MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 28th MARCH 2006 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,
J.A. Magill and K.E.C. Pinches.
In attendance: Mrs. J. Ince, Town Clerk.
1. APOLOGIES FOR
ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from Cllr. Dr. Penney, Cllr. Hird, Cllr. Wright Cllr.
Farr.
2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration
of personal interest - none:
b) Declaration of prejudicial interest: - none
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
a) Minutes of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 28th February 2006, having
been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr. Gaffney with the following
corrections. Seconded by
Cllr. Evans.
Item 15b) line 2 should read "…switch off at midnight because when
they are on…."
Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held on Tuesday 14th February 2006, having
been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr. Magill. Seconded by
Cllr. Davidson-Stanley.
Both sets of minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.
4. MATTERS ARISING
Item 4 - The allotments. Council was updated with information regarding the
problems of obtaining a twelve month break clause. Cllr. Carroll reported that
following the request from a resident she had approached Phillip Dunne the M.P.
Item 7 - VAT refund - The Clerk reported that just over £20,000 VAT refund
had been deposited in the bank.
Item 10 - Grassed area in Oak Meadow - The Clerk reported that there had been
a site meeting with residents who had requested a 1.2m wall. Grants have been
sought for the different fencing.
Item 14 - A copy of the skateboard accounts were handed to Councillors.
Item 17 - The £250 awarded to the Wasteless society in the 04/05 financial
year was not claimed and paid back into the account in the 05/06 financial year
so this can be repaid in this financial year. The extra £50 to be paid
out of the next financial year.
Item 18 - A direction sign has been put up on the junction of Welsh Street and
the Wintles Road. It is now thought that was not in response to our letter but
was already in progress. It does not have all the directions on it. The Clerk
to ensure the County Council is aware of this.
Item 20 - A letter has been received from Mr Heber Percey saying that our request
for a donation towards the Town Hall restoration will be considered.
5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK:
Peter Wall spoke on item 6a, planning application for the balancing pool. He
said the pool was very dangerous because it was badly guarded, being less than
100yds from a housing estate with over 50 children playing. He said the pool
was too deep and had a soft bottom. He asked Councillors to consider the dangers
of the pool and object to the plans.
5. TOWN AND COUNTRY
PLANNING ACT:
a) 1/06/18001/F Planning permission (full) Formation of a balancing lake (retrospective
application made under section 73A of the Town and Country Planning Act) (committee
matter)
The Wintles, Bishop's Castle. Living Villages (Bishop's Castle) Ltd.
Ways of making the pool safer were discussed. Cllr. Blundell proposed an objection
on the grounds that Council were lead to believe initially that it would be
a reed bed. The fence is inadequate to keep children out, the bottom is not
a hard surface and it is too deep for an area highly populated with young children.
Cllr. Carroll said children could not actually get through the fencing, they
would have to climb over it. She gave her personal view that children should
be taught that water is dangerous and that they should not climb fences. Younger
children should be supervised. The proposition was seconded by Cllr. Pinches
and approved with four votes in favour. Cllr. Magill and Davidson-Stanley abstained.
Cllr. Carroll voted against.
b) Reports of Planning
Applications.
(i) 1/06/17787/F Erection of a dwelling.
Land adjoining Fairfield, Woodbatch Rd. Bishop's Castle. Mr. R. Griffiths
Planning permission granted.
(ii) 1/06/17804/F and 1/06/17805/LB Change of use of shop to to shop on ground
floor and residential unit on first floor.
25 High Street, Bishop's Castle. Nick Buy
Planning permission granted.
7. FOOTPATH FROM
GRANGE ROAD TO KERRY GREEN
A letter was read from Mrs Price asking for the footpath from Grange Road to
Kerry Green to be covered in tarmac. George Stoyan from South Shropshire Housing
Association has e-mailed to say that he will liase with other Housing Association
people. A letter was read from Cllr. Wright saying that he believes this Council
should undertake the metalling without delay. Cllr. Gaffney proposed that a
letter be sent to the Housing Association telling them that the Town Council
intends laying tarmac on the path and repositioning the gate. If the Housing
Association has any objections please notify the Council within two weeks of
the date of the letter. After this date tenders to be sought. Seconded by Cllr.
