ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
Thursday 21st April 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 21st April 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
PRESENT: Cllrs. D Beechey (Chairman), G Beechey, M Holden, P Illes, D Johnson,
J MacLachlan, D Murray, J Nelson, S Pledger.
Clerk: Mr M Ward
PUBLIC SESSION: No members of the public were in attendance.
1. APOLOGIES:
Cllrs. R Blincoe, S Brown, N Hester, P Lusk, M Pate, S Pate.
Each apology was accepted by the Council.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
Personal:
None.
Prejudicial:
None.
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting 17th March 2011:
The last sentence of item 6 “Police Report” which read “Cllr Hindley was thanked for her time and her report” was amended to “PC Hindley was thanked for her time and her report”.
With this alteration Cllr. Pledger proposed that the minutes were a true and accurate record which was seconded by Cllr. Illes and approved by the Council.
Minutes of the Parish Council planning meeting 7th April 2011:
Cllr. Johnson proposed that the minutes were a true and accurate record which was seconded by Cllr. Holden and approved by the Council.
4. MATTERS ARISING:
The Clerk to write to Shropshire Council regarding the condition of the stone wall opposite the Bush public house.
The Clerk reported that the letter has been written and forwarded to Shropshire Council.
The Clerk to write to DCAE Cosford confirming the date of the approbation ceremony on 10th September 2011.
The Clerk reported that the letter had been written and forwarded to DCAE Cosford.
The Clerk to confirm the tender for summer baskets with Ms J Hanson.
The Clerk reported that he written to Ms Hanson asking her to proceed as outlined in her quotation.
The Clerk to pay the invoice for the rent on Clockmills with Severn Trent Water.
The Clerk reported that the cheque had been prepared and was ready for signing if approved under agenda item 9.
5. PLANNING:
Planning applications:
11/01346/FUL Erection of a two storey side extension to side elevation and detached garage 10 Meeson Close, Albrighton.
A letter objecting to the planning application from a neighbour was read out to Councillors which drew particular attention to the size of the proposed garage situated on the boundary between the two properties. Cllr. Nelson also felt that the garage was somewhat out of scale and overbearing and there could be a loss of light to the neighbour.
Cllr. Pledger proposed that the Council should support the development of the side extension to the house but object to the garage proposal which was too big, overbearing and likely to take light from the neighbour. The proposal was seconded by Cllr. Holden and approved by the Council.
11/01446/FUL Erection of one dwelling (Plot 1) and detached garage; formation of vehicular access 54 Station Road, Albrighton.
No objections were made to the application.
Action: The Clerk to inform Shropshire Council planning department of the recommendations of the Council.
Grant permission:
11/00792/TPO To thin and top one Yew Tree protected by Shropshire Council (Land at and to the west of Church Lane, Albrighton) TPO 2010 28 Grange Park, Albrighton.
Received and noted.
6. POLICE REPORT:
PC Morris and Sgt. Bailey reported to Council. Between 17th March and 21 April there were 32 recorded crimes including 3 thefts of catalytic converters and 3 incidents of motorists not paying for petrol. There were no particular trends identified within this small sample of crimes. CCTV signs had been erected and it had been agreed to move the police surgery to different locations around the village to encourage maximum participation by the public. The next meeting was scheduled for 28th April in the Parish Office. Officers were informed of the Summer Fayre scheduled for 9th July 2011 and the approbation ceremony on 10th September 2011. The drop-in centre had now been handed over to the “Say Yes” organisation although CSO Fletcher would still contribute on an occasional basis. Cllr. Murray asked about the Albrighton speed gun and Cllr. Pledger asked about police/CSO supervision at the skate park and whether police meetings could be held in the evening when many people would have returned from work. She also asked how long Pc’s Hindley and Morris would be stationed in Albrighton but Sgt. Bailey was unable to provide information on this deployment. The officers also reported that a Police Information Point is to be located in the library and checks were planned for door to door salespeople and scrap collectors.
The Chairman thanked all of the officers for their time and the good work they were doing in the village.
7. DCAE COSFORD REPORT:
No representative of DCAE Cosford was available to make a report.
8. UNITARY AUTHORITY REPORT:
Cllr. M Pate was not available to make a report.
