At the August meeting of Saundersfoot Community Council, the following matters were discussed:

MATTERS ARISING

Dog fouling, Saundersfoot Beach: Clr. Brabon informed members that he had been informed by Mr. Myrddin Dennis, beach officer, Pembrokeshire County Council that the boundary line was by the path leading to the beach from The Strand. Clr. Poole asked if the boundary line could be extended to the stream and Clr. John agreed. Chairman Cleevely said that this request had been put forward previously, but was refused. Clr. Baker agreed to speak to Mr. Dennis on the matter.

Signage, Fan Road: Clr. John said that he had submitted the signed petition with three out of four names on to Pembrokeshire County Council and they were progressing with it, unfortunately he could not get the fourth signature as the property was being renovated and no one had picked up the note left there. Clr. Poole said that Clr. John should be thanked for the hard work he had carried out on this survey.

Sensory Gardens: Clr. Pearson thanked everyone who had worked in the gardens prior to the Wales in Bloom judges arriving.

St. Issell's Cemetery: The clerk was instructed to arrange a meeting in the cemetery with Mr. Rhys Thomas to discuss which graves needed clearing. Chairman Cleevely, vice-chairman Morris, Clr. Brabon and the clerk would attend this meeting.

Crazy golf area: Clr. Brabon said that he was disappointed with the progress of the seeded areas and thanked Clr. Baker for donating a hose reel to the council for the watering of this area, and the weather had not been favourable to carry out grass cutting. He said it would be doubtful if the putting area would be ready to open this season.

Defibrillator: Clr. McDermott thanked Clrs. Baker and Morris for preparing the notices and then had been placed in 16 locations in the village and Tesco was delighted to house the equipment. Clr. John also thanked both for their swift action in displaying the posters.

Sealed Knot: Clr. Pearson announced that the event would not be held in 2014 due to tide times etc., and would now be held in 2015.

Clr. Baker's report: Clr. Hayes said that the lady who was jumped on in the tunnel was hurt and badly bruised, but had decided not to seek compensation. The clerk informed members that he had received a letter from a visitor to Saundersfoot from Loughborough who had slipped on a sloping wet pavement on High Street breaking her left ankle. Members commented that this matter had been discussed on several occasions and Clr. Baker had reported it to Mr. Glenville Codd, Pembrokeshire County Council, without success. The clerk was instructed to write to the holidaymaker stating that the responsibility for this matter rests with Pembrokeshire County Council.

Grant from Community Fund for CCTV Camera: Clr. John said that he had spoken to Jim Moffatt, PCSO, and was told that the fund was 10 times oversubscribed, so it would be unlikely if Saundersfoot Community Council received anything, but the results were due out shortly.

Extra signage, Brooklands Lane: Clr. Baker informed members that he had spoken to Ben Blake, Pembrokeshire County Council, and he was in the process of working out costings to change the signage there, but any extra costs would have to be borne by Saundersfoot Community Council. Clr. Brabon said that visibility was poor when exiting the car park and all temporary signs should be removed. Clr. Baker said that if temporary signs were placed there, the public should ring Mr. Marc Owen, street care officer, Pembrokeshire County Council, to have them removed.

Green containers, Sensory Gardens: The clerk informed members that containers had now been removed. Clr. Boughton Thomas proposed purchasing a litter bin to be placed near the two seats for the public to dispose of their cigarette ends and Clr. Poole seconded this proposed. All members agreed.

Storage, New Regency Hall: Clr. John informed members that he had received a catalogue for purchasing storage cupboards at reduced costs and wondered how many would be required for storage in the new hall. It was proposed and seconded that the clerk and Clr. John met to discuss storage requirements for the council's correspondence in the new hall. All members agreed.

Funding for community warden: The clerk informed members that he had spoken to Mr. Glenville Codd and was told that any grants would have to be match funded by the council. Clr. Baker said that Mr. Codd suggested meeting to discuss Saundersfoot's needs prior to going ahead with the application.

Phrase 'to be confirmed' in planning application: Clr. Baker said that he had spoken to the planning department and they were not aware of the phrase.

Old school, Ridgeway: The clerk read out a letter from Owen & Owen stating that this area would be tidied up in due course, and also asked how the building has become a danger to the public? Clr. Baker said that he would take photographs of the building and send them to Owen & Owen as proof of the danger.

