ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Caerbryn Hall, 10 October 2006
MINUTES
Present
Sal Armstrong, Kevin Kelly, Marie Hughes Jones, Howard Watkins, Yvonne Watkins, Lynnette Reynolds, John Davies, Siân Thomas, Mair Griffiths, Yvonne Kelly, Julian Tandy, Mark Waygood, Huw Evans, Menter Cwm Gwendraeth
Apologies
Alun Lewis, Peter Roberts
Annual Reports
* No report from the Chair owing to ill health, but he is in discussion with the mothers & toddlers group regarding facilities.
* Treasurer – Yvonne Kelly, Awaiting a bank statement but as there hasn’t been any movement, they won’t send one out. Balance £1,987.13, £500 of which is for the Youth Project. Money raised from events is going towards the Urdd Eisteddfod.
* To Action – Update bank account as information is out of date.
Election of Committee:
* This year there will be two co-chairs; first co-chair, Alun Lewis, proposed by Julian Tandy, seconded by Yvonne Watkins. Second co-chair, Julian Tandy, proposed Siân Thomas, seconded by Marie Hughes Jones. No objections
* Treasurer; Yvonne Kelly proposed by Julian Tandy, seconded by Howard Watkins. No objections.
* Secretary; Mark Waygood proposed by Kevin Kelly, seconded by Yvonne Watkins. No vice-secretary proposed, position vacant and to be requested again at the next meeting.
* Phil Owen & Alun Lewis are resigning as account signatories, Mark Waygood to replace them.
Minutes of last meeting
Previous meeting minutes approved, proposed by Lynnette Reynolds, seconded by Siân Thomas.
Matters Arising From Minutes
Pavilion Project
* Elwyn Roderick from the Rugby Club is prepared to go along with anything that we organise for the opening ceremony.
* The keys were handed to one of the coaches – Neil Armstrong, last week, because they have games starting from Saturday.
* Mark Waygood to attend meeting (to represent Forum) with Elwyn and Youth Project Monday 16th October at the Rugby club. Can we fit this opening in with a home match? The fixtures should be available by next Monday.
* We should try and get Carmarthenshire radio and local papers to promote and cover the event. There may be a possibility to get a Llanelli player to open the project.
* The Chief Executive is responsible for getting us the grant.
* There are concerns that the rugby match might dominate the opening but we need to make it a joint occasion. This is a community effort and event.
* Could it be arranged around Halloween, or on a Sunday - perhaps the 5th November after a youth game? Perhaps a firework display could be arranged?
Notice Board
* Yvonne has received a letter from The Memorial Hall Secretary, which states that the land has a 999-year lease and is available for viewing.
Apostolic Development
* Welsh Water is opposing the Apostolic Church’s request because there is a problem with the water supply. However, the owners have said that they won’t join the houses to the water system until 2010-12. Welsh Water are happy with this providing they don’t connect any of the houses to the mains before they have finished their work.
* Siân has contacted Jonathan Fearn in asset management and read out an in-depth e-mail reply from him.
* In brief, the council has a 999-year lease on the park for recreation purposes. No terms have been agreed for any sale or grant of rights over the land and the Apostolic Church have not approached them regarding this. They would need to advertise for two consecutive weeks, and then consider any objections.
* If the Apostolic Church fails on planning they will have to approach the Assets Department. They will have to then advertise the proposal.
* There is a rumour that a local developer is interested in Plant-y-Blodau, and this would be a large development, which would require a roundabout along Waterloo Road.
* The planning officer has said he will suggest the Pant-y-Blodau development to the Apostolic Church as it would cause them fewer problems.
* John Protheroe Thomas would have the information regarding the ‘gifting’ of this land to the Apostolics. He may be waiting to see if the Apostolic Church gets planning permission, so he can use this for his own ends.
* Proof of ownership is not required to apply for planning permission, but the lawyers for the Apostolics have decided that they own the land and they have a strong enough case.
* There is no guarantee that John Protheroe Thomas’s family will challenge the planning application in any event.
* Could something be done with the land by the gardening club, like an allotment?
* Section 106 states that any development with over 20 houses must sign up to section 106 which is worth £1,000 per house.
* Money has been offered for the development for local parks including Penygroes & Gors-Ddu Park. A local developer who has signed up to section 106 has agreed to provide more equipment for the youth including a ‘half pipe’ for skateboarders.
* Lighting is to be installed and there is money to fund this from Llandybie Council.
