PLANNING - Alterations to and change of use of Sundale from dwelling (C3 use class) to a respite care home (C2 use class) and day care facility (D1 use class) partly in retrospect, at Sundale, India Road, Monkton, Pembroke - Council would support the application subject to appropriate worded conditions being imposed to: 1) Provide adequate screening between the proposal and adjoining property to prevent overlooking; 2) That mitigation measure are put in place to minimise noise from the proposed development so as to minimise any adverse effects on residential amenity.

Erection of a detached garage, and a domestic extension to the rear of the property, at The Acorns, Lower Lamphey Road, Pembroke - Council would support the application

Redevelopment of the existing filling station comprising demolition of existing petrol filling station, laundrette and stores and erection of replacement forecourt canopy, pump island, underground tanks, parking and sales building including convenience store, food outlet, laundrette, office, store and toilets, at Bush Hill Service Station, Bush Hill, Pembroke, Pembs - Council would support the application.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS DETERMINED

Alterations and Extension at 25 Merlins Cross, Lower Lamphey Road, Pembroke, - Decision: Conditionally Approved.

Erection of two semi detached bungalows on land opposite 5 Woodside Grove, Pembroke - Decision: Refused.

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

The following correspondence has been received from Major General JFP Swift OBE, Regimental Headquarters The Royal Welsh

Now that the dust is settling, I thought I would pen you a short note to say thank you for your generous hospitality and to all the work you and Pembroke Town Council put into making Saturday such a success.

I am sorry that I was unable to attend in person; However, I have heard from Col Huw James and Lt Col Chris Kilmister what a splendid occasion it was, which amply demonstrated the strength of the links between Pembroke and The Royal Welsh.

It was wonderful for the Regiment to receive such a warm welcome and to see so many people of Pembroke come out to cheer the soldiers on the parade. The Soldiers felt proud to be able to show themselves off to such an appreciative audience in the Castle grounds and around the lovely town of Pembroke.

I know that events like this do not just happen by themselves so please can you pass on my thanks to all involved from your side for the considerable thought and effort they put into making is such a success, which clearly the hard work put in by Suzie Thomas and also Rose at the Town Hall was pivotal. Behind the scenes I realise that here was an army of others who kept the streets safe for the parade, the setting up of the dais and sound system etc, too many to mention.

However, particularly rewarding for our soldiers was the attractive and delicious meal provided by Valero Refinery and cooked by Councillor Adrian Cooke and his team. Would you also pass on our gratitude to Jon Williams and Jason Kenniford at the Castle for allowing the ceremony to be conducted at such a splendid location. The whole day was a fitting tribute to The Royal Welsh.

Thank you once again for all the help and support you gave us, your kindness and hospitality to the Regiment was something that we will all treasure.

The following correspondence has been received from a resident of Pembroke:

To whom it may concern, I feel I must draw your attention to the Military Band Saturday, and how much I enjoyed it. However I have complaints. 1) My husband didnt know about it until he went to open Willings Passage on the Saturday morning - on enquiries we were able to attend. We are not on Facebook or other social media and I am sure that other "elderly" residents in Pembroke will be in the same situation. 2) I asked three ‘officials’ what was the schedule and I was told three different answers - we worked it out ourselves.

3) Locally there seemed to be no organisation. Might I suggest in future for a car with a Loud Speaker be used to go around all the estates etc the afternoon before the event, detailing what it all entails.

I do understand the necessity for careful planning where the Military is concerned but for the locals - the planning was poor.

The above was noted by Council and the Clerk to respond.

MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS

Messy Church (Deputy Mayor). Hope Neyland.

The following correspondence has been received from Messy Church:

Dear Gareth, On behalf of us all at Town Hall Messy Church I would like to express our thanks to you for attending our Picnic in the Park last Saturday, for joining in the fun and presenting the prizes.

As you saw for yourself the families enjoyed the fun of the afternoon and receiving trophies from you.

Thank you for your participation and support of all we are trying to do in the community.

