Borough Councillor's Report
Law and Order
Public Disorder Case
It will be seen from our community police report in this newsletter that prison sentences were handed down to the men found guilty of affray at Varteg. It is sad that people have to end up in prison but such behaviour cannot be tolerated in our community. These sentences prove we can do something when residents and our police work together. There is a lot of work now going into
community policing and with residents co-operation we can change things for the better. The Abersychan Safer Neighbourhood Group now has a policy of early warnings for anti social behaviour and, hopefully, our new systems of earlier interventions will help some of our more undisciplined youngsters avoid gaol.
Anti Social Behaviour Order
An interim ASBO has been granted for the Talywain youth mentioned in previous newsletters, who, though he cannot be named yet, is still subject to the conditions of the order - any transgressions of which could lead to further action against him.
Give Us The Names
A key part of the measures against those making residents’ lives a misery is your information. Give us the names and we will see that such incidents will be dealt with one way or another. The system is now in place to deal with such problems, which, though not immediate, will help to curtail the problems we face in this area. It is only a small minority who are causing these problems and most of our young people are as good as - if not better - than we were at their age. It is a pleasure to attend various functions and activities where the achievements of our children and young people are rewarded and celebrated.
Off Road Vehicles
There has been some improvement in this problem with police action being taken against many off roaders, though the
improvement is nowhere near that claimed by the police and much more sustained action is still required.
Planning Application For Model Car Track Talywain Golf Club
Our notification of a meeting to discuss this matter in the last newsletter, plus circulars from the golf club owner to a widespread area, resulted in one member of the public attending and he had no objections. The owners of the Golf Club are proceeding with an application and neighbours will be consulted at the appropriate stage of the planning.
Public Meetings
Abersychan - two meetings have been held with residents at Brynteg Community Hall on issues arising from vandalism, anti social behaviour, cleansing in Glansychan Park and the wider area, the old Co-op Building, and other matters. As a result closer police attention has been paid to the area resulting in a number of warnings, park cleaning schedules and replacement of equipment agreed, security of the co-op building improved, Bell Pitch light will be replaced though not in the previous location, the Bell Pitch road cleansed and tidied up but we were not able to agree that an anti speed hump be located there. It was good to see that many people were prepared to attend the meetings and press for improvements in these matters. We are pleased to report that at this public meeting a number of residents suggested that they show an example of looking after their community by arranging a litter pick around the park. Craig Sulway of the Garnsychan Partnership arranged that some young people joined in as part of the X - Change Project.
The litter pick took place on 23rd May and congratulations and thanks go to all concerned
A litter pick with the X-Change project also took place on 25th April around Ty Rosser Gwyn, Garn Welfare and down behind the Co-op. This is just the start and Craig hopes to make this a weekly or a monthly project.
Future Public Meetings
Residents are always welcome to contact us at home - you do not have to wait for ward surgeries. Please leave messages on the answering services if we are not available and we will reply as soon as possible. We are prepared to hold meetings with residents anywhere you wish and will be touring the early on foot on the last Friday of each month between 2 - 4 pm. June - Abersychan up through High Street to British School Close, July - Talywain through Wellington Road and down Waterloo Road from Fairfield, August -September Garndiffaith/Varteg, October - Victoria Village. More details next newsletter.
We have also planned to continue our meetings at sheltered accommodation complexes. If you want councillors to attend your organisation’s meetings then please let us know.
Pentwyn School
There has been a number of reports in the newspapers about the mooted sale of Pentwyn School to a local developer of the adjoining land. The history of this development is that - as reported previously - our battle to keep the school failed and the closure was authorised by the Welsh Assembly Government. Following this the borough council circulated all departments
to ascertain if there were any departments who could find a use for the school. There were no takers. As ward councillors we asked if the Garnstruction Project - a council initiative administered by the Garnsychan Partnership - could run the project from Pentwyn School. Officers of the Regeneration Department of the council, Torfaen Training, Garnsychan Partnership and ward councillors met at the school to assess the situation. The size and suitability, without extensive alterations for which there were no funds or money to purchase it, made it evident that this was not practicable. The Garnsychan Partnership was asked
to see if their Circulate Recycling operation could take it over. The Partnership trustees considered that the building alterations required and overheads of such a building would jeopardise the business and the Garnsychan Partnership so came to the same
conclusion.
