BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 12th JANUARY 2010

PRESENT: Councillor Norman Bull (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson (arrived 7.20pm), Peter Arnold, Deborah Biss, Kay Charlton, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Kevin Hallsworth, John Nelson, Mark Robertson, Martin Tomlinson.
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) County Councillors Chris Jackson and Peter Makin, Sgt. Booth, County Council Civil Parking Enforcement Manager James Adams and two members of the press (Belper News and Belper Express).

1556. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Colin England (poor weather conditions) Mick Nelson (another appointment) Nick Mothershaw (work commitments) Mick Potter (no transport).
1557. ORDER OF BUSINESS
      RESOLVED to discuss the supplementary agenda and to discuss Winter Gritting Issues during the County Council briefing.
1558. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      Councillor Jim Anderson declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 1566 planning; he remained in the room but took no part in the discussion. Councillor Biss declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 1573 the Friends of Belper Park's request for funding and left the meeting whilst this item was discussed.
1559. 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 ll Exempt Items e-mail from Fleet Arts and they be instructed to withdraw.
1560. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
      County Council Civil Parking Enforcement Manager James Adams advised the Council that the Civil Parking Scheme was working well. On the 19 February 2010 it will be an offence to park a vehicle in front of a dropped kerb and if a resident makes a complaint the enforcement officer will have the authority to issue a penalty ticket.
1561. POLICE
      Sgt Booth was pleased to announce that there was a very low number incidents reported last month. The 'Operation Thurne' initiative to ensure members of the public were more aware of shop lifters and pick pockets which was carried out in the lead up to Christmas was a success.
      The funding required to relocate the Whitemoor Teen Shelter would cost almost as much as the purchase of a new shelter. Sgt Booth agreed to the Council's suggestion to contact the original company of the anti vandal proof shelter to ask them to pay for the relocation of the shelter and the installation costs.
      ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES
      The four division structure of the force is to be moved to a three division. Belper will fall into Division B the North Division which will comprise of the districts of Bolsover, Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Amber Valley, with the divisional Headquarters at Chesterfield RESOLVED Clerk to write a letter outlining the Council's position of having no alternative but to accept the proposals and to request Belper Police Station is retained.
1562. COUNTY COUNCIL BRIEFING/ WINTER GRITTING ISSUES
      Councillor Chris Jackson briefed the Council on the County Council's recent gritting programme during the extreme weather conditions he also confirmed his worries on the damage to the highway when the snow disappears. There has been a team of volunteers helping with Adult Services to look after the vulnerable residents. The County Council still has grit available, the gritters are doing everything they can and the Town Council is asked for their understanding and support during this difficult period. A question was raised as to whether the Council could be liable if someone falls down on an area that has been gritted. The County Council has been assured that if they have not acted recklessly and grit has been put down in a correct manner then they could not be sued.
      Councillor Alan Cox expressed his concern on the lack of grit on King Street. Councillor Jackson agreed to investigate who was responsible for the gritting of King Street.
      Councillor Anderson asked if the County Council would be looking at better ways in dealing with snow and icy conditions. Councillor Jackson confirmed that once the weather improves a full debrief will be held to assess what went well, what can be improved and how to move forward.
      The Borough Council and Town Council have run out of grit and will not be able to grit any areas or fill any grit bins until a new delivery arrives.
      Councillor John Nelson reported on the problem with members of the public stealing grit from the Coppice Car Park and from the Councils grit bins for their own private use. The grit is not for individual use it is to be used to grit the highway to assist all members of the public.
      The Council would like to congratulate both the County Council and Belper Town Council staff for the excellent work carried out during these very difficult conditions.
1563. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 8 DECEMBER 2009
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1526-1555 of the Council Meeting held 8 December 2009.
1564. MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      Councillor Norman Bull reported on various events.
      1. Attended the Belper Club for Disabled Christmas Dinner 5 December 2009.
      2. Attended Swanwick Civic Service 14 December 2009.
      3. Attended the Dalesmen Concert at St. Peter's Church 19 December 2009.
      4. Visited several Old Peoples homes and Babington Hospital Christmas Eve.
      5. Attended the Belper Carol Service on the Market Place Christmas Eve.
1565. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:
      1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of November and December covering transactions 4004 - 4049. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £1,660.85 and Expenditure of £12,003.64.
      2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 30 November 2009.
