## Penarth Civic Society 

Chair’s report for AGM 2022 

I am delighted to be able to welcome members to the 2022 Annual General Meeting of the Penarth Civic Society. My name is Anne Evans, I am the Chair of the Society. 

As the pandemic struck shortly before the 2020 AGM, we weren’t able to hold an annual general meeting that year. Last year, the AGM for the year 2020 – 2021  was held via Zoom. We were advised by Glamorgan Voluntary Services (the organisation for voluntary groups in the Vale of Glamorgan) that this would be acceptable to the Charity Commission. The Zoom technical arrangements worked very well – although we were of course aware that this arrangement meant that some members were not be able to join us. 

I am very pleased that all of the existing committee members are willing to serve for another year. But we are very much in need of more committee members and would be absolutely delighted if anyone else would like to join us. I am very pleased to say that Dan Brown has offered to continue help with the all things technical and has agreed to be on the committee. The excellent work of the sub groups relies on the existence of the main executive committee – I am determined that it will continue but it does rely on a huge amount of work by the current small committee. 

The Society, along with many other local residents and organisations, is very concerned about the future of the town centre. We were extremely disappointed that the consultants’ report commissioned by the Vale Council on this topic, and due to be released in March 2021, has never materialised. However there are  a number of other interesting initiatives. One of these is a new group, Living Streets Penarth, which has recently been set up and which arranged three thought provoking and well attended lectures. 

Separately, the Society, and other local groups including the Penarth Business Group, were approached by a Senior Lecturer in Planning at Cardiff University, who lives in the town, with regard to some of her students undertaking research. Several groups of post graduates are currently working on their projects and will be presenting their findings on 3[rd] May at a public meeting in the Paget Rooms. We are very keen that this work is taken forward. The future of the town centre depends on all of us – traders, residents, visitors, the Town and Vale Councils. I would encourage all members to take part in any surveys and participate in any other way. We are hoping for a good attendance at the open meeting. This is being organised by the University- I don’t know the time at present but we will let you know when we are informed. As a society we have produced a list of relatively small things that could be done that we feel would make a difference – encouraging the use of different coloured paints maybe, or having crochet tops for pillar boxes. 

One of our main roles has always been to scrutinise planning applications. 



Members will be aware of the proposals to build 576 homes on a site at Upper Cosmeston Farm. We submitted a comprehensive objection to these plans. It is, however, likely that this development will go ahead as the site was allocated for housing in the last Local Development plan. 

Our concerns centre around two main issues. One  is the many environmental concerns which we do not think have been properly addressed. The second is the many infrastructure issues this development will create – Penarth as a whole is well off for public transport, but Lower Penarth, and Sully, where there are also major housing developments, are very poorly served.  We are extremely concerned that these new developments will lead to traffic gridlock, particularly at rush hours. And there are obvious concerns about access to GPs and other services. 

The plans to build a primary unit for the Ysgol y Deri Special School on land next door to Upper Cosmeston Farm is another planning issue that we have objected to. Whilst we fully appreciate the excellent work  being done at the school, we think that a site more central in the Vale would be much more appropriate and that, if built, transporting children to this school would further exacerbate that traffic issues in Lower Penarth. 

The Local Development Plan as a whole is due for revision and we will be commenting on this. In particular, it needs to be revised to take into account the Climate and Nature Emergencies rightly declared by the Vale. 

With regard to the conservation area in general, we are  concerned that some of the actions of the Vale Council are contrary to their own advice. There is a lengthy document ‘Supplementary Planning Guidance for the Penarth Conservation Area’ which details actions that may, or may not, be taken by home-owners, and actions that may, or may not, be taken by the Vale Council. These guidelines are on occasion not being adhered to by the Vale, specifically with regard to pavements. It is not reasonable to expect home-owners to keep to their part of the bargain when the council does not. 

Following two years of not being able to hold meetings for members, we are very pleased indeed that we are now able to resume these. The first meeting was addressed by the Vale’s Ecologist and was remarkably well attended given the storms approaching that very night. Our second  meeting in March focussed on our work on trees. And the programme for the rest of 2022 is indeed very interesting. We look forward to welcoming lots of our members, and non-members, to these events. I am particularly looking forward to the guided tour of Llandaff Cathedral. 

