MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 8th NOVEMBER 2005 AT 8.OO PM.

PRESENT Councillor J.M. Carroll, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: J. Blundell, M. Davidson - Stanley, R. A. Evans, J.E. Gaffney, N. Hird, J.A. Magill, Dr. G.N.St.J. Penney, K.E.C. Pinches and R.D. Wright.
In attendance: Mrs. J. Ince, Town Clerk.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from Cllr. Farr.
Cllr. Morris, Cllr. Magill would be late

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest:
Cllr. Dr. Penney declared a personal interest in item 10 as he is involved with the Old Castle Land Trust.
Cllr. Blundell declared a personal interest in item 7 as he is safety officer for the Michaelmas fair.
Cllr. Carroll declared a personal interest in item 16 as she is known publicly to be in favour of allotments.
Cllrs. Carroll, Davidson - Stanley and Gaffney declared personal interests in item 14 as they are on the Christmas Lights Committee.

b) Declaration of prejudicial interest:
Cllr. Davidson-Stanley declared a prejudicial interest in item 8 as her property is adjacent to the Town Hall.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
a) Minutes of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 11th October 2005, having been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr. Blundell with the following corrections. Seconded by
Cllr. Dr. Penney.
Before item 7 insert "Cllr. Wright proposed the public be allowed to speak. Seconded by
Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved."
Add to item 2a "Cllr. Hird declared a personal interest in item 8 as he is a fundraiser."
The last line should read "The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 10.10 pm."
The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.

4. MATTERS ARISING
Item 4 (Item 10) Letter from Glyn Shaw, Shropshire County Council, Senior Traffic Engineer explaining about the restrictions in using "slow children crossing" signs and offering to come out for a site meeting. Also a copy of a letter from Cllr. Peter Phillips to Mr Shaw asking if there are any "legals" preventing what the Town Council wishes to do. Cllr. Gaffney proposed a further letter be sent to Mr Shaw asking him to put up the signs as they are seen all over the Country. Also to say that a site meeting would waste everyone's time and was not necessary. Seconded by
Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved. It was suggested by Cllr. Dr.Penney that there be a delay before the letter is sent for people to look for an example of these signs locally. ACTION TOWN CLERK
Item 8 - A payment of £20 317.54 has been received from the Countryside Agency as a grant for the playing fields.

Item 9 - A copy of a letter from the Friends of the Playing Fields to Mrs Allwood has been received offering to raise the fencing around the play area on her side.

Item 13 - Reply from Penny Spencer, Corporate Director at Shropshire County Council regarding the improvements to pavements and highways scheme. She has asked Chris Edwards, Highways Network Manager to bring forward a revised scheme and a timetable for implementation.

Item 17 - The Clerk reported that the cupboard under the stairs had been cleared by there is a thick layer of compacted coal on the floor. This needs a skip or a person with a trailer to clear it. The cost of a skip is £82. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that the Mayor and the Clerk make a decision as to the best way forward. Seconded by Cllr. Davidson-Stanley and approved.

Item 20 - e-mail from George Stoyan regarding commercial vehicles in Oak Meadow. Mr Stoyan suggests it is daytime and they are vehicles of heating and electric installation workers. The Clerk has replied that she is referring to vehicles parked day and night owned by local residents.

Cllr. Carroll reported back on the Land at Oak Meadow, an item on a previous agenda. John Bryan from Property Services, South Shropshire District Council had reported that it has been agreed to culvert the stream and to hand over the land to the Town Council to manage with a grant of £200. Professor Pahl would be granted a license for pedestrian access for a sum of £10 per year. The Town Council to organize the license when the land had been handed over.

5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK:
Joan Grant spoke as Chair of the Bishop's Castle branch of the Royal British Legion. She said they were very much against the knocking down of the community room, a room used by themselves and many other groups. They were also very worried about the noise caused by increased traffic. On a personal note she stated that there was a need for local affordable housing but felt that everyone should try to think of another way round.