Local views on using the school as some form of community hall or similar use would surely have failed on the same basis. There was no community group formed to even consider it or talk to even if it was practicable. Other attempts to float ideas like using it as an outward bound type of facility received no interest.
Following this the Council Cabinet declared the building surplus to requirements and that they would apply for outline planning permission for building development on the site so as to maximise sale revenue for the site. Further to possibly arrange the sale of land to the adjoining developer if this was in the best interest of this aim. This decision was endorsed by full council.
Planning Permission.
Outline Planning Permission for around ten houses on the site was granted and interest from local builders shown. Due to the possible arrangement with the adjoining developer the site was not available to them and we received many complaints on this issue. As ward councillors we arranged meetings with senior officers of Asset Management and Planning Department
to explore the issue. It was explained that the highways officer had been consulted and in his opinion there should only be one entry and exit into the school site and the adjoining land where the developer had already gained permission to build ten houses (this on appeal to the WAG inspector after the developer had been refused consent by Torfaen CBC). This being the case an
arrangement with the developer who already had permission for an entry made sense. Any sale agreed would have to match the independent assessment value the council had obtained.
It was arranged that these senior officers attend a public meeting at Pentwyn and explain the situation to residents. This took place and it was also explained that the community benefit spin off from the transaction would provide pavements and parking on School Lane, as well as some upgrading of Rhiw Franc Lane. The general feeling we took from this meeting wasthat though most residents didn’t want the school building to go, it was now inevitable and it was time to move on.
Pentwyn Aims
Pentwyn residents say that they lost a school and gained a mobile phone mast. Councillors recognise that a community hall is desirable - though getting volunteers to give up so much time to run it is always a problem - Pentwyn Cricket Club which is doing a tremendous job in running so many teams, especially for our younger age groups, Mr Brian White is running a youth
club at the pavilion and needs more and better equipment, and Abersychan Rugby club also need better facilities. As ward councillors we have met with appropriate departments and officers on these aims and a possibility is emerging of a combined pavilion/building to cover these requirements. One of the funding constraints is the number of people living in Pentwyn since
the number of people benefiting is a prime issue for funders, but there are ways we can succeed as long as the residents are united in such aims. It is important to recognise this is a separate initiative and has nothing to do with the school issue. To get hooked up on that could be to the detriment of the ‘pavilion’ bid. We will be holding further meetings with residents to see if
there is support enough to go forward with this plan.
North Torfaen Leisure Centre
Usually known as Blaenavon Leisure Centre but there are many people from our ward who use it plus others who work there. What isn’t generally recognised is that there is as many - if not more - residents in our ward than Blaenavon and that Blaenavon alone could not possibly sustain the usage to justify a leisure centre. The costs and usage of the centre and swimming
pool is widely publicised, as are the alternative benefits for Blaenavon residents. We are progressing the views and concerns expressed to us by our residents and will do our best to keep this facility for North Torfaen.
A number of people have told us that since the closure of the swimming pool at Blaenavon they have not been able to use the one at Pontypool at convenient times. We have asked for this to be looked at and this is the present timetable for non school or club users at Pontypool. Please let us know if you are still having problems in terms of access so that we can make everyone
aware when discussing the issue.
Public Swimming Times at Pontypool Active Living Centre:
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Monday to Friday 7.30am to 8am 2 lanes All Public
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Monday to Friday 8am to 9am whole pool All Public
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Monday 10am to 5.30pm All Pubic
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Monday 5.30pm to 6.30pm Adults only.
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Tuesday 11am to 12pm Mixed leisure
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Tuesday 12pm to 4pm All Public
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Tuesday 5.30pm to 6.30pm Adults only
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Tuesday 6.30pm to 8 pm All Public
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Wednesday 12pm to 8pm All Public
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Thursday 11am to 3.45pm All Public
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Thursday 6pm to 9pm All Public
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Friday 11am to 3.45pm All Public
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Friday 6.30pm to 9pm All Public
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Saturday 11am to 5pm All Public
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Sunday 11am to 5pm All Public
Where there are time gaps this is due to other sessions such as swimming lessons, school swimming, club use and sessions such as Aqua Natal and Aqua Aerobics being provided.
There is an agreed a slot with Abersychan Comprehensive on a Wednesday in the pool.
