Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2017 were submitted.  Councillor Routley and T Jeffery were not noted as present.

The Chair welcomed N Tarr (Graig) to the first meeting.

Agreed:

That the minutes were agreed subject to the above.

§  Bishton Community Council requested an update on the Concurrent Expenditure.  There was nothing new to report, however the Chair hoped to provide information at the next meeting in September.

§  Wentlooge Community Council asked was there a composite list on what Community Councils can spend their concurrent expenditure.  The Chair advised that whilst the Council did not hold a list, Community Councils could incur expenditure on most things, as long as it was considered an appropriate use of money and a benefit to the public.  Additionally, if a community councillor had any association or link with a group, a declaration of interest form would need to be completed, unless it was within the £500 de minimis level.

§  Three nominees had been put for the Engagement Group.  Wentlooge Community Council enquired as to when the meeting started.  The meeting would take place at 9.30am on 20 July.

§  Wentlooge also asked if they could take over the grass cutting for their area.  A Jenkins would email the Green Services Manager for a response.

§  Bishton Community Council queried a litter bin that was on private land at Bishton Park which is never emptied.  The Chair advised that Streetscene would be contacted so enquire whether they could empty this bin, whilst they were in the area collecting refuse.

§  Wentlooge Community Council referred to Article 4 Permitted Development rights in connection with resident’s fences.  The Development Services Manager would be contacted for further information.

§  Llanwern Community Council referred to the following statement: ‘…all minutes and registers of interests to be supplied in both English and Welsh, in accordance with the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011’.  A general response would be sent out to all clerks advising that We have received a further exemption to allow the Council to translate only those minutes where a clear Welsh language audience/ requirement was evident (ie Annual Welsh Language Reports, Welsh Medium Education matters etc).  This could be used by the Newport Community Councils.

The Trade and Enforcement Manager has been invited to discuss issues on fly-tipping that the Community Councillors may have.

The Trade Enforcement Manager gave a presentation on fly tipping and outlined the

following:

What was fly tipping?

Why Newport?

Positive Action

We can WE do?

It was stressed that any incidences of fly tipping should be reported to the City Contact Centre or Hot Line, which was 07973 698582.  Councillor Cornelious mentioned that she recently used the helpline and found it very useful.

The Nash Community Council representative referred to provision of CCTV along Straight Mile and Broadstreet Common.  It would be in place in other areas of Nash, however the Council would need  permission from Court for a covert CCTV to be installed and this was a difficult process.

Another query from Nash was about dead animals being disposed of on private land.  The Trade Enforcement Manager hoped that Council employees would use their discretion and move the badger rather than query if it was by a private gateway or a roadway.

A Bishton Community Council representative asked if housing associations had a clause loop regarding household rubbish when clearing a house.  The Council weren’t sure what housing organisations would do however, it was considered that they would have rigorous processes in place to ensure that registered contractors would dispose of any rubbish accordingly.

In response to a Langstone Community Council representative’s query, Newport City Council did have a waste transfer licence.  Any access for this information could be obtained by contacting the Council or Natural Resource Wales (NRW). 

A Graig Community Council representative asked what was being done by the Council to educate public to use recyclable and licenced tipping sites. This was carried out via the Council’s Website, social media and Newport Matters.  The general public would also need to contact the waste carrier licence through NRW.  

A Wentlooge Community Council representative had recently worked with the Trade Enforcement Manager and NRW to research waste and fly tipping in Wentlooge by persons not from licenced associations.  It was advised that Community Councils and general public should keep their own records and supply this information to NRW.  The Trade Enforcement Manager agreed and that from the information supplied by Wentlooge the Council were able to put install CCTV in their area.  There have also been waste transfer notes stolen from wagons and copies of waste transfer licences have been obtained under menace.  Wentlooge thanks the Trade Enforcement Manager and her team for their hard work.  There was a phone App available with NRW where information could be submitted to NRW who could create hotspots and build up a picture of what fly tipping was being done where.  Specific or favourite areas were often used for the dumping of asbestos, furniture and carcasses.

The Llanwern Community Council representative asked if looking addresses or correspondence in rubbish bags left by fly tippers would be of use.  It was sometimes the case, and whilst the persons addresses might not lead to fly tippers themselves, it could lead to information that could result in prosecution.  Llanwern Community Council had witnessed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Three Community Councils had put forward their nominations for Standards Committee.  It was agreed that these would be passed on to Standards Committee next week who would decide how to shortlist the nominees and whether they would provide an interview.

Agreed:

That standards committee could decide what they wanted to do and possibly invite the nominees to a future meeting for a brief interview.

The next meeting will take place on 21 September 2017 at 6pm in Committee Room 1.

Thursday 21 September 2017 at 6pm, in Committee Room 1.