Minutes of the Full Council Meeting

Held at the Philip Squire Community Centre, Coytrahen

Wednesday 26^th March 2008

Members Present: Mrs. D. Weinzweig (Chairperson)

Councillors: Councillors K. H. Faulkner, R. H. Golledge K. Roberts & J. Rundell

Representative: - Mr. Robert Jones - BCBC's Countryside Officer

Observer - Mr. Neil Bevan (Gelli Las Farm Coytrahen)

The Meeting commenced at 7.00 p.m. and was chaired by Councillor Mrs. Weinzweig

No.                              Minute

118.08                                                  Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Councillor Mrs. M. Svensen and Mr. M. James

119.08                                                  Declarations of Interest

There were no matters of personal interest

120.08                                                  Mr. Robert Jones - Countryside Officer

Mr. Robert Jones - "Japanese Knotweed was introduced as a garden plant to Great Britain in the 1830's. It can spread laterally for 7M; destroys other plants; tarmac and asphalt are no barriers to it and it is also a serious enemy to river banks

Bridgend CBC is involved with an innovative project to eradicate Japanese Knotweed from its own land.

 Other evasive weeds such as Buddleia, Rhododendron, Cotoneaster and Himalayan Balsam are of concern, but not as such a high a priority as Japanese Knotweed.

This plant is primarily covered in the 1981 Countryside and Wildlife Act and its removal from land where it is found growing must be actioned with care; it should not be disposed of mindlessly as severe penalties can be imposed by the Courts on those found guilty of such an offence.

There are two sites in South Wales where this plant can be taken for its destruction - Fochrhiw and Pontardawe; special licences are necessary.

 The Garw has been targeted as a pilot scheme for the weeds' eradication; this decision was taken as the valley does not to have an abundance of the knotweed and therefore work should be simple and completed within a short timescale and of course, lessons should be learned from this exercise.

There are between 50 to 60 hectares of this weed in the county borough and it can be found spreading on private and publicly owned land. Bridgend CBC can only take action on land in its ownership; it has no authority to interfere with private landowners unless they fail to prevent its encroachment onto neighbouring land.

The weed can be treated with herbicides (glyphosate) a foliar spray that helps in the biodegrading process

I hope to produce an information leaflet which explains the extent of the problem in this county borough, and how best to deal with it.; funding needs to be obtained from the Welsh Assembly Government's divergence fund for this project to proceed."

Members' questions and comments: -

The Chairperson said that Glyphosate has only a short term effect and kills all green plants. Mr Jones said that it should be sprayed in dormant role and late in the growing period.

The Chairperson said that there two clumps of knotweed on the former watercourse and suggested that Bridgend CBC allows a Coytrahen Village initiative whereby volunteers cut back the weed every three weeks and apply a spraying programme at the end of the growing season. If successful the weed should be totally eradicated after a number of years.

Mr. Jones was unsure if such a scheme would be given the go ahead but again suggested that spraying should be applied at the end of the growing season.

The Chairperson said that Mr. Jones was overly convinced with glyphosate spraying and should be thinking of alternative methods.

The Clerk said that Bridgend CBC should be aware that when its highway maintenance team cuts back hedgerows it also removes the leaves of Japanese Knotweed which is contrary to the Countryside and Wildlife Act.

Mr. Jones said that this was a major concern to him and needed serious investigation.

The spread of the knotweed is caused by cut rhizomes and not the leaves.

Mr. Jones was informed that there was a serious growth of Japanese Knotweed between the local riverbank and the playing fields; he suggested that this was reported in writing in order that he could take some form of action to prevent its spread.

Mr Jones was thanked for his presentation and left the meeting place at 8.10 pm.

121.08                                                  Minutes of the February 2008 Meeting

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 27^th February 2008 were a true record - the Chairperson duly signed the Minute Book

122.08                                                  Matters Arising from The Minutes

108.08 Mr. Mel James has been notified of the appointment and was invited to attend the March 2008 meeting

110.08 - public lighting columns - to be discussed at the March 2008 meeting (copy of letter addressed to Mr. M. Jones of Nicholls Road Coytrahen is attached)

111.08 (12) - proforma for acceptance of code of conduct is to be agreed at the March 2008 meeting

111.08 (14) One Voice Wales membership fee has been paid

113.08 - Clerk to update Members at the March 2008 meeting

114.08 Councillor Faulkner - see letter addressed to Superintendent Tim Jones

114.08 - Councillor Rundell - Clerk to report on Valleys to Coast issue

114.08 Councillor Rundell - see Rights of Way map (Coytrahen House)

123.08                                                  Correspondence

1.            Bridgend CBC - Reports & Minutes (available from the Clerk)

2.                  Clerks & Councils Direct - Local Council update

3.                  Clerk to Mr Mel James - co-option

4.                  Mr. Neil Bevan - Japanese Knotweed - has expressed an interest with this problem and requested to attend the March 2008 Meeting.

5.                  Rights of Way Map - Coytrahen House - The Clerk in response to Councillor Rundell's enquiry with Footpath No. 21 being obstructed discovered that no footpath actually passed Coytrahen House. All Members were supplied with the definitive right of way map and agreed that the finding was correct.

The confusion arose with the believe that a local track which runs from Home Farm to Coytrahen House was considered to be a public right of way.

