Chairman’s Opening Remarks

Chairman Roger Evans welcomed all those present and also new representatives
Linda Taylor (Groundwork) and Barry Ebdon (Male voice choir).
Questionnaires are still outstanding. Thank you to Jeff Jones for planting the flowers.

Apologies:

Karen Richards, Burt Asbridge, Steve Carter, Irene James AM, Don Touhig MP,
Cllr Alan Pritchard, Vicar of St.Davids Church.

Minutes of Last Meeting

Passed as a true record with the exception of item 7 – the skateboard base is not yet down.
Section 11- The Bat group are now meeting on the 20th September, 2005 at 6.30 p.m. in the Community Centre.
An amendment to the Rhiw-syr-Dafydd School section- ‘Social housing’ – not just housing.

Correspondence Received

Centre help and advice for disabled (C.H.A.D)– would like a letter of support from the Partnership
Julian Hodge group- we need to send details for charity status
GAVO- literature received on courses available

Treasurers Report

It has been reported that the balance is £5689.57 - 10 cheques were written for the sum of £1409.00
– these were related to VE day celebrations.

Projects

Enterprise way - taking shape. Stones are to be moved to old colliery site (if possible).
The capstones are to be used as plinths for wooden sculptures on roundabout.
Large pieces of oak will be used and carving will take place on the Oakdale Comprehensive School
grounds meaning the children will be able to observe. The theme of the roundabout will be
regeneration, there will be Oaks, Silver Birch, Hawthorne trees.
In the centre will be a meadow theme. Also daffodils and blue bells will be planted.

The Square - Planting looks good. Children who are throwing mud at the windows are
using the hedgerows to hide behind. We are slightly concerned with the anti-social behaviour.
On a positive note the flowers in the square are attracting people of all ages into the area.
We will be writing to the Co-op to see if they will improve the appearance of the building.

Greengo - Three planters have been completed. We now need to look at Autumn planting for the remainder.
There is a need to reach the other green areas - volunteers for bulb planting please!!.
Mike suggested that maybe businesses could sponsor planters.

Recreation grounds - Fields are now levelled out- not yet finished.
There will be a program of works carried out over the next 9 months i.e. Over- seeding.
Do not panic of you see bare patches- this is quite normal. Within 12 months the results
will be there for everyone to see.

Skateboard Park - License has been received but requires amendment. The need for a graffiti
wall was discussed. Peter suggested that the children would try and personalise their own area
and advised us on the downside of arranging painting ourselves. The children need to take care
of the area - if it is not looked after it will be taken away. There are concrete skateparks
in Piggies Hill- Chepstow or Caldicot Leisure centre. Peter will obtain more information
on the high ball fence that is to be erected to protect certain houses.

Bridleway Project - Approx. costings were worked out, a site meeting was held, the bridges
which are two thirds of the cost are going ahead. The coating on the bridges are yet to be
decided, although wood chippings seem to be the more economical option. The entrance at
Persimmons is not passable at the moment. Another meeting needs to be held to deal with the
issues of the culverts.

Penmaen Chapel and Jerusalem graveyard – A lot of excellent work has been carried out on
Jerusalem to deal with the issues of flooding that has caused havoc.
The Male Voice choir are a registered Charity who purchased Penmaen Chapel along with the
graveyard. As such, they are also struggling for money and are unable to maintain the area.
The graves are very unstable- some headstones date back to 1639 as this is the second oldest
non conformist Chapel in Wales. South Wales monuments have compiled a report.
Granville and Barry will work together on this project to see if they can provide a positive outcome.
The New Deal will only help if the graves have been made safe.
There may be funding available from GAVO. The council bereavements officer can help with
information on moving gravestones.

Other Partnership meeting
Update received from other partnerships. There is a Graphical information system in place
which they are hoping to transfer to a CD Rom. A six month report was given on what has been
happening with all partnerships. There will be an expansion of the 50+ partnership.
Some searching questions were also asked about whether we were getting value for money.
A full report has been requested by Tudor on what has been achieved throughout the areas.

The partnership has been invited to a Christmas function on the 7th December – anyone is welcome.
Unfortunately this falls on the same date as our Partnership meeting.

Action Plan

The partnership could write their own action plan, however Peter explained that it
needs to be truly representative of the community. A broader cross-section of views are required.
The Partnership said that they would work within the skeleton framework and then go back into consultation.

Rhiw-Syr-Dafydd School

Nothing to report at the moment.

Oakdale Comprehensive School

The scrutiny committee of the cabinet put forward that a Consultation period will commence
on the 20th September, 2005. The Partnership will fully support trying to keep the school open.
There are over 550 new houses being built in the area, how can the council say that the number
of pupils will decrease. The new Head master has worked exceptionally hard, these results
need to be broadcast and parents and residents alike need to understand how this person has
turned the school around.

Any Other Business

(i) Justin Cooper from Highways is willing to give a talk in October but will require an
over view on to what information we would like.
(ii) Community Disabled Facilities - Setting up a League of friends- Grace
and volunteers are to hold a meeting to take this project forward.
We need to move the Centenary Project forward. Letters have been sent to draw support
from local business.
Bus stop by Penmaen Post Office has become a meeting place for local youngsters,
there is rubbish all over the pavements and bins are not being emptied.
Bevin boys will be at Blaenavon Workman’s Hall on the 24th September, they we also be
presenting a plaque to the big pit Museum at 2.00pm. All are welcome to attend.

12. Date Of Next Meeting