Parish
council meeting
January 13 2011
Northolme Community Centre
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BELMONT
RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
Parish
council meeting |
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001/11 Apologies and Declarations of Interest Apologies were received from Councillor Dawn Killeen and Councillor Stuart Taylor. Councillor Edwards declared a personal interest in agenda item 8 (minute reference 008/11) as a member of another authority.
These 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) Commemorative Benches As noted at the last meeting, the two benches will be installed when weather conditions permit. Members noted the proposed inscription on the benches and had no objections to these. (b) Salt Bins The Clerk has received no response to her letter regarding salt bins, but noted that none have been installed within the last few weeks. (c) Annual Report and Questionnaire There has been no further progress on this item due to the Christmas shut down. The Clerk will review the questionnaire in the light of proposals in the Localism Bill before sending for printing.
It was agreed that the Information Evening be held on Thursday 3rd March from 7.30 – 9.30. HALC has indicated that Lynda Wilcox will be able to attend on that date. (e) Kraftimonkies Holiday Club It was noted that the Kraftimonkies Holiday Club activities at Christmas had gone ahead as previously planned. (f) Christmas Carol Concert The Christmas Carol Concert was a great success and agreed funding has been passed to St. Michael’s Hospice. A total of £460.00 had been raised . Members thanked all the organisers but in particular Mrs. Joyce Clare for arranging the event. It was suggested that this should be a regular event at Christmas and that this be discussed further at the next meeting. (g) Newsletter Distribution Contract As requested at the last meeting, the Clerk has approached both individuals who helped with the distribution of flyers for the Parish Meeting. Whilst both are happy to help with future distribution requirements, neither wished to bid for or take on the entire contract. It was agreed that when the next newsletter is ready for distribution, consideration will be given to how this should be distributed. (h) Parish Meeting held 18th November Notes/Minutes from this meeting are still awaited from HALC. (i) Management of Land Behind Dorchester Way The Clerk has been advised by Herefordshire Council Parks and Countryside Dept. that the proposal put forward to Herefordshire Council by the Parish Council has been adopted for the management of the land behind Dorchester Way. Officers from Amey, together with an expert in Bee conservation have been asked to develop a plan which will then be discussed with BRPC. It was suggested that perhaps a presentation on Bee Conservation might be a topic for the next Annual Parish Meeting. (j) Footpaths on Abbey View Park The Clerk reported that she had noted some damage to the surface of the footpaths around Abbey View Park as a result of the severe weather and had notified Amey accordingly.
004/11 Report from West Mercia Police/Parish Watch A representative from West Mercia Police was not in attendance and Members asked that the police be asked to provide a written report whenever they are unable to attend meetings. It was noted due to West Mercia Police restructuring, Belmont Ward would now be policed through a variety of new measures. The Parish Watch report indicated no reports of anti social behaviour over the Christmas period although two litter bins had been vandalised and voluntarily repaired by The Chairman using a spare bin top held in store. Some incidents of theft arising outside our parish boundary were noted and in particular a rise in theft of heating oil from rural properties. Other than routine items, the following items of correspondence have been received since the last meeting: • E-Mail from Jesse Norman attaching a newsletter and invitation to a second Broadband conference on 11th February which Councillor Schoffer indicated he would attend. Members also noted reports of a successful bid for a faster broadband service south of the County, but excluding the Belmont Rural area. Councillor Newman said he hoped to discuss this further with MP Jesse Norman. • Letter from Dr. Leslie Lumsdon, Bus Co-ordinator for Rail for Herefordshire, urging support to retain local bus services was noted. • Letter regarding the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. Members were encouraged to consider a Diamond Jubilee event to be held in 2012. • HALC will be holding a training event, “websites made easy” on Thursday 17th February. Any member wishing to attend was instructed to contact the Clerk. • Information on the new Localism Bill has been received from HALC and was provided to Members for information. It was agreed that this be the subject of further discussion at a later meeting. However, significant issues to emerge so far include: o A new power of general competence providing much greater power for parish councils to deliver services locally although the suggestion is that only some parishes will be eligible for this power, perhaps similar to quality status and/or the power of well being o Changes to the
centralised audit regime • Members were invited to the formal opening of the new children’s play area for those under the age of 8 years, to be held on Saturday 5th February from 2 – 4pm. (a) Payments Authority was given to make the following payments: Northolme Community Centre
Association Northolme Community
Centre Assocation Herefordshire Association
of Local Councils
Cash (b) Receipts None since the last meeting. (c) Balances Current account £500.00 (a) Applications received since last meeting Ref: DMS103259/FH Development: Proposed
two storey extension (b) Observations passed to Herefordshire Council None since the last meeting. (c) Notifications of planning decisions received since last meeting Ref: DMS102783/F Ref: DMS102782/A
– Advertising Consent Ref: DMS/1026/40/FH Comment: Application withdrawn Ref: DMS/102577/F Comment: Application approved with conditions. In particular, Members noted that a requirement for insulation was contained within the permission to reduce noise emissions for those living nearby.