Before I go on to talk about the work of our sub-groups, I want to finish this section by reminding members of the title of the discussion at the 2021 AGM, which was Working Together in the town. Those of you who know me will be aware that I have been very keen for a long time for local organisations with similar objectives to our own to collaborate wherever possible. That really is happening now and I am delighted. Long may it continue. 



So to our amazing subgroups. 

During the past year the various sub-groups has been as active as possible under the circumstances, albeit in different ways to usual. 

The Tree Forum has worked extremely hard. We are particularly pleased to finally be working with the Vale’s Highways Department with regard to street trees in the conservation area. It is obvious to everyone that some of the pavements need urgent action.  Following a meeting with Council Officers, and the relevant Councillor, it was agreed that the Tree Forum and Highways would look at each road in turn. Starting with Alberta Road where members may have seen the tree work done earlier this month. It may have taken an extremely long time, but we are very pleased indeed that the Vale are now working with us with regard to street trees, and that they appreciate the expertise we have. Members will remember our very successful campaign to retain our heritage lampposts in the conservation area, which was achieved through joint working with the Vale. This, to my mind, has to be the way forward and I’m pleased that the council now seems to agree. It would be very easy to go to the press with criticism on a regular basis. I am sure that working together is a much better way – although we will still contact the press if needs be. 

The second bit of excellent news on the tree front is the amazing work done by our  volunteers looking after the 170 odd new trees planted in our parks. We are working very closely with the parks department, and the trees are definitely benefiting from all the hard work weeding, mulching, staking and more. The cliff tops are transformed. And Golden Gates Park is looking amazing. I have to admit that I’d never heard of it before but it’s well worth a visit. 

There still isn’t a Council Tree Strategy, however, despite several promises over several years. It’s now five years since we produced our Tree Strategy and shared it with the Vale. A question for your potential councillors perhaps? 

And finally, tree forum volunteers have been looking after the community orchard at Cosmeston that was planted several years ago by GPG Penarth Greening. The difference is amazing. 

Friends of Victoria Square goes from strength to strength. If you haven’t been there recently you will certainly notice many changes. Community engagement is progressing apace which I am delighted about. A recent visitor to the Square  from the Heritage Lottery Fund was extremely complimentary about the work  done. Look out for the Big Lunch (and the plant swop happening on 6[th] June). This project is a fantastic example of different groups within the society working together. In  this case The Friends and the Tree Forum. And working with GPG Penarth Greening. Lots of different groups cooperating for the benefit of everyone in the town. 



Work on the Italian Gardens, Railway Path Project and the Beach Wardens has been limited. In the case of the Beach Wardens, it seems that others are now helping to keep the beach clean, but we are keeping an eye on it as well. 

We are very excited about two new projects. The first is a Heritage Project. When visiting other towns throughout Britain I am often struck by the number of signs and boards and blue plaques. There are some here but I think not enough. We have put together a great group of people who are working to change this. We have so much history and we should celebrate it! The Vale Council Tourism Officer is keen to be involved and we will be applying to the Heritage Lottery Project for a grant to make this happen. 

And, even more recently, we were approached about a project in St Joseph’s Park – the zig zag path. We are delighted that this project will be part of the Society. It will be launched at an open meeting to be held on 26thMay at 7pm in the new St Paul’s development. 

Looking back, we have achieved a huge amount as I hope you will agree. This next year promises to be even better. We look forward to seeing many of you at our various events and helping with our various groups. 

Before I close, there is one procedural decision for the meeting this evening is a formal change of name. We are the Civic Society for Penarth and have used the name Penarth Civic Society for a number of years as it was found that people didn’t know what the Penarth Society was or did. Can we have a show of hands of those in favour please? 