6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
a) 1/05/17600/F Planning permission (Full) Erection of 20 dwellings, formation of access road and associated works (Community Centre adjoining No 21 Grange Road to be partly demolished) (Committee matter)
Land adjoining Grange Road, Bishop's Castle. South Shropshire Housing Association
Cllr. Blundell proposed that the public be allowed to speak. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved. Mr Hatfield of Grange Road spoke. He pointed out that at the previous planning meeting it had been said that it was too expensive to upgrade Church Road as an access for the proposed affordable housing. He felt that knocking down the Community room and installing the access in Grange Road would be much more expensive. He felt the plan was to build more houses in the future. He also stated that the Wardens house was too small to convert into a Community room. Cllr. Dr. Penney confirmed that the Wardens house was too small.
Mr Jackson spoke and made the following points.
The overall residential development was to be to the west of the High Street.
Kerry Lane is a major traffic hazard.
Bishop's Castle attraction is that it is a contained town. The proposed residential development will be visible from the top of the Town.
A letter was then read from Tracy Magill on behalf of Bishop's Castle Fire Station stating that there was a need for affordable housing in Bishop's Castle to keep young professionals in the Town. Because of the lack of housing young people were moving away where salaries were higher therefore it is difficult to recruit for the Fire Service.
Cllr. Gaffney said that he is a great believer in affordable housing but believes that these plans bring the affordable housing policy into disrepute by the size of the scale. An affordable site should be 6-10 houses. He proposed an objection to the plan on the following grounds.
(i) The original objections have not been met.
(ii)The Community room is will still be lost. The alternative of the warden's house is not adequate.
(iii) There would be a severe traffic problem.
(iv) Too many houses on one site.
(v) The cost of providing an access via Church road could not be greater than the cost of demolishing the community room, converting the warden's house and providing the access shown on the plan.
(vi) The houses would be visible from the top of Town. Seconded by Cllr. Wright.
Cllr. Dr. Penney commented that he felt a lovely calm road for elderly people would be ruined.
Cllr. Carroll then made the following points.
(i) George Stoyan from the South Shropshire Housing Association had been invited to the meeting but could not come due to previous commitments. He had communicated with the Mayor to explain that he was putting in a revised plan, converting the warden's house to a community room.
(ii) Affordable housing was the top priority on the Parish Plan.
(iii) Council should recognize the need to keep young people in the Town.
Mrs Hatfield then spoke asking what would happen while the conversion of the wardens house was going on.
The proposition was put to the Council and approved.
Cllr. Gaffney commented that it should be made more public that farmers can receive up to ten times the price of agricultural land for land used for affordable housing.

b) Reports of Planning Applications.
(i) 1/05/17518/F Refurbishment and conversion of existing two storey building to form annexe.
The Limes, Church Street, Bishop's Castle. Mr. B. Evans.
Planning permission granted.

(ii) 1/05/17432/TC Felling of an ash tree.
The Porch House, 33-35 High Street, Bishop's Castle. Mr. J. Lucas.
Tree preservation consent granted.

(iii) 1/05/17407/TC Felling of 1 x laburnum and 1 x fir.
2 Church Lane, Bishop's Castle. Mr C. Pritchard.
Tree preservation consent granted.
(iv) 1/05/17353/F Erection of an extension to residential care home accomodation.
The Grange Residential Care Home, Kerry Lane, Bishop's Castle. G. Tilling.
Planning permission granted.
7. MICHAELMAS FAIR.
Letters from R.F.Williams and A.Hemmings and L.Heasman have been circulated regarding the Michaelmas fair. Robert Gwythers comments from the last meeting to be considered.
Cllr. Davidson - Stanley explained that the letter referred to by Mr Williams was a letter that she had written to the Journal as an individual not as a Councillor. It Councillors felt it was not right for a Councillor to express their opinion in this way she was willing to resign. Cllr. Carroll said she felt that what Cllr. Davidson-Stanley had done was quite proper and that there was no need to resign.
Cllr. Wright felt that the letters should have been written to the Michaelmas Fair Committee with a copy to the Town Council. Cllr. Carroll proposed that a letter be sent to the Festivals Officer asking that festivals ensure that they adhere to the times stated on the closure order and that drivers realise that outside these times they can drive into and park in the town. Seconded by
Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK

