Parish council meeting
March 14 2006
Belmont Community Centre
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BELMONT
RURAL PARISH COUNCIL INFO Parish council meeting March 14 2006 Belmont Community Centre |
Mar06 |
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Present: Mrs. V. Robinson
(in the Chair) In attendance: Mrs.
E. Kelso Clerk Apologies: Mr. I.
Robinson
Mrs. V. Gummer declared an interest in agenda item 12 (Minute 28/06) as a member of the South Wye Community Centre Management Committee.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 24th January had been previously circulated. It was agreed that the Chairman be authorised to sign the Minutes as an accurate record of proceedings at that meeting. 19/06 Matters arising (a) Road Safety Signs These have now been finally installed, together with the Parish Map signs. On reflection one of the Parish Map signs was felt not to be in the most appropriate place and Councillor Phil Edwards volunteered to move it. (b) Tesco The letter from Tesco has been circulated and comments made by a number of Councillors. The Clerk will draft a suitable response in consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman. (c) Bank Account Clerk was disappointed to find that when Councillor Cook attended Royal Bank of Scotland to provide evidence of identity, bank officials seemed unaware of the mandate change. After a formal complaint, RBS has apologised and now registered the new Mandate. (d) Westholme Road Street Sign Now completed. (e) Lorry activity/road surface Sydwall Road The Clerk has had an exchange of correspondence with the Planning Department regarding activity at Barwood House and it has been confirmed that Development Control actively pursuing enforcement of planning controls with regard to this property. (f) Youth Work No report was available for this meeting. However, Councillor Brian Hubbard advised that he had spoken with Belmont Abbey personnel and been advised that they would consider a request for a youth group to use the former school playing field. The Clerk was instructed to pass this on to Sarah Melia. (g) South Wye Foundation Ltd. Copy of invoice for legal work in connection with the negotiation of the lease for Northolme Road building has now been received. (h) Heart Start Training Councillor Beryl Brown has been in touch with Heart Start and has arranged for a training session to take place on 6th June. Further details will be available at the next meeting. (i) Telephone The Clerk confirmed that the new telephone has been purchased and is now in use. (j) Litter Pick Equipment As agreed at the last meeting, four litter pickers have been ordered and delivery is awaited. (k) Road Surface – Belmont Road Letter has been sent to Highways Agency as instructed but no response to date. (l) Pavement/road repairs Reported to Herefordshire Council as instructed. Highways Department to survey and repair as thought necessary. (m) Removal of Hedgerow – Dorchester Way Reported to Herefordshire Council Planning Services who are to investigate. (n) Swing seats in Children’s Play Area Parks and Countryside Services has indicated that they are unwilling to change infant swing seats for existing junior swings as the frames used for infant swings are shorter than those for the existing junior swings. This means that the entire unit would require replacing. Secondly, there is generally a greater demand for facilities for the over 3s (i.e. junior seats) than for infant seats because of the larger age range that the junior seats serve. (o) Footpath CH7 As reported at the last meeting this path was closed for a period but has now reopened.
(a) Local incidents Acting Insp. Jim Mclaughlin opened the discussion by inviting comments from members of the public on policing issues locally. The following items were raised: · Councillor Brian Hubbard outlined an incident when he had chased and stopped a child who had thrown a bottle, and asked if his actions were correct. Acting Insp. Mclaughlin advised caution when dealing with children and suggested a telephone call to the police to report the incident might avoid any potential misunderstanding. · Concern was expressed at delays in responding to reported incidents so that offenders are able to avoid being caught. · It was noted that three vehicles have been parking in Abbotsmead Road, one of which is a milk float. Concern was expressed that the movement of these vehicles was disturbing local residents and the location where parked could be hazardous. Acting Insp. Mclaughlin suggested passing on the vehicle registration numbers to the police for checking. · In his role as neighbourhood watch co-ordinator, Councillor Phil Edwards reported on incidents of damage to fencing and trees in the Whitefriars Road and Sydwall Road areas, and a damaged car windscreen in Chichester Close. · It was also noted that several items of electrical equipment have been recovered in the area. (b) Changes in local policing Inspector Peter Gebbie explained the background to changes in local policing which will result in the local beat manager PC Andy Larkin moving to another area and PC Paul Greenwood covering the Belmont area as well as Newton Farm and Belmont with 3 Community Support Officers. These changes have been brought about as a result of changes in policy for local policing which will see the number of beat managers locally reducing from 32 to 20 and the number of community support officers increasing within the region from 15 to 50. In response to a question regarding the powers of CSOs, it was noted that extended powers were being considered locally. The local policing policy also envisages a greater degree of partnership working between the police and the local community with monthly local “partners and communities” meetings to discuss local policing issues. (c) Designated no alcohol areas Mr. David Nicholas from Herefordshire Council’s Environmental Health and Trading Standards Office explained the proposal to set up specific areas where it will become an offence to drink alcohol in public. Aimed at reducing anti social behaviour and under age drinking, the current proposals outline four areas south of the River Wye as “no alcohol” areas. A 28 day period of public consultation would shortly take place when Parish Councillors could express their views on the proposals. Letters would go out within the next day or so and responses requested no later than 7th April. Councillor Phil Edwards expressed concern that although the area immediately surrounding Belmont Community Centre was included in the designated areas, the land around the Northolme Community Building, where there have been several reported instances of under age drinking and anti social behaviour, is not included. There was particular concern that problem areas will simply be moved to currently quiet areas in response to the local ban.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting for a brief period of public participation. Other than items raised earlier, there were no additional items raised. 22/06 Correspondence A number of routine items had been circulated to Members since the last meeting, including the following: (a) Herefordshire Council’s draft statement of community involvement. Copies of the questionnaire on the two documents circulated were provided and two Members completed questionnaires. A response was drafted on behalf of the Parish Council based upon these responses and is available for inspection by Members if required. (b) Councillor Brian Hubbard provided a summary of a training session he attended on the subject of public footpaths. Members approved Councillor Hubbard’s attendance at the seminar on behalf of the Parish Council.
