Parish
council meeting
December 11 2006
Belmont Community Centre
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BELMONT
RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
Parish
council meeting |
Dec06 |
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Present: Mrs. V. Robinson (Chairman) Mrs. B. Brown Mr. D. Cook Mr. P. Edwards Mr. B. Hubbard Mr. R. Loft Mr. I. Robinson Apologies: Mrs. J.
Clare In attendance: Mrs.
E. Kelso (Clerk)
There were no declarations of interest. 133/06 Minutes of the previous meeting The Minutes of the meeting held on 13th November 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. 134/06 Matters arising (a) Shrub planting between Northolme Road and A465 Councillor Ian Robinson advised that he has now received a number of documents from the Highways Agency regarding the planting of the roundabout and surrounding grass verge. He also reported that Herefordshire Council Parks and Countryside Department has advised putting a sign up on the verge stating “no parking” to deter those responsible for the private car sales advertised on the verge. After some discussion, it was agreed that Councillor Robinson prepare a briefing note with costed proposals in time for the next meeting. In connection with this item, Rev. Clive Evans noted during Public Participation that Herefordshire in Bloom might be interested in sponsoring the roundabout next year. During discussions it was noted that although the police will respond when requested to regarding unapproved car parking/car sales on the grass verge, they will only do so if the vehicles is deemed to be creating a hazard. Members also noted with concern and disappointment that despite several reminders, the Highways Agency has failed to respond to our request for the trees on the roundabout to be thinned and for the lamp posts to be repainted. (b) Tesco landscaping
(c) Kerb Weedspray Herefordshire Council were requested to undertake a kerb sweep to remove remaining weeds. This has been partially completed at the time of this meeting. (d) Litter bins Installations scheduled for early January (weather permitting). (e) Car Parking on grass verges Vehicle numbers provided to the Clerk have been passed on to Herefordshire Council and a slight improvement has been noted although some vehicles are still parking on the pavements and verges. (f) Resurfacing of A465 This had been scheduled for the week commencing 20th November but has not taken place. (g) Sinking pavements etc. Requests for repairs has been passed to Herefordshire Council. (h) Yarlington Mill Councillor Edwards reported that the design for the ‘A’ frame to deter cyclists/motor bikes from travelling down the path between the medical centre and Yarlington Mill is being investigated by Herefordshire Council. Investigations into the ownership of the land immediately adjacent to the footpath have revealed that a large public sewer is located under the land suggesting that the land might not be in private ownership as has been claimed. There is concern that if the land is privately owned, the land owner might fence the land thereby creating a “muggers alley”. 135/06 Report from West Mercia Police PC Paul Greenwood introduced the new Community Support Officer for the area, Jason Merrick, bringing the total number of CSOs working within Belmont to 2 with a further CSO planned for the future. CSO Merrick was welcomed to the meeting and asked if he would assist the Parish Council by discussing the possibility of an all terrain cycle track within the Parish with local young people whilst patrolling in the area. A total of 18 incidents of anti social behaviour were recorded last month and six incidents of damage. One burglary occurred in Northolme Road where the culprits gained access to the property through a rear entrance. Councillor Edwards reported that through Neighbourhood Watch it had not been necessary to report any matter to the police since the last meeting. The first PACT meeting for the South of Hereford took place on 7th November and was attended by the two district councillors and several residents from Coppin Rise. The next meeting will be in February and the date will be advised to Members as soon as possible. Finally members were invited by CSO Merrick to visit the local police team website which can be found at www.westmercia.police.uk, then follow the links to “local policing”, “Herefordshire”, “City and Rural” and finally “Belmont”. The site includes contact details for all the local police team. 136/06 Public Participation The Chairman adjourned the meeting for a brief period of public participation during which there were no further items raised other than those noted elsewhere in these Minutes. 137/06 Correspondence Other than routine items circulated to members, there has been one other item of correspondence from Kate Shinonaka, Health Visitor working with the Mums and Tots Group supported by the Parish Council. BRPC are thanked for their support but the letter states that the group will no longer be able to meet after 13th December. 138/06 Payments/Receipts (a) Payments Authority was given to make the following payments: Dawn ‘til
Dusk Printers South Wye Community
Association Society of Local
Council Clerks Mrs. E. A. Kelso Inland Revenue Cash Northolme Community
Centre Association (b) Receipts None since the last meeting. (c) BalancesCurrent
account £90.24 139/06 Planning Matters (a) Applications received since last meeting The following applications have been received since the last meeting: Ref: DCCW2006/3671/F Ref: DCCW2006/3696/F Ref: DCCW2006/3786/F Site: 120 Dorchester
Way, Belmont (b) Observations passed to Herefordshire Council since last meeting Other than those items noted above, the following observations have been passed to Herefordshire Council since the last meeting: Ref: DCCW/2006/3543/F