AGENDA

Lease/Saundersfoot Bowling Club and electricity and water supply following rebuild of new hall: Chairman Cleevely read out the clause from the above lease stating that after the first three years, the amount paid should be reviewed every three years thereafter either by the open market ground rental value or reserved as in sub clause (1). The clerk informed members that for the first three years of the lease, the amount payable remained as £500 per annum and was increased every three years afterwards by the rate of inflation. Members decided that clarification of this clause of the lease be obtained from the council's solicitors and could the council legally opt out of increasing the amount paid by the bowling club. Clr. Morris also suggested finding out the current market value of the property. With regard to the electricity supply to the ticket office following the completion of the Regency Hall, the clerk, along with Chairman Cleevely, had met with Mr. Paul Blayney and Mr. George Cavell from the bowling club to discuss these arrangements. Mr. Blayney said that since the commencement of the rebuild, the club had been supplying the ticket office with electricity as a goodwill gesture and suggested three options for this supply following the completion of the rebuild. After a lengthy discussion, it was proposed by Clr. Brabon and seconded by Clr. Baker that the council adopts option for a separate fused line to be be fitted via cabling allowing a separate meter to be installed in the ticket office so that accurate readings could be taken of electricity used, and this could be carried out completely free of charge. All members agreed. With regard to the water supply, some confusion was raised as to the system in place following the rebuild. Clr. Brabon said that he had spoken to Brian James, site manager, and was told that a separate meter would be installed for the Regency Hall, sports club, bowling club and the ticket office so that accurate readings could be taken for each organisation, but Clr. Boughton Thomas thought that only the Regency Hall would have their own meter supply. Clr. Baker said that he would speak to Brian James and Welsh Water to establish exactly what the new arrangements would be following the completion of the rebuild. Clrs. Cavell and Poole declared an interest in this debate and left the room whilst this was discussed.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Residential plot, Oaktree Cottage, Saundersfoot; extension, Lanes End, Stammers Road, Saundersfoot; new road access, Forest Grove, Stepaside. With regard to the last application, members expressed their concern that the site plan does not show the planned access road. Members raised no objections to the applications.

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

A letter was received from Mr. Steve Allsop with regard to a proposed planning application for development on the land near the Saundersfoot Railway Station. Mr. Allsop said that originally he had been advised that this development would not be entertained by National Park and he would be wasting his time in submitting an application, but recently he had found out from a planning officer, who was supportive of his ideas, he should re-submit his application and requested support from the community council for this application. The application included siting a number of historic wagons, some converted to holiday accommodation and a replica of the old station building to house a museum of the Pembroke and Tenby Railway, as well as parking improvements. Mr. Allsop said that he had already received letters of support from various individuals and organisations. In principle, members supported the application, as this would improve this area greatly, but firstly the clerk was instructed to find out from Lawrence Harding, monitoring officer, Pembrokeshire County Council, if council was legally allowed to support this application due to the fact that Mr. Allsop's wife was a community councillor. Clr. Allsop declared an interest in this debate and left the room whilst this matter was discussed.

A letter was received from Amroth Community Council informing members that tests on the water quality at Wiseman's Bridge detected contamination with both animal and humans faecal matter and this was significant enough to fail the bathing water quality standard at this present time, which would prove devastating for the area and could have implications for beaches on either side of Wiseman's Bridge. The letter went on to say that the community council was currently working closely with Welsh Water and NRW whilst further investigations were going on, and one of the main issues was the lack of a mains sewer for the villages of Pleasant Valley/Wiseman's Bridge and Stepaside which the council had been striving to obtain for many years. The letter concluded by asking Saundersfoot Community Council to support their endeavours to get Welsh Water to progress on this matter. Clr. Baker said that Clr. Brindston had been complaining for a mains sewer for this area for many years and fully supported their cause, and Clr. John agreed and the clerk was instructed to write to Welsh Water and the NRW supporting this request.

Application for tree works at the Plantation, Saundersfoot, was received from National Park.

A review of the electoral arrangements draft proposals for the county of Pembrokeshire was received from Boundary Commission. It was proposed that the Community of Saundersfoot and the Community of St. Mary Out Liberty (currently part of the Penally Electoral Division) be combined in a single electoral division. This electoral division would have 2,582 electors (2,640 projected) which, if represented by two councillors was 18 per cent below the proposed county average of 1,581 electors per councillor. The report considered that this improved the level of electoral parity in the area and it put this forward as a proposal and the proposed electoral division be given a working name of Saundersfoot with St Mary Out Liberty and welcomed any comments. Members agreed with two councillors being represented in this new division but preferred that it be split into two wards, possible north and south.

A letter from the Congregational Church Federation requested that the correspondence stored by the community council be removed so that the property be marketed and disposed of. Chairman Cleevely suggested that Pembrokeshire County Council purchase the property for conversion into housing needs.

