BELPER TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 2nd MARCH 2004
PRESENT: Councillor Jim Anderson (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Peter Arnold, Deborah Biss, Joseph Booth, Melvyne Cluskey, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Les Dorey, Colin England, Anna Hingston, Peter Makin, John Nelson, Mick Nelson, Mark Robertson and Martin Tomlinson.
The meeting commenced with prayers led by the Mayor.
- APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillor Russell Horsley.
- CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
Papers were circulated for items 12 (Market Towns Heritage Initiative), 13 (Current Planning Schedule), 16 (Paper cutting referred to by the Clerk of the Belper Leisure Centre Trust in his letter), item 20 (a letter from the Borough Council detailing the Standards Boards letter about the Code of Conduct).
Item 21 (Community Council Scheme) was withdrawn and an additional item about the Pottery School Association's to hold monthly car boot sales would be taken after Agenda item 30.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
- POLICE MATTERS
Unfortunately, Inspector Arnie Hicklin was unable to attend in person and no member of the Beat Team was available either. Accordingly, the usual report on the Police's performance would have to be held over until the next meeting as would issues which Members wishes to raise.
It was reported that a female traffic warden had been recruited for Belper and that she would be starting work shortly.
Members were concerned that of the eleven traffic warden posts in the division, only one was in Belper whereas two were allocated to Heanor, Alfreton and Long Eaton and three to Ilkeston. The Clerk was requested to write to the Chief Constable pointing out the significant discrepancy between the funds precepted by the various town councils referred to above and the cost of the traffic warden service for these respective councils.
Comment was made that the public would like to see the police taking a more proactive approach against littering offences.
With reference to the abuse of the road closure order for the Christmas festivities, Inspector Hicklin had written that he would make a point of ensuring that road closures were enforced in future.
- PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
- IN CAMERA
It was agreed that the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Staff Working Party would be discussed in camera.
- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD 20 JANUARY 2004
Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held 20 January 2004 were received and adopted.
- MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD 20 JANUARY 2004
185 - Santa Aid
It was noted that 150 Easter eggs had been purchased with the funds remaining from Christmas and these would be distributed by the Mayor to the children who were recipients of Santa Aid.
196 - Proposed closure of branch Post Offices
As yet there had been no response to the Town Clerk's second letter. It was now apparent that besides the loss of the post office facility at the four branches, two of them were closing as shops thus reducing a valuable community asset.
- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CHRISTMAS WORKING PARTY HELD 27 JANUARY 2004.
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Christmas Working Party held 27 January 2004 were received and noted.
- MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE FINANCE WORKING PARTY HELD 29 JANUARY 2004.
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance Working Party held 29 January 2004 were received and noted.
20 - Wakes Weekend Committee
The nomination of Councillors Jackie Cox and Mick Nelson to serve on the Wakes Weekend organising Committee was ratified.
23 - Surface Water Drainage - Coppice Car Park
An unsatisfactory response had been received from OFWAT concerning the charge made by Severn Trent for surface water drainage at the Coppice Car Park. It was therefore agreed that the Clerk should contact Patrick McLoughlin, MP to seek his assistance in investigating this matter on behalf of the Town Council.
24 - Belper Celebration and Arts Festival and Carnival
It was agreed to underwrite the Belper Celebration Arts Festival and Carnival up to a maximum of £1,000.
27 - IT Proposal
Councillor Peter Arnold would seek further quotes for the proposed changes in IT provision.
- MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor detailed his engagements since the last Council meeting which included:
Healthier Communities Awards Ceremony at Alton Manor Day Nursery, Café Programme at St Elizabeth's School, Showmen's Guild lunch, Performance of Calamity Jane, Reception for Derbyshire Army Cadets, Scarey sleep-over in Derby Gaol for Child Line (£268 raised), Day with the Army Cadets at the Drill Hall promoting BTEC courses.
The sad deaths of the Town Crier Mr Arthur Bellaby and Mr George Barrass were noted. Both gentlemen were members of Belper Historical Society and volunteers at Belper North Mill and had made a significant contribution to the life of Belper. As a mark of respect, a one minute silence was observed.
As a tribute to Arthur Bellaby, the Council agreed to support efforts to locate the tunnel which it was rumoured connected the Coppice to St John's Chapel. It was suggested that the Friends of the Parks might be able to include this in their surveys of the area.
It was noted that Councillor John Nelson would, at his own expense, be visiting Pawtucket as a representative of both Amber Valley Borough Council and Belper Town Council.
The retirement of Sue Newbold after twenty years as a market trader was noted. Her business has been sold to Colin Armstead of Belper.
- MARKET TOWNS HERITAGE INITIATIVE
A report by Councillor Mick Nelson on the visit by himself and the Mayor to Lutterworth for the media launch of Mayfayres Week and the provisional programme for activities during the Market Towns Celebration Week (covering 1 to 8 May) was circulated and discussed.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The only item raised on the two schedules presented to Council concerned item no. 8 (AVA/2004/0163) - schedule 2 March 2004. Some concern was expressed as to this dwelling receiving a certificate of lawfulness for existing use as it was generally considered an inappropriate structure for a conservation area. Representations would be made to the Borough Council accordingly.