9. FINANCE:
End of year statement of accounts 2010/11 prior to presentation to the Internal Auditor:
The accounts for the final quarter had been circulated to members. They showed a closing balance of £93,737 which was up from the previous year’s closing balance of £90,593. Cllr. Illes proposed that final quarter accounts should be accepted which was seconded by Cllr. Johnson and agreed by the Council.
To approve the accounting statement for the internal audit 2010/11:
Councillors had received a copy of the statement of accounts for submission to the internal auditor. The Clerk went through the details and the Chairman reported that he had collaborated with the Clerk regarding the various budget heads and a small number of alterations had been agreed. There was discussion with regard to the total fixed assets and members were informed that the mace situated in the Church would need to be moved because of planned work on the organ and members agreed that the mace and a silver salver would need to be re-valued in the near future.
Cllr. Illes proposed that the accounting statement should be approved which was seconded by Cllr. Holden and agreed by Council.
Parish Flyer income and expenditure:
The report on the income and expenditure of the Parish Flyer for the month of March 2011 was received and noted.
Cheques for April 2011 for approval:
A list of 20 cheques for payment was presented for approval. Cllr. Pledger proposed that the cheques should be approved which was seconded by Cllr. Holden and agreed by Council.
|
Date |
Cheque No. |
Payee |
Amount |
|
04.04.11 |
2912 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
250.00 |
|
07.04.11 |
2920 |
Severn Trent Water, office water bill |
46.65 |
|
07.04.11 |
2921 |
Npower, office electricity bill |
150.58 |
|
07.04.11 |
2922 |
Shropshire Council, resurfacing footpath in High Street |
2990.23 |
|
07.04.11 |
2923 |
Shropshire Council, election costs August 2010 |
1055.64 |
|
07.04.11 |
2924 |
NALC, LCR subs |
168.00 |
|
07.04.11 |
2925 |
ALC, annual subscription |
1156.56 |
|
11.04.11 |
2926 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
705.00 |
|
18.04.11 |
2927 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
381.00 |
|
21.04.11 |
2928 |
LSH Property Services, rent on Clockmills |
482.00 |
|
21.04.11 |
2929 |
Clerk, April salary |
1036.99 |
|
21.04.11 |
2930 |
Village Warden. April salary |
104.36 |
|
21.04.11 |
2931 |
Litter Warden, April salary |
171.17 |
|
25.04.11 |
2932 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
220.00 |
|
21.04.11 |
2934 |
Alb. Musical Theatre, grant |
2500.00 |
|
21.04.11 |
2935 |
Cash, petty cash |
100.00 |
|
21.04.11 |
2936 |
Office cleaner, 4 weeks cleaning |
40.00 |
|
21.04.11 |
2937 |
Keith Gibson Cars, Flyer repairs, service, fuel |
562.40 |
|
21.04.11 |
2938 |
Wellings Ltd., compaction skip, April |
1082.69 |
|
21.04.11 |
2939 |
RBS Software, Payroll fees |
28.80 |
10. UPDATE ON THE USE OF THE SKATEBOARD PARK AND ANY CHANGES TO CURRENT PROCEDURES:
Cllr. Pledger reported that the use of the skateboard park was going well and visitors from outside the village were generally well behaved. Any problems tended to arise from younger local users who sometimes left litter behind and the grass verges were becoming rutted. Outstanding issues concerned the need to concrete both ends of the facility, putting some bollards or boulders on the verges and some outstanding landscaping that had been promised by Shropshire Council. The bin provided by Albrighton Parish Council had been removed and replaced by another Shropshire Council bin and no-one knew what had happened to the original.
There was also discussion on the possibility of a restricted hour solely for younger users which would need to be agreed with Shropshire Council.
Action: The Clerk to write to Shropshire Council outlining the work that still needed to be completed, ask about the Albrighton bin and raise the issue of a restricted hour for younger children. The letter was to be copied to Cllr. M Pate.
11. GRANT REQUEST FROM ALBRIGHTON FAYRE COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF THE 2011 SUMMER FAYRE ON 9TH JULY:
Cllr. Illes proposed that the Council should make a grant of £250 to the Albrighton Fayre Committee which was seconded by Cllr. Holden. The proposal was approved by the Council.
