TUESDAY, 2nd AUGUST 2016 AT 6PM IN CCC TOWN HALL, LLANELLI

​PARC HOWARD ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE MEETING
 
PRESENT: Gareth Morris (Chairperson), Colin Jones (Vice-Chairperson), Jane Rosser (Secretary), Philip Thomas (Treasurer), David Bannister, Margaret Gimblett, Nia Griffith M.P., Alison Jenkins, Jane Jones (webmaster), Joan Smith, Susanne Thomas, Liz Thorne (Observer), Lee Waters A.M.
 
 1. Apologies for absence
       Chris Beer, Huw Davie, Fred Hughes, Pat Morris, Shahana Najmi, Eldon Phillips,
     Bill Thomas, Clive Thomas.
 
     N.B. The meeting was an additional one to the annual calendar of meetings
     and was convened to discuss matters pertaining to the work being
     undertaken in Parc Howard, by Carmarthenshire County Council.
 
  2. Letter received from Cllr. Emlyn Dole
 
     The letter received, in reply to the Committee’s letter of 18th June 2016 was read
     out by the Secretary and various points were raised by Committee Members.

• There was no discussion/consultation on the upgrading of the children’s play areas in the Leader’s joint meetings. The plans were presented as a ‘fait accompli’ in the fourth and last meeting.
• It is pleasing that the Council is spending money in the Parc however, were any children consulted on what they wanted in their play areas?
• It appears that there was no discussion/consultation with local residents, a number of whom are unhappy about this
• The work on the area adjacent to the Gorsedd Stones is now on hold as the Council are applying for retrospective planning permission
• Local residents are questioning what we as an Association are doing about this. Comments have been posted on the PHA Facebook page. It must be remembered that the Parc belongs to the Council and not Parc Howard Association (PHA).
• Llanelli Town Council (LTC), has asked for its’ name to to be taken out of reports relating to the ‘Masterplan’ as it has not agreed to any specific details.
• The same applies to PHA. Representatives attending the joint meetings have only agreed to general principles and not specific details.
• Lee Waters A.M. for Llanelli met with the Leader recently. He expressed his gratitude to the Council for taking an interest in Parc Howard. It is important to take people with you.
• The issue of a proposed car park was raised. Where is it sited and when will there be public consultation on this? 
• It was felt that the Council could be using social media to consult with the public and especially children with regard to what they wanted in the Parc. This has worked well in other Council areas. 
• The best deal for the Parc is important
• Some public perception is that PHA has agreed to the Masterplan, together with all the minute details. This is not the case. We have only agreed to general principles and await the finer details.
• Have old mine shafts been built on in the older children’s play area?
• Have the shafts been filled in?
• Potential problems with ant-social behaviour were raised
• Some residents are considering taking legal action against the Council

 
AGREED: To write to the Editors of the Llanelli Star and Herald to outline our position, as an Association, in relation to the work being carried out in Parc Howard and that proposed. To write to Llanelli Town Council regarding the work in the Parc.
 
  
 3. Committee Roles for next year.
 
     The Chair thanked the Committee for their support this year. It had been an
     enjoyable year and everyone had worked well together. There were many special
     talents and gifts amongst members. As a former Captain of Llanelli Wanderers
     the Chair was pleased that we were a ‘good team’, with nobody bossing others
     around. The Parc remains in public ownership and we have been successful in
     ‘building bridges’ with the County Council. We will need an improved structure,
     next year and  be clear about ‘who is doing what’.
 
     There was discussion around communications and events, with a differing view
     proposed by two members. One was to have a Communications Officer, another,
     a Communication and Events Officer. We also need a Membership Secretary to
     manage the registration of the Associate Members and Business Sponsors.
 
     The Committee structure will be agreed, in the first Committee meeting, in
     September.
 
     The Webmaster stated that she will set up the Business Sponsor page in
     September. The issue of Mari Thomas’ support (Jeweller in Llandeilo), as a
     business listing was raised. Mari had donated funding in May and her business
     is still not listed on the PHA website. This needs to be done as a matter of
     urgency.
 
AGREED: Webmaster will post Mari Thomas’ listing, on the homepage, now, as an interim measure and not wait until September.
 
    
4. AOB

• Vice-Chair will check the ‘Gorsedd Stones’ in the Parc tomorrow, to see if they are all present

 
 
Meeting ended at 7pm.