MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2007 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, M. E. Holton,
J. E. Howell, J.A. Magill, Dr. G.N.St.J. Penney, K.E.C. Pinches and R.D. Wright.
In attendance: Mrs. J. Ince

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

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest:
Cllr. Hird declared a personal interest in item 15 as he has property nearby.

b) Declaration of prejudicial interest:
Cllr. Farr declared a prejudicial interest in item 6d as he is a relative of the applicant.
Cllr. Stanley declared a prejudicial interest in item 7 as she lives in Market Square.
Cllr. Howell declared a prejudicial interest in item 13 as he is treasurer of the Kemp Valley Group.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
a) Minutes of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 30th January 2007, having been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr. Horton with the following corrections. Seconded by Cllr. Wright.
Item 4 line 7 delete the s on poles and insert planters so that it reads "up the pole planters".
The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.

4. MATTERS ARISING
Item 10a - Letter of thanks from Bridgnorth & District Crime prevention panel.
Item 10 b) - Letter from Chris Fisher, Shropshire County Council re grit bins saying he is investigating an alternative design.
Item 12 - Letter from Maurizio D'Alesio regarding changing the street lights in the High Street/ Church Street to wall lights.
Previous meetings
a) Letter from Ron Buzzacott regarding parking in Bishop's Castle. Cllr. Carroll proposed a letter be sent to Mr Buzzacott asking if this Council can be involved in the consultation in future. A copy of the letter to be sent to County Cllr. Peter Phillips.
Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.
b) Letter of thanks from Spotlight
c) Letter from County Councillor Peter Phillips giving an update on Castle Green junction.
e) Letter of thanks from the Youth Forum.

Cllr. Wright proposed item 19 Newsletter be brought forward to after item 5. Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved.
5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK:
Paula Middleton and David Owen both spoke on the importance of keeping the present nursing services at the Stone House Hospital
They both urged Councillors to support their cause and to distribute pamphlets in the newsletter.

19. NEWSLETTER -
Cllr. Carroll proposed that letters be sent to the Health Overview and Scrutiny of the County Council and to the Strategic Health Authority asking for reassurance that all facilities at present at the Stone House hospital will be maintained as not all of Bishop's Castle believes there will be a state of the art facility in the future. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.
Cllr Wright then explained that he fully supported the case regarding Stone House Hospital but felt that any flyers not produced by the Town Council should not be included in the newsletter. He proposed the flyers are not distributed with the newsletter. Seconded by Cllr. Stanley and approved. (6 votes in favour, 4 against)

6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
a) 1/07/19158/TC Tree works (conservation area) felling of an ash; topping of 2 x silver birch; pruning of an oak (delegated matter)
The Old Vicarage, Church Lane, Bishop's Castle. Mr. G. S. Hemmings.
Cllr. Wright proposed no objection. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

b) 1/07/19171/f planning permission (full) Erection of extension to dwelling.
5 Union Street, Bishop's Castle. Mr & Mrs I Howes.
Cllr. Stanley proposed support for the application. Seconded by Cllr. Holton and approved.

Cllr. Gaffney proposed that a letter be sent to the Head of Planning and Building Control suggesting that they refuse to consider any plans containing inaccurate or incomprehensible information. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved. ATC

c) Reports of Planning Applications.
(i) 1/06/18945/F Use of flat roof as an amenity area.
3a Bull Lane, Bishop's Castle
Planning permission granted.
(ii) 1/06/18991/TC Felling of a eucalyptus
22 Union Street, Bishop's Castle.
Consent granted.
(iii) 1/06/18891/F
Erection of 3 no affordable and 3 no. open market dwellings.
Station Street Garage, Station Street.
Application withdrawn.

d) Notice of planning meeting - Use of land for camping.
The Foxholes, Montgomery Road, Bishop's Castle. Mr & Mrs Jones.
Wednesday 28th February at the Coors Stadium, Ludlow.
Cllr. Stanley left the room

7. BISHOP'S CASTLE PARISH CHURCH.
a) Permission to use Market Square on Sunday 1st April 2007 for Palm Sunday Procession and Friday 6th April 2007 - Good Friday.
b) Application for street closure order for Palm Sunday Procession and Midsummer Rejoicing procession at the following times.
(i) Sunday 1 April 2007 from 10.30 am to 11.00 am.
Market Square, High Street, Church Street.
(ii) Sunday 24 June 2007 from 10.30 am to 11.00 am
Union Street, Market Square, High Street and Church Street.
(iii) Sunday 24 June 2007 from 12 noon to 12.30 pm.
Church Street and High Street.
Cllr. Magill proposed no objection to any of the above. Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved.
Cllr. Stanley returned.

8. STREET LIGHTING REPAIRS
Cllr. Pinches proposed that VW Electrics are approached to deal with light repairs on the following conditions.
a) No contract required.
b) Will repair lights within five working days.
c) Will halve the call out charge if with we have joint call out with Craven Arms.
Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved. ATC

9. SKATEBOARDING ASSOCIATION
Cllr. Gaffney proposed £500 be awarded to the Skateboarding Association as agreed in March 2003. He also proposed agreement for the positioning of the benches. Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved. ATC

10. ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Cllr. Wright proposed that the Mayor/Councillors give a short presentation at this meeting on what is involved in being a Councillor. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and approved.

