Before the start of the October meeting of Pembroke Town Council, Deputy Mayor, Clr. A. Carey, welcomed Mr. Mark Andrews, corporate affairs director, from Milford Haven Port Authority, who gave a presentation on the Port Authority.

He gave an overview of the vision for the future and also explained the benefits for the community, including jobs scholarship etc.

Clr. Blackburn asked about the possibility of dredging the Castle Pond. Mr. Andrews agreed to meet with the regeneration committee to discuss this further.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Recycling bins: A photograph of a recycling bin had been emailed to all members. Approval was sought for the three bins to be installed in Pembroke. It was resolved that the bins be installed where suggested, i.e. outside the Co-op, The Commons and the Mill Pond.

Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Town Rider service: A response had been received from Hubert Mathias, transport and fleet manager, PCC, regarding the request for information relating to the Town Rider service. A copy of this correspondence had been given to all members.

As per their previous correspondence, funding of £3,500 had been secured to cover the running costs for the 2013/2014 financial year. However, from April 1, 2014, onwards, the funding was not guaranteed.

Pembroke Town Council considered the use of its precept income to contribute towards the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Town Rider in order to make it more sustainable and to ensure that local residents continued to benefit from the service in the long term.

Following a discussion, Clr. Evans remarked that the service provided was actually losing money.

Clr. Harvey stated that he was fed up with Pembrokeshire County Council making cut backs and asking for town councils to pay for the services.

Following a debate, a vote was taken and it was resolved that Pembroke Town Council would not be adding the Town Rider service into its precept.

Public toilets in Pembroke: The following correspondence has been received from Mr. Jonathan Mills, Pembrokeshire County Council.

We have arranged one-to-one meetings with other town and community councils that have expressed an 'in principle' intention to take on the operation of the public toilets in their area. The purpose of these meetings is for the local councils to put forward viable and realistic proposals as to how they intend running the toilet(s) based on the financial information we have provided previously.

A deadline has been set at end of December 2013 for local councils to provide us with viable and realistic plans for operating the toilet(s) based on firm financial details. If we are not confident that the plans are viable, then the toilet(s) will be recommended for permanent closure from March 31, 2014.

In dealing with other councils it looks as though an answer lies in a 'community approach' to running them, as opposed to just a 'town council approach' to running them. By that I mean a few local organisations can work together to run the toilets rather than just one organisation operating them such as yourselves. We are encouraging local councils to seek support from other organisations in the community and where this is the case then representatives from those organisations should be present at our next meeting with yourselves.

PLANNING APPICATIONS RECEIVED

Replacement shop front, repair of first floor window, replacement of walls to side and rear of property and insertion of a door at first floor to rear of property at Jays Quality Caterers, 22 Main Street, Pembroke. The council would support this application.

Residential development of 39 dwellings on land at Bush Hill and Buttermilk Lane, Pembroke. The council would strongly object to this application due to the access being totally inadequate.

Alterations and extension to the care home and installation of a biomass boiler at Ashdale Care Home, Ashdale Lane, Pembroke. The council would support this application.

Change of use from offices and residential on first and second floor to create five dwellings at National Westminister Bank, 27 Main Street, Pembroke. The council would support this application.

Extension to dwelling and change of use of agricultural land into domestic curtilage at New House, Penny Bridge, Pembroke. The council would support this application.

Erection of a two-storey dwelling at Golden Manor Nursing Home. The council would support the application subject to it not overlooking nearby properties.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS DETERMINED

Halsteads DIY Ltd, Commons Road, Pembroke alterations to entrance of shop, window on front elevation and new roof construction. Granted.

1 Green Meadow Avenue, Pembroke - single storey extensions to rear, single storey porch extension to side, enlargement and repair work to existing front bay. Granted.

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

The following correspondence was noted:

Pembroke Citizens Advice Bureau: A letter of thanks had been received from the Pembrokeshire Citizens Advice Bureau for the donation received.

Car park ticket machines: Correspondence had been received from Mr. John Blake regarding the car park ticket machines in Pembroke. A copy of this correspondence had been given to all members and a copy had also been sent to Mr. Marc Owen, Pembrokeshire County Council. Clr. Waters said she had received complaints of people putting money in and not issuing a ticket. Any problems on the machines if the public could report it to the clerk, and PCC could be informed.

2014 remembrance of the Great War: The following correspondence had been received from Mr. David Perry.

