BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 21st DECEMBER 2010

PRESENT:
Councillor John Nelson (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Joe Booth, Kay Charlton, Colin England, Kevin Hallsworth, David Smith, Martin Tomlinson.
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) Councillor Peter Makin, Sgt. Booth (Police) one members of the press (Belper Express).

1822. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Peter Arnold (holidays) Norman Bull, David Smith and Mark Robertson (Illness) Alan Cox and Jackie Cox ( AVBC Mayoral duties) Nick Mothershaw (work).
1823. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      There were no declarations of interest recorded.
1824. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
      1. County Councillors
         County Councillor Peter Makin informed the Council that the County Council is doing its utmost to keep the main roads gritted but unfortunately it can't meet the unreasonable demands that some members of the public expect. The County, Borough and Town Councils need to work together to keep the roads and footpaths safe.
      2. Police
         Sgt. Booth reported on the current low levels of antisocial behaviour in the town. There is however an increasing numbers of theft from motor vehicles and he asked that information is filtered out to vehicle owners to ask that they remove any items of value and secure their vehicles. Following the Christmas Festival there has been a number of vandalism incidents in the Memorial Gardens. The Nativity Scene and several of the Christmas decorations have had to be removed because they have been damaged beyond repair. The current cost to replace all the items is £425. Sgt. Booth agreed to check the CCTV cameras to check if the offenders can be identified in order that the Town Council can prosecute them.
1825. ORDER OF BUSINESS
      RESOLVED to consider item 13 (a letter regarding this year's Remembrance Day service) in camera and to discuss items 23 and 24 (gritting issues) during public participation.
1826. 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 a letter regarding this years Remembrance Day service.
1827. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 9 NOVEMBER 2010
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1789-1821 of the Council Meeting held 9 November 2010. Subject to Minute No 1799 Councillor Booth asked for his vote objecting to the Council awarding a grant of £500 to Chevin Road Baptist Church to be recorded.
1828. MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      The Mayor informed the Council of a Belper Civic Forum meeting on the proposals for the future development of the town to be held 20 January 2011.
1829. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:
      1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of November and December covering transactions of 5450 - 5586. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £8,540.25 and Expenditure of £33,931.27.
      2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 31 October 2010.
1830. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 15 November 2010 - 20 December 2010.
      2. RESOLVED to note the planning decisions listed on schedules dated 9 December 2010 - 13 December 2010.
      3. RESOLVED To note the planning application for the demolition of the tea rooms at Belper River Gardens has been withdrawn until the proposals received have been considered.
      4. RESOLVED To note application AVA/2009/1125 erection of 31 affordable dwellings on land at Whitemoor Lane, Belper following an appeal was approved.
1831. GRANT APPLICATIONS
      311 - Derwent Valley - Landscape Partnership Project.
      RESOLVED not to provide any funding towards this project, Clerk to write a letter in support for their Heritage Lottery Funding application.
1832. GRITTING
      RESOLVED to note the letter received from the County Council regarding the delivery of critical services during the recent severe weather conditions.
      The Council has received several complaints from members of the public about the Council's delivery of service during the ongoing snow and icy conditions. It is not the Council's responsibility to provide grit but they do so to supplement the County Council who are the gritting authority. The Town Council does` not have the resources to meet the expectations demanded by some members of the public during these unprecedented conditions. The Council agreed that the best way forward was for the community to pull together and help each other clear the roads and footpaths in front of their properties RESOLVED a meeting to be held in the Spring, a sub committee to be formed and a Town Council gritting policy to be determined.
1833. WAKES DAY
      RESOLVED Clerk to investigate the possibility of changing the date of the event. If this is not an option to ask the staff if they are willing to work on Spring Bank Holiday Monday.
1834. REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE 2010
      Councillor Peter Makin told the Council that he had received an official complaint from the local branch of the Royal British Legion about the attendance and behaviour of the Mid Derbyshire MP at the Remembrance Day Service. RESOLVED to note the letter of apology received from the secretary of the MP. RESOLVED Clerk to write a letter to the MP advising them of the complaint from the Royal British Legion and the Council's concerns about their behaviour.
1835. BUS SHELTER WHITEMOOR MEDICAL CENTRE
      RESOLVED to refuse the request for a bus shelter at Whitemoor Medical Centre. The Council believes that the bus companies should provide shelter for their customers.
1836. PROPOSED NEW LEISURE CENTRE FACILITIES
      RESOLVED to note the outcome of the consultation for the proposed new leisure centre facilities on land adjacent to the Field Lane car park. 67% opted for the option of a 6-lane swimming pool, teaching and training pool with a movable floor, a 70 station fitness suite with additional health and fitness facilities.
1837. EAST MIDLAND EXPRESS TRAINS
      RESOLVED to note that the East Midland Trains timetable planning team have agreed consider the Council's request for the London bound express trains to stop at Belper train station when they devise their timetables in future.
1838. BELPER HISTORICAL SOCIETY
      The Council considered a request from the Belper Historical Society for additional storage space at St John's Chapel RESOLVED not to provide them with any additional storage space as this would set precedence for other user groups.
1839. POWER OF WELL BEING
      RESOLVED to note there is to be a Power of Wellbeing DALC training course held at the Council Offices, St John's Chapel 9 February 2011.
1840. COPPICE CAR PARK WILDLIFE INTERPRETATION BOARD
      The Council considered four quotations for a new interpretation board for the wildlife border in the Coppice car park RESOLVED not to purchase an interpretation board.
1841. EAST MIDLANDS IN BLOOM 2011 COMPETIION
      RESOLVED to enter the 2011 East Midlands in Bloom competition.
1842. PARISH AND TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON FORUM
      RESOLVED to note the date of the next Parish and Town Council Liaison forum will be held 14 April 2011.
1843. SPEED LIMIT ON THE A6 AT THE ENTRANCE OF ST ELIZABETH'S SCHOOL
      Despite numerous requests for the speed limit to be reduced from 50mph to 30mph outside the entrance of St Elizabeth's School the County Council still believes this would be an inappropriate speed limit RESOLVED Clerk to write a letter to the cabinet member for highways outlining the Council's disgust and disappointment for the County Council's negative response.
1844. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.