ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on
Thursday 19th March 2009 at the Red House
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held at the Red House on Thursday 19th March 2009.
PRESENT: Cllrs. P Lusk (Chair), D Beechey (Vice Chair), R Balkwill, G Beechey,
R Blincoe, M Holden, D Johnson, R Kidson, D Murray, J Nelson, M Pate,
S Pledger.
CLERK: M Ward
PUBLIC SESSION: One member of the public attended. There were no questions or comments on any item on the agenda.
APOLOGIES: Cllrs. N Hester, P Illes, S Pate.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
Personal:
There were no declarations of personal interests.
Prejudicial:
Cllr. G Beechey declared a prejudicial interest in item 12.
Cllr. M Pate declared a prejudicial interest in item 12.
Cllr. S Pledger declared a prejudicial interest in item 12.
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Parish Council Meeting of 19th February 2009
Two small alterations to the agenda items on fly tipping in Abney Avenue and the Youth Shelter were agreed. With these two amendments Cllr. M Pate proposed that the minutes were a true record, seconded by Cllr. G Beechey. The motion was unanimously approved.
Parish Council (planning) meeting of 5th March 2009
Cllr. M Pate proposed they were a true record, seconded by Cllr. Blincoe. The motion was unanimously approved.
MATTERS ARISING:
Cllr. Blincoe reported that a ramp for the disabled access to the toilets in the Crown car park was no longer needed as the plastics skip had been re-positioned.
Cllr. M Pate reported that a Shropshire Council manned access point was to be established in Albrighton on a trial basis for one year. A visit will be made to the Parish Office in April to assess its suitability as a base.
The rubbish from the site in Abney Avenue was starting to be removed and Cllr. D Beechey informed members that a further notice had been served by BDC.
Cllrs. Illes and D Beechey were to attend a meeting with Network Rail and London Midland regarding Albrighton Station in April and the clerk reported that a letter had been delivered to the Harp public house regarding the purchase of a bench to be situated on the Green. No reply had been received to date.
Discussion on the swimming pool at Newhouse Lane revealed that refurbishment estimates had risen to £36,000 to include a plastic liner or £24,000 if the walls were shot blasted. Cllr. M Pate was still confident that the county education department would fund the costs and the swimming pool would open on time after Easter. Cllr. Pate had also been in touch with Albrighton Football Club and supplied forms for the young people involved to apply for a grant from the YOF. He was still looking for a suitable camera for the CSO and he would pass it on to the clerk as soon as possible. He also informed members that the boundaries for the new Joint Committees had now been approved. Councillors thanked him for his efforts.
The chair informed the Council that Cllr. Illes had produced a draft leaflet for circulation based on the Stop and Drop campaign. It would be placed on the next Council agenda for discussion.
PLANNING:
Planning applications
FUL/09/0107 Erection of a rear single storey extension 37 Lyncroft, Albrighton.
Resolved to recommend:
No objections.
FUL/09/0059 Amended plans for erection of a stable block land at Beamish Lane, Albrighton.
Resolved to recommend:
Objections and refusal. The application is incompatible with Green Belt policy.
FUL/09/0129 Erection of a two storey building forming four holiday apartments land rear of Albrighton Library, Station Road, Albrighton.
Resolved to recommend:
Objections and refusal. Objections to the previous application on this site remain relevant.
CAC/09/0128 Demolition of rear stock room and outbuildings 78 High Street, Albrighton.
Resolved to recommend:
No objections. This application had been considered at an earlier meeting of the Council.
Permission granted
FUL/09/0006 Internal alterations at Red House, High Street, Albrighton.
Received and noted.
Permission refused
FUL/08/0859 Alterations to roof including front dormer windows at 75 High Street, Albrighton.
Received and noted.
Tree Preservation Order
1 x Lime - Crown reducing by 2.0m, thinning of low growths, removal of dead wood
4 Manor Gardens, Albrighton.
Received and noted.
Members asked the District Councillors to make further enquiries and report back on developments concerning applications at The Hollies, land east of Shaw Lane and the Old School.
