SULLY AND LAVERNOCK COMMUNITY COUNCIL/CYNGOR CYMUNED ABERSILI A LARNOG

Meeting of the Finance Committee

6.30pm Monday 8^th December 2025

In accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Coronavirus)(Meetings)(Wales) Regulations 2020, the meeting was held by way of the remote participation (Zoom) of the members of the Council and public. The Community Councils remote meetings protocols applied.

Part 1

1.       Minutes 28/25

Present

·         Steve Oaten (Proper Officer)

·         Vicki Judd (VJ)

·         Kay Bowring (KB)

·         Nicky Parry (NP)

·         Robin Lynn (RL)

·         David Cannon (DC)

·         Graham Parry (GP)

·         Chris Hall (CH)

·         Martyn James (MJ)

·         Jackie Payne (JP)

·         Gerwyn Watkins (GW) Standards Committee

                Apologies 29/25

·         No communication from Councillor Mahoney. Apologies from Councillor Gilligan

2.       Declarations of interests. (Previously verbally disclosed and if the councillors are in attendance applies to all meetings) 30/25

·         JP. Works for the WAG

·         VJ. Jubilee Playgroup/Chair of Governors and Minor Authorities Rep Sully School/Saving Sully and Lavernock Group/Trustee Sully and Lavernock Community Library Trust

·         NP. Trustee Sully and Lavernock Community Library Trust

·         RL. Member Lib Dems

3.       To approve the minutes of the previous meeting 31/25

·         The community council agreed that the minutes of the previous meeting, a meeting of the full council on the 13^th October 2025, were an accurate reflection of that meeting.

4.       To approve the schedule of payments 32/25.

·         The community council agreed the payment schedule as prepared by the Proper Officer and explanations were given where appropriate.

5.       To receive a report from the representatives of external bodies at Sully Primary School, Evenlode School, those on the Chemical Advisory Board and Community Liaison Panel, VOGC locally elected members and the councillors associated with our Sec 6 obligations  (If Applicable) 33/25

·         Sully Primary School

·         Councillor Judd advised the council that they were in a deficit budget, with many other schools in the Vale in the same position. There is no further news regarding any proposals to extend the school, although rumours abound

·         Evenlode School

The community council no longer has to provide representation for the school

·         Chemical Advisory Board

·         Councillor James advised that there had been a meeting on the 25^th November 2025. He would prepare a report and forward to the Proper Officer. A brief synopsis was given

·         There is a very good nature centre with extensive information available. Very good range of Bio Diversity and would be ideal for children’s visits

·         There are to be no compulsory redundancies with the company going about the process of closure in an ethical way. Staff are being retained where possible whilst the shutdown takes place, over the next 3 years.

·         There were a few incidents of note, some minor leaks, some reportable but no injuries as a result. There were some minor injuries to non-leak related incidents

·         Community Liaison Panel

·         Councillor Nicky Parry advised that a meeting had taken place on the 16^th October 2025, the full details of which are as follows

·         South Wales Police Service – Inspector Gareth Childs There has been a series of burglaries along the coastline from Penarth to Ogmore. A team of 3 people were apprehended in Ogmore, following a chase, and arrested for a series of burglaries and car thefts. All three were remanded in custody. There have been several incidents involving the travelling fraternity. There was an incident of fraudulent cash used at a business in Boverton. Three people were apprehended in a car nearby, and £2,000 of fraudulent cash seized. The three were remanded in custody. Travellers from North Wales, who stayed first at the Llandow caravan site and then re-located to Fontygary after being moved on, were involved in high value shopping offences in Llantwit Major. The whole family was involved with the mother distracting staff whilst the children removed high value items from the shop. The mother was remanded in custody. The police have been working with farmers in rural vale to combat lamping, hare coursing and threats to farmers. The travelling community was involved. The police increased patrols under a ‘farm watch’ scheme.

·         South Wales Fire & Rescue Service – Group Manager Martin O’Keefe In the July to September quarter there were 378 incidents 120 were fire incidents of which 17 were property fires They have continued to carry out home safety visits across the Vale and have also been targeting young people due to the incidents of deliberate fire setting. There were 164 false alarms and 25 traffic collisions, and both saw a reduction on previous quarters. They have been carrying out road safety education in schools For minor speed (exceeding 20-30 mph) and seat belt infractions they have been doing awareness sessions.

·         Request for consideration by Penarth Town Council – Primary Healthcare Provision “Primary health care in Penarth has been declining for several years, adversely affecting its residents, and the Town Council is aware that the issue is also reflected across the Vale of Glamorgan area as a whole. Therefore, Penarth Town Council seeks to support both the local and wider community by requesting the Health Board to outline its plans for primary health care provision from 2025 onwards” We were given a presentation by the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board on the Integrated Community Care System Ambition and Plans and an Overview of plans specifically for communities living in the Vale of Glamorgan. Immediate plans centre around; The development of Barry Community Hospital to optimise clinic space, co-locating teams and services traditionally provided in acute hospitals, which may include: Gynaecology - Building upon Cluster based ring pessary clinics Cardiology – Heart failure Clinics in the Community to reduce acute deterioration of the patient and hospital management Dermatology – Build upon recent pilots for Basal Cell Carcinoma Gastroenterology Rheumatology Community Diabetes Clinics (All Wales Diabetes programme) The Wellbeing Hub that was originally planned at Penarth Leisure Centre has been paused due to the flood risk and no alternative site or funding identified to progress. UHB acquired the Redlands Surgery (which had been due to close) to preserve GP capacity. UHB is exploring potential integrated services development at Cosmeston Farm, in collaboration with the Council and aligned with Section 106 opportunities.

