BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

PRESENT: Councillor Jackie Cox (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Councillor Jim Anderson, Debbie Biss, Norman Bull, Kay Charlton, Alan Cox, Colin England, Kevin Hallsworth, Ben Miller, John Nelson, Mick Nelson, Mick Potter, Mark Robertson and Martin Tomlinson
In Attendance: Mrs Elaine Hibbert (Clerk), County Councillor Chris Jackson, Police Inspector Graham Lamin, three members of the press (Belper News, Belper Bugle and Belper Express), and four members of the public.

1030. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Peter Arnold (Mayoral duty).
1031. ORDER OF BUSINESS
      RESOLVED to agree the inclusion of the following additional papers:
      Item 13 - Planning Schedule dated 11.03.08
      RESOLVED to take item 21 - Coppice Car Park - as the first business.
1032. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      Councillors made declarations of Interest as follows.
      Prejudicial: Members to leave the room
      Councillor John Nelson (Item 18)
1033. TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY ITEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH THE PUBLIC EXCLUDED
      There were no items of a confidential nature which merited being taken with the public excluded.
1034. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
      Mr and Mrs Fisher asked to speak against the request for the Council to sell the Coppice Car Park to the Showmen's Guild. Their argument was supported by complaints about the Showmen who are currently overwintering on the Car Park (ie noise, smell from the generator and damage to newly planted trees beyond the car park boundary). The Clerk was asked to write to the McKean family concerning this.
1035. COPPICE CAR PARK
      Members unanimously RESOLVED to decline the request to sell the Coppice Car Park to the Showmen's Guild.
1036. POLICE MATTERS
      Police Inspector Graham Lamin reported:
      1. Surgeries were now being held in the Whitemoor Centre.
      2. Young people were now gathering outside the local Nursery instead of the Tesco store where a mosquito device had been installed. The Safer Neighbourhood Team would be asked to consider installing a timed device at the Nursery.
      3. Council Members were now included on a database for the KINS scheme which is a network of a variety of local people who are empowered to act for their local community.
      4. He was not aware of any plans to stop the Police attending parish meetings.
      5. He would be attending the forthcoming meeting of Belper & District Road Safety Committee (where the County Council's representative,Mr David Orton would be also be present) to state the Police's concerns over certain problem areas.
1037. COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S BRIEFING
      Councillor Chris Jackson advised:
      1. He would also be attending the Belper & District Road Safety Committee meeting and asked the Council to provide a letter of support for him to take to Derbyshire County Council in respect of a demand for action regarding the various problems areas in the town, particularly Church Lane where the increasing problem of parked cars was making it impassable.
      2. He was pursuing the poor state of pavement surfaces.
      3. He was working with the Police to sort out speed restrictions in several areas - Belper Lane and Wyver Lane being particular problems.
      4. He had been appointed to a review Committee which had been set up to consider flooding problems, including blocked drains and culverts.
      5. He was having meetings with Highways re re-lining the exit from Lodge Drive.
      Members thanked Councillor Jackson for his continued efforts on behalf of the people of Belper which were much appreciated.
1038. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON 12 FEBRUARY 2008
      RESOLVED to receive and approve Minutes 998-1029 of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 12 February 2008.
1039. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER FOOD COMMITTEE HELD 19 FEBRUARY 2008
      With the inclusion of the Landlord's details (ie Mr Neil McCready of the Black Swan) in Minute 86, it was RESOLVED to note the Minutes of a Meeting of Belper Food Committee held 19 February 2008.
1040. MINUTES OF THE CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE HELD 26 FEBRUARY 2008
      It was RESOLVED to note the Minutes of the Christmas Committee Meeting held 26 February 2008.
1041. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Events in the past month
      These included Citizenship classes at St Elizabeth's School and the Civic Service on 9 March 2008 which was very well attended. The Mayor thanked her fellow councillors for celebrating with her.
