MINUTES OF THE TWENTY NINTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 14TH MAY 2002 IN THE TOWN HALL AT 8.00 PM

PRESENT: Councillors G.N. St J. Penney, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: S.J.S. Bedell, J.L.V. Blundell, J.M. Carroll, B.P. Jones, C.T.E. Kinmond, J.A. Magill, J.A.J. Whittall and R.D. Wright.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies were received from Councillor E.A. Lawrence and County Councillor P. Phillips.

2. ELECTION OF MAYOR:

Cllr Blundell proposed Cllr Jones as Mayor, Cllr Whittall seconded the proposition. There being no further nominations the Council approved without division that Cllr Jones should be Mayor for the ensuing year.

The Mayor was robed and accepted the Chain of Office. She then took the Oath of Allegiance and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

3. APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR'S CHAPLAIN:

The Rev. K. Collins was unable to attend this evenings meeting, but had confirmed her willingness to be the Mayor's Chaplain for the ensuing year.

4. MAYOR'S SUNDAY:

The date of Mayor's Sunday was confirmed as Sunday 2nd June to coincide with the Golden Jubilee Celebrations. The procession will leave the Town Hall at 10.40am as in previous years, for a service at St John the Baptist Church at 11.00 a.m. On leaving the Church it is proposed to go to the Playing Field where the new gates will be formally opened before returning to the Church. The P.C.C. are organising some celebrations at the Church following the Service and it will need to be considered whether the Procession returns as normal to the Town Hall or not.

5. ELECTION OF DEPUTY MAYOR:

Cllr Wright proposed Cllr Carroll as Deputy Mayor, seconded by Cllr Kinmond. There being no further nominations the Council approved without division that Cllr Carroll be elected Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year.

6. APPOINTMENT OF CONSORT:

The Mayor had great pleasure in asking her husband, Mr David Jones to be her Consort for the ensuing year.

7. DATES AND TIMES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING YEAR:

Cllr Blundell proposed that there is no change to the frequency of Council meetings and they continue to be held every fourth Tuesday, commencing at 8.00 p.m., with additional meetings as deemed necessary by the Mayor, Seconded by Cllr Wright and approved.

8. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE ON 'FRIENDS OF BISHOP'S CASTLE LIBRARY GROUP':

The representative on the 'Friends of Bishop's Castle Library Group' is appointed annually. Cllr Lawrence, who was not present has been the Council Representative on this Group for the last three years and it was proposed that no decision is taken in her absence and that this is considered at the next Council meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

9. TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:

a) 1/02/13347/F Planning Permission for erection of a dwelling (delegated matter). Land to the rear of Shirland House, Church Street, Bishop's Castle. Cllr Blundell proposed the Council objects to this application on the grounds that the dwelling is too large for the site and too high in relation to its surroundings, seconded by Cllr Wright and approved.

b) Application for Public Entertainment Licence - The Kings Head, Church Street, Bishop's Castle. The application has been referred to a special meeting of the S.S.D.C. Licensing Panel to be held in the Community Building at the Community College at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 16th May. Cllr Magill agreed to represent the Council at this Hearing.

10. THE MAYOR'S ADDRESS:

The Mayor addressed the meeting and welcomed everyone, thanking Cllr Blundell for his kind words and Cllr Whittall for seconding the proposal. She welcomed Councillor Carroll as Deputy Mayor.

Thanks was given to a number of people who give their time to help with various matters: The clock winders, Messrs Bainbridge, Gaffney and Davies, who keep the Town Hall clock running. The mace and pike bearers and the band and all the people involved in the Mayor's Sunday Service and Parade and Remembrance Day Parade. We now have a new Town Crier, Mr Mike Shanahan, who had intended to be here tonight, but unfortunately work commitments prevented him.

It is pleasing to see that most shops in the Town are now occupied and The Railway Museum has re-opened after the disastrous fire and that the Chapel Yard Heritage Archive Centre and House on Crutches Museum are going from strength to strength.

At last years meeting there were concerns about the dangers of vehicles driving down the pavement in High Street and this seems to have been addressed by the new traffic system which appears to meet with approval, although at present it is only on a trial basis. Work on two new developments has started, on Love Lane and the final phase of Oak Meadow. The Mayor felt we need to do more for the young people in Town, they are the future of the Town and Mr Terry Hunt, Headmaster of the Community College came recently to the Annual Town Meeting to talk about this.

An Architect has been appointed for the Town Hall and a report is currently being prepared and The Mayor nominated the Town Hall Repair Fund as her Charity for the coming year

The meeting was declared closed at 8.20 p.m. when the Mayor invited every-one to join her for light refreshments in the Council Chamber.