Resolved: That the above matters are noted

6.                  One Voice Wales - Buckingham Palace Garden Party (15/807/2008) - not considered

7.                  One Voice Wales - What are Community & Town Councils? - information leaflet

8.                  One Voice Wales - 2008 Election Timetable - details for the forthcoming elections

9.                  Mayor of Bridgend County Borough - Mayor's Gala Dinner invitation - not considered

10.              Clerk - to BCBC public lighting column realignment - request for the lantern on the new column to be realigned so as to face the pathway leading from Heol Cefn Ydfa

11.              Bridgend CBC - Member Code of Conduct - considered unnecessary as the 2008 local elections would supersede any declarations that are to be made.

12.              Bridgend CBC - Footpath Agency Agreement (claim) - confirmation that the council's claim for footpath maintenance expenditure has been accepted and payment of £740 will be made as soon as possible.

13.              Bridgend CBC - Heol Cefn Ydfa pavements - a respose to the Clerk's request for Heol Cefn Ydfa pathways to be upgraded states that all pavements are subject to regular inspections. "Heol Cefn Ydfa revealed no emergency defects; their general condition was noted and placed on a register of works for future attention. No specific date could be supplied".

14.              BDO Stoy Hayward Chartered Accountants - Local Council Briefing - External Audit for the 2007/08 Accounts - The do's and don'ts for the forthcoming audit.

15.              Bridgend CBC - Remittance Advice for the 2007/08 Rights of Way expenditure (£740.00) (see 123.08 (12)

16.              Clerk - Request to Mrs. L. James to continue as the council's Internal Auditor

Resolved: That items 6 to 16 are noted

17.              Mr. Martyn Jones - complaint regarding new lighting columns at the grounds of the Community Centre - Mr Jones referred to a previous community council newsletter in which this council intended to improve lighting at the Coytrahen centre.

Three public lighting columns have been installed all linked by a visible electric cable, the cable near the gentleman's house is considered intrusive and an eyesore. He questions why he wasn't consulted about this prior to the commencement of the development. Mr. Jones argues that the new lighting column on the path leading to Heol Cefn Ydfa is ineffective and is concerned that planning permission should have been obtained prior to its installation.

Mr. Jones's closing remarks refer to the unnecessary need to have the columns illuminated at times when there are no events at the centre.

18.              Clerk - response to Mr. Martyn Jones - each point raised by Mr. Jones was answered in detail (copy supplied to Members) with a suggestion that if he was not satisfied with the response he was welcome to attend a meeting between the council and the village hall association.

Members discussed the content of both correspondences and were satisfied that the Clerk's response was sufficiently detailed and answered the queries raised by Mr. Jones.

Resolved: That this matter remains on the table

19.              Maesteg Animal Welfare Society - financial application

20.              Age Concern - financial application

Resolved: That items 18 & 19 are to be considered at a future meeting of the council

124.08                                                  Planning

P/08/249/FUL - Members supported the development of a detached dwelling on land between 6 & 7 Box Terrace Coytrahen - Mr. Peter Davies

125.08                                                  Watercourse Update

The Clerk said that he has met with Mr. Kevin Reeves the Youth Offending Team's Manager and discussed a programme for removing the litter and other waste that can be found at the former Watercourse.

Mr. Reeves' believes that following a health and safety inspection his team would be allowed to remove all waste from the site.

There is also the likelihood that the former allotment will be brought back to its original state and that bulb and other planting can form part of a regular programme.

There are a vast amount of logs at the site and people should be allowed to collect them for personal use.

Archaeologist fees totalling £1,200 have been received, this is fifty percent less than expected

Glass has been found at the site and needs to be removed immediately.

The wooden walkway has been completed and is a fine feature for the site, there have however been complaints that it is to steep for elderly or disabled people to manoeuvre.

Invoices are awaited from the contractor in respect of the three woodland projects administered by this council.

Resolved: That the report is noted

126.08                                                  Members Reports

Councillor K. Roberts - (1) reported that the fence damaged by a falling tree on Maesteg Road has still to be repaired or replaced - enquiries are to be made

(2) Referred to a damaged fence bar on Heol Treharne and of railing found to be leaning against the fence. - Enquiries are to be made

Councillor J. Rundell: -

(1) Referred to new speed restriction signs at Cefn Cribwr and of the necessity for similar traffic calming measures to be introduced to Coytrahen

(2) Reported that tenants of Heol Treharne were unhappy with the condition of a tree opposite No. 6 and requested that enquiries are again made with BCBC to have it lopped or removed

(3) Referred to the Community Notice Board - Clerk informed the Councillor that this item is scheduled for development in the 2008/09 financial year

(4) Requested that action is taken to remove a fallen tree from Footpath No.1 on the former tram road (rear of Nicholls Road).

Councillor R. H. Golledge - reported on the rubbish deposited in the lane by a local resident - enquiries are to be made

Councillor Golledge also reported that the street lighting columns at Tondu (near the new development) were still out of order

The Chairperson in response to Councillor Roberts's enquiry - said that statistics from 1970 (daily) are available and refer to the water drop. Ten bio-energies are necessary for a local hydro power project to be developed. The Chairperson added that it would be necessary for the statistics to be analysed by an expert in this particular field.

127.08                                                  Finance & Accounts

1. The Clerk presented accounts for approval totalling £1,420.23

Resolved: That the accounts presented were approved for payment

2. Members resolved to note the Receipts and Payments Account prepared for the period 01/04/2007 to 26/03/2008

128.08                                                  Items for the April 2008 Agenda

No items requested

129.08                                                  Date of the next Meeting

Resolved: that the next Full Council Meeting will be held at the Philip Squire Community Centre on Wednesday the 24^th April 2008

With business concluded the Chairperson closed the Meeting at 9.00 pm.

Chairperson________________________ Date_____________________