BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 9th JUNE 2009

PRESENT:
Councillor Norman Bull (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Debbie Biss, Kay Charlton, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Colin England, Kevin Hallsworth, Ben Miller, Nick Mothershaw, John Nelson, Martin Tomlinson.
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) County Councillor Chris Jackson, Borough Councillor Peter Makin, Insp. Smith, Sgt. Booth two member of the public and two members of the press (Belper News and Belper Express).
  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
    Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mick Nelson (personal reasons) Mick Potter (committee meeting).
  2. ORDER OF BUSINESS
    RESOLVED to agree to follow the order of business as set out on the agenda.
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
    Councillor Anderson declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 1364 287 Fleet Arts funding request, Councillor Biss declared a personnel interest in minute number 1374 Milford School Travel Plan both Councillors remained in the room whilst the item was discussed.
  4. 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.
  5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
    Borough Councillor Peter Makin thanked members of the Council for their support in the run up to the recent elections.
    He also informed the Council that Belper resident Chris Henson has been selected to play cricket and represent Great Britain in the Australian World Cup.
    A member from the Fleet Arts gave a brief report on the groups programme for 2009/12 and an explanation on the group's bank balance and reserves to support their funding request.
    A member from the Drop Inn Centre gave a brief report on the group's activities during 2008/09 and an explanation on their fund raising events and core running costs to support their funding request.
  6. COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S BRIEFING
    Councillor Chris Jackson informed the Council on his recent appointment as Deputy Leader of Derbyshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Environmental Services.
    He then explained that he had done as much as he could with regards to the removal of the trees at Plains Lane and that it was now a Civil Matter.
    The Council thanked Councillor Jackson for all the work he had carried out last year on behalf of Belper and congratulated him on his new positions at the County Council.
  7. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 7 APRIL 2009
    RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1332-1336 of the Council Meeting held 7 April 2009.
  8. MINUTES OF THE 35th ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PARISH OF BELPER HELD 12 MAY 2009.
    RESOLVED to note the minutes of the 35th Annual assembly of the Parish of Belper held 12 May 2009.
  9. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 12 MAY 2009
    RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1337-1348 of the Annual General Meeting held 12 May 2009.
  10. MINUTES OF AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 28 MAY 2009.
    RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1349-1351 of the Extraordinary Council Meeting held 28 May 2009.
  11. MINUTES OF THE FOOD FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
    RESOLVED to note the minutes of the Belper Food Festival held 30 March 2009, 20 April 2009 and 15 May 2009.
  12. MINUTES OF CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE HELD 28 APRIL 2009.
    RESOLVED to note the minutes of the Christmas Committee held 28 April 2009.
  13. MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS
    Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
    Councillor Norman Bull reported on various events.
    1. Opening of the Village Store at Milford Saturday 13 June 2009.
    2. Attendance to Coxbench Hall's 25th Anniversary celebrations Sunday 14 June 2009.
    3. Deputy Mayor Councillor John Nelson will be opening the Osmaston Grange fete Saturday 13 June 2009.
    4. German students will be visiting St John's Chapel Monday 15 June 2009.
    5. Belper Forum will be meeting Friday 19 June 2009.
    6. Triumph Classic car rally will be held on the Market Place Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June 2009.
  14. FINANCE
    RESOLVED:
    1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of March and April covering transactions 2926 - 3290. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £129,311.82 and Expenditure of £32,472.00.
    2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 31 March and 30 April 2009.
    3. To note the completion of the internal audit and note and approve the Annual Internal Audit Report and Statement of Accounts for the financial year to March 2009.
  15. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 29 April 2009 - 29 May 2009 3 June - 9 June 2009. No comments were made.
    RESOLVED to note AVA/2009/02080 George Brettles change of use from factory to mixed use development planning application has been withdrawn.
    RESOLVED to note APP/M1005/A/09 2096366 land at Acorn Drive planning application appeal for the construction of four semi detached and three terraced homes has been granted.
  16. GRANT APPLICATIONS
    287 - Fleet Arts
    RESOLVED to defer until the Council are in receipt of a copy of their latest audited accounts.
    288 - Drop Inn Centre
    RESOLVED to defer until the Council are in receipt of a copy of their latest audited accounts.
    289 Derwent Valley Mills
    RESOLVED to defer until the Council are in receipt of a copy of their latest audited accounts.
  17. REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES FOR 2009/10
    RESOLVED to agree the list of Membership of Council Representatives on Outside Bodies for the year 2009/2010 subject to Councillor Nick Mothershaw to replace Councillor Jim Anderson as a representative on the Fleet Arts committee.
  18. COMMITTEE AND WORKING PARTY MEMBERS
    RESOLVED to agree the list of Membership of Council Representatives on the Committee and Working Parties.
  19. WAKES DAY
    The Wakes Day event previously organised by the Clerk in partnership with the Borough Council's Sports Development team had to be cancelled this year due to the Borough Council's decision to dissolve the Sports Development team
    RESOLVED Clerk to:
    Contact the County Council to ask if they can provide a team of staff to run the event next year.
    Write to 1st Alton Manor Scouts and the Civil Forum to ask if they have any volunteers willing to help with the Wakes Day.
    Place an article in the next newsletter and the local paper to ask for volunteers to help with Belper events.