2022.04.20 AE 



|Date||Number|Description|
|---|---|---|---|
||04/01/2021||JONES D W & F  NO2 STO|
||04/01/2021||MCMURRAY A C       STO|
||04/01/2021||MRS ANGELA J GREGO STO|
||04/01/2021||WILLIAMS C M    PP STO|
||04/01/2021||WARD  V S          STO|
||04/01/2021||SETCH TF & D       STO|
||04/01/2021||COUCH PM           STO|
||04/01/2021||MRS ANNA M SMITH      ANNA SMITH         STO|
||04/01/2021||F STRICKLAND-CONST    STRICKLAND MEMBER  STO|
||04/01/2021||CM NEILL           STO|
||04/01/2021||M DAVIES              D3                 STO|
||04/01/2021||PHELPS M.             PHELPS             STO|
||04/01/2021||MEAZEY P S5R F        MEAZEY             STO|
||04/01/2021||SCHULP A S61 F        SCHULP             STO|
||04/01/2021||LANE S H77 F          LANE               STO|
||04/01/2021||K HOWELL              43                 STO|
||04/01/2021||H G BOUDIER        STO|
||04/01/2021||MARCUS PAYNE          P4                 STO|
||04/01/2021||P B THOMPSON          T1                 STO|
||04/01/2021||MORGAN JP          STO|
||04/01/2021||Evans Anne            PCS SUBS           STO|
||04/01/2021||HENRY P & ME       STO|
||04/01/2021||DORKEN M S         STO|
||04/01/2021||ELIAS J E J           JEJ ELIAS          STO|
||04/01/2021||PHILP RM              PHILPOT RM         STO|
||04/01/2021||VE /P WILLIAMS        WILLIAMS           STO|
||04/01/2021||Kitchiner Neil        DR N KITCHINER     STO|
||04/01/2021||Soulsby Anne          PENARTH SOCIETY    STO|
||04/01/2021||SIMONS AL&YA       STO|
||04/01/2021||CURTIN J & S       STO|
||04/01/2021||CLIFT M               C5                 STO|
||04/01/2021||HUXTABLE WQ        STO|
||04/01/2021||Knight Brian          KNIGHT             STO|
||04/01/2021||NICKELS IJ&SJ         S & I NICKELS      STO|
||04/01/2021||MAYO&DAVIES           MAYO&DAVIES        STO|
||04/01/2021||Gibbins Brenda     STO|
||04/01/2021||DORRELL M&P           P & M DORRELL      STO|
||04/01/2021||Mitchell Teresa       TERESA MITCHELL    STO|
||04/01/2021||CLYNE SV TPM       STO|
||04/01/2021||Cliford Carole       C A CLIFFORD       STO|
||04/01/2021||ELIZABETH PHILIPPS    E J Philipps       STO|
||04/01/2021||Hodgkinson Jefrey    P SOCIETY MEMBERS  STO|
||04/01/2021||MR GOSSAGE            ANNUAL SUBS        STO|
||04/01/2021||PALSER HR &N       STO|
||04/01/2021||HIGLEY C J            C J HIGLEY MEM SUB STO|
||04/01/2021||MRS & MR BENNETT      BENNETT            STO|
||04/01/2021||MR KINNERSLEY         PAUL KINNERSLEY    STO|
||04/01/2021||DOCTOR MARTIN         M1                 STO|





