BRYNMAWR Town Council meetings maybe forced to move to an alternative venue to comply with health and safety legislation. Recommendations from Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, which were received on the morning of last month's town council meeting, state that only 20 people are allowed in the Town Council chamber at once. However this number was exceeded at the meeting, during which councillors discussed the implications of the legislation, and which was attended by 13 councillors, one clerk, one member of the Press and eight members of the public . Councillor Lyn Elias explained a survey of the building had been carried out by the borough council as part of an investigation into its resources and issued a warning to his fellow councillors. "Phil Jones, who is in charge of health and safety for the borough, went around all council buildings to conduct health and safety risk assessments. "What I have concerns about is the fact that borough is looking at cutbacks and coming into the equations are district offices, if we push the boat out too much I think we will be playing into the hands of the borough council," he said. "I have no objections to members of the public attending but I think we need to be careful." Other councillors said they felt more effort should be made to encourage the public to attend meetings. "I think we as elected members have a duty to inform people of what we do. How else are we going to let people know what is going on?" asked Councillor Sue Ball. Councillor Robert Ball added, "According to the legislation if 16 councillors turn up, the clerk and members of the press, there's only room for one member of the public. "The public have put us here and it's not fair for us to say only one person can attend the meeting, out of all the residents who live in Brynmawr." Councillor Eifion Lloyd Davies questioned the criteria used by the council to determine how many people could use the room safely, suggesting if the room was being used in a school a larger number of children and teachers would be allowed to use it. However, Councillor Terry Hughes warned the council it would be very unwise to flout legislation."This is about holding a council meeting not catering for the public," he said. Councillor Ian Morgan proposed that the meeting continued and informed the members the borough has a duty to provide the town council with a suitable meeting place. Speaking after the meeting Councillor Morgan said since the council chamber was built 20 years ago it it often been been full of people attending functions. "The Independent group knew nothing about this matter until the meeting began at 5pm. This building has been used for 20 years and only now health and safety has come into it," he said. "The Labour party holds their monthly meetings there, does that mean that the 21st person to attend is asked to leave? "As far as we are concerned this is a political ploy to undermine us." Fellow Independent, Councillor Mrs Ball, said, "There has never been as much interest in the town council from members of the public. "I would welcome moving premises to a community building for example, as it would perhaps mean more people could come along and may be not feel as intimidated as they might be when coming into a council chamber. "The town council acts on behalf of the people in the town and it makes important decisions on their behalf. The borough council can impose health and safety legislation on the number of people allowed in the chamber but what about access for people with disabilities?" A spokesman for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council said, "This is not new Health and Safety legislation. Guidelines state that no more than 20 people can use the Brynmawr Town Council chamber at any one time. "The calculation is based upon the guidance of occupant capacity given in the Guide to the Fire Precautions Act 1971 in existing places of work. "Employers have the responsibility to carry out reviews of the fire risk assessment and all council buildings are subject to this, as according to the Fire Precautions (Workplace) amendment Regulations 1999. The calculation of 20 is based on both the occupant capacity guidance and the principles of the fire risk assessment. "Local Government legislation also states that the Town Council has to be provided with suitable accommodation. "The Council would be more than happy to discuss any issues that the Town Council may have about the situation with them. "The Disability Discrimination Act applies to Council buildings and we have a rolling programme to adapt buildings to apply to regulations."