118. PEN-Y-FFORDD DEVELOPMENTS
Cllr Mrs C Hinds referred to an email that had come to her attention, a copy of which she had circulated to members of the Council.
The email was from the Chairman, Cllr D Williams to Mr John Keryakoplis, with copies to various other persons in the village, some of which are involved with local organizations.
The email referred that the new plans for the Butchers Estate are due to go out for consultation shortly. The Chairman had a viewing of these, and to be blunt he considered them to be a disgrace, and that in his opinion the Planning Officer is not doing his job as he should be.
There is no increase in the amount of land they are prepared to provide for recreation.
Unfortunately Cindy has indicated that she is happy with the new proposal, as she is scared that we may lose out on what they are offering.
Cllr Williams expressed his opinion insomuch that as far as he is concerned they are only offering what we should have had fifteen years ago and we should not allow these developers and landowners to walk over us again.
One other matter to be aware of is that the Community Council is to consider the application for the White Lion site. This is for 85 houses that include about eight starter homes. The other 77 are to be detached houses with a starting price of £250,000 going upwards to about £400,000.
Cllr Williams again considered this to be disgusting as the development should have a mix of houses that people in the village can afford. To have the cheapest home costing £250,000 is obscene, but unfortunately Cllr Williams seems to be the only one on the Council who thinks this. Unless there is audience at the meeting on Wednesday therefore I am in no doubt the plans will be approved by the Community Council.
Cllr Mrs C Hinds considered the contents of the email to be disrespectful to herself, and all the Councillors, as everyone has their own point of view, which Cllr Williams should respect even if he does not agree with it.
Cllr Williams responded that the new plans (presumably Wood Lane) do not come up with what the Leisure Services want.
With regard to the White Lion development there are in excess of 70 detached houses which Cllr Williams did not consider to be appropriate.
Cllr Mrs E M Davies agreed that the content of the email is disrespectful to other members.
Cllr Mrs C Hinds statd that all the organizations in the village are aware of what is being offered, and are quite happy with this.
Cllr C Bithell considered that the County Councillors had their own views, and will put forward what they want, and this should be made quite clearly with regard to communications with the Planning Officer, and not put over that it is the views of the Community Council.
Cllr Mrs L Vidamour referred to the part of the email, “unless there is an audience at the meeting on Wednesday, the plans will be approved by the Community Council”.
Cllr Mrs Vidamour continued by asking what makes you think that an audience would influence the decision of the Community Council. She considered this to be an appalling suggestion, which should not have been put in writing. She considered that Cllr Williams have overstepped the mark. At the meeting with the developers all pertinent questions had been asked, and the answers had been provided.
The Chairman, Cllr D Williams accepted that he had perhaps acted out of order, and so he apologised.
Cllr J W Bell stated his opinion insomuch that sending letters out to the public is unfair, and such matters should be discussed with the Community Council, and as the Chairman of the Council Cllr D Williams is here to conduct the meeting.
Cllr Mrs L Vidamour stated that Cllr D Williams is entitled to his own opinion, but that he must not speak about it in the way that the Community Council could be swayed.
Cllr Mrs M D Jones questioned whether the Planning Officer knew what Cllr Williams had said, insomuch that the Planning Officer is not doing his job as he should be.
Cllr Mrs J Howood suggested that Cllr Williams should send another email to the people that he had communicated with, stating that he had overstepped the mark.
Cllr Mrs E M Davies commented that in all her years, she has never before experienced action like this.
Cllr D Williams asked members to appreciate that he is attempting to do the best for the community, and that he is not wishing to miss out on anything that would be forthcoming under planning gain, and again asked members to appreciate that anything that he was doing, he was doing with the best interest for the community, and that if he had gone about it in the wrong way, then he apologised.
Cllr Mrs E M Davies referred to Council work over the last thirty years, but it is only over the last ten years that the year has changed with regard to land issues.
She continued that with regard to the previous Wood Lane development that she had been involved with, the developers did not have to provide a football field, but they did. (Is this the football field that can't be played upon because sheep are allowed to graze on thereby making a no go zone for residents to play football on due to possible transfer of animal disease? ) Penyffordd District
What we want now is good facilities, in the youth club, scout hut area, but cautioned that green could result in the builders walking away.
The discussion concluded with the Chairman, Cllr D Williams emphasizing that he was still relatively new to the position of Councillor and Chairman; he reiterated that everything that he had done again was in the best interest, and not for personal gain.
Resolved
That details of the foregoing dialogue be recorded. ( then kept from most people as they are on paper and not in digital format. PD)
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ps. David. If you want a more of an audience to see the workings of Penyffordd Community Cllrs get the council minutes published in digital format. Then they can all go on here. Scribe Nigel's secretary must have the minutes on a computer or does she use a typewriter?
