BELPER TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 18TH JANUARY 2005
PRESENT: Councillor Peter Arnold (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Colin England, Jim Anderson, Deborah Biss, Mel Cluskey, Les Dorey, Anna Hingston, Russell Horsley, Peter Makin, Mick Nelson and Mark Robertson.
In Attendance: PC Sean Lambert, Mrs Elaine Hibbert (Clerk), Ms Rita Beard, Councillor Joyce Sanders (County Council), 8 Members of the Public
- PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The following three requests to address the meeting were made to the Clerk:
Fiona Broughton - Re: Dandelion Clock Pre School Play Group
Following the sudden closure of St John's Hall due to structural problems, Council's assistance was sought in identifying suitable permanent premises for the Play Group. Members agreed to give this matter some consideration.
Tony Byrne - Re: The Christmas Fair
A petition of 47 signatures was presented to the Mayor objecting to the noise experienced by residents during the Christmas Fair and also to oppose the proposed February Fair. The Mayor advised that it was not proposed to hold a further Christmas Fair as the recent one was not a commercial success and the request to hold a Fair in February had been withdrawn. It was confirmed that in future the wishes of residents would be given due consideration.
Gerry Stuart - Hunter Road Allotments
Council was asked to consider a proposal from the Allotment Association that the allotment holders would pay £20 per annum rent, provided water was included. This matter would be considered later in the Agenda.
- POLICE MATTERS
PC Sean Lambert apologised that Inspector Allen was unable to attend. He advised that since the introduction of the Beat Team two years ago, recorded crime had gone down across all categories; the Shopwatch radio scheme has proved to be very successful and detection rates had improved.
Members were very concerned to hear that Belper was losing its Traffic Warden to a Community Safety Officer post elsewhere and that there were no proposals to replace her. The Clerk was asked to contact the Chief Constable to query PC Lambert's statement that "the role of Traffic Wardens was to become the responsibility of local authorities" as no prior notice of this fact had been given.
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: John Nelson, Alan Cox and Jackie Cox (holidays), Martin Tomlinson (work commitment) and Joe Booth.
- CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
The Clerk advised that notes of a Working Party meeting had been circulated in connection with Item 16 (The Coppice Car Park).
It was agreed to take Item 13 (Belper Leisure Centre Trust) and Item 14 (Mid-Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau) before Item 12a (Approval of Budget).
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Declarations of interest were made as follows:
Councillor Arnold, Prejudicial interest in item 14 (Mid-Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau) and would leave the room during discussion; Councillors Anderson and Cluskey - Item 13 (Belper Leisure Centre Trust) as BTC's representatives; Councillor Hingston - Item 15 (Belper Community Hall Committee) as BTC representative; Councillor Makin - Item 13 (Belper Leisure Centre Trust) as AVBC representative; Councillor Biss - Item 16 (Coppice Car Park) as BTC representative on Friends of the Parks; Councillor Mick Nelson - Items 23 (Wakes Day) as Member of Management Committee of Belper Meadows Sports Club and 21 iii as Scout Leader.
- TO DETERMINE IF ANY ITEMS OTHER THAN ITEM 24 SHOULD BE TAKEN IN CAMERA
There were no items other than Item 24 which merited being taken In Camera.
- TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE MINUTES 138-161 OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 7 DECEMBER 2004
146 - Christmas Fair
It was agreed that more consultation with the public would take place when deciding future applications.
145 - 71 - Christmas Lights
The Christmas Committee were asked to consider additional lights on the tree at Milford in 2005.
It was RESOLVED to receive and adopt Minutes 138-161 of the Council Meeting held on 7 December 2004.
- TO RECEIVE AND NOTE MINUTES 56-60 OF THE FINANCE WORKING PARTY HELD 17 DECEMBER 2004
Minutes 56-60 of the Finance Working Party held 17 December 2004 were received and noted.
- MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor advised that he had been asked to raise the possibility of the Council making a donation of £1000 to the Tsunami Appeal. However the Clerk had advised this was not possible as any such donations were outside the Council's statutory powers. The Mayor would consider making a donation from his Allowance.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Application AVA/2004/1458 - Mill Lane
Following discussion and representations from the public, it was RESOLVED that the Town Council would object to this application. This area had provided a valuable parking resource for residents over the past thirty five years and was not in fact "waste land" as indicated on the application. Concern was expressed that the site notification notice had not been in a visible location.
Application AVA/2004/1454 - Cannon Retail Development - Green Lane
The consensus of opinion from Members that although this latest proposal had addressed some of the previous concerns, there were still many issues to resolve, mainly the problem of car parking. An in depth assessment of car parking had been received from the Borough Council and would be copied to all Members along with full details of the proposals. Members would respond to Councillor Arnold as planning co-ordinator.
Application AVA/2004/1480
It was confirmed that the Borough Council had received a petition from residents objecting to this application.
It was RESOLVED to note the applications listed on the schedules dated 17 December 2004 and 4 January 2005.
