Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that S Heard be elected Vice Chair for the 2015-2016 Municipal Year.

An apology for absence was received from R Cooper.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared: -

Councillor P R Hood-Williams – Minute No.24 – Cwm Ivy Embankment – Chairman of Swansea Local Access Forum – personal.

Councillor K E Marsh - Minute No.24 – Cwm Ivy Embankment – Member of Swansea Local Access Forum – personal.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Gower AONB Partnership Annual Meeting Group held on 29 June 2015.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Gower AONB Partnership Annual Meeting held on 29 June 2015 be approved as a correct record, subject to Minute No. 13 being amended as follows: -

Two references to ‘a sign’ being changed to ‘an illuminated sign’.    

Broadband on Gower

Roger Button commented that Vodaphone had upgraded their transmitter which had improved connection near Rhossili.  However, Steve Heard commented that the connection was not consistent in other areas of Gower.

Illuminated Sign

Gordon Howe requested an update regarding the illuminated sign at Knelston.

The Planning Policy and Environment Manager stated that she would provide a response and circulate it to the Steering Group.

RESOLVED that the following be elected to the Sustainable Development Fund Grant Panel:

Councillor P Lloyd (Chair)

Councillor M C Child

E Harris

Councillor J E C Harris

G Howe

Councillor K E Marsh

D Vine

A Woodman

RESOLVED that the following be elected to the Sustainable Development Fund Grant Appeals Panel:

S Heard (Chair)

G Ap Gwent

R Button

Councillor J P Curtice

C Daugherty

J Davies

S Hill

H Morgan

The Gower AONB Team Leader updated the meeting regarding the Designated Landscapes Review.  He stated that the review report had not been released and an announcement by the Welsh Government was expected before the end of October 2015.  He added that this was a fundamental review of National Park’s and AONB’s in Wales.

An update will be provided at the next meeting.

The Gower AONB Team Leader reported an issue that had been raised by a member of the public regarding the legal boundary to the AONB, specifically in Mumbles, around the foreshore and pier.  He added that the legal boundary was the one confirmed by the Minister in December 1956.  However, it was added that part of the issue was the scale of the original mapping and its transposition onto modern base mapping and GIS systems.

The Planning Policy and Environment Manager added that the issue had been raised because the boundary was vague in some places.  However, Council and NRW officers had agreed the boundary that was used in the Swansea Unitary Development Plan.

AGREED that: -

1)    The contents of the update be noted;

2)    The Gower AONB boundary map agreed in 1956 be circulated to the Steering Group.

The update regarding Cwm Ivy Habitat Creation Project – Coastal Embankment Access produced Natural Resources Wales and the National Trust was provided for information.

The Minutes of the Gower Landscape Partnership Steering Group meeting held on 15^th July 2015 were provided for information.

John Davies, Bay Trans raised the issue of having part-time traffic lights at Parkmill due to traffic problems.  He stated that every Summer that were traffic delays at Parkmill, mainly due to buses / large vehicles.  The hotpots were the Kilvrough bends and in Parkmill.  He added that temporary road lights were installed last Summer for road works and matters improved somewhat.  However, serious delays lasting over an hour had directly affected bus services.

The Gower AONB Officer stated that he had contacted Transportation regarding the issue and was awaiting a response.

Discussions followed regarding the issue and centred around: -

·         Insufficient time to allow traffic to travel from Kilvrough to Parkmill if lights were in operation;

·         Possibly introducing a one way system;

·         The introduction on speed indicators to slow traffic;

·         Traffic lights would urbanise the area;

·         The possibility of widening the road at Kilvrough and the implications of such actions;

·         Introducing traffic lights could cause serious delays and affect tourism;

·         Buses, caravans and lorries had become larger which meant that they could not pass each other at places such as Kilvrough bends.

The Gower AONB Team Leader provided a ‘for information’ progress update regarding the Gower AONB, Alternative Energy Sub Group.

The Gower AONB Officer presented a report which provided a Position Statement by the Gower AONB Partnership on Affordable Housing on Gower.  He detailed the information contained within the report and stated that following the meeting, he would submit the Statement to the Planning Policy Team to consider as part of the Local Development Plan (LDP).

Discussions followed regarding the following: -

·         The issue of second homes on Gower not paying Council Tax;

·         Section 106 agreements;

·         Enforcement issues, particularly relating to lack of resources at City and County of Swansea;

·         Single development sites on Gower;

·         Huge shortage of affordable homes on Gower;

·         LDP proposals will alter some villages on Gower by introducing new homes;

·         Building single occupancy homes in addition to family homes on Gower.

AGREED that: -

1)    The content of the report and the comments of the Steering Group be noted;

2)    The word ‘overwhelmingly’ be deleted from the report;

3)    The recommendations contained in the report be forwarded to the Planning Policy Team as follows: -

• The City & County of Swansea and Registered Social Landlords should ensure that planning and housing policies affecting Gower sufficiently acknowledge the pressing need for affordable housing on Gower, so as to support sustainable local rural communities on Gower, and to protect the character and special qualities of Gower AONB.
• All new housing developments on Gower should be overwhelmingly affordable, with a balance of affordable housing for sale and rent.
• The use of “staircasing” or “shared ownership” schemes should be encouraged where this may enable occupiers to move to “market housing” at a later date. However, it is important that secure arrangements are in place to retain these properties as affordable housing for subsequent occupiers.
• The conversion of redundant farm buildings to residential accommodation should be permitted where appropriate, with secure arrangements in place to retain it as affordable or agricultural housing in the future.
• The use of Section 106 mechanisms to provide affordable or agricultural housing should continue, but with robust and secure arrangements in place to retain properties as affordable housing for subsequent occupiers.

The Gower AONB Officer updated the meeting regarding possible funding being provided by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in respect of a seascape character assessment.

He added that the assessment would cover the coastline between Pembrokeshire and the Glamorgan Heritage coast.  The Authority was looking into the possibility of working in partnership with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and Carmarthenshire Council to commission the study.  Funding from other sources may also be sought.

The meeting asked a number of questions of the Officer who responded accordingly.  Discussions centred around the following: -

·         Funding for Sea wall at Cwm Ivy, including the responsibilities of NRW AND the City and County of Swansea;

·         Previous studies that had been undertaken;

·         Partnership working with other local authorities;

·         Funding and scope of the project;

·         Utilising the results of the study and how it would assist the AONB.

AGREED that the contents of the report be noted.

The Gower AONB Team Leader informed the Steering Group that Gower AONB was celebrating its 60^th anniversary in 2016 and he asked the meeting for ideas regarding how best to celebrate the achievement.

The following was discussed: -

·         Improving signage on motorways and on approaches to Swansea;

·         Improving signage in general;

·         Marketing the anniversary across all communities on Gower;

·         Placing more emphasis upon Gower, highlighting the product available and making things accessible;

·         Utilising all companies that have Gower in their title;

·         Organise events involving both local people and visitors.

The Chair requested that individuals contact the officers with suggestions.

·         7 p.m. on Monday, 21 December 2015 – Penclawdd Community Centre.

·         7 p.m. on Monday, 21 March 2015 – Venue To Be Confirmed.

NOTED the dates / times of future meetings as follows: -

·         7 p.m. on Monday, 21 December 2015 – Penclawdd Community Centre.

·         7 p.m. on Monday, 21 March 2016 – Venue To Be Confirmed.