REPORTS FROM VARIOUS COMMITTEES, INCLUDING THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

Councillor Baker reported to members as follows:

Clam collecting, The Glen beach: The gathering of shellfish, specifically Sand Gaper Clams and Razor-clams on Saundersfoot Beach had been investigated. Officers from PCC were in attendance in order to ascertain whether any gathering taking place was for commercial purposes. The gathering of shellfish for personal use was not restricted. In order to gather commercially for human consumption areas where live bivalve molluscs (clams, oysters, mussels, cockles etc.) are harvested must be classified by the Food Standards Agency.  Saundersfoot beach was not currently classified for commercial gathering for any species of bivalve molluscs. Although the numbers of people gathering shellfish was quite high (100+), there was no evidence to suggest that they were gathering shellfish for anything other than their own personal use. As part of the investigation, Pembrokeshire County Council had informed various local authority food departments in South Wales, where the people reside, in order that their officers may undertake checks during routine inspections of food outlets to ensure that clams were not being sold for human consumption. The local authority areas were: Cardiff, Bridgend, Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taff. Also, owing to their remit of fisheries management, council had informed Welsh Government Fisheries Enforcement Officers based in Milford Haven. They would consider the above information in order to determine whether any restrictions were appropriate in future. Discussions had also taken place with colleagues in Swansea, where a similar issue took place at Oxwich Bay from time to time. Their investigations had also concluded that the clams being gathered were for personal use only. In addition, Dyfed Powys Police visited The Glen following complaints regarding anti-social parking which blocked side roads and private drives, the collectors were instructed to move on.

Recycling bins - two new ones had been installed one at the CP School and one at Bedoes Court corner.

Brooklands Place sign - Ben Blake had investigated the possibility of moving the sign in the splitter island and was currently working on a cost to the community council to move, make good and erect a directional sign on the island. Alternatively, if the sign stayed as it was, then Glen Codd should be contacted to have the offending signs removed which were obstructing driver visibility.

Saundersfoot low bridge signs - Ben Blake's review was now complete and would be reviewed.

Brown sign review - Ben Blake had now reviewed the possible locations for brown signs on the main approaches to Saundersfoot. Currently, there were already many signs directional, weight-limit restrictions and adding more could prove to be difficult, but Ben would welcome any suggestions.

Lights in the long tunnel - Pembrokeshire County Council were still investigating the problem; there had been damage to the protective cover over the panels. The original installation company were proving difficult to contact with regard to the original design and installation.

Overgrown stream at Brooklands Place - a contractor was to be appointed.

Clr. Brabon reported to members as follows:

All rubbish around the container had been bagged and was ready for removal.

Clr. Brabon telephoned Pembrokeshire County Council regarding rubbish collecting outside Bethany Flats in Saundersfoot and it was removed immediately. Clr. Brabon said that Pembrokeshire County Council was arranging for a wheelie bin to be placed there where the black bags could be deposited. Clr. Brabon expressed his concern at the dreadful mess outside these flats and he had received several complaints from nearby residents on the matter. Finally, Clr. Brabon complimented Pembrokeshire County Council on the wonderful job carried out by their workforce in painting these flats.

Clr. Brabon thanked all those who had helped in enhancing the Sensory Gardens recently prior to the Wales in Bloom judges arriving and to Pembrokeshire County Council in supplying baskets and planters in the village. Clr. Brabon also thanked the Harbour Commission for their work on the harbour which looked colourful and attractive.

Clr. McDermott reported to members on a Regency Hall meeting - a request for volunteers was made to assist with various duties in the new hall. Everyone expressed willingness to assist subject to availability. A discussion took place with regard to storage allocation. A marketing and development plan is to be discussed with Landsker Business Solutions in Whitland. A discussion on the external signage of the new hall took place and a decision was made to invite tenders from two local sign writers. The opening date for the new hall was still scheduled for September 27 at 12 noon.

Clr. John reported to members on a joint meeting of Saundersfoot and Amroth Forums with regard to progressing the Saundersfoot Bay Heritage Regeneration Trust.

Clr. Cavell reported members on Saundersfoot CP School. Year 6 pupils were presented with awards of their presentation afternoon, also pupils were presented with dictionaries by Saundersfoot Rotary Club for their contribution in the shoe box scheme. The presentation of prizes to the winners of the 2013 Saundersfoot in Bloom posters took place recently. Chairman Keith Williams thanked Miss Lester, staff and pupils for being so supportive to Saundersfoot in Bloom. Also present from the committee were secretary Clr. R. Hayes MBE and vice-chair Mrs. Joan Allen. The new school ambassadors for 2013/2014 will be Joseph Hurlow and Phoebe Swales. Head boy - Joshue Done, head girl - Florence Thompstone, deputy head boy - James Moffatt and deputy head girl - Yvonna Garcia. FOSS10, the running team started by Saundersfoot School last April managed to get an incredible 42 runners to enter the 10k run in Tenby. Their goal was to finish the race to raise funds to purchase sports equipment for the school, as well as to set an example for the children on the value of perseverance and hard work as they trained for the event. Many of the runners had no experience of running or racing before April and everyone on the team who started crossed the finishing line, which made the achievement all the more impressive. Their success did not stop there though; the FOSS10 team was the Novice Team Trophy, which came as a complete surprise to everyone and made the day all the more special.

