Minutes of the General Meeting of the Penally Community Council held remotely on September 8 via Zoom:

PLANNING

21/0042/PA: Proposed holiday lodges at Penhoyle Manor, Penally - County councillor Jon Preston advised councillors that the Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Planning Committee read Penally Community Council’s response to this planning application, a site visit was held and the Committee agreed that this application should be refused.

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

• Planning Notices received from Pembrokeshire County Council regarding:

11 Strawberry Gardens – first floor extension (Conditionally approved); Highcroft – First floor extension over existing decking etc (Conditionally approved); 24 Penally Heights – Erection of balcony (Conditionally approved); Hillside – Alterations and extension to first floor (Refused).

• Email received regarding Penally Community taking part in the Beacon Lighting for the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations – It was confirmed that Penally Community Council do not have a suitable location for such.

• Email received raising concerns regarding branches of trees located on the village green overhanging the Church. The Clerk advised that she had contacted Smart Gardens and was awaiting a response. Clr. Hooper further advised that the Church Group was meeting ton September 9 and would be discussing the matter. Clr. Hooper will advise the Clerk accordingly.

• Email received from a member of public raising concerns regarding certain matters appertaining to a holiday let property in Penally – The Clerk advised the author that the Community Council are not able to advise on matters of purported unlawful behaviour nor civil matters. Clr. Jon Preston was made aware of the email and has contacted the author direct.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

Clr. Jon Preston reported the following:

• Local government boundary review - The Local Authority boundary reviews have been underway over the last four years. As I have reported previously the proposal for the Penally ward is that it becomes amalgamated with Manorbier and would lose its individual named ward status.

I objected to these proposals at the time as they are primarily based on incorrect information in terms of the current ward boundaries.

I have written to the Welsh Minister Rebecca Evans AS/MS again more recently to reiterate my original objection and to draw the ministers’ attention to the significant growth that has taken place in the Penally ward due to two large residential developments in New Hedges.

The minister has responded by saying she is grateful for the highlighting of concerns in respect of the proposal to combine Penally with Manorbier and noted the Commission had received representation about this proposal during the review process, as reflected within its Final Recommendations Report.

However, no decisions have been made regarding the recommendations for Pembrokeshire. The minister’s aim is to make decisions on each of the 22 boundary reviews by the end of September 2021.

This would be to enable changes to be made in time for the 2022 local government elections.

• Penally training camp - Councillors may have heard suggestions that Penally training camp is currently on the market for sale to develop as housing.

However, there are no plans at this time to sell the site and it will remain a training unit for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

Military bases all over the UK are constantly under review and it may be true that if Penally training camp becomes surplus to operational requirements then the sale of the land for development may be an option for the DIO to consider. I have asked the DIO to replace the ‘Penally Training Camp’ sign which was previously visible from the main road to re-assure people that the camp is not in any form of transition.

• Overnight camping - The increase in overnight camping in vehicles on private land not currently in use has been very evident this summer season. I have spoken with the lease holder who at the time was not aware of the vehicles parked on the land opposite the former DJ’s night club.

The lease holder has informed me that several requests have been made to the land freeholder to install gates across the old car park but to date, no work has been carried out, consequently the lease holder has no control of access.

Council may wish to consider contacting the lease holder/freeholder to discuss possible solutions to prevent any future overnight camping on the site.

• Planning enforcement - Two separate planning matters are currently under investigation by the planning enforcement team.

In the case of a reported change of window, a permitted development enquiry was initially made by the property owner at the end of July.

For information, a permitted development enquiry service deals with enquiries that seek to confirm that a proposed works does not need planning permission.

For example, this could be the case when works fall within a class where the permission is granted by a statutory instrument (The General Permitted Development Order).

Based on the evidence that was sent to me, planning enforcement have advised that it appears that the work carried out to date may be permitted development but will require a balustrade.

The guidance on this section of permitted development states that a where there is no platform and no projection from the exterior of the building by more than 30cm would normally be permitted development unless it is installed on the principal elevation or would be within 10.5 metres of a boundary opposite the relevant side elevation.

In this case, although there may well not be a platform and the balustrade is unlikely to project beyond the 30cm limit, the distance to the side boundary would appear to be an issue which means a planning application would be required.

As I understand it a retrospective application has been or will shortly be made by the property owner. Unusual activity at a site off Strawberry Lane reported during March is also being investigated and all relevant information has been passed on to planning enforcement at PCC.

• Fly-tipping - Two separate incidences of fly tipping at the public bin at Holloway Court bus stop have caused extensive littering on the main Penally road. On both occasions I have cleared up the mess and in doing so have been able to provide PCC enviro-crime team with some evidence to identify the origins of the waste.

I would like to ask people to be vigilant and report any incidences of fly- tipping either to me directly or by contacting Pembrokeshire County council on 01437 775253 or by email: [email protected]

• Sandy Bear charity - I would like to thank Penally tradesman Mark Griffiths of Acorn House Clearance. Mark gave his time and resources to support Sandy Bear, a local children’s bereavement charity.

Mark collected a transit van full of old furniture and equipment from Sand Bear’s office in Milford Haven and recycled the items at PCC’s Waterloo Road re-cycling facility.

Mark and I were able to approach PCC’s director of Environmental Services to request that no charge was made to Acorn House Clearance for disposal of the items, which was approved. This provided Sandy Bear Child bereavement services with a first-class clearance service at no cost to the charity.

Mark also commented on how helpful the team were at Waterloo in assisting him with re-cycling the items.

REPORTS FROM WORKING PARTIES

Clr. Jenny Darcy on behalf of the Village Hall reported: The Village Hall Committee are working hard and following the advice being given to ensure that the hall is used in a safe manner.

The Village Hall Committee are in the process of arranging to have Wi-Fi in the hall and if the Penally Community Council may be able to assist with the cost of such. This will be considered as an agenda item in October.

Telephone call received regarding the continued parking of a vehicle which blocks an access road to Giltar Terrace – This matter has now been brought to the attention of the Police by the caller.

OTHER MATTERS

• Clr Neal on behalf of the History Group advised that the Group had undertaken a complete update of the burial plans for the Church Yard and Remembrance Garden.

• To consider the 20MPH Consultation - Clr. Snow requested that all Councillors forward to her by September 23 their considerations regarding the 20mph Public Consultation. Clr. Snow will then respond on behalf of the Council taking into account all councillors’ views.

• To consider the quotation received regarding the erection of bollards and chain around the water pump to prevent persons parking their vehicles upon such - Councillors considered the quotation submitted for works to the water pump area in Penally. The proposed works are to erect a post and chain surround to the pump area, at low level, to help prevent persons parking their vehicles on the cobbled area - at a cost of £328 for materials and labour.

It was agreed that his was an acceptable quotation for works that will enhance this area. The Clerk to also request if, prior to the works commencing, this area can be treated to help prevent the growth of weeds.

• Prior to the meeting closing Clr. Preston brought to the Council’s attention the recent passing of Mr S Paul who had served on the Penally Community Council for a number of years.

Clr. D’Arcy, as she was on the Council at the same time as Mr. Paul, will write a letter to Mrs. Paul passing on the Penally Community Council’s condolences at this sad time.