BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 8th JULY 2008

PRESENT: Councillor Martin Tomlinson (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Councillor Jim Anderson, Debbie Biss, Norman Bull, Colin England, Nick Mothershaw, John Nelson and Mark Robertson

In Attendance: Mrs Elaine Hibbert (Clerk), County Councillor Chris Jackson, Police Inspector Graham Lamin, Sgt Lee Smith and two members of the press (Belper News and Belper Express).

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
    Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alan and Jackie Cox (holiday), Mick Nelson and Kay Charlton (personal reasons), Ben Miller and Kevin Hallsworth (work commitments) and Mick Potter (illness).
  2. ORDER OF BUSINESS
    RESOLVED to agree the inclusion of a further planning schedule for 1-7 July under Item 13b and to take item 13c) before item 13a).
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
    Councillors made declarations of Interest as follows.
    Personal:
    Councillor Norman Bull - Item 13 - Planning Applications
    Prejudicial: Members would leave the room during any discussion
    Councillor Jim Anderson - Item 13 - Planning Applications
    Councillor John Nelson - Item 16 - re Waiting Restrictions at Goods Road.
  4. 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 was RESOLVED that, in the public interest, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during discussion of item 1in Part II and they be instructed to withdraw.
  5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
    There were no members of the public present.
  6. POLICE MATTERS
    Police Inspector Graham Lamin reported that crime had been static over the month with the only significant increase by category in the year being the burglary from sheds and outbuildings etc. Inspector Lamin was accompanied at this his last Council meeting by Sgt Lee Smith who was in charge of the Safer Neighbourhood Teams and would attend future Council meetings. It was understood that the Amber Valley Section Inspector Richard Smith would also attend on occasions.
    Inspector Lamin advised that County Councillor Joyce Sanders had agreed to contribute £10,000 (from a budget specifically earmarked to assist deprived areas) to pay for the removal of the old Scout hut on the Chapel car park. It was accepted that this would help overcome the problems of vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Although Members of the Council welcomed this gesture, they were concerned at the use of such public funds to finance a project in the ownership of the Church who themselves have vast resources. They would prefer therefore to see the Church contributing 50% match funding.
    The Clerk reported that problems had arisen at the Food and Real Ale Festival on Sunday 6 July because of concerns raised by the Police regarding the consumption of alcohol at the Black Swan on the Market Place and samples from a stall on King Street. Despite the appropriate licences having been obtained in advance ie the Premises Licences and the Temporary Event Notices, the Constable on duty was under the impression that alcohol consumption orders applied and no drink could be consumed in those areas. The Clerk said a definitive ruling was needed on this issue as the Police had previously advised that the Order was no longer valid once a Premises Licence was in place.
    The Police were asked to monitor the well dressings once in place in an attempt to deter vandalism.
    Councillor John Nelson spoke on behalf of all Members of the Council to thank Inspector Lamin and his team for the concentrated effort they had made to combat crime in the town which had had a real impact. Councillor Nelson said he was sorry to see Inspector Lamin leave and hoped the good relationship with the Police would continue. He wished Inspector Lamin all the best for his future post in Chesterfield.
  7. COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S BRIEFING
    Councillor Chris Jackson updated Members on his progress with various County Council issues.
    Signage: Cowers Lane - hedge has been trimmed, Mill bridge height restriction - sign needs calibrating and Mill Street - action required as people receiving parking tickets.
    Traffic : Becksitch Lane - DCC have confirmed that notices will shortly be posted re the proposed one-way scheme.
    Flooding: CJ confident that some work on defences will take place.
    Highway maintenance: Footpaths - pursuing maintenance on surfaces and overhanging hedges etc. which invite anti-social behaviour. Edward Street is to be resurfaced.
    Funding
    Councillor Jackson advised that he had donated £500 to the Belper Stroke Club and would also be contributing £500 towards the cost of reducing the chevrons on the flying geese roundabout on the A6.
  8. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 10 JUNE 2008
    RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1088-1123 of the Council Meeting held 10 June 2008 with the following amendments:
    1. Chief Superintendent Mike Usherwood (not Isherwood),
    2. Inspector Graham Lamin was transferring to Chesterfield not Amber Valley.
  9. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE HELD 24 JUNE 2008
    RESOLVED to note the Minutes of the Christmas Committee held 24 June 2008.
  10. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FOOD FESTIVAL COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 23 JUNE 2008
    RESOLVED to note the Minutes of a Meeting of the Food Festival Committee Meeting held 23 June 2008.
  11. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
    Events in the past month:
    The Mayor reported the events/functions attended in the month including: Babington Hospital Garden Party (MT) and the High Sherif's Reception (Deputy Mayor Councillor Norman Bull).
