Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Cllr Richard Searl, welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were received from Cllrs Ian Thomas, Helen Thomas, Sherelle Jago, Gillian Preston, Elizabeth Evans and Jeff Beard.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Police did not attend the meeting virtually but provided the following email report – PACT figures reflect 10/07/20 to 10/08/20:

Bedlinog – Crime:

No relevant reports

Bedlinog - Anti-social Behaviour:

30/07/20- Off road motorbike annoyance and burnt out vehicles being located, Blaennant Wen Farm

Trelewis – Crime:

14/07/20- Attempt theft of motorbike, Nantgwyn

14/07/20 and 20/07/20- Poaching of fish at Taff Bargoed Park. Two males located and dealt with appropriately.

25/07/20- Window smashed at property, West View Crescent

Trelewis - Anti-social Behaviour:

22/07/20- Off road motorbike nuisance on common land/Brondeg in Stormtown

Cllr Chris Frayne proposed that the minutes be approved as a true reflection of the previous meeting, this was seconded by Cllr Vanessa Matthews.

Council resolved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Police figures from the last meeting were published on our Social Media and a post was also made to encourage residents to report all crime incidents so that the Police presence can be increased in the community.

The replacement bench for Graig Road was delivered today to the Community Centre. Installation will take place w/c 17^th August.

MTCBC have sent details of the fly-tipping on the mountain road (the Fox) to the Ranger, as they do not own the land, they are not responsible for clearance of the fly-tipping.

In relation to the bus service issues, Welsh Government have advised that they expect the service to run back to normal in the next few weeks as they have put additional safety measures in place.

An additional three residents have been assisted with the Community Council Pest Control service, however, MTCBC have resumed their service again as of w/c 3^rd August 2020.

The dog waste bins have been installed at Garth Terrace, Bedlinog, and Trelewis Community Centre.

The number of hardship payments made to date is 52.

MTCBC Planning Department were notified about the Community Council’s response to Planning Application P/20/0135.

The 19/20 accounts for Bedlinog Miners Welfare Association will be provided ASAP so that the Community Council can consider the ongoing maintenance costs of the buildings and the land.

Keep Wales Tidy have sent the proposed sketches for the wildlife garden around Bedlinog Community Centre to their project partners – they are waiting confirmation that the partners agree. As soon as agreement is received, the materials can be ordered, and the project can commence.

The Community Council has been in contact with the owner of the land at the end of Colly Row. He has advised that whilst he is aware of the public right of way through his land, he is concerned that some of the steps etc. are dangerous. The Community Council has put the landowner and the Rights of Way Team at MTCBC in touch and they are now in conversation about how they can work together.

The Community Council paid for the removal of the tree growing out of the wall on Bedlinog Hill which was causing an obstruction when busses were going past. The blocked drain has been reported to MTCBC.

The grass in Stormtown and Bedlinog Tennis Courts has been funded and cut back. Community Council has also arranged for the grass in the rear car park of Trelewis High Street to be cut back – MTCBC have done this but there is still some more work to be done.

The parking issues on Cwm Hill have been reported to MTCBC – the Parking Wardens returned to work Thursday 6^th August ’20 and will be visiting to assess the issue.

MTCBC Engineering Department have been requested to complete a survey on the wall on Taff Road. Once this is completed, we will have a cost of repair to consider.

County Cllr Malcolm Colbran did not attend the meeting virtually but provided the following email report:

These are my current roles & responsibilities.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council:
Deputy Mayor
Planning Committee, Vice Chair
Licensing Committee
Neighbourhood Services, Planning and Countryside Scrutiny Committee
Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee
Joint Audit/Scrutiny Committee
Biodiversity Champion
Brecon Beacons National Park Authority:
Sustainable Development Fund Committee, Vice Chair
Planning, Access and Rights of Way Committee
Audit & Scrutiny Committee
Waterfalls Country Task & Finish Group
South Wales Fire & Rescue Authority:
HR & Equalities Committee
Finance, Asset & Performance Management Scrutiny Committee
Glamorgan Archives Joint Management Committee, Vice Chair
LLwydcoed Crematorium Joint Management Committee
Merthyr Tydfil Biodiversity Partnership, Chair
Greenfield School Governor, Vice Chair
Taff Bargoed Learning Partnership, Governor
Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Trust

In July I attended 5 committee meetings of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, 3 of South Wales Fire & Rescue Authority, meetings of the Llwydcoed Crematorium Joint Management Committee, the Taff Bargoed Learning Partnership and discussed the safe reopening of the Glamorgan Archives headquarters in Cardiff with the Chief Archivist.
I also meet regularly with the Independent Councillors Group to discuss Borough wide issues.

