BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 14th SEPTEMBER 2010

PRESENT:
Councillor John Nelson (Town Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, Norman Bull, Colin England, Kevin Hallsworth, Nick Mothershaw, Martin Tomlinson.
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) Councillor Chris Jackson, Councillor Peter Makin, Councillor Stuart Bradford, Insp. Smith (Police) two members of the press (Belper News and Belper Express).

1734. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mick Nelson (holiday).
1735. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      Councillor Alan Cox declared a personal interest, Councillor Jackie Cox and Councillor Arnold declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 1744 to consider the grant request from the Drop in Bereavement Centre, Councillor Jackie Cox and Councillor Arnold left the room and Councillor Alan Cox remained in the room whilst the item was discussed
1736. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
      
      1. Members of the public.
         The Council considered a letter from a member of the public about the crime levels in Belper RESOLVED Clerk to contact the police to ask if they would like to place an article in the Council's Newsletter to inform the public on how they can help.
      2. County Councillors
         The Council raised their concerns on
         The lack of signs and notification on the recently introduced reduction in the speed limit at Far Laund.
         The lack of car parking space near the Chinese restaurant at Kilburn Road and to request if the grass area in the vicinity could be made into a car parking area.
         The response from the Highways Department with regards to the lowering of the speed limit on the A6 outside St Elizabeth's School.
         The Council's request for the removal of the hand painted roundabout at Hunter Road.
         Parking on Strutt Street and the subsequent traffic congestion.
         RESOLVED Clerk to write to Councillor Chris Jackson to ask that the issues are investigated.
      3. Police
         Insp. Smith reported on the rise in crime in the Bargate area with over 40 car aerials stolen from one particular street. The police have made house to house enquiries and contacted the schools and the media for information. There has been an increase in antisocial behaviour at Whitemoor and there has been an increase in the theft of metal from non dwellings.
         Belper still has a relatively low crime rate.
1737. 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 Items Clerk's report on the 2011 Food Festival, Councillor vacancies and they be instructed to withdraw.
1738. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 8 JUNE 2010
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1709-1733 of the Council Meeting held 13 July 2010.
1739. MINUTES OF THE FINANCE MEETING HELD 29 JULY 2010
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 225 - 229 of the Finance committee held 29 July 2010.
1740. MINUTES OF THE BELPER FOOD AND REAL ALE COMMITTEE HELD 9 JULY 2010 AND 27 JULY 2010
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 189 - 193 of the Belper Food and Real Ale committee held 9 July 2010 and to note the Minutes 194 - 201 of the Belper Food and Real Ale committee held 27 July 2010.
1741. MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      Mayor Councillor John Nelson reported that he had met with the Scouts and the Army Cadets to explain the role of the Councillor and how the Council works.
1742. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:
      1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of July and August covering transactions of 5006 - 5219. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £3,092.08 and Expenditure of £17,425.71.
      2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 31 July 2010.
      3. To note the completion of the 31 March 2010 Annual Audit and to approve the External Auditors recommendations.
1743. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 6 July 2010 - 14 September 2010.
      2. RESOLVED to note the planning decisions listed on schedules dated 6 July 2010 - 7 September 2010.
      3. RESOLVED to note an appeal has been made on the refusal of application AVA/2009/1125 proposed development of 31 dwellings outside the framework of Belper.
      4. The Council considered an email from a member of the public regarding the public footpath at Whitemoor Hall RESOLVED Clerk to advise the resident that the County Council are responsible for this footpath and to recommend he contacts them to ask them to address the problems.
1744. GRANT APPLICATIONS
      306 - Vitalise - RESOLVED to grant an award of £150.50.
      307 - Drop in Bereavement Centre - RESOLVED to grant an award of £320.00.
      308 - Galliarda - RESOLVED to refuse the grant application.
      309 - Derbyshire Wildlife Trust - RESOLVED to refuse the grant application.
1745. REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
      Belper Cottage Project
      Councillor Jackie Cox informed the Council on the death of Ron Smith a very popular and valued resident of Belper who worked hard for the community and who will be sadly missed. There is a 'Knit and Natter' group starting at the Cottage in October.
      Belper & District Road Safety Committee
