MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON 7th MAY 2002
PRESENT: Councillor Randall Sanders (Town Mayor) in the Chair,
Councillors Tim Benson, Alan Broughton, Ron Buzzard, Alan Cox, Ron Day, Michael Handley, Peter Leahy, John Nelson, Joyce Sanders and Richard Watson.
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ben Miller.
- CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
As information on the Council logo was still awaited, it was agreed to defer item 19 until the next meeting.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillors Alan Cox and John Nelson declared an interest in item 13 (Planning Applications). Councillor Joyce Sanders declared an interest in item 13 (Planning Application AVA/2002/0459 - erection of security fencing at St John's C of E School).
- PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - Ashford Rise Play Area
Steven Armstrong spoke on behalf of thirteen young people, attending the meeting and others not present, who were concerned about the removal of the basketball post from the Play Area. This had been installed in February 2001 following some four or five years of consultation with children in the area. It had been the subject of considerable differences of opinion in the area and at the Council meeting in June 2001 a deputation from people living close to the Play Area had called for its removal on the grounds of noise, and danger from balls going into the road and into neighbouring gardens. A public meeting on the subject did not take place but there had been a meeting between some residents, the police and members and officers of the Borough Council. However, those who were here this evening had not been able to express their views and accordingly they were asking this Council to make representations on their behalf to the Borough Council. They were particularly reluctant to go to Whitemoor Recreation Area because of the distance, the lack of supervision and its alleged reputation.
It was suggested that the noise from the bouncing basketballs could be reduced by the use of a different surface and that resiting the post may avoid the conflict between younger and older children. It was agreed to write to the Borough Council asking them to consider these proposals and involve the children who were attending this meeting before taking any decision on the resiting of the basketball post. It was suggested that a multi-use play area could be provided at Whitemoor to cater for the needs of older teenagers.
- POLICE
Inspector Arnie Hicklin circulated a table showing the targets that had been set for the reduction of the specific crimes of house burglary, violence, vehicle crime and drugs offences over a five year period starting in 1998. He was pleased that the Belper section was achieving its targets of an overall reduction over the five years. He also added that the road safety targets of a 10% reduction in fatalities and injuries over five years had been achieved in the first year.
There was considerable discussion about traffic calming measures being installed on Kilbourne Road and on Spencer Road. Inspector Hicklin agreed to arrange speed monitoring on Kilbourne Road but he said it was likely that it would not be regarded as a priority because there had been no injury related accidents on this stretch of road. There had been a recent fatality on Spencer Road which appeared to have been caused by excessive speed.
There had been increasing complaints about noise levels at the Encore Club where the police had been involved on a number of occasions recently. It was noted that the Club was now on the market.
- THE LOST GARDEN OF BELPER PROJECT
Mr Peter Davies addressed the Council on the proposals he and his committee had for the area of land opposite the Talbot Hotel. He circulated photographs of the area at present which showed it was very run down and a poor advertisement for Belper. He then showed the plans for the site as drawn up by Justine Hall of Groundwork Erewash who was a member of the Lost Garden Committee. It was estimated that the total cost of the project would be £40,000 which he is hopeful of raising through various grants. The southern part of the site is owned by Strutt Estate and the northern part by Mr and Mrs Shaw. Mr Shaw is prepared to sell his part to Mr Davies and Mrs Shaw and the Strutt Estate are both prepared to lease their land to the project or the Council for a peppercorn.
Mr Davies said that the grant aid, as well as covering the capital cost, would include sufficient money to pay for the maintenance for the first three years. However, in order to obtain the grants he had to ensure that the site would be taken over by the Council and maintained satisfactorily after this initial period. It was estimated that the annual maintenance costs would be approximately £1200.
The Council was enthusiastic about his proposals and agreed unanimously to Mr Davies' request to take on board the maintenance of the site once the project was completed.
- IN CAMERA
Apart from Minute 541 of the last Council meeting and matters arising therefrom, there were no items that warranted being taken in camera.
- MINUTES 515-540, COUNCIL MEETING HELD 9TH APRIL 2002
Minutes 515-540 of the Council Meeting held 9th April 2002 were received and approved subject to "Whitehouse Rise" being substituted for "Whitemoor Rise" in the heading of minute 537.
- MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ABOVE MINUTES
522 - St John's Chapel
The Chapel gutters had been cleared and no repairs appeared to be necessary. As nothing had been heard from English Heritage, they would be contacted again.
537 - Notice Board
Because notices other than those sanctioned by the Council could be placed on the notice boards if they did not have glass doors, it was agreed that doors were in fact necessary. Accordingly, the original tender for the notice board on Belper Lane/Whitehouse Rise would be accepted and the notice board at the Hawthorns would be repaired.
538 - Railway
Because of the state of the cutting and station and the fact that despite letters from the Town Council and Borough Council, Railtrack appeared to take no action, it was agreed to write to Mr Patrick McLoughlin to see if he could apply the necessary pressure. Councillor Joyce Sanders would also take the matter up through the County Council.
- MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE - 16TH APRIL 2002
The minutes of the Recreation and Development Committee held on 16th April 2002 were received and noted.
Councillor Richard Watson reported on the meeting with officers of the Borough Council to discuss the Larks in the Park and Golden Jubilee events being held in the River Gardens. The principal issue concerned the stewarding of the events, in particular, the Music Live Day on Monday 3rd June where the Borough Council required up to ten stewards to be on duty at the peak times. Various bodies were being approached to provide supervision at the two Golden Jubilee events. As only three or four stewards were necessary at the Larks in the Park it was agreed that members should carry out the task. The Town Clerk would produce a rota on which all members, other than those specifically requesting not to be involved, would be included.
- MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN JUBILEE COMMITTEE - 30TH APRIL 2002
The minutes of the Golden Jubilee Committee held on 30th April 2002 which were tabled were noted.
- MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
In his last Council meeting as Mayor, Councillor Randall Sanders reminded Council that the AGM would be held in a week's time.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Councillor Joyce Sanders reported that there were no contentious issues on any of the planning applications circulated on the 17th and 26th April.
- JUSTICE'S AND ENTERTAINMENTS LICENCES
No comments were made on the various applications set out in the schedules of 17th and 26th April.
- PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS
The schedule of payments and receipts covering the period from 27th March to 26th April was received and approved. The schedule is attached to these minutes and shows expenditure of £18,850.35 and income of £6,278.17.
- DRAFT FINAL ACCOUNTS 2001/2
The draft final accounts were noted: reasons for discrepancies between the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2002 and 31st March 2001 were accounted for by the irregular phasing of certain major invoices.
- BELPER LEISURE CENTRE
Councillor Ron Buzzard reported that phase 1 of the works to update the Leisure Centre had now started. These focused on the creation of a new fitness suite which it was hoped to have completed by Christmas. He hoped the public would understand the problems created by the building work and would accept these in the knowledge that there would be an enhanced facility in due course.
Prices had been increased from 1st April in line with the other Leisure Centres in Amber Valley. The possibility of having their own Leisure card, rather than making use of the Borough Council's Leisure card, was being explored.
- MARKET RIGHTS
The Town Clerk explained that as the markets authority, the Town Council has the right to approve or veto the establishment of another market within six and two-thirds miles of the market place. Because the Borough Council was the markets authority for the rest of Amber Valley, a modus vivendi had been established whereby the two councils worked together in dealing with applications for markets in Belper and its vicinity.
As car boot sales were classified as markets, it was necessary for the organisers of such events in Belper to apply to the Town Council. Several such sales had been held in recent months where no application had been made. However, as these have all been charitable events, it was agreed to give them retrospective approval. Henceforth, the Town Clerk would have delegated authority to approve markets where their principal aims were charitable.
- TOWN SERVICE AND MAURICE HEELY AWARDS
The Mayor reported that he had met with his committee to select the group to be awarded the Maurice Heely Award for 2001/2. There were two nominations and it was decided to make the award to Belper Marlin Swimming Club who were celebrating their twenty-fifth year of helping the children of Belper to learn to swim and progress to competitive levels.
The Town Service Awards would be made to Mrs Barbara Pickering who had been secretary of the Belper Social Club for the Disabled for twenty-one years and Mr James Wilson who had been involved in the Scout movement for over fifty years.
- STREET PARTY - APPLEWOOD CLOSE
Councillor Tim Benson reported that he had spoken to Mrs Hall who had submitted the application to hold a street party in Applewood Close and had explained that the Council's policy had been to encourage applicants to participate in Belper Celebrations' Barbecue. He had further explained that previous applicants had not been grant-aided because of the limited funds available and the fact that the Borough Council was assisting street parties to take place. To be consistent, it was agreed that no grant-aid should be given to the Applewood Close application.
- SKATE PARK - SHOWGROUND
The conditions set out in the Borough Council's letter, which had been considered and agreed at previous meetings, were endorsed.
- PUBLIC SERVICES - AVBC
The letter from the Borough Council setting out the changes in responsibilities of senior staff in the Public Services division was noted.
There was considerable criticism of the state of the town centre and King Street in particular and this would be taken up with the Borough Council again. It was recognised that now Belper was part of the World Heritage Site, it was necessary to ensure the town centre was clean and tidy at all times. Investment on such basics was more important than spending money on capital projects.
- ROLE OF PARISH COUNCILS
The letter from the Minister for Rural Affairs referring to a recent article in The Times was noted.
- HOLBROOK ROAD POST OFFICE
The letter from the Rural Transfer Adviser of Post Office Ltd referring to the closure of Holbrook Road Post Office at the end of May was noted, as were the endeavours of the Post Office to restore a service in that part of Belper as soon as possible.
- TRAVELLERS ON THE SHOWGROUND
Despite the Council's best endeavours, travellers have once again occupied the Showground. As they had not moved off as promised, the due legal processes, which the Town Clerk was delegated to implement, were now taking place and it was anticipated that notice would be served later in the week. Should this not have the desired effect then the process of obtaining a Court Order had also been put in train. This was scheduled to come into operation on 17th May with the Bailiffs moving in a day or two later.
Precautions had been taken to secure the Coppice car park from a similar occupation.
- FLORAL DISPLAYS AND SUMMER BEDDING
The Town Clerk reported that sponsorship appeared to be at about the same level as the two previous years. Two of the existing main sponsors had confirmed they would be contributing again this year and he was hopeful that the third would too. In addition, sponsorship had been promised for a large planter at the foot of King Street outside the HSBC Bank. He was still seeking approval from the County Council to site the planter at this point.
- BELPER COMMUNITY TENNIS PARTNERSHIP
The application for the scheme to be undertaken during the summer holidays had arrived too late to be considered by the Recreation and Development Committee. However, as it satisfied the aims of the Council's sports development programme, it was agreed to meet the request for £450 in full.
- CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
The schedule of correspondence received was noted.