- JUSTICES AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENCES
It was RESOLVED to note the applications listed on the schedules dated 17 December 2004 and 4 January 2005.
- BELPER LEISURE CENTRE TRUST
The report from Councillor Alan Cox and the recommendations contained in it were considered. Questions were raised as to whether the figures contained in the report were accurate as they conflicted with those reported at a recent Leisure Centre Trust meeting. Most Members were reluctant to cease totally the Council's grant funding of the Leisure Centre and, upon a majority vote, it was RESOLVED to make an annual grant of £5000 to Belper Leisure Centre Trust for each of the next three years.
- MID-DERBYSHIRE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
Consideration was given to the Council's level of grant funding to the Citizens Advice Bureau which had been increased from £7000 to £10000 per annum in 2004. Some concern was expressed that the Council's contribution was considerably higher than that paid by other local Councils in the area for their Citizens Advice services and was disproportionate with the funds available to assist other groups and organisations in the town. Members considered that the County Council should take more responsibility for the provision of this service as should the National Citizens Advice Bureau, who were showing reserves of several millions of pounds. Members unanimously RESOLVED to make a grant to the Mid-Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau of £7500 per annum for the next three years only.
- FINANCE
- Budget
It was RESOLVED to agree the proposed budget for 2005/6, taking into account the variances as agreed for the Belper Leisure Centre Trust (Minutes 176) and the Mid-Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau (Minutes 177). The adjustments would however not necessitate any change to the precept to be declared: £222,000 ie unchanged for the fourth successive year.
- Payments and Receipts
It was RESOLVED to agree the schedule of payments and receipts for the period 25 November 2004 to 31 December 2004 attached to these minutes showing expenditure of £19,329.55 and income of £6,488.28.
- External Audit
It was RESOLVED to note the External Auditor's Certificate and Opinion arising from the audit of the Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2004. The comment on insufficient risk assessments was being investigated by the RFO.
- Lettings
Further to the proposal made by the Allotment Association, it was agreed that the allotment rent should be increased to £20 per annum with the responsibility for water charges being borne by the Council. The situation would be reviewed after one year.
It was RESOLVED to agree the schedule of proposed lettings charges from 1 April 2005, with an amendment for allotment rents to £20 per annum.
- BELPER COMMUNITY HALL COMMITTEE
As the verbal request made by the Belper Community Hall Committee to waive the loan owed to the Council had not been confirmed in writing, this matter was withdrawn.
- COPPICE CAR PARK
A note of the recent Working Party meeting to discuss the resurfacing of the Coppice Car Park was circulated for consideration. Councillors Mick Nelson and Debbie Biss had attended that meeting and advised the financial arrangements which needed to be put in place ie that the project will have to be invoiced before the end of this financial year. Further to the Resolution in Minute 34 of the meeting held 8 June 2004, it was RESOLVED that, subject to existing external funding arrangements, the project will be managed by Amber Valley Borough Council with the agreement of the Town Council.
- LAND ON SPENCER ROAD
A further request had been received from Amber Valley Borough Council concerning the transfer of the "alcove" on Spencer Road. As this arrangement had been agreed by the previous administration and the costs of taking it over were negligible, it was RESOLVED to accept the transfer of ownership of this land and the Clerk was authorised to affix the Council's seal to the document accordingly.
- DERBY & DERBYSHIRE WASTE LOCAL PLAN
The letter from Derbyshire County Council advising of available copies of the "Statement of Response to the Inspector's Report and Schedule of Proposed Modifications to the Waste Local Plan", was noted.
- COMMUNITY LUNCH - ST PETERS
Councillor Mick Nelson and the Clerk would attend the lunch on 25 January 2005.
- BRETTLES MEMORABILIA
The letter from Gary Spendlove of Slenderella concerning the proposed museum of historic interest was noted.
- GRANT APPLICATIONS
- Nailers Folk Moot - 2004
The information was noted.
- Belper Poetry Trail - 213
Members were keen to support this Poetry Trail project and it was RESOLVED to grant the request for funding of £100.
- Badger Explorer Scout Unit - 211
Members were unable to agree to the request for funding of £2000 towards camping equipment but RESOLVED to make a grant of £1000.
- LARKS IN THE PARKS
The schedule of six acts and associated costs of £2,500 for the Summer 2005 programme were noted. It was agreed that the entertainment should take place between 3pm and 5pm. A seventh act in the form of a youth talent competition may be arranged to take place at the end of the season.
- WAKES DAY/WEEKEND 2005
Councillor Mick Nelson confirmed that Belper Meadows Sports Club Management Committee were prepared to host this year's event. However, it would be a one day event only and hence there would be no necessity for the hire of a marquee.
Councillor Nelson and Councillor Jackie Cox would need to liaise with the Amber Valley Sports Development Team concerning arrangements.
- ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
It was RESOLVED to note the items included on the Schedule of Items for Information.