BELPER TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 15th APRIL 2003
- APOLOGIES:
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ron Buzzard and Ben Miller.
- CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
As Mrs Sandra Nix, the author of the letter concerning roller blading and skate boarding in Beechwood Close was present it was agreed to take item 12 as the next item on the agenda.
Arrangements for the proposed visit of several musicians from Pawtucket in July could be considered with item 11 (Larks in the Park).
A letter had been received from the Derwent Valley Mills Partnership appealing for financial support towards the cost of the Arkwright portrait by Joseph Wright which otherwise be exported to the United States. This would be taken at the end of the agenda.
- SKATEBOARDING FACILITIES - BELPER LANE AREA
In amplification of her letter, Mrs Nix explained that Beechwood Close, because of its slope and fine surfacing, was ideal for skate boarding and roller blading. There could be as many as 15 children aged from 9 to 14 playing in the Close at any one time. As they used the road, there was considerable danger to the children. She was also greatly concerned by the noise the children made: it disrupted the peace of the Close and kept young children awake at night. With the lighter nights the situation would probably deteriorate further.
It was considered that the most appropriate way forward was for Amber Valley Borough Council to arrange a meeting involving their Senior Leisure Officer (Barrie Whittaker), Ward Councillors, a representative from the Police, residents of Beechwood Close and the children themselves.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Randall Sanders declared an interest in respect of item 8 (c) Belper Celebration, (e) Monday Club, and (h) Belper Pottery Bowls Club.
- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 14th JANUARY 2003.
The minutes of the meeting held on 14th January 2003 were received and approved subject to the inclusion of "the free use of St John's Chapel" after "Festival Market" in the final sentence of the first paragraph of item 26(b).
- MATTERS ARISING
Belper Marlin Swimming Club
It was reported that a proposal, based on the discussion at the last meeting, had recently been received from the Swimming Club. A copy had been passed to Councillor Ron Buzzard, who would be meeting with representatives of the Club shortly and reporting back to the Committee's next meeting.
Belper Music and Arts
The Chair reported that the promised report on the Group's financial situation would be submitted to the Committee's next meeting.
- GRANT APPLICATIONS
- St Peter's Church - 162
It was agreed to make a grant of £250 towards the costs of the Baroque Concert which will be part of the festival to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the church organ.
- Dalesmen Male Voice Choir - 177
It was agreed to underwrite the joint concert with the Orpheus Male Voice Choir up to a limit of £250.
- Belper Celebration - 180
It was agreed to give the same support as last year, namely a grant of £500 plus underwriting the event for a further £500.
- St John Ambulance - 179
It was agreed to make a grant of £500 towards the cost of the defibrillator.
- Monday Club - 181
It was agreed to make a grant of £300 towards the running costs of the OAP club. A letter would be sent to the Primary Care Trust suggesting that they should also give financial support to this Club and other similar ones serving pensioners in Belper as they provided an important role in supporting the elderly in the community.
- Amber Valley Victim Support - 182
It was agreed to make a grant of £250 towards the Support Group.
- Nailers Folk Moot 2003 - 183
It was agreed to underwrite this year's event up to a maximum of £1,000.
- Belper Pottery Bowls Club - 184
It was agreed to make a grant of £250 towards the cost of providing services to the Ladies' Bowls Pavilion.
- Belper Historical Society - 185
It was agreed to underwrite the Calendar celebrating the North Mills 200th Anniversary up to the full amount of £1,479.00 that had been requested.
- Drop Inn - 186
As the Council had a budget of only £6,000 for miscellaneous grants, it could not consider meeting the Centre's request for £2,200 in full. However, it was agreed to make a grant of £1,000 and then if funds allowed towards the end of the financial year, make a further grant.
- Hearing Help - 187
Although no specific amount was requested, it was agreed to make a grant of £100 to this organisation. A request would be made to the Primary Care Trust asking them to increase their support to this most worthwhile body.
- CHAIRMAN'S ITEMS
The Chair had no matters to raise that were not already on the Agenda. Councillor Tim Benson, the Leader, thanked Councillor Richard Watson for his work as Chair of the Committee and also thanked the other members of the Committee and Council staff for their work and involvement within the broad field that the Committee covered.
- WAKES DAY
The Town Clerk reported on a meeting, that had taken place the previous evening, of the various people who were involved in organising this year's Wakes Day on 26th May. The organisers were requesting the Council to fund T-shirts for the Youth's Sports leaders, medallions for all participants, certificates for winners and those placed in the various races together with £100 to cover incidental expenses.
It was suggested that rather than giving all participants a medallion that they should be given T-shirts. The Town Clerk was asked to look at costings and report back to the next Council meeting. The Committee recommends to Council that a budget of £1,000 should be earmarked for the event and that the Town Clerk be authorised to control this provision.
- LARKS IN THE PARK
The Chair reported that the Borough Council would only approve four amplified events under the Larks in the Park umbrella. Accordingly, the programme of six sessions would have to be reduced. This, combined with the reduction in band concerts, meant there would be significantly fewer events in the River Gardens this summer than in recent years.
A further casualty of this restriction on amplified events would be the proposed concert by the musicians from Pawtucket who are visiting Belper in late July. The Council had originally undertaken to pay the visitors from Pawtucket for a concert in the River Gardens on 20th July and possibly fund a concert during the week following. However, because of the illness of the Borough Council's Tourism Officer, the onus for arranging a programme for the visitors was falling by default on the Town Council. On two previous occasions, some of the musicians had failed to perform as promised in Belper. Accordingly it was considered that rather than running to the expense of booking one of the churches for the evening concert that St John's should be used, possibly for one classical concert and one with a more popular theme. The Town Clerk was also looking into the possibility of arranging workshops for them with the Fleet Arts Centre and Whitemoor Centre. He would also liase with the Borough Council's Arts Officer to see whether she could arrange recitals for them elsewhere in Amber Valley.
- ARKWRIGHT APPEAL
It was regretted that the Council was not in a financial position to support the Arkwright Portrait Appeal.