Residents have contacted me regarding a number of issues including loose livestock, dog fouling, planning, grass cutting, potholes, recycling, off road biking, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping.
I’ve discussed policing matters with the local PCSO’s and I’ve written to Redrow on behalf of Manor View residents regarding maintenance of the open space in the middle of the estate.
Meetings with Taff Bargoed Angling Association, Trelewis Bowls Club and local businesses have highlighted several problems I’m currently looking into.

The Community Improvement Fund has paid for a Fairy Trail which I installed on the path from Bedlinog Community Centre to the Recreation Ground.
I swept broken glass from the Bedlinog MUGA and picked up over 50 Nitrous Oxide cannisters and 5 discarded syringes from around the villages, mainly at Stormtown and Bedlinog fishing pond.
On behalf of Community Action I cut grass and cleared the weeds at both Bedlinog playgrounds ready for their reopening, cut the grass at the entrance to Manor View, cutback the bracken by the Stormtown benches, cleared the nettles & brambles obstructing the path at the entrance to Pit Woods, strimmed the pony trek entrance to Taff Bargoed Park and litter picked around both villages.

Cllr. Jago and I met with the Highways Engineer & Road Safety Officer to discuss temporary road layout changes at Trelewis School.
As part of the “I Love Merthyr Tydfil Summer Reading Festival” I collected 180 free book packs from the Stephens & George Charitable Trust in Dowlais which myself, Cllr. Jago & Community Volunteers delivered to recipients nominated by the Education Department.
On Friday lunchtimes I collect the FareShare Foodbank delivery from the Fir Tree Centre in Quakers Yard which myself, Cllr. Jago & Community Volunteers pack into parcels and deliver in the afternoon.

The Gelligaer Common Project Volunteers Group have restarted work after lockdown and meet most Wednesdays and Saturdays, everyone is welcome to join them.

There was one planning application for consideration:

P/20/0166 – Construction of granny annexe adjacent to existing garage.

Cllr Vanessa Matthews proposed that there were no objections to this application, Cllr Chris Frayne seconded.

Council resolved that there were no objections to this planning application.

A booking has been made to hire Bedlinog Community Centre, Friday 21^st August 2020.

RJ advised that hand sanitiser should be made available and PPE purchased for staff at the Community Centre.

Cllr Vanessa Matthews proposed a budget of £500 for PPE equipment, this was seconded by Cllr Chris Frayne.

Council resolved to approve the budget of £500 for hand sanitiser units at both entrances, a stock of refills and PPE equipment for staff.

Cllr Richard Searl raised that there was some land behind Trelewis High Street car park that would be an ideal location for allotments to be set up. It would need to be investigated if MTCBC is the owner of the land, and if the land was a suitable area for allotments.

ACTION: RJ to make enquiries with MTCBC regarding land ownership.

Cllr Richard Searl advised Council that he believed the Community Council should be a living wage employer. This would bring us in line with MTCBC who are a living wage employer also. The Community Council currently pays the Caretaker minimum wage, but not living wage.

Cllr Chris Frayne took the proposal forward and this was seconded by Cllr Vanessa Matthews.

Council resolved to be a living wage employer as of 1^st September 2020.

ACTION: RJ to make necessary adjustments to the Caretaker’s salary.

Cllr Richard Searl advised that he is still receiving complaints from residents about the lighting around Hylton Terrace/Maes Y Bedw roundabout. RJ advised that when he initially made enquiries with MTCBC, they advised that the lights had been out for six years, but they had been replaced with alternative LED lights. Cllr Searl stated that he would take the numbers off the lights that were not working so that it could be checked with MTCBC if these had been replaced or not, or these specific lights were actually broken.

ACTION: Cllr Richard Searl to provide RJ with relevant light numbers.

The next Council meeting will be held virtually, Monday 14^th September 2020.