MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2006 AT 8.OO PM.

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

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
None

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest:
Cllr. Hird declared a personal interest in item 6a as he is a customer and a friend of Bishops Moat Garage.
Cllr. Carroll declared a personal interest in item 7 as she has an allotment next to Bill Hendley.
Cllr. Gaffney declared a personal interest in item 7 as he is a member of the Wasteless Society with Bill Hendley.
Cllr. Hird declared a personal interest in item 7 as he is a Crowgate volunteer with Mr Hendley and is a committee member of BCHRC with Mary Holton.
Cllr. Hird declared a personal interest in items 8 and 9 as he is a committee member of BCHRC and knows Mr Fielding of Chapel Yard.
Cllr. Dr. Penney declared a personal interest in item 7 as he is a friend of both candidates.
Cllrs Stanley and Carroll declared personal interests in item 16 as they are members of the Christmas lights Committee.

b) Declaration of prejudicial interest:
None

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
a) Minutes of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 10th October 2006, having been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr. Dr. Penney with the following corrections. Seconded by Cllr. Wright
Item 12 should read Lydbury North Parish Council not Lydbury English Centre.
Item 19b(vi) should read excerpts not exerts
The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.

4. MATTERS ARISING - Relevant information following the last meeting.
Item 6a 1/06/18660/LB - Revised application which had to be responded to within 7 days.
Cllrs Carroll, Dr. Penney and Pinches agreed there should be no objection to the new plan as long as the step did not protrude more than 25cm. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed no objection retrospectively. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved.
Item 19 - Further information from Kemp Valley Group. To be filed until planning application received.
Item 19 - Update on letter from Mrs Daniels to Bromfield Carinthia regarding the tree felled in Billingsley Close. Bromfield Carinthia apologised saying that they were not aware it was in the conservation area. They have planted a shrub.
Previous meetings.
(i) Letter of acknowledgement from Trish Anderson - Primary Care trust
(ii) Glyn Shaw, Shropshire County Council - acknowledgement to request for roundabout at Love Lane / Brampton Road junction.
(iii) Letter from Mr D'Alesio saying grant for lighting in Union Street will not be paid until the light at the top is sorted out.
(iv) Allotments - Lease agreement is completed. Copy received with the original held at Snows.
(v) Response from the letter to the Head of the Primary School regarding walking to school routes. Mr Barker has said that he is in favour of encouraging children to walk to school and that they have a travel plan but he has not had time to study it yet.

5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK: none

6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
a) 1/06/18802/F Planning Permission (full) Erection of a 12m radio broadband monopole (delegated matter)
Moat Hill Garage, Bankshead, Bishop's Castle. Qi Comm
Cllr. Hird proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved.

b) 1/06/18804/F & 1/06/18805/CA Planning permission (full) and Conservation area consent - 1. Erection of carport and potting shed on site of existing outbuildings to be demolished. 2. Demolition of dilapidated outbuildings (delegated matter)
16-18 Church Street, Bishop's Castle. Mr J Holt
Cllr. Stanley proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Morris and approved.

c) Reports of Planning Applications.
(i) 1/06/18643/F Erection of an agricultural building for livestock and feed store: alterations to (existing) vehicular access.
O.S. Field no 8467 Bishop's Castle. N & A Coull.
Planning permission refused.
(ii) 1/06/18613/LB Listed Building Consent - Display of 2 x externally illuminated fascia signs and 1 a externally illuminated projecting sign.
Co-op food store, 63 Church Street, Bishop's Castle. CHS Retail Financial Services.
Listed Building consent granted.
(iii) 1/06/18660/LB Insertion of replacement window and a door; formation of steps.
26a High Street, Bishop's Castle. R.A. Nicholas
Listed Building Consent granted.
(iv) 1/06/18623 Grant of Certificate of lawful use or development. Bakehouse Cottage.

7. CO-OPTION OF A COUNCILLOR
Mary Holton and Bill Hendley were applicants interviewed for co-option as a Councillor. Both candidates had been interviewed previously by some Councillors. A resume of these interviews was read.
Cllr. Wright proposed a private ballot be taken. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved. Mary Holton was voted (6 votes to 5) to be co-opted onto Bishop's Castle Town Council.
8. DONATIONS
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed the following financial support be given under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.
West Shropshire Talking Newspaper - £25
Hope House Children's Hospices - £25
Marie Curie Cancer Care - £25
Relate - £25
N0 Panic - £25
House on Crutches Museum - £200
BCHRC - £200 on the assumption that charges will not be made for the storage of Town Council papers.
All seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.

9. SURFACING OF CHAPEL YARD
There was much discussion about the resurfacing of Chapel Yard with letters read from Sue and Tony Stanton-Martin who are against any work being undertaken in Chapel Yard and Evelyn Bowles on behalf of BCHRC requesting improvements to the footpath and lighting. Plans drawn up by the County Council were examined. Cllr. Carroll explained that the plans were being discussed in principal at present. It is not known how much the County Council will pay and who will pay for the rest. Cllr. Wright proposed that the path, including the area by Barclays Bank and outside the BCHRC be improved according to the plan.(shaded on plan) The remaining road should be left at present. Seconded by Cllr. Magill. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed an amendment that the path and area outside Barclays should be improved according to the plan (hatched area) but the area outside BCHRC should be considered when the safety issues raised had been investigated. Seconded by Cllr. Hird. The amendment was approved and put to the Council as the substantive motion and approved.

