BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 12th APRIL 2011

PRESENT: Councillor John Nelson (Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Peter Arnold, Deborah Biss, Joe Booth, Norman Bull, Kay Charlton, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Kevin Hallsworth, Mark Robertson and Councillor Martin Tomlinson, Jim Anderson arrived at 7.20pm and Nick Mothershaw arrived at 7.30pm

In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) Richard Booth (Police) one member of the press (Belper Express) four members of the public.

1919. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Colin England, Mick Nelson and David Smith (Holidays)
1920. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      Councillor Kay Charlton declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 1929 Belper Town Wind Band. She left the room whilst the item was discussed. Councillor John Nelson declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 1938 he stayed in the room whilst the item was discussed.
1921. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
      
      1. County Councillors
         County Council Chris Jackson informed the Council that he was stepping down as the cabinet member for Highways. The Council thanked Councillor Jackson for all the work he has done for Belper and wished him success in his new role as Deputy Leader at Derbyshire County Council.
      2. Police
         The year end crime figures for Belper are down by 15% compared to last year's figures. There were no reported incidents at the Spring Fair. The funding provided by Belper Town Council to provide temporary lighting in the Belper Skate Park was not required. The project has finished and it was deemed a success.
      3. Members of the Public
         A member of the public expressed his anger at the lack of consultation in allowing a Spring Fair to take place on the Coppice Car Park. The resident asked the Council to include set up and dismantling times in any future Showman's terms and agreements. The same member of the public asked the Council if they would consider the installation of CCTV equipment on the Coppice car park to improve security.
         A member of the public informed the Council that the residents of Belper are concerned and angry about the approval of the planning applications to install telephone masts in the town.
1922. ORDER OF BUSINESS
      RESOLVED to discuss items 14 Trent Barton bus station, 15 anti social behaviour on the railway line, 18 installations of telephone masts in Belper during public participation and to discuss item 25 contracting out garden maintenance during exempt items.
1923. 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 exempt items to consider nominations for the Town Service and Maurice Heely Awards and item 25 contracting out garden maintenance in camera and they be instructed to withdraw.
1924. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 8 MARCH 2011
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1894 -1918 of the Council Meeting held 8 March 2011.
1925. MINUTES OF A LARKS IN THE PARK MEETING HELD 18 MARCH 2011
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 54 -58 of the Larks in the Park meeting held 18 March 2011.
1926. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      The Mayor informed the Council that his Civic Service held Sunday 10 April was a tremendous success and over £200 was raised for his nominated charity Herbert Strutt.
      He thanked the Councillors for all their hard work and support over the last term of election.
      Belper Town Council is entering the East Midlands in Bloom competition this year and if they receive a consecutive Gold Award they will automatically be entered into the National in Bloom competition and he asked for everyone's support.
1927. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:
      1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of February and March covering transactions of 5907 - 6019. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £108.83 and Expenditure of £24,135.65.
      2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 28 February 2011.
1928. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      
      1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 2 March 2011 - 12 April 2011.
      2. RESOLVED to note the planning decisions listed on schedules dated 2 March 2011 - 4 April 2011.
      3. The Council considered letters from residents objecting to planning application AVA/2011/0072 installation of a telephone mast at the junction of Marsh Lane and Laund Nook. RESOLVED to note the Council objects to the planning application but there are no planning grounds to refuse the application. Clerk to write to ask the Local MP to lobby the Government to rescind the advice on Telecommunications Equipment given in PPG 8 and to lobby the Government to rescind the permitted development rights given to mobile masts under 15 meters in height.
1929. GRANT APPLICATIONS
      • 312 - Home Start Amber Valley
        RESOLVED to grant £500 towards the running costs of the Home Start Amber Valley.
      • 313 - Belper Town Wind Band
        RESOLVED to refuse the Belper Town Wind band grant application.
      • 314 - Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre
        RESOLVED to refuse the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre grant application.
1930. OUTSIDE BODIES
      • Belper North Mill Museum Trust
        Councillor Arnold informed the Councillor that an innovation exhibition is to be held at the Strutt Community Centre from 20 April until the beginning of May.
      • Belper Cottage Project
        Councillor Jackie Cox informed the Council on the group's successful funding applications.
1931. DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, PARISH AND TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON MEETING
      RESOLVED to note the proposed Derbyshire County Council, Parish and Town Council Liaison meeting scheduled for 14 April 2011 has been postponed and will now be held 23 June 2011.
1932. BELPER BUS STATION
      RESOLVED to note the letter received from a member of the public regarding the inconsiderate and dangerous actions of a driver of a Trent Barton bus when driving into the bus station on Chapel Street from the Derby approach which could have resulted in a serious accident.
1933. ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ON THE RAILWAY LINES
      The Council received an email from the maintenance protection co-ordinator for Network Rail regarding two separate incidents when debris has been thrown over the footbridge walls along the footpath between King Street and New Road RESOLVED for the Clerk to forward the email onto the Borough Council and to write a letter to the owner of a damaged wall in the vicinity to ask that it is repaired.
1934. BELPER OPEN HOUSES
      RESOLVED to note an Arts Trail is to be held in the town over the Spring Bank holiday weekend.
1935. COUNCIL VEHICLE
      RESOLVED Clerk to prepare a report for the June meeting to enable the Council to consider the condition of the company vehicle.
1936. TOWN CENTRE PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
      The Borough Council seeks to transfer the ownership of the public conveniences on Strutt Street and at The Triangle on the A6 to Belper Town Council by September 2012. Should the Town Council decline the transfer of the toilets, the Borough Council may consider closing them. RESOLVED not to take on the maintenance of these public conveniences. Councillor Anderson asked that his objection to this decision be recorded.
1937. SPEED LIMIT ON THE A6 AT THE ENTRANCE OF ST ELIZABETH'S SCHOOL
      RESOLVED to note that after numerous requests for the speed limit to be reduced from 50mph to 30mph outside the entrance of St Elizabeth's School the County Council cabinet member for Highways has put a proposal through for the speed limit to be reduced.
1938. DALC ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
      RESOLVED to renew the annual subscriptions to DALC.
1939. COPPICE CAR PARK
      Councillor Booth asked the Council to consider introducing speed deterrents in the Coppice Car Park to improve the safety of members of the public. RESOLVED Clerk to arrange for the Coppice car park to be monitored.
1940. LANDFILL COMMUNITY FUND
      When the Council funded temporary lighting for the Belper Skate park the number of children using the skate park increased. RESOLVED to apply for funding from the Landfill Community Fund to provide permanent lighting in the Skate park.
1941. GIBFIELD LANE CAR PARK
      RESOLVED to accept the terms set out in the agreement to transfer the ownership of the land known as Gibfield Lane car park to Belper Town Council from the Borough Council and to appoint Shacklock solicitors to prepare the paperwork.
1942. TOWN SERVICE AWARD
      RESOLVED to withdraw the Town Service awards.
1943. MAURICE HEELY AWARD
      RESOLVED to withdraw the Maurice Heely awards.
1944. GARDEN MAINTENANCE
      A local business asked the Council if they would maintain one of their flower beds to assist with Council's East Midlands in Bloom entry RESOLVED that the Mayor and Clerk will arrange a meeting with the owners to discuss the maintenance and costs.
1945. CHURCHES TOGETHER EVENT
      An urgent item was considered due to a response required before the next Council meeting RESOLVED to grant permission to the Churches Together to use the Memorial Gardens 12 June 2011 for a Praise and Picnic event.
1946. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.