      3. RESOLVED that the Council's Precept for the year 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 be set at £241,500.
1566. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 11 November 2009 - 4 January 2010.
      2. AVA/2009/1125 proposal to build 31 dwellings on land at Whitemoor Lane RESOLVED to object to the application due to concerns on access and highway safety and the amount of increased traffic.
      3. AVA/2010/0022 proposal to build 62 dwellings on land at Nailers Way RESOLVED to object to the application on the grounds that the proposed development is to be built outside the built up framework of Belper and there is an insufficient mix of affordable and market housing. Also the Council has concerns on access, highway safety and the amount of increased traffic.
      4. AVA/2010/0023 proposal to build 28 dwellings on land at Nailers Way RESOLVED to object to the application on the grounds that the proposed development is to be built outside the built up framework of Belper and there is an insufficient mix of affordable and market housing. Also the Council has concerns on access, highway safety and the amount of increased traffic.
1567. REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES FOR 2009/10
      Drop Inn
      Councillor Anderson informed the Council on an award the group has received a major contribution towards the award was for the safe raves held last year, these raves will be held again this year.
      Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership
      Councillor Alan Cox informed the Council that due to fare dodgers travellers now have to purchase a ticket from the recently installed ticket machine prior to their journey. This has caused a problem for people with Gold Cards as they can't get their 50% discount from the machine. To resolve this problem it has been agreed for those people eligible for a discount to pay on the train.
1568. TOWN ENTRANCE SIGN
      RESOLVED Clerk to seek permission from the County Council to erect decorative signs at the four entrance gateways to Belper.
1569. ARMY BENEVOLENT FUND
      RESOLVED to note the request for funding received from the Soldiers Charity.
1570. DROP INN CENTRE
      RESOLVED to note the letter received from the Drop Inn Centre in respect of their funding application and to send the previously approved donation.
1571. DALC TRAINING COURSES
      RESOLVED to note the dates of the DALC training course and approve spending for any course that the staff may wish to attend.
1572. BELPER ROAD NAMES
      RESOLVED to note a member of the public's request for a road to be named after Mazza ice cream. Clerk to forward the request onto the Borough Councillor Jack Brown for him to ask the Borough Council to consider.
1573. FRIENDS OF BELPER PARKS
      Request of funding for an interpretation board received from the Friends of Belper Parks. Councillor Biss left the meeting whilst this item was discussed and did not return due to illness RESOLVED to note, Clerk to forward the request onto the Borough Council.
1574. ST JOHN'S HEATING SYSTEM
      RESOVED to note the correspondence received regarding complaints that the Heritage Room is cold. Clerk reported that the problem had been resolved.
1575. PARISH AND TOWN COUNCIL FORUM
      RESOLVED to note the next Council Forum meeting will be held 22 April 2010.
1576. COMMUNITY PAYBACK SCHEME
      Community payback is part of Derbyshire probation services and involves supervised teams of offenders who have been sentenced to Community Orders to work unpaid hours within the community RESOLVED areas where the Councillors feel Belper will benefit from this scheme to be forwarded on to the Clerk.
1577. GRIT BINS
      RESOLVED Council to review the number of grit bin requests in the Spring.
1578. SDP - Land between the A6 and the River Derwent
      RESOLVED to note the Borough Council's propose to review the revised draft SDP at a Special Planning Board meeting 22 February 2010.
1579. STAFF RECOGNITION
      RESOLVED to note Crich Parish Council would like to thank Belper Town Council staff for the help and advice given to them with their Christmas Tree scheme.
1580. REDUCTION OF SPEED LIMIT ON OVER LANE
      Letter of complaint received regarding the Council's decision to object to the lowering of the speed limit on Over Lane. RESOLVED the Council found the comments in the letter quite inaccurate and derogatory Clerk to send a letter to ask for a retraction of the comments about the Council.
1581. PEAK DISTRICT & DERBYSHIRE LOCAL TOURISM AWARD
      RESOLVED to note the request for nominations for the Local Tourism Award are required by 31 January 2010.
1582. DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL BLUE PLAQUE SCHEME
      RESOLVED Councillors to inform the Clerk of any local person, place, and landmark or building which should be considered for this scheme.
1583. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.
1584. EXEMPT ITEMS
      BELPER MUSIC & ARTS FUNDING
      RESOLVED Clerk to investigate what balance remained in the Belper Music & Arts accounts on its closure and where the money went.