BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 11th APRIL 2006

PRESENT: Councillor Colin England (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Deborah Biss, Joe Booth, Melvyn Cluskey, Jackie Cox, Alan Cox, Les Dorey, Peter Makin, Mick Nelson, John Nelson, Mick Potter, Martin Tomlinson,
In Attendance: Mrs Elaine Hibbert (Clerk), Ms Rosemary Bridges, Inspector Pete Szabo, Mrs Jane Middleton, Ms Andrea Fox, Mr Colin Sinclair, three members of the Public and one member of the Press
  1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
    Mrs Jane Middleton representing Milford and Makeney Community Group gave a presentation regarding the group's objections to the planning application for the redevelopment plan of Milford Mills. On behalf of the Group she asked the Council for their full support by objecting to the application on the grounds that the development was unsympathetic to the area.
    Councillor Peter Arnold as Member for the area agreed to pursue a site meeting for the residents to discuss the issues with the Borough Council along with proposals for the suggested use of Section 106 monies.
    Councillors Les Dorey, Alan Cox, Jim Anderson and John Nelson had declared an interest in this planning item and had left the room prior to discussion.
  2. POLICE MATTERS
    Inspector Szabo reported that the crime statistics for the year had been published and these were very encouraging in that reported crime was down and rates of detection had improved. He advised that measures to combat crime were always under consideration such as a proposed "Taxi Watch Scheme". Inspector Szabo reported that investigation was currently underway following the recent vandalism to the Parks Centre. He commented on the valuable work of the Drop Inn which the Police were keen to support and hoped that funding would be found to enable them to continue to operate.
    Members reported that serious problems were being caused by motorists not abiding by traffic restrictions in the absence of a full-time traffic warden. Inspector Szabo confirmed that a PCSO would be appointed this year but in the meantime efforts would be increased to clamp down on parking offences. He also clarified that the Police do not intend to enforce the designated non drinking area at the River Gardens on occasions of authorised public events and entertainment.
  3. PRESENTATION BY MRS ANDREA FOX ON BEHALF OF THE DROP INN
    Mrs Andrea Fox gave a brief update on the financial situation of the Drop Inn advising that they had insufficient funds with which to continue. The difficulties had arisen due to the loss of grant funding and, in particular, the loss of the Safer Communities monies which had been diverted back to the County Council.
    Members recognising the valuable role the Drop Inn played within the community agreed to give consideration to the emergency funding of this Group. It was therefore RESOLVED that the matter be referred for consideration at the next meeting of the Finance Committee and that they be delegated to agree a level of grant funding within the scope of the budget.
  4. PRESENTATION BY MR COLIN SINCLAIR RE A SUMMER EVENT IN THE MARKET PLACE
    Mr Sinclaire outlined the proposals for an event to take place possibly over the summer bank holiday which would be jointly organised by landlords of the pubs around the Market Place. Members were enthusiastic about the idea and made various suggestions concerning aspects of the organisation which needed consideration.
  5. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
    No apologies were received
  6. CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
    RESOLVED to approve the inclusion of items 20-25 of the Supplementary Agenda.
  7. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
    Declarations of interest were made as follows:
    Personal
    Item 9 Councillor Deborah Biss
    Prejudicial (Members left the room)
    Item 18 Councillor Mick Potter Item 11 Councillor Martin Tomlinson
  8. 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 the press be excluded from the meeting and they be instructed to withdraw during discussion of items 18 and 21 on the Agenda.
  9. TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE MINUTES 480-500 OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 14 MARCH 2006
    It was RESOLVED to approve minutes 480-500 of the Council meeting held on 14 March 2006 subject to item 490d where the word "reformed" should be replaced with the word "meet".
  10. NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE HELD ON 16 MARCH 2006
    The minutes of the Christmas Committee held on 16 March 2006 were noted. Concern was expressed that it may not be possible for the event "Santa's Arrival in the River Gardens" to go ahead because of all the regulations being imposed.
  11. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
    The Mayor, Councillor Colin England gave details of the various engagements he had had since the last meeting plus those taking him up to the AGM.
    Councillor England thanked all the Council employees for their assistance whilst the Clerk had been absent due to her accident.
    It was RESOLVED to allow the organisers of the Belper Celebration to use the Council's second complimentary session at the Belper Leisure Centre on order to hold a Talent Contest Grand Final on Saturday 27 May 2006.
    It was RESOLVED that a Civic Reception be held on Saturday 22 April 2006 at St John's Chapel in order to celebrate the gold and silver medal achievements of Ross Davenport at the recent Commonwealth Games. The reception will follow a parade around the town on an open top bus. The Clerk would organise an appropriate Award to be presented to Ross on behalf of the Council.
