MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 18TH JULY 2006 AT 8.OO PM.

PRESENT Councillor J.M. Carroll, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: M. Davidson - Stanley, R. A. Evans, S.A. Farr, 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. L. Farr

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from Cllr. Morris, Cllr. Blundell

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest:
Cllr Stanley declared a personal interest in item 6a as she is a friend of the applicant.
Cllr Stanley declared a personal interest in item 13 as she is secretary of the BC Christmas lights festival.
Cllr Carroll declared a personal interest in item 13 as she is chairman of the Christmas lights festival.
Cllr. Hird declared a personal interest in items 6a and 6c as he own property in Welsh Street.
Cllr. Hird declared a personal interest in item 10 as he is campaigning for a NHS hospital.
Cllr. Hird declard a personal interest in item 10 as he is a member of the Wasteless Society
Cllr. Gaffney declared a personal interest in items 10 and 12 as he is a member of the Wasteless Society.
Cllr. Gaffney declared a personal interest in item 8 as he is involved in Charter 88.

b) Declaration of prejudicial interest:
Cllr. Dr. Penney declared a prejudicial interest in item 6b as he owns property in the vicinity.
Cllr. Magill declared a prejudicial interest in item 6c as she is a cousin of the applicant.
Cllr. Stanley declared a prejudicial interest in item 11 as she owns the building attached to the Town Hall.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Minutes of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 20TH July 2006, having been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr. Dr. Penney with the following corrections. Seconded by
Cllr. Gaffney.
(i) Item 4 Typing error, should read, "Reply from Hall's saying land behind the Boars Head could not be used as a car park. (Not Boers Head)
(ii) Item 11 regarding the May Fair rents, should read, "Cllr. Hird proposed another four year lease with at least a £25 a year rise in rents"
(iii) Item 17 should read …. Cllr Wright gave a précis of the document. He said it was not relevant to Bishops Castle at present except that there could be the possibility of a 20 MPH speed limit within main shopping roads."
The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.

4. MATTERS ARISING
(i) Response to Core Strategy Issues and Options Paper, SSDC will keep the council informed.
(ii) Closure of Post Office Accounts. The Post Office card account could be abolished in 2010. After that pensioners and others receiving benefits will have to open a bank account. Cllr Gaffney suggested we wait to hear from our local post-mistress on the on-going situation.
(iii) Letter from our insurance company advising that the council has received £840.78 for the vandalism to the Lampposts in the Playing Fields.
(iv) Letter from Chris Evans regarding the drainage issue in Church Lane. He is happy to complete the form but is concerned there will be an overwhelming amount of correspondence over a long period of time. He is prepared to deal with this if the Town Council will give him assistance and support and if necessary take over.

5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK: The following spoke on item 7 Stone
House Hospital.
Mary Holton
Mrs Holton does not want Coverage Care to take over the hospital. There is a house for sale currently on the site, possibly this could be used as part of the renovations. She very much hopes there are alternatives.

Mr Owen - Hopton Heath
Mr Owen said his wife is a staff nurse at the hospital and he complained about the way the staff had been treated, he does not want Stone House hospital to close. He went on to say that the amount of money spent on the SpArC project is ludicrous in comparison, he said Shrewsbury hospital was in crisis and we need the Town Council to support the staff and hospital.

Mrs Paula Middleton
Mrs Middleton spoke about alternatives to the Coverage Care proposition and said she had attended a meeting where she had learnt that consultants from SSDC were working on various alternatives and she very much hoped that the Stone House Hospital would remain.

Cllr Dr Penney proposed that item 7 be moved forward and discussed now. Seconded by
Cllr Hird and approved.

7. STONE HOUSE HOSPITAL.
Cllr Jane Carroll said we were offered a complete package by Coverage Care, which would include people being nursed in their own homes in addition to the services already provided by Stone House Hospital.
General discussion took place where Cllr Dr. Penney talked about bed numbers, occupancy and anomalies re: statistics and validity of figures from Coverage Care. Reductions in nurse's salaries were discussed.
Cllr Hird went on to say that it must go to a 24-bed hospital and he believed Coverage Care could not provide the promised services.
Cllr Wright agreed that the 15th June meeting was not satisfactory, he was in favour of Coverage Care as a non-profit company but he agreed with Mr Owen from Hopton Heath and the comments he had made regarding nursing staff. He suggested that the Friends of Stone House remain vigilant and encourage them to report back to the Town Council.
Cllr Gaffney proposed that letters should be sent to the Primary Care Trust and the Health Overview Scrutiny, Shropshire County Council saying that the Town Council and all residents value the continuation of hospital services. The level of care, number of beds and any reduction of this number need to be safeguarded. It needs to be ensured that the conditions of service, staffing and salaries stay as they are with the NHS and these will apply to any future recruitment.
Seconded by Cllr Dr. Penney but to include that there will be one-month deferment so consultation can take place. The motion was carried. ACTION TOWN CLERK

6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
a) 1/06/18359/LB Listed Building Consent. Installation of a velux roof window (delegated matter)
2 Moat House, Welsh Street, Bishop's Castle.
Cllr. Wright proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Penney and approved.