UPDATE FROM LINK OFFICER

Sinead Henehan gave Council an update of the progress that was happening with the enforcement officer of Pembrokeshire County Council and the unkept buildings in Pembroke. A list had been compiled and had been forwarded to the Officer and asked Council to forward her of any others should they require via the Clerk.

CASTLE POND WALKWAY MAINTENANCE

Councillor Asman gave Council a power point presentation regarding the castle pond walkway and the lack of maintenance. She stated that benches needed painting along with railings (some which need replacing altogether), weeding and pot holes filled. The Clerk informed Council that she had walked the pond with an officer of PCC who had offered the supply of paint for some of the benches. Following a discussion it was resolved to set up a task group, so some of these problems could be rectified.

PLAY PARKS/PLAY AREAS

Councillor Nutting presented Council with the following:

During the recent election I walked around the area of St. Mary North quite a few times. I became aware that what I had been led to believe was not quite the facts that I observed. I decided as a matter of urgency to look at the provision of child friendly areas within the town as a whole. My findings are listed below.

Pembroke St. Michael ward:

One designated play area. The developer has yet to provide any equipment etc. My recommendation is that we direct PCC to get this situation rectified and ask the developer to provide the equipment sooner rather than later as this has carried on for more than five years. Other than the obvious cutting of the grass within the area there is no sign of any use.

Pembroke St. Mary South ward:

The main Commons area has a football pitch which is quite well used. Sometimes there is a problem when the grass grows long. There is a new exercise trail which shows some use. The play park is the largest in Pembroke. Reasonably well used. There is good parking and adequate seating etc. On the occasions I visited there was generally people using the play area with young children. Especially grandparents with under fives.

Monkton ward: There are two play parks. 1. Bottom of Norgans Hill/Poyers Avenue.

This is a large area with a couple of pieces equipment. There was little or no sign of use. Underneath swings showed a bit of bare ground suggesting some, but infrequent use. The times I visited there was no one using the area.

2. Back Terrace Play area. This play area shows signs of infrequent use. The grass has little wear etc. The times I went to observe there was no usage.

Pembroke St. Mary North: Ashdale Lane - This is probably the newest of the play areas in Pembroke. It is well constructed and has good security. The back fence has been vandalised so that people can get to the footpath to the Mill pond which is behind. Most wear suggests that this is mostly used as a short cut to the path. The parallel bars shows some scuffing suggesting some use. Little or no evidence of any other use other than several pieces of litter.

Devon Drive - Once a play area now only slide is left. End of slide shows scuffing which suggests some use. No one in area other than dog walkers when visited.

I found this article on Google. It is very illuminating.

‘AM supports Pembroke residents in plea for play park Friday, 24 July 2009’ - South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns listens to town councillor Rose Blackburn and community resident’s association chairman Liz Hood spell out the need for a new play park in Devon Drive.

There used to be a play park in the middle of the estate but everything except for a slide was taken away because of vandalism six years ago,

The residents of a Pembroke housing estate who have joined forces to call for a play park are being supported by local AM Angela Burns.

Mrs. Burns heard from town councillor Rose Blackburn and the Pembroke North Residents and Tenants Community Association about the need for a play facility in the area.

"There used to be a play park in the middle of the estate but everything except for a slide was taken away because of vandalism six years ago," explained Mrs. Burns.

"A new park was built nearby opposite the Elms, but it is too exposed and also in the wrong place."

Local residents won’t let their youngsters go and play in the new park as to get there involves crossing a dangerous road on a blind bend.   

"There is a new one, but I won’t let my kids go and play there as it involves crossing the road at a blind spot," said association chairman and mum of three Liz Hood. "Children under the age of 11 can’t really cross there.

"There’s support from all over the estate to reopen the old play park, there’s really nothing else for the children to do here."

The residents of Devon Drive are also calling for traffic calming measures to slow cars down in their estate, but have been told that because it’s on a bus route it’s unlikely to happen.