      Councillor Alan Cox informed the Council that the committee had raised concerns over the lack of signage on the recently introduced reduction of the speed limit at Far Laund.
1746. AMBER VALLEY ACCESS GROUP
      RESOLVED not to nominate a Councillor to represent the Town Council on the Amber Valley Access Group. Clerk to send the group a grant application form to address their request for funding.
1747. FOOD FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
      RESOLVED to defer the appointment of representatives on the Food Festival Committee until the Councillor vacancies have been filled.
1748. BELPER IN BLOOM
      RESOLVED to reintroduce a Belper in Bloom competition and to set up a working party consisting of Councillors John Nelson, Alan Cox and Colin England to determine the competition rules.
1749. TRAINING STATEMENT
      RESOLVED to adopt the Training Statement of Intent policy a requirement for the Town Councils Quality Status renewal application.
1750. 2011 JANUARY MEETING
      RESOLVED to amend the date of the Council meeting scheduled for 11 January 2011 to 18 January 2011.
1751. REMEMBRANCE DAY
      Clerk reported that Heage band members are available to play but unable to march at this years Remembrance Day parade RESOLVED Clerk to book Heage Band to play at the Remembrance Day and to source a marching band for 2011.
1752. BELPER FARMERS MARKET
      Clerk informed the Council that a trader who is presently on the Farmers Market waiting list stood at the August market with a petition asking for signatures to help secure him a place on the market. A copy of this petition has not been received by the Council. He also contacted the local press and radio stations to try to discredit the Council RESOLVED Clerk to create a Farmers Market policy and to remove the offending trader from the waiting list.
1753. SHOP LOCAL SCHEME 2010
      RESOLVED to hold the Shop Local prize draw on Friday 26 November to coincide with the Christmas Festival.
1754. BELPER TOWN SIGN
      The Council considered some designs for a Belper Town Sign, the Councillors thought the designs were too detailed and that they would be very hard to replicate RESOLVED the press were asked to publish an article asking members of the public to send designs for a sign for Belper with less detail.
1755. BELPER AND DUFFIELD LOCAL COMMUNITY FORUM
      RESOLVED to note the next Belper and Duffield Community Forum will be held at the Whitemoor Centre 21 September 2010.
1756. DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL PARISH LIAISON MEETING
      RESOLVED to note the council's representative Councillor John Nelson will be attending the next Parish Liaison meeting at County Hall 21 October 2010.
1757. DALC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
      RESOLVED to note Councillor John Nelson was nominated and accepted as Vice Chair representative on the DALC Executive committee.
1758. DERBYSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST
      RESOLVED to note the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's appeal for support of the natural environment.
1759. AMBER VALLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL DRAFT LICENCING POLICY CONSULTATION
      RESOLVED to note comments are required by 7 November 2010 on the Borough Councils draft Licensing Policy.
1760. EAST MIDLANDS IN BLOOM
      RESOLVED The Mayor and his wife, the Clerk and the Assistant Clerk are to attend the East Midlands in Bloom presentation awards ceremony.
1761. DERWENT VALLEY MILLS WORLD HERITAGE SITE
      RESOLVED to note there will be a workshop taking place 30 September 2010 to discuss the Tourism Master Plan for the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site. Councillor Arnold to attend the meeting as a representative of Belper Town Council.
1762. SPEED LIMIT OUTSIDE ST ELIZABETHS SCHOOL
      RESOLVED to note the response to the Council's request for the speed limit on the A6 outside the entrance to St Elizabeth's School is that the 50mph speed limit in this area is appropriate. Clerk to ask County Councillor Chris Jackson to ask that this speed limit is reconsidered.
1763. ST JOHN'S CHAPEL
      RESOLVED to accept the lowest quote received from Simon Greer Roofing to carry out the repairs at St John's Chapel.
1764. ADOPTION OF GIBFIELD LANE TELEPHONE KIOSK
      The Council considered a request from a member of the public for permission to approach the Borough Council to adopt the telephone kiosk on Gibfield Lane RESOLVED to note the Council have no objection to the Borough Council adopting the telephone kiosk on Gibfield Lane.
1765. LAND REGISTRY
      As an incentive the Land Registry are offering a 25% discount to Councils who register their land voluntarily RESOLVED Clerk to register the Councils five plots of land.
      Coppice car park
      Field Lane bed
      Market Place
      Milford Triangle
      War Memorial Gardens
      
1766. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.
1767. FOOD FESTIVAL
      Due to the number of visitors attending the Food Festival this year the event will need to have Emergency Planning for next years event RESOLVED to agree a preliminary £1,500 budget for the Food Festival. In the event that the Emergency Planning adds extra cost the budget will be increased accordingly.
1768. COUNCILLOR VACANCIES
      The Council interviewed three people for the two Councillor vacancies RESOLVED to Co-opt Mr David Smith to represent the South Ward and Mr Joe Booth to represent the North Ward.