WELSH CHURCH ACT ESTATE COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES of a meeting held on 16th April, 2007.

 

Present:  Councillor F.T. Johnson (Chairman); Councillor Mrs. M.E.J. Birch (Vice-Chairman); Councillors E. Hacker, Mrs. M. Kelly Owen and C.L. Osborne.

 

 

992                 APOLOGY FOR ABSENCE -

 

This was received from Councillor W.C. Vaughan.

 

 

993                 MINUTES -

 

RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting held on 19th February, 2007 be approved as a correct record.

 

 

994                 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -

 

No declarations were received.

 

 

995                 GLEBEFIELDS, SULLY (REF) –

 

Councillor A.M. Ernest had submitted a request for consideration in respect of Glebefields, Sully “to reconsider, as a matter of urgency, the Council’s desire to acquire this land, currently under the trusteeship of the Welsh Church Act Estate Committee so as to bring the land into beneficial ownership for the purpose of providing much needed playing fields and public open space within the community of Sully and the East Vale district in general.”  The Scrutiny Committee (Economy and Environment) considered the matter at its meeting on 27th February, 2007.  The Glebefields were owned by the Welsh Church Act Estate and the Committee had resolved that the land be let to a club subject to clarification of certain policies of that club.  As a result of consideration of the matter, the Scrutiny Committee recommended the following:

 

“(1)      T H A T the Welsh Church Act Estate Committee be urged to make progress in reaching a speedy and satisfactory outcome in respect of the future use of the Glebefields.

 

(2)       T H A T this Committee be kept informed as any potential scheme progressed.

 

(3)       T H A T this Committee voice its support for the above mentioned Club. 

 

Members of the Welsh Church Act Committee noted the reference bearing in mind that a further item in respect of land at Glebefields was on the agenda under Part II.”

 

Having considered the reference of the Scrutiny Committee it was

 

RESOLVED – T H A T the Scrutiny Committee reference be noted.

 

 

996                 MATTER WHICH THE CHAIRMAN HAD DECIDED WAS URGENT –

 

RESOLVED – T H A T the following matter, which the Chairman had decided was urgent for the reason stated, be considered.

 

 

997                 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 2007 / 2008 (DFICTP) –

 

Urgent by reason of the need to resolve grant applications without delay

 

The Committee was requested to consider further applications for financial assistance from the Welsh Church Act Estate Fund and to approve the draft revenue estimates for 2007 / 2008 as set out at Appendix C to the report.  Having considered the report the Committee:

 

RESOLVED –

 

(1)                           T H A T applications for financial assistance be approved::

 

Name of Organisation

Specific Purpose for Which

Grant Requested

Grant

Approved

Bonvilston Parochial Church Council

St. Mary the Virgin Church, Bonvilston boundary wall reconstruction

£3,000

St. Peter’s Church,

Rhoose

Temporary replacement building

for recently demolished church hall

£500

Elfed Avenue United Church, Penarth

Alterations to church hall annex to

provide community coffee bar and information centre

£500

Elim New Life Church

(Pyke Street, Barry)

Improvements to church hall

annex lighting and furnishings to

facilitate use by community groups

£500

Bethel Evangelical Chapel, Castle Road, Rhoose

Replacement chairs

£1,000

Archdiocese of Cardiff

St. David’s RC Cathedral, Cardiff, restoration, first stage feasibility costs

£2,000

Goleulong 2000 Lightship

Enhanced CCTV security

£1,000

Photomarathon (company limited by guarantee)

Contribution towards photographic exhibition

NIL

 

(2)       T H A T the Draft Revenue Estimates 2007 / 2008 as set out in Appendix C to the report be approved.

 

Reasons for decisions

 

Having regard to the budget available and the sums previously awarded.

 

 

998                 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC –

 

RESOLVED – T H A T under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 4 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Act, the relevant paragraphs of the Schedule being referred to in brackets after the minute heading.

 

 

999                 LAND AT GLEBEFIELDS (DFICTP) (EXEMPT INFORMATION PARAGRAPH 21) –

 

The purpose of the report was to provide the Trustees with further information on proposals that had been received in respect of the land at Glebefields.  At the last meeting of the Committee on 19th February, 2007 the Chairman advised the Committee that he had recently received a further request for use of the land and that he was also aware that the Scrutiny Committee of the Council would be considering the matter at its meeting in February.  As a result of this, the Trust resolved to defer the application by a local club as detailed in the report to the next meeting of the Committee pending a further report on all options for the land.  To date, the officer reported that he had recently received a request from another club for use of the land but this had been withdrawn, therefore, the only application before the Committee was the one that had been presented to the meeting on 22nd January, 2007.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(1)       T H A T the Sully Centurions Cricket Club be granted a lease for 25 years on the land at Glebefields on terms and conditions negotiated and agreed by the Director of Finance, ICT and Property in consultation with the Chairman.

 

(2)       T H A T the Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services be authorised to prepare, complete and execute the necessary legal documentation required.

 

Reasons for decisions

 

The Trustees have a duty under the Welsh Church Act 1914 and the Authorised Scheme dated 9th February, 1976 to manage all land held by them according to the general law applicable to the management of charitable property by Trustees.

 

NB       Councillor E. Hacker left the meeting at this point.

 

 

1000               SHORT TERM GRAZINGS (EXEMPT INFORMATION PARAGRAPH 21) –

 

The report informed the Trustees of bids that had been received for short term grazing agreements and requested confirmation for acceptance of the best offer in respect of each grazing area.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(1)   T H A T the Llanblethian tenderer R.J. Bernard be approved.

 

(2)       T H A T the two Sully Road pieces of land be deferred for consideration to the next meeting pending a further report in respect of a market analysis of similar pieces of land and the likely revenue that could be received.

 

Reasons for decisions

 

To ensure that the Committee acts in the best interests of the Trust.

 

 

1001               LAND AT LLANCARFAN (DFICTP) (EXEMPT INFORMATION PARAGRAPH 21) –

 

The Trustees were informed of requests for the purchase of the above land and for the Committee’s decision.

 

RESOLVED – T H A T the Trustees approve in principle the disposal of the land but that a further report be presented to the Committee in relation to the details of the negotiations.

 

Reason for decision

 

To ensure that the Trustees act in the best interests of the Trust.

 

 

1002               LAND AT CRYSTAL SPRINGS, CADOXTON, BARRY OFF VICTORIA PARK ROAD (DFICTP) (EXEMPT INFORMATION PARAGRAPH 21) –

 

The purpose of this report was to inform the Trustees of a request that had been received to purchase land at the above and to enable the Committee to consider the proposal.  The report outlined that the Trust owned the larger northern portion as detailed in the plan attached to the report which formed part of an access through to the land at Crystal Springs, the Vale of Glamorgan Council owned the southern portion which was held for open space purposes.  The report highlighted that as the land formed part of one of the accesses to the Crystal Springs land it would be considered prejudicial to the use and management of the land and that the Vale of Glamorgan Council was not minded to accede to the request in respect of its land as there had been identified deficits of open space land in the approved Unitary Development Plan.  In consideration of the report the Trust Committee

 

RESOLVED – T H A T the application to dispose of the land be declined.

 

Reason for decision

 

The Trustees have a duty under the Welsh Church Act 1914 and the Authorised Scheme dated 9th February, 1976 to manage all land held by them according to the general law applicable to the management of charitable property by trustees.