MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL, HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 9TH JANUARY 2001 AT 8.00PM

PRESENT: Councillor P.B. Jones, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: J.L.V. Blundell, J.M. Carroll, E.A. Lawrence, J.A. Magill, G.N. St J. Penney, K.E.C. Pinches and R.D. Wright.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Received from Councillors Bedell, Kinmond, Morris and Whittall.

2. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 12th DECEMBER 2000:
Minutes of the Council Meetings held on Tuesday 12th December, having been circulated were proposed as a true record by Cllr Blundell, seconded by Cllr Penney, approved and signed by The Mayor.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None.

4. MATTERS ARISING:
Item 4.14: The Clerk has agreed to contact Mr G. Shaw to arrange a site meeting to consider traffic calming in Kerry Green and Coporation Street after the public meeting on the 12th January.
Item 4.20.a: Mr Ridgeway has acknowledged letter of 5th December and confirmed it would be reported to the Resources Cabinet Committee meeting on 20th December. A copy of the report was enclosed - TO BE CIRCULATED. County Councillor P. Phillips has advised that at this meeting a grant of £25,000 was secured for the coming year for Enterprise South West Shropshire.
Item 13: Response from Mr G. Jones, Principal Environmental Health Officer, SSDC read. The Review and Assessment process has confirmed that in general terms the air quality in this area is extremely good. The report has made clear there are no problems which give rise to any suggestion that the air quality objectives will fail to be met.
Item 20.p: Correspondence between C.C. Phillips and Mr Rutherford about gritting Welsh Street and The Cabin was read.
Item 18.a: A letter has been received from the Marches Housing Association. Investigations have been carried out and they confirm there appears to be no evidence that the tenant is behaving in an anti-social manner or breaching her tenancy agreement. Correspondence to be circulated. TO CIRCULATE
Item 15: An Office may become availabe in the Spring at Enterprise House, although plans for it have not yet been finalised. The rent would be in the region of £150 per month, inclusive of electric, heating and use of facilities plus rates at approximately £500 per annum.
Mr Ashwell has provided some information about the suggestion for the Town Council to go on-line. Cllr Dr Penney proposed that there should be no photographs or telephone numbers on the Web page, a similar decision has been made by S.S.D. Councillors. Cllr Blundell could see no objection to telephone numbers being available. Cllr Carroll proposed that the information is circulated in order that Councillors can consider and it is on the Agenda for the next meeting, seconded by Cllr Wright and approved. CIRCULATE & AGENDA NEXT MEETING
Item 18: Cllr Carroll reported that a light in the Playing Field, at the end of the footpath to Corporation Street is not working and proposed that The Clerk arranges for it to be repaired, seconded by Cllr Magill and approved.
Item 19: Carpenters Butler and Price have given a quotation of £200 to repair the upstairs window of the Town Hall. Cllr Blundell proposed they are asked to carry out the repairs, seconded by Cllr Carroll and approved.
Cllr Wright enquired about the progress of the handrail. Estimates have been sought and this will be on the Agenda for the next meeting. Cllr Blundell said that he could make a hand rail similar to the one damaged attached to the door post for the cost of the materials, probably between £35 - £40. Cllr Carroll proposed that Cllr Blundell is asked to make one, seconded by Cllr Wright and approved.

5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK: None.

6. TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
a) 1/00/11761/F Planning Permission (full) for Change of Use of dwelling C3 to Retail A1. 3, Market Square, Bishop's Castle. Ms B.E. Craig. Cllr Dr Penney proposed No Objection, seconded by Cllr Carroll and approved.
b) There were no further plans received.
c) The following Planning Reports have been received since the last meeting:
1) 1/00/11638/F Planning Permission granted and 1/00/11639/LB Listed Building Consent granted for erection of 2 dwellings (Variation to Planning Permission) Land to the rear of The Six Bells, Church Street. Ecostruct.
2) 1./00/11588/F Planning Permission for erection of a Playhouse, Trefeglwys, Station Street. Mr P. Halliday.

7. ACCOUNTS:
In addition to the accounts listed on the Agenda, the following invoices have been received:
M.E.B. Contracting Ltd. - Street Lighting Repairs - £205.63
S.C.C. - Photocopying - £40.83
Duncan Wood - Paint for Town Hall - £438.99
Cllr Blundell proposed that all accounts as presented are approved for payment, seconded by Cllr Magill and approved.

