Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 29th November 2007 at the Village Centre, Gwernymynydd.

Chairman: Councillor K. Taylor.

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs E. Parry, Mrs. M. Bellis and Mrs N. Matthews.

Councillor Matthews in her absence provided information which is reported below for the Members of the Council.

2. To Approve the Minutes of the October Meeting

The Minutes of the above had been distributed and were confirmed as a true record of the business transacted at the meeting.

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes

Ref: KSS/043076, Demolition of existing buildings and residential development of 24 dwellings and associated works including ground remodelling, located on land at Siglen Ucha, Ruthin Road, Gwernymynydd. Councillor Mrs. N. Matthews in her notes informed the Members that a site meeting would most probably be held on the Monday prior to this Application being discussed in the Planning Meeting scheduled for Wednesday the 12th December 2007.

Councillor E. Owens reported to the Council that the Youth Club’s inaugural meeting had been a resounding success; comments received from the youths said the Club to be ‘dead cool’. The Members gave a vote of thanks to Councillors Owens and Mrs. N. Matthews for all the hard work undertaken in getting the Youth Club started. Councillor Owens submitted a request for volunteers to help with the Youth Club, this request to be put into the Village Newsletter.

Item 6.4; Councillor Morris also reported that there was a small parcel of land close to the site of the relocated village sign, which although being within the Flintshire County boundary the land was not maintained. The Clerk reported that he was still awaiting a response on this matter from Flintshire County Council.

With respect to the parcel of land at Llys Enfys, Councillor K. Taylor requested an update on the submitted request/complaint. The Clerk reported that he was still awaiting a response on this matter from Flintshire County Council.

4. Gwernymynydd Community Development Plan

Councillor C. Bradshaw again by way of a reminder presented to the Council the main theme of the Plan, he worked through the handout document given to Members at a previous meeting; this outlined by means of a flow diagram the guidance to be followed.

Councillor Bradshaw drew reference to the Kelsall village website and the Kelsall Village Design Statement. This comprehensive document could be used as a baseline for the Development Plan; the Council being in a position to adapt the Design Statement for its own requirements.

Councillor Bradshaw informed the Members that he would like to pursue the Development Plan with people from Kelsall and Officers from Flintshire County Council and to progress the matter with meetings with the respective persons involved.

The Members were very appreciative of the work done and fully supported Councillor Bradshaw in this matter.

5. Bryn Gwyn Quarry, Gwernymynydd

The Chairman Councillor K. Taylor opened the discussions with information received concerning the scheduled Public Inquiry. Members raised concerns with regard to the potential for D. P. Williams (Holdings) to achieve substantial earnings from the quarrying operations at Bryn Gwyn should permission be granted to re-start mineral extraction. The huge financial incentive being a driving force for the Operator to gain that permission. What happened at the Operator’s quarry in Rochdale was discussed with fears being expressed by the Members that a similar result could occur in Gwernymynydd.

The Council resolved to call a meeting of neighbouring Councils, organisations and members of the public who would be affected if the quarry re-opened, the meeting to take place at the Village Centre at 5.00 PM on Thursday the 13th December 2007. The discussion to take into account the two tests set out in the respective legislation to adopt the Prohibition Order:-

No winning and working of minerals has been carried out to any substantial extent for a period of at least 2 years; and it appears that resumption of development is unlikely.

With reference to One Voice Wales and to any help that maybe available from the organisation the Clerk was requested to pursue inquiries from the Regional Secretary.

6. Reports

1. Police Matters

The Chairman welcomed PC G. Aldous to the meeting, the Constable then proceeded to give his report to the Members. Two crimes had been reported within the village, an assault and a theft arising from a private party. With respect to the latter the Constable requested that a statement be put into the Village Newsletter discouraging residents from holding such parties during the Christmas period. PC Aldous also informed the meeting that a road traffic accident had occurred in the village the car in question had hit the kerb and a wall, luckily there appeared to be no serious injury to the driver. Finally the Constable reported that the Beat Action Plan was on the website but would need to be updated, requests were submitted from Councillors to address problem parking on the village housing estates and also the issue of vehicles parking haphazardly on the A 494 and Cadole Village Road during spells of snowfall.

