BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 12th JULY 2011

PRESENT:
Councillor Alan Cox (Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Jim Anderson, Peter Arnold, Simon Black, Deborah Biss, Joseph Booth, Alan Broughton, Jackie Cox, David Smith, Stephen Holden, Erik Johnsen, John Nelson, Mark Robertson and Peter Shepherd.

In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk) Richard Booth (Police) one member of the press (Belper Express) two members of the public.

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
    Apologies for absence were received from Martin Tomlinson (Work Commitments) Kay Charlton (Holiday)
  2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
    Councillor Anderson declared a prejudicial interest and Councillor Alan Cox declared a personal interest in minute number 2003 (iii) Proposed new Leisure Centre at Field Lane Councillor Anderson left the room; Councillor Alan Cox stayed in the room whilst the item was discussed. Councillors Black and Johnsen declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 2004 Fleet Art grant application and left the room whilst the item was discussed. Councillor Alan Cox declared a prejudicial interest in minute number 2004 Belper & District Road Safety Committee grant application and left the room whilst the item was discussed.
  3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
    1. County Councillors
      Councillor Peter Makin agreed to investigate the installation of improved 'No Parking' signage for the Market Place. He also agreed to find out the owner of the boundary wall on the Coppice car park.
    2. Police
      Sgt Booth reported that there is still a problem with shed break ins and theft from motor vehicles. There have been no reports received regarding nuisance motor bikes during the last ten days. The Safer Neighbourhood Team will displaying a crushed mini motor cycle at the Belper Food Festival this weekend to demonstrate what happens to the illegal vehicles when they have been confiscated. There were 140 surveys completed surveys collected at the 'Have Your Say' event at last weeks Belper's Farmers Market. Two young offenders have agreed to help with tonight's 'In Bloom' clean up. Councillor Broughton raised concerns about the car parking near Pottery School which is causing visibility problems at the junction for drivers Sgt. Booth agreed to contact the head teacher at the School to deter the school staff from parking there.
    3. Members of the Public
      A member of the public gave additional information to support the Fleet Art grant application.
  4. ORDER OF BUSINESS
    RESOLVED to discuss item 13a Fleet Art Grant application in camera due to the personal nature of some of the information.
  5. 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 13a Fleet Art Grant application and exempt items i) Invitation to attend HMS Brocklesby ships reception ii) Minutes 110 - 114 of a Staff Working Party meeting held 1 July 2011.
  6. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 17 MAY 2011
    RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1947 -1963 of the Council Meeting held 17 May 2011.
  7. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 7 JUNE 2011
    RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 1964 -1990 of the Council Meeting held 7 June 2011 subject to minute number 1985 Councillor Peter Shepherd is on the gritting working party not and Councillor Holden.
  8. MINUTES OF A FOOD FESTIVAL COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 4 APRIL AND 13 JUNE 2011
    RESOLVED to note Minutes 221 - 230 of the Food Festival meeting held 4 April 2011 and Minutes 242 - 252 of the Food Festival meeting held 13 June 2011.
  9. MINUTES OF AN IN BLOOM COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 2 JUNE AND 27 JUNE 2011
    RESOLVED to note Minutes 19 -31 of the In Bloom meeting held 2 June 2011 and Minutes 32 - 41 of the In Bloom meeting held 27 June 2011.
  10. MINUTES OF A STAFF WORKING PARTY MEETING HELD 1 JULY 2011
    RESOLVED to note Minutes 110 - 114 of the Staff Working Party meeting held 1 July 2011.
  11. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
    Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
    There will be a photo shoot after tonight's meeting to publicise the 'In Bloom' tidy up. All Councillors and members of the public are invited to stay and help tidy the route prior to tomorrow's East Midlands in Bloom judging.
    Photos of recently elected Councillors are required for the Council's website.
    The Town Mayor is to open the Food Festival at 10am and the Borough Mayor will open the Real Ale Festival at 11am Sunday 17 July.
    To raise funds for the Mayors charity a Quiz Sheet is available and a Quiz Evening is to be held in February.
  12. FINANCE
    RESOLVED:
    1. To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of May and June covering transactions of 6325 - 6483. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £4,023.92 and Expenditure of £17,211.02.
    2. To note the bank reconciliation for current/public reserve accounts as at 31 May 2011.
  13. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 28 May 2011 - 11 July 2011. RESOLVED the Planning Response Co-ordinators to comment on application AVA/2011/0560 to ask that the unsatisfactory state of the facade of the building at 3A High Street, Belper be renovated.