(a) Payments Authorisation was given to make the following payments: South Wye Community
Association South Wye Community
Association Mrs. E. Kelso Inland Revenue Petty cash reimbursement £32.49
A payment of £250 has been received from the Inland Revenue being a grant payment as a result of successfully filing the 2004/5 Employers Annual Return online. Members thanked the Clerk for obtaining this grant. Current account:
£871.55
(a) Applications received since the last meeting The following application has been received since the last meeting: Ref: DCCW2006/0073/F (b) Observations passed to Herefordshire Council since the last meeting None. (c) Notification of planning decisions Other than that noted above, notification has been received that the following application has been withdrawn: Ref: DCCW2005/3845/F (d) Other planning matters (i) Planning Inspector has now determined the appeal by Tesco Stores (Ref: DCCW2004/2611/F) relating to the variation of condition 10 in planning permission ref. CW2001/1848/F to permit one delivery of petrol on a Sunday, in favour of Tesco. Councillor Phil Edwards and Councillor Brian Hubbard attending the appeal hearing on behalf of the Parish Council. District Councillor Glenda Powell also attended in support of the Parish Council. (ii) Councillor Veronica Robinson reported on a meeting she had attended on behalf of the Parish Council, on public consultation as part of the planning process. She noted that many participants reported insufficient time for observations to be passed to the planning authority. It was noted that planning applications are now available online and it was suggested that HALC organise training for parish clerks and councillors in obtaining planning information online.
A written report from Northolme Community Centre Assocation had been previously circulated to members and was noted.
Councillor Brian Hubbard reported that he felt that it would not be appropriate to hold a Front Garden Competition this year. It was agreed that this would be considered again in 2007.
A report from the working party meeting had been circulated to members suggesting that a summer event be held on Saturday 17th June adjacent to Northolme Community Building with the following aims: · To publicise
the work of the Parish Council in the preceeding year After some discussion on possible sponsorship from local businesses, it was unanimously agreed to hold the summer event on Saturday 17th June 2006 as outlined by the working party report. It was further unanimously agreed that the sum of £1,000 be put towards the cost of this event by the Parish Council. The working party was authorised to make the necessary arrangements and to enter into contracts on behalf of the Parish Council in connection with this event. Finally, Councillor David Cook volunteered to join the working party group.
Councillor Veronica Gummer declared an interest in this agenda item and left the room during discussions. An application for a maximum sum of £1,500.00 to cover the cost of carpeting room 1 at Belmont Community Centre had been received and circulated to members. In discussing the application, Members commented that other community centres had not carpeted their main room and they felt carpeting might restrict use of the room. However, it was acknowledged that this was a decision for the Management Committee of the South Wye Community Association. After some discussion, it was unanimously agreed not to agree to this request for funding in this instance. The Clerk was instructed to notify the applicant accordingly. 29/06 Application for funding – Citizens Advice Bureaux An application had been received from Citizens Advice Bureaux requesting a donation towards the cost of running the CAB service in Herefordshire. It was noted that a similar request had been agreed to last year. After a brief discussion, it was unanimously agreed that a donation of £100 be given to the Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Clerk was instructed to make the necessary arrangements.
(a) Councillor Brian Hubbard that a loose kerb stone reported last August had not yet been repaired. He will confirm the exact location and the Clerk will check when repair is to be made. (b) Councillor Brian Hubbard expressed concern at the damage to grass verges caused by vehicles parked on the verge. Of particular concern was the grass verge outside numbers 3, 5, 7 and 9 Dorchester Way where it was noted in the past that vehicles parked on the road at this location would create a considerable hazard. Damage to the grassed areas has also occurred in Forde Lane, Wyedean Rise and Deerhurst Drive as a result of vehicles parking there. With regard to the Dorchester Way land, it was agreed that the Clerk discuss options with Herefordshire Council with emphasis on the need to protect pedestrians but also maintain the environment. If parking on the pavement is not permitted, there must be adequate sanctions against those to do so. (c) Councillor Hubbard again raised the issue of the mini roundabout between the Tesco petrol station and main store, and whether this is to be landscaped. As it is not clear who owns this roundabout or is responsible for maintaining it, Councillor Phil Edwards agreed to investigate further. (d) Councillor Phil Edwards reported on his work as District Councillor, including: · Pressing
Tesco nationally to encourage recycling (e) Councillor Ron Loft reported that following his letters, written as an individual, regarding the mud on the road in Sydwall Road and Whitefriars Road, he has now received replies although he felt the replies were not particularly helpful. (f) It was agreed
that the presentation of papers for each meeting in folders which has
recently been adopted by the Clerk was helpful and should be continued.
The Clerk noted that there was a small cost implication to using the folders
and suggested that Members returned folders (and the papers for shredding)
when they have finished with them, to be reused. 31/06 Annual meeting(s) It was unanimously agreed that the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual Parish Council meeting be held on Tuesday 2nd May 2006 at Belmont Community Centre, Eastholme Avenue, Belmont. The Annual Parish Meeting will follow the format of last year and commence at 6.30pm. This will be followed by the Annual Parish Council meeting at approximately 7.00pm. The Clerk reminded members that Councillor Ian Robinson had expressed a desire not be remain as Chairman and Members were therefore invited to consider a suitable replacement.
During the final period of public participation, Mr. Roderick Robinson invited Members and members of the public to visit the new community website which has been redesigned.
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