BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 8th MARCH 2011

PRESENT:
Councillor Kay Charlton (Deputy Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Joe Booth, Norman Bull, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Colin England, Kevin Hallsworth, Nick Mothershaw, Mick Nelson, Mark Robertson, David Smith and Councillor Martin Tomlinson
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) Richard Booth (Police) one member of the press (Belper Express) one member of the public.

1894. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from John Nelson (Holiday)
1895. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      Councillor Nick Mothershaw declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 1913 Belper Players Amateur Dramatics Society. He made representation about the item during the public participation part of the meeting and left the meeting when the item was discussed.
      Councillor Joe Booth declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 1900 Staff Working Party Minutes. He commented on the item during exempt items and stayed in the room whilst the item was discussed.
1896. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
      1. County Councillors
         No County Council representatives were present. Stuart Bradford, Chris Jackson and Peter Makin sent their apologies.
      2. Police
         The crime figures in Belper have reduced by 16.4% compared to last year's figures. The police have identified a problem with youths skateboarding on King Street and in Field Lane car park. Sgt Booth asked the Council to consider funding temporary lighting in the skateboard park for the next 3 to 4 weeks. Car parking and speeding issues are being monitored in the town. Sgt. Booth agreed to investigate the legality and safety aspect of the stone boulders that have been placed on the grass verge at Crich Lane.
      3. Members of the Public
         The Chairman of Belper Civic Forum asked the Town Council to place pressure on the Borough Council to complete their Development Brief at Meadows Edge and carry out an independent evaluation of the recreation and sports needs of the town. He invited Councillors to attend the next Belper Civic Forum meeting which is to be held 31 March 2011.
         Councillor Mothershaw informed the Council that Belper Players Amateur Dramatics Society would like permission to use the Memorial Gardens one evening during the summer. They would like put on a performance of Midsummer Nights Dream, which was their first ever performance to celebrate their 75 Anniversary.
1897. ORDER OF BUSINESS
      RESOLVED to discuss item 7 the Minutes of the Staff Working Party held 10 January 2011 in Exempt Items and to discuss item 19 an email regarding the Development Brief at Meadows Edge and the need for an independent evaluation of the recreation and sports needs of the town after the Mayor's announcements.
1898. 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 7 Minutes of a Staff Working Party held 10 January 2011 in camera and they be instructed to withdraw
1899. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 8 FEBRUARY 2011
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1866 -1893 of the Council Meeting held 8 February 2011. Subject to Councillor Robertson not Robinson attended the meeting.
1900. MINUTES OF A STAFF WORKING PARTY HELD 10 JANUARY 2011
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 101 - 106 of the Staff Working Party committee held 10 January 2011.
1901. MINUTES OF A BELPER IN BLOOM MEETING 15 FEBRUARY 2011
      RESOLVED to note Minutes of the Belper in Bloom meeting held 15 February 2011.
1902. MINUTES OF A IN BLOOM MEETING 15 FEBRUARY 2011
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 004 - 006 of the in Bloom meeting held 15 February 2011.
1903. MINUTES OF A BELPER FOOD COMMITTEE MEETING 21 FEBRUARY 2011
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 212 - 214 of the Belper Food Committee meeting held 21 February 2011.
1904. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      The Deputy Mayor informed the Council:
      The draft location of the proposed puffin crossing on the A6 at Milford is available for comments.
      The Borough Council's consultation on the introduction of evening car parking charges is available for comments.
      A public display of the six shortlisted designs for the Belper River Gardens Swiss tearooms is in the Heritage Centre at St John's Chapel for public consultation and comments.
1905. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:
      1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of January and February covering transactions of 5809 - 5906. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £422.38 and Expenditure of £16,672.95.
      2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 31 January 2011.
1906. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 9 February 2011 - 8 March 2011.
      2. RESOLVED to note the planning decisions listed on schedules dated 2 February 2011 - 1 March 2011.
      3. The Council considered a pre planning application consultation for the proposed installation of a telephone mast at the Derby Road roundabout, Derby Road. RESOLVED to note Councillor Arnold represented the Council at a recent planning meeting to object to the previous telephone mast installations and they had been passed.
1907. GRANT APPLICATIONS
      312 - Home Start Amber Valley
      RESOLVED Clerk to ask Home Start who they help in Belper.
1908. OUTSIDE BODIES
      Belper North Mill Museum Trust
      Councillor Arnold, along with the town's County Councillors will be attending the North Mill on 9th March to receive a cheque from the Derbyshire Community Foundation. Belper Cottage Project
      Councillor Jackie Cox informed the Council that Belper Cottage Project has secured funding from two outside bodies. Derbyshire Community Foundation for a part time development worker and CAFCASS for the Belper Contact Centre.
1909. EMAIL FROM CHAIRMAN OF BELPER CIVIC FORUM
      RESOLVED to take no action over the request by the Chairman of Belper Civic Forum.
1910. SKATEBOARD PARK
      RESOLVED to provide funding for temporary lighting at the Skateboard Park for up to 4 weeks if needed on a week by week basis.
1911. PROCTORS FUN FAIR
      RESOLVED not to charge any rent for Proctor's Spring Fun Fair providing that all the rides are half price.
1912. FLEET ARTS
      RESOLVED to note the email received from Fleet Arts regarding their recent grant application and reserves policy.
1913. MEMORIAL GARDEN DRAMA PERFORMANCES
      RESOLVED to allow the Belper Players Amateur Dramatics Society to stage a Midsummer Nights Dream performance in the Memorial Gardens after the East Midlands in Bloom judging day. Clerk to liaise with the group to check licenses, insurance and risk assessments are in place.
1914. COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY CHAMPION SCHEME
      RESOLVED to note the Community Fire Safety Champion Scheme.
1915. TREE OF LIGHT REPORT
      RESOLVED to note the Belper & Duffield tree of light appeal raised £155 towards Belper charities.
1916. WELL DRESSING MUSICAL EVENT
      RESOLVED to ask the Larks in the Park committee to consider the request for permission from a Derbyshire group to perform a musical event at the Belper River Gardens on Saturday 9 July to coincide with the Well Dressings. Clerk to confirm with the Well Dressings group that they have no objection to this performance.
1917. DERBYSHIRE CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY CENTRE
      RESOLVED Clerk to ask Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre to complete and return one of the Council's grant forms.
1918. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.