Papers had been previously circulated to members regarding this application for an additional grant of £7,000 towards the cost of refurbishing the community building in Northolme Road. This request was to replace an application to Herefordshire Council’s Community Building Fund which had been refused. Mrs. Fran White, Chairman of Northolme Community Centre Association was in attendance at the meeting to answer any questions raised by Members. After a brief discussion, it was unanimously agreed to grant the sum of £7,000 to Northolme Community Centre Association. Mrs. White thanked the Parish Council for its support. 141/06 Subscription to Local Councils Update Plus An example of Local Councils Update was circulated to members as a routine item since the last meeting and feedback was very positive. It was agreed that a regular subscription be purchased to permit online access to this information source, at a cost of £100.00. 142/06 Proposed projects for 2007/8 Members noted that the purpose of this agenda item is to identify potential capital projects for 2007/8 so that a budget figure to support these items can be included in the precept request for 2007/8 (see Minute no. 143/06). After some discussion, the following items were agreed as potential projects with a total nominal budget cost of £16,000: · Provision
of all terrain cycle facility, subject to identification of suitable location,
eqpt, etc. · Continued
support for community buildings/facilities within the Parish. · Improvements
to small football kickabout area adjacent to the Northolme Centre. Councillor Ian Robinson asked that his abstention from the vote be noted. 143/06 Precept request for 2007/8 Members considered the draft budget prepared by the Clerk and updated by the previous agenda item, noting that operating expenses are estimated to be in the region of £12,625. This figure includes an allowance of £1,500 for election expenses although the Clerk noted that this might be a conservative figure if a contested election is required in May. Items under “other expenditure” included the capital projects budget agreed under Minute no. 142/06 together with expenditure already committed for the forthcoming financial year, namely the Parish Freighter and agreed commitment to the Parish newsletter. Together with a contingency of £5,000, the total proposed budget for 2007/8 was £35,525. With a projected carry forward from 2006/7 in the region of £14,730, it was noted that this left a minimum of £20,795 to be funded through the Precept. Councillor Edwards proposed a precept of £20,000 in line with previous years but it was noted that this would mean that capital projects agreed would all be funded and this would leave no reserves for 2008/9. After some discussion, it was proposed by Councillor Ian Robinson and seconded by Councillor Brian Hubbard that the precept for 2007/8 be set at £25,000. The Chairman declared the resolution carried with 5 votes for and 3 against. 144/06 Parish Matters (a) Councillor Loft reported on a PCCT meeting had had recently attended on behalf of the Parish Council. (b) Councillor Cook expressed concern at the continued traffic hold ups for vehicles travelling into Hereford and in the light of recent very wet weather, the flood prevention measures resulting from the ASDA development, and Councillor Ian Robinson noted that the road level at the roundabout has been reduced. Councillor Edwards explained the flood defences put in place, noting that pumping has been put in place to offset pressure on the drainage system which previously has resulted in flooding on the Belmont Road side of the roundabout. (c) Councillor Brown queried how conditions imposed through the planning process, were policed. Councillor Edwards explained that Enforcement Officers were responsible for ensuring that planning conditions are met through the development process but it was noted that planning conditions generally only conditions on the proposed development, not on householder’s behaviour. For example, additional parking might be a requirement of a planning consent, but householders cannot be forced to use the additional parking space. It was agreed that the Clerk circulate planning decisions to Members when received so that Members are aware of any attached conditions. (d) Councillor Edwards reported on his activities as District Councillor, including: o Requesting cycleways
be swept (e) Members noted that a tree had fallen in Westholme Road during the recent gales. Herefordshire Jarvis Services removed the tree and will invoice the owner in due course. (f) It was noted that posts and wires have been installed around the Tesco site but the wire has been cut in some places already as members of the public continue to use unofficial routes off the site. (g) Following the recent gales, lighting in the Tesco car park has been moved causing disturbance to neighbouring properties. Councillor Edwards in his District Councillor role has brought this to the attention of Tesco and requested that lights be repositioned. (h) Members noted that Herefordshire Primary Care Trust in conjunction with Herefordshire Council would be operating a new scheme locally in support of elderly residents wishing to remain in their homes. The Village Warden scheme will be operated through the Red Cross and offer a single contact number for help for elderly residents. (i) Councillor Hubbard reported that the annual tree survey had been carried out in conjunction with Herefordshire Council in October. A total of 12 trees had died during the year but Herefordshire Council have no funds for the routine replacement of trees this year. (j) Councillor Hubbard reported that following works on the electricity sub station on the corner of Atherstone Close and Oulton Avenue by Central Networks, the site had been left in a poor state. The matter has been reported to Herefordshire Council to pursue. 145/06 Public Participation In the final period of public participation, District Councillor Glenda Powell reported that residents of Ann Carter Close in Hunderton have requested that Herefordshire Housing install high fences along their property boundary and CCTV to prevent children from the Parish climbing over the fences and damaging property. Date of next meeting The next meeting will take place on Monday 29th January 2007 at Belmont Community Centre, Eastholme Avenue, Belmont, commencing at 7pm.
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