Parish
council meeting
February 25 2008
Belmont Community Centre
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BELMONT
RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
Parish
council meeting |
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Present: Mr. P. Edwards Chairman Mrs. B. Brown Absent: Ms. W. Butler In attendance: Liz
Kelso Clerk 22/08 Declarations of Interest Councillor Edwards and Councillor Powell, as District Councillors, declared a personal interest in all matters relating to planning applications and noted that comments expressed are preliminary views taking account of information currently available to BRPC whilst reserving final views for decision taking by District Council Planning Committee where all relevant and final facts can be available prior to making a decision. 23/08 Minutes of the previous meeting The Minutes of the meeting held on 14th January had been previously circulated. It was agreed that the Chairman be authorised to sign the Minutes as a true record of proceedings at that meeting. (a) Litter bins Members noted that this project has now been completed. (b) Laptop In accordance with authority granted at December meeting, Members noted that the Chairman and Vice Chairman approved a quotation from PC World since the last meeting and the equipment has been purchased, together with 36 months maintenance service, Office Professional Suite and anti virus software. Total cost, inclusive of VAT was £1,640.04, well within the original budget of £2,000.00 (c) Training A successful internal training evening was held on 4th February and those in attendance agreed that the session had been worthwhile. Councillors Cook and Loft attended a “Leading Lights” course run by HALC on 19th February and gave a brief overview of the items covered including changes in the requirement to record interests declared in meetings and government proposals to devolve more powers to Parish Councils (d) Public Open Space Survey Members noted that the results of the survey are not yet available. Once results are available it will be necessary to consider whether to hold a special meeting to announce the results. (e) Road Safety/Speed Indicator Device(s) The working party reported that a meeting had been held with Herefordshire Council officers to agree suitable locations for the speed indicator devices. It had been agreed that existing speed sign posts could be used rather than install new posts. Boxes for the units have already been installed although there was some doubt as to whether the box in Abbotsmead Road is correctly located. The Clerk was instructed to check this with Julie Freeman and to report that wires which appear to be connected to one box in Southolme Road are no longer properly connected. (f) Funding application – Northolme Community Centre Northolme Community Centre Association has withdrawn it’s application for funding as it has received funding elsewhere. Financial statements as requested at our last meeting have been received and will be circulated to Members for information. (g) Parish Freighter Clerk is still awaiting confirmation of the 2009 booking dates. (h) Litter Pick Equipment Ordered as requested at the last meeting. Members noted that volunteer litter pickers have collected up to six bags of litter over the previous six week period. (i) Repairs Requested from Herefordshire Council. It was noted that several of the manhole covers requiring repair or securing are Welsh Water sewer covers. (j) Shrub Planting Two further quotations were obtained as instructed and in accordance with authority granted at the last meeting, a quotation from Amey Wye Valley was accepted at a cost of £771.64. i.e. within the £800.00 budget agreed at the last meeting. Work has been completed and an invoice is awaited. Some plants have been pulled up to date and several Members reported treading them back into the shrub bed. 25/08 Report from West Mercia Police & Parish Watch In the absence of a representative from West Mercia Police, Councillor Edwards provided an update from Parish Watch, noting that there had been some damage to bins and fences by vandals since the last meeting. The frame of the Parish Council notice board in Abbotsmead Road was damaged and has been repaired voluntarily by Councillor Edwards. Two windows have again been broken at Belmont Community Centre. Councillor Newman reported that he has discussed closure of the privately owned footpath between the medical centre and the community centre with the owner, Mrs. Andrews, who has agreed for the path to be fenced off. Members noted that PC Greenwood is to retire shortly and CSO Shane Jenkins is also due to leave within the next few weeks. The Clerk was instructed to write to Sgt. Chris Payne to enquire when replacements would be in post, particularly in view of the current levels of damage through vandalism. Whilst writing, it was suggested that Sgt. Payne be asked to consider use of the mobile CCTV cameras around the Belmont Centre to identify those responsible for the damage. No further matters were raised during the period of public participation. Other than routine items circulated to Members or those addressed separately on this agenda, the following items of correspondence have been received: · Letter from
the Audit Commission proposing that Mazars LLP be appointed external auditor
for BRPC. (a) Payments In accordance with Financial Standing Orders, the Clerk reported that two payments/cheques were raised since the last meeting as follows: Citizens Advice Bureau PC World Authority was given to make the following payments: Northholme Community
Centre Association South Wye Community
Association Mrs. E. Kelso Inland Revenue Tax & National Insurance £197.50 Cash (b) Receipts Bank Interest as at 31.12.2007 £299.47 (c) Balances Current account
