Chairman Cavell welcomed Matt Owens and Mr. and Mrs. Tallboys to the meeting and invited Mr. Owens to give his presentation.
Among those present at the January meeting of Saundersfoot Community Council was rural housing enabler, Mr. Mattew Owens. In a talk to the council, Mr. Owens said that affordable housing was a critical issue for the majority of rural communities and if the issue was not addressed now, then many rural villages and communities would face negative social and economic implications in the long term. He said that there were 44 Rural Housing Enabler Schemes in the United Kingdom and their main duties included: to develop and support effective partnerships with local and coastal communities to identify the need and help provide affordable housing; work with community councils, local landowners, planning officers, housing associations and other relevant individuals, organisations and associations; help communities assess the need for affordable housing in their area by helping them with the production, implementation and analysis of housing needs surveys; help identify possible development sites, offer support and assistance through the planning process to landowners and community councils; work independently to empower rural communities to provide needs driven affordable housing. He went on to say that the role of the rural housing enabler was to work with communities offering independent advice and support, acting as a facilitator and helping with the complicated process of providing affordable housing. Mr. Owens added that the rise in house prices over the last 10 years made it difficult for first-time buyers and that Pembrokeshire was the second least affordable county in Wales. He said that the community council should either identify suitable sites or convert existing properties into affordable housing, and that any affordable houses built would be for local people and an allocation process would take place based on the identification of need. Clr. Baker asked what had been the success of the Housing Needs Survey. Mr. Owens replied that many community councils had shown interest and had carried out the Housing Needs Survey. Clr. Brabon asked if the scheme had looked at the conditions of tenants entitled to Housing Association properties? Mr. Owens said that the tenant could remain in the property as long as they liked on a 50/50 basis and if they moved the Housing Association could purchase their percentage back. Clr. Baker asked how close were these projects from coming into fruition? Mr. Owens said that it was difficult to say, but estimated it would be about three years from a site becoming available. Clr. Cleevely said that Saundersfoot was a fairly large community and land would be more expensive to purchase. Mr. Owen said that this could be a problem in Saundersfoot, but in Marloes they wrote to every landowner and many considered selling their land. Chairman Cavell thanked Mr. Owens for attending and was sure that all members present were more aware of the need for affordable housing in Saundersfoot.
chairman's report
Chairman Clr. Mrs. M. Cavell informed members that she had attended the Saundersfoot CP School's production of 'Scrooge', which was an excellent performance and a credit to all pupils and staff who had worked so hard on stage and behind the scenes. She had again attended Saundersfoot CP School and they had received notification that they had been successful in their 'Investors in People Assessment', and the report was most complimentary of all aspects of school life. Finally, chairman Cavell said that she along with fellow councillors had attended the New Year's Day Swim in Saundersfoot and presented the medals to the swimmers. She said that the Saundersfoot Festivities Committee should be congratulated for once again organising this very special event.
matters arising from the minutes
Police attendance at meeting: Clr. Lawrence informed members that he had not received a response from his report of an offence in Coppet Hall car park! Clr. Baker asked if the council had received responses from the issues raised at the meeting? The clerk replied and said that no response had been received as yet. The clerk was instructed to write to Inspector Clerk asking for response to the issues raised. With regard to the Rhodewood development, Clr. Hayes informed members that Mr. Keith Halpin had visited the site and the car parking problem should be resolved by the middle of February when contractors cars would then be able to park on the site itself. Land west of Barbecue: Clr. Baker said that he was unable to attend the December meeting and asked if the community council had received confirmation in writing from National Parks stating the land in question would not be developed? Clr. Brabon commented that this parcel of land would not be sold for development and Clr. Hayes agreed and said this was stated in the Conservation Policy document. The clerk was instructed to write to National Parks requesting a copy of the Conservation Policy document stating that this parcel of land be kept as a permanent open space. Removal of 'sleeping policeman': Clr. Cleevely informed members that the Pembrokeshire Access Group would like to know how wide the gaps would be in the 'sleeping policemen' and members agreed to inform the group once this was known. Recycling in Saundersfoot: Clr. Baker said that as no progress had been made in locating an additional bottle bank in Saundersfoot, could the one at Bonvilles Court Coach Park be relocated onto the hard surface from the muddy area? The clerk was instructed to write to Pembrokeshire County Council requesting this. Proposed car park charges: As he had not been at the December meeting, Clr. Baker enquired what was in the letter to Pembrokeshire County Council regarding this matter? The clerk explained that the letter said that the main concern was that the short stay charge in the multi-storey car park would increase, thus deterring shoppers visiting Tenby. Clr. Baker argued that the charge for parking should be the same in National Park and Pembrokeshire County Council car parks and members should be fighting for a fairer deal for residents of Saundersfoot instead of Tenby and to encourage shoppers to come to Saundersfoot. Clr. Hayes said that there were 10 free spaces available in the Regency car park for shoppers and for parents to park whilst picking their children up from school. Clr. Brabon suggested erecting a sign outside the Regency Hall car park informing the public that cars could only park there with cards issued by the community council. Members decided to place this proposal on the agenda for February. Donation to Saundersfoot Festivities Committee: It was proposed by Clr. Poole and seconded by Clr. Hayes that the council proceed with the donation of £350 for insurance cover for the New Year's Day Swim. Clr. Hayes's report: Clr. Baker questioned whether they needed another long drawn out debate between Pembrokeshire County Council, the National Park and Saundersfoot Stakeholders with regard to a remark describing Saundersfoot as a 'Scruffy little town' printed in the Guardian. Action was needed now! Clr. Cleevely said that Saundersfoot Forum was organising a meeting with PLANED at the end of January where the public would be invited to air their views on this matter, and urged that as many as possible attend this meeting, and hopefully progress could be made to enhance Saundersfoot.
