MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 20th JUNE 2006 AT 8.OO PM.

PRESENT Councillor J.M. Carroll, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: S.A. Farr, J.E. Gaffney, N. Hird, J.A. Magill, Dr. G.N.St.J. Penney,
and R.D. Wright.
In attendance: Mrs. J. Ince, Town Clerk.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from Cllrs Davidson-Stanley, Blundell,
Evans, Morris, Cllr. Gaffney will be delayed.

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest:
Cllr. Hird declared personal interests in items 6b ( neighbour of applicant),
7 (former fundraiser for skateboard park), 9 (owns property in Welsh Street.)

b) Declaration of prejudicial interest:
Cllr. Carroll declared a prejudicial interest in item 18b as she has an account to be paid.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
a) Minutes of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 23rd May 2006, having been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr. Wright with the following corrections. Seconded by Cllr. Magill.
Item 7 should read "Councillors were requested to read the questionnaire before the meeting and could complete the questionnaire as an individual if they wished."
Item 9 should read Cllr. Wright, not Cllr. Dr. Wright.
The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.

4. MATTERS ARISING
Item 12 - Forms and a letter have been received from the Environment Agency in relation to the drainage in Church Lane. The form, to register a dispute, has to be completed by an individual living in the Severn Trent area. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that Chris Evans, a resident of Church Lane, completes the form. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
Item 13 - The agreement for the allotments site is with Snows the solicitors. It is to be a seven year lease as more than seven years involves land registry.

Other meetings - Closure of Post Office Account.- Reply on behalf of Tony Blair saying our letter has been sent to the Department of Work and pensions.
Reply from Philip Dunne saying he is continuing to raise the issue whenever he can.

Parking in Bishop's Castle - Reply from Hall's saying that the land behind the Boers Head could not be used as a car park.
Town Centre Improvements - The paviors selected by the Mayor, (the same as in Market Square) were considered by Colin Richards, Conservation Officer, to be of an inferior quality not suitable for Bishop's Castle.

5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK: none

6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
6. Town & Country Planning Act:
a) 1/06/18245/F Planning Permission (Full) Erection of an extension to dwelling. (delegated matter)
Corn Cottage, Castle Green, Bishop's Castle. Mr Evans and Ms Netherton
Cllr. Wright proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Farr and approved.

b) 1/06/18294/F Construction of a manege (delegated matter)
Yew Tree Farm, Bankshead, Bishop's Castle. Mr & Mrs Boniface.
Cllr. Hird proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed the plans for 53 Church Street be considered. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
c) 1/06/18303/F AND 1/06/18304/LB Planning permission (full) and listed
building consent. Erection of an extension to dwelling; existing lean-to to be demolished; internal and external works to dwelling.
53 Church Street, Bishop's Castle. Mr. R. Anderson.
Cllr. Wright explained that he had looked at the property and that most of the work was internal. Cllr. Wright proposed no objection. Seconded by
Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

d) Reports of Planning Applications.
(i) 1/06/18045/F Erection of an extension to dwelling.
8 Corporation Street, Bishop's Castle. C. Jones.
Planning permission granted.

(ii) 1/06/18088/TC Reduction in the height of an ash tree by 3m.
7 Pound Close, Bishop's Castle. C. Pritchard.
Consent granted.

(iii) 1/06/18167/TC Lift lower crown and removal of branches of oak tree.
Bishop's Castle Community College, Bishop's Castle. Mrs Williams.
Consent granted.

(iv) 1/06/18143/F Erection of an extension to dwelling.
1 Pound Close, Bishop's Castle. A. Evans
Planning permission granted.

(v) 1/06/18184/F Formation of a football pitch with perimeter fencing and associated access gates and under-pitch drainage.
Bishop's Castle Community College, Brampton Road, E.S.W.S.
Planning permission granted.

e) Planning meeting - 1/06/18203/F Planning permission (full) Erection of 8 no dwellings (plots 14-17 inc and 20), 21, 23 and 27.
The Wintles, Bishop's Castle. Living Villages (BC) Ltd.
Wednesday 21st June 2006 at 2.00 pm at the Coors Stadium.

Cllr. Wright proposed item 7 be moved to after item 17 as Fiona Robertson has not arrived. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

8. WINTLES DEVELOPMENT
At the last meeting it was agreed to liase with a Management / Residents group. The Clerk has made enquiries and a Residents/ Management group will not be formed until all the houses are built and occupied. At present Living Villages manage the site. What is the way forward now? Cllr. Wright proposed that nothing further be done at present. Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved.

9. LETTER FROM DAVID HUNT, 5 WELSH STREET GARDENS.
Mr Hunt complains about the lights, the culvert and the sinking pavement in Welsh Street/Welsh Street Gardens. Cllr. Carroll proposed a letter is sent to Mr Hunt explaining that these points are not matters for the Town Council and informing Mr Hunt that Mrs Cory at no 4 Welsh Street Gardens owns the culvert and suggest that he contacts her. Also to suggest that the County Council and the Management Committee should be approached regarding the other matters. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

10. WAR STOCK.
Suggestion to sell war stock as a tidy up. It is worth £13.45 and gained interest of £0.46 last year.
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed the war stock is sold. Seconded by Cllr. Farr and approved.