DCAE COSFORD REPORT:
Mo Ashan presented his apologies. A report had been sent in an email but computer problems had prevented its distribution. The report will be circulated to members with the agenda for the Parish Council (planning) meeting on 2nd April.
POLICE REPORT:
DC Salt was not present.
Cllr. Blincoe had three copies of the latest crime statistics which could be circulated. Councillors asked the clerk to write a letter of thanks to CSO Jacqui Fletcher for all of her work in the village, particularly on behalf of young people. It was reported that PC Salt had been in touch with residents who had been concerned at the noise caused by Idsall School pupils waiting for the bus.
FINANCE:
Bank reconciliation March 2009
This being the final quarter of the month a full bank reconciliation was distributed to all members. Cllr. Murray reported that the Finance Committee had gone through the bank reconciliation at its meeting earlier in the day. Members of the committee confirmed that there were no difficulties with the budget and the statement was approved by the Council.
Review of current investments
The clerk reported that he had written to the county asking if they had any specific advice with regard to the investment of Parish Council funds but no reply had been received so far. Cllr. M Pate stated that he would look into the matter. It was agreed that the Finance Committee would formally review Councils investments each quarter and report back to the full Council. The next review would take place in June 2009.
List of cheques for approval
A list of 18 cheques attached as Appendix A had been reviewed by the Finance Committee which recommended approval. The recommendation was agreed by the Council.
PROPOSED YOUTH COUNCIL:
Cllr. Kidson informed members that he had taken a copy of a Youth Council constitution which applied to young people under 18 and derived from the United Nations Human Rights Convention from the Internet. He stated that young people have a right to be consulted and have their views heard. By establishing a Youth Council young people were encouraged to support democracy and to vote and it fostered good community relationships. Shifnal Town Council had already produced a constitution for a local Youth Council.
Cllr. Lusk referred to a NALC paper on the subject which supported two models, either 11-18 or 13-18. It suggested a nomination procedure and a council would need clerking and resources, possibly provided by local Councils. A Youth Council should have a budget, a bank account and a cheque book. Some names had already been suggested of pupils at Idsall School who had experience of their school council. Cllr. D Beechey suggested a small committee should be established to agree the details which should include representatives form Donington Parish Council. Cllr. M Pate suggested that Council members from the Youth Forum had already been agreed and were recorded in the minutes of 19th February. CSO J Fletcher and a county youth officer could be added to the membership and he was happy to contact a suitable officer and inform the clerk regarding suitable dates.
Cllr. Blincoe recorded his concerns over the Project Board management of the skateboard park. He claimed that a number of parents had dropped out of the Board and there was a danger that no-one would be taking responsibility for the new facility. A meeting was necessary and Cllr. Pate agreed to contact Mr N Porter at the county and ask him to make the necessary arrangements.
REFURBISHMENT OF THE WAR MEMORIAL:
Cllr Johnson distributed photographs and diagrams of plans for the refurbishment of the War Memorial. He had been in touch with the solicitor regarding the transfer of ownership and he had been promised a response in the week beginning 23rd March. A meeting had been arranged with Mr. Bob Davies from the county to discuss the proposed refurbishment with particular reference to the ramping and disabled access. Cllr. Johnson proposed the removal of two stones which obscured the text on the memorial and the installation of non-slip slabs on the footpath. Cllr. G Beechey proposed that the Council adopt the scheme which was seconded by Cllr. Balkwill and the Council unanimously supported the motion. She thanked Cllr. Johnson for all of his efforts on behalf of the Council.
Once ownership had been obtained the War Memorial would be entered on to the Council’s asset register.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING:
It was agreed that the Annual Parish Meeting would take place on 23rd April 2009 at 7.30 pm in the Red House. The Red House had already been booked. The chair was compiling a report for residents which would be circulated to the whole village and placed on the web site. Some unaudited accounts would be available at the meeting.