The Members thanked PC. Aldous for his report and for attending the meeting.

2. Outside Bodies

With reference to the Village Centre Management Committee,

Councillor G. Morris provided an update of information for the Members. The repair work to the roof has now been completed and decoration of the Centre was the next project to undertake.

Councillor C. Bradshaw reported to the Members the main points of the Town/Community and County Councillors liaison meeting with the Police held at the Buckley Town Hall. It was stated that all identified targets had been met and in fact exceeded and that there would be a drive to curb drug offences and shop lifting within the Mold and Ruthin town areas.

3. Sub-Committees

There were no items for discussion.

4. A494, Gwernymynydd/Cadole

Councillor R. Astbury reported that during the recent heavy rainfall the gullies on the A 494, Rainbow Inn to Loggerheads, could not take the excessive surface water. The drainage system itself needs to be dealt with along with the gullies. The Clerk was requested to inform Flintshire County Council about the problem.

5. Complaints received by Councillors

Councillors reported a light which was dazzling road users, A 494, Cadole to Gwernymynydd. The light is located at the new Eagles and Crawford Depot. The Clerk was requested approach Flintshire County Council’s Environmental Health Department about the complaint in a softly softly manner.

Councillor C. Jackson informed the Members that obstructive parking of vehicles was again a cause of concern in Blaenwern.

7. Correspondence

Items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were received by the Council.

8. Late Correspondence

The following items were received by the Council:-

Janet Ryder AM, reference to Bryn Gwyn Quarry and the forthcoming Public Inquiry; WAG, the Adjudication Panel for Wales, the Annual Report, 2006-07.

9. Planning Matters

PN/LK/AD/05102; Proposed Junction Improvement, Heol y Wern/A 494, Gwernymynydd.

NOT AGREED

The Members of the Council resolved to object to this submitted proposal for the following reasons.

1. In the opinion of the Council there is no need to alter the junction or to relocate the bus stop and bus shelter. The existing layout serves the community extremely well there being no reported incidents at this location with the bus lane providing a safe access and egress for buses and a safe location away from traffic on the A 494 for the public using the bus service.

2. The proposal would have an unacceptable impact on the nearby Pelican Crossing; this is already a hazardous point because of speeding vehicles on the A 494 despite clear vision in both directions. Pedestrians using the Crossing have on some occasions come close to being hit by vehicles ignoring the clearly displayed lights and signs.

3. Access turning left onto the A 494 from Heol y Wern utilises an acceleration lane, this safety factor has shown itself to be a very useful road safety feature.

4. Drawing reference from the letter of complaint from a local resident the Council unanimously agrees with the points stated, there will be situations resulting in noise nuisance, there will be visual intrusion and there will be concerns with regard to security. Also, the technical items outlined in the letter must be taken into account; this proposal does not improve the existing junction.

5. The Council is of the opinion that this proposal is an unwanted and expensive alteration to a road junction and bus stop, for your information there being only 15 buses per day travelling through the village. The funding for this proposal could be better spent on projects related to the A 494 within the Gwernymynydd community area examples of which are listed below:-

(a) Construction of a footway alongside the A 494, as proposed by the Council, as considered by the National Assembly and as put into the A 494 improvement programme.

(b) Road improvement at the site of the former Carmel Chapel A 494, opposite to the Rainbow Inn.

(c) Traffic calming measures along the length of the A 494, Cadole/Gwernymynydd as proposed by the Council over the years, 1991 to the present.

KYT/044162; Outline permission for the erection of a dwelling located on land south of Highfield, Ruthin Road, Gwernymynydd.

AGREED

The Chairman of the Council, Councillor K. Taylor declared an interest to the above application and as such took no part in the discussions or in the decision taken by the Council.

KYT/043599; Proposed two storey extension to the side of the house to form a granny annexe and the erection of a dormer window to the front located at Scale How, Hafod Road, Gwernymynydd.

AGREED

10. Finance

The Members resolved to thank the Reverend W. A. McCabe for undertaking the Remembrance Day Service at the Village War Memorial and agreed to give £20 in vouchers.

Payments were authorised and cheques signed totalling £1,077.53

Chairman......................................................................................................................

Payments authorised at the meeting held on the 29th November 2007.