BELPER TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 8th JULY 2003
PRESENT: Councillors Les Dorey, Colin England, Russell Horsley, John Nelson, Mark Robertson, and Martin Tomlinson.
Councillor Mick Nelson was also in attendance.
- APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Anna Hingston.
- ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN
Councillor Anna Hingston was elected Chairman of the Committee and Councillor Russell Horsley was elected Vice-Chairman. As Councillor Hingston was absent Councillor Horsley took the chair.
- CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
There were three additional items for the agenda: -
- an application for grant from the Belper and District Road Safety Committee, which would be taken with item 10,
- a letter from Groundwork Erewash about the Amber Valley and Erewash Walking Festival, and
- a letter from John Lawson's Circus applying for use of the Showground in May 2005.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Les Dorey declared an interest in item 10c - application for grant by the Belper Town Wind Band and Councillor John Nelson declared an interest in minute 32 of the minutes of the last meeting.
- IN CAMERA ITEMS
No items warranted discussion in camera.
- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 15th APRIL 2003
The minutes of the meeting held on 15th April 2003 were received and approved.
- MATTERS ARISING
Belper Marlin Swimming Club
As the meeting with the swimming club did not appear to have taken place contact would be re-established. Councillor Mark Robertson would take the initiative and report back to the next meeting.
- GRANT APPLICATIONS
- Penguin Club - 188
It was agreed to make further enquiries about the club, who it served, where it met, the membership in total and the proportion who came from Belper.
- Belper Community Tennis Partnership - 189
It was agreed to make a grant of £250 towards the cost of this summer's junior tennis coaching scheme.
- Belper Town Wind Band - 190
It was agreed to make a grant of £500 towards the cost of jackets for the band members.
- Dalesmen Male Voice Choir - 177
Though there had been a shortfall of £179.42 on the concert that the Council had agreed to underwrite up to £250 the Treasurer of the Choir requested that the full £250 be paid as the Choir had waived their usual performing fee of £160 for the joint concert. After some consideration it was agreed to meet the request in full, but on the understanding that the Choir could be asked to perform on behalf of the Council at some future time.
- Belper and District Road Safety Committee - 191
It was agreed to make a grant of £30, as requested, towards the administrative costs of the committee.
- Milford And Makeney Well Dressings
The letter of thanks from the Secretary of the Well Dressing group was noted with appreciation.
- BELPER MUSIC AND ARTS
The Chairman of Music and Arts, Mr Richard Watson, and two committee members, Ms Tracey Wilkinson and Mr Malcolm Johnston joined the meeting. They presented manuscript draft accounts for the 2002/3 season and a copy of the minutes of their meeting on 25th June.
There was considerable discussion about the programme of musical and artistic events. The balance of the programme over the past year and the one for the ensuing year was questioned, as was the management of the overall programme and the individual events. The choice of venues and the publicity and advertising were also questioned.
However it was appreciated that the group had been constrained by the very limited number of members. Now that some new blood had been brought in it was considered that the group was in a position to rectify those areas where the Committee had expressed its concern. Accordingly it was decided to make a grant of £3,500 to the group for 2003/4.
- WAKES DAY
In introducing his report the Town Clerk explained that the budget of £1,000 had been exceeded because more had been spent on polo shirts and incidental expenses for the Sports Development Team than had been anticipated. However as only three-quarters of the T-shirts had been given to participants there were 80 which could be used in future years.
Because of its undoubted success it was agreed, if the other parties were willing, to hold the event again next year. As members had various ideas to develop Wakes Day this Committee would take the lead in the organisation and management of the event.
- WORDS AND MUSIC
The discussion consequent on the report focused on the benefits derived from the programme of music and illustrated lectures compared to the costs of putting the it on. It was agreed to continue with the series but have only five events in the coming season.
- HUNTER ROAD ALLOTMENTS
Now that practically all the allotments had been taken there was an increasing demand for water to be laid on to the site. A quote of £820 had been received from Severn Trent for the supply of water to the allotments but a further sum of approximately £200 would be needed to ensure the water was only available to the allotment holders.
Enquiries would be made to see whether the County Council, as owners of the site, would contribute to the cost of supplying water. At the same time it would be made clear to the allotment holders that they would have to pay the full cost of the water that they used. Their reactions would be taken into account before a decision was reached on whether or not to install a water supply.
As there had not been an adverse reaction to the request to keep hens on one of the allotments it was agreed that permission should be given for a trial period of up to one year. At the year-end the position would be reviewed, but the Council reserves the right to terminate the agreement at any time should the holder not manage her chickens in a responsible manner with regard to the other allotment holders.
- LOST GARDEN PROJECT
The contents of Mr Davies' letter were noted as was the fact that the maintenance of the garden once it was established would fall on this Council as would the payment of the yearly rental of £25.
- AMBER VALLEY AND EREWASH WALKING FESTIVAL
It was agreed to support the initiative of Groundwork Erewash by nominating one of the existing town trails. A risk assessment would be undertaken before the event took place.
- USE OF SHOWGROUND BY CIRCUS
It was agreed to allow John Lawson's Circus to use the Showground some time during May 2005. As well as complying with the council's requirements pertaining to the use, only, of domesticated animals,which would be liable to inspection by the RSPCA, a deposit would be required to ensure that they removed all the posters that they had erected to advertise the circus.