Could you please advise me of any activities or other arrangements being made to mark the 2014 remembrance of the Great War. I have recently taken a new position working in Pembroke and have early plans to mark this significant date. I would be particularly interested to hear if Pembroke Town Council have set aside any funds for this commemoration.

Clr. Asman informed council that she was planning a morning in the town hall involving various groups and inviting people to bring in their photos etc. She asked council if the fee for the hall could be waived on this occasion to which they agreed. Council asked the clerk to write to Mr. Perry to inform him of this event.

Fortnightly collection of black bags and glass: The following correspondence had been received from Pembrokeshire County Council:

As you will no doubt be aware, PCC will be stopping the weekly collections of black bag rubbish and glass recycling. Instead the black bags and the glass will only be collected once a fortnight. The collections of the orange recycling bags and the food waste however will continue to be done every week.

There are a small number of properties that currently do not receive food waste and glass collections, such as some flats and houses of multiple occupation and these will continue to receive weekly collections until they can also access these additional services.

Clr. Boswell suggested that PCC issue wheelie bins as he was concerned that the collection of black bags fortnightly would encourage infestation of vermin.

Clr. Brown also commented that the black bags issued had gone very thin, and were ripping easily.

Following a discussion it was resolved that the clerk write to PCC requesting the cost of wheelie bins and inform them of the concerns of quality of the black bags.

Road humps: The following correspondence had been received from Mr. John Price, traffic manager, Pembrokeshire County Council:

The advertisement for the use of two road humps has promoted various objections from local residents. The local member, Clr. D. Bush, has requested an alteration to the scheme.

The aim was for two raised crossing points near No.104 and No.120. The first crossing is below the access to the St. Michaels Car Park and will be trained. However, the road levels will be adjusted over a longer length thus avoiding the need for a road hump.

The second crossing point was to be just below the access to Blackhorse Walk. This proposal will now be withdrawn.

Can you please note the amendment to this scheme.

Following a discussion by council, Clr. Nutting expressed his concern that there was indeed a need for speed bumps and proposed the clerk write to John Price expressing his wishes that council object to the proposals for road humps being withdrawn. Due to speeding traffic in the vicinity, council felt that these speed humps were a requirement.

Council also felt that they should be consulted on all issues relating to traffic/road layouts in Pembroke prior to any decisions being made.

It was resolved that the above points be sent to Mr. John Price.

Application for funding: The following correspondence has been received from Elizabeth Gossage, Development Office, Pembroke 21:

The Town Council will be aware of the Network quarterly community newsletter that Pembroke 21C has delivered to every house and business in the four wards of Pembroke since the winter of 2005/2006. To begin with this was in single colour over four pages, but over the years Network has grown to 12 pages and is now produced in full colour. We have never missed an edition and have been fortunate in the past to have had the support of Chevron and then Valero to help to cover the printing costs.

This year Valero have preferred to support our youth volunteering programme and so we are short on funding to cover the printing costs of four editions. Even with the support of Monddi printers keeping down the printing costs, each edition of 4,000 copies now costs us £1,043 to print. This year we have funding from GwirVol Youth Volunteering, Environment Wales and the National Park Sustainable Development Fund, who are jointly contributing £1,208 towards the printing costs. This would cover the costs of one edition but, of course, the reason these funders contribute to the printing is so that we can report on the projects they are funding to the community and so they contribute towards a page and a half in each edition.

We try to offer space to the other groups so that this is a truly community newsletter and receive contributions from the Pembroke Town Walls Trust, Pembrokeshire Communities First and Red Cross - we do not charge for this space. We would be more than happy for the Town Council to have space as well.

We have in the past sold some limited advertising space, but prefer the space to be for reporting to and informing the community. We could reduce the number of pages back to eight. Each newsletter is edited and desk top published by volunteers and we have a dedicated band of volunteers who deliver it for us. There are no staff costs involved.

However, on the current costs we are £2,964 short of what is needed to print four full editions in the coming year. We could not print the last edition earlier this year, though we have provided some copies printed in-house and have circulated it through e-mail links and through Facebook. This is undoubtedly more environmental friendly and we have stressed this element. However, many, many people have asked us why we are not printing and delivering it, and tell us how interesting and useful it is.

We wonder, therefore, whether the Town Council would consider contributing towards the shortfall of £2,964 for the printing costs for next year and also whether they would like space in each edition. We would, of course, acknowledge the support on the front of each issue.