AGENDA
Time for action - overdue improvement for Saundersfoot: Chairman Cavell reported to members that she had spoken to Mr. Brian Maddocks, Pembrokeshire County Council, and was told the following information - the broken window in the Old School would be replaced with a new one; work had been carried out to divert the flow of water in Brewery Terrace, and funding was available to tarmac the pavements from the Post Office to the Mulberry Restaurant; a new salt bin had been ordered and should arrive in approximately three weeks; Mr. Maddocks had reported for improvements to be carried out to the anti-skid surface on St. Brides Hill to the relevant officer; repainting of the yellow lines was scheduled to take place before Easter; the dropped gullies would be raised as soon as possible; repainting of the toilets would take place before the end of March; the gully-sucking programme would be carried out twice a year. Mr. Brian Maddocks suggested meeting with members in early March to discuss progress. Clr. Baker said that following years of continued letter writing and meetings, he believed it was time that the public bodies collecting taxes in Saundersfoot started spending to improve the village. Clr. Baker added that he had intended titling the agenda item 'Saundersfoot - the village that lays the golden eggs', as he strongly believed that bodies such as Pembrokeshire County Council and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park collected far in excess of any money that was invested in the village. With regard to Pembrokeshire County Council, Clr. Baker said that many letters had been written and many meetings had taken place (with Mr. Ian Westley, Mr. Maddocks and Mr. Rhodri Jenkins) and still many items remained incomplete, unprogrammed or even ignored. He added that he was sure that the residents of Saundersfoot would not mind subsidising improvements and enhancement schemes in other county resorts, but it was now time that the needs of Saundersfoot were met. Fan Road junction - sub standard in every respect and in a 60 mph area. Requested footway from Rhodewood to Cwm Gwennol, no timetable yet given. Public toilets in the village, one closed through the winter, money saved supposedly to carry out refurbishment. Not yet in Saundersfoot. Poor road surfacing through the village, pot holes, trenches sinking (especially at the pedestrian crossing), anti-slip surfacing up St. Brides Hill full of trenches (promised for resurfacing after the summer), sub standard footways (narrow or non- existent), road markings incomplete (stop sign at Rhodewood junction highlighted at the December 2005 liaison meeting), white and yellow lines incomplete. No capital schemes proposed for the village and none had been asked for! Request for speed reductions to 20 mph in the whole village or just some areas dismissed. Need for speed signs painted on the road. Saundersfoot needs to aspire to be a village like Broadmoor or Templeton, where roads, road markings and footways are all pristine. Clr. Baker proposed that the community council request a meeting with the correct officers to draw up a five-year programme of investment and this was seconded by Clr. Poole. Clr. Baker then went on to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and said that as a body collecting substantial fees from the residents and businesses of Saundersfoot for planning applications etc, it was disappointing that a minority of households and businesses could flaunt any regulation, whilst applicants abiding by the regulations were subject to intense scrutiny and sometimes disappointment. Clr. Baker added that in addition the National Park collected tens of thousands of pounds from their car park in the village and whilst he was sure that the residents and visitors using the facility would not mind subsidising the free car parks or other park activities in other areas, would it be of interest to ask the authority what plans they had to enhance the car park and other areas in the village. Finally, Clr. Baker said that Saundersfoot deserved better than hand-written signs, as he had pointed out in an e-mail earlier in the year. The councillor proposed that the community council urge the National Park to invest the income from the car park into the village for the next five years and ask them what their current investment commitment was? The proposal was seconded by Clr. Brabon. Clr. Brabon said that their county councllor, Clr. Hayes, could follow up their complaints with the relevant officers in County Hall. Clr. Hayes said that she would speak to the relevant officers once she received a list of the complaints made. Clr. Allsop said that funding was made available for tarmacing other areas such as Kilgetty, New Hedges and Temple Bar Road, so why not Saundersfoot? The clerk was instructed to write to Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park regarding the issues raised.
