(1) Meeting Opened
The Chairman opens meeting at 7:30pm and welcomes All.
(2) Apologies
Lynne and David Horsley, Brian and Cheryl both at meeting Ysgol Bryn Elian, Gail, Neil, Ian Macgilvery, Gwynfor Jones, Chris Turner.
(3) Police Report
None
(4) Treasurer’s Report
Association - £237.38p
Memorial fund - £1014.00p
Graffiti fund - £2320.00p
Defibrillator fund - £679.36p
(5) Vacant Plots & Brown Sites
Enquiries made to Conwy County Council asking if they complied with the Regulations of the Town and Country (Brown Sites) Planning Act of 2017 which requires All Councils to maintain and review yearly all brown sites in their area which could be regarded as possible building sites. The answer: This relates to English legislation and we do not hold this information. This is obscure. We have consulted Darren Millar AM who advises that planning matters are devolved to Wales, but that not all taxation powers are.
The enquiry stems from a site at the junction of Queen’s Road and Endsleigh Road where space for several dwellings have remained vacant for many years.
We realised that there are many similar sites in the area and wondered why they are not being used for accommodation purposes when we see agriculture land increasingly being taken for this purpose. Are the regulations being complied with, and is pressure being applied to owners of such sites? There are 22,000 empty houses throughout Wales for which grants may be available to upgrade into liveable accommodation. Colwyn Bay has the site of the old market, empty for decades, the Imperial Hotel and many empty shops in Station Road together with spacious viable living areas (flats?) above. We note that 4,300 new builds are envisaged before 2035 of which only 1,800 will be affordable all on agricultural land, or ‘preferred sites’ as they Are known.
One problem with sites where planning is consented to, but not completed, such as Endsleigh Road, is that the powers to raise taxes is not devolved to Wales. This allows developers to ‘bank’ land, without a cost to them, but loss of possible rating value when we expect an increase of nearly 10% this year.
Darren has promised to see what other options are available to the Council.
In the mean time we can encourage more active action by noting such sites in our area:
(a) Small sites able to accommodate up to 10 dwellings (brown field sites). (b) Sites containing redundant buildings for possible grants etc. and dwellings. (c) Location by post code, map reference etc., together with photo if possible and forward to us at: slocombe9ed@btinternet.com
(6) B.I.D
No further news
(7) War Memorial
No further news
(8) Minafon Flats
No further news. Results of meeting 15th February 2023 to be reported later
(9) Speed Cameras
No further information
(10) Graffiti Project
As above, we are at last in receipt of the grant of £2,000 and arrangements are in hand for this to start with local youth involvement
(11) Solar Panels Wynn Gardens
No further news to date
(12) Fly Tipping Princess & Cefn Roads
Better, but continues. Cameras in place have not recorded anything to date.
(13) Summer Fair & Christmas Market
Trudy Marden reported that meetings continue. The Summer Fair will go ahead as planned. Hopefully, our Christmas Market will also be held. Trudy went on to outline the planning for this with road closures, insurance, generators and many other matters that need attention for such a big event including its financing. The Committee are working very hard to achieve this and the closing date for stall holders to notify their intention to participate will be the end of September this year. The next meeting will be at 7:00pm, Thursday, 23rd March 2023 at the Marine Hotel. Come along if you can help, or otherwise, let me know.
(14) Min y Don Park Upgrade
No further information to date.
(15) Proposed Presentation Re Promenade
Cheryl arranged for next Open Meeting 4th April 2023
(16) Any Other Business
(a) Thanks to Brian Cossey
A member wished it to be recorded that we appreciated so much the work of our treasurer, Brian Cossey, who has been in office for some 20 years. It is noted that although he is no longer a Councillor, he maintains an enthusiastic interest in so many aspects of our community, all in his own time and several community organizations, including us, have the benefit of his vast experience in public life, and we are grateful
(17) Meeting Closed
The meeting closed at 7:56pm (a record) there being no further business
Next meeting 4th April 2023. Speaker on Promenade Developments.