I hope you can put this to the councillors to consider for their coming discussions on the Precept for 2014. I would be happy to give you further information or answer questions if that is needed.

Following much consideration and discussion, it was resolved that unfortunately the council would not make a contribution towards the cost of funding the newsletter.

Council were aware that there were currently, and would be increasingly, further demands made upon them, particularly following the cutbacks being made by Pembrokeshire County Council. They had already seen the closure of toilets in Pembrokeshire and the reduction of the Town Rider Service and council felt that with many services under threat, they would be unable to contribute to this at the present time.

AGENDA ITEMS

The role of Pembroke Castle: Clr. Nutting issued all councillors with a copy of the Castle's trust deeds for their perusal. He thanked the Ramsden family for giving the Castle to the town, and suggested that more needed to be said of their contribution. He explained that at present there were six trustees in the castle, three were representatives of the Ramsden family, three voted in from the Town Council.

Clr. Nutting read an extract from the deed, where his interpretation was that if there was something of a charitable nature, they had the right to use the castle at any time.

Clr. Nutting went on to say that there was a very grey area in opting new trustees on, and in his opinion would like to see the Trust change every three years and would like to see someone on the trustees who knew what they were doing.

Clr. Nutting wanted to know what the funds they had were used on.

Clr. Collins replied by stating he was most embarrassed and upset over what had just been said and informed Clr. Nutting that the trustees did not own the castle and all profits went back into the fabrication of the castle and it was a non profitable trust. Once you are on the trustees, you are on there for life, unless the Trust decide otherwise. The council had no say whatsoever.

Clr. Harvey replied also stating that by looking briefly at the deeds there was no ability to elect or re-elect trustees.

After a discussion, Clr. Nutting proposed, seconded by Clr. Phillips, that the clerk write to Lawrence Harding of Pembrokeshire County Council asking if he would look over the deeds and give his interpretation of the voting in and length served of the trustees.

Following a vote, it was resolved that the clerk write to Mr. Lawrence.

'Official' officers: Clr. Nutting informed council that he had asked Clr. Brinn to look into the possibility of having 'official' officers within Pembroke Town Council, i.e. Sheriff etc. After a vote, it was resolved that Clr. Brinn look into the feasibility of appointing new 'officials'.

Encouraging visitors into Pembroke Town Hall: Clr. Waters asked council to bring forward to the next regeneration meeting, suggestions on how to encourage visitors into the Town Hall. Clr. Waters remarked that the lights in the hall were very dim, and not inviting people through the door. The clerk informed council that the lights had just been refitted and were a lot brighter now.

PCC proposals for South Quay/Well Hill: Clr. Nutting expressed his concern about the lack of information with regards to Pembrokeshire County Council owned properties, i.e. Eastgate School and the Mill Site at South Quay, and requested that Pembroke Town Council should be kept more in the loop.

Ironman event: Clr. Nutting informed council that on the day of 'Ironman' there were six or seven carers who were not allowed through road closures to get to their patients. He asked councillors what benefit did it hold for Pembroke, and suggested that Pembroke had more disruption than Tenby.

Clr. Waters commented that there was a good atmosphere outside the Town Hall, and more and more people were turning up every year to support the athletes.

Clr. Nutting proposed that they ask the organisers of the event to be invited to a council meeting in order that they could iron out these problems.

Following a vote, it was resolved that the organisers be invited.

Closure of the South Pembs. MIU: Clr. Evans informed council that the MIU at South Pembs Hospital was now closed, and proposed that the following questions be sent to Argyle Street Surgery with a copy to the Hywel Dda Health Board and also the Community Health Council.

• Have discussions started, if so how are they progressing?

• Will GPs provide MI cover over weekend and bank holiday periods and if so what will be the hours covered?

• Will the service be available at all three of the practice sites, namely, Argyle Street, St. Oswalds and Neyland?

• If someone is not a registered patient at the practice, will they still be seen?

• What provision will be made for the many tourists that visit the Pembroke area?

It was resolved to send the above to the relevant bodies.

Cyclists/cycle paths in the vicinity of Station Road: Clr. Phillips informed council that she had received complaints from elderly people living on Station Road where they were opening their front doors, and nearly being knocked off their feet when stepping out, by cyclists on the pavements.

Clr. Phillips proposed that a letter be sent to Pembrokeshire County Council asking if a sign could be erected stating 'Cyclists dismount'.

It was resolved that a letter be sent to Pembrokeshire County Council.