BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

1. Friends of Belper Parks
   Mr Dave Fisher and Mr Trevor Griffin made a short presentation “Past, Present and Future” to Members of the Council detailing the work that had been carried out in the Parks Area by Friends of Belper Parks and outlined proposals for future projects should funds be available.
   The Mayor thanked Mr Fisher and Mr Griffin for taking the trouble to attend the Council meeting.
2. Police Matters
   Inspector Lamin introduced PCSO Donna Shaw who spoke on her involvement with young people in various projects ie the Teen Shelter, the Whitemoor Centre and Belper School where children were occupied in organising a disco and fund-raising event as a school project. All of this appeared to be having a positive effect on instances of anti-social behaviour and was welcomed by Members of the Council.
   The current problems with parking were highlighted and, in particular, the effects of the closure of the Coppice Car Park for the duration of the fair.
   Other issues discussed were: CCTV monitoring and motorbikes on the A6 on Sundays.
3. County Council Matters
   Councillor Chris Jackson informed Members that: he had presented the Becksitch Lane petition to DCC; he was pursuing footway maintenance; and a planning application had been received for a Severn Trent monitoring kiosk on Knowle Avenue.

922. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
     Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Councillors Kevin Hallsworth (prior meeting), Ben Miller and Hassan Dervish (work commitments) and Peter Arnold (accident injuries).
923. CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
     RESOLVED to include the following additional papers:
     Agenda Item 6
     1. Letter from DCC re speed limits on Ashbourne Road
     2. Discussion on the closure of post offices
     3. Shelter repair – Whitemoor Lane
     Agenda Item 7a - Finance schedules (income and expenditure and bank reconciliation)
     Agenda Item 8 - Additional planning schedule
     Agenda Item 14 - Information on the forthcoming Brocklesby visit
     Agenda Item 16 - Fleet Arts Light & Music Event and an E-mail complaint re Whitemoor surgery planning decision
924. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
     Councillors made declarations of Interest as follows. Personal:
     Councillor Jim Anderson (Items 8a and 8b)
925. TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY ITEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH THE PUBLIC EXCLUDED
     In accordance with Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, in view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, it is RESOLVED that, in the public interest, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during discussion of items 14 and 15 and they be instructed to withdraw.
926. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON 11 SEPTEMBER 2007
     RESOLVED to receive and approve Minutes 894-921 of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 11 September 2007.
927. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
     1. Events
        The Mayor, Councillor Jackie Cox Councillor Cox gave details of the many engagements she had had in the month and reminded Members that:
        1. the Buffet lunch for the sponsors of Floral Displays was to take place on 17 October at 1pm.
        2. the Fair would be open at 6pm on Thursday 1 November.
        3. Remembrance Day – Service & Parade on 11 November.
     2. Closure of Post Offices:
        Members asked the Clerk to contact the Post Office and complain in the strongest possible terms about the continuing closure of post offices and, in particular, at Kilbourne Lane/Openwoodgate and Heage Road, Ripley. These closures would leave the public without this valuable facility despite the fact the closures did not comply with the “1 mile distance” criteria.
     3. A517 – Proposed Speed Limits:
        RESOLVED to agree with the proposals for the proposed 30, 40 and 50mph speed limits on the A517 Ashbourne to Belper road ie the current de-restricted status be changed to 50mph and the current 40mph limit through Hulland Ward be reduced to 30mph.
     4. Bus Shelter Repairs – Whitemoor Lane
        A quote of £490 for the repairs had been received. RESOLVED that the Council’s own staff should repair this bus shelter.
928. FINANCE
     RESOLVED to note and approve the income and expenditure as detailed on the attached schedules for the period 1-30 September 2007 showing income of £790.74 and expenditure of £ 18396.03.
     The high cost of heating the Chapel was noted and the Clerk was asked to make enquiries about alternative methods of heating.
     RESOLVED to note the bank reconciliation statements for the current/public reserve accounts as at 31 August and 30 September 2007.
     RESOLVED to note receipt of the External Auditor’s report on the Annual Return for the year ending 31 March 2007.
929. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
     RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 31 August-6 September, 6-17 September, 17-21 September. 21-28 September and 2-8 October 2007 (circulated at the meeting). No comments were made on any of the applications other than some concern was expressed at application AVA/2007/1194 particularly as regards the access for a further housing development (20 dwellings) on the Brettles site.
930. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
     1. Belper Leisure Centre Trust
        Councillor Bull advised that a new board structure was being discussed based on the findings in the Consultants’ Report which will allow independent people to participate.
     2. Belper Community Hall
        Councillor Mick Potter advised that the Committee had negotiated a lease of the building for a further three years which, with the additional DCC funding, would mean the Hall could possibly be available for the next six years.
     3. Friends of Belper Parks
        Councillor Debbie Biss thanked the Council for the support re the recent successful Mediaeval Fair.
931. “THE CODE OF CONDUCT UNCOVERED”
     The Clerk advised that this DVD was available for viewing by Members although it was not as comprehensive as could have been wished, covering mainly planning issues.
932. TRENT BARTON REPORT
     The results of the survey included in the report were noted as far as concerned Belper. Comment was made that the County Council were considering imposing parking restrictions and it was suggested that buses should be diverted away from the pedestrianised area.
933. EAST MIDLANDS IN BLOOM COMPETITION
     The comments in the Judges’ Report were noted with suggestions made for increasing sponsorship, involving more children (Scouts and Guides), and contacting Groundwork Erewash for possible assistance.
934. PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
     Various areas were highlighted as “hot spots”. The Clerk was asked to contact the County Council to request a full survey of all footways in the area.
935. CAR PARKING
     The sub-committee of Council Members was asked to meet as a matter of urgency to discuss the issues of parking problems in the town to be followed by a meeting with Borough and County representatives. The Clerk was asked to contact Tesco’s representatives with a view to taking on a lease of the old Thornton’s Car Park on Derwent Street. As in the recent past such requests had been declined on health and safety and security grounds, the Council would offer to take on the public liability insurance.
936. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
     RESOLVED to note the items for information included in the schedule attached to these minutes.
937. HMS BROCKLESBY
     RESOLVED to agree the visit to the Reception at HMS Brocklesby on a date in November 2007.
938. DISPOSAL OF OLD IT EQUIPMENT
     RESOLVED that the Clerk could dispose of two old PC’s to members of staff for a nominal amount providing all memories were cleared.