BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 9th FEBRUARY 2010

PRESENT:
Councillor Norman Bull (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Kay Charlton, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Colin england, Kevin Hallsworth, John Nelson, Mick Nelson, Mark Robertson, Martin Tomlinson.
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) County Councillors Chris Jackson, Peter Makin and Stuart Bradford, Sgt. Booth, 1 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 Councillor Biss (illness) Councillor Mothershaw (other commitments) Councillor Miller (Work).
  2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
    There were no declarations of interest recorded.
  3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
    1. Members of the public.
      A member of the public commented on the agenda item 'Friends of Belper Parks request for funding of an interpretation board'.
    2. County Councillors
      Councillor Makin informed the Council that the paved area where Green Lane meets Church Lane is to be widened to make the area safer for pedestrians.
      Councillor Jackson handed out a report containing details of the efforts the County Council had made during the recent extreme weather conditions.
      Councillor Jackson agreed to look into when the works on the pavement at Goods Road will be completed and to make sure that the damaged fence at Goods Road is repaired.
      Councillor Bradford informed the Council that the County Council will be starting the repairs to the school wall at Milford shortly and that he has added his support for the installation of a post box at the Village Shop at Milford.
    3. Police
      PC Booth was pleased to announce that the weekly crime figures in Belper are at a low. He has looked into the feasibility of repairing the damaged teen shelter and found that the cheapest option is to purchase a new shelter. PC booth agreed to look into the car parking problem at the High School and Belper Leisure Centre.
  4. ORDER OF BUSINESS
    RESOLVED to discuss the request received from the Friends of Belper Parks for the funding of an interpretation board after the Mayor's announcements.
  5. 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 Belper Music and Arts funding and they be instructed to withdraw.
  6. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 12 JANUARY 2010
    RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1556-1584 of the Council Meeting held 12 January 2010.
  7. MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HELD 17 DECEMBER 2009 AND 27 JANAUARY 2010.
    RESOLVED to note Minutes 209- 212 of the Finance Working Party Committee held 17 December 2009 and to note Minutes 213 - 216 of the Finance Working Party Committee held 27 January 2010. RESOLVED to purchase double quantities of grit for next winter in during the summer months.
  8. MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS
    Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
    Councillor Norman Bull reported on various events.
    1. 29 January 2010 attended the Showman's Guild Civic Dinner.
    2. 31 January 2010 attended Derby Cathedral for a service for the International Homeless Day.
    3. 1 February 2010 he welcomed the Beavers to St John's Chapel.
    4. 5 February attended Christ Church for the licensing of the new vicar the Reverend Jonathan Page.
    5. 8 February attended Babington Hospital for the launch of a photograph exhibition.
  9. FRIENDS OF BELPER PARKS
    RESOLVED to refuse the Friends of Belper Parks request for the funding of an interpretation board for the coppice car park.
  10. FINANCE
    RESOLVED:
    1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of November and December covering transactions 4050 - 4229. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £22.87 and Expenditure of £28,909.98.
    2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 31 December 2009.
  11. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 12 January 2010 to 8 February 2010.
    2. RESOLVED to note the access on planning application AVA/2009/1052 residential development of 20 dwellings at Deb Limited, Nottingham Road has been amended to comply with the Town Council's request. Access to all plots will be from the Nottingham Road junction thereby removing any conflict with residents at Bullsmoor.
  12. REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES FOR 2009/10
    Belper Cottage Project
    Councillor Jackie Cox informed the Council on the decoration work the Community Payback Scheme is carrying out at the cottage.
  13. PROCTORS ANNUAL FAIR
    RESOLVED to approve Proctors Fun Fairs Ltd request to hold their annual fair on the Market Place and in the Coppice car park on 24 October to 31 October 2009.
  14. DERWENT VALLEY TRIUMPH SPORTS CLUB
    RESOLVED to approve the Derwent Valley Triumph Sports Club's request to use the Market Place Sunday 27 July to start their annual owner's event.
