Among matters discussed at a recent meeting of Penally Community Council were the following:

Village warden post: The clerk updated the council on the new village warden. All present were complimentary on his initial work. It was requested that he be invited to the next meeting so that he could be introduced to councillors. The clerk asked that if any councillor had any requests for anything specific to be done by the warden at any time that they contact him and he would arrange for it to be done. The clerk updated the council on the posts for the Village Green.

Tenby Town Rider Service: County Clr. Cavill reported that she had attended the recent meeting held on the cutbacks in funding from the Welsh Government for such projects. She reported that there had been a number of impassioned pleas from users on how any cutbacks in the service would have a serious adverse affect on their lives. The council fully supported the continued extent of services that were provided and instructed the clerk to wrote to Carl Sergeant AM regarding the impact locally should reductions in funding result in corresponding cuts to what was a vital service to many people. The clerk and County Clr. Cavill pointed out that there were online petitions against the cuts and these could be found on the Welsh Government website.

Temporary closure of Tenby MIU: The clerk read out two letters to the council in respect of this matter. The first was the response to the community council's letter to Hywel Dda regarding the closures. This appeared to be a standard letter sent out by the Health Board in response to any letter of complaint. The second was a letter from Angel Burns AM outlining the action she had been taking in response to the issue and the responses she had received. County Clr. Cavill reported that she had attended the meeting of Hywel Dda at Carmarthen when a petition had been handed in against the removal of the service at Tenby and Pembroke Dock. Mr. Chris Martin, of Hywel Dda, had indicated at one stage that the MIU at Tenby would be reopened by April then later stated sometime in April. It was agreed that it was vital that pressure be kept up to ensure that the units are reopened. The next meeting of the SE Pembrokeshire Community Health Network was at New Hedges Village Hall, at 1.30 pm, on Tuesday, February 28.

Planning applications

Tenby Golf Club - extension and other sundry work (council examined the plans and no objections were raised); amended plans for the Garden of the Firs, Penally (the clerk reported that he had been contacted by several residents regarding this matter, but had received nothing from the county council. Having contacted the PCC planning department, he had found that this was in fact an oversight and that the community council as an objector to the original planning application should have been consulted. He had obtained copies of the amended plans from the county council website. The amended plans were discussed and it was felt that they still failed to accurately represent the true proposals and thereby the full impact on the area. They also failed to address the issues of privacy and unsuitability raised as objections in the initial response. The clerk was instructed to reply accordingly).

Correspondence Received

The following items were discussed from Pembrokeshire County Council - DJ's Nightclub, application for new licence: The clerk explained that the new licence was an effort in part to update the old licence which contained certain matters now no longer relevant or pertaining to current law. There were no problems with these matters. The main issue was the application for an extension of hours for almost all aspects of the licence, in particular on a Friday, Saturday and on a Sunday. This would mean that on Friday and Saturday the premises would be open until 3.30 am on a permanent basis (without the applicant having to apply for TENs notices) with the resultant extension of anti social issues until five or six o'clock. The clerk reported that local residents had reluctantly accepted the hours on the licence despite the issues of noise etc it brings. Since receiving the application he had been in contact with the immediate residents and they strenuously oppose any further permanent increase in hours. He informed the meeting that The Sands Nightclub in Saundersfoot and the Prince of Wales Nightclub in Tenby had recently had their hours extended by the county council licensing committee similar to those applied for by DJ's. Penally however, including the immediate area around DJ's, is a residential area of a small village and it was different from the aforementioned two premises. There was a full discussion on the matter and the council unanimously agreed to oppose the application in principle. The clerk stated that he would deliver letters to the residents of the area outlining the application seeking further comment and include the procedure that residents should follow to make comment on the application. He had not obtained the police view on the matter, but would make contact as soon as possible. The council would make ensure that they made verbal representations at any hearing on the matter. It was resolved that the community council oppose, in principle, any extension to the licensing hours for the premises known as DJ's Nightclub, Penally, and would seek the views of the residents on the current application.

Appeals for Funds

Wales Air Ambulance - £50; Bobby Scheme - £10.00; Pembrokeshire Mencap - £10.

County Councillor's Report

Temporary closure of Tenby MIU: County Clr. Cavill attended the meeting at Carmarthen when the petition against the closure was presented to the Health Board.

Tenby Town Rider Service: County Clr. Cavill attended the meeting held at the De Valence. She had already been present at a previous presentation by PACTO to the access group so was already aware for the concern of future funding of this scheme. At the meeting in Tenby, users of the service made very moving presentations of the essential need of this type of service, without it, they were completely housebound and lose their independence - to do their own shopping, visit the surgery etc. Being unable to attend the surgery would mean greater demands on the doctors who would have to make more house visits. County Clr. Cavill asked the council to write to the Welsh Government Minister, Mr Carl Sargeant asking that funding for this scheme should continue and that individual councillors sign the online petition. Following discussion, it was agreed that the clerk write as requested.

Work on the land adjacent to the railway: County Cavill had been in contact with the Army Commandant concerning the work there. It was not part of the SSSI and they were working in close co-operation with CCW to the ultimate end of providing shallow pools to provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife. However, the finance was not yet in place to complete the work

May elections: County Clr. Cavill said: "As you are aware, there are elections this May for the county council and town and community councils. I will not be seeking re-election in May, having been you county councillor for 15 years, I feel it is time to retire." Clr. Robinson, responding on behalf of the community council, said that she was very sorry to hear that County Clr. Cavill was retiring and thanked her for all her efforts over the last 15 years on behalf of the community of Penally. The clerk also added his personal thanks to County Clr. Cavill for the assistance and guidance she had given him over the past three years.

Items of Business Submitted by Members

Crow News: Clr. Robinson reported that she had been approached by members of the public that they had been unaware of the carol concert before Christmas. She felt that better use should be made of the Crow News by the council in publicising such events. The council paid for any outstanding costs for printing etc after any advertising revenue and should make better use of what is an excellent newsletter. The clerk said he would contact the editors in respect of greater use of the newsletter.

Reports from Councillors

Clr. Roberts reported that he had been in consultation with Mr. R. Lewis and Mr. H. Comb from the county council regarding the playing field and the boules pitch and the matter was progressing.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 14, at 7.15 pm.