Bishop's Castle Town Council Meeting 26/05/2009

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP’S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON MAY 26th 2009 AT 8.OO PM.

PRESENT Councillor K.E.C.Pinches, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: J. M. Carroll, S.A. Farr, M. Furber, N. Hird, M. E. Holton, J.A. Magill, Dr. G.N.St.J. Penney, M. Stanley.
In attendance: Mrs. M. Denton

The Mayor suspended the meeting to allow Ms Frances Hall from Shropshire Council to talk about the Local Joint Committees (LJCs).
Ms Hall began by saying that the LJCs are intended to be a way for town and parish councils to wield influence with Shropshire Council. There are thirteen parishes therefore 3 unitary Councillors will attend with 1 in the Chair. There will be elected representatives from each parish.
There will be 4 open meetings a year when members of the public can attend, but only the representatives have a vote. These should be seen as an opportunity to bring people to account for their actions/decisions.
£49,000 has been allocated for each LJC, which must be spent between the thirteen parishes.
The first meeting is on the 7th July in the Public Hall in Bishop’s Castle and will be an open meeting. There is also a pre-meeting on the 16th June at SpArc. for representatives from each parish.
Ms Hall will be based in Bridgnorth, but will be at Enterprise House for one day a week, either a Tuesday or a Thursday.

Councillors thanked Ms Hall for this information.
The Mayor resumed the meeting.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Resolved : The following apologies were accepted: Cllr J Gaffney,(Away) Cllr J Wright,(Away). Proposed by Cllr Dr Penney, seconded by Cllr Hird.

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest:
Cllr Magill declared a personal interest in item 6e 3 as she is a friend of the applicant.
Cllr Hird declared a personal interest in items 8 & 11 as he is a member of the Wasteless Society.
Cllr Carroll declared a personal interest in item 6d as the appellants are neighbours.
b) Declaration of prejudicial interest:
Cllr Stanley declared a prejudicial interest in item 12 as she has a business in the attached building.
Cllr Hird declared a prejudicial interest in item 9 as Natasha Hird is his daughter.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
a) Minutes of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 28th April 2009, having been circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr Dr Penney, and seconded by Cllr Holton

The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor.

4. MATTERS ARISING
Cllr Hird reported that the Budget had allocated £45 million for the LCBP (Low Carbon Building Phase, so he was hopeful of getting a grant for the pv cells. The Historic Buildings Inspector does not have any problem with pv cells. He added that the Town Hall Renovation Partnership should meet with Sarah Lowe as she could input valuable information. Cllr Hird was going to approach the Community Fund for but would have to do it in conjunction with Enterprise House and the Public Hall.
5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK: Mr Wilkinson.
Mr Wilkinson of Autolycus explained that it was difficult running a business when vehicles, especially vans parked right in front of his windows. Often, vehicles park on the pavement and compromise the safety of pedestrians particularly those with push chairs or in wheel chairs, who are forced into the road on what is a blind corner.
He would like the Town Council to put some bollards along the pavement in that area.

Cllr Dr Penney proposed that Item 16 should be brought forward, seconded by Cllr Carroll and resolved.

6. REQUEST FOR BOLLARDS
Cllr Dr Penney proposed that the Council should request four bollards specifically for this site as it is a blind corner, seconded by Cllr Carroll and resolved.
6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
a) 09/00359/FUL erection of a stand alone Eco Study Centre, Bishop’s Castle Community College, Brampton Rd. Bishop’s Castle Cllr. Hird proposed this Council supports this application, seconded by Cllr. Magill and resolved unanimously.
b) 09/00374/FUL erection of extension to a dwelling. 10 Coronation Cottages, Lydham Bishop’s Castle. Cllr Dr Penney proposed that this application should be sent back to Lydham as this Council does not consider their applications, seconded by Cllr Hird and resolved.
c) 09/00400LBC & 09/00399/FUL Installation of a flue. Unicorn House 64, Church St Bishop’s Castle. Cllr Stanley proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr. Morris and resolved.
d) 09/00574/FUL Erection of an extension to a dwelling, demolition and relocation of a dormer window and insertion of a roof light. 23 High St Bishop’s Castle. Mr. R. Fowke.
Cllr Dr Penney proposed no objection with the following proviso that it has been drawn to this Council’s attention that a right of way exists which passes through the shop.
Cllr Carroll proposed no objection without this proviso, seconded by Cllr Stanley. Voting was 4 in favour, 6 against therefore the amendment fell. Cllr Morris seconded the original proposition, which was upheld by 6 votes to 4.
e) Reports of Planning Applications.
i) 1/08/20643/F Erection of 2x affordable dwellings. Land behind 58 Church St. Bishop’s Castle. Clare and Jonathan Greig. Granted
ii) 1/08/20895/F Erection of a dwelling. Revised scheme. Land at Turnpike Cottage 10 Kerry Lane, Bishop’s Castle. Mrs P Matthews. Granted.
iii) 1/09/21561/TC Felling of an ash tree. 23 High St. Bishop’s Castle. Mr R Fowke & Ms C Denham. Granted
iv) 1/09/21610/F Erection of extension to residential care home The Pines, Colebatch, Bishop’s Castle. Granted