8. THE TOWN HALL - WAY FORWARD WITH RESTORATION PROJECT
(a) Report on meeting with David Dickinson - architect. Mr Dickinson has submitted a costing sheet for overseeing the work on the roof, window and sandstone mouldings. The total fee for 142 hours work would be £5680. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that Mr Dickinson be appointed on these terms. Seconded by Cllr. Blundell and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK
(b) Report on meeting with Sue Cooper. Cllr. Carroll reported on the meeting with Sue Cooper who suggested that a Project Planning Grant should be applied for. She was willing to lead assist the Council in this application but she did not have time to help further. She explained there were three possible ways to organise this.
(i) Form a sub-committee of the Council.
(ii) Invite the Civic Society, SWSHAS, Bishop's Castle Heritage Resource Centre and other interested parties to form a partnership.
(iii) Hold a public meeting for anyone interested and then set up a group.
Cllr. Carroll proposed that the seconded option be taken. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved. Cllr. Blundell asked it the final decisions would rest with Council. The Mayor confirmed that it would.
.
9. VACANCY ON THE PLAYING FIELDS WORKING PARTY
Resignation of Cllr. Pinches
Cllr. Evans volunteered to become a member of the Playing Fields Working Party.

Cllr. Gaffney proposed that Item 12 be moved forward. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved. Cllr. Wright proposed that the public have permission to speak. Seconded by
Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

12. STONE HOUSE - FUTURE PLANS
Jackie Ingham, Project Manager, Coverage Care was unable to attend due to ill health but on her behalf the Mayor read her report on the Feasibility Study to explore the redevelopment of services on the Stone House site. This is available on request from the Clerk.
Cllr. Carroll explained there would be a public meeting in December at the Public Hall.
The following concerns were expressed by Councillors.
(i) Will it remain an 18 bed hospital.?
(ii) Will there be hospital beds in a ward environment?
(iii) Will it be staffed by qualified nurses and doctors?
(iv) Although current staff, both nursing and ancillary, have to be paid their current PCT rates will they eventually be replaced by staff paid at the lower Coverage Care rates.
(v) Will all current services and facilities be retained.
Cllr. Hird advised that Coverage Care is not a charity or a trust but a Friendly Society. He has asked for their accounts but not yet received them.
Cllr. Wright advised that although Stone House will not be able to call itself a hospital it can act as a hospital.
Carol Griffiths an administrator from Stone House Hospital spoke. She advised that Stone House was the most cost effective and reliable of the four community hospitals. If the change to Coverage Care does not happen then the hospital will close but she feels the fight should be to keep hospital type beds in a ward environment and to keep the 18 beds which are at present always full.
Cllr. Davidson-Stanley asked Ms Griffiths if the hospital needed modernising. Ms Griffiths agreed it did.
Cllr. Carroll proposed that Jackie Ingham be invited at attend a meeting after Christmas. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK

10. CONSIDERATIONS OF APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
It was resolved that the following donations should be made under Section 137 of the Local Government Act.
(i) House on Crutches Museum. - £200
(ii) Bishop's Castle Heritage Resource Centre - £200
(iii) West Shropshire Talking Newspapers - - £25
(v) Hope House Children's Hospices - £25
(ix) Dial a Ride - £250
(x) Old Castle Land Trust - £400
Cllr. Blundell proposed the above are all awarded with the same conditions as last year. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved.
(iv) Cllr. Gaffney proposed that the South Shropshire Furniture Scheme be awarded £25 and a letter sent asking about their work in Bishop's Castle. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
(vi) Cllr. Davidson-Stanley proposed a donation of £25 be given to Relate. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
(vii) Cllr. Gaffney proposed a donation of £100 be given to the Severn Hospice. Seconded by Cllr. Davidson-Stanley and approved.
(viii) Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed no donation be given to Shropshire Peer Counselling and Advocacy Services. Seconded by Cllr. Blundell and approved.
11. SHROPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL CHILDREN'S INFORMATION SERVICE.
Request to provide details of any community groups which may not be aware of their services.
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed a letter be sent to the Children's Information Service asking who they do know about. Seconded by Cllr. Blundell and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK

13. THE PINES, BISHOP'S CASTLE - FUTURE PLANS
Cllr. Dr. Penney explained that he was a trustee and that the Pines had to be sold because of increasing losses. The Clerk reported that she had spoken to Norman Stott, Chair of the Pines Trust. He had explained that over the last 3-4 years there had been increasing losses due to increased competition. This was partly due to the DDA enabling disabled people taking holidays with mainstream providers. The Pines will cease operations on 31/12/05. There will be intensive discussion with South Shropshire District Council and the Walker Trust, both of whom provided finance initially. Decisions will be made as to how to proceed to obtain the maximum proceeds for the benefit of other charitable needs. When a plan is formed it will have to be approved by the Charity Commission. It may be sold on the open market or it may be sold to another charity. It may even be transferred to another charity. If it is sold on the open market it will be up to the SSDC planning department what happens to it. Nothing can be decided until after the end of December 2005.