Blundell and approved.
.
8. MICHAELMAS FAIR
Cllr. Magill proposed the Michaelmas Fair has free use of the playing fields
for the 23rd and 24th September. Seconded by Cllr. Blundell and approved. The
Clerk will contact the Friends of Bishop's Castle Playing Fields to see if any
information needs to be passed on to the Michaelmas Fair with regard to the
newly refurbished field.
9. POLICING IN
BISHOP'S CASTLE
Inspector Payton has agreed to come to the next meeting, therefore this agenda
item will be discussed further at that meeting. The Clerk reported that the
police office is now manned 9am - 3pm Monday - Thursday, 9.30am to 12 noon on
Friday. Ann Gutteridge will be back on light duties in a couple of weeks. There
are to be 14 community support officers in the County of which Bishop's Castle
is to receive two by April 2008. There should be one by the end of this year.
10. NOTICES FOR
PLAYING FIELDS
Approval requested for the notices to go on the playing fields. Cllr. Gaffney
proposed the following changes to the notices. (i) The play area notice should
be "The Town Council expects you to treat this play area with respect.
Please no alcohol and no dogs." Instead of "The use of alcohol is
prohibited in this play area and in the interest of health dogs are excluded
from this play area."
(ii) The playing fields notice should read "These are your playing fields"
instead of "This is your playing field" and do not use the words "dog
poo" but rephrase using "dog fouling" The piece about dog fouling
should be moved to the first sentence. Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved.
11. HOUSEKEEPING
MATTERS
a) Window cleaner - Cllr. Blundell proposed a three monthly clean of the Town
Hall windows by Clear and Clean Ltd at £25 a time. Seconded by Cllr. Davidson-Stanley
and approved.
b) Cllr. Blundell proposed the Town Hall cleaner to be paid for up to 12 hours
to enable her to spring clean the Town Hall. The Clerk to approach her to see
if she is willing.
c) Chair - Cllr. Gaffney proposed the broken chair in the office be repaired.
Seconded by
Cllr. Magill and approved.
12. HOLIDAY COVER
The Clerk will be on holiday at the time of the July meeting. Cllr. Magill proposed
that a person be paid to take minutes at the meeting. Seconded by Cllr. Blundell
and approved.
13. TOWN HALL TOILETS
The Mayor informed Council that there will be an official handover of the Town
Hall toilets by the South Shropshire District Council on Thursday 30th March
at 11.30 am. The notices that will be situated in the toilets were circulated.
Cllr. Blundell proposed that the opening times be put on a notice on the door
and directions to the Auction Yard for when they are closed.
14 CROSSROADS -
BRAMPTON ROAD AND KENNELS BANK
Lights were requested at these junctions some time ago. There have been several
accidents since then. Should further representation be made to the County Council.
Cllr. Gaffney proposed a letter be sent to the Shropshire County Council requesting
lights at these junctions because there have been so many accidents. Seconded
by Cllr. Magill and approved.
15. PLANTING ALONG
THE FOOTPATH ADJACENT TO OAK MEADOW
Cllr. Gaffney proposed that up to £100 be spent on planting on the bank
adjacent to the new footpath by Oak Meadow. Andy Harold has offered to organise
a community planting.
Seconded by Cllr. Pinches and approved.
16. STREET LIGHTING
CONTRACT
Consideration of street lighting contracts. There was considerable discussion
about street lighting contracts, whether local electricians would be interested,
whether a three year contract was best or whether to have lights repaired when
required. Letters were read from Cllr. Hird and
Cllr. Dr. Penney asking for local electricians to be considered. Cllr. Blundell
felt that an annual contract was a waste of money as the lights are old and
it is not always a lamp that goes. Also the new lights do not need the lamps
replacing. He suggested Rise Hire be contacted. Cllr. Carroll proposed that
Prismian be approached to repair lights as and when required. The Clerk to investigate
Rise Hire and local electricians. A separate record to be kept of street light
repair costs so that these could be compared in the future and considered against
contract prices. Seconded by Cllr. Gaffney and approved.
