Among matters considered and discussed at the May meeting of Pembroke Town Council were the following:

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Pedestrian crossing, Main Street: The clerk informed members that to date, no further information had been received regarding the replacement of the pedestrian crossing in Main Street.

Clr. Waters expressed the view that, although previous discussions had taken place with regards to replacing the pelican crossing with a zebra crossing, she felt this would not improve the traffic situation in Main Street.

Clr. Waters proposed that the pelican crossing be removed and not replaced; instead additional parking bays could be reinstated.

It was resolved that the clerk should write to Mr. John Price, PCC, to advise that council request the crossing be removed and parking bays be reinstated.

Service to commemorate the 70th annivcersary of the landing craft accident: Clr. Boswell presented photographs of the service which was held on April 25. Clr. Boswell advised that he was now in the process of completing an application form for planning permission to be granted for the two stones and plaques to be permanently located at Freshwater West.

The cost incurred for this application would be £166, which the town council agreed to fund.

Public open space - 3, 4, 5 Castle Terrace: The clerk informed council that correspondence had been received from PALC regarding any legal assistance which they could provide. They had an arrangement with Mr. Paul Clayden, a solicitor who writes the articles in Clerks and Councils Direct. A one-off fee of £75 would be payable to him for reviewing the case and making suggestions as to how they could proceed.

Purchase of 7 and 8 North Gate Street: The clerk informed council that the following response had been received from Mr. Neville Henstredge, head of property and asset Mmanagement, PCC, following an enquiry into the purchase of 7 and 8 North Gate Street: 'We are advertising the Castle Terrace and Northgate Street properties as a single development opportunity as we are trying to secure development/renovation of all the properties concerned. The most straightforward way of achieving this would be for the council to enter into an agreement with a single developer and we hope to be in a position to decide on a way forward on this basis once we have received expressions of interest.

'Notwithstanding my comments above, there could be circumstances where two parties come forward with compatible proposals for different elements which could still lead to all of the properties being renovated, but we would be keen to ensure that this could be achieved'.

During a meeting held on Wednesday, May 8, Mr. Henstredge advised that 'expressions of interest' should be submitted from interested parties by no later than Friday, May 17. A business plan would then need to be completed and forwarded approximately six weeks after this date.

A discussion then ensued regarding Pembroke Town Council expressing an interest in the purchase of 7 and 8 Northgate Street. It was noted that should an expression of interest be given by the town council, a business plan would need to be drawn up for submission and this would be at great expense to council.

Further discussion then took place regarding the ability to produce a business plan 'in-house.' It was agreed that the clerk and the responsible financial officer would be excluded from involvement in producing a business plan.

It was resolved that the clerk should write to Mr. Henstredge to advise him that the town council were interested in the purchase of 7 and 8 Northgate Street.

PLANNING

Applications received: Extension to the rear of the building to form a lean-to store room at Castle Inn, 17 Main Street, Pembroke; rear extension to 6 St. Anns Crescent, Pembroke; demolition of existing kitchen, new extension to be built to the house to form a kitchen and shower room for a person with disabilities at Little Gates, Holyland Road, Pembroke; extension of existing kitchen at 7 Clifton House, Westgate Hill, Pembroke.

Council resolved to support all these applications.

Applications determined: Erection of a non-illuminated sign at 18 Main Street, Pembroke; tree surgery at Stonemason Cottage, Holyland Road, Pembroke (both granted).

Planning application appeal: Removal of first floor windows and installation of new windows to flats 1 and 2, 37 Main Street, Pembroke.

LICENSING

Pembroke Castle Trust, Pembroke Castle, Castle Terrace - application for a premises licence for the provision of plays, films, live music, recorded music, performance of dance and anything of a similar description.

Council resolved to support this application.

CORRESPONDENCE

Royal Navy command: Correspondence had been received from Lieutenant Commander Matt Moore RN informing council of his and his crew's transfer from HMS Pembroke to HMS Shoreham.

Clr. Brinn proposed that a letter of thanks be sent to Lieutenant Commander Moore conveying the best wishes of Pembroke Town Council for the future.

Statue of Henry VII: Correspondence had been received from the Petitions Committee, National Assembly for Wales, regarding the petition submitted for the funding of a statue of Henry VII. A copy of this correspondence was provided to all members.

