At this month’s meeting of Manorbier Community Council, Clr. Ray Hughes was re-elected as chair of for 2019/20, while Clr. Rob Hall was re-elected as vice-chair.

During the previous meeting, meanwhile, Clr Hughes read out an email from Clr. Lynda Parker confirming her resignation as a councillor for Manorbier ward with immediate effect.

Other matters considered and discussed at last month’s meeting were:

CORRESPONDENCE

• Email from Helen Brickell complimenting Network Rail on lineside vegetation clearance in Manorbier Newton.

• Email from Karen Bolton, PCNPA, about a planning case of non-compliance with enforcement notices. Persons concerned had been summoned to the magistrates court.

• Email from Karen Bolton, PCNPA, about land for sale at Harpers Hall. Prospective buyers were unlikely to get planning permission for redevelopment of the derelict cottages on site, as the site was adjacent to a dangerous road.

• Email from County Clr. Kidney requesting a letter be sent to Hayston Developments in support of the new owners of Wynd Hill Farm, Manorbier, confirming that there had been a caravan site located at Wynd Hill for around 20 years. Members were supportive and the clerk was asked to action.

• Copy email from Mary Sinclair, CPRW, about the proposed housing development opposite Bush Terrace, Jameston, and concern about the lack of provision of a footpath between the proposed development and Manorbier School. Members agreed and noted MCC had also made this point to PCNPA.

• Email from County Clr. Kidney forwarding an email from the chief executive of PCNPA, confirming the resignation of Jane Gibson, director of park direction and planning at PCNPA. Jane Gibson was to stay in her post until the LDP examination had been completed.

• Letter from Barclays Bank plc about closures of their branches in Pembroke, Milford Haven and Narberth in June and July 2019. MCC’s account was based at the Pembroke branch. Councillors thought this was disappointing news and would cause some problems for MCC, in so far as administration would need to transfer to Tenby or Haverfordwest branch. These branches were not open on Wednesdays. Clr. Marcia Kidney suggested that MCC look to convert to on-line banking. Clr. Hughes said MCC could discuss this at MCC’s annual meeting.

• Letter from Wales Air Ambulance thanking MCC for its charitable donation.

PLANNING

Enlargement of existing single storey flat roofed side extension with pitched roof side and rear extension at 44 Dewing Avenue, Manorbier. Clr. Hall provided some background on the applicant. Clr. Clark proposed that this application be recommended for approval. All in favour. 

Premises licence: Westival 2019: July 19-22 at Shipping Hill Farm, The Ridgeway, Manorbier. Council expressed some concern about the proposal to serve alcohol and have live music performed until 3 am on the Friday and Saturday evenings. This might have an impact on local communities, including St. Florence. Clr. Hall proposed that any licence approval should restrict the serving of alcohol and performing of live music to a 1 am closing time. All in favour.

County Councillor’s Report

County Clr. Phillip Kidney provided the following report:

• The light outside the Baptist Chapel (which could blind drivers at its current position) would shortly be kindly altered by an electrician from Manorbier Bay Caravan Park.

• Will Lloyd, PCC, had undertaken a site visit to Manorbier Newton to look at a leaning tree causing issues near to Black Bridge. This had been reported during public participation at the March meeting. Mr Lloyd had reported the issue to Highways at PCC.

• Dogs had been reported in Manorbier play park. This was owned by PCC. A sign was required and a waste bin was required for placing outside the play area.

• Cleddau Bridge tolls had been withdrawn but the Welsh Government would be providing PCC with a grant of £3m per year for 20 years and a one-off payment to cover the costs of removal of the toll booths and subsequent redundancies.

• Clr. Clark reported that a local resident had prevented the installation of a new street light in St. James’s Place in Jameston. County Clr. Kidney agreed to investigate.

Action Tracking

Car parking at Manorbier Station - no further update.

Beavers Hill Crossing -installation of road ramps/signage - no further update.

Improvements to footpath in Manorbier (Vicarage Fields to Post Office) - visit to the location by PCC’s access officer, Alan Hunt, still awaited.

Repairs to various walls in MCC’s area - remedial work to the wall by May Cottage had been completed. Manorbier Castle was thanked for arranging the work on this wall. Members asked the clerk to remove this item from Action Tracking.

Installation of a vehicle actuated speed (VAS) sign in MCC’s area - no update on date for speed checks. Previously was expected in May 2019.

Installation of footpath - Windy Ridge to Hounsell Avenue, Manorbier - County Clr. Kidney confirmed no further update on the application submitted to PCC under the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant scheme.

Jameston Play Area - inspections and vegetation update - no update.

CASUAL?VACANCIES

Casual vacancy process for Manorbier ward: The clerk reported that the Electoral Services Office at PCC had confirmed that they had not received any petition from local residents for an election following the resignation of Clr. Hannon and that MCC could now fill the vacancy by co-option. The clerk confirmed he had informed the Electoral Services Office of Clr. Parker’s resignation and relevant notices had been placed in the community notice boards and on the MCC website. Clr. Hughes suggested that MCC wait until the annual meeting before taking forward a co-option process for the four vacancies on council. Members agreed.

OTHER?MATTERS

Funding for Jameston Community Association towards the purchase from PCC of the village hall driveway: After discussion, council agreed, in principle, to offer financial support to Jameston Community Association (JCA) toward the purchase of the village hall driveway from PCC. This was expected to cost £13k in total, although MCC had not received any paperwork as yet from JCA. Members noted that JCA would also be submitting an application for funding support to PCC under the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant scheme and hoped that this would amount to £5k. Clr. Clark proposed that MCC offer, in principle, up to £8k to JCA towards the purchase of the Jameston Village Hall driveway. Vote taken - five in favour.

To consider and approve charitable donations to: a) Cruse Bereavement Care; b) Pembrokeshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs and c) Save Our Skrinkle Park (SOSP). Clr. Hughes read out the donation requests received ahead of MCC consideration of each request. Members discussed the donation requests and the following decisions were made in line with MCC’s policy of approving donations to local charities.

a) Clr Hall proposed that a donation of £100 be made to Cruse Bereavement Care. All in favour.

b) Clr. Clark proposed that a donation of £100 be made to the Pembrokeshire Young Farmers’ Clubs. All in favour.

c) Members noted that MCC had previously made a donation to SOSP. SOSP had also applied for funding to PCC under the Enhancing Pembrokeshire grant scheme for improvements to the toddler park at Skrinkle and members noted that a funding gap of £4,081 remained for this work. After discussion, Clr. Long proposed that a donation of £2k be made on this occasion to SOSP. Vote taken - five in favour.

Update (if any) from Clr. Hall on ways of reducing use of single use plastic within MCC’s area. Clr. Hall confirmed that he had no major updates and suggested MCC consider further at its June meeting. Members were content.

To consider councillor training opportunities provided by One Voice Wales (OVW): The clerk read out OVW training modules available over the next two months. Clr. Marcia Kidney expressed an interest in the Creating a Community Plan module and said she would email the clerk if willing and available to attend. Members were content for Clr. Marcia Kidney to attend, if willing.

Emergency Items

Clr. Hall informed MCC that Tim Jones, head area ranger at PCNPA, was retiring. Members asked the clerk to email Tim Jones to wish him well in his retirement.

Clr. Hughes noted that a request to borrow MCC’s roller (currently kept in the north sports field) had been made via a third party. Members noted that MCC had not yet been approached.