|04/01/2021||BARTLEY C             C BARTLEY          STO|
|---|---|---|
|04/01/2021||CAMPBELL HF           HILARY CAMPBELL    STO|
|04/01/2021||BURTON C&R         STO|
|04/01/2021||AVON MEM           STO|
|04/01/2021||DAVIES I J         STO|
|04/01/2021||THOMAS GW&JE          GLYN & LIZ THOMAS  STO|
|04/01/2021||WYATT C&SC            WYATT SUBSCR       STO|
|04/01/2021||NEVILLE R             PENARTH SOCIETY    STO|
|04/01/2021||IAN PALMER            Pen Civic Soc      STO|
|04/01/2021||MERCER MES         STO|
|04/01/2021||DAVID JONES        STO|
|04/01/2021||CHRISTINE LEWIS       LEWIS              STO|
|04/01/2021|101193|FOVS Various|
|04/01/2021|101191|FOVS Various|
|04/01/2021||JOHNSON DIANA         DIANA JOHNSON      STO|
|04/01/2021||MsM O'Connor          Annual Sub         STO|
|04/01/2021||WALTER KIERAN GEAR    MCCEACHERN         STO|
|04/01/2021||Topping Celia         C TOPPING          STO|
|04/01/2021||SALTER G & S          SALTER G & S       STO|
|04/01/2021||CANTLAY DA&CM         CANTLAY PARK ROAD  STO|
|04/01/2021||DEWAR IS              02                 STO|
|04/01/2021||FOULKES DM            THE PENARTH SOCIET STO|
|04/01/2021||KINGSTON G            KINGSTON G         STO|
|04/01/2021||CATTERALL VA & C   STO|
|04/01/2021||BOURNE TE & CA        BOURNE TE & CA     STO|
|04/01/2021||CROFTS NG&JM          CROFTS NG&JM       STO|
|04/01/2021||WILLIAMS R            WILLIAMS R         STO|
|04/01/2021||MARQUAND D & J        MARQUAND           STO|
|04/06/2021||MR DAVID THOMAS NO    NOBLE DAVID AND AN BGC|
|04/06/2021||BOARD OF THE C     REV|
|04/06/2021||BOARD OF THE CIVIC STO|
|04/12/2021||MRS E CAHILL        WEBSITE|
|04/12/2021||KONSILEO TRADING L    INSURANCE PENARTH  BBP|
|04/12/2021|101194||
|04/12/2021||COLLIER C F           C COLLIER SUB 2021 BGC|
|04/14/2021||A L POOLE             P2                 STO|
|04/19/2021||P CAMPBELL            SUBSCRIPTION       STO|
|04/20/2021|101195||
|04/29/2021||Long Gwyneth          NOT APPLICABLE     STO|
|05/04/2021||BIRCH                 BIRCH              STO|
|05/17/2021||FOVS Various|
|05/17/2021||FOVS Various|
|05/17/2021||WYATT EJL             THE PENARTH SOCIET STO|
|05/17/2021||GORNALL L             DOUBLE GORNALL     STO|
|05/24/2021||S SALTER              TOM & SARAH  SALTE STO|
|05/24/2021||STEVE AMBLER TREE     INVOICE 2021 SA132 BBP|
|06/29/2021||FOVS Various|
|06/29/2021||FOVS Various|
|06/29/2021||FOVS Various|
|07/20/2021||IR and JM Hydon|





|07/21/2021|Wix website hosting|
|---|---|
|07/22/2021|Emuly Warren|
|08/02/2021|Jill Penn|
|08/17/2021|FOVS Various|
|08/17/2021|FOVS Various|
|08/27/2021|Alan Thorne Walk Admission fees|
|09/08/2021|Caroline Munckenbeck|
|09/09/2021|Peter Blackburn|
|09/10/2021|Mary Davies|
|09/13/2021|Sian Till|
|09/15/2021|Alan Thorne Walk Admission fees|
|09/24/2021|Tony Hazell Donation|
|09/27/2021|Lottery Fund Grant|
|09/30/2021|Peter Blackburn|
|09/30/2021|Peter Blackburn|
|10/11/2021|Terrain Aeration Sevices|
|10/12/2021|Penny Daw|
|11/04/2021|Peter Blackburn|
|11/05/2021|Chris Riey Subs|
|11/10/2021|Dan Brown subs|
|11/10/2021|FOVS Donation|
|11/17/2021|Postage|
|11/17/2021|Steve Ambler Tree Services|
|11/23/2021|Des Lloyd subs|
|11/29/2021|Pam Wright subs|
|12/10/2021|O2 Direct debit ***Incorrect to be reversed***|
|12/14/2021|Peter Blackburn|
|12/15/2021|Ruth Williams Membership Subs|
|12/15/2021|Ann Youde Membership subs|
|12/31/2021|Judith Lewis|
|01/10/2022|O2 Direct debit REPAYMENT|
|01/10/2022|O2 Direct debit ***Incorrect to be reversed***|
|01/11/2022|O2 Direct debitREPAYMENT|
|02/10/2022|Jowett subs|
|02/10/2022|Jowett subs|
|02/10/2022|GIFT AID REFUND|
|02/10/2022|Tracy Alexander subs for past two years|
|02/10/2022|Ecology Event income|
|03/02/2022|Hall Hire Ecology Event|
|03/02/2022|Peter Blackburn|
|03/02/2022|Anna Smith Donation towards leafet cost|
|03/30/2022|Bryn Walters subs|