Cllr. Dr. Penney left the room.
b) 1/06/18382/F Planning Permission (Full) Erection of 4 dwellings (Plots 18, 19, 32 and 33 - Revised scheme.
The Wintles, Bishop's Castle. Living Villages (BC) Ltd.
Cllr Carroll proposed no objection and Seconded Cllr Wright and approved.
Cllr Dr. Penney returned

Cllr. Magill left the room
c) 1/06/18409/LB Listed Building Consent. Installation of 3 no. roof lights (delegated matter).
4 - 6 Welsh Street, Bishop's Castle. Mrs J Slavin.
Cllr Gaffney proposed no objection, seconded Cllr Wright and approved.
Cllr. Magill returned.

d) Reports of Planning Applications.
1/06/18203/F Erection of 8 dwellings (plots 14-17 inc and 20, 21, 23 and 27) (revised design)
The Wintles, Bishop's Castle. Living Villages (BC) Ltd.
Planning permission granted.
There was a discussion re affordable housing, Cllr Dr. Penney proposed a letter be sent to the planning officer to invite him to the September meeting. Seconded by Cllr Magill and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK

8. CHARTER 88 - CAMPAIGN FOR A MODERN AND FAIR DEMOCRACY - EMPOWERING CITIZENS AND LOCAL COUNCILS.
a) Council is asked to pass a resolution of support for this campaign.
b) Council is asked to send the enclosed letter of support to our MP.
Cllr. Gaffney proposed a resolution of support for this campaign be passed a the enclosed letter of support sent to our M.P. Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK

9. CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AND ENVIRONMENT ACT 2005.
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed this item be discussed at the August meeting. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved. NEXT AGENDA

10. AMENITY SKIP FACILITY AT CROWGATE.
Letter from Graham Hemmings regarding its future. A general discussion took place but no decision was reached the skip facilities are safe until the end of the financial year. We will then be informed of any changes.

Cllr. Stanley left the room.
11. TOWN HALL RESTORATION.
Report on meeting by the Mayor and Clerk with Sula Rayska. Sula is willing to manage the project Planning Application for a fee of £500. Cllr.Dr. Penney proposed Sula Rayska be asked to manage this application. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK
Cllr. Stanley returned.

12. ENERGY SURVEY
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that the energy survey be circulated and discussed at the next meeting. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved. NEXT AGENDA
13. BANNERS FOR FESTIVALS.
Cllr. Pinches proposed that festival banners be placed on the Town Hall using the existing brackets. Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved. Letter to be sent to the Festivals Officer.
ACTION TOWN CLERK

14. OLD POLICE STATION
Letter from Geoffrey Tilling, Proprietor of the Grange Nursing Home about the condition of The Old Police Station. Cllr. Dr. penney reported that he has already spoken to South Shropshire District Council regarding the problems at this site. The District Council will contact the owners of the property and ask them to secure the property.

15. WEST MERCIA POLICE MERGER
Letter from Philip Dunne requesting Council to write once more to the Chairman of the Police Authority and to the Home Secretary in support of West Mercia's case. Councillors agreed to leave on the table.

16. BOOKS IN THE TOWN HALL
How should the books that were in the Mayors Parlour be disposed of? Stephen Roberts, a Parliamentary Historian from London has said they have no value. Cllr. Wright proposed that a letter be sent to Bishop's Castle Heritage Resource Centre asking them to take the books and deal with as they see fit. Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved. ACTION TOWN CLERK

17. ACCOUNTS

17. REPORT OF RECENT MEETINGS ATENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.

19. Correspondence.
(i) Mr D'Alesio, Shropshire County Council regarding street lighting in Love Lane.
It was agreed that only the Town Council need be consulted. ACTION TOWN CLERK
(ii) Morgans, Solicitor regarding footpath 22 and part of 24 saying they wish to consult the ramblers group regarding the changes. They will contact Councillors after this consultation..

b) Circulation
(i) Salopian Recorder
(ii) Clerks and Council Direct
(iii) SSDC Standards Committee - Minutes of 18/5/06 and Agenda for 4/7/06.
(iv) Proposals to merger Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology with Walford and North Shropshire College. If you feel we should make representation please contact the Clerk.
(v) AONB

20. Invoices paid for Friends of Bishop's Castle Playing Fields
Oaker Wood Leisure - £245
W O'Leary - £80
Harriett Carty - £8.10
C. Pritchard - £50

The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 9.27 p.m.

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