AGENDA ITEMS

Review fees and charges for the Town Hall: Mrs. Suzie Thomas informed council that the letting fees and charges for the hire of the Town Hall had not been increased in over two years.

Mrs. Thomas advised that, should council not impose a percentage increase in fees, they may wish to consider 'rounding' the charges up to the nearest pound.

Clr. Collins made the observation that if fees were not increased over a period of years, when there was a need to make an increase, these charges would rise sharply.

It was resolved that the letting fees and charges for the hire of hall would be 'rounded' up the nearest pound.

Air quality pollution in Pembroke: Clr. Nutting advised members that he had been in discussions with the then chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Clr. Jamie Adams, regarding traffic in Main Street.

Clr. Nutting advised that this matter woud be discussed as an agenda item by the county council and further information would be provided once it is available.

Update of the museums sub-committee: Clr. Brinn informed members that the 'Pembroke Museums Project' would launch on Saturday, June 1. A timetable for volunteers to 'man' the museum was available from the reception within the Town Hall and all were welcome to assist.

Clr. Brinn informed members that the clerk had made enquiries into the possibility of loaning equipment such as boards and touch screens for use in the museum. However, Clr. Brinn advised that it may not be possible to obtain all of the equipment needed and therefore made a request on behalf of the Museum Committee that an allocation of £5,000 be made available for the purchase of equipment for the museum.

It was resolved that an allocation of £5,000 be made available to the Museum Committee to purchase equipment for the museum.

Feedback from meeting with Angela Burns AM regarding Hywel Dda Health Board: Clr. Evans advised that he had attended a meeting with Angela Burns AM regarding ongoing concerns with ORS (the firm responsible for collating information).

Clr. Evans provided an overview of this meeting and proposed that Pembroke Town Council correspond with Mr. Mark Drakeford and Mr. Tony Wales to express their concerns.

It was agreed that the clerk should write to Mr. Drakeford and Mr. Wales to convey the concerns of the town council.

Frontage of buildings in Pembroke: Clr. Asman reminded council that the work of the Regeneration Committee was to enhance Pembroke. Clr. Asman observed that the Co-operative shop in Main Street was in need of attention. At present the appearance of the shop and flats above were not sympathetic to the town and were in need of improving.

It was resolved that the clerk write to the Co-operative to request improvements be made to the building.

Traffic calming in West Street: Clr. Brown advised council that the speed of traffic down West Street had increased significantly since it had become one-way. Having canvassed local residents, the consensus of opinion was that traffic calming measures were required to reduce the speed of traffic in this area. In addition to this, it was felt that the one-way system should be reversed.

It was resolved that the clerk should write to Mr. John Price, PCC, and request the issues noted above be considered

Pembroke Civic Awards in 2014: Clr. Nutting proposed that as part of the Civic Awards which take place annually, an additional award could be presented. As Pembroke Town Council was undertaking work to enhance and regenerate Pembroke, it would prove beneficial to have an award for the best looking 'business frontage' and also the most attractive 'residential property.'

It was agreed that the Awards Committee would review the possibility of two new awards for the 2013/2014 ceremony.

Listings for all the buildings within Pembroke: Clr. Nutting advised council that it would be beneficial for Pembroke Town Council to retain a list of listed buildings in Pembroke. Clr. Asman advised that this list was already in existence. Clr. Blackburn proposed that, as the list had not been reviewed and updated for many years, it may be useful to get the list revised.

It was resolved that the Museum Committee would make contact with the relevant organsations (i.e. PCC, CADW) to update and revise the current list of 'listed buildings.'

Draft Plan from Pembroke Town Council for EU funding: Clr. Collins declared an interest in this agenda item.

Prior to the meeting, all members had been provided with a 'proposed plan' of projects which had been compiled by Clr. Nutting, Clr. Nicholas and Clr. Evans (representatives of the Regeneration Committee).

Clr. Nutting advised that the Overview and Scrutinty Committee of PCC would be meeting on June 13 to discuss proposals with regards to bids for 'match funding.'

He proposed that Pembroke Town Council submit proposals to PCC for the projects detailed and agree to 'match fund' these proposals to the amount of £40,000.

Clr. Llewellyn proposed that £40,000 be vired from the balance carried forward in the recept (which had been previously allocated for play areas) to be used to 'match fund' this project.

It was resolved that the town council would submit proposals to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (PCC) for match funding of £40,000 to enable work to be carried out on proposed projects for the enchancement of Pembroke.