Cllr. Gaffney arrived.

11. MAY FAIR
The four year contract with the May Fair has expired. Mr & Mrs Wynn would like to continue coming and either have another four year or ongoing contract. They request rents only rise moderately if at all.
Cllr. Hird proposed another four year lease with similar rises in rent. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

12. BISHOP'S CASTLE TOURISM GROUP
Request for the Town Council to take over the responsibility for the up the pole baskets and suggest that sponsors could be found.
Cllr. Dr. Penney expressed the opinion that the Town Council should not take over the organisation of the baskets. Cllr. Carroll explained that it would be a pity if the baskets had to go because there was no money to plant them. Cllr. Magill proposed the Town Council take over the organisation of the planters and approach businesses and ask them for their support for five years. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved.

13. 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 that the information is circulated in a separate envelope and discussed at the next meeting. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

14. SHROPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL SCRUTINY - HOMELESS VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE
A representative of the Council is invited to a meeting on 17th July at Ludlow.
Would Councillors like a question raised or opinion given?
It was suggested that Cllr. Davidson-Stanley might like to attend the meeting. There were no questions raised or opinions given.

15. REPRODUCTION BOUVARD PICTURE.
Where would Councillors like it hung.
Cllr. Hird proposed the picture be put on the wall where the St Marcel pictures are hanging in the Council Chamber. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

16. DEPUTY TOWN CRIER
Mike Shanahan, Town Crier, would like to suggest Abbie Hemmings as Deputy Town Crier. Mike Shanahan will pay the subscription and lend a uniform. Cllr. Dr. Penney said he was not happy with having a Deputy. Cllr. Farr proposed that Abbie Hemmings be asked to be Deputy Town Crier. Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved.

17. DRAFT POLICY ON VILLAGE SPEED LIMITS.
Council opinion is requested. Document to be circulated before the meeting.
The document had not completed the circulation but Cllr. Wright gave a précis of the document. He said it was not relevant to Bishop's Castle at present Also he was not happy that it took account of actual fatalities and injuries. He felt it should take account of the risk of injury and fatalities. The paper was discussed generally. Cllr. Wright proposed the paper be accepted but should state that this Council feels that the risk of fatalities and accidents should be taken into account, not the actual fatalities and accidents. Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved. It was suggested that our County Councillor should represent us at the meeting.

7. SKATEBOARD PARK
The following requests have been made from the Skateboard Association
a) A key for the playing fields
b) Permission to install 2 or 3 benches by the skatepark.
c) Permission to hold an evening event at the Skatepark
d) Permission to hold a one day skate festival.
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed all the above requests be approved. Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved.

18. ACCOUNTS. -
It was proposed by Cllr. Dr. Penney that the following accounts except Energy Services are accepted. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved.

Cllr. Carroll left the room and Cllr. Gaffney took the Chair.
c) It was proposed by Cllr. Dr. Penney that the following accounts are all accepted. Seconded by Cllr Wright and approved.
J. Carroll - Mayors Allowance and telephone - £485
Cllr. Carroll returned and took the Chair.

19. Report of recent meetings attended by Council representatives.

20. Correspondence.
The Clerk explained that John Ward, Local Council Development Officer had visited herself to talk about Quality Councils. He would like to give a presentation to the Council at the August meeting. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed he be invited at 9.15pm. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved.

a) (i) Lydbury North Womens Institute
A letter regarding the closure of Stone House Hospital was read. It was agreed a letter should be sent to Mrs Palmer explaining that her letter had been read and that Stone House Hospital would be discussed at the next Council meeting.
(ii) South Shropshire District Council - Policy Committee meeting 22nd June 2006. Cllr. Dr. Penney will be attending this meeting and he was asked to express Council opinion against the merger of Police forces.
(iii) South Shropshire District Council, Planning Policy Consultation. Request for names and addresses of anyone wishing to receive consultation information. No Councillors wished to have information sent to them personally.
(iv) Sally Chappell - House on Crutches Museum - Regarding 1 in 6 road sign.
It was suggested that Colin Richards be consulted on the best way to ensure the sign is retained.
(v) Evelyn Bowles - BCHRC - Regarding state of Chapel Yard. Cllr. Gaffney proposed that a letter be sent to Ian Rutherford, County Surveyor, with a copy of the letter from BCHRC asking Mr Rutherford to provide us with a plan and a price urgently. An adequate pavement is required for the disabled. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.
(vi) Friends of the Playing Fields - A request for Council approval for an open day on Sunday 23rd July. Cllr. Gaffney proposed approval and support be given. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.

b) For circulation
(i) Getting to grips with the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.
(ii) Notes on the SALC meeting of 22nd April 2006 held to discuss Unitary Authorities.
(iii) Speaking out, West Midlands Regional Assembly
(iv) The Community Strategy for South Shropshire.
(v) Shropshire Hills, news and views.
(vi) Landscape Access Recreation - Doorstep Greens.
(vii) South Shropshire District Council - Standards sub-committee. Agenda for Monday 3rd July. (Local investigation hearing)

The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 9.25 p.m.

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