- JUSTICES AND ENTERTAINMENTS LICENCE
No comment was made on the four applications for Justice's Licences: The Nags Head, Belper Leisure Centre, The Grapes and Kilbourne News (Off Licence) and the two applications for Entertainment Licences: Harvey's Bar and the Nailers Social Club.
- PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS
The schedule of payments and receipts covering the period 8 January 2004 to 19 February 2004 was received and approved. The schedule is attached to these minutes and shows net expenditure of £20,776.20 and net income of £5455.07.
- BELPER LEISURE CENTRE TRUST
The letter sent by the Clerk to the Trust was noted.
- ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Unfortunately, as comments on the DCC Draft Revised Corporate Environment Policy should have been submitted by 20 February 2004, there had been no opportunity for this to be considered at Council.
However, it was agreed that the disposal of waste was a priority and recycling schemes should be encouraged. Comments were made on the delay in providing a recycling site at Ambergate and the urgent need for a civic amenity site.
- MEMORIAL GARDENS
Members were pleased to note the interest of Herbert Strutt Primary School in participating in the proposals for the Memorial Gardens. Councillor Peter Makin would contact the Headmaster to discuss how the school could best be involved.
- STANDING ORDERS
As it was necessary to bring the standing orders up to date, it was thought advisable to base them on the model set produced by the National Association of Local Councils. Once a copy of these had been obtained, a revised set of the Town Council's standing orders could be prepared incorporating the required changes for consideration at a future meeting.
- CODE OF CONDUCT: REGISTER OF INTERESTS
To comply with the Code of Conduct, Members were asked to ensure they completed the appropriate form to register membership of the Freemasons and political party council associations.
It was noted that Councillor Mel Cluskey had been appointed as a representative of Parish Councils in Amber Valley on the Standards Board.
- FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS
- It was agreed to invite Sarah Laman of Fleets Arts to the April meeting of the Council to make a short presentation on Fleet Arts' activities in the last year and plans for the coming year.
- Amber Valley Primary Care Trust would be invited to make a presentation at a future meeting
- SPEED LIMITS - A6 NORTH
The letters from Derbyshire County Council concerning the proposed 40 mph speed limit on Broadholme Lane and from Belper and District Road Safety Committee concerning the A6 as it enters Belper from the north were noted.
- PROPOSED TRAFFIC SIGNALS - JUNCTION OF A609 KILBURN ROAD AND JOHN O'GAUNTS WAY
Various opinions were expressed on the proposal to introduce traffic signals at the junction of A609 Kilburn Road and John O'Gaunts Way. Overall, however, the proposal was supported by Members but with some reservations because of the width of the road and possible traffic congestion caused by parked cars.
- GRIT BINS
It was noted that the County Council has set aside up to £10,000 to fund grit bin provision throughout the county. The County Council will fund the cost of the purchase of a bin, the initial fill and placing the bin on site. Thereafter the maintenance and refilling would be at the expense of the Town Council.
The Clerk reported that several enquiries for grit bins had been received with exact locations still to be determined. However a request for 3 bins would be made to the County Council for installing along Morrell Wood Drive (2), and one on Martindale Court. Permission for all three locations had been given by the residents concerned.
An exercise was currently being carried out by Council staff to try and identify ownership of all the grit bins throughout Belper in the light of the proposals being put together for the rationalisation of services within Amber Valley.
- CIRCUS - SHOWGROUND
Approval was given to the request for the Circus to visit Belper between 20 and 25 April 2004 under the terms outlined.
- OUTSIDE BODIES
Councillor Jackie Cox reported that Belper Community Hall were seeking permission to hold two continental markets. It was not considered that these would adversely affect trade in Belper.
It was noted that Amber Valley CVS had a new constitution but as yet had no provision for a representative from the Town Council.
Members were requested to note that although Schools are not required to appoint a Local Authority Governor, any interested Member could put him/herself forward for nomination as a "Community" Governor.
- MAURICE COWARD AWARD
It was agreed to award the Belper and District Neighbourhood Watch Support Group a grant of £50 to finance the Maurice Coward Award.
- MAURICE HEELY AND TOWN SERVICE AWARDS
Nominations would be sought for the Maurice Heely Award which would be presented at the Annual Meeting.
Nominations for recipients of the Town Service Award were considered.
- COPPICE CAR PARK
The request from the Selway Group for access across the Coppice Car Park to a proposed building development was noted. However, it was agreed that this proposal was not acceptable in that it would take up valuable parking space and restrict the ground available for the annual fair. The terms and conditions attached to the deeds for the Coppice car park needed to be clarified.
- CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
The schedule of correspondence received was noted.
The request from Pottery School to hold car boot sales was considered. Members were anxious to limit the number of events which were taking place to ensure they did not detract from Council arranged activities, particularly in May. As agreement had already been given to Belper Meadows to hold a car boot sale in May, it was suggested the school should be asked to rearrange their proposed dates.