BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 14th FEBRUARY 2006

PRESENT: Councillor Colin England (Town Mayor) - in the Chair Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Deborah Biss, Joe Booth, Mel Cluskey, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Mick Nelson,

In Attendance: Mrs Elaine Hibbert (Clerk), Inspector Pete Szabo, Ms Sarah Layman and two students (Fleet Arts), County Councillor Joyce Sanders and two members of the public.

  1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
    No matters were raised.
  2. POLICE MATTERS
    Inspector Szabo reported on progress in providing accommodation as a Beat Team base on the Parks Estate. The local residents will be invited to a public consultation meeting at the end of the month - venue to be agreed.
    He reported that increased patrols were operating in the Whitemoor area and the problems that had been encountered were mainly due to underage drinking. Members offered support to Inspector Szabo's proposal to request AVBC to designate the three recreation areas concerned as restricted for alcohol consumption.
    Other issues discussed concerned: the successful first "street briefing" which had taken place on the Market Place; parking problems on Field Lane; illegal camping on Sandbed Lane and the crossing at Babington Hospital.
    Inspector Szabo asked Members to support the forthcoming Drop Inn fund-raising event, details of which had been circulated.
    The contribution made by Inspector Szabo in tackling various issues and providing a more visible police presence throughout the town was noted with appreciation.
  3. PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF FLEET ARTS
    Ms Sarah Layman and members of the Turn It Up project attended the meeting to give details of activities to date and answer any questions raised. Details of the forthcoming tour programme were circulated.
    Members recognised the valuable contribution made by Fleet Arts within the community and thanks were expressed for Ms Layman's attendance.
  4. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
    Apologies for absence were received from:
    Councillors: Les Dorey (holiday), Russell Horsley (working abroad), Mark Robertson (illness), Martin Tomlinson (delayed at work)
  5. CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
    RESOLVED to approve the inclusion of the following additional papers:
    Item 6: Letter from the Over 50's Group regarding the use of the Chapel for meetings.
    Decision on inclusion of notice board item.
    Item 8: Planning Schedule dated 14 February 2006
    Letter from Osmaston Grange re proposed Nursing Home Item 18: Letter from St Peter's Church re closure of the car park
    Letter from AVBC legal department re the lease on St John's Chapel
  6. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
    Declarations of interest were made as follows:
    Personal:
    Item 8: Councillor Jim Anderson
    Item 13: Councillors Peter Arnold, Debbie Biss, Alan Cox and John Nelson as Members of the Heritage Initiative Committee
    Item 15: Councillor Mick Nelson
    Prejudicial: (Members left the room)
    Item 9: Councillors Peter Makin and John Nelson as AVBC representatives on the Trust Board
  7. TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY ITEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH THE PUBLIC EXCLUDED
    None
  8. TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE MINUTES 436-457 OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 10 JANUARY 2006.
    It was RESOLVED to approve Minutes 436-457 of the Council Meeting held on 10 January 2006.
  9. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
    1. The Mayor, Councillor Colin England, gave details of the many engagements he had had since the last meeting and expressed his disappointment at the poor attendance of some Councillors at the Civic Service in January.
    2. Upon a vote it was RESOLVED that Nigel Vardy's poster re his fund raising event did not meet the strict criteria for inclusion and could therefore not be displayed in the Council's notice boards.
    3. It was RESOLVED to agree the request from the Over 50's Group for free meeting accommodation at the Chapel. This would be free for one year only provided the meetings were held during office opening hours.
  10. FINANCE
    1. It was RESOLVED to note and agree the attached schedule of receipts and payments for December 2005 showing income of £446.52 and expenditure of £13,294.22.
    2. It was RESOLVED to agree to the expenditure of £565 on two bus shelter repairs.
    3. It was RESOLVED that the Mayoral chain should either be replaced or updated to include the names of recent Mayors. The Clerk was asked to obtain a quote for a completely new chain based on the current design.
    4. It was RESOLVED that the Milford & Makeney Well Dressing be invited to attend the next meeting to discuss their application for grant funding.
    5. It was RESOLVED to decline Belper Football Club's request for funding.
  11. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    The planning applications listed on the attached schedules dated 20, 26 January, 3 and 14 February were noted. There were no matters which required comment.
    The letter concerning the proposed planning application for a Nursing Home at Osmaston Grange was noted.
  12. REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES
    1. Belper Leisure Centre Trust It was RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Joe Booth as the Council's representative on the Trust to replace Councillor Mick Potter who had resigned over personal issues.
    2. The Cottage Project Councillor Jackie Cox reported on current activities and the need for fund-raising.
    3. Fleet Arts Councillor Jim Anderson reported on the success of Fleet Arts which he considered was mainly due to the funding received from the Town Council.
  13. WAKES DAY
    RESOLVED to agree the arrangements for 2006 as per the meeting notes circulated.
  14. LETTER FROM THE ODPM CONCERNING THE CODE OF CONDUCT
    The letter from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister concerning the Code of Conduct giving details of proposed principal changes to current arrangements was noted.
  15. HUNTER ROAD ALLOTMENTS
    The activities of the Allotment Association were noted.
  16. BELPER & MILFORD TOWNSCAPE HERITAGE INITIATIVE
    The masterplan for Belper Market Place was noted.
  17. SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAMS
    The letter from Derbyshire Constabulary concerning Safer Neighbourhood Teams was noted with interest.
  18. CAR BOOT SALES - BELPER MEADOWS SPORTS CLUB
    It was RESOLVED to agree to the request of Belper Meadows Sports Club to hold car boot sales on the following dates:
    Sundays, 30 April, 4 June, 9 July, 13 August, 24 September 2006
  19. STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY - AMBER VALLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
    Amber Valley Borough Council's Statement of Licensing Policy had been circulated and was duly noted.
  20. YOUTH MATTERS - GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS
    The notification from Amber Valley Borough Council on the Government's proposal for "Youth Matters" was noted.
  21. ST JOHN'S CHAPEL COUNCIL OFFICES
    This item had been included on the Agenda in the light of the potential problems with car parking and also in view of the considerable repairs to the Chapel which were envisaged. The legal advice obtained concerning the Council's lease on the Chapel was circulated.
    Since the last meeting, formal notice had been given by St Peter's PCC that the car park would close on 13 August 2006. Members were obviously concerned at the effect the loss of the car park would have on the future usefulness of the Chapel as Council Offices, a meeting venue and Heritage Centre.
    The Clerk was instructed to notify all user groups of the car park closure and ask for a meeting with the PCC and Derby Diocese to discuss their proposals for the car park.
    A sub-committee of Councillors: Debbie Biss, Jackie Cox, Colin England, John Nelson and the Clerk was formed to represent the Council at any meeting with the Church representatives.
  22. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
    RESOLVED to note the items for information on the schedule attached.