BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 9th NOVEMBER 2010

PRESENT:
Councillor John Nelson (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Joe Booth, Norman Bull, Kay Charlton, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Kevin Hallsworth, Mark Robertson, David Smith, Martin Tomlinson.

In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) Councillor Chris Jackson, Councillor Peter Makin, Sgt. Booth (Police) one members of the press (Belper Express).

1789. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Nick Mothershaw (work commitments) Deborah Biss (illness).
1790. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      There were no declarations of interest recorded.
1791. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
      1. County Councillors
         County Councillor Chris Jackson informed the Council that the County Council's 'Winter Service' plan is in place. In the anticipation of any severe weather conditions the County has ordered more grit than previous years. The Council is considering proposals to turn the street lights off between midnight and 5.30am on minor roads to save costs and reduce the Councils carbon footprint.
         Councillor Jackson agreed to look into the concerns raised by members of the Council.
         • the bus stop on Whitemoor Lane is illuminated all night can this be turned off after the last bus service at 6.30pm.
         • request that the bridge warning sign at East Mill is repaired.
           
         • Provision of car parking at Kilburn.
           
         • The lack of notification on the reduction in the speed limit at Far Laund.
           
         • The reduction in the speed limit on the A6 outside St Elizabeth's School.
           
         • The removal of the hand painted roundabout at Hunter Road.
           
         • Cars parking legally on Strutt Street which is causing traffic congestion.
           
         • The majority of the Town Council agree and request that the A boards displayed around the town are removed.
      2. Police
         Sgt. Booth informed the Council that they had received positive feedback on the 'Operation Relentless' event. There had been a slight increase in crime over the half term school holiday but the figures are still low. A 'Shop Watch' scheme is being introduced to tackle shop lifting offences. The police will continue to work with the younger members of the public and in the long term they should see positive results.
         Sgt Booth agreed to look into the problems raised members of the Council.
         • Concerns on the number of young people congregating together in large crowds.
           
         • Damaged flower bed.
           
         • Inconsiderate parking.
           
         • Dangerous driving at Debs Island.
           
1792. ORDER OF BUSINESS
      RESOLVED to consider item 18 in public speaking 'assisting the County Council with their winter activities'.
1793. 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 urgent items raised by the Mayor, Councillor non attendance and nominations received for the switching on of the festive lights and they be instructed to withdraw.
1794. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 12 OCTOBER 2010
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1769-1788 of the Council Meeting held 12 October 2010.
1795. MINUTES OF THE LARKS IN THE PARK MEETING HELD 12 OCTOBER 2010
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 049 - 053 of the Larks in the Park committee held 12 October 2010.
1796. MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      The Mayor reported the events attended:
      • Long Row School elections.
      • St John's School.
      • The presentation of badges Lord Lieutenants Cadets.
      • Presentation of the EMIB award to 1st Alton Scouts.
      • Strutt Community Centre Autumn Club.
      
