ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
Thursday 17th March 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17th March 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
PRESENT: Cllrs. D Beechey (Chairman), M Pate (Vice Chairman), R Blincoe, S Brown, P Illes
J MacLachlan, J Nelson, S Pledger.
Clerk: Mr M Ward.
PUBLIC SESSION: No members of the public were in attendance.
1. APOLOGIES:
Cllrs. G Beechey, N Hester, M Holden, D Johnson, P Lusk, D Murray, S Pate.
Each apology was accepted by the Council.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
Personal:
None.
Prejudicial:
None.
3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting 20th February 2011:
Cllr. Pate proposed that the minutes were a true and accurate record which was seconded by Cllr. Blincoe and unanimously agreed.
Members agreed that the issue of a youth shelter should be placed on the next full Council meeting.
Minutes of the Parish Council planning meeting 3rd March 2011:
Cllr. MacLachlan proposed that the minutes were a true and accurate record which was seconded by Cllr. Blincoe and unanimously agreed.
4. MATTERS ARISING:
Cllr Blincoe to oversee the erection of new CCTV signs in the village at suitable points.
Cllr. Blincoe reported that this work had been completed.
Cllr. D Beechey to report on the bus service consultation Tuesday 1st March 2011.
Cllr. Beechey reported that a large number of people had turned up to complain about the cuts in local bus services. The officers attending had reported that Shropshire Council would be pleased to help the Council obtain a replacement Parish Flyer vehicle and attention was drawn to the Shropshire Link service which runs on Thursdays and Saturdays in the east Shropshire zone.
Cllr. M Pate to ask Shropshire Council about the possibility of a purchase of a used vehicle from them.
Cllr. Pate reported that no vehicles were available at present but some might be surplus following the re-routing currently under consideration. Matt Johnson should be contacted to discuss details. Cllr. Pate reported that no funding in section 106 was available for Albrighton.
Cllr. Illes to obtain estimates from skip contractors to compare prices for 2012/13.
Cllr. Illes reported that there had been one mistake in the skip timetable which had been corrected and he had been in touch with one other company regarding an estimate for 2012/13. He would provide a range of estimates for the coming year sometime in the autumn 2011.
Cllr. Blincoe to oversee the removal of a hazardous steel post at the allotments car park.
Cllr. Blincoe reported that the post had been removed.
The Clerk to obtain copies of the evidence of rent paid by local residents to Albrighton Allotments Association.
The Clerk reported that the letter with documentary evidence had been received.
Cllr. D Beechey to report on developments regarding the vacant land at Beamish Lane.
Cllr. Beechey reported that the enforcement officer had been informed and was taking appropriate action.
5. PLANNING:
Planning applications:
11/00601/FUL Erection of a single storey extension 18 Long Croft, Albrighton.
No objections were made to the application.
11/00663/FUL Erection of a first floor extension with Juliet balcony to rear elevation (revised application) 41 Bushfield Road, Albrighton.
No objections were made to this application.
11/00873/FUL Erection of a single storey extension to rear 55 Church Road, Albrighton.
No objections were made to this application.
Action: the Clerk to inform Shropshire Council planning department of the recommendations of the Council.
Permission granted:
10/05442/FUL Erection of a first floor pitched roof extension, erection of two storey side extension, provision of pitched roofs over existing first floor front projections with attached roof double garage to include utility room 16 Bush Close, Albrighton.
The decision was received and noted.
11/00018/TPO Remove 3 x lower limbs, raise crown to a height of 4 metres and remove major dead wood from within the canopy of 1 x Ash Tree protected by Shropshire Council (land at the north of the High Street, Albrighton) Tree Preservation Order 2010 St Josephs Roman Catholic Church, Bushfield Road, Albrighton.
The decision was received and noted.
Planning Committee Report:
10/05601/FUL Erection of a detached four bedroomed dwelling following demolition of existing lock up units Stroudley Yard, Rear Of, 41 High Street, Albrighton.
Cllr D Beechey reported that he and Cllr. M Pate attended the site visit and the planning meeting. The plans for the proposed dwelling were refused by the planning committee.
6. POLICE REPORT:
PC Hindley reported that the police light was now working and the parking in Shaw Lane was being monitored and in hand. The PACT priority was related to the riding of bicycles in the dark without lighting and the riding of bicycles on the pavement. Scrap vans were being stopped and investigated and crime figures were available from Crimemapper on the Internet. There had been some theft of diesel from parked lorries and thefts of metal. PC Hindley and her colleague were trying to establish the issues by talking to residents and Cllr. Pledger reported instances of speeding in Newhouse Lane. There was concern that the removal of the school bus from DCAE Cosford would add to the traffic and there were still instances of motorists going the wrong way down Church Road.
Cllr. Hindley was thanked for her time and her report.
7. DCAE COSFORD REPORT:
No officer from DCAE Cosford was present.
8. UNITARY AUTHORITY REPORT:
Cllr M Pate reported that the council tax had been rounded down so that there was no increase in the Bridgnorth area. He was still concerned about the big reduction in senior officers at Shrewsbury and it was clear that there were some fundamental changes being planned for the future with regard to the way Councils would work.
9. FINANCE:
Parish Flyer income and expenditure:
The figures for flyer income and expenditure for the month of February were noted.
A discrepancy in the end/start mileage for one day was also noted.
