Bishop's Castle Town Council Meeting of 14 Nov. 2000

Bishop's Castle Town Council Meeting 10/11/2009

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP’S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 10 NOVEMBER AT 8.OO PM.

PRESENT Councillor K.E.C.Pinches, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: J. M. Carroll, S.A. Farr, M. Furber, J Gaffney, N. Hird, M. E. Holton, J.A. Magill, W J Morris, M. Stanley and R.D. Wright.

In attendance: Mr. T Ward (Acting Town Clerk)

Prior to the start of the meeting James Thompson, Waste Prevention Officer – Shropshire Council gave a presentation on the Zero Waste Initiative. He explained that the Council has been awarded £10,000 to work with voluntary organisations in the town on waste reduction projects. He went on to give details of the projects that were planned and then answered questions from Councillors. The Mayor thanked Mr. Thompson for attending the meeting.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

An apology for absence had been received from Cllr Dr St J Penney (Illness)

It was proposed by Cllr Carroll and seconded by Cllr Gaffney and duly resolved that the apology be accepted

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Cllr Farr declared a personal interest in minute 6a as he was a friend of the applicant.
Cllr Stanley declared a prejudicial interest in minute 8 as she lived and had a business attached to the Town Hall
Cllr Morris declared a prejudicial interest in minute 8 as he had submitted a quote for the work.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

It was proposed by Cllr Carroll and seconded by Cllr Stanley and duly resolved that the minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday October 13 2009 be signed by the Mayor as a true record.

The Acting Clerk informed the meeting that there was an error on the minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2009 in hat the time the meeting ended was 8.22pm not as stated

It was proposed by Cllr Carroll and seconded by Cllr Stanley and duly resolved that the minutes of the Council Meeting held on Tuesday October 27 2009 be signed by the Mayor as a true record subject to the amendment above.

4. MATTERS ARISING.
Cllr Stanley stated that she wished to raise the future running of the business park and whether the Town Council should apply to run the business park. Cllr Carroll commented that the Council had previously written to the Council to request that more land be made available to extend the allotments. Cllr Gaffney also commented that it had been suggested that the Town Council apply to extend the length of the lease on the allotment area. It agreed that the Clerk should write to Tom McCabe to request a meeting with Council Officers to discuss the future management of the Business Park and to request an extension to the lease of the allotment area and to request that more land be made available for the allotments.

The Clerk informed the meeting that he had spoken to the planning officer who was dealing with the planning application at Tuffins and she had advised him that she had been in conversation with the applicants agent and had advised him that the application would be refused on a number of grounds and had given him the opportunity to withdraw the application. She had gone on to say that she anticipated that the application would be withdrawn or refused in the near future and that the Council would be advised accordingly.

Cllr Carroll informed the meeting that she and the Mayor had met with the Streetscene Officer and it had been agreed that one bin would be installed in the auction yard adjacent to the new notice board.

Cllr Carroll informed the meeting that she had spoken to the youth officer with regard to the cycle track and she had suggested that a hedge should be planted between the track and the allotments. She went on to say that free trees could be obtained from the Unitary Council and that the youth group would plant them. It was agreed that this should be pursued.

Cllr Gaffney expressed concern that vehicles were using the path passed the King Head and enquired as to whether any measures could be taken to prevent this. Cllr Carroll explained that once the right of way was dedicated action could be taken to prevent vehicular use.

Cllr Stanley stated that she had been investigating potential locations for a new notice board and had found a potential site at the Co-Op. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to the Manager of the Co-Op to request permission to put an external notice board at the Co-Op.

5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK

Mr Luckhurst suggested that more information points should be installed in the town. He distributed photographs of rotating display boards that may be suitable. It was agreed that further research should be done on the matter.

6. TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:

The following Planning application was considered: -
09/02842/FUL Erection of extension to dwelling (revised scheme) at Longhope, The Cabin Bishops Castle SY9 5JG
It was proposed by Cllr Carroll and seconded by Cllr Holton and resolved that the Council has no objection to the application
To receive notification of appeal to Planning Inspectorate - The Bakery, Church Street Bishops Castle.
The Clerk informed the Council that notification had been received that an appeal had been made to the Planning Inspectorate over the refusal of retrospective planning permission at the Bakery, Church Street, Bishops Castle. He informed Councillors that the comments made in objection to the original application would be taken into consideration at the appeal. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to the Planning Inspectorate to request that a site visit be carried out as part of the appeal to ensure that the full effect the building had on the surrounding area was fully appreciated
c) Reports of Applications.
The Clerk informed the Council that Listed Building consent had been granted for the installation of photo voltaic cells at the Town Hall. Cllr Hird informed the meeting that planning permission would now need to be applied for.

7. ACCOUNTS –
a) Councillors considered the schedule of accounts for payment.

Cllr Hird expressed concern that he felt that the work carried out by Petra Bindloss was unsatisfactory and her account should not be paid. Councillors felt that as we had a contract with her we could not withhold payment but that Cllrs Hird, Gaffney and the Mayor should meet with Ms Bindloss to discuss the situation with her

Cllr Gaffney commented that the bill for the legal fees for the creation of the footpath was greater than that agreed by the Council. The Clerk pointed out that the bill nett of VAT was £750 which was under the amount agreed. It was agreed that the payment be authorised but that payment should be held until conformation of the creation of the right of way was received.