Clr. Morris reported to members on the One Voice Wales meeting when a talk was given by Mr Tim Lewis, of Commercial Christmas, who supplies Christmas lighting to local councils. AGM - Mr. David McDermott was elected as chairman, Mr. Huw Morris was elected as vice-chairman. It was agreed that the second NEC rep would be appointed at a later date. Other significant posts include: Planed rep - Sue Boughton Thomas, Hywel Dda Health Board rep - Huw Morris Future meetings - Wednesday, September 25, Tuesday, January 21, Tuesday, April 15, Wednesday, July 16 (AGM).

A report on the Hywel Dda Health Board was delivered by Huw Morris,

Harbour Commissioners: Commissioners were informed that Commissioner Huw Morris would now be responsible for the physical and human environment of the harbour. The harbour toilets and showering facilities block was now open. Several relocations of boats within the harbour were discussed, and as a result, the new layout would be far more purposeful. Some extra mooring might become available within the harbour shortly and the provision of external visitors' moorings would also be improved. Marker buoys had been purchased so that they could be used to define the desired entrance and exit gate to and from the harbour. Concern was shown over the number of youths who were jumping off the harbour wall. Police had been involved in moving the youths on. In future, the police would be alerted about every incident. The need for a credit card payment system for parking would be assessed, based on the usage of the appropriate machines throughout the season. The Festival of the Sea went very well on June 30. Improvements for next year will be considered. The new notices concerning the movement of the defibrillator from the ticket office to Tesco had now been printed, laminated and placed in shop front windows at convenient intervals around the village. The provision of a floating pontoon to assist access to vessels for both able-bodied and, in particular, disabled boat users will be considered in the near future. The harbour was included in the recent inspection of Saundersfoot by the judge for the Wales in Bloom competition. Much work had been done in preparation for this, including the extremely colourful displays along the front of the car park and the use of chipped bark for presentation and as a deterrent to weeds.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Clr. Morris said that once the bank at the stream had been cut back, the water would be monitored for quality.

Clr. Morris reported that the dangerous branches had still not been removed from Hopshill Lane. Clr. Baker said that he would arrange for this to be done.

Clr. Hayes reported that 60 cockle pickers were seen on the Glen Beach. She said she made various telephone calls and finally found out that the Welsh Government were running a consultation on cockle picking. She said that no legislation was in place to prevent these incidents occurring on the beach. She said she was told by port health that there was no proof that the shellfish were being used on a commercial basis. Clr. Hayes said that the pickers were using salt to collect the razor fish and were leaving the empty salt containers on the beach, and urged anyone who sees cockle pickers on this beach to email port health on [email protected]">[email protected]

Clr. Boughton Thomas asked what would be the parking arrangements for the council car park once the tarmacking had taken place there. Clr. Baker advised Clr. Boughton Thomas that he would draw up plans for the layout of spaces for the car park.

Clr. Boughton Thomas advised members that the tarmacking would be carried out next week and no money was available for the drainage from this area. Clrs. Poole and Baker said that they would arrange a meeting with Mr. Brian James, site manager, to discuss the matter.

Clr. Baker said that he, along with Clr. Poole and John had met at the memorial at St. Issell's to discuss what improvements could take place there under the Grants for Memorials Scheme. He produced photographs to members of how improvements to the path could be carried out.

Clr. Baker said that he had visited the slipway at Wiseman's Bridge and questioned whose responsibility it was to maintain it. The clerk was instructed to contact Emyr Williams, Pembrokeshire County Council, to ascertain whose responsibility it was to maintain this slipway.

Clr. Brabon congratulated the Harbour Commission on the wonderful job they had done in renovating the toilets on the harbour.

Clr. Poole said that he had observed that the Regency Hall toilets had closed at 9 pm and Clr. Baker said they should remain open until 10 pm and he would contact Glenville Codd, Pembrokeshire County Council, regarding this.

Chairman Cleevely reported horses galloping on Saundersfoot Beach and asked what the bye-law stated regarding horses on the beach. Clr. Hayes informed Chairman Cleevely that the bye-law states that horses were allowed on the beach up to 11 am and after 7 pm and a sign was located on the slipway stating these times. She said this restriction is in force from June 1 to September 30.

The next meeting of the council will be held in the Regency Hall, on September 12, at 6.30 pm.