£500.00 (a) Applications received since last meeting None since the last meeting (b) Observations passed to Herefordshire Council since the last meeting Ref: DCCW2008/0232/F (c) Notification of planning decisions since last meeting Ref: DCCW2007/35645/O Ref: DCCW2007/3588/F Ref: DCCW2007/3711/F 30/08 Amendment to Standing Orders Members noted that recent advice from the National Association of Local Councils recommended that a detailed procedure for public speaking be included in standing orders. The clerk presented a suggested amendment to standing orders to incorporate NALC advice. During Public Participation it was noted by the member of the public present that the public generally may prefer to speak on an agenda item at the time the item is discussed rather than wait until the end of the meeting. After some discussion and amendment to the proposed wording, the standing order as attached to these Minutes was agreed. It was further agreed that a notice be placed on Parish notice boards to advise Members of the public of the procedure to be followed. A draft notice is to be prepared by the Clerk and the Chairman and Vice Chairman were authorised to approve the notice on behalf of the Parish Council. 31/08 Footpath from Chichester Close to Northolme Road Members noted that when the housing in Chichester Close was built, a formal path had been created across a small area of grass into Northolme Road, adjacent to the Parish notice board. However, most people tend to walk across the grassed area towards Tesco rather than use the formal path with the result that the grass is being worn away and becoming muddy and slippery. Some years ago an attempt was made to have the path moved to the more natural route used by pedestrians but this had failed. The Chairman now suggested that a second path be installed along the route used by pedestrians creating a triangle area around the Parish notice board. A quotation has been obtained from Amey Wye Valley in the region of £1,800 and permission given by Herefordshire Council’s Parks and Countryside Department who are responsible for the grassed area for a new path. After a brief discussion it was agreed that BRPC formally request this additional path to be funded by BRPC at a cost not to exceed £2,000.00. The Clerk was instructed to make the necessary arrangements for the work to be carried out. (a) The Chairman reported that as District Councillor he asked Herefordshire Council to check vehicle speed data to ascertain whether Northolme Road would be suitable for a pedestrian crossing. The data gathered suggests that Northolme Road falls below the criteria for a crossing so he had requested that dropped kerbs and a tactile surface be installed. Members noted that installation will be in the early part of the next financial year. (b) Herefordshire Council have cut back bushes and shrubs along the CH7 footpath to prevent fly tipping of grass cuttings etc. and to remove potential hiding places for those committing anti social behaviour. (c) The Chairman reported that as District Councillor he had again spoken to the manager of Tesco regarding litter from the site, being largely carrier bags being wind borne from the recycling box. (d) Councillor Loft noted that a signpost directing to the Medical Centre off Southolme Road is hidden by bushes belonging to a private resident. The Chairman volunteered to speak to the homeowner concerned to ask that the hedge be cut back. (e) Councillor Cook noted that stones are lifting from the roundabout in Southolme Road. (f) It was noted that there has been instances of fly tipping of garden materials into the brook alongside Waterfield Road. The Clerk was instructed to notify Herefordshire Council. (g) A manhole cover adjacent to no. 33 Dorchester Way is loose. (h) Councillor Powell reported that she has received a lengthy e-mail from four residents regarding alleged car repairs at a property in Abbotsmead Road which have resulted in the entrance to their property being obstructed. It was noted that this is a private matter which is outside the jurisdiction of the Parish Council and should be reported to the police. Councillor Powell volunteered to progress this item. (i) Councillor Newman expressed concern at signage at The Oval which he felt might encourage excessive and underage drinking. It was agreed that the Clerk write to Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Officer regarding this sign, pointing out the perceived links between excessive and underage drinking and instances of anti social behaviour. There were no further points raised during the final period for public participation. The next meeting will take place on Monday 7th April at Belmont Community Centre, Eastholme Avenue, Belmont, commencing at 7pm. There being no further
business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.25pm.
Amendment to Standing Order 68(a) – final agreed wording “68(a) At the sole discretion of the Chairman of any meeting, a member of the public in attendance may be permitted to give a brief statement of no more than 3 minutes in length or raise a matter of concern either verbally or in writing provided that the statement or matter is relevant to the business of the parish council as determined by the Chairman and provided that no more than 15 minutes in total shall be devoted to matters raised by members of the public at any meeting. This right is extended to include any Parish Councillor with a prejudicial interest in any matter to enable him/her to offer a statement on the subject matter on which he/she has a prejudicial interest prior to leaving the room whilst that matter is debated. The period allocated for such public speaking will be deemed “public participation”. Nothing in this clause provides members of the public with an automatic right to speak on any subject at any meeting.”
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