BELPER TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 21st JANUARY 2003
PRESENT: Councillor Ron Buzzard (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Tim Benson, Alan Broughton, Ron Day, Peter Leahy, John Nelson, Joyce Sanders, Randall Sanders and Richard Watson
The meeting commenced with the Mayor paying tribute to Mr Leslie Beardmore who had died recently. He had served as a Councillor for 24 years since the creation of the Council in 1974 and had been Mayor on two occasions, first from 1975-76 and then again in 1991-92. The meeting stood in silent respect for their former colleague.
The Mayor then welcomed three visitors from Pawtucket. Suzanne Copping was studying the differences and similarities between the American and British approach to the development of funding of heritage sites. She was accompanied by her husband and brother, the latter being on the curatorial staff of the Slater Mill.
- APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alan Cox and Michael Handley.
- CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
In addition to the supplementary agenda, a supplementary schedule of correspondence was tabled as was the latest planning schedule.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- PARKS MULTI PURPOSE PLAY AREA
The discussion with Mr Barrie Whittaker, the Borough Council's Senior Leisure Officer, focused on the cost of repairs to the Play Area so that it could be used for another year or two until a replacement facility had been provided. He estimated that the cost of making the lights safe, repairing the fencing and resealing and marking out the surface would be in the region of £1500. He would endeavour to obtain a quote within the next week, and anticipated that if the Town Council contributed 50% the Borough Council would pay the remainder. The Leader and Mayor were authorised to take a decision on whether or not to proceed with the works once the cost was known.
Mr Whittaker also referred to the proposals for Whitemoor and sought the Council's financial support towards their costs. He agreed to set out the proposals in detail in a formal letter to the Council.
- PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
- IN CAMERA
There were no matters that warranted being taken in camera.
- MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD 10TH DECEMBER 2002
The minutes of the Council meeting held on 10th December 2002 were received and approved apart from minute 163 where the final sentence of the second paragraph was deleted.
- MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ABOVE MINUTES
148 - Outdoor Maintenance
The Town Clerk said that he had just received a report from the Council's outdoor contractor recommending improvements to many of the Council's outdoor facilities. He suggested that a small working party should tour the sites and consider the proposals in detail with a view to sanctioning them. Councillors John Nelson and Joyce Sanders were nominated for this task.
151 - Marsh Lane/Chesterfield Road Junction
It was noted that the County Council had withdrawn the scheme following the adverse public reaction.
156-127 - Railway Station
The proposals before the last Council had been amplified to a considerable degree. Of particular relevance to this Council was the provision of more finger-posts directing visitors to the Heritage Centre. The additional proposals were agreed in their entirety.
156-127 - Safeway Traffic Island
The lighting had been in place and functioning in time for Christmas. There was a likelihood that the level of lighting would be raised to make a little more impact.
156-128 - Strutt Memorial
It was noted that the favoured site for the memorial to Jedediah Strutt was now either the Belper Triangle or the Mill premises itself.
158 - Planning Process
It appeared that the Ramblers' Association had not seen the letter from DEFRA sent out in September.
161 - Budget 2003/4
The budget made provision for a second full-time member of staff to work outdoors as a result of the last Staff Working Party. However, in the light of experience over the last few months, the Town Clerk said it was now considered that a part-timer should be employed. Accordingly, an advertisement had been placed seeking a General Assistant to work some twenty hours a week. The post holder would have to be flexible in their working arrangements and would be required to work additional hours at peak times of the year or when cover was necessary for the other member of outdoor staff.
165 - Chevin Road
Letters had been received from the County Council stating that Chevin Road does not justify precautionary salting route status, but that the resurfacing and reconstruction of the road was being submitted for possible inclusion in the 2003/4 County Roads Programme.
- MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HELD 14TH JANUARY 2003
The minutes of the Recreation and Development Committee held on 14th January 2003 were received and noted. It was pointed out that there would be much activity in Belper during May with the National Street Music Festival being held from 16th to 18th of the month, the Belper Carnival from 17th to 24th, the Wakes Day on 26th and the Hosiery Week earlier in the month. It was essential that the organisers of the various events worked closely to ensure that there were no programming clashes and that where practicable (eg publicity) they helped each other.
It was agreed to accede to the Street Music Festival's request to use the Memorial Gardens on 17th May and have free use of the Chapel for the duration of the Festival.
- MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor thanked all those who had been involved in making the Christmas festivities and the Christmas Eve Carol Service such a success. He reminded Members that the Civic Service would be on the morning of Sunday 16th March 2003.
Reference was made to an exhibition at Safeway on 22nd January of the progress being made on the Derwent Valley Mills Integrated Transportation Study and to the discussion entitled "Drugs in Belper" being organised by the Belper Derwent Project Executive on 29th January at St John's.
It was noted that copies of the forms of nomination paper, the forms of consent to nomination, the forms of registration of political parties and the candidates guide for the Parish Council elections to be held on 1st May 2003 were now available.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Councillor Joyce Sanders said that there was nothing contentious to report on any of the schedules under consideration. It was noted that the term "deemed refused" referred to applications that had lapsed because the further information required by the Planning Authority had not been forthcoming.
- JUSTICE'S AND ENTERTAINMENTS LICENCES
No comments were made on the various applications set out in the schedules that were under consideration.
- PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS
The schedule of payments and receipts from 15th November 2002 to the 19th December 2002 was received and approved. The schedule is attached to these minutes and shows expenditure of £12,957.52 and income of £7,580.43.
- ANNUAL AUDIT
The External Auditor's Certificate and Opinion were formally received. It was noted that he had made no comments on the accounts for 2001/2.
- BELPER LEISURE CENTRE
As there had been no meeting of the Trust since the date of the last Council meeting, there was nothing to report.
- SPENCER MONUMENT
Councillor Joyce Sanders reported that the plaque was being replaced by the County Council at no cost. It was considered that the illumination of the monument was most successful and created a positive impression on those entering Belper from the east.
- HIGH STREET RECESS
It was noted that the recess was now owned by the Council and its future planting would be considered by the Working Party set up earlier in the meeting (minute 176).
- COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARDS
The rules suggested in the note before Council were adopted as Council policy.
Several members made reference to out of date posters in some of the notice boards. Steps would be taken to ensure that there was closer monitoring of all of the notice boards.
- GREENWATCH AWARD SCHEME
As guardians of St John's Chapel, Councillor John Nelson suggested that the Council should be nominated for the scheme itself because of the care that the Council had given to ensuring that St John's was maintained to a high level. However, it was considered that it would be inappropriate for the Council to nominate itself.
- LOST GARDEN STEERING GROUP
It was confirmed that Councillor Ron Day was the Council's sole representative on the Steering Group.
- GRIT BINS AND GRITTING
The policies set out in the Town Clerk's report were adopted as the Council's policy.
- FIELD LANE TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE ORDER
It was noted that Field Lane would be closed from 27th to 31st January 2003 to facilitate a sewer connection.
- LANCASTER RISE TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES
No comments were raised on the County Council's proposals to install a round top road hump in Lancaster Rise.
- POTENTIAL RECYCLING SITES
There were no obvious sites within Belper to accommodate recycling bins. However, the Borough Council's attention would be drawn to Whitemoor where some recycling bins had been sited on the Greyhound car park at this Council's suggestion. The Borough Council would also be asked to empty the bins on Green Lane car park and on the Parks Estate more frequently.
- CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
The schedule and supplementary schedule of correspondence received were noted.