    Check volunteers are covered on the Council's insurance.
  20. DERBYSHIRE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY STRATEGY 2009 - 2014
    RESOLVED to note the Derbyshire Sustainable Community Strategy 2009 - 2014.
  21. DALC TRAINING
    RESOLVED to note the DALC Power of Wellbeing and Chairmanship training.
  22. REQUEST TO USE THE TOWN COUNCIL'S LOGO
    RESOLVED permission granted to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to use the Town Council's logo on their proposed information panel at Wyver Lane and permission granted to local photographer Ashley Franklin for the inclusion of the Town Council's logo on his 2010 calendar.
  23. ST JOHN'S HEATING SYSTEM
    RESOLVED to accept the lowest quotation of £100 to install a digital timer clock to the heating system at St John's Chapel.
  24. ASHBOURNE ROAD BUS SHELTER REPAIRS
    RESOLVED Clerk to assess the feasibility of the Council's staff's ability to repair the bus shelter. If that's not a suitable option Clerk to instruct Shelter Maintenance to carry out the repairs.
  25. EAST MIDLANDS REGIONAL ASSEMBLY OPTIONS CONSULTATION LAUNCH
    RESOLVED to note the east Midlands Regional Assembly Options consultation launch running from 30 June 2009 until 6 October 2009.
  26. SHIRLAND WELFARE BAND CONCERT
    RESOLVED to grant permission to Shirland Welfare band to hold a concert in the Memorial Garden one Sunday in August 2009. The Town Council agreed for them to have a street collection providing they apply and receive the necessary license from the Borough Council.
  27. MILFORD SCHOOL TRAVEL PLAN
    The Council commended the travel plan and were particularly interested in the encouragement of the improvement of school safety. With the introduction of this plan the Council thought this may add strength to the previously identified need for a pedestrian crossing at Milford RESOLVED the Town Council support Milford Schools Travel Plan.
  28. ROYAL MAIL SORTING OFFICE, GOODS ROAD
    RESOLVED to note the Clerk's report on the amended opening hours of the Royal mail sorting office.
  29. BELPER LEISURE CENTRE TRUST
    RESOLVED to note the assets and undertakings of Belper Leisure Centre Trust were transferred to Belper Leisure Centre Limited with effect Friday 1 May 2009.
  30. SLCC CONFERENCE
    RESOLVED to note SLCC conference to be held Tuesday 23 June 2009 at the Quorn Country Hotel, Quorn.
  31. DERBYSHIRE GREENWAY STRATEGY
    RESOLVED Councillors with any suggestions for the Derbyshire Greenway Strategy to forward them onto the Clerk.
  32. DERBYSHIRE RURAL COMMUNITY COUNCIL SUBSCRIPTIONS
    RESOLVED to subscribe to Derbyshire Rural Community Council.
  33. DERBYSHIRE CONSTABULARY ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL EVENING
    RESOLVED Councillor Norman Bull to attend the Derbyshire Constabulary Parish Council evening as the Town Council's representative.
  34. MINERALS AND WASTE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
    RESOLVED to note the invitation received from Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council to attend a workshop on minerals and waste planning.
  35. REFURBISHMENT OF 22-23 MARKET PLACE
    The Clerk reported that the refurbishment of properties 22-23 Market Place, Belper will be completed at the end of July 2009. The site manager agreed to remove all evidence of the building work prior to the East Midlands in Bloom judging day RESOLVED Councillor John Nelson and the Clerk to pay a visit to the site manger to discuss further.
  36. BLACK SWAN PUBLIC HOUSE RENOVATIONS
    RESOLVED to grant permission for a skip to be placed on the Market Place whilst renovations to the Black Swan public house have been carried out. Clerk to request that the skip is parked in one parking bay and that none of other parking bays are obstructed.
  37. CAR BOOT SALES
    RESOLVED to note the calendar of car boot sales to be held at Belper Leisure Centre. Clerk to write to the Hurt Arms and the Duke of Devonshire public houses to advise them that Belper Town Council holds the Market Charter for this area and if they wish to hold a car boot sale they must request permission from Belper Town Council.
  38. PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM
    The Council considered the purchase of a Public Address system for their public events RESOLVED to hire a public address system for a Town Council event and assess the suitability prior to purchasing one.
  39. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
    Prior to any Christmas lights being erected the anchorage points must have a load test carried out on them. The load test is required every five years and a visual inspection is required annually RESOLVED Clerk to investigate whether the Borough Council has the ability to do these tests and whether the Council's can be trained to carry out the visual tests.
  40. COUNCILLOR EXPENSES
    Derby Telegraph has agreed to retract and print an apology following a misleading article in the Derby Telegraph which stated that Belper Town Councillors received £4,800 in expenses. RESOLVED to minute Belper Town Councillors do not receive any expenses the work they do is entirely voluntary. The Mayor's Allowance is the only expense claimed and this allowance is used to reimburse the Mayor or in his absence the Deputy Mayor for their expenses to carry out functions for the Council.
  41. WHITEMOOR RECYCLING BANK
    The recycling facility at the Greyhound public house, Whitemoor has recently been removed. RESOLVED Councillor Jackie Cox to make enquiries as to why they have been removed.
  42. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
    RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.