BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 6th DECEMBER 2005

PRESENT: Councillor Colin England (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Deborah Biss, Joe Booth, Mel Cluskey, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Les Dorey, Peter Makin, John Nelson, Mick Nelson and Mick Potter.
In Attendance: Mrs Elaine Hibbert (Clerk), Inspector Pete Szabo, 4 members of the public, Belper News and Mr Gary Spendlove of Belper Cricket Club.
  1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
    1. Proposed Closure of Longwalls Lane:
      Three residents attended the meeting seeking Council's support in respect of their objections to the proposal to close Longwalls Lane at Blackbrook to motor vehicles. Their objections were noted and would be included with Members' deliberations on this matter later on the Agenda.
    2. Proposed Development at Penn Street:
      A resident asked to address Members to voice local objections to the newly revised plans for the proposed development of the old Jaeger factory. These were mainly in respect of the increased height of buildings on the Penn Street frontage and the change in design which was considered not to be in keeping with the area. The local Member was asked to raise these issues as appropriate with the Planning Authority.
  2. POLICE MATTERS
    Inspector Szabo reported that further to the Council's request, the police had attended the Christmas Festival on Friday 2 December. No problems were reported. The police would also be in attendance at the River Gardens on Saturday 10 December and the Christmas Eve Carol Service.
    He advised that a number of caution letters had been issued to parents/carers in connection with parking and congestion problems at St John's School and that discussions were taking place with the Headteacher to suggest better arrangements for dropping off and collecting children.
    Members were pleased to hear of proposals to hold crime prevention surgeries in certain areas in the new year and noted that a meeting had been held at Ladywell Court on the Parks Estate which it was proposed to use as a Beat Team base. Inspector Szabo confirmed that in future, procedures would be put in place to ensure that relevant Ward Members were invited to any such meetings via the Clerk.
    Parking problems were again reported, specifically the Market Place and misuse of disabled parking bays on Strutt Street.
    No decision had yet been reached on regionalisation.
  3. PRESENTATION BY MR GARY SPENDLOVE OF BELPER CRICKET CLUB
    Mr Spendlove had been asked to attend the meeting to provide information on the work of the Cricket Club with particularly reference to the way the grant from the Council was utilised.
    Mr Spendlove circulated a brief report which detailed the various areas of activity including child protection procedures, the cricket programme, the sports equity policy and general management of the Club. Members were pleased to note the procedures that were in place and applauded the work of the Club, particularly in providing seven junior teams.
    The lack of grant monies (other than that provided by the Council) due to the uncertainty surrounding the Tesco development was noted.
    Members were delighted to take up the offer of a cricket match involving the Town Council in the summer.
    Mr Spendlove was thanked for taking the trouble to attend the meeting.
  4. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
    Apologies for absence were received from:
    Councillors: Russell Horsley (working abroad), Mark Robertson (work commitments) and Martin Tomlinson (delayed at work).
  5. CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
    RESOLVED to approve the inclusion of an additional planning schedule dated 6 December 2005 (8b).
  6. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
    No declarations were made other than that the Clerk would leave the room during discussion of her salary under item 2d of the Supplementary Agenda.
  7. TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY ITEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH THE PUBLIC EXCLUDED
    RESOLVED that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, in view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted it was advisable in the public interest that the public and press be excluded from the meeting and they be instructed to withdraw during discussions of the two items on the Supplementary Agenda included under Part II - Exempt Information.
  8. TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE MINUTES 384-413 OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 8 NOVEMBER 2005.
    It was RESOLVED to receive and approve Minutes 384-413 of the Council Meeting held on 9 November 2005.
    405 - Beaurepaire Garden: 406 - Boundary at Memorial Gardens:
    The Clerk had requested advice on these issues from the Legal Section at AVBC but no response had yet been received.
    411 - Drainage at the Coppice Car Park:
    The Council's insurers were investigating this matter. The Town Council had been advised by AVBC to carry out regular maintenance of the pump and to clear debris away from the drain.
  9. TO NOTE MINUTES 120-129 OF THE CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 17 NOVEMBER 2005
    1. The Minutes of the Christmas Committee meeting held 17 November 2005 were noted.
      The Christmas Festival on 2 December 2005 had proved very successful and the Clerk was asked to record the Members' thanks for the hard work of all the staff involved.
