MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON 12 JUNE 2001
PRESENT: Councillor Randall Sanders (Town Mayor) in the Chair,
Councillors Tim Benson, Alan Broughton, Ron Buzzard, Alan Cox, Ron Day, Elaine Emmott, Robert Hallsworth, Michael Handley, Pete Leahy, Ben Miller, John Nelson, Joyce Sanders and Richard Watson.
- CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
It was agreed to take items 1 - 4 of the supplementary agenda after item 12 of the main agenda, and item 5 with item 14 of the main agenda. Item 6 of the supplementary agenda would be incorporated into item 21 of the main agenda. An additional item "Governor - Milford School" would be added to the agenda immediately before "Correspondence Received".
It was agreed that Councillor Joyce Sanders should raise an additional item in camera.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Alan Cox declared an interest in item 10 (Planning Applications) and any other matters which had planning implications.
Councillor Ron Day declared a pecuniary interest in item 10 (Planning Applications) insofar as it related to application 0447 (St Laurence's Convent conversion).
Councillor Ben Miller declared an interest in item 11 (Justices and Entertainments Licences).
Councillor Robert Hallsworth declared a pecuniary interest in item 12 (Payments and Receipts), leaving the room when potential suppliers of protective clothing and cleaning materials was discussed.
- BMX RAMP - SHOWGROUND
Mr Barrie Whittaker, Senior Leisure Officer with the Borough Council outlined the progress that had been made since he attended the Recreation and Development Committee on 24 April. He said that the proposals put forward by GBH Engineering Ltd represented the best value for money and he passed round plans of the proposed lay-out of the ramps. The ramps would cost c£27,000 and ancillary works could cost up to a further £10,000. As the total was more than originally envisaged he said it may have to be funded over two financial years. However he was looking into the possibility of obtaining grant aid through the East Midlands Development Agency and proposed submitting an Outline Project Proposal to them.
As some concern was expressed about the size of the footprint of the scheme and its effect on the Showground it was agreed that the site should be pegged out and inspected by the Chair and Vice Chair of the Recreation and Development Committee and the Mayor (Councillors Dick Watson, Ron Day and Randall Sanders). In the meantime an application for planning permission would be submitted which would only be withdrawn if the three members were concerned about the impact the scheme would have on the Showground. This was being done so that the ramps could be in place for the school summer holidays.
Mr Barrie Whittaker was thanked for his presentation and his guidance over the last year.
Because no suitable sites had been found for a basketball play area Mr Whittaker was asked to re-examine the feasibility of installing a ring on Acorn Recreation Ground.
- PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - ASHFORD RISE PLAY AREA
Mr Peter Allison and Mr Andrew Edmondson who lived in properties adjoining the play area spoke with feeling about the unreasonable noise and the intimidatory behaviour of some of the youths and older children using the play area. They also warned about the dangers of heavy basketballs hitting young children, damaging nearby property and going into the road and possibly causing an accident. These problems started when the basketball ring was installed in February and with the lengthening daylight hours and imminent school holidays the situation was becoming worse. They presented a petition to the Council requesting the removal of the basketball ring so that the play area could revert once more to a recreational facility for young children.
The Borough Council were going to monitor the situation so that they could decide whether or not the ring should be removed. The public meeting that was due to be held on 26 June had been cancelled but the residents adjoining the play area were holding their own meeting on 20 June with representatives of the Borough Council and the Police to discuss whether any immediate steps could be taken to ameliorate the situation.
In the meantime it was agreed to write to the Borough Council urging them to bring forward their review and look at possible alternative sites for a basketball play area to cater for older children living in the area.
- ITEMS IN CAMERA
It was agreed to take the item to be raised by Councillor Joyce Sanders (see minute 292) in addition to those items identified on the agenda in camera.
- MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING - 8 MAY 2001
The minutes of the meeting held on 8 May 2001 were received and approved except for an amendment to the second sentence of Minute 265 (Declarations of Interest) which should have read "He (Councillor Alan Cox) declared a pecuniary interest in item 17 insofar as it related to the Citizens Advice Bureau and left the room during the discussion on this item".
- MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ABOVE MINUTES
271 - Climate Change Levy
As it was considered that the request for information was politically motivated and could have been obtained from other sources the Town Clerk was instructed not to look any further into determining the effect of the climate change levy on the Council's finances.
The Town Clerk reported that though this Standing Order was largely irrelevant it was still necessary to have a Standing Order requiring the submission of the annual accounts to the Council. He would submit a draft to the next meeting.
It was noted that the request to provide lighting for Kirks Lane had now been withdrawn.
McDonalds at The Orangery had agreed to sponsor the floral display at Milford Triangle for the next 12 months. Anticipated income from sponsorship this year was now in excess of that received last year.
287 - Audit of Accounts 1999-2000
The Town Clerk reported that he had carried out a thorough investigation but could find no record of having received the District Auditor's letter of 12 February. Councillor Tim Benson pointed out that the letter referred to incidents that had occurred before the Town Clerk, Assistant Town Clerk and Finance Assistant were in post. He was satisfied that satisfactory systems of financial control were now in operation.
- MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor referred to the very successful week long Belper Celebration. As well as giving great enjoyment to those who had participated it had proved an excellent vehicle for many local charities who had raised some £5,000 under its aegis.
He also remarked on the success of Belper's first Farmers' Market and the Vintage Steam event. Both had brought many visitors to the town.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
In reporting on the Planning Applications circulated in May Councillor Joyce Sanders highlighted two issues.
