BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 13th JULY 2010

PRESENT:
Councillor John Nelson (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Kay Charlton, Alan Cox, Colin England, Nick Mothershaw.
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) Councillor Chris Jackson, Insp. Smith and Sgt. Booth (Police) one member of the public and two members of the press (Belper News and Belper Express).

1709. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Norman Bull (work commitments) Jackie Cox (Illness) and Councillor Mick Nelson (personnel) Martin Tomlinson (Holiday).
1710. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      Councillor Alan Cox declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 1719 to consider the grant request from Belper&District Road Safety Committee, Councillor Cox left the room whilst the item was discussed.
1711. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
      1. Members of the public.
         A member of the public raised the problem of witnesses not coming forward due to the worry of reprisals. He told the Council he had secured funding for the distribution of 1,500 leaflets and offered the police and the Council the opportunity to add text to the leaflet.
         RESOLVED the police to discuss possible initiatives with the resident including Neighbourhood Watch and Community Watch schemes.
      2. County Councillors
         County Councillor Chris Jackson distributed a report on Surface Dressing to the Councillors. Councillor Jackson commented on an email distributed to the Borough Council with regards to the sale of land at Wyver Lane. No decisions were made with regards to this email however Councillor Jackson advised the Council that he would like to see Wyver Lane identified as'Quiet Lane' (a rural road used in conjunction with localised traffic for walking, cycling and horse riding). Councillor Jim Anderson left the room whilst this discussion took place.
      3. Police
         Sgt. Booth reported that the current crime figures in Belper are reasonable. Two people have been arrested in respect of the recent lead theft from private properties.
1712. 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 Item Payments to Belper Music and Arts and they be instructed to withdraw.
1713. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 8 JUNE 2010
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1684-1708 of the Council Meeting held 8 June 2010.
1714. MINUTES OF THE BELPER FOOD AND REAL ALE COMMITTEE HELD 30 APRIL 2010 AND 11 JUNE 2010
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 179 - 183 of the Belper Food and Real Ale committee held 30 April 2010 and to note the Minutes 184 - 188 of the Belper Food and Real Ale committee held 11 June 2010.
1715. MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      Mayor Councillor John Nelson reported that the judging day for the Councils East Midlands in Bloom entry was the best presentation ever. The streets were clean and there was fantastic support on the day with the attendance from members of the local community groups and sponsors of the competition. He thanked everyone for all the effort and support put into the competition including the residents at Meadow Court.
      The Well Dressings opened last weekend and they were a great success. He thanked the organisers for all their effort and hard work.
      Sunday car parking charges have been introduced by the Borough Council starting Sunday 18 July. Amber Valley residents displaying residents parking stickers will be exempt from charges.
1716. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:
      1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of May and June covering transactions 4806 - 5005. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £4,491.63 and Expenditure of £34,043.67.
      2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 31 May 2010.
      3. RESOLVED To approve the expenditure for the service of the oil interceptor in the Coppice Car Park and to vire £750 from the contingency fund to account 6130.
      4. RESOLVED To approve the vire of £1,200 from the contingency fund to account 5750 for the purchase of two lawn mowers.
      5. RESOLVED Clerk to notify CIPFA Statistics on the Council's nomination for Councillor Alan Cox to sit on a steering group collecting information on council budgets and other relevant data about local government services.
1717. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 8 April 2010 - 30 July 2010.
      2. RESOLVED to note the planning decisions listed on schedules dated 8 April 2010 - 5 July 2010.
      3. RESOLVED to note the Council's response on planning application AVA/0456/2010 proposal to build 75 houses at land at Hill Top Farm.
         By building in the countryside there will be a huge loss to local residents as a recreational amenity. The existing roads Mill Lane, Park Road and Parkside cannot cope with the increase in the volume of traffic especially Parkside which is extremely difficult to navigate through almost 24/7 the additional traffic would make the existing problem worse. Now that the RSS has been terminated by the new Government Belper is now oversubscribed as per the 2006 Local Plan.
1718. GRANT APPLICATIONS
      305 - Belper & District Road Safety Committee
      RESOLVED to grant an award of £30 towards the groups administration costs.
1719. REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES FOR 2009/10
      Drop Inn Centre
      Councillor Anderson attended the groups 10th Birthday Celebrations where visitors and the group members could take advantage of the £1 Sunday lunch. He informed the Council that he is in full support of the groups work and hope the Council will continue to support the good work that they carry out.
