BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 17th APRIL 2012

PRESENT:
Councillor Alan Cox (Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Deborah Biss, Simon Black, Alan Broughton, Joseph Booth, Kay Charlton, Jackie Cox, David Fisher, Stephen Holden, John Nelson, Mark Robertson, Peter Shepherd and Martin Tomlinson.
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk), 1 member of the press (Belper Express) County Councillors Chris Jackson and Peter Makin, PC Mark Stokoe and three members of the public.

2173. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Erik Johnsen (work)
2174. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      Councillor Black, Robertson and Tomlinson declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 2184, Councillor Black and Tomlinson made representation during the public section of the meeting.
2175. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
      1. Members of the Public
         Stephen Heathcote a member of the Belper Civic Forum explained to the Council about the planning reforms and the Civic forums intention to be involved with development of the Borough Council's Local Plan.
         Ian Jackson a member of Transition Belper informed the Council that a lot of people in Belper were interested in setting up a community garden. The community garden would be inclusive, inviting people of all ages and abilities to join in. There are existing members in the group with expertise in gardening, self sufficiency and sustainability who will manage the project.
      2. Police and County Councillors
         PC Mark Stokoe introduced himself to the Council. He agreed to Councillor Black's request to provide traffic cones at St John's School to assist with their parking enforcement problems and he agreed to look into a parking issue raised by Councillor Nelson.
         Councillor Jackson informed the Council that despite the Government's advice, that the speed limit is considered appropriate outside St Elizabeth's School he will continue to campaign for the speed limit to be reduced.
      3. Members Declaring a Prejudicial Interest
         Councillors Black and Tomlinson made representation on minute Number 2184 they both supported the Parents Friends & Teacher Association grant application and asked the Council to consider the request favourably.
2176. ORDER OF BUSINESS
      RESOLVED to bring agenda items 13 (public footpath No 74) and 17 (Neighbourhood Planning) forward and discuss them after the Council has considered grant applications.
2177. 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 Exempt item 1, Minutes of a Staff Working Party Meeting held 16 March 2012.
2178. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 13 MARCH 2012
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 2153 - 2172 of the Council Meeting held 13 March 2012. RESOLVED Minute 2167 Clerk to apply for planning permission for change of use at St John's Chapel car park and the land opposite the Drop Inn Centre to be used as space for community gardens.
2179. MINUTES OF A QUEENS DIAMOND JUBILEE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 13 MARCH 2012
      RESOLVED to note and adopt the Minutes 37 - 43 of the Queens Jubilee committee held 13 March 2012. The Council agreed a budget of £150 for the Historical Society's Exhibition which is to be held in the Heritage Centre as part of the Queens Jubilee celebrations.
2180. MINUTES OF A STAFF WORKING PARTY MEETING HELD 16 MARCH 212
      RESOLVED eleven Councillors in favour, three against and one abstained, to note and adopt the recommendations of the Staff Working Party committee held 16 March 2012 subject to 'the Clerks recommendations' were noted not accepted. RESOLVED eleven Councillors in favour and four against, Clerk to purchase new watering equipment and arrange for a standpipe connection to improve the plant watering system.
2181. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      • Opened the RSPCA shop on King Street.
      • Opened a Garden Supplies shop on Goods Road.
      • Met with students from Belper School and German exchange students at St John's Chapel.
      • There is to be a parade in the town on Sunday 22 April to mark St Georges Day. All funds raised at the weekends church services will go towards charities.
2182. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:
      To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of February and March covering transactions of 7481 - 7609. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £856.75 and Expenditure of £28,543.05.
2183. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 14 March 2012 - 17 April 2012.
      2. RESOLVED to note the planning decisions listed on schedules dated 14 March 2012 - 17 April 2012.
2184. GRANT APPLICATION
      327 - St John's Church of England School, Parents, Friends and Teacher Association Councillors Black, Robertson and Thompson left the room whilst this item was discussed. RESOLVED to refuse this application.
2185. OUTSIDE BODIES
      1. Launch of Street Angels
         Councillor Black attended a meeting to explore the idea of launching a Street Angels project and has agreed to become one of their volunteers. The faith based initiative launched in 2005 supported by the police has had a significant impact in reducing the number of recorded antisocial behavior incidents. The project is looking for more volunteers and funding.
      2. Friends of Belper Parks
         Councillor Fisher informed the Council that the Borough Council and the Environment Agency has agreed to allow cattle on the Parks to graze for 6 - 8 weeks during the summer. Fences have been installed to retain the cattle. The Youth Group who meet at the Manor Recreation area is to start a wildflower meadow project in the Parks.
2186. FOOTPATH No 74 GREEN WALK
      Letter received from a resident asking the Council to maintain a fence on the public footpath between Bridgefoot and Bridge Hill RESOLVED The maintenance of the footpath is not the Town Council's responsibility, Clerk to write to the County Council to ask them to repair the fence.
2187. COMMUNITY PAYBACK TEAM
      RESOLVED to accept the quotation from the Community payback team to paint the street furniture in the town centre.
2188. AMBER VALLEY ACCESS GROUP
      The Council were asked to nominate a representative for the Amber Valley Access committee RESOLVED not to appoint anyone.
2189. STEWARDS
      The Clerk asked the members to volunteer as stewards for the Council's diary of events RESOLVED Councillors to let the Clerk know before the meeting in May which dates they are available.
2190. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING
      A member of the Belper Civic Forum informed the Council of their intentions to get involved with the consultations on the Borough Council's development of the local plan RESOLVED the Civic Forum has the Council's support and would like to urge other people to respond and have their input before the plans are finalised.
2191. MEMORIAL GARDENS
      RESOLVED to accept the quotation from Electrical Contractor Alan Benfield for the remedial work on the electrical supply and circuit breakers in the Memorial Gardens.
2192. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.