  15. WAR MEMORIAL MEMORIAL GARDENS
    Request received from a member of the public to have her son's name inscribed on the town's war memorial. RESOLVED to add a new plaque to the memorial in the Memorial Gardens naming all soldiers killed in action since the end of the Second World War. Clerk to write a letter to Mrs Osbourne advising her of the Council's decision.
  16. AMBER VALLEY CORE STRATEGY - Issues and Options
    RESOLVED to note the Amber Valley Core Strategy Issues and Options consultation.
  17. SOCIETY OF LOCAL COUNCIL CLERKS
    RESOLVED to renew membership to the Society of Local Council Clerks.
  18. LOCAL COUNCIL REVIEW JOURNAL
    RESOLVED to renew subscriptions for the Local Council Review journal.
  19. BELPER LEISURE CENTRE
    Letter received from a member of the public regarding the possible development at Belper Leisure Centre RESOVED Clerk to write and explain that the Council has not received any plans for any development in this area.
  20. WEIR AT THE RIVER GARDENS
    RESOLVED Clerk to write to the environment agency to ask for the debris to be removed from the weir and to ask that the area is tidied up.
  21. REMEMBRANCE DAY
    The Council discussed the programme for the 2010 Remembrance Day Service RESOLVED
    The service to be held at the Central Methodist Church.
    An additional wreath to be placed at the memorial plaque outside the Council offices on King Street.
    A member of clergy to be invited to hold a service in the Memorial Gardens at 11am on the 11 November 2010.
    A number of people congregated at the cenotaph in the Memorial Gardens on Remembrance Sunday in 2009 to hold a two minute silence at 11am. RESOLVED to continue with the existing format of holding the two minutes silence in the church on Remembrance Sunday.
  22. BELPER FLAG
    RESOLVED to purchase a replica Belper Flag in a robust material suitable for flying outside in all weathers.
  23. COUNCIL INSURANCE ADVISE RE ADVERSE WEATHER
    RESOLVED to note the advice received from the Council's insurance company on dealing with adverse weather conditions.
  24. REDUCTION OF SPEED LIMIT ON OVER LANE AND RETRACTION OF COMMENTS
    Following the receipt of a letter of complaint from a member of the public regarding comments allegedly made by the Council in a local newspaper. The author was asked to retract his comments RESOLVED to note the email from a member of the public where he retracts his previous comments made about the Council and a Councillor.
  25. BUS SHELTERS
    RESOLVED to note the letter received from the environmental services department regarding the provision of bus shelters at the Whitemoor Lane Surgery. The letter confirms that the Town Council has no obligation to take on the maintenance of any bus shelters in this area and informs the Council that a third party is to be asked to take on their maintenance.
  26. DERBYSHIRE COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION CONFERENCE
    RESOLVED to note the Derbyshire Community Climate Action Conference is to be held 13 March 2010.
  27. CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION - BELPER
    RESOLVED to note the date of the Corpus Christi Procession Sunday 6 June 2010.
  28. OVER LANE SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION
    RESOLVED to note the speed limit change from 30mph to 40mph on Over Lane, Belper.
  29. LEADER'S REPORT
    To note the Council has received a positive response from the local businesses about the street furniture sponsorship scheme.
    To note the Council has received a positive response from local businesses about the St Georges Day Celebrations.
    The owner of the Ritz has informed the Council that the wall in the Memorial Garden's will be refurbished when the weather improves.
    RESOLVED to organise a competition to design a Belper town sign. The winner will have their design replicated and be awarded £50.
  30. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
    RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.
  31. EXEMPT ITEMS
    BELPER MUSIC & ARTS FUNDING
    RESOLVED Clerk to write to everyone who was on the Belper Music & Arts committee when it folded in 2004 to ask if they can recall how much money was in the group's account when the committee folded, a copy of 2004 accounts and a copy of the minute where it was decided what to do with the balance that remained in the committees bank account.