NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2001

A meeting of the Forum was held at the Cross Hands Workingmen's Club on Tuesday, January 9th 2001 at 7.30pm.

Present were:-

* County Councillor Neil Baker, Chairman
* Helen Thomas, Secretary
* E M Evans, Cross Hands Post Office
* Mike Simmons, Cross Hands Christian Centre
* Diane Hamer, Hair Exchange
* C Evans, Hair Exchange
* John Dawson, 1 Heol Bryngwili
* Karl Richards, Blaenau Isaf Farm
* Suzie Jones, Le Chic
* E J Rees, Eirllyn
* W Thomas, Gorslas
Apologies were received from Carol Evans.

The Chairman welcomed members present and thanked Dr Simmons for presiding at the December presentation meeting. The latest Newsletter was agreed to be a true record of the minutes of the November/December meetings, and signed by the Chairman. There were no matters arising.

1. Correspondence

The chairman read out a reply concerning guidelines on air pollution and bonfires on private, public and business premises. Photocopies would be distributed to members at the next meeting. This information clarified matters.

Further correspondence was read out with regard to the Llandeilo Road Study as follows.

* Situation with regard to Rural Grant Payment Programme

It transpires that it may be necessary for the Forum to have sufficient funds in place to cover the cost of the project in the way of contingency funding arranged by the bank. Cllr Baker agreed to investigate further before negotiations were instigated with Lloyds Bank.

* European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Allocation and Timescale

A letter from Mr Roger Fidler, Head of Economic Regeneration Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC), clarified the position with regard to total grant monies available to the Forum, and the situation in general in terms of possible additional ERDF funding for the environmental study.

2. Llandeilo Road Update

In addition to the correspondence received, the Chairman read a letter drafted by the secretary to the successful firm of consultants, confirming the award of the contract for the study, and incorporating all known details on the current grant situation and possible ERDF award. Cllr Baker informed that the ERDF position still remained unresolved and could be subject to further delay. The Forum decided that Phase I should only concentrate on the area from the square to the A48 roundabout. Other areas could be brought in to future phases of the Development Plan.

3. Public Consultation and AGM

After a detailed discussion, it was agreed to organise a full village leaflet drop for the community, with a brief update of events to date, and a contact telephone no for interested parties. Information was also to be placed on the website www.crosshands.org.uk

The date of the AGM was agreed to be 6 March 2001 (venue to be confirmed) at 7.30pm.

4. Any Other Business

* The Secretary was to enquire further as to any progress being made re the former showroom, Carmarthen Road.

* A discussion centred around the future possibility of the Forum tapping into extra funding apart from grant allocations e.g. revenue gained from environmental projects.

* Cllr Baker gave clarification of the role of the Gwendraeth Valley Area Forum, and its position alongside the other Fora in Carmarthenshire. CCC's Aman/Gwendraeth Area Committee would hopefully be split in order to award the Gwendraeth area single status in keeping with the status of the Gwendraeth Valley Area Forum. The chairman and secretary were closely involved with both, hoping to ensure that the Cross Hands Forum's work dovetailed into the partnership system effectively.

* Christian Centre. Dr Simmons informed that the Rainbow Tots group for parents/carers/toddlers would start on 23.1.01 from 9.30-11.30am. £1 per session. The Youth Group Twilight Zone commencing on 26.01.01 from 7.30pm onwards. The Forum wished both enterprises success.

Next meeting - Tuesday 13 February 2001 at Cross Hands Workingmen's Club.

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