Members agreed that representatives from the new authority regarding planning and the youth service should be invited to address the meeting and Cllr. Pate agreed to contact Mr T McCabe and Mr M Stephens at the county. The clerk would contact Steven Jones at Severn Trent and Barhale and Cllr. Beechey would contact Inspector Dunn and invite him to the meeting. The clerk agreed to draft a poster advertising the Annual Parish meeting which would be included in the next issue of the Parish Magazine.
Cllr. Nelson suggested that a social event should be organised for the whole community and staff at Severn Trent and Barhale as a way of thanking everyone for their hard work, patience and tolerance during the works in the village and he agreed to organise a proposal and bring it to the next meeting of the Council.
DEED OF SURRENDER FOR THE OLD SCHOOL:
A draft deed of surrender for the Old School had been received and circulated to Councillors. Cllr. Beechey recorded strong reservations about the Figure of £15,500 recorded in the draft and the apparent suggestion that the Council would support the installation of the lift in the Red House to an unlimited degree. His reservations were supported by Cllr. Nelson who pointed out that the Council had agreed a figure of up to £10,000 and to underwrite a shortfall on the lift installation if other grants and sources of funding did not cover the full cost. The draft did not conform to Council resolutions and a solicitor’s response should not need to be negotiated. It was agreed that a letter to the chair of the trustees should be written restating the Council’s commitments and Cllr. Pate was happy to organise a response to the draft deed of surrender which matches the Council’s resolutions. The clerk was asked to write to the solicitors acknowledging the receipt of the deed and stating that response to the Village Halls Trust will be made due course.
Discussion took place regarding the formal termination of the lease by the Council giving three months notice. After discussion Cllr. Murray proposed that three months notice of termination of the lease should be issued to take effect by the end of June. The motion was seconded by Cllr. D Beechey and approved by a majority of 5 to 1. Cllr. Nelson agreed to oversee the arrangements and further discussions on the draft deed of surrender.
REQUEST FOR GRANT FOR DROP IN CENTRE AT THE METHODIST CHURCH HALL:
The Council had received a request for a grant to support the proposed drop in centre for young people being organised by CSO J Fletcher. Cllr. Nelson proposed a grant of £1,000 with an invitation to approach the Council again if further funding was required which was seconded by Cllr. Balkwill. The motion received unanimous approval.
ABNEY AVENUE PLAY EQUIPMENT:
An email from Amy Davies at BDC was circulated to members regarding the future of the Abney Avenue play area once the new unitary authority took over in April. The new equipment had proved very popular and the facility was well used and popular. Cllr. D Beechey suggested that Shropshire Council should take over the site but Cllr. M Pate reminded members that the policy of the new authority was to encourage local councils to take responsibility for local resources but there were clear financial implications for the parish if this facility was to be managed by the Parish Council. It was agreed that the clerk should write to the county to find out what financial support was available if the Albrighton PC took on the responsibility of the play area and the maintenance and repair of equipment.
CLOSURE OF OLD SCHOOL ACCOUNT AND THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS:
The Council received a statement of the Old School accounts which showed a closing balance of £4,486.19 and a petty cash float of £23.44. The Council agreed that the bank account should be closed and the balance transferred to the Council’s Lloyds TSB current account and the petty cash added to the petty cash float held in the Council office. The clerk was instructed to make the necessary arrangements.
CORRESPONDENCE:
A letter had been received asking for £7,000 to help refurbish the Scout and Guides Den. Members felt that more information was required before a decision could be made. Questions were asked regarding the security of the building, the restrictive covenant that applied to the building and whether some kind of structured plan for future provision existed. The proposed development east of Shaw Lane was an issue that also needed clarification. It was agreed that the chair and the clerk would meet to draft a written response and Cllr. Nelson would talk over the matter with representatives of the scouts and guides and report back to the Council.
A letter from Donington Parish Council asked about the contract for the Parish Flyer which was to be approved by both Councils. The Chair reported that the county had sent out a document outlining how the new free bus pass scheme would operate and there was a need for the Transport Group to meet as soon as possible so that a new contract could be drafted.
The chairman went through correspondence which was of a more general nature.
TIMES AND DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS:
Signed……………………………………………Date………………………………
Chairman