"What do we require to get the cars slowed down? A child sacrificed?" asked Cllr. Blackburn.

Mrs. Burns is now looking into securing funding from Safer Routes in Communities scheme which aims at making busy routes safer for pedestrians. She will also be asking whether a 20 mph limit could be imposed through the estate.

"Anything that can make the estate safer for children must be looked at," she said. "The new play park is simply in the wrong place and I shall be doing what I can to help the residents in their fight to get the old one reopened."

Laugharne Close: There was no one using the area on any of my visits. The state of the area and the tarmac around the equipment suggests little or no use.

Golden Hill Road: Although not clear on the second picture there are a set of four swings. This is a very large area of land. The equipment shows some signs of intermittent use.

Persimmon Homes housing estate.: I am told that before the end of the development that there will be a purpose built play area on the land opposite Rose Close. I have seen no plans so this must be at the moment hear say.

Are there any play areas that I have missed off this list?

My Observations - Other than the main play areas on the commons I observed no user of any of the other play areas. Evidence suggests that they are used very little. Talking to people close to these areas suggests that my observations area correct.

The largest Pembroke ward St. Michaels has no play areas whilst St. Marys North has more play areas than all the other wards put together

My thoughts - We have allocated £30,000 of public money (£10k Town £10k PCC and £10k grant ) towards a play area. There has been little or no scrutiny of this decision made with little or no evidence that it is needed. I feel that corporately we have failed in our duty to use public money appropriately. We did not fulfil the basic requirements of following due diligence in our deliberations and requesting even basic evidence.

Before agreeing, to this outlay of public money we should have asked for evidence. We accepted hear say and the views of at most one or two people. Since the election I have asked Grove school for an idea of the number of children that live within the catchment area for the proposed play park upgrade. I am lead to believe that this is less than ten children (2 to 12years old). As was expressed in the included newspaper article. Children from the Devon Drive area are unlikely to use this area. The main population of children area in the Devon Drive area followed by the Laugharne Close and Ashdale Lane areas.

There is likely to be more children in the new housing estate. The evidence used to push for the outlay of money was also flawed by the assumption that this is a large area of social housing. This has very much changed. There are lot of owner occupiers and the majority of home owners etc have now grown up families. It is a stable population with few new people entering.

We have assumed that there is a demand for play areas. Again we had no evidence for this. Looking carefully at the areas we already have suggests that the majority are very little used if at all. The only one known to be used reasonably often is the Commons play area.

The British weather etc must also be taken into account as well as when these areas can be used. School aged children will be restricted to evenings and weekends for most of the year. For half the year there will not be enough light to use them during the winter, autumn and spring months If we then take the weather into account with approximately a quarter of the possible days use being negated due to adverse weather then we cut down the possible days when they would/could be used to less than 100 days in a year and probably nearer 70 days. When this is then added to the number of children actually within the area of the proposed play park then it becomes very concerning. There is probably a chance that the site will be used less than ten times in a year by children of an appropriate age.

Conclusion - Pembroke Town council has acted very unwisely in this matter. We have agreed to something upon which we have been miss informed and have not sought proper evidence. This has left us highly exposed to a possible charge of misuse of public money. We must learn from this and in future must require from all, proper evidence of need, how often it will be used and by whom etc. The basics of what is required of good governance. We must at all times show due diligence. As a council we must be properly informed and furnished with appropriate evidence.

Before any further movement on this specific play area is allowed then proper evidence must be given countering the evidence I have given. Until this happens, this project must be put on hold.

There is evidence that full council is not being fully appraised and decisions railroaded through. Some decisions are apparently made outside chamber this must stop, it is undermining the democratic process.

Suggestions - If we want to provide equipment then we could look at five a side football posts in both Golden Hill and Monkton Back Terrace play areas. Basketball hoops etc as well may be appropriate. The equipment to be better placed and repainted in the Golden Hill Play area. This will be very cost effective and likely to be far more used.

We put back swings on Devon Drive and make the area safe and useable.