planning applications
Enlarge living space, Culver House, Saundersfoot. Conversion into nine flats, Jalna Hotel, Saundersfoot. Members raised no objections to these applications. Clr. Baker declared an interest in the Culver House application and Clr. Brabon declared an interest in the Jalna Hotel application, and they took no part in these debates.
correspondence received
A letter was received from Pembrokeshire County Council informing members that a parcel of land off Pennant Avenue owned by the county council was acquired under the Housing Act, but it had never been used for its intended purpose and had been left as an open space for years. The letter went on to say that the county council was considering the possibility of disposing of the land for residential development and asked for comments from the community council. Clr. Hayes said that about 10 years ago consideration had been given to building old peoples bungalows there, but since then it had become an established play area used by the children from Pennant Avenue and she strongly opposed the proposal. Members were all in agreement and the clerk was instructed to write to Pembrokeshire County Council strongly opposing this recommendation. An invitation was received from Christine Gwyther AM to visit the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay, headquarters of the Welsh Assembly Government. All members agreed that it would be a good idea and the clerk was instructed to write to Christine Gwyther to arrange a suitable date.
reports from various committees, including the county councillor's report
Clr. Hayes informed members that her next surgery would be held in the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot, on February 3, from 10 am to 12 noon. Chairman Cavell said that she had attended the Regency Hall Committee meeting on January 3 and reported that the refurbishment programme was progressing slowly and more information would be made available at the next meeting.
any other business
Clr. Cleevely commented on the extra workload the clerk had undertaken over the last few years and said that he did far in excess of what he was expected to do. He went on to say that it was time the council thought about employing a minute clerk to attend monthly meetings to take the minutes and have them typed, like so many organisations and councils do. All members present agreed with Clr. Cleevely's comments and decided to discuss the matter further at the precept meeting. Clr. Brabon asked members if they were aware that the proprietors of the Mulberry Restaurant had offered to hold a Senior Citizens dinner, similar to those that were held in the Cambrian Hotel prior to its closure and asked if a letter of thanks be sent to them for their kind gesture. All members agreed. Clr. Brabon told members that he had met residents who said how wonderful the fireworks were on New Year's Eve in Saundersfoot and he was pleased that the community council supported the Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism in donating the money for these fireworks each year and hoped it would continue. Clr. Baker hoped the council would take up Matthew Owens' offer of carrying out a survey in Saundersfoot regarding affordable housing. All members agreed. Clr. Baker also wondered what had happened to the volunteers who had offered their services to monitor the CCTV camera in Tenby Police Station and asked if the monitoring process had moved to Haverfordwest. The clerk was instructed to contact PC Max Bevan for an update on the matter. Clr. McDermott asked for an update on the defibrillator? Clr. Baker replied and informed Clr. McDermott that he would be advised of the delivery and would inform members accordingly. Two members of the public, Mr. and Mrs. Tallboys, were present at the meeting and chairman Cavell asked them if they would like to address members on any issue. Mrs. Tallboys said that she had read in the Tenby Observer that a notice board would be erected in the Sensory Gardens and asked if the agenda for community council meetings could be placed there? The clerk informed Mrs. Tallboys that agenda items were delivered to members 24 hours prior to the meeting and he could certainly place notification on the notice board at the same time when erected. The clerk said that he would prepare a list of members with addresses and telephone numbers and place it in the Post Office, Regency Hall and the Tourist Information Centre. Mr. Tallboys asked if The Strand could be made 'Access Only' due to severe traffic congestion occurring there? Clr. Hayes said that this was one of the questions in the 1992 appraisal and that she was one of three to vote for the proposal. Chairman Cavell thanked Mr. and Mrs. Tallboys for attending and hoped that they had enjoyed the debates that had taken place.