Bishop's Castle Town Council Meeting 28/04/2009
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BISHOP’S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 28TH APRIL 2009 AT 8.OO PM.
PRESENT Councillor J. E. Gaffney, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: J. M. Carroll, S.A. Farr, M. Furber, N. Hird, M. E. Holton, J.A.
Magill, W. J. Morris, Dr. G.N.St.J. Penney, K.E.C. Pinches M. Stanley and R.D.
Wright.
Cllr Peter Phillips & Cllr Georgie Ellis
In attendance: Mrs. M. Denton
Cllr Gaffney suspended the meeting for 30 minutes for Councillors to listen
to and question Mr Chris Edwards of Shropshire Council Environmental Management.
Mr Edwards explained that minor environmental maintenance
grants exist for Town and Parish Councils to complete minor maintenance works.
It used to be £700.00, now it is £3000. With the new Shropshire
Council the scheme has widened to include street-scene activities such as litter-picking,
road sweeping and graffiti removal. This scheme does not mean that the Shropshire
Council will stop doing these activities, but the Town Council can apply for
grants for extra maintenance on top of the Shropshire Council’s work up
to a value of £3000.00.
The Meeting resumed:
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Resolved The following apologies were accepted: Cllr Morris ( Working), Proposed
by Cllr Pinches seconded by Cllr Hird
2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None
a) Declaration of personal interest:
b) Declaration of prejudicial interest:
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
a) Minutes of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 31st March 2009, having been
circulated, were proposed as a true record by Cllr Dr Penney with the following
corrections: Item 6c) Before the discussion began insert : “Cllr Holton
left the room”, the vote should read “9-1 Upheld” Following
the report insert “Cllr Holton returned” In Item 7 The name “Jack”
should be “Jackie” In item 8, the second sentence should read: “Cllr
Dr Penney proposed to accept the cheapest quotation of £1377 incl.VAT,seconded
by Cllr Hird. Cllr Gaffney proposed that Councillors should accept Fastrack’s
quotation of £1614.60 incl.VAT, as they have done an excellent job this
year and are not the most expensive. (The third company quoted £1800)”
In Item 16 the final line should read: “Cllr Dr Penney stated that no
account should be settled by way of a cheque made out to cash.”
The minutes were approved and signed by the Mayor
4.MATTERS ARISING
1. (23.2.09) The clerk has received a reply from Mr G Biggs concerning the request
made from this Council for reimbursement of money spent providing consultants
for the Biomass Inquiry. Mr Biggs explained that SSDC could not do this at it
would seem that they were supporting this Council’s stance over the issue
of the Biomass Plant.
2. (31.3.09 Item 11) The clerk has received a reply from Mr McCaul from South
Shropshire Housing Association agreeing to our proposals regarding fees.
3. The new lantern has now been fixed by V & W on no 13 Welsh St. We are
now awaiting Eon to connect the power supply.
4. The Town Hall renovation Group met last week. They are still in the preliminary
stage of general suggestions.
5. (3.2.09 Item 15) The clerk is pursuing the matter of the Bin outside the
Co-Op. There seems to be a problem with space, highways may have to be consulted.
They have also offered to move the bin from the High St across to the chemists
but will need to find out what the objections are.
6.Frances Hall, the new regeneration officer has been to see the clerk. She
explained that all the Local Joint Committees will have a senior officer of
the Council chairing the meetings as they are anxious to quell fears that our
views will not be listened to. She would like to attend the next Council meeting
on the 26th May.
7. (3.2.09 Item 16) The clerk has received a reply from Mr. Glyn Shaw refusing
our request for a sign at Laburnum Alley. Mr. Shaw also said they were unable
to do anything about the Wintles’ Pole as it is on a private road.
8. (31.3.09 Item 13) Cllr Hird reported that in the Chancellor’s Budget
£45m was allocated to the Low Carbon Building Scheme phase 2, so there
are now possibilities of receiving some help. He also felt more quotations are
needed for the woolen insulation of the roof.
9. Cllr Carroll has met with arborealist Sue Cooper concerning the trees for
screening BCBS. Ms Cooper advised planting on the ditch side of his fence to
cover both the fence and the building. The planting will be of native species
and should commence in October.
5. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK: none
6. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT:
a) 09/00231/FUL & 09/00232/LBC Erection of a sunroom and detached workshop/garage.
The Conery, Stank Lane, Lydbury North .Cllr Wright proposed no objection seconded
by Cllr Pinches and resolved.
b) Any other plans: None
c) Reports of Planning Applications.
i) 1/09/21489/TC Pruning of a pear Tree. Mr E D Mason Granted.
ii) 1/09/21497/F Change of use, conversion and extension of ground floor commercial
unit to form additional residential accommodation. Mr R Davies Granted
7. REPORT BY COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
Cllr Georgie Ellis expressed her concern over the difficulties at the Public
Hall and the licensing of their dances. There was concern over the action taken
by the police on the night in question. Cllr Ellis also wanted to correct an
error that was in Cllr Phillips “Annual Report” in which he stated
that Cllr Ellis had “prevented” a discussion on anomalies arising
from the Haining Croft planning application. This was in fact not true, as Cllr
Ellis was unable to discuss these matters due to legal restrictions.