17. LOCAL COUNCIL
REVIEW
The Local Council Review is published every two months. Cllr. Magill proposed
that £17 per year is paid to continue receiving Local Council Review.
Seconded by Councillor Gaffney and approved.
18. ACCOUNTS
19. REPORT OF RECENT
MEETINGS ATTENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
The Mayor reported on the Core Strategy, issues and options meeting held by
South Shropshire County Council earlier this evening. She explained that it
introduced the new planning system. Eventually residents would be consulted
on where new houses should be built. The results of this consultation would
eventually be the framework on which planning applications were judged. It is
very broad. The District Council wishes to consult as many people as possible
in the early stages. All Councillors present were given a copy of the document.
A questionnaire can be downloaded from the web or requested from the Clerk.
A questionnaire will be sent from the Council but individual Councillors can
also send in their own copy. The questionnaire from the Council will be completed
at the next meeting.
Cllr. Carroll also reported from the meeting of representatives of the six towns.
The production of the tourism leaflets was discussed at some length as Ian Kemsley,
chairman of the South Shropshire Tourism Association, was present. Funding would
soon stop for the production of the leaflets. It was suggested the town group
together to approach the Rural Regeneration Zone for funding from Advantage
West Midlands. It was asked at the meeting that three things that each town
needs are noted.
Cllr. Davidson-Stanley reported on the AGM of the South Shropshire Arts Advisory
Council. She said it was an excellent meeting attended by people who had their
hearts in the right place. There were interesting issues on the awarding of
grant money.
Cllr. Carroll reported on a meeting of the Food Group. A Farmers Market and
Food events survey had been carried out. Bishop's Castle Farmers Market needs
more stalls. All the markets said they needed more publicity. It was suggested
that a "Friends of the Market" group be formed that could help promote
the market. Most stall holders felt the markets were financially successful
as they met customers and it helped to promote their food.
Cllr. Gaffney reported on a Community Land Trust meeting. He said that a housing
needs survey is about to be carried out in Bishop's Castle. All households will
be approached. He reported that the South Shropshire Housing Association has
not actually completed a full survey. The Community Land Trust will be compiling
a set of rules. Cllr. Gaffney suggested the Town Council have a look at them
when they are ready.
Cllr. Magill proposed the meeting be extended for five minutes. Seconded by
Cllr. Blundell and approved.
20. a) Correspondence.
(i) A letter was read from Richard Suggett, Shropshire County Council giving
notification of the road closure at 6 Kerry Lane. Cllr. Blundell expressed concern
that the road had been closed for two weeks and there was no sign of any work
in progress. Cllr. Carroll proposed that the Clerk contact Mr Pritchard to find
the reason for the delay and if the answer is not satisfactory to write to the
County Council expressing dissatisfaction. Seconded by Cllr. Blundell and approved.
(ii) A letter was read from Ben Calder asking for information as to where he
could plant three young oak trees. Cllr. Magill proposed on the verge along
straight mile. Seconded by Cllr. Blundell and approved.
b) Circulation
(i) Standards Committee - Agenda 7th March 2006, Minutes 7th February 2006.
(ii) Information from charity "No Panic"
(iii) South Shropshire Arts Advisory Council
(iv) Clerks and Councils Direct
(v) Local Council Review
(vi) Town and Parish Standards: 06
(vii) Standards CFommittee - Agenda 28th March 2006, minutes 7th March 2006.
22. Invoices paid
for Friends of Bishop's Castle Playing Fields.
Clive Pritchard - £171
Keepers Nursery - £339
S.D.Watson - £465
B.C.B.S. - 27.28
A.R.Jones - £4,700
L.Farr - £106.07
Ransfords - 14.45
W. O'Leary - £625
Grant of £33030 received from Groundwork UK.
Cllr. Blundell proposed the above be noted. Seconded by Cllr. Evans and approved.
The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 10.05 p.m.
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