      Belper North Mill Trust
      Councillor Arnold informed the Council that the trusts outside exhibition scheduled for Autumn has been postponed until April 2011.
      Belper Cottage Project
      Councillor Alan Cox informed the Council that the group's treasurer Ron Smith has resigned due to ill health and that he has agreed to take on the role of treasurer.
1720. GIBFIELD LANE CAR PARK LEASE
      RESOLVED not to accept the conditions set out in the lease prepared by the Borough Council for the transfer of the land at Gibfield Lane.
1721. DISABLED GARAGE
      RESOLVED to meet the conditions set out on a letter received from Belper Social Club for the Disabled.
      A lease to be drawn up for the safety of the club.
      When the garage is vacant only the vehicle belonging to the Town Council to be housed in the garage.
      The garage not to be used for maintenance work undertaken by the Town Council.
      Proof of secondary stock being stored in the garage is insured for liability.
1722. STEWARDS FOR THE LARKS IN THE PARK EVENTS
      RESOLVED to invite the two volunteers who are currently stewarding the events to a Council meeting. To appoint stewards for the following events.
      • 18 July Councillor Les Dorey
      • 25 July Councillor John Nelson
      • 1 August Councillor Peter Arnold
      • 8 August Councillor Nick Mothershaw
      • 15 August Clerk to find a steward
      • 22 August Clerk to find a steward
      • 29 August Councillor Kay Charlton
1723. BUSKERS
      RESOLVED to allow Buskers to stand at the Belper Farmers Market for a trial period of three markets on the understanding that the music played is not amplified. Clerk to check the licence position of the buskers with the Borough Council.
1724. DERBYSHIRE EXCELLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AWARDS 2010
      RESOLVED to nominate Mr Trevor Griffin for a Derbyshire of Excellence in the Community Award 2010 for all the volunteer work he carries out in Belper.
1725. PUBLIC FOOTPATH 126 - THE BUTTS
      RESOLVED to note following a request from the Clerk the County Council has agreed to install a hand rail at the steps at the Coppice car park end of public footpath 126 which links The Butts with The Coppice.
1726. PUBLIC FOOTPATH 62 - HUNTER ROAD ALLOTMENTS
      RESOLVED to note the County Council is to reinstate public footpath 62 to its original route through Hunter Road allotments. One allotment will be reduced in size by approximately two square feet. The allotment manager has been notified of the alterations.
1727. GRIT BINS
      The Council considered a number of requests for grit bins to be sited at various locations in the town RESOLVED last winter a several residents used the grit for personnel use and not on the highways as intended. The Council agreed not to purchase or take on the maintenance of any new grit bins.
1728. DIGITAL SWITCH OVER
      RESOLVED to allow a vehicle to be parked on the Market Place 9 July 2011 to inform members of the public about the Digital Switch Over. Clerk to inform the company that drip trays and foot plates must be placed under the vehicle and that they will be responsible for any damaged caused by their vehicle.
1729. GOODS ROAD SORTING OFFICE
      Councillor Alan Cox informed the Council that the Goods Road Sorting office is refusing to allow customers to park in their grounds RESOLVED Clerk to write to the manager of the sorting office to explain that this decision is causing problems for their customers and the residents of Belper as they need somewhere to park whilst collecting items from their premises and to request that they reconsider this decision.
1730. REFUSE BINS ON THE MARKET PLACE
      The Townscape Heritage Initiative provided funding for two flats above business premises on the Market Place to be brought back into use. When the plans were passed there were no conditions made for the provision for storage of a refuse bin inside the buildings. Request received from the occupants of 32 Market Place for permission to store their refuse bins on the Market Place on land which belongs to the Town Council. RESOLVED
      Not to allow the bins to remain on the Market Place as this will set a precedence to others.
      Not allow the bins to be stored in the Coppice car park as this will set precedence to others, will be unsightly and could attract vermin.
      To suggest that purple bags to be used as an alternative to refuse bins.
1731. LAND REGISTRY
      RESOLVED Clerk to attend Land Registry Training 11 August 2010 Clerk to report to the Council on the training.
1732. BELPER MUSIC AND ARTS
      RESOLVED to note due to the lack of evidence the Council have exhausted there efforts to seek a refund of any possible grants remaining in the Belper Music and Arts committee's accounts.
1733. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.