      The Mayor informed the Council on the following events:
      • Two minutes silence to mark Armistice Day in the Memorial Gardens 11am on the 11 November 2010. Remembrance Day Service and Parade Sunday 14 November 2010.
      • Buffet to be held in St John's Chapel 10 November 2010 for the businesses who have sponsored the Town Council in various ways throughout the year.
1797. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:
      1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of September and October covering transactions of 5339 - 5449. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £120,839.90 and Expenditure of £20,230.54.
      2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 30 September 2010.
      3. To adopt the pension changes inline with the Derbyshire County Council's policy on transfer in.
      4. To approve the £3,637 expenditure incurred over and above the agreed floral display budget.
1798. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 28 September 2010 - 8 November 2010.
      2. RESOLVED to note the planning decisions listed on schedules dated 26 October 2010 - 1 November 2010.
      3. RESOLVED To note applications AVA/2010/0022 erection of 28 dwellings on land at Nailers Way, Belper and AVA/2010/0023 erection of 62 dwellings on land at Nailers Way, Belper following an appeal were approved.
1799. GRANT APPLICATIONS
      310 - Chevin Road Baptist Church.
      RESOLVED to grant an award of £500.00 to assist with the cost of replacing the existing toilets with purpose built disabled toilet facilities. RESOLVED to note Councillor Tomlinson asked for his vote against the decision to be recorded. He asked the Council to defer this item until the Borough Council's position regarding awarding a grant to this project was known.
1800. REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
      Belper Cottage Project
      Councillor Jackie Cox informed the Council that the project had won a Derbyshire County Council Excellence in the Community award for the group's excellent achievements in 2010.
      Fleet Arts
      The Clerk informed the Council that Councillor Mothershaw had represented the council at the Fleet Arts AGM. The grant provided by the Town Council has paid for some workshops which have been well attended by local Children.
1801. BELPER FARMERS MARKET
      The Council considered an email received from one of the traders highlighting the decline in customers attending the Belper Farmers Market. The clerk advised the Council that she had attended the October market which was quite busy and she had distributed leaflets advertising the Belper market at the Bakewell market RESOLVED Clerk to publicise the market on Belper's social network site.
1802. NOTTINGHAM ROAD BUS SHELTER REPAIRS
      RESOLVED Clerk to enquire in to the cost to replace the bus shelter and to ask Trent Barton bus company if they will contribute towards the cost of repairing or replacing the shelter.
1803. BELPER TOWN SIGN COMPETITION
      The Council considered a selection of designs entered in the Belper Town Sign completion RESOLVED to award £50 to the winning entry designed by Belper resident Mik Whitting. Clerk to obtain quotes for a welcome to Belper sign incorporating his design.
1804. LOCAL VALIDATION REQUIREMENT LIST
      RESOLVED to note the review of Local Validation Requirements list is available for comments until 30 November 2010.
1805. GOODS ROAD POST OFFICE COLLECTION OFFICE
      RESOLVED to note that following a risk assessment taken by the management at Goods Road collection office, members of the public will no longer be able to park in the collection office car park.
1806. TOWN COUNCIL WINTER SERVICE 2010 INVOLVEMENT
      RESOLVED The Town Council are unable to offer any assistance with snow clearance and gritting. Clerk to recommend that they contact the probation services to ask them if they can assist.
1807. SOCIAL NETWORK SITE
      RESOLVED Belper Town Council to have an account on a social network site to help publicise council notices and events.
1808. SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM
      RESOLVED Clerk to add information to the social network site to raise awareness of the local Safer Neighbourhood team.
1809. FIELD LANE PROPOSED LEISURE FACILITY
      RESOLVED to note the Town Council were not personally consulted about the proposed leisure facility adjacent to the car park off Field Lane prior to members of the public.
1810. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
      RESOLVED Christmas lights to be illuminated 24 hours per day during the seasonal period.
1811. ENTERTAINMENT LICENCE POLICY
      RESOLVED to note Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 amends Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1082 to allow the Licensing Authority to licence 'sexual entertainment venues' is available for comments until 13 December 2010.
1812. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN
      RESOLVED to note the Derbyshire Local Transport plan is available for comments until 17 January 2011.
1813. BOROUGH AND TOWN COUNCIL SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
      In response to a letter sent to the Borough Council about the cleaning of the channels in Belper the Borough Council has served the Council with a three notice to terminate the Service Level Agreement without any consultation with the Town Council RESOLVED Clerk and the Mayor to send a response to the letter objecting to the termination of the contract.
1814. STAFF PROTECTION CLOTHING POLICY
      RESOLVED Staff working party to determine and introduce a staff protection clothing policy.
1815. BELPER HISTORIC TIME-CAPSULE
      The Mayor asked the Council to consider opening up the air raid shelter on Cheap Side to provide an area to store historic time-capsules RESOLVED to approve that the air raid is opened up to provide individuals, local groups, businesses and churches an area to place historic time capsules with the intension that it is opened in 2110.
1816. EAST MIDLANDS IN BLOOM
      RESOLVED to purchase a photograph of the Mayor and the Clerk receiving the towns gold award at the East Midlands in Bloom presentation.
1817. TREE OF LIGHT
      The Council considered a request from the Belper and Duffield Rotary Club for permission to use the Council's Christmas Tree on the Market Place to raise funds RESOLVED the Council agreed for the Rotary Club to seek sponsorship for the 198 Christmas light bulbs on the tree from members of the public to raise money for Belper charities. Clerk to advise to advise the Rotary Club that the Council will require documented evidence of how much was raised and where the money was donated.
1818. CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL LIGHT SWITCH ON COMPETITION
      The Council considered three nominations from members of the public who they thought deserved to have the opportunity to switch on the Christmas Lights at this year's festival RESOLVED Mr Adrian Farmer was chosen for all the heritage projects and promotional work that he does for Belper.
1819. CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE
      RESOLVED Councillor Smith to be appointed as a Councillor representative on the Christmas committee.
1820. NON ATTENDANCE AT COUNCIL MEETINGS - COUNCILLOR D BISS
      RESOLVED to accept Councillor Biss's reasons for non-attendance at Council Meetings as a statuary excuse for the purpose of S85 of the Local Government Act 1972 until May 2011 or such time as she is fit to attend meetings of the Council.
1821. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.