Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Broughton Community Council
on Wednesday 28 September 2022
Members
Councillor N Williams
Councillor S Feely
Councillor G Davies Councillor C Lovett
Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones Councillor N Davies
Councillor T Alan Edwards Councillor A Humphreys
Councillor Mrs S Williams Councillor C Williams
Councillor Mrs E Jones Councillor A Lovett
Councillor J Holland * Cllr K Jones
Councillor T Williams Cllr. J. Pettigrew
A minute’s silence was held as a mark of respect of the tragic death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
- COMMUNITY AGENT
The Chair welcomed Mr David Hinchcliffe , Clerk to Minera Community Council, to the meeting . Mr. Hinchcliffe had supplied a presentation, compiled by Ms. Susan Allcroft, who is employed as a community agent at Minera Community Council, outlining the befits of a community agent service. The presentation had been circulated to Members in advance of the meeting.
Mr. Hinchcliffe gave background to the benefits that a community agent had brought to Minera. A number of points were raised :
- The community council had been supported by Wrexham County Borough Council during the appointment process.
- There was no shortage of good candidates for the position.
- The service is fully funded by the Welsh Government through Wrexham CBC.
- Steve Latham White is employed by Wrexham CBC to coordinate the service.
- Funding is only guaranteed on a yearly basis. Currently funding is available until the end of March 2023.
- It is paid as a lump sum at the beginning of each year.
- Allcroft had been appointed in 2020, which coincided with the outbreak of covid. The community agent service had proved to be invaluable, given that this was a period of isolation for many people, especially in the elderly community.
- She is employed for 16 hours per week, plus overtime as agreed, dependent on workload.
- She is employed on a twelve month rolling contract.
- However Mr. Hinchcliffe felt that funding would remain in place for future years, given the success of the service and the fact that pressures on budgets for such services in local authorities are likely to increase. In fact he felt that funding was more likely to be increased than stopped.
- Over half the community councils in Wrexham now employ a community agent.
- The service has proved to be extremely useful in a dispersed community such as Minera.
- The Clerk line manages the community agent and is required to complete monthly returns to the Welsh Government on how funding has been spent, supervision, payroll etc. This amounts to about two hours additional work per month.
- Mr Hinchcliffe felt that his community council would try to continue the service if funding was stopped or cut.
- Digital exclusion was an issue for many.
- In terms of data protection the community agent has her own laptop and is the only person who sees any personal information about clients i.e. it is never shared with either the Clerk or councillors.
- A question was asked as to who decides on which area/ community the community agent works. In the main the workload is managed by the community agent and the locations are dependent on priorities at the time. Other agencies and services liaise with her to identify greatest need. It is a balancing act of hours worked against need.
- The community agent may be able to identify additional funding through grants etc.
- Brymbo, Gwersyllt and Llay are currently in the process of appointing community agents.
It was agreed to formally schedule this item for discussion at the October meeting.
Mr. Hinchcliffe was thanked for his attendance and useful input.
34 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
No apologies for absence were received.
- DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
There were no declarations of personal interest.
- MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 14 July 2022
A Member requested that an amendment be made to the minutes on page 3. relating to the cemetery bench. She stated that she had said that she would have made the same comment if it had been a grave other than that of her parents.
Members agreed to this amendment. The Clerk would amend the minutes accordingly.
The remainder of the minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.
Matters Arising
Speed Signs
The Clerk expressed concern over continuing delays over the delivery of the speed signs.
He had contacted the company, SID Signs, on a number of occasions and been promised that they would be delivered, but they had still not been received.
It was agreed that, if they had not been received by the next meeting, action should be considered to obtain a refund.
Gwalia Place
The Clerk had contacted Wrexham Council as to the options available relating to this issue, but had not received a reply.
He would contact them again.
In addition the Clerk had received a quote of £6,935.21+ Vat (@20%) for the works as described below:
- Install 96m of new timber Knee high fencing
- Reinstate all disturbed areas
This does not include the additional grassed areas adjacent to the car park.
Page 3 – Cemetery Bench
Cllr. Parry-Jones expressed a personal and prejudicial interest and left the room.
The Clerk told the remaining Members that he had received a letter from Carter Vincent, Solicitors on behalf of the Personal Representatives of the late Mr. David Parry-Jones in relation to a bench being located in Broughton Cemetery in an obtrusive location relevant to other graves. A report undertaken on behalf of the representative was attached. The report suggests that the positioning of the bench and base obstructs access to the grave.
It was agreed that the Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair, be given authority to commission legal representation to act on behalf of the community council.
Website Councillor Information
Members were reminded that photos were still required for the website.
Cemetery Consecration
This event had finally taken place.
The Bishop had been very complimentary about the cemetery.
A certificate marking the occasion has been presented to the community council.