We look at other areas of the town where swings may be put as they are the one item of play equipment that is used most often.

We make sure that the play areas at the start of Gibbas Way is completed.

Following a lengthy discussion, Councillor Nutting proposed that before any further developments are undertaken, a consultation on Pembroke North should be completed and develop a plan for all of Pembroke Recreation areas. Seconded by Councillor Phillips. Councillor Harvey suggested that Councillor Nuttings’ statements were not justified and there was a massive need for a new play area in the proposed area, which had already been resolved by Council, and that evidence had been already been collected, including going round to local schools and speaking to residents. Following a vote with 3 in favour, 6 against and 4 abstaining, the proposal was not carried.

TWINNING

Councillor Brinn (who is the chairman of the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Twinning Committee) asked the Clerk to read out correspondence received from Pembroke Dock Town Council.

The Clerk read out correspondence from the Clerk of Pembroke Dock Town Council as follows:

A discussion has taken place about the validity to council of this continuing (brought by Cllr Beynon), which was seconded.

The basis of the discussion was that there is no benefit to Council, the town or any community engagement.

Councillor Pam George stated that when the idea started in 1975 initially it was for junior schools to do exchange visits and for sports competitions and to learn cultural differences between the two countries.

Up to 1980s this worked well but since then the kids involvement has diminished quite a lot. Bergen are keen to continue their links.

Councillor George does not think this should be given up either and is happy to visit local schools to see if the inclusion of children can be resurrected.

Again Councillor Beynon stated that there are no apparent benefits to the community of Pembroke Dock, they are not made aware of visits or able to be included and therefore he does not think that the £2,000 would be left in the budget.

This did receive further backing from other councillors is that the twinning committee apply to the town council(s) for funding as and when it is required.

Councillor Brinn refuted the statement, and said there was great contact with organisations and he did in fact have organisations already expressing an interest to go and visit Bergen.

Councillor Brinn stated that in the Terms of Reference for the Twinning Committee, we already did in fact approach Council only when and if monies were required each year. Following a vote it was resolved to write to Pembroke Dock Town Council, informing them that Pembroke Town Council were in favour of keeping the international relationships alive, and very much in favour with the Twinning of both Bergen in Germany and Malta, and the £2,000 should be kept in the twinning account, should any organisations seek funding, which had previously been given on many occasions.

A4077/4075 NASH FINGERPOST/SAFETY CONCERNS

Councillor Evans informed council that he intended to put this item on the agenda for the September meeting, but Town Clerk informed me that County Cllr. Tessa Hodgson was looking to raise this issue with the Welsh Government by enlisting the support of Angela Burns and Simon Hart.

You will recall that we have raised this issue a number of times right back to 2011, we also generated a petition but still there have been no improvements.

Accidents are still happening and you will recall that two occurred at the back end of August and a far more serious accident happened just a few days ago.

Because of the locations of the August accidents, Cllr Hodgson is looking to extend the discussion on this “black spot” to include the A477 roadway from Lewis’ garage down to the Cosheston Junction and the Nash Fingerpost.

The WAG appear to base their reluctance to make more improvements on the evidence gathered in the Stage 4 Road Safety Audit – October 2016.

In the 12 months following the changes to the road system 2 accidents where recorded which resulted in slight injuries. This gave a “killed or seriously injured (KSI) index of 0.

Can we afford to wait for a serious injury or even worse a fatality to occur, before changes are made?

I have met with Cllr Hodgson and we have agreed to gather as much information as we can before calling a meeting with relevant stakeholders.

If Council agree I am more than willing to represent us on future discussions.

Following a discussion it was resolved that Councillor Evans represent Pembroke Town Council with all relevant parties on behalf of Pembroke Town Council.

CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS

The Clerk read out some ideas following correspondence with Councillors on suggestions for a memorial for Mr George Lewis. Councillor Evans also suggested an art competition to design a Christmas card with Pembroke School.

The Clerk and Councillor Evans to report back to the next meeting.