BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

1. Councillor Makin thanked the organisers of the splendid firework display on Belper Meadows.
2. Police Matters
   No crime statistics were available due to the absence of Inspector Lamin.
   The press were asked to publicise the recent spate of deception burglaries in Holbrook. Concern was expressed at the delay in the police response following reports of vandalism at the River Gardens. Inspector Lamin would be asked to improve the policy response time and they should arrive “unannounced” to improve the chances of catching the vandals.
3. Ms Janet Honey addressed the meeting on behalf of Belper Civic Forum expressing concern at the closure of the Herbert Strutt School building which would allow it to fall into disrepair. She advised that members of the Civic Forum were anxious that this building should be preserved as a valuable community asset to provide (for example) meeting rooms, a library, a performance venue and business start-up units. The Forum was therefore proposing to form a Trust to manage the building with the proceeds from any income generated being given to the Herbert Strutt Charity.
   At this point all representatives on the Herbert Strutt Committee left the meeting having declared a prejudicial interest on any discussion which might ensue.
   Members thanked Ms Honey for attending the meeting.
   County Councillor Patrick Clark advised he would follow up the Town Council’s concerns regarding the security of the building.
4. Mr Roger Carter of Belper Hockey Club attended the meeting to thank the Council for their past grant funding support. He advised Members of the many successes of the Club which these grant monies had helped to bring about and hoped that the Council would continue to support the Club in the future.
   Mr Carter was thanked for attending.
   
5. County Council Matters
   Councillor Patrick Clark advised that at the next Belper & District Road Safety Committee, traffic calming measures on Sandbed Lane would be discussed and confirmed that the County Council were in receipt of the petition on the Becksitch Lane one-way proposals.
   Councillor Clark also advised that the Conservative Group Leader of the County Council, Councillor Annette Noskwith would be relinquishing leadership after 40 years but would be completing her term as County Councillor. A successor is expected to be elected in mid-December.

939. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
     Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Councillors Peter Arnold (accident injuries) and Mick Nelson (receiving an Excellence in the Community award).
940. CHANGE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
     RESOLVED to include the following additional papers:
     Agenda Item 7 - Minutes of the Christmas Committee Meeting (6.11.07)
     Agenda Item 9a/b - Finance schedules (income and expenditure and bank reconciliation)
     9c - Minutes of Finance Working Party Meeting (6.11.07)
     Agenda Item 10b - Additional planning schedule
     Agenda Item 11c - Grant Application (Belper Historical Society)
     Agenda Item 14 - DCC confirmation of receipt of Becksitch Lane petition
     Agenda Item 14 - Letter from Trent Barton Buses
     Agenda Item 16 - DCC letter re footway survey
     
941. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
     Councillors made declarations of Interest as follows.
     Personal:
     Councillor Alan Cox (Items 11b and 13b)
     Councillor Jackie Cox (Item 11b)
     Prejudicial: (Members left the room)
     Councillors: Jim Anderson, Debbie Biss, Alan Cox, John Nelson, Norman Bull, Colin England and Jackie Cox (Public Participation – Herbert Street Charity)
942. 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 13b and the item in Part II and they be instructed to withdraw.
943. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON 9 OCTOBER 2007
     RESOLVED to receive and approve Minutes 922-938 of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 9 October 2007.
944. MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF BELPER FOOD FESTIVAL COMMITTEE HELD 6 SEPTEMBER AND 10 OCTOBER 2007
     RESOLVED to receive and note the Minutes of the Meetings of Belper Food Festival Committee held 6 September and 10 October 2007.
945. MINUTES OF BELPER WAKES DAY COMMITTEE HELD 9 OCTOBER 2007
     RESOLVED to receive and note the Minutes of a Meeting of Belper Wakes Day Committee held 9 October 2007. The date of the Wakes Event is Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 2008.
946. MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF THE CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE HELD 16 OCTOBER AND 6 NOVEMBER 2007
     RESOLVED to receive and note the Minutes of Meetings of the Christmas Committee held 16 October and 6 November 2007.
947. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
     1. Events attended in the past month
        These included: the Buffet hosted by the Town Council for the Sponsors of floral displays; the Annual Fair; the visit to HMS Brocklesby; and the Remembrance Day Service and Parade.
     2. Forthcoming Events
        The Police Consultative Meeting on 22 November; the Community Forum Meeting on 28 November (both at the Nailers); the Christmas Lights Switching On event on Friday 30 November 2007 between 6pm and 8pm.
948. FINANCE
     1. RESOLVED to note and approve the income and expenditure as detailed on the attached schedules for the period 1-31 October 2007 showing income of £117,395.68 and expenditure of £26,837.92.
     2. RESOLVED to note the bank reconciliation statements for the current/public reserve accounts as at 31 October 2007.
     3. RESOLVED note the Minutes of the Finance Working Party held 6 November 2007 and agree the recommendations contained therein.
949. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
     RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 9- 19 October and 24-30 October 2007.
950. GRANT APPLICATIONS
     1. 260 – Belper Thursday Club
        RESOLVED to decline the application for grant funding as nothing was known about the activities of the Club and also in view of the large balance on their accounts.
     2. 261 – Bereavement Drop In Coffee Morning
        RESOLVED to agree to meet the shortfall between the £300 applied for and any grant monies provided by the Herbert Strutt Charity.
     3. 264 – Belper Historical Society
        RESOLVED to decline the request for a grant in view of the large balances on the Society’s accounts. However Members were keen to assist in finding alternative venues for storage and suggested that Section 106 monies may be possible as part of the proposed Tesco development.
951. CAR BOOT SALES
     RESOLVED that the Council should adopt the following procedures:
     “Belper Town Council, as a market authority, under common law has the right to challenge any rival market within a six and two-third miles radius of its own market. Car boot sales and indoor sales also constitute “markets”. The Clerk has the designated power to grant or decline requests for markets which are operated solely for charitable purposes. However, permission will not normally be given for markets which clash with others in the town. Any requests from commercial organisations will be put to full Council for consideration.“
     These procedures and the illegality of fly posting should be made clear to the public through the press with notices posted accordingly.
952. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
     1. Belper Community Hall
        Councillor Mick Potter reported that the wooden floor was due to be repolished.
     2. Milford & Makeney Community Group
        Councillor Debbie Biss advised that the Group were considering preparing a Parish Plan and Map and would be contacting the Council.
     3. Drop Inn
        Councillor Jim Anderson advised that the new management team were coping well now that short-term funding for the rent had been put in the place. However, most were unhappy that recently appointed Trustee was expecting everyone to give a guaranteed time commitment. In the absence of a Finance Officer, no applications for further funding had been made. Councillor Hassan Dervish offered his assistance with this should it be required.
953. TRAFFIC ISSUES
     Discussion took place regarding the response from Trent Barton who were unwilling to divert their buses from the “pedestrianised” area of King Street. The Clerk was asked to contact the County Council with a request that this area be permanently closed to all traffic.
     Further to the County Council response regarding various traffic issues, (ie Lander Lane signage, car parking, Wyver Lane speed limit) Mr David Orton would be asked to attend a future meeting of the Town Council.
     It was RESOLVED that the Food Festival Committee be asked to organise a Saturday market on King Street.
954. EMERGENCY PLANNING
     The letter from Derbyshire County Council informing the Town Council about the desirability of adopting a Community Response Plan in the event of a local emergency was noted.
     On the same issue, the Borough Council had asked for the Council’s involvement in hosting a presentation to the public in the form of a Community Flood Fair. Members were keen to be involved in this and the Clerk was asked to make the appropriate arrangements working in partnership with the Borough Council.
955. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
     RESOLVED to note the items for information included in the schedule attached to these minutes.
956. CAR PARKING
     Concern was expressed that new housing schemes were being approved which did not include sufficient car parking. The Clerk was asked to contact the Borough Council Planners to request that parking provision be an absolute requirement in all such future applications.
     RESOLVED that arrangements be made to take over from Tesco’s representatives the management (on a temporary basis) of the old Thornton’s car park on Derwent Street. The Council would be responsibility for public liability insurance and would pay Tesco’s legal costs (of approx £600) for the drawing up of a suitable agreement.
957. BELPER LEISURE CENTRE TRUST
     Councillor Norman Bull reported on recent meeting of the Trust where responsibilities and representation of the Trustees were major issues. It was hoped that the proposed new structure would allow the wider involvement of the community in the management of the Centre.