7. REPORT BY COUNTY COUNCILLORS
Cllr Ellis gave what could have been her last report in which she stated her concerns about how planning is going to work under the unitary authority. She recommended that all Town Councillors must read each planning application well and ensure that plans are photocopied for our records. Councillors should continue to voice their feelings about plans.
SpARC: Hopefully, there will be a representative from the Town Council on the users group who can feed ideas to the new Council.
She finished by saying what a pleasure it has been working with Bishop’s Castle Town Council, and that we must keep up with the good work.

8.THE WASTELESS SOCIETY AT CROWGATE.
The change from the South Shropshire District Council to the new Unitary Council is having a damaging effect on the waste collection at Crowgate. Cllr Hird proposed that this Council should: 1) double the money paid to Andrew Broome, 2) pressurise Shropshire Council into putting up CCTV on the site and 3) start collecting cardboard within the compound. This waste collection is a Town asset and should not be allowed to diminish. Seconded by Cllr. Dr. Penney and resolved.

9. LOCAL CONNECTIONS.
Cllr. Hird left the room and took no part in the following discussion.
Cllr Dr Penney proposed that this Council passed all three as being local, seconded by Cllr Morris. Cllr Stanley raised an amendment that the Lennox boys are local but she was unsure of Natasha Hird. Seconded by Cllr Carroll. The vote taken was 4 in favour, 5 against this amendment. The vote on the original proposal was 5 in favour and 4 against, therefore the amendment fell, and the original proposition stood.
Cllr Hird returned to the room.

10.COUNCIL LAND TO THE NORTH OF ENTERPRISE HOUSE.
This land has been left vacant due to Embreys relocating. It is bad for the Town to have a derelict site like this; it also represents a drop in income for Enterprise South West Shropshire. It would be very useful for the Town if it could be used for Office space.
It was proposed by Cllr Stanley that this Council should write to the Estates office at the Shropshire Council to see what if anything is being proposed for this site and to state that this Council will expect the Council to enforce the agreement to return the land to its original state. Seconded by Cllr Carroll and resolved.

11.QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BISHOP’S CASTLE COMMUNITY ENERGY & THE WASTELESS SOCIETY.
Cllr Dr Penney proposed that this questionnaire should be delivered with the June News, seconded by Cllr Carroll and resolved.

12.NEW FLAG POLE
It was proposed by Cllr Hird that this Council purchase a new, 3.5m high flag pole for the Town Hall, seconded by Cllr Magill and resolved.

13. REQUEST FROM THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE.
Cllr Stanley left the room and took no part in the following discussion.
Cllr Magill proposed that there was no objection to the Carnival wishing to have a banner across the Town Hall as last year, seconded by Cllr Carroll and resolved.
Cllr Stanley returned to the room.

14.REQUEST FROM THE MICHAELMAS FAIR COMMITTEE.
Cllr Stanley proposed that there should be no objection to the Michaelmas Fair using the recreation field as long as they bear the cost of the insurance. Seconded by Cllr Dr Penney and resolved.
15.REQUEST FOR WHITE LINES.
Cllr Farr proposed that this Council objects to the white lines being placed at the junction of Corporation St and Union St as there were few problems on that junction, seconded by Cllr Dr Penney and resolved.

17. ROAD CLOSURE FOR MAYOR’S SUNDAY.
High St and Church St will be closed from 10-45 - 11.00, and 11.45 - 12.00 Cllr Carroll proposed no objection, seconded by Cllr Dr Penney.

18.REPORT OF RECENT MEETINGS ATTENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
Cllr Stanley reported that Enterprise South West Shropshire had been successful with their application for a MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) and that there were still problems with the running of SpARC
19. Correspondence.
1. Establishing Local Connections. South Shropshire Housing Association.
2. Marches Community Choir. revised date for St Marcel visit
3. SALC Course on Planning Monday 8th June Shirehall Shrewsbury.
b) Circulation
1. Customer First Point from Cllr Peter Phillips.
2. SALC New Tools in the Box For Local Councils.
3. From Cllr Phillips re Teme Leisure

The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m.