It was proposed by Cllr Morris and seconded by Cllr Wright and duly resolved that the accounts listed below be approved

Salaries £ 272.18
SALC - Training Course £ 60.00
Fastrack Maintenance £ 134.55
Ford & Warren - Legal Fees Footpath Creation - Kings Head £ 868.50
Charles Ransford £ 20.95

Payment made by Direct Debit
BT £ 96.54

b) To receive a report regarding what the funding of £2000.00 for youth activities will be used for and to agree payment of funding.
Cllr Carroll informed the meeting that she had spoken to Irene Stelfox who had informed her that the money granted by the Council had been used as follows: -
£1000 as matched funding for the South Shropshire grant for work involved in setting up the youth council
£500 to conduct a youth survey
£500 for extra core youth work with the youth council.
Cllr Gaffney expressed dissatisfaction with the level of detail received and asked that a written report of the youth council’s work be brought to the next meeting before payment is made. It was proposed by Cllr Stanley and seconded by Cllr Hird that Ms Stelfox be asked to provide a written report on the work of the Youth Council for the next meeting prior to payment being agreed.

8. WORK REQUIRED IN THE TOWN HALL
Cllr Wright commented that the tenders had not been obtained correctly as contractors had not had sight of the detailed specifications. It was agreed that further quotes should be obtained after contractors had received copies of the full specifications and that a special meeting be held to consider the quotes received in order that the work can be carried out within the timescales set by the HSE
9. REPAIR OF RAILINGS AROUND THE COPPER BEECH TREE AT THE JUNCTION OF CASTLE STREET AND WELSH STREET
Cllr Gaffney informed the meeting that he had been approached by local residents regarding the railings around the copper beech tree at the junction of Castle Street and Welsh Street. Councillors expressed concern that the railings were on private property and that it may set a precedent if the Council arranges repair. It was proposed by Cllr Gaffney and seconded by Cllr Carroll that the Council makes a grant of £200 to local residents to enable them to get the railings repaired.

10. PLANTERS IN THE TOWN
Cllr Gaffney commented that he had received complaints regarding the planters in the town. Cllr Carroll commented that the way the planters were currently done was not satisfactory and that something needed to be done. She went on to say that there were several tops for each of the planters and that these could be planted in succession to ensure a good display throughout the summer and that the cost of maintaining them could be met from the environmental grant. She also suggested that the planter posts could be reduced in height. It was proposed by Cllr Gaffney and seconded by Cllr Wright and resolved that a trial of the plan outlined by Cllr Carroll should be carried out on 4 of the planters. There was one vote against.
11. SOUTH SHROPSHIRE YOUTH FORUM LEADER FUNDING APPLICATION
Cllr Gaffney explained that the South Shropshire Youth Forum was applying to the Leader Fund for funding to enable them to carry out environmental projects with the youth of Bishops castle. It was proposed by Cllr Gaffney and seconded by Cllr Farr and resolved that the Council writes to the Youth Forum in support of their application
12. LIGHTING OUTSIDE THE TOWN HALL
Cllr Carroll informed the meeting that recently a member of the public had fallen outside the Town Hall and that the First Responder had commented that the area outside the Town Hall was quite dark. It was proposed by Cllr Gaffney and seconded by Cllr Carroll that a timer switch be installed on the outside light on the town hall and that the light be switched on till 11.00pm to ensure safety outside the town hall
13. DIGITAL CAMERA
Cllr Hird informed the meeting that several years ago the Council had bought a digital camera to put on the town hall but that it had never been erected and was stored at Enterprise House. He went on to say that he had been advised that the camera was now obsolete and that maybe it could be offered to the Primary School. It was proposed by Cllr Holton and seconded by Cllr Hird and resolved that the camera should be disposed of, and should be offered to the primary school.
14. TOILETS IN AUCTION YARD
Councillor Hird informed the meeting that when the toilets were closed people were urinating and defecating in the area behind the toilets and that some sort of barrier needed erecting to prevent this.
It was proposed by Cllr Hird and seconded by Cllr Gaffney and resolved that a request be made to Shropshire Council that they install gates or barriers at the back of the toilets in the Auction Yard

15. SIGNAGE ON B4358
Cllr Carroll informed the meeting that a request had been received from the Bishop's Castle P3 Group that the Council ask Shropshire Council to put "No footway " signs on the B4358 on the Bishops Castle side of the Lagden Lane junction and some 20 yards on the BC side of The Cottage Farm as this was a length of road between two footpaths. She went on to say that there was existing posts that the signs could be attached to.
It was proposed by Cllr Carroll and seconded by Cllr Morris and resolved that a request for signs be made
16. REPORT OF RECENT MEETINGS ATTENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
There were no reports

17. CORRESPONDENCE.
a) Mrs S Gould - Letter re planters
b) Mrs S Gould - Letter re HGV signage on Union Street – It was agreed that a letter should be written to the Highways Manager regarding this matter
c) Miss M Savage - Letter re parking at the top of Union Street – It was agreed that the situation should be monitored and that the police should be alerted to the problem and asked to take any action necessary.
d) Mr & Mrs P Hughes - Letter re lighting on path between Castle Cars and Bowling Green Close – Mr Furber confirmed that the hedge in question did belong to Halls. It was agreed that a letter be written to Halls requesting that they cut the hedge back to improve the lighting along the path.
e) Shropshire Council - Standards in Local Government

There being no further business the mayor closed the meeting at 9.58pm