Planning
There are a number of issues causing concerns for residents about some of the housing sites being developed. We always help residents progress their concerns but some do not understand the restrictions regarding our ability to intervene. As long as developers, or individual residents who apply for extensions, decking, and other improvements, conform with the
Torfaen Plan and legal requirements, it is difficult for planning officials to recommend refusal should they be so minded. The more contentious planning applications go before the planning committee with recommendations from planning officials to accept or refuse - around twelve councillors are usually present and they decide the application, though there has to be good
reason before they reject the recommendations. It does happen quite often and the applicant has right of appeal to the Welsh Assembly and their inspector will decide it, often awarding costs if he considers the council decision wayward. There is a strict code of conduct regarding the behaviour of councillors in such matters and ward members were accused of such misconduct at a recent appeal and the barrister acting for local people was told he should take this through the code of conduct procedure so that councillors could answer such charges. This issue is being progressed at present. Nevertheless, we are always prepared to represent residents and speak at planning meetings on their behalf if they wish.
Abersychan Neighbourhood Renewal Area - £3m Spent to Date
We have been asked why the renewal area isn’t available in all areas of the ward. We have consistently worked to get as much funding for our ward as possible but this depends on many factors. The following report is a summary of the background and fuller information is available if required. You will see that our Housing Strategy Department, led by Nigel Hockey, has worked minor miracles in keeping this funding available for Abersychan.
A Neighbourhood Renewal Area (NRA) requires a detailed assessment of the area and consultation with residents. This assessment is called a Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment (NRA) which follows a prescribed methodology and was carried out at Abersychan by a specialist consulting company. Amongst other things the NRA gathers information on the condition of the properties in the area and the views of residents. A comprehensive document was produced following which the Council decided that it would be appropriate to make a formal declaration that the defined area should have renewal area status.
The Abersychan Renewal Area was formally declared by the Council on 15th November 1999. The declaration was originally for a 10 year period, however, a recent report has been prepared for consideration by Cabinet which recommends extending the declaration period for both Abersychan and Blaenavon Renewal Areas to 2012 i.e. an additional 3 years.
Before declaration the area must satisfy the criteria laid down in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 as amended. This summary outlines the basic criteria requirements. During the NRA process a much wider area around the present Abersychan Renewal Area boundaries was considered. However the final boundaries were constrained by the need to meet the criteria, in particular the numbers in receipt of specified benefits. We are often asked why certain streets could not be included or if the boundaries could be extended. Unfortunately the reason that this cannot happen is because of the strict criteria that applies to renewal area declaration and in particular the need to satisfy the requirement that at least 30% of households are in receipt of the specified benefits.
Conditions
Assisted participants who are eligible will be means tested and depending on the means test may be required to make a contribution towards the cost of work to their property. Under the Councils Private Housing Renewal Strategies and Policy 2003 the maximum contribution they are required to make is restricted to 25%.
In addition to ‘housing renewal’ the renewal area funds have been used to carry out various environmental improvements including a contribution to the ‘road scheme’ in Abersychan and the refurbishment of offices in Broad Street.
A ‘one-off’ enveloping scheme is also currently underway at numbers 3-7 Broad Street. This block was chosen asit meets the Councils enveloping scheme criteria and is a highly prominent block of commercial residential properties in the centre of Abersychan. To date over £3,000,000 has been obtained from WAG to carry out housing renewal activities in the Abersychan Renewal Area -as a general rule owners are required to remain at their property for a minimum of 5 years
following completion of work.
Funding
There is no guaranteed funding for Abersychan or any other renewal area in Torfaen. Unfortunately, our Council has not been able to provide any capital funding for housing renewal activities in any of our renewal areas. This is something that WAG have been critical of and may affect our future funding bids. At present all our funding comes from the annual bidding process
whereby each Local Authority in Wales submits a bid to the WAG. Our Torfaen Housing Renewal Team has been successful in getting one of the highest allocation of funds each year. We are grateful to them for their splendid work for our community. The funds are not however enough to carry out all of the planned or requested work in our renewal area and there is no guarantee
funds will continue - in recent years they have decreased slightly.
The renewal area funding is called ‘specific capital grant’ and as mentioned earlier over £3,000,000 of this has been secured for use in the Abersychan Renewal Area.
We will report on other funding taking place in Abersychan through our Regeneration Department next newsletter.
(Councillors Gwyneira Clark, Ray Williams, Ken Clark)