* The Apostolics don’t want to put a road through their graveyard but are happy to put a road through where our children play.
* We can put plants etc., in the park, all the council needs t know about is the maintenance situation. Why not let the Youth Project create a garden to look after.
Notice Board
* The council does not own any land in Bryn Road. It would be best for local residents to contact Land Registry and try to determine the owner of any land they believe could be used for a notice board.
Emlyn Site Update
* There hasn’t been any movement for 3 weeks.
* Complaints have been made about the water at the back of Norton Road, between No.60 to No.100.
* The problem has not been solved and this week, because of the rain, there has been nothing but complaints. The rain has tested the system and it has proved faulty.
* Another problem is in Gors Ddu Road, where water has carried debris out onto the road.
* There is speculation that the development may be delayed for 3 or more years. There may be a time limit on how long they can delay before laying foundations.
* Penygroes is on a hill and the water flows down to Gorslas, Blaenau, Cymgwili, Cross Hands, The Industrial Park and two amounts go down Waterloo Road. The water is supposed to drain in different directions. It is not supposed drain into Waterloo Road but it does.
* The detailed planning for the houses has not been submitted so Welsh Water cannot do anything yet.
Dog Fouling
* Siân has sent samples from Penygroes Square to Penygroes Hall.
* The Council have said they have been out cleaning the area.
* There have also been horses fouling the area, but that is ok and isn’t harmful, dog fouling however, is illegal as they pass viruses and disease in their faeces.
* The dog-fouling signs are on order and we will have them as soon as they are available.
Forthcoming Events
* Dates for the Christmas Fayre and the Games Evening need to be set.
* There is a Craft Fayre in the Memorial Hall on the 10th November, probably starting at 7pm.
* There is also a Modern Hymn Singing Festival on the 29th October at the Hall at 7pm, all in Welsh
* The Craft Fayre raises money for the Urdd but the Christmas Fayre raises money for the Forum.
* There’s no date set yet for the school Christmas Fayre, but we need to make sure they don’t clash.
* Mark Waygood to report back with a date by the next meeting.
* Games evening date to be set, could it be on the pavilion opening day? Might be better to plan for New Year.
* The games evening could do with being more organized with competitions and training on the games for the volunteers so they can teach the people who want to play.
* Yvonne Kelly volunteered to teach people how to play the games so the evening would be better organized.
* Saturday would seem to be the best day as there is very little else going on then. Saturday 2nd or 9th December.
* Between four & six people are needed as volunteers to man the games on the day. We cannot just let the children to play on their own without instruction.
* We also a need for more games for younger children.
* Mark Waygood introduced the information card and let everyone see the example. This could be delivered to every household to be retained with information on meetings, organisations, numbers & events. Really needs to be ready for January.
A.O.B
* Open offer for anyone interested to attend training sessions to learn how to be a Chairperson, secretary etc.
* Marie Hughes Jones asked if there be a new Emlyn site sub-committee? This is something that would have to be discussed amongst members.
* General question from the chair asking for information about Pendragon developers.
* Siân Thomas said that they are the company she is in discussion with about the section 106 donation to the parks.
* If they are going to build, we may need septic tanks because of the water problem.
* The problem is they are taking away land that the water used to soak into and replacing it with concrete.
* Siân is seeing the developer on Thursday and could make an ‘incognito’ complaint about the water.
* There is a large hole in the road (that is continually being repaired) at the bottom of Waterloo Road where you turn right after Capel Hendre towards Coopers. Siân is seeing the county councillor for Capel Hendre tomorrow and speak to him about it.
* A reminder for suggestions at next year’s events at the next meeting please.
* There is a 100% grant available for events. Huw will ask someone to come to the next meeting and talk to the Forum about it. These events must be aimed at the whole community and not sections of it.
* A suggestion was made about having a singing festival through the ages.
* The plan must be in by the end of March to apply for this grant. A number of local communities are having events with celebrities. This grant could enable us to have a large event and some money may be raised for the Forum.
* Llanddarog had a show, where 1,000 people paid £7.50 each so there is some money to be made here for the Forum.
* We cannot have too large an event in Penygroes, but we could spread the events amongst the villages. However, parking will be a problem for larger events.
* Time is of the essence and we need to have ideas as soon as possible.
* We will arrange a meeting for Friday 20th 7.30pm at the Rugby Club to discuss possible events.
Meeting Closed
Next Meeting – Tuesday 14th November at 7pm, Calfaria Chapel