12. POSSIBLE PROVISION OF A YOUTH SHELTER:
Cllr. Nelson reminded Council that they had agreed in principle that a Youth Shelter should be provided but discussion had stalled with regard to the location of the facility. Councillors agreed that the young people of the village needed to be asked and Cllr. Pledger suggested conducting a survey at local youth clubs and Cllr. MacLachlan suggested that the Civic Society and the Abney Avenue group should also be asked. CSO J Fletcher would be another good contact and members agreed to review suggestions regarding a suitable location once discussions had taken place.
13. THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING THURSDAY 28TH APRIL, ARRANGEMENTS AND RELATED MATTERS:
Members agreed that more consideration should be given to the planning of the Annual Parish Meeting and in order to provide a good timetable for discussion members agreed that the 2012 APM should take place on 26th April and planning for the event should start in January 2012. The 2011 APM would go ahead as planned on 28th April.
Cllr. Beechey raised the possibility of a joint meeting with Donington with Boningale Parish Council and promised to raise the matter with the Chairman. Cllr. Murray agreed to oversee the printing of the annual report and for it to be distributed to all households in the village. Forty copies would be available at the meeting on 28th April.
14. APPLICATION TO REGISTER PATSHULL GREEN, ALBRIGHTON AS A VILLAGE GREEN:
Councillors considered the letter and attachments provided by Mr Tim Ward of Shropshire Council which referred to the Commons Act 2006 which required an applicant “to show that a significant number of local people have indulged in lawful sports and pastimes ‘as of right’ on the land for at least 20 years and they continue to do so.” Evidence which might meet the criteria was considered and Cllr. Illes volunteered to make the necessary contacts and research the requirement before reporting back to the Council on possible future initiatives.
Action: Cllr. Illes to consider this matter further and after necessary investigation to report back to the Council on possible future initiatives.
15. SHROPSHIRE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK INCLUDING SITE ALLOCATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT:
Councillors considered the documents and made a number of comments relating to the accuracy of the statements. The comments relating to the two hospitals were wrong in that both hospitals were accorded equal status and there were A & E facilities at both. There were currently 10 empty businesses in Albrighton not 15 and the reference to the Cross Road site related to the proposed re-location of the medical centre which was now unlikely to happen. Cllr. D Beechey undertook to review the document on the Council’s behalf and make the necessary amendments.
Action: Cllr. D Beechey to produce an amended version of the LDF and submit on behalf of the Council.
16. PROPOSAL FOR NEW ALLOTMENTS AT THE TOP OF WORTHINGTON DRIVE AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED:
The Council felt that it was now appropriate to give the occupants of 60 Loak Road notice to vacate Council owned land by the autumn once they had had time to harvest any plants and vegetables that might be growing there. Council also agreed to allow the Allotments Association to have the allotments at the top of Worthington Drive and that steps should be put in place to hand this land over for allotment cultivation.
Action: The Clerk and Cllr. Nelson to draft a letter on behalf of the Council to the occupants of 60 Loak Road, copied to 58 Loak Road, asking them to vacate Council land at the top of Worthington Drive by the autumn of 2011.
The Clerk to write to the new Chair of the Allotments Association offering the land at the top of Worthington Drive for new allotments and asking for a meeting to discuss the details of the handover.
17. INVITATION TO WEST MIDLANDS ALLOTMENT OFFICERS FORUM 9TH JUNE 2011:
The invitation was received and noted.
18. CORRESPONDENCE:
Shropshire Council – letter regarding the Albrighton Area Joint Committee:
Received and noted.
ALC – agenda and minutes from the Bridgnorth and Shifnal Area Committee meeting on 26th April 2011:
Received and noted. Cllr Murray would be attending the meeting.
CPRE – agenda and minutes for the AGM Thursday 12th May 2011:
Received and noted.
Shropshire Council – report on the Annual Emergency Planning Briefing of 11th April 2011 and an invitation to develop a Community Resilience Initiative:
Received and noted.
19. DATES AND TIMES OF FUTURE MEETINGS:
· Annual Parish Meeting Thursday 28th April 2011 at 7.30 pm in the Red House.
· Parish Council Planning Meeting Thursday 5th May 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
· Parish Council meeting Thursday 19th May 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
Signed.........................................................................Date.........................................................
Chairman