  12. FINANCE
    1. It was RESOLVED to note and agree the attached schedule of receipts and payments for February 2006 showing income of £2,821.57 and expenditure of £8,544.07.
    2. It was RESOLVED to note and agree the attached schedule of receipts and payments for March (1-24) 2006 showing income of £819.46 and expenditure of £6,500.15.
    3. It was RESOLVED that Councillor Dorey's request to use unallocated Larks' funding to provide a Prom concert during the Well Dressings be considered in the Exempt section of the meeting 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 the press be excluded from the meeting and they be instructed to withdraw.
  13. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    The planning applications listed on the schedules dated 3 April 2006 and 11 April 2006 were noted and Members objected to the following applications:
    AVA/2006/0297
    AVA/2006/0300
    AVA/2006/0320
    Member's comments will be submitted to Amber Valley Borough Council's Planning Board.
  14. REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES
    Councillor Les Dorey suggested that the newly formed River Gardens Centenary Committee along with the Well Dressing Committee and the River Gardens Committee be merged into one committee to organise future events in the River Gardens. This could also include Council run events such as the Larks in the Parks and Santa's Arrival in the River Gardens and would eliminate the necessity for several licences being applied for.
  15. LICENSING
    It was RESOLVED that five areas of Belper should be licensed in respect of public entertainment at a total cost of £900. This would cover all future events. It was further RESOLVED that a Belper Town Council Licensing Board be set up at the Annual General Meeting.
  16. COPPICE CAR PARK
    The letter from Amber Valley Borough Council regarding the Coppice car park was noted.
  17. FENCING AT THE MEMORIAL GARDENS
    The letter from Amber Valley Borough Council regarding the installation of fencing at the Memorial Gardens was noted.
  18. APPOINTMENT OF TEMPORARY GENERAL ASSISTANT
    There were twenty-one applicants for the position and a short list of five. Mr Paul Hickin has been employed on a six-month temporary contact as the Temporary General Assistant with effect from 3 April 2006.
  19. HIGHWAYS AGENCY
    The letter from the Highways Agency regarding the widening of the M1 motorway between junctions 21 and 30 was noted.
  20. MEMO FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE
    The memo from English Heritage was noted and it was RESOLVED to set up a sub committee, which would include Councillors Colin England, Jim Anderson, Mick Nelson and Mick Potter to discuss the recommendations.
  21. MEMORIAL GARDENS - BELPER IN BLOOM
    Members were pleased to note the amount of sponsorship being obtained towards the summer bedding. Various improvements had been carried out to the beds and borders in the Memorial Gardens and the edging work required to finish off the borders plus renewing the tarmac paths was noted and agreed.
  22. WHEELCHAIR RAMP
    It was agreed not to proceed with the purchase of a wheelchair ramp for St John's Chapel until the future of the car park has been resolved.
  23. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
    RESOLVED to note the items for information on the schedule attached.
  24. SIGNAGE AT THE MARKET PLACE
    The response from Derbyshire County Council regarding signage at the Market Place was considered and it was agreed that the Clerk should contact English Heritage to notify them of the parking problems.
  25. INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICALLY WIRED SOCKETS IN THE MEMORIAL GARDENS
    Two quotes had been received for the installation of wiring for lighting sockets outlets in the Memorial Gardens and after discussion it was RESOLVED to accept the quote from Alan Benfield Limited.
  26. BOUNDARY WALL BETWEEN THE PUBLIC HALL AND THE MEMORIAL GARDENS
    The letter from Amber Valley Borough Council concerning the boundary wall between the Public Hall and the Memorial Gardens was considered along with other tree issues. It was agreed that the Clerk should reassess the situation with the advice of Amber Valley officers.
  27. CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AND ENVIRONMENT ACT 2005
    The letter from defra regarding the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 was discussed. It was reported that Amber Valley Borough Council were already taking on the responsibilities and Members agreed that it made more sense for the Borough Council to police the act locally.
  28. BELPER CLUB FOR THE DISABLED
    RESOLVED to grant a request from Belper Club for the Disabled to hold a car boot sale on the Coppice on Sunday 14 May 2006.
  29. BARGATE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
    RESOLVED to grant a request from Bargate Neighbourhood Watch to hold a car boot sale on Saturday 16 September 2006.
  30. BELPER WELL DRESSINGS - PROMS CONCERT
    It was agreed that any request for assistance in organising a Proms Concert at the end of the Well Dressings could only be considered if it came from all the organisations involved in the event. The Council would not therefore take any action on this request for the moment.