Victoria Square Analysis from second grant January 2021 

Existing funds left Spending this month Income this month 

3921.14 442.92 



Balance
3478.22
Society Funds
6380.28

|Notes|Category|Income||Expense|Opening Balance|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||£19,660.69|
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||8|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||5|||
||101 Membership Subs||8|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||8|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||12|||
||101 Membership Subs||7|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||17|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||15|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||
||101 Membership Subs||10|||





|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|8||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|12||||
|405 Misc||505.38|||
|405 Misc||121.8|||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|8||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|12||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|7||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|Cancelled SO|30||||
|Cancelled SO|-30||||
|||760|||
|||335.78|||
|||295.28|||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs||1100.94|Total In||
|101 Membership Subs|10|||892|
||12||||
|405 Misc||123.87|||
|405 Misc||1036.05|||
||10||||
||15||||
||15||Total In||
|405 Misc||5520||52|
|405 Misc||1531.1|||
|405 Misc||225.13|Total In||
|405 Misc||617.98|||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||





|205 Website Hosting||61.2|Total In||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|101 Membership Subs|10|||20|
|101 Membership Subs|7||||
|405 Misc||310.36|||
|405 Misc||661.79|Total In||
|102 Event Admission Fees|111|||118|
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|15||||
|102 Event Admission Fees|24||||
|309 Donation|50||Total In||
|307 Lottery Funding|12240|||12364|
|405 Misc||568.91|||
|405 Misc||1443.15|||
|405 Misc||6720|Total In||
|101 Membership Subs|3|||3|
|405 Misc||531.68|||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|309 Donation|25||||
|206 Printing and Stationery||66|||
|405 Misc||354|||
|101 Membership Subs|10||Total In||
|101 Membership Subs|10|||65|
|||25|||
|405 Misc||349.62|||
|101 Membership Subs|10||||
|101 Membership Subs|10||Total In||
|101 Membership Subs|8|||20|
||25||||
|||25|Total In||
||25|||58|
|101 Membership Subs|2.00||||
|101 Membership Subs|20.00||||
|101 Membership Subs|263.75||||
|101 Membership Subs|20||Total In||
||24|||329.75|
|||26|||
|405 Misc||442.92|||
||20.00||Total In||
||15|||35.00|
|||Total spending|||
|Total Income|13956.75|23758.94|||
|Lottery|12240||||
|Gift Aid|263.75||||
|Donations|95||||
|Event Income|111||||
|Membsubs|1222||||





Income 

101 Membership Subs 102 Event Admission Fees 103 Annual Dinner Cost 104 Coffee/Tea Sales 105 Donations/Grants 106 Gift Aid Receipts 

Expenses 201 Room Hire 202 Insurance 203 Annual Dinner Sale 204 Speaker or Event cost 205 Website Hosting 206 Printing and Stationery 207 Postage 208 Gift 209 Charitable Donation 210 Misc 

Income Victoria Square 307 Lottery Funding 308 Event Income 309 Donation Donation Expenses Victoria Square 401 Surveys 402 Printing 403 Event expenses 404 Website and Publicity 405 Misc 



Total out Balance 3119.18 £17,433.51 CORRECT 

Total out Balance 6679.92 10805.59 CORRECT Total out Balance 2374.21 8431.38 CORRECT 



Total out Balance 61.2 8390.18 CORRECT 

Total out Balance 972.15 7536.03 CORRECT 

Total out Balance 0 19900.03 CORRECT 

Total out Balance 8732.06 11170.97 CORRECT 

Total out Balance 951.68 10284.29 CORRECT 

Total out Balance 374.62 9929.67 CORRECT 

Total out Balance 25 9962.67 CORRECT 

Total out Balance 0 10292.42 CORRECT 

Total out Balance 468.92 9858.50 CORRECT