CYNGOR CYMUNED LLANWRDA COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of Llanwrda Community Council held via MS Teams on Wednesday 16th October, 2024
Present:
Chairman: Councillor M. Goddard-Pepperzak
Councillors: B. Charles Davies, B. Auld, S. Goddard
County Councillor A. Davies
1. Apologies
Councillor R. Jones
2. Minutes of the meeting held 18th September, 2024
Minutes were accepted as correct.
3. Declarations of Interest
County Councillor A. Davies – Bute Energy, Green GEN Cymru
Councillor B. Charles Davies – Bute Energy, Green GEN Cymru, Donations
4. Matters arising from the minutes:
9 (a) Play Area
Councillor M. Goddard-Pepperzak had been clearing the litter from the Play Area which amounted to 2 black bags, which was a lot of litter to dispose monthly.
9 (e) Dog Fouling – School Lane
There is an issue with Dog Fouling along the School Lane and also the Play Area. The Clerk to contact Carmarthenshire County Council. Councillor B. Auld had cleared the hedge of school lane and into the play area.
9 (k) Bute Energy/Green GEN Cymru
No further updates received.
9 (a4) Village Speed Limits
This was an ongoing issue.
9 (a8) Pot holes/Fly Tipping
The road sweeper was required in the village, especially the road from Parcnewydd into the village. The County Councillor agreed to make enquiries.
There was a pot hole outside Croes Cottage which had been filled with tarmac and then sunk in no time. The pipework underneath was broken. A lengthy discussion followed it was agreed to organise a site meeting with Carmarthenshire County Council and our County Councillor would attend. The vice-chair also agreed to attend, but once the date was know it would be given to every member.
9 (a14) Cutting grass on (a) T junction, Parcnewydd and (b) Bank of the boundary hedge (on the side of the road) be cut back.
These two issues had been reported.
9 (15) Road erosion A40
It was reported that there wase erosion on the old A40.
5. Reports
5.1 (b) Report from County Councillor
(a) Hwb Bach y Wlad was making community visits and would be in Llandovery at the end of the month. It was being well attended throughout the County
(b) Llanddewi Brefi Community Energy – 3 projects in the area
(c) Object to the over night closure of the emergency unit at Prince Philip
(d) Tregaron – possible closure
(e) Llandovery Hospital – 100 years old in 2 years time
(f) Llandeilo bypass funding could be an issue
5.2 (b) Report from Cornwallis Trust Liaison
A long report was given regarding the way forward, please see below:
We are delighted to report that we have carried out a survey of the above site and consequently submitted a pre planning application for development. The response from the Planning Office was positive, particularly in regards to the phosphate issue which seems to blight so many developments in Wales. It is agreed that there is capacity in place to accommodate the additional wastewater to the treatment plant in Llangadog.
With the building of 10 units (exact numbers not yet confirmed) and the renovation of the Alms House, a further 5 units, there will be a need to widen the access road to the site to 5.5 mtrs.
After a meeting of Trustees and Bro Myrddyn it was agreed that the preferred option was for the school building to be included in the sale of the development site.
The Trustees decision considered:
1. That a substantial amount of money would be required to renovate the school with grants proving difficult to obtain due to Llanwrda already having a Village Hall (on site) which is not at capacity and Llansadwrn having the Reading Room, again not at capacity.
2. The running costs of a large old building such as the school would continue to be a financial drain on the limited resources of the Trust.
3. With the development of the affordable homes/Alms House, parking for the school would be restricted (2 spaces only). Furthermore it was highlighted by the Planning Department that the extra traffic generated, should the school be developed into a village ‘hub’, may be an issue with the service road.
4. The priority of the Trust is to maximise the value of the sale in order to part fund the renovation of the Alms House, which, when completed, would fulfil one of the arms of the charity, to provide affordable homes for local people
The Alms House Development
It is proposed to convert this building into five affordable homes:
2×3 bedroom maisonettes
2×1 bedroom flats
1x fully disabled one bedroom flat
The Alms House is a listed building and consequently special considerations will need to be made during its development which in turn will involve considerable financial investment. A survey has been carried out and again the results have been positive. The architects involved in this project are Acanthus Holden and they have submitted a planning application, a notice of which is displayed at the main road entrance to the school.
A lengthy discussion followed how there was a need to ensure that the homes in question were allocated to local people of the village.
5.3 (b) Report from Police Liaison
County Councillor reported that 2 motor bikes have been stolen in the Cilycwm Area.
6. Correspondence
(1) Carmarthenshire County Council planning consultation PL/08296 – external and restorative works to altered Grade II Historic Almshouse – Cornwallis Flats, Llanwrda
(2) One Voice Wales – senedd consultation
(3) Biodiversity Grant
(4) One Voice Wales Guiness book of records – save a life
(5) Carmarthenshire County Council updates
(6) Overnight closure Prince Philip hospital
(7) One Voice Wales – Role Governance, etc. Town/Community Councils
(8) One Voice Wales Rural services/assets survey
7. Finance
(a) Payments
A Poppy Wreath would need to be purchased for the Remembrance Service
(b) Donations
Requests had been received from the following organisations and would be discussed at the January meeting:
Y Lloffwr, Radio Glangwili
Budget 2025/2026 – Precept
A lengthy discussion followed on the amount the Precept would be increased, the Community Council no longer had any reserves. The Precept would need to be agreed and finalised at the November meeting.
(b) Signing of quarterly financial statements and bank statements
These to be signed by the next meeting.
Audit 2023/2024 (full audit)
I certify that I have completed the audit of the annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2024 of Llanwrda Community Council. My audit has been conducted on behalf of the Auditor General for Wales and in accordance with the requirements of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (the 2004 Act) and guidance issued by the Auditor General for Wales.
Audit opinion – Qualified
Except for the matters reported below in my Basis for Qualification, on the basis of my audit, in my opinion no matters have come to my attention to give cause for concern that, in any material respect, the information reported in this Annual Return.
(a) has not been prepared in accordance with proper practices
(b) that relevant legislative and regulatory requirements have not been met; and
(c) is not consistent with the Council’s governance arrangements; and
(d) that the Council does not have proper arrangements in place to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the use of resources.
Basis of Qualification
Annual Governance Statement
In my opinion, the Annual Governance Statement is not consistent with the Council’s internal controls and governance arrangements for the year:
Assesstion 3 – Compliance with laws and regulations. The Council does not publish on the website all the information it is required to publish by the Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013
Other matters and recommendations
I draw the Council’s attention to the following matters and recommendations which do not affect my audit opinion but should be addressed by the Council.
Staff Costs
I note that the disclosed figure for staff costs (line 4) includes reimbursement of expenses. The Practitioners Guide sets out that staff costs should only include salary plus fixed sum allowances that are potentially subject to tax.
Cashbook
The cashbook provided for audit only includes items of expenditure and not income. While the Council maintains a separate record of income (due to the small number of receipts) the cashbook should be a complete record of all transactions for the year.
8. Public Question Time
No one present.
9. Urgent business
9 (a16) Christmas Tree
A Christmas Tree had been ordered with Glantowy Farm and Councillor M. Goddard-Pepperzak agreed to arrange delivery, etc.
10. Date of next meeting
The next meeting to be held 20th November, 2024. MS Teams, the link to be send at 6.50 p.m.