    2. RESOLVED to obtain two further quotes in respect of the proposal to supply wiring for lighting sockets in the Memorial Gardens.
    3. The Clerk reported that the Christmas Festival was well stewarded. Members volunteered their services in respect of stewarding the Arrival of Santa in the River Gardens on Saturday 10 December 2005.
  10. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
    The Mayor, Councillor Colin England, gave details of the engagements he had had since the last meeting.
  11. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    The planning applications listed on the schedule dated 6 December 2005 which was circulated at the meeting were noted. There were no matters which required comment.
  12. FINANCE
    1. It was RESOLVED to note and agree the attached schedule of receipts and payments for October 2005 showing income of £6,189.23 and expenditure of £22,977.96.
    2. Councillors Les Dorey advised the meeting that the cost of a Broadband installation would be in the region of £1000 plus a monthly subscription. As this amount was considerably in excess of that originally envisaged it was RESOLVED to refer this matter for further consideration at the next Finance Working Party.
    3. RESOLVED to move the Council's deeds and documents currently in safe-keeping with the Co-operative Bank at Derby to the HSBC Bank in Belper.
    4. RESOLVED to note the External Auditor's approval of the Annual Return.
  13. DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS
    1. The e-mail from the County Council in response to Members' comments on the proposed road safety improvement at the A6/Broadholme lane junction, was noted. No revision of the junction design will be carried out at this time.
    2. RESOLVED to note the questionnaire in respect of the Derbyshire Partnership's proposals for the new Derbyshire Community Strategy.
    3. The letter from Councillor Bob Janes in respect of the proposed Cultural Centre in Belper was noted. However, the Leader of the Borough Council was asked to respond repudiating the statement that the partners involved with the County Council were unable to identify a financial contribution to the cost of the project.
  14. REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES
    1. Belper Leisure Centre Councillor Mick Potter reported on a recent meeting of the Trust and expressed his concerns at the lack of structure of the meeting.
  15. FUTURE EVENTS
    1. Wakes Day
      The Clerk had not yet had a response from the Management Committee of Belper Meadows Sports Club in respect of the Council's request to use their facilities for the Wakes Day Event in 2006. The Wakes Day Committee would again comprise, Councillors Jackie Cox, Mick Nelson, Alfie Smith of the AVBC Sports Development Team and the Clerk. A meeting would be called early in the new year.
    2. Larks in the Parks
      Councillor Dorey advised that, subject to being able to comply with the sound regulations, he would again be prepared to organise a series of concerts throughout next summer. It was agreed that the budget for next year would be increased to £2000 in respect of artistes' fees. It was hoped that the Borough Council would be able to match fund this amount.
  16. FESTIVAL GARDENS
    RESOLVED TO agree to the request to designate the Festival Gardens in Belper for the purposes of regulating alcohol consumption in the open under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
  17. BEAUREPAIRE GARDEN
    The Clerk had contacted the Legal Section at Amber Valley Borough Council for advice on the problems of determining ownership of this land but no response had yet been received. The letter from the County Council regarding overhanging branches was noted and the work would be carried out by Council staff.
  18. REQUEST FOR GRIT BIN - ST ELIZABETH'S SCHOOL
    The Clerk was asked to advise the school that they should contact Derbyshire County Council re this matter.
  19. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
    RESOLVED to note the items for information on the schedule attached.
  20. PROHIBITION OF MOTOR VEHICLES - LONGWALLS LANE, BLACKBROOK
    Further to the discussions which had taken place during the period of public participation, Members RESOLVED to recommend to Derbyshire County Council that the roadway be kept open and maintained to a satisfactory standard.
  21. ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS
    RESOLVED to approve Councillor Mark Robertson's absence from Council meetings due to the requirement for him to work shifts.
  22. MINUTES OF THE STAFF WORKING PARTY HELD 30 NOVEMBER 2005
    These were noted and it was RESOLVED to agree the recommendations contained therein, namely:
    1. To approve the permanent appointment of Mrs Vanessa Butler as Caretaker/Cleaner after a satisfactory period of probation.
    2. To adopt the attached protocol agreement concerning staff use of the internet.
    3. To approach Broomfield College with regards to possible provision of additional outdoor assistance in the Spring and Summer.
    4. To upgrade the Clerk's salary to SCP 47 with effect from 1 November 2005 in respect of her success in the CiLCA examination.