Minutes of the meeting for Powys Branch held on
Wednesday 9th July 2008,
at Llandrindod Wells Sports Centre
1. WELCOME & APOLOGIES
The Chairman welcomed members to the meeting and to Alan Southerby, guest
speaker
PRESENT: E Humphreys (Chairman), Margaret Ford, Rodger Garratt, Gwilym
Rippon, Tracey Price, Steve Geary, Glenys Smith & Yvonne Charker
APOLOGIES: Mary Shergold, Brian Hicks, Kath Jones, Jane Johnson, Nicky
Williams, Sonia Pritchard, Barry Thomas, Pat Dryden, Sarah Yeomans, Rosemary
Davies, Shaun Davies & Regional Adviser Ruth Tucker
2. GUEST SPEAKER from Planning Department
Alan Southerby, Snr Development Officer for Powys County Council explained
about the new service of regeneration and development taking place in Powys
that most of the County Councils are adopting. Powys, due to the vastness, will
now have one single Planning Committee instead of the three Shires and will hold
the meetings in Welshpool, Llandrindod Wells, Brecon and back again so that
there will be a recurring circle. It is anticipated that duty officers/planning
officers will amalgamate for the outlining areas such as Llanidloes etc.
Powys has a new Northgate system throughout the County, which provides
scanning/ workflow software available on the Web and has a public access
module that should help.
The Planning Portal has ‘gone live’ in England and anyone submitting applications
have to submit electronically. Wales is to follow shortly in October, this should
benefit those using the system as only one set of plans will now be required
instead of the usual three sets.
Alan Southerby explained he is writing a report to the Board at the end of July to
outline the timelines as it was evidenced that the present system can take too
long and it was considered the County Council should become more ‘business
like’. These timelines are to be shortened in some instances.
Further discussions took place at this meeting around the service and times given
to Town and Community Councils to respond/comment on planning applications.
Chair noted there is a need for the branch and individuals to raise these matters
at the conferences.
Chair thanked guest speaker for all the information and for coming.
3. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Ed Humphreys re-elected as Chair
4. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
o Treasurer:
Rodger Garrett re-elected
o Secretary:
Yvonne Charker re-elected
o NEC Rep:
Only 1 nomination and acceptance for NEC Representative
for the Powys Branch received. Gwilym Rippon to be elected for NEC Rep
for this year.
o Vice Chair: Tracey Price elected as Vice Chair
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM 08.03.2008
Approved but with amendments as follows:
Apologies were received from Steve Geary
Item 8.2 Both Chairman & Gwilym attended meetings of Public Ombudsman for
Wales but at different meetings
6. ACCOUNTS
Income & expenses to 31.12.07 previously enclosed with Agenda – no queries
arose from the detailed account Treasurer had prepared.
Members present discussed the branch Capitation grant received for 2008. As
there were sufficient monies in the account it was considered and agreed to fund
representatives to attend both the National Day Conference and to the Regional
Conference in order that Powys branch could be represented. Representatives to
give a report back on the meetings. Chair to attend the National Conference and
Secretary to attend the Regional.
7. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES
One invoice received from Secretary for postage expenses in the sum of £10.80 –
agreed to reimburse
8. NEXT MEETING
Reminder of next meeting date WEDNESDAY 7:00pm 10.09.08
Topic – to ask New Development Officer
Agreed to hold the next meeting in Brecon so that members from the South
would have chance to attend – Confirmed as being Town Hall, Brecon
Apologies received from Gwilym for next meeting
9. MATERS ARISING FOR INFORMATION
9.1
Promotion of Branch:
Gwilym suggested sending information
out to non member Clerks from the branch for a more informal approach.
Yvonne confirmed that she has usually sent out previous invitations to the
Clerks in the vicinity of the venue, although not for this meeting. All felt this
to be a good idea.
9.2
Guest Speaker:
Yvonne informed members that an email had
been received from Richard Walden saying he was delighted to have been
appointed as new Branch Development Officer and suggested inviting Richard
to our next meeting to help promote the branch, which will be two days after
the Regional Conference. Yvonne to reply back to see if he is attending the
Regional Conference and if so invite him to the next meeting on Wednesday
evening, 10.09.09 at Brecon.
9.3
Code of Conduct:
Chair asked about progress on Code of
Conduct some Councils have already accepted whilst others still have to
adopt.
9.4
Dispensations:
Tracey reported that PCC will shortly be
sending out a guide
9.5
Website:
Rodger reported and handed out Website information that
he felt would very useful to Clerks.
9.6
Conferences:
Chair reminded members about the ‘early
bird’ bookings
Meeting ended 8.45pm