8. PRECEPT:
Cllr Carroll proposed this is dealt with at the end of the Agenda, after the discussion on item 14, seconded by Cllr Blundell and approved.

9. TRAFFIC IN HIGH STREET:
Mr Rutherford has responded to the letter about driving on the pavement in the High Street. He does not think raising the kerb height will stop vehicles mounting the footway. He pointed out that the highway authority has suggested a one way street order as a solution to this problem, but this was rejected locally. There will a Public Meeting on Friday, 12th January at the Community College at 7.30 p.m. to consider the results of the recent traffic survey carried out by S.C.C. and it is hoped that Councillors will be able to attend.
A letter from Mr R. Williams, who has a shop in the High Street was read out, highlighting the problems of parking and vehicles driving on the pavement in High Street. Cllr Pinches, also living on the High Street has also seen these problems and said that something must be done and suggested that consideration should be given to having yellow lines on one side of the street to stop parking. Cllr Magill agreed with this but also feels a one way system should be seriously considered. Cllr Carroll proposed that the Council should wait until after the meeting on the 12th before deciding what action is required and that a meeting with Mr Rutherford would be helpful to discuss the various possibilities. Seconded by Cllr Dr Penney and approved. Cllr Blundell agreed that this problem needs to be addressed urgently, but he pointed out that if a one way system together with double yellow lines on one side of the road are thought to be the most appropriate action we should satisfy ourselves that it can be enforced, otherwise we are wasting our time. Cllr Dr Penney said that parking is in the process of being decriminalised and this will mean that in future it will be policed by Traffic Wardens paid for by the District Council and Bishop's Castle may be incorporated in a scheme that the D.C. are drawing up. AGENDA NEXT MEETING

10. DANCES AT THE PUBLIC HALL:
Six letters have been received from residents of Station Street complaining of problems after dances at the Public Hall, in particular the last two dances. On 2nd December two vehicles were hit by a third vehicle which did not stop. On 16th December there was fighting inside and outside the Public Hall and after the dance a group of youths kicked the door in of No 18 Station Street, caused damage and were threatening the residents. The Police were contacted by several people and took 40 minutes to arrive on the scene. Most letters said they did not wish the dances to be stopped, but to be stewarded properly and there to be a Police presence in the Town, particularly at the end of the dances. Cllr Pinches was in attendance at the dance and said that he was satisfied that it was stewarded satisfactorily. Last year when there were problems in The Square at the week-ends we are told there would be a police presence in the Town on Friday and Saturday nights, Cllr Blundell proposed that a letter is sent to the Police asking why it took so long to attend this situation, seconded by Cllr Carroll who would like to know how many telephone complaints they had over the incident. Cllr Magill said the letters suggested there was also fighting inside the dance and if this is the case she proposed that the Public Hall Committee are asked to ban any-one fighting from future dances, seconded by Cllr Blundell and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK

11. OBSTRUCTION ON FOOTWAY - MARKET SQUARE:
Cllr Wright said that it had been brought to his attention that the scaffolding on the corner of Market Square has been up for approx 10 months with no sign of work to the building being done. The scaffolding obstructs the footway, it blocks out the street light and there is no lighting on it. Cllr Wright proposed that S.S.D.C. (Building Control/Health & Safety) and S.C.C. (Highways) are contacted and asked to investigate, seconded by Cllr Carroll and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK

12. REPORT OF MEETING OF LEISURE CENTRE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP:
Cllr Carroll attended the meeting of the Bishop's Castle Leisure Centre Joint Advisory Committee on 5th December at The Community College. The meeting was held to consider the fees for the forthcoming year, unfortunately Mr Jones advised the Group that the D.C. budget had not been agreed and the fees may increase by more than the anticipated 3%. Renovations of the swimming pool were nearly complete. Mr Thurger requested that the new fitness suite be built so that the Squash Club could have it's second court. Mr Hinves advised that it was difficult to include a new fitness suite in either the college's bid for Arts Theatre or the Sports Union bid for a new sports centre. FOR CIRCULATION