Oral report on the establishment of Internet banking and transfer of funds to Santander:
The Clerk reported that there had been some confusion with Lloyds/TSB with regard to signatures although the forms that they had supplied had been completed and returned. Further information required by Santander had also been supplied but at the time of reporting the funds had still not been transferred.
Cheques for March 2011 for approval:
A list of 22 cheques for payment was presented for approval. Cllr. M Pate proposed that the cheques should be approved which was seconded by Cllr. Blincoe and agreed by Council.
|
Date |
Cheque No. |
Payee |
Amount |
|
23.02.11 |
2896 |
Fibrecraft Plastics, bus shelter plastic |
178.27 |
|
03.03.11 |
2897 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
307.00 |
|
14.03.11 |
2898 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
385.50 |
|
03.03.11 |
2899 |
Passenger Lift Services, repairs to Flyer lift |
83.11 |
|
03.03.11 |
2900 |
Weston Sawmill, picnic table |
399.00 |
|
03.03.11 |
2901 |
Npower, parish office electricity bill |
957.93 |
|
17.03.11 |
2902 |
Keith Gibson, Flyer service, repairs, fuel |
720.89 |
|
17.03.11 |
2903 |
TFM, strimmer, paint, brushes |
189.02 |
|
17.03.11 |
2904 |
Clerk, March salary |
1036.99 |
|
17.03.11 |
2906 |
Village Warden, March salary |
104.36 |
|
17.03.11 |
2907 |
Litter Warden, March salary |
79.00 |
|
17.03.11 |
2908 |
Highfields School, prize for dog fouling competition |
25.00 |
|
17.03.11 |
2909 |
Severn Hospice, grant |
200.00 |
|
21.03.11 |
2910 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
250.00 |
|
28.03.11 |
2911 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
250.00 |
|
17.03.11 |
2913 |
CommuniCorp, Clerks and Councils Direct subs. |
66.00 |
|
17.03.11 |
2914 |
D Beechey, travel expenses |
31.55 |
|
17.03.11 |
2915 |
Clerk, travel expenses Nov – March |
91.10 |
|
17.03.11 |
2916 |
BT, Internet services |
125.92 |
|
17.03.11 |
2917 |
BT, parish office telephone bill |
135.88 |
|
17.03.11 |
2918 |
Post Office Ltd., 4th quarter NI and tax |
1174.34 |
|
17.03.11 |
2919 |
Viking Direct, copy paper, wallets, envelopes |
116.28 |
10. Discussion on the condition of the wall opposite the Bush public house which has serious cracking - Cllr. G Beechey:
Cllr. G Beechey reported the cracking in the stone wall opposite the Bush public house which could represent a danger to the public. The wall was the responsibility of Shropshire Council who needed to check its condition and make any necessary repairs.
Action: The Clerk to write to Shropshire Council and ask them to investigate the condition of the wall and take any necessary action.
11. Review of the Clerk’s salary:
The Clerk left the room for this agenda item. On his return he was informed that there would be no increase in his salary level given the national agreement to freeze public service salaries.
He was thanked for his work on behalf of the Parish Council.
12. Arrangement of the date of the Annual Parish Meeting and agree possible invited speakers – Cllr D Beechey:
Members agreed that the best date for the Annual Parish Meeting was 28th April 2011 at 7.30 pm. After discussion it was agreed that meeting should be devoted to health issues and the CEO of the NHS trust and a local GP should be invited to speak at the meeting.
Action: The Clerk to book the Red House for 28th April 2011 and invite Mr Adam Cairns, CEO of the local NHS trust, and Dr McDonald from the Albrighton medical practice to address the meeting.
13. Update on Councillors’ contact details:
Members returned the pro-forma previously distributed with contact details to the Clerk.
14. Substitute for Cllr. D Beechey at the LJC meeting on 21st March 2011:
Cllr. M Pate proposed that Cllr. Blincoe should replace Cllr. D Beechey at the forthcoming LJC meeting on 21st March. Cllr. MacLachlan seconded the motion which was agreed by Council.
15. Report on the failure of Pink Skips to provide a compactor skip on Saturday 5th March and subsequent action – Cllr. Illes:
This item had been dealt with under agenda item 4, matters arising.
16. Update on the tourism meeting on Tuesday 8th March and plans for the future – Cllr. D Beechey:
Cllr. Beechey reported that the meeting had proved productive and had concentrated on the provision of a possible local tourism web site. Mr McCloy from Shropshire Tourism said that his organisation could provide a site at a reasonable cost and the meeting had established a small committee to develop a framework for the proposed website which would need to be approved by the Council. Members gave their support in general terms to the development of a new site but would need to consider the costs and other details once the project had been further developed.
17. Correspondence:
Shropshire Council – increase in garage rents:
Received and noted.
The Royal British Legion – Remembrance Sunday Parades:
The Chairman reported that the British Legion were happy to continue the organisation of Remembrance Sunday parades.
Grontmij – start of the second and final proposed sewer upgrade 21st – 28th March 2011:
Received and noted.
Shropshire Council – information on an education consultation:
Received and noted.
18. Dates and times of future meetings:
· Parish Council planning meeting Thursday 7th April 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
· Parish Council meeting Thursday 21st April 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.35 pm.
Signed.............................................................................Date................................................
Chairman