10 PARISH GUIDE TO THE PLANNING PROCESS 2006
The Parish Guide to the planning process has now been published. Cllr. Magill proposed the area planning officer be invited to a special meeting to introduce it. Seconded by Cllr. Stanley and approved. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that neighbouring Councils be invited . Seconded by
Cllr. Morris and approved.

11. DRAFT PLANNING ENFORCEMENT POLICY FOR SOUTH SHROPSHIRE
Cllr. Wright proposed that each Councillor receive a copy of the Draft Planning Enforcement Policy for South Shropshire. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed a monthly e-list of all enforcement cases be sent to the Clerk on a confidential basis. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.

12. DOOR TO GENTS TOILET
Cllr. Hird proposed that the outside door to the gents toilet be move to the road side of the porch. Seconded by Cllr. Pinches and approved.

13. LIGHTING OF FOOTPATHS.
Cllr. Carroll explained that there have been several requests for light on the newly tarmacced town paths. She is investigating the idea of low level LED lights which would be battery operated with solar recharge. She has been in discussion with the Wasteless society and David Woodward, project manager at the Wintles. They are hoping to put this type of light on the Wintles. The Mayor explained that in the near future she is to be given a demonstration of these lights. Councillors agreed that they would like to be contacted to enable them to join her.

14. SUGGESTED DATES FOR 2007
Council meeting Tuesday 9th January ( 5 weeks)
Council meeting Tuesday 30th January (3 weeks)
Tuesday 13th March - Annual Town Meeting
Tuesday 15th May - Annual Council Meeting (Assuming an election is held on 3rd May)
Cllr. Magill proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
Mayor's Sunday to be confirmed after the Mayor and Deputy meet with the Curate.

15. FARMERS MARKET.
a) Cllr. Wright proposed Road Closure notices (2 @ £54 each) be purchased for the Farmers Market. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved.
b) Cllr. Gaffney proposed road closure notices for Market Square for each Farmers Market until end of March. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
c) Cllr. Gaffney proposed a Temporary Events Notice for the December Market be obtained at a cost of £21. Any stalls selling alcohol will be charged an additional £10. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

16. STREET CLOSURE FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FESTIVAL
Saturday 25 November from 12.00 hrs to 22.00hrs
Church Street, High Street, Market Square from Mace/Nationwide (Union Street/Station Street crossroads) to Autolycus (junction with Salop Street) and Union Street/Welsh Street Junctions.
Saturday 25 November 17.30hrs to 18.30 hrs
Lower part of Church Street.
Cllr. Magill proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Farr and approved.

17. COMBINED NEWSLETTERS
Last meeting the idea of combining newsletters with the Lydbury newsletter was discussed. After further discussion with the Lydbury English Centre who produce the newsletter it was suggested the most practical way forward is to exchange newsletters and print pieces of interest. Councillors were concerned as the Lydbury English Centre is commercial enterprise. Cllr. Wright proposed that the Lydbury North Parish Council be consulted and if they are involved in the newsletter then be invited to meet Bishop's Castle Town Councillors to discuss the way forward. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

18. ACCOUNTS

19.REPORT OF RECENT MEETINGS ATENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
The Mayor reported on the Town Hall Renovation Partnership meeting. This was the first official meeting with members of the Town Council, Civic Society, Wasteless Society, BCHRC, SWSHAS and Sula Rayska the project manager. Sula reported that she had been in touch with John Wheatley the architect previously used who had been very helpful. She explained that she felt the way forward was to meet Chris Tomlin of the Heritage Lottery Fund who would advise the best way forward to applying for a heritage lottery grant. Ways were discussed as to how the Town Council could raise matched funding.
The Mayor reported on a meeting of the Crowgate Childcare Centre. The District Council has given them notice to quit by September 2007. The new building at the bottom of the Primary School field will cost half a million pounds with £200,000 revenue costs. The new set up will meet the Government criteria including food education, parenting, care of the child from birth etc, There will need to be a finance meeting to see how much the County Council will pay towards it.

20.CORRESPONDENCE.
(i) Copy of letter from David Woodward, Living Villages to Jake Berriman, Head of Planning South Shropshire District Council explaining the problems with the removal of the pole and lighting.
(ii) Countryside Alliance - Request to put up a card in support of the Post Office. Cllr. Gaffney felt that although Council supports the Post Offices the card is unsuitable as it advertises a political group. It was agreed to cut the bottom piece off.

b) CIRCULATION
(i) Wasteless Society Newsletter
(ii) Doorstep Greens in the West Midlands
(iii) Shropshire County NHS Strategic Service Plan
(iv) SALC - Annual report
(v) South Shropshire District Council - Standards Committee - Agenda 7th November, minutes 19th September.

20. Invoices paid for Friends of Bishop's Castle Playing Fields
Cllr. Magill proposed the playing fields accounts be noted. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 9.40 p.m.