      Forthcoming Events
      The Mayor of Amber Valley Borough Council's Dinner & Dance on 26 April 2008 to which all Members of the Council and Staff are invited.
      The Mayor brought to the attention of Members, the difficulties being faced by patients of the new Whitemoor Surgery because of the lack of a regular bus service. Members condemned the Surgery's policy of using expensive 0844 telephone numbers.
1042. FINANCE
      1. RESOLVED to note and approve the income and expenditure as detailed on the attached schedules for transactions 1164-1257 showing income of £4274.36 and expenditure of £7465.13.
      2. RESOLVED to note the bank reconciliation statements for the current/public reserve accounts as at 25 February 2008.
      3. RESOLVED to decline the request from Friends of Belper River Gardens for the amount budgeted for Larks in the Parks to be paid in advance. The Council would continue to pay against invoices received.
1043. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 19 to 25 February, 26 February to 3 March and 3 to 10 March 2008. No comments were made.
1044. GRANT APPLICATIONS
      266 - Derbyshire Army Cadet Force
      RESOLVED to agree an award of £500 and, in addition, consideration would be given to the provision of a new Standard. The Cadet Force would also be advised as to where to make further grant applications.
      267 - Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
      RESOLVED to agree an award of £300 towards improvements at the Wyver Lane Nature Reserve.
      Ryklow Charitable Trust
      To clarify the way in which this legacy to Belper can be used, the Clerk was asked to make enquiries as to the actual terms of the will.
1045. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
      1. No reports received.
      2. Representatives on Outside Bodies:
      Amber Valley Access Group and Matthew Smith's Almshouses:
      No councillors available to attend these meetings.
      Derwent Valley World Heritage Site: Councillor Nelson
      (Also the Borough Council's representative)
1046. COMMUNITY SHELTER
      Councillor Tomlinson reported that funding was in place to provide a shelter at Whitemoor. However, there needed to be consultation with local residents who were expressing concern as to the siting of this.
1047. BELPER IN BLOOM
      RESOLVED to note the Minutes of the Meeting of the Bloom Committee held 26 February 2008 and to note the information contained therein.
      RESOLVED to undertake a Cultivation Licence with the County Council to facilitate work on the splitter island at the junction of Belper Lane and Ashbourne Road.
      Councillor John Nelson's proposals for improvements to the traffic island at the Morrison's junction on the A6 were given enthusiastic support. These included reducing the size of the chevrons in order to make the floral displays more visible.
1048. DISABLED VEHICLE GARAGE
      The Mayor reported on a meeting held with representatives of Belper Disabled Club, the Clerk, and Councillors Jackie and Alan Cox, Colin England and Mick Nelson regarding the future use of the Garage on the Coppice Car Park. The Club was not parking their vehicle there on a regular basis and therefore members had no objection to the Council using the garage to house the pick-up vehicle. However, the Club still wished to retain the use of the garage for storage, particularly wheelchairs and zimmer frames. The Council would not be responsible for maintenance or insurance of the building and there would be no charge levied by the Club.
1049. ST JOHN'S CHAPEL - ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
      RESOLVED to note the correspondence received from the Chief Constable and the Crime Prevention Officer. The estimate from the Church for fencing off the old Scout Hut was noted and the Clerk was asked to advise the Church of possible sources of grant funding.
      Members were pleased to note the proposals to include the area in an Alcohol Designation Order.
      
1050. ANIMAL AID'S COMPASSIONATE CHARTER
      RESOLVED not to adopt this Charter.
1051. CAR BOOT SALES
      RESOLVED to agree the various sales dates as notified by Denby Pottery and the Sales Spectacular on 24 May 2008 organised by Belper Celebration.
1052. RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLOR
      RESOLVED to note the vacancy created on the Council following the resignation of Councillor Hassan Dervish.
      The Clerk was asked to write to Mr Dervish thanking him for his efforts during his period on the Council.
1053. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED to note the items for information included in the schedule attached to these minutes.