The first was the most controversial being for the conversion of St Laurence's Convent and the development of properties in its grounds. She had chaired a public meeting that had been attended by 92 people. They were concerned about the density of the proposed development, increased traffic flow, the dangers of access to and egress from the site, the destruction of trees and shrubs, and the capacity of the sewerage system. The meeting had been attended by Borough Council Planners, but this Council had written to reinforce these points.
The second application was for the erection of a conservatory at 10 Wilders Lea Court. Careful consideration would need to be given to this as the green belt boundary ran through the garden of this property.
- JUSTICES AND ENTERTAINMENTS LICENCES
No comments were made on the two applications for Entertainments Licences, though it was noted that there would be a Borough Council site meeting on 13 June to discuss the earlier application for a Justices Licence for the Strutt Club. There were no applications for the transfer of Justices Licences.
- PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS
Councillor John Nelson raised queries on a number of payments. The Town Clerk responded, giving the reasons for making these payments to the individuals and businesses concerned.
Members were requested to resolve their queries wherever possible with the Town Clerk or the Finance Assistant prior to the meeting.
- FINAL ACCOUNTS 2000/01
The Income and Expenditure Account for the financial year 2000/01 and the Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2001 were received and approved.
- MAURICE HEELY AND TOWN SERVICE AWARDS
The Mayor reported that his Panel had received two nominations for the Maurice Heely Award and after careful consideration it had been decided to make this year's presentation to Fleet Art's "Nail it Down" initiative.
It was agreed that the Town Service Awards should be made to Mrs Jean Byrne who had been involved in the Neighbourhood Watch Support Group for some 20 years, and to Mr Peter Davies who had been instrumental in establishing many initiatives in Belper over the years including the Wells Dressings and Santa Aid.
- ALLOTMENTS SEMINAR
It was reported that a seminar organised by the North Derbyshire Rural Priority Area Partnership was being held in Chesterfield on 11 July. There would be no charge to participants. The Mayor volunteered to attend on behalf of the Council and it was suggested that Mr Bernard Holden as Secretary of the Hunter Road Allotments should be invited to accompany him.
- PLANNING USERS' CONCORDAT SURVEY
The National Association of Local Councils is undertaking a survey on the impact of the planning concordat on town and parish councils. Councillors Robert Hallsworth and Joyce Sanders agreed to compile a response to the survey on behalf of the Council.
- REFUSE COLLECTION SERVICE
It was explained that the Borough Council was now insisting that wheelie bins would only be emptied if the lid closed and only one extra bag of rubbish would be collected because of health and safety reasons and the need to reduce the amount of refuse. The Borough Council's costs for refuse collection were above the national average and in order to reduce these one freighter was being taken out of service. The Borough Council was also below its target for recycling refuse. To help rectify this it hoped to introduce a fortnightly paper collection service in September.
However it was agreed that the only way to make a significant increase in the amount of refuse that is recycled locally was for Belper to have its own local amenity site. The County Council's budget for refuse disposal in the current year was £11m. and they hoped to develop seven additional amenity sites in the next 12 months. Councillor Joyce Sanders said she was lobbying strongly for one of these sites to be in Belper.
- FARMERS' MARKET
The minutes of the Market Place Working Group held on 5 June, which were tabled, were received and noted.
Councillor Michael Handley reported that the first Farmers' Market held on 9 June had been a great success, both from the point of view of the farmers and other stall holders as well as from the shoppers. Many people had commented that this was the first time the Market Place had had a "proper" market for some 25 years. He thanked all those who had been involved in setting up the market and especially praised Elaine Hibbert who had taken the lead role in its organisation.
He said that there would be a further meeting with the Town Centre Manager and representatives of Amber Valley Markets with a view to holding the first Thursday Market sometime in July. It appeared that there were about 35 potential stall holders, though if such a number materialised there could be problems of finding sufficient stalls, and then siting and storing them.
- TOWNSCAPE HERITAGE INITIATIVE
Councillor Joyce Sanders explained that this initiative would be operating alongside the Conservation Area Partnership in protecting the built environment of Belper and Milford. Bids for funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund would be made through the Borough Council.
- PRIVATE STREET WORKS
The letter from the County Council identifying ten streets/footpaths that had been adopted was noted.
- RIGHT OF WAY - MILFORD
Although there had been a footpath in the past running from Bridge View in Milford to Makeney Road it had not been used for many years. As the proposed route ran along the top of the disused quarry at Milford it was inherently dangerous. There also appeared to be access problems as the proposed footpath passed through the extended gardens of some of the properties fronting the A6. Accordingly it was agreed to write to the County Council opposing the making of the right of way.
- FREIGHT QUALITY PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY
The draft strategy prepared by the County Council in cooperation with Derby City Council contained five key policies. These were endorsed by the Council as the basis for the development of an action plan for the movement of freight within the County.
- HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND ROADSHOW
The contents of the Borough Council's letter giving details of the Roadshow which would take place at the Strutt Club at 7.00pm on 21 June were noted. It was hoped that as many members as possible would be in attendance and that they would bring it to the attention of groups who were considering submitting a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
- AMBER VALLEY PRIMARY CARE TRUST
The letter from the Trust confirming that it had come into being on 1 April, having been created out of the North and South Amber Valley Primary Care Groups, was noted.
- GOVERNOR - MILFORD SCHOOL
Because of his other commitments Councillor Ben Miller said he was unable to attend some of the meetings of the Milford School Governors. Accordingly he had submitted his resignation.
It was agreed that his place should be taken by Mr Peter Shepherd.
- CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
The items of correspondence listed on the schedule together with those included on the supplementary agenda were noted.