11. SALT BIN AND LITTER BIN
Cllr Magill proposed that a request is made to the County Council for a grit bin at the junction of Woodbatch Road and the Ridge. Cllr. Magill also proposed that the District Council be approached to see if it is feasible to empty a litter bin at this junction. If the District Council agree to emptying it the Town Council to provide one. Seconded by Cllr. Stanley and approved . ATC

12. LAND ALONGSIDE THE FOOTPATH FROM GRANGE ROAD TO WOODBATCH ROAD
Request from a resident, Mrs Roeder, for this piece of land to be tidied up. A discussion took place as to who owns this piece of land. Cllr. Pinches is to enquire whether it is owned by Gareth Thomas. Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed a letter be sent to Mrs Roeder explaining that the p3 group will tidy up the footpath but no action can be taken on the piece of land until the owner is found. Mrs Roeder to be asked if she knows of the owner. Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved. ATC

Cllr. Howell left the room.
13. KEMP VALLEY GROUP
a) Cllr. Wright proposed that the request by the Kemp Valley Group to give a presentation to the Town Council on the suggested Pyrolysis Gasification Incinerator is approved but that the proposer of the scheme, Shropshire Highland Seeds should be invited to speak on a different occasion. Seconded by Cllr. Stanley and approved. ATC
b) Request for free use of the Town Hall for an awareness meeting on the suggested Pyrolysis Gasification Incinerator. - withdrawn
Cllr. Howell returned

14. REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
a) Cllr. Gaffney proposed that under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 a donation of £250 be given to Dial a Ride. Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved. ATC
b) Cllr. Gaffney proposed that under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 that a donation of £250 be given to South Shropshire Furniture Scheme. Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved. ATC
Cllr. Hird suggested that both organisation should be advised that funding is available from the Community Fund of Shropshire.

15. WELSH STREET GARDENS
A letter of complaint about parking, lighting and various other matters in Welsh Street Gardens from Mr David Hunt was read. After some discussion Cllr. Gaffney proposed that a letter be sent to Mr Hunt advising him that the only matter under this Council's jurisdiction is the one street light that has been replaced and suggesting that he contacts the relevant authorities on the other matters. Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved. ATC

16. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE AND APPRAISAL PROCEDURE.
Cllr. Wright proposed that the Town Council grievance procedure and appraisal procedure for the Clerk be approved. Seconded by Cllr. Howell and approved.

17. REVISED MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR AUTHORITY MEMBERS.
The Mayor summarised the document can be found on www.communities.gov.uk

18. TOWN CRIER.
Council were advised that Mike Shanahan, Bishop's Castle Town Crier has been awarded Town Crier of the Year 2007. Cllr. Hird proposed that Mr Shanahan should be written a letter of congratulation and an offer made for the 2008 competition to be held in Bishop's Castle. A letter to be sent to the different festivals asking if they would like to include it as part of their festival. Seconded by Cllr. Stanley and approved.
Cllr. Gaffney proposed that Mr Shanahan be invited to the next meeting so that he can explain what he has been doing as a Town Crier representing Bishop's Castle? Seconded by Cllr. Magill and approved.

20. BOARS HEAD CROSSROADS - Cllr. Hird
Discussion took place about the current position at the Boars Head junction. Cllr. Carroll explained that the promised "stop" signs took some time to organise but there is no reason why the white lines could not have been completed. Cllr. Carroll proposed that a letter be sent to Chris Fisher at the County Council requesting that the white lines at the junctions and the moving forward of the lines by Nationwide be completed without delay. Seconded by Cllr Magill and approved.

21. BISHOP'S CASTLE CARNIVAL 2007
Cllr. Stanley proposed that permission be given for Bishop's Castle Carnival to have free use of the playing fields on Sunday 1st July 2007. Seconded by Cllr. Hird and approved.

22. ACCOUNTS
22. REPORT OF RECENT MEETINGS ATENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES Cllr. Stanley reported on a meeting of the Farmers Market group. All the markets are showing an increase in interest from producers but customers still need to increase. Coverage has recently been given on the radio and on the television and in the press. A French market is to be held in the Town Hall on 23rd March.

Cllr. Carroll reported on a meeting with the Community Council of Shropshire on multi use space. A feasibility study is being carried out on multi use space in Bishop's Castle. When completed grant money may be available for some buildings.

23a) Correspondence.
(i) Social Research Questionnaire - Transport Innovation Fund
(ii) Cllr. Peter Phillips asking support for the Youth discount card.
(iii) Shropshire County Council, Economy and Environment informing Councillors of a Social Research Questionnaire being sent to householders in the area.
b) Circulation
(i) No Panic Accounts and information
(ii) Harper Adams University Course
(iii) Eon council pack
(iv) St Georges Day
(v) Pryor and Rickett Silviculture - Lydham Manor Estate.

The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 10.02 p.m.