BELPER TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 8th NOVEMBER 2011

PRESENT:
Councillor Alan Cox (Mayor) - in the Chair
Councillors: Simon Black, Joseph Booth, Jackie Cox, David Fisher, Eric Johnsen, John Nelson, Mark Robertson and Peter Shepherd. Martin Tomlinson arrived at 7.16pm Stephen Holden arrived at 7.17pm.
In Attendance: Mrs Rosalind Bullimore (Clerk), Belper Express (Press) County Councillors three members of the public

2066. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
      Apologies for absence were received from Jim Anderson (Illness) Peter Arnold (Holiday) Deborah Biss (Work), Alan Broughton (Family illness) and John Nelson (Work)
2067. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
      Councillors Alan Cox, Jackie Cox, David Fisher, Eric Johnsen, Peter Shepherd and Martin Tomlinson declared a personal interest in item 14 the criteria for awarding grants.
2068. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
      1. County Councillors
         Councillor Peter Makin and Councillor Stuart Bradford announced that they are to present a small grant to Fleet Arts. Councillor Stuart Bradford informed the Council that the County Council had secured a piece of land to provide a waiting area for the bus stop at Milford. Councillor Jackson informed the Council that the white lines on the road at Lodge Drive are to be reinstated.
      2. Police
         Councillor Alan Cox read a report on behalf of Sgt Booth There has been a reduction in the number of break ins around Belper. The Belper Fair passed without any incidents. All non emergencies can be reported on the new 101 telephone number. A new speed watch initiative is being introduced this week.
      3. Members of the Public
         Chairman of Transition Belper Ian Jackson explained to the Council that their group is made up of volunteers whose aim is to make Belper a more sustainable place to live work and play, and at the same time reducing the impact on the planet and the carbon footprint. They are to help deliver a Groundwork Trust training programme to improve home energy efficiency improvements to 20 'off gas' properties in the Belper area and would like ask for the Councils help in identifying any such properties. RESOLVED the Council agreed to let the group to use St John's Chapel as a meeting room free of charge.
2069. ORDER OF BUSINESS
      RESOLVED to discuss the supplementary agenda item 20a to confirm the list of non paying groups eligible to hire St John's Chapel.
2070. 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 CCTV Operations in Belper.
2071. MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BELPER TOWN COUNCIL HELD 11 OCTOBER 2011
      RESOLVED to agree as a true record Minutes 2042 - 2065 of the Council Meeting held 11 October 2011.
2072. MINUTES OF AN IN BLOOM COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 7 OCTOBER 2011
      RESOLVED to note the Minutes 45 - 50 of the In Bloom committee meeting held 7 October 2011 subject to Councillor Black was not present at the meeting.
2073. MINUTES OF A QUEENS DIAMOND JUBILEE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 10 OCTOBER 2011
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 8 - 13 of the queens Diamond Jubilee meeting held 10 October 2011.
2074. MINUTES OF A CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 21 OCTOBER 2011
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 292 - 300 of the Christmas Committee meeting held 21 October 2011.
2075. MINUTES OF A FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 27 OCTOBER 2011
      RESOLVED to note Minutes 254 - 259 and adopt the recommendations of the Finance committee meeting held 27 October 2011.
2076. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
      Forthcoming events/Notices etc.
      • Proctors Fair was a success, the mayor won a soft toy which he intends to use to raise funds for his chosen charity.
      • A sponsors' reception was held 1 November at St John's Chapel to thank all the sponsors for their support.
      • Councillors are requested to help steward the Christmas Food Festival Sunday 4 December
      • The Rotary Club of Belper and Duffield would like to use the Market Place Christmas Tree as part of their Christmas fundraising.
      • Members are reminded to attend the Armistice Day Service in the Memorial Gardens 11am Friday 11 November and the Remembrance Day Service at St Peter's Church on Sunday 13 November
      • The retiring Chairman of the Friends Babington Hospital Ray Asher has been chosen to Switch on the Christmas Lights in Belper which will take place on Friday 25 November.
2077. FINANCE
      RESOLVED:To note and agree income and expenditure incurred in the months of September and October covering transactions of 6882 - 6962. Schedules are attached to these Minutes showing Income of £5,444.34 and Expenditure of £10,675.26.
2078. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
      1. RESOLVED to note the planning applications listed on the schedules dated 12 October 2011 - 8 November 2011
      2. RESOLVED to note the planning decisions listed on schedules dated 12 October 2011 - 8 November 2011.
      3. RESOLVED to note the appeal against the refused planning permission for a raised bed area at 177 Nottingham Road has been dismissed
2079. GRANT APPLICATIONS
      Councillor Booth asked the Council to review the criteria for awarding grants. RESOLVED Finance committee to review the criteria and report back to Council.
2080. OUTSIDE BODIES
      Friends of Belper Parks
      Councillor Johnsen informed the Council that the community pay back team have cleared one acre on the Belper Parks in preparation for the installation of fencing and a new pathway. Wildflower seeds are to be sewn on the meadow during April 2012.
2081. COPPICE CAR PARK 18 OCTOBER PUBLIC MEETING
      The Clerk reported that 19 members of the public attended a Public Meeting on the 18 October to discuss the recent antisocial behaviour problems on the Coppice car park and the pros and cons of the introduction of an overnight gating order at the entrance of the car park RESOLVED to note everyone agreed that the issues need addressing but they were not convinced that closing the entrance over night was the answer. The car park committee will meet to discuss other possible solutions and costs.
2082. DALC TRAINING COURSES
      RESOLVED Councillors Simon Black and Peter Shepherd to attend DALC Councillor training courses.
2083. YOUTH ACTIVITIES IN AMBER VALLEY
      Councillor Black informed the Council that at a meeting he had recently attended to discuss youth activities and facilities it was agreed that there would be a benefit if all local youth groups worked together to share resources, funding and training RESOLVED to form a Youth Sub Committee made up of Councillors and any interested parties to assist and coordinate partnership working between all Belper local youth groups.
2084. ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AT ST JOHN'S CHAPEL
      The Council considered a letter from a local resident about anti social problems in the grounds at St John's Chapel RESOLVED Clerk to advise the resident of the new 101 non emergency police number and to ask that they report every incident to the police. Clerk to investigate the installation of a PIR light to light up the footpath at the back of the Chapel.
2085. BELPER WAR MEMORIAL
      The Council considered a request from a relative of a fallen soldier whose name has allegedly been spelt with an 'i' instead of an 'e' on the War Memorial in the Memorial Gardens to be amended RESOLVED Clerk to seek formal evidence from the War Memorials Commission of how the surname should be spelt.
2086. CCTV OPERATIONS IN BELPER
      RESOLVED to take over payment which was previously funded by Amber Valley Community Safety Partnership for the ongoing maintenance costs of the 3G CCTV camera on Nottingham Road.
2087. ST JOHN'S USER GROUPS
      The Council considered the list of paying and non paying groups who currently hire St John's Chapel RESOLVED to note Schools are not included in the non profit groups and will be charged the current 'Voluntary groups based in Belper' room hire rate.
2088. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
      RESOLVED To note the items for information included in the agenda and the schedule attached to these minutes.