BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 13th JANUARY 2009

PRESENT:
Councillor Martin Tomlinson (Town Mayor) - in the Chair Councillors: Councillor Jim Anderson, Debbie Biss, Norman Bull, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Colin England, Nick Mothershaw, Mick Nelson, John Nelson, Mark Robertson.
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) County Councillor Chris Jackson, Borough Councillor Peter Makin, Insp. Smith, Sgt. Smith one member of the press (Belper News).

1246. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Peter Arnold, (holidays) Kevin Hallsworth (work commitments).
1247. ORDER OF BUSINESS
      RESOLVED to agree to follow the order of business as set out on the agenda.
1248. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      No declarations of interest received.
1249. 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.
1250. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
      RESOLVED to suspend standing orders to allow Borough Councillor Peter Makin to speak during item 6 'Police Matters'.
1251. POLICE MATTERS
      Borough Councillor Peter Makin raised concerns on the number of dedicated Belper police officers and asked for an explanation into why officers had arrived at an incident at the wrong location over the Christmas period.
      Inspector Smith explained that due to financial restraints the level of supervisory staff had changed but the number of police officers had remained the same. The incident in the Market Place over the Christmas period was considered serious and back up had to be called for from Derby and unfortunately these officers were not familiar with the Belper area.
      Councillor John Nelson questioned the legality of caravans permanently parked on the highway. Insp. Smith informed the Council that caravans could be parked on the highway and they would only be considered illegal if they were to cause an obstruction.
      Councillor John Nelson asked the police to look into the problem of vehicles churning up the grass verges outside St John's school. Sgt. Smith agreed to investigate and will report on the findings at the next meeting.
      Councillor Biss questioned the actions of the police regarding a complaint of a speeding motorist and secondly the leniency of the punishment given to a convicted dangerous driver.
      Sgt. Smith asked for more details regarding the speeding motorist and assured the Council that the complaint will be followed up.
      Insp. Smith explained the reasoning behind offering an offender the option of attending a driving course as an alternative to prosecution. The training course is a way of educating the driver and a way of creating a long term solution to improve peoples driving skills.
      Councillor Mick Nelson asked the police for their views on the planning application to extend the opening hours at the Tesco Express. Sgt. Smith explained that the application was not a licensing matter and the police would be unable to object.
      Sgt Smith informed the Council that following a request from members of the public the police have been working with other partners to reduce the antisocial behaviour in the Whitemoor area.
      Councillor Anderson praised the police for the excellent job that they carry out with the limited resources available to them.
1252. COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S BRIEFING
      Councillor Chris Jackson updated Members on progress with various issues:
      Lodge Lane and Belper Lane junction
      If there are any parking problems then these need to be reported to the police. Residents have been notified and asked to ensure their boundary hedges are trimmed back.
      Pavement at Bridge Foot
      There is a problem with the surface on the pavement at Bridge Foot between Wyver Lane and the A6 and a complaint has been sent to the Highways department.
      Parking Enforcement
      Councillor Jackson informed the Council that as of 19 February 2009 the County Council will be responsible for parking enforcement and the work will be carried out by a private company. The Council requested that a representative from the company or a member of the County Council attend the next Town Council meeting to explain the enforcement criteria. RESOLVED Clerk to write a letter to the County Council to request a representative to attend the next Town Council meeting.
      Joint Road Transport Forum
      There is to be a traffic forum meeting held 4 February 2009. The purpose of the meeting is to hear updates on highway issues from the Environmental Services Department and the police. RESOLVED Councillor Alan Cox to represent the Town Council at this meeting.
      Other issues raised with Councillor Jackson were:
      Councillor Bull asked for either the mini roundabout to be reinstated or road markings to be painted at the mini roundabout at the bottom of Hunters Road and Whitemoor Lane.
      Councillor Mick Nelson requested that double yellow lines be painted the full length of Church Lane. RESOLVED Clerk to write to the County Council to request double yellow lines are painted the full length of Church Lane to solve the congestion problems.