·         Democracy and Boundary Commission – VOG Electoral Arrangements Review There was discussion from various councillors who either agreed or disagreed with their particular boundary changes in the review. All were advised to make their comments to the boundary commission.

·         Nomination of Representative from Community Council for the Public Services Board There was one nomination for Councillor Summers of Penlline Community Council and he was duly appointed.

·         Councillors Gilligan/Mahoney

There had been no reports or information relevant to the community received from either councillor

·         Section 6 Obligations 

·         Councillor Lynn advised that the Section 6  report will be ready by the year end as required by legislation.

6.       Democratic Half Hour. The public were invited to make representations on business being transacted at the meeting or propose items for the agenda of the next meeting (Time constraints applied) 34/25

·         There were no members of the public present at the meeting therefore the agenda was moved to the next item.

7.       To receive any updates from the Proper Officer and Councillors and discuss and resolve upon any further actions required (Including, but not limited to, Allotments, Sustainable Sully etc) 35/25

·         The Proper Officer advised the meeting of the following

·         Discussions regarding the Community Asset Transfer of the Hall, Pavilion, Field and Sailing club will be on the agenda for the meeting in January 2026. It is hoped that those responsible at the VOGC can attend to give an input to councillors.

·         The brown shed should be removed before Christmas for the agreed quote that was previously provided.

·         The floor polishing machine had failed PAT testing this year. It would be cheaper to hire one in for the two or three occasions that it is used each year instead of buying a new one.

·         Appraisals for the Proper Officer and cleaner were overdue due to sickness and absences. They will be completed in the new year.

·         In relation to the allotments. The Proper Officer was in receipt of the commissioned utility report which had been distributed. There is additional funding required for the chemical analysis and possible UXO issues. This subject will be discussed at the meeting in January.

·         There was an issue sourcing the pink paint for the bench and further enquiries are ongoing regarding this. Arrangements are in hand for the grounds maintenance whilst the issue with the mowers is resolved.

·         Councillor Lynn advised that the beach clean had gone ahead after its initial cancellation due to the weather. Consideration needs to be given to the state of tide and time of the year when preparing for the next one.

8.       To discuss and resolve upon a budget for the Carols around the Christmas Tree event 36/25

·         The community council agreed and resolved upon a budget of £100 for the Carols around the tree event on the 21^st December 2025

9.       To discuss and resolve upon a donation to the Rotary Club of Dinas Powis 37/25

·         The Community Council discussed the issue and agreed and resolved upon a donation of £100 be made to the Rotary Club of Dinas Powis.

10.    To discuss and resolve upon next actions in respect of the SLRA 38/25

·         The Community Council discussed the issue and the next actions required. The admin of the SLRA had been spoken to and it was hoped to get it back up and running. A few weeks have passed and it appears that the matter has not been resolved. The council discussed a number of options. The Chair will further enquiries and report back to the Community Council.         

11.    To discuss and resolve upon a mobile phone policy to cover the use of the community council owned mobile phone 39/25

·         The Community Council agreed to adopt the Mobile phone policy prepared by the Proper Officer.  

12.    To discuss and agree upon the Councils budget for the Financial Year 2026-2027 40/25

·         Following discussions and explanations, the Community Council accepted and agreed the budget for 2026-2027 as prepared by the Proper Officer.   

13.    To discuss and resolve upon the Precept request for the Financial Year 2026-2027 41/25

·         The Community Council accepted the recommendations of the Proper Officer and resolved that the precept request remain the same as last year, a sum of £99400.00.

14.   To discuss and resolve upon any increase in hire charges for users for the forthcoming year 42/25

·         The Community Council agreed that charges for users of the Community Councils Hall and Pavilion would remain the same.

15.    To discuss and resolve upon the transfer of the earmarked reserves to an account with Hinkley and Rugby Building Society 43/25

·         The Proper Officer asked the Community Council to consider that, the ear marked reserves that are currently with Barclays Bank, be moved to an account with Hinkley & Rugby Building Society. This to ensure that the sum is covered under the FSCS and in order to comply with recommendations of the internal auditor. The community Council agreed to the change. All signatories on existing accounts agreed to act on the new account.       

16.   The proposed date of the next meeting of the Community Council is that of the Full Council on Monday 12^th January 2026 44/25

Part 2

In accordance with section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to meetings) Act 1960. In view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted the public were excluded from this part of the meeting. It was at this point that Mr Watkins left the meeting.

There was no requirement for the declaration or exclusion of the public as there were none present.

1.       To receive any confidential updates from the Proper Officer and councillors and discuss and resolve upon any further actions required 45/25

·         There were no members of the public to exclude as there were none present. However, there were no items raised in part 2

The meeting concluded at 20.30 hours.

Steve Oaten - Proper Officer to the Council.                                                                        ……………………………………. Chair.