be more reasonable. Cllr P Bradbury, on behalf of the Council, thanked Cllr Rilstone for the sterling effort he had put into this matter.

Village Benches - Cllr C Bradbury reported to the Council the cost of refurbishing three of the village benches by S Cavill. Material cost for repairs was approximately £400 but there was the issue of possible liability implications for the Council regarding repaired benches.

After discussion it was decided to purchase two new benches One will be positioned on the small village green and the other near Penally Heights.

The next meeting will take place on March 11.