Councillor Phil Edwards declared a personal interest in this item as a member of another local authority (Herefordshire Council). Following a request at the last meeting for Herefordshire Council to consider fencing the playbuilder site in Northolme Road, Members considered a proposal from Herefordshire Council together with a request for a contribution in the region of £2,435 towards the costs of the proposal. In considering the proposals, Members expressed concern that the provided plan showed the earth mound would be changed to facilitate fencing but as the mound would remain outside the fencing, it might encroach upon the current kick about area. There was also concern about the installation of gates for vehicle access. After some discussion it was agreed that funding of £2,000 be offered subject to a revision of the plans to ensure that the kick about area would not be reduced in any way and the provision of an effective means of blocking vehicular access to the grass at the top of the turning area in Abbotsmead Road. In notifying Herefordshire Council accordingly, the Clerk was also instructed to request that the no alcohol signage which had been installed on the original fencing, be replaced. The Clerk was also instructed to write to Herefordshire Council to ensure that in future, the newly fenced area is included in the dog control orders banning dogs from within the fenced play area.
At the request of Councillor Schoffer, it was agreed that the summary note printed on the back of the agenda copy made available to members of the public should be amended to include the provision that the time allowed for members of the public to speak at parish council meetings is 15 minutes in total and no more than 3 minutes per individual speaker. It was noted that this is not a change to the previously agreed procedures, but a change to the wording used on the summary. 010/11 Litter Picking arrangements The Clerk presented a report on litter picking arrangements employed by other parish councils within the region, including the use of volunteers or the option to employ an individual a few hours a week to pick up litter in the parish, and the implications and considerations for each option. Noting a comment that when requested to do so, Amey will arrange additional litter picking, it was agreed that the current informal arrangement of Pride in Parish volunteer litter picking continue on an ad hoc basis should be continued and BRPC was grateful for this support. Members also noted that litter from Tesco appeared to be on the increase and when contractors were seen blowing leaves from a grounds maintenance exercise at Tesco into the roadway, advice from Herefordshire Council to Councillor Myatt was that this action was recommended so that Amey contractors could clear rubbish etc. From the gutters. Councillor Edwards reported that in his District Councillor role he had written to Tesco head office regarding the poor standard of fencing on the Tesco site and would report the increasing litter problem too.
• Councillor Phil Edwards Councillor Edwards presented his District Councillor report since the last meeting including: o Reporting deep
pothole on A465 Belmont Road awaiting repair • Councillor Glenda Powell Members noted apololgies from Councillor Powell who was unable to offer a report as she had fallen during the bad weather, resulting in a hospital stay. • Councillor Heather Davies Councillor Davies in attendance at the meeting reported that a decision had been taken on the land behind Dorchester Way and that it would be cut twice per year with no kick about area and that she had proposed a kick about area further up Dorchester Way on the other side of the main road. Councillor Davies also reported that she had provided West Mercia Police with a chain to put across the Northolme Centre Car Park to prevent vehicles accessing the car park which would be used by the police when necessary. (a) It was noted that in a number of areas, hedging was encroaching on footpaths and pavements. (b) It was noted that the blackberry bushes in Westholme Road had now been cut. (c) It was agreed that the Clerk be instructed to write to Herefordshire Council and contractors Focsa to thank them for their efforts in clearing refuse during the particularly bad weather before Christmas. There were no new items raised during the final period of public participation. The next meeting will be held on 24th February at Northolme Community Centre, Northolme Avenue, commencing at 7.15pm.
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