      Councillor John Nelson raised concerns on the poor condition of the green mesh fence on the Strutt Walk at the bottom of Belper Lane. Councillor Jackson to investigate and report back.
1253. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 9 DECMBER 2008
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1221-1245 of the Council Meeting held 11 November 2008 subject to minute number 1245 Belper Food Festival will be held 5 July with a suitable budget.
1254. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HELD 23 OCTOBER 2008
      RESOLVED to note the minutes of the Finance Committee held 5 December 2008.
1255. MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      Councillor Martin Tomlinson reported on various events.
      1. Sunday 10.30am 18 January 2009 Canon Roberts will take his last service at St Peters Church.
      2. The Council staff was congratulated for the work on the Christmas events and the Christmas decorations.
      3. The maintenance staff was thanked for the excellent job of decorating the Council Chamber.
1256. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:
      1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the month covering transactions 2435 - 2571. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £1,785.49 and Expenditure of £19,922.73.
      2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 30 November 2008.
      3. The budget as recommended in the Minutes of the Finance Working Party dated 5 December 2008 was approved. Glyn Haynes, the Council's Finance Officer, was thanked for his efforts in producing the budget. RESOLVED that the Council's Precept for the year 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 be set at £214,500.
1257. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      RESOLVED to note the planning application decisions listed on the schedules attached to these Minutes, dated 2 December - 5 January.
      RESOLVED To note the planning applications schedule dated 11 December - 13 January. No comments were made.
1258. GRANT APPLICATIONS
      282 Ross Davenport
      RESOLVED Deferred until the Clerk receives further information.
      283 Vitalise
      RESOLVED Refused
1259. OUTSIDE BODIES
      RESOLVED to note
      Derwent Valley Mills Tourism
      Councillor Mick Nelson informed the Council that work has started on the 2012 cultural Olympiad. The DVMT committee has applied to East Midlands to request that the Olympic torch is run through Derwent Mills Tourist site. The DVMT committee is in the process of creating a Draft Tourism Strategy.
      Belper River Gardens
      Councillor Colin England informed the Council on Les Dorey's resignation as the Chairman of the committee.
      Belper Cottage Project
      Councillor Mrs Cox made an appeal on behalf of the BCP for help with manning the office.
1260. HISTORIC TOWNS FORUM
      RESOLVED not to affiliate with the English Historic Towns Forum.
1261. BRITAIN IN BLOOM
      RESOLVED to enter the Britain in Bloom competition. The Clerk, Assistant Clerk and outdoor staff to attend the in bloom seminar 6 February 2009.
1262. CORRESPONDENCE
      Letter received from Friends of Belper Parks for assistance to improve the Belper Parks Local Nature Reserve RESOLVED Clerk to forward the letter to the land owners Amber Valley Borough Council.
      Email received from National Farmers Retail & Markets Association requesting comments on the policy and regulatory review of markets in the UK. RESOLVED Clerk to respond Belper farmers market is successful and there is no need for any changes.
      RESOLVED to note the response received re the Clerk's letter to the County Council requesting the identification of the sites deemed to be underrepresented with the provision of a civic amenity area.
      RESOLVED to note the feedback of the Derby and Derbyshire Minerals Waste Development Framework consultation.
      RESOLVED to note the Communities in Control: Real people, real power consultation.
1263. OVERLANE BUS SHELTER
      RESOLVED to accept the quotation of £560 plus VAT to repair the bus shelter at Overlane.
1264. NEW WATER SUPPLY, DERBY ROAD,MILFORD
      RESOLVED To accept the quotation of £750.67 plus VAT from Severn Trent to provide an outdoor water supply to aid the watering of the floral displays at Milford.
1265. BELPER LEISURE CENTRE
      RESOLVED to accept the Belper Leisure Centre Trust draft transfer agreement with no amendments.
1266. COUNCIL CHAMBER
      RESOLVED not to replace the carpet in the Council Chamber.
1267. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.