Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations made by Members.  We noted any declarations relating to the area grant applications would be made under that item.

The minutes of the meeting of Central Mon Area Committee held on 28^th September 2016 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Strategic Investment and Funding Manager attended to advise Members of Rural Development Funding for groups in local areas.

Members were invited to propose and suggest projects for communities.

The officer agreed to forward the relevant information to Members, and to attend Town Council meetings to provide further information.

We were provided with the following links:

Details of LEADER funding and relevant documentation to apply

http://www.valeofusk.org/

Details of RCDF capital funding and relevant documentation to apply

http://gov.wales/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingandcountryside/cap/ruraldevelopment/wales-rural-development-programme-2014-2020/rural-community-development-fund/?lang=en

For Monmouthshire residents experiencing issues with broadband -

http://monmouthshire.biz/digital-monmouthshire/for-residents/

Item deferred.

The Estates Manager provided a verbal update on the Portal Road development site, on the outskirts of Monmouth. 

The first phase is now complete with a 60 bed Premier Inn, with small restaurant for internal guests.  Construction finished in December 2016 and it was understood that the hotel was due to open this coming weekend.

The south side of the site is still owned by the authority and had been put on the market at the end of 2016, offers invited.  Cabinet had agreed that conditions of the sale would be:

·         The site would not be used for retail purposes, in order to not detract from the Town Centre.

·         There would be a commitment to provide five coach parking spaces.

So far there had been 25 to 30 enquiries, but no satisfactory bids.  The overwhelming response was that the coach parking was prohibiting bidders moving forward.  Officers were looking for alternative places for the coach parking.

We noted that the site could be used for housing development, and Members suggested that this be mentioned to developers at Planning Committee.

The Estates Manager suggested that there could be an opportunity to incorporate into an existing car park, or where a scheme is already managed.

The Estates Manager agreed to attend a Monmouth Town Council meeting for further discussion.

The Committee resolved:

1. Village Life Community Project

£663 granted.

2. Nelson Gardens Preservation Trust

£1250 granted.

3. RVHA

£1000 granted.

4. Raglan Community Council

£2087 granted.

In closing the meeting, the chair invited Members to highlight any concerns:

Councillor R. Edwards expressed concern surrounding issues on the Hereford Road, where two lorries had met in Rockfield Village and created a problem on the verge area.

Councillor P. Jones highlighted a similar problem in Pen Y Clawd, where contractor lorries were dumping soil in a narrow lane.

It was requested that these issues be forwarded to the Highways Manager.

We agreed the next meeting would be held at County Hall, Usk on Wednesday 22^nd March 2017 at 2.00pm.