    2. RESOLVED to note the planning decisions listed on schedules dated 28 May 2011 - 4 July 2011.
    3. The Council considered the amendments to the proposed planning application for a new Leisure Centre at Field Lane Councillor Anderson declared a prejudicial interest and left the room whilst this item was discussed. RESOLVED the Planning Response Co-ordinators to make further comment on the proposed new Leisure Centre at Field Lane, Belper. Ask that any decisions be deferred until a full and complete traffic management survey of the area has been completed. This is in a World Heritage site and the impact of any development needs to be considered. Initially more car parking was to be created and now the number of car parking spaces is to be reduced.
  14. GRANT APPLICATIONS
    1. Fleet Arts
      Councillor Black and Councillor Johnsen left the room whilst this item was discussed. RESOLVED to grant £7,290 to support a range of art activities for children and young people.
    2. Autumn Club
      RESOLVED to grant £200 towards the cost of guest speakers.
    3. Belper & District Road Safety Committee
      Councillor Alan Cox left the room whilst this item was discussed. RESOLVED to grant £30 towards their running costs.
  15. OUTSIDE BODIES
    • Drop Inn Centre
      Councillor Anderson read the Annual Drop Inn Management report to the Council which highlighted a range of projects, activities and training that the volunteers at the centre have carried out over the last twelve months.
    • Belper North Mill Museum Trust
      Councillor Arnold informed the Council that landscape artist Ashley Bryant presented an original oil painting of the North Mill to the Trust last month. RESOLVED Clerk to write a letter to Ashley to thank him for his generous gift to the town.
    • Belper Cottage Project
      Councillor Jackie Cox thanked Councillor Booth for the volunteer work he has carried out in the Cottage garden which will help with the Town Council's East Midland In Bloom entry. She informed the Council that the students from the Whitemoor Day Centre have agreed to mange the garden and planters at the Cottage. MP Pauline Latham is to visit the elderly people at the Cottage and to look at the work carried out there.
  16. PART NIGHT LIGHTING
    The Council considered the County Council's energy saving cuts consultation and subsequent proposed part night lighting scheme RESOLVED the Council are worried about public safety and the Clerk register the Councils suggestions:
    Every alternate street light to be illuminated.
    Illuminated Public/Empty Buildings to be made to turn their lights off when not in use.
    Suggest the County Council re evaluate any changes after a period of time to see if there has been a significant increase in the number of accidents or crime.
    To choose carefully which street lights are be turned off.
    Look at other energy saving areas.
  17. POLLING STATION CHARGES
    The Borough Council asked the Council to consider reducing their Polling Station room hire charges RESOLVED Clerk to invoice the Borough Council for the heating, lighting and caretaker charges and not to charge for the room hire.
  18. DERBYSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE REVIEW OF EMERGENCY COVER
    RESOLVED to note the proposal that the second fire engine be removed from Ashbourne, Buxton, Clay Cross and Shirebrook stations.
  19. VACANT TOWN CENTRE BUSINESS PREMISES
    The Council considered an email asking the Council to consider making use of the two vacant retail premises in the town RESOLVED Clerk to send a copy of the email to the County Council.
  20. DERBYSHIRE EXCELLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AWARDS
    RESOLVED to nominate the Strutt Community Centre committee for a Derbyshire Excellence in the Community award for bringing the Strutt School back into use a very important building for Belper.
  21. TOWN CENTRE COACH PARKING
    The Council considered the need for coach parking provision in Belper RESOLVED Clerk to write to the County Council to ask for an official coach parking area near to adequate public conveniences to accommodate visitors to Belper.
  22. PROCTORS FUN FAIR
    RESOLVED to approve Proctors Fun Fairs Ltd request to hold their annual fair in the Coppice car park and on the Market Place 27 October to 29 October 2011.
  23. NO PARKING SIGNAGE ON THE MARKET PLACE
    The Council are concerned about the number of cars parking on the Market Place. There seems to be a misconception that car parking is permitted at certain times. The signage on the Market Place is misleading and needs to be more prominent RESOLVED Councillor Black, Broughton, Fisher and Nelson to meet with officers from the County Council to discuss the car parking issues and signage.
  24. BANDSTAND MARATHON
    RESOLVED Belper to register their interest in joining in the National Bandstand Marathon which will be taking place throughout parks and town centres in the UK on Sunday 25 September 2011 and Sunday 9 September 2012.
  25. HMS BROCKLESBY
    RESOLVED representatives of the Council and other dignitaries to accept the invitation to attend HMS BROCKLESBY ships reception and Captain's lunch.
  26. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
    RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.