    Food Festival:
    The Mayor read out an e-mail from Councillor Mick Nelson as Chairman of the Food Festival Committee reporting on the day's event including the licensing problems and announcing his resignation as Chairman. He stated his opinion that, as the event had proved very successful, it should in future be contracted out with the Council taking a managerial role only.
    Forthcoming Events/Notices etc
    17 July 2008 (7pm) - Police Neighbourhood Panel.
    Excellence in the Community Award - No nominations made.
    Belper United Football Club - Seeking Council's support for creating a football pitch.
  12. FINANCE
    RESOLVED:
    1. to note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the month covering transactions 1705-1848. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £3372.72 and Expenditure of £27069.30.
    2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 31 May 2008.
    3. To note completion of the internal audit and note and approve the Annual Internal Audit Report and Statement of Accounts for the financial year to 31 March 2008.
  13. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    Proposal by Amber Valley Housing for development on land at Mill Lane and Park Road:
    Before leaving the meeting, Councillor Anderson as Chairman of AVBC Planning Board, spoke on item 13c) Mill Lane to make Members aware of the history behind the application which was that a previous application to develop the area (now a car park) had been refused and the decision was then upheld on appeal. Councillor Anderson then left the meeting whilst discussion took place.
    Councillor Bull brought with him to the meeting a petition signed by thirty three concerned residents who object to the Amber Valley Housing proposal to develop the area as this would take away their only parking facility. Members of the Council agreed that the car park was an important part of the infrastructure in that area and, in addition, could not see the necessity for three more houses. The Clerk was therefore instructed to contact Amber Valley Housing Ltd to state the Council's support of local residents and request that they do not go ahead with exploratory work on the car park.
    RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules attached to these Minutes, dated 11-17 June, 17-234 June, 25 June to 1 July and 1-7 July 2008.
  14. GRANT APPLICATIONS
    273 - Belper and District Road Safety Committee
    RESOLVED to grant an award of £30 to Belper and District Road Safety Committee.
  15. OUTSIDE BODIES
    1. Belper Leisure Centre Trust
      Councillor Bull reported some disagreement amongst the Trustees regarding the arrangements for the new company.
    2. Friends of Belper Parks
      Councillor Biss reported the damage caused to the hedging at the Coppice car park because of indiscriminate weed spraying by Borough Council staff. The Clerk was asked to complain to the Borough Council.
    3. Drop Inn
      Councillor Jim Anderson reported that unfortunately Drop Inn meetings were clashing with current commitments at the Borough Council.
  16. DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS
    Members considered the proposals for waiting restrictions at Goods Road. Whilst the proposals were considered to be of some benefit, Members were also concerned at the loss of parking for local residents and the County Council would therefore be asked to provide a car park which should include access steps from Goods Road.
  17. DERWENT STREET CAR PARK
    RESOLVED to note the completion of the lease from Tesco in respect of the Council's tenancy of the old Thornton's car park on Derwent Street. This has provided 180 free car parking spaces with the entrance being secured by a permanent height restriction barrier. Appropriate signage had been put in place.
  18. BUS SHELTERS
    RESOLVED to obtain a quote for solid panels for the vandalised bus shelters at Derby Road and Far Laund and report back to the September meeting.
    In the absence of any agreement on the provision of a better bus service to the Whitemoor Surgery, Council confirmed its resolve not to take on the maintenance of the proposed two new bus shelters.
  19. PEDESTRIANISATION OF KING STREET
    Following discussion, it was RESOLVED that steps be taken to pedestrianise King Street starting with a trial of Saturdays only for a period of three months. The Clerk was asked to make appropriate enquiries.
  20. ST JOHN'S CHAPEL - ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
    The letter of complaint from a resident regarding the ongoing anti-social behaviour problems at the car park at the rear of St John's Chapel was noted.
  21. SALVATION ARMY FUN DAY
    RESOLVED to grant permission to the Salvation Army to hold a fun day on Belper Market Place on 29 August 2008.
  22. OVERWINTERING OF SHOWMEN ON THE COPPICE CAR PARK
    RESOLVED to grant permission to Mr McKean and family to overwinter on the Coppice car park under the usual terms and conditions and an increase in rent of £5 per week.
  23. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
    RESOLVED to note the items for information included in the schedule attached to these minutes.
  24. STAFF ISSUES
    1. RESOLVED to note with regret the resignation (retirement) of the Town Clerk, Elaine Hibbert, in October 2008 and to agree the delegation of responsibility for the appointment of a new Clerk to the interview panel from the Staff Working Party.
    2. RESOLVED to make permanent the temporary contract of the Grounds and General Services Operative, Mr Paul Hicking.
    3. RESOLVED to regrade the Administration Assistant Post to Assistant Town Clerk on Scale 3/4 and the Finance Officer to Scale 4/5; both with effect from 1 August 2008.