Cllr Ellis has also been in touch with Tom McCabe and asked him to come to Bishop’s
Castle to look at the employment opportunities, the business park and funding
for the Community Land Trust. Mr Jake Berriman has also mentioned that a scheme
has been adopted to put as much capital into the Community Land Trust project
as possible.
Cllr Peter Phillips wished to express his thanks to all concerned after working
closely with this Council for many years. Bishop’s Castle Council, he
said, is treated with respect and the Town Council had to be congratulated on
that.
He expressed his disappointment over the lack of movement on the Wintles’
Pole affair, and his concerns over the running of SpARC, the theatre staff have
gone, as have the grants for Arts and Sports. On a more positive note, ESWS
has finally received the funding from the Football Foundation for the MUGA (multi
use games area) and the Hospital refurbishment is also going ahead.
Councillor Gaffney expressed his thanks for both Councillors and wished them
both luck in the forthcoming elections.
8.A REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS.
Councillors felt that Standing Orders needed only one amendment, which was in
Item 70. This should read “ A member of the public, or a Councillor who
has declared a prejudicial interest in any other matter on the agenda, may address
the Council within the meeting for a maximum of 3 minutes, if they have given
their name to the Clerk before the meeting.”
9. UP THE POLE PLANTERS
As three of the planters are awaiting repair the clerk wondered whether to seek
quotations only for the ones that are not broken.
The broken ones need new inset and carrots. Cllr Dr Penney proposed that the
clerk should check the guarantees and replace the parts that have failed, seconded
by Cllr Pinches and resolved.
Cllr Dr Penney proposed that the clerk seeks a price for those planters which
are in place, seconded by Cllr Holton and resolved.
10. PUBLIC HALL CHARITY EVENT STOPPED.
Councillors expressed their outrage and bemusement at the police preventing
this event from happening. Councillors stated that the Public Hall does not
have a bad reputation, and that the police have every opportunity to put forward
their concerns through the licensing procedure. Cllr Carroll proposed that the
clerk should write immediately to Inspector McKail outlining Councillors outrage
at this unjustified action. Seconded by Cllr Dr Penney and resolved.
11.PROBLEMS FOR CHILDREN CROSSING KERRY LANE.
Cllr Gaffney proposed that the clerk should write to Shropshire Council requesting
a road sign for traffic calming, and that we could paint a line where the playing
fields drive meets the road, and cut back the bushes as far as possible, seconded
by Cllr Carroll and resolved.
12. LABURNUM ALLEY / CASTLE GREEN JUNCTION REQUESTS.
Concerning the Castle Green junction Cllr Gaffney proposed that the clerk should
write to Shropshire Council and complain about the lack of implementation of
the plan that they have got. It was a condition of the planning application
that this junction should be made safe. Concerning Laburnum Alley, this Council
will investigate an acceptable sign. Seconded by Cllr Carroll and resolved.
13. LOCAL JOINT COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE.
Cllr Wright proposed that Cllr Carroll should be the representative, seconded
by Cllr Stanley and resolved.
14. BUSINESS RATE REFERRAL SCHEME.
Cllr Gaffney proposed that we would defer payment, seconded by Cllr Farr and
resolved.
15. TOWN COUNCIL INSURANCE.
The clerk reported that two brokers had looked into the insurance and neither
could match the original quotation. Last year’s insurance amount was £2250.48,
this year’s is £2324.05
16. DOES THIS COUNCIL STILL WANT TO RECEIVE PAPER COPIES
OF PLANS.
Cllr Dr Penney proposed that the Council would want to receive paper copies
of plans seconded by Cllr Pinches and resolved.
17. SHOULD THIS COUNCIL APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION TO THE
LEASE ON THE ALLOTMENTS.
Cllr Gaffney proposed that we should apply for a 99 year lease, seconded by
Cllr Hird and resolved.
18. REPORT OF RECENT MEETINGS ATTENDED BY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
Cllr Carroll reported that she had attended a Southern Area Forum. There is
£160,000 available to spend over the Southern area and the Partnership
seems to be working.
19. Correspondence.
1. From Peter Phillips to Phil Crossland re Street Works in Bishop’s Castle
2. From Graham Biggs re Costs at Biomass Inquiry.
b) Circulation
1.Strategy and Development Newsletter No 2
2. ICO Freedom of Information DVD
3. LJC Final recommendations
4. Peter Phillips on Tom McCabe’s Visit.
5. Shropshire Playing Fields Association.
6. Explanation of Business rate referral.
The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 10.00 p.m.