13. CORRESPONDENCE:.
a) Mr D. Preshous, Bishop's Castle Sports Union: Invitation to the A.G.M. on Thursday 25th January at the Castle Hotel at 7.30 p.m. This Group has reached a point where a vital decision has to be made as to whether this project goes ahead. Cllrs Carroll and Magill will both attend this meeting. Cllr Whittall to be advised of details. ACTION CLLRS CARROLL & MAGILL
b) West Mercia Police Authority: Annual Policing Plan and Best Value Performance Plan: A summary of the Performance Plan 1st April 2001 - 31st march 2002 has been received. Closing date for comments is 12th February. FOR CIRCULATON
c) Mrs M. Watkin: Request for a salt bin to be located near The Ridge/Woodbatch Road. The Clerk was asked to contact Mr Rutherford and at the same time point out that the salt bin by the old Library is empty and should either be filled or relocated if it is no longer required here. ACTION TOWN CLERK
d) Mrs P. Richards (New Street) e) Mrs J. Gobin (Welsh Street) f) Mrs M. Pullen (High Street): Complaints of unpleasant smell in the Town, most noticeable in Church Street. The Clerk reported that Cllr Whittall and herself had received several complaints before Christmas and had contacted Miss Rose, Environmental Health Officer, S.S.D.C. for advice. A supply of Odour Log Sheets have been supplied and any-one noticing the smell should contact either Cllr Whittall or The Clerk for a form. Miss Rose advised that where disturbances are intermittent or unpredictable, difficulty is often experienced in establishing a nuisance. To assist in the investigation people are being asked to complete the Log Sheets over the next three weeks. Cllr Blundell proposed that Severn Trent are contacted and asked about the drains in the Town, seconded by Cllr Magill and approved.
ACTION TOWN CLERK & AGENDA NEXT MEETING
g) Mrs F. Jarvis: Vehicles parking outside Mrs Jarvis' house in Salop Street often cause congestion when lorries cannot pass. She has contacted the Police about this matter and C.C. Phillips to ask if the signing at the Community College crossroads can be changed so that vehicles not needing to come into town by-pass it on the A488. A copy of Cllr Phillips letter to Mr I. Rutherford was read and the Clerk reported that Cllr Phillips has since heard that the matter of signage at both crossroads, at The Kennels and The Community College is to be look at.
h) C.C. Peter Phillips: S.C.C. are appraising requests for rural footways and will be drawing up a three year plan. Montgomery Road is on the list for consideration and Cllr. Phillip has requested that Love Lane be included. Cllr Phillips also reported that S.S.D.C. Council Tax is likely to increase by 25pence per week for the average household, which is much less than originally anticipated. Letters from Cllr Phillips had been circulated with the Agendas on the subjects of: Education Funding, urgent road repair, Unitary Authority and road damage by floods.
i) Mr Rutherford: Blocked storm drains: Arrangements will be made to have the blocked drains in Bull Lane, Market Square and High Street cleaned out, but at present S.C.C. are inundated with requests and it may take some time before the work is done.

14. FORWARD PLANNING & BUDGETING:
Cllr Lawrence feels that the Council should be more organised in terms of Future Planning and perhaps produce a Management Plan setting out the priorities and budget accordingly. It was felt that traffic issues must be the priority, with all Councillors agreeing this must be the priority, closely followed by improving street lighting. Following consideration and discussion it was felt that the priorities should be: 1) Traffic issues 2) Street Lighting 3) Playing Field (safety surfacing/skate boarding area) 4) Town Hall (generally improving the facilities, possibly creating an office, updating computer etc.) 5) Sports Centre/Arts Centre (not financial, but active moral support) 6) Care and enhancement of Town Centre footpaths.

8. PRECEPT:
A copy of the Income & Expenditure Account for 1999/2000, Balance Sheet @ 31.3.00, Receipts & Payments Summary and Supporting Statement, as approved by the Auditor were circulated with the Agenda. Issued at the meeting were copies of: Financial Statement at 9.1.01, details of actual money spent to 31.12.00 with a forecast of expenditure to 31.3.01 and details of actual income to 31.12.00, with an estimate of income to 31.3.01. Following consideration of these figures Cllr Dr Penney felt that there will be a considerable increase by S.S.D.C. and the increase in the precept should be kept as low as possible. Cllr Blundell said that without a considerable increase this Council will not be able to afford for safety surfacing in the Playing Field or improve the lighting in Kerry Lane and proposed a precept of £32,000, on the understanding that safety surfacing in the Playing Field is a priority, seconded by Cllr Lawrence. Cllr Dr Penney proposed an increase to £24,000, seconded by Cllr Pinches. The proposition was approved 5 votes to 2 votes.

The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.