14. STREET CLOSURE ORDERS
(a) Remembrance Sunday Parade - Sunday 13th November 2005
High Street and Chrurch Street. !0.40 am to 11.00 am and 11.55 am to 12.15pm
(b) Christmas Lights Festival - Saturday 26th November.
Church Street, High Street, Market Square and Salop St. 2.00 pm to 11.00 pm.
Harley Jenkins St - 12.00pm to 3.00 pm.
Cllr. Gaffney proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Pinches and approved.

15. MOVEMENT OF LORRIES TO THE CO-OP, CHURCH STREET
Concern has been express regarding the length of lorries delivering to the Co-op in Church St. A letter of concern from Cathy Batson was read.
Cllr. Davidson-Stanley proposed a letter be sent to the Transport Manager at the Co-op depot asking them to ensure that all drivers are aware of the most suitable route into town. Seconded by Cllr. Blundell and approved.

16. ACRE OF LAND AT CROWGATE.
Cllr. Carroll reported that there were no other suggestions for the community use of an acre of land but there had been 9 requests for allotments. The South Shropshire District Council had agreed to the request for an acre of land but on a 7.5 year lease. The County Council had imposed a break clause of 6 months. Cllr. Carroll explained that under the allotment act the Town Council was obliged to provide allotments if there were more than 6 requests. Cllr. Gaffney proposed that a letter be sent to the Cabinet of the County Council requesting them to remove the break clause to enable the land to be used for allotments. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

17. 11 WELSH STREET
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that a letter be sent to Mr Robinson of 11 Welsh Street asking him to repair his gutter as it could be a danger to passers by. The letter should explain that if it is not repaired the Town Council will have an obligation to report it to the District Council.
Seconded by Cllr. Blundell and approved.

18. FOOTPATH IN MONTGOMERY ROAD
Cllr. Carroll explained that there seemed to be enough verge on the houses side of Montgomery Road from Castle Mynd down to the houses in Castle Green to form a footpath. Cllr. Davidson Stanley proposed that the Shropshire County Council be asked to strim the grass and tidy the area so that it could be walked. Also a letter should be sent to residents in this stretch of Montgomery Road asking them what they would like done as a footpath in the long term. Seconded by
Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

19. CULVERT IN WELSH STREET.
The owner of this land has now been traced and is Sharmin Aria Cory of 4 Welsh Street.
Cllr. Blundell proposed that a letter be sent to Ms Cory asking her to arrange for this piece of land to be maintained. The Town Council could, on payment of a sum to be negotiated, deal with the matter on her behalf. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

20. NEWSLETTER
Cllr. Gaffney proposed no objection to an article in the Newsletter asking for Volunteers for the "Home from Hospital" service run by Age Concern. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

21. LITTER IN THE PLAYING FIELDS.
Should the Street Cleaner be offered extra hours for collecting the extra litter in the playing field.
Cllr. Blundell proposed no action at present until all the bins are in place. Seconded by
Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved with Cllr. Davidson-Stanley voting against.

Cllr. Wright proposed the meeting be extended for 5 minutes. Seconded by Cllr. Davidson-Stanley and approved.

22. ACCOUNTS. -
It was proposed by Cllr. Blundell that the following accounts are all accepted. Seconded by Cllr. Davidson-Stanley and approved.

23. Report of recent meetings attended by Council representatives. - none

24. Correspondence.
a) (i) Letter from Cathy Batson regarding the planning application notices. To be circulated.
(ii) Letter from Cllr. Carroll on behalf of the Christmas Lights Committee asking for free use of the Town hall, including electricity on Saturday 26th November and requesting the Mayor switch on the Christmas lights. Cllr. Gaffney proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Blundell and approved

b) For circulation
(i) Shropshire Ambulance Service - serving your Community
(ii) West Mercia Police Authority Police Service Restructuring
(iii) South Shropshire Matters
(iv) Shropshire County Council annual performance report.
(v) South Shropshire Access Group - Minutes of AGM on Tuesday 9th Nov. 2004.
(vi) Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Annual Review 2004-5.
(vii) Salopian Recorder.
(VIII) South West Shropshire Community Forum - Minutes of AGM held on 10th October 2005.
(ix) SSDC Standards Committee - Agenda 9th November 2005 and minutes of Tuesday 13th September.

The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 10.05 p.m.

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