It was agreed that copies of the certificate be provided to the Broughton History Society and the Church
It was further agreed that a donation of £50 be made to the Church to thank for providing refreshments following the consecration.
Youth Provision
Members were informed that agreement had been reached with Wrexham County Borough Council to undertake a survey of need later this year, with a youth provision service starting in January 2023.
PCSO Report
Concern was expressed that no report had been received. In addition it was felt that there had been increased reports of anti-social behaviour in the area, but the Police were not acting upon such reports.
Members reported that there appeared to be a lack of Police and PCSO presence and visibility.
Members further questioned whether value for money was being received.
It was agreed to invite a PCSO representative to the next meeting.
Bowling Club
No response had yet been received.
Lodge Resurfacing
This had still not been done.
Letter to Mr Roberts
The Clerk stated that whilst he was disappointed in the tone of the phone call from the above, he had visited the cemetery and felt that there was a need to investigate the issue raised.
It was agreed that the Cemetery Working Group look at the issue on their next visit.
- FINANCE
Summary of Payments made and Income Received during July and August 2022
The Clerk reminded Members that he, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair had been given delegated powers to agree payments until the September meeting.
A list of such payments had been supplied as part of the agenda papers, together with the level of balances held by the community council.
A discussion took place as to potential projects may require significant funding. A Member suggested that one way to reduce the balances would be to pay off the outstanding balance on the Salix Loan taken for the conversion of street lighting to LED.
Members agreed the payments and noted the level of balances.
In addition the Clerk had that day received an invoice from Hafren Dyfrdwy, amounting to £112.13, as the second half yearly instalment for the cemetery water rates.
Members authorised the Clerk to pay it.
- FEEDBACK FROM THE EVENTS WORKING GROUP
Remembrance Sunday
A draft Order of Service had been agreed.
The Clerk would contact Mr. Phil Coops to find out about progress.
Rev. Will Marshall would attend the service for the reading but would then have to leave.
It was agreed to also invite Mr. Ken Lillie, Pastor at Brynteg Village Hall, to attend.
The Clerk was asked to contact Roberts Bros. Funeral Directors, to ask about supplying musical equipment and Brynteg School to attend.
Xmas Fayre
It was agreed that this be held on Sunday 27 November from 12 noon to 4 pm at Brynteg Memorial Hall.
The Hall would be available from 11 am for stallholders to set up.
Stallholders would be charged £10 per stall, fully refundable if they turned up.
Xmas Lights
The current lighting contractor had been in contact with the Clerk to agree details of the erection and switch on of the Xmas lights.
Concern was expressed about the lights being erected and switched on so close to Remembrance Sunday.
A suggestion was made that no poppies should be placed on a lamppost which had Xmas lighting.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
No further planning applications had been received other than those circulated to Members by email during the period since the July meeting.
However, a Member did inform other Members that the issue relating to the Glyndwr site in New Broughton was on the agenda for the Wrexham County Borough Planning meeting on 3 October 2022.
- CORRESPONDENCE
(i) A leaflet highlighting “Warm Places” where people could go to keep warm. Initially, it will be Wrexham CBC libraries. It was pointed out that fuel vouchers were available for eligible council tenants at Housing Estate Offices.
Consideration needed to be given to how the community council could best support its community to help those in need. The Clerk did point out that the community council should not give donations to individuals, but may consider donations to organisations for this purpose.
It was agreed to put this issue on the agenda for the next meeting.
(ii) A letter from Mrs. Suckley requesting information as to how much financially the Lodge community contributes to the community council and how much has been spent in the area.
It was pointed out that neither Wrexham CBC nor the community council break down the information at the village level. However, the Clerk would respond with whatever information is available, including details of initiatives that are spent on the entire community of Broughton.
(iii) Request from Ms. Zoe Kumar for an additional bench at the cemetery, on an existing concrete base.
It was agreed that the Cemetery Working Group consider this issue.
- MEMBER REPORTS
(i)A Member raised a request on behalf of a resident to clear growth surrounding a BT post which is located in her garden.
It was agreed that this request be denied.
(ii) Concern that inappropriate things are being said outside the meeting relating to discussions that go on within the meeting. The Chair pointed out that the meetings are open to the public and there have been no Part II (confidential) items discussed in private session.
However, Members were reminded of their responsibilities under the Code of Conduct.
(iii) Concern was expressed that alcohol was being sold at Pentre Broughton Bowling Club, allegedly without the required licence.
(iv) Nettles were blocking the footpath near the zebra crossing in New Broughton. They seem to result from a house owner’s / tenant’s garden.
Concerns were then expressed as to how dangerous the crossing is, being so near to a roundabout and surprise that Wrexham Council agreed to locate it there in the first place.
Signed …………………………………… (Chair)
Date …………………………
