MINUTES OF AMEETING OF THE SALTNEY TOWN COUNCILheld at the ODDFELLOWS HALL, 65 HIGH STREET, SALTNEY on WEDNESDAY16 JANUARY, 2013
PRESENT: The Mayor, Councillor D Evans and Councillors H D Beddow;T A Evans; V Gay; D A Hope; E E Greensmith;A C Lloyd;T R Lloyd; R Lythe; A V Rattigan;M S Streeter; T Walkerand the Town Clerk.
112. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillor AJ Pearson.
113. MINUTES
RESOLVED: That, subject to the removal of the name of Cllr A V Rattigan in the list of those Members present, the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 21 November,2012 be confirmed as a correct record.
114. FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
Members received the Minutes of the meetings of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 12 December and 9 January, and considered the recommendations contained therein, with the exception of Minute 7 of the meeting held on 9 January, 2013 which was considered elsewhere in the agenda.
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meetings of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on 12 December and 9 January be received and the recommendations contained therein be adopted subject as follows:
(1) the removal of the words ‘Tegid Way’ from the recommendation contained in Minute 6 of 9 January, 2013; and (2) the recommendation in Minute 7 being considered later in the agenda.
115. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS
The Mayor wished everyone a ‘Happy New Year’ and reported that he had attended the Christmas Parade and had received lots of very positive feedback. He particularly thanked the Police for the way they had assisted in the event and also Cllr Alan Evans for his ‘marshalling’;
He had also attended a Christmas Party at Douglas Place.
116. POLICE MATTERS
PC Millington was in attendance and reported that there were no current ASB issues in the Town although there was an on-going operation (Bozo) with regards to the business premises on River lane where some trailers had been stolen. A new PCSO had been appointed, PCSO Tom Huff; who would also be covering Broughton; Kinnerton and Penyffordd. A new Special Constable had also been appointed SPC Steve Gladwin.
The present Action Plan with regards to the illegal riding of motor bikes had not produced any complaints. He stressed that when areas, including play areas, were perceived to be ‘un-cared for’ there was a tendency for ASB to appear in the area and urged Members to consider this factor when improvements/maintenance to areas was being considered.
Members raised questions as to the problems associated with the recent part closure and one-way system operating on the High Street whilst the new water main was being laid. It was early days as the new traffic system had only been operating for 3 days, however he urged Members to report any problems as soon as they manifested themselves.
He thanked the Mayor for his kind words re the Police and the Christmas Parade and in turn thanked Cllr Alan Evans for his considerable help in organising the paradeMarshalls.
117. BUDGET 2012/2013
Members received a report from the Town Clerk and Chief Financial Officer ( a copy of which is in the Official Minute Book) and considered the recommendations of the Finance and General Purposes Committee contained in Minute 7 of the meeting held on 9 January, 2013.
RESOLVED: by recorded vote, that the budget proposals as now submitted be adopted for the financial year 2013/14 at a total cost of £74,892 and the County Council be informed that a precept of 42.97 will be required to fund the same.
For the MotionAgainst the Motion
Cllr H D BeddowCllr A V Rattigan
Cllr D EvansCllr M S Streeter
Cllr T A EvansCllr T Walker
Cllr V Gay
Cllr E E Greensmith
Cllr D A Hope
Cllr A C Lloyd
Cllr T R Lloyd
Cllr R Lythe
118. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL FOR WALES
The Town Clerk reported that the abovementioned Panel had now published its Annual Report, dated December 2012, to be implemented in the financial year 2013/14. The full report was available on the Panel’s website
During the early part of 2012 the Panel had undertaken consultation with communityand town councils and what had become clear to the Panel was that there was a widevariety and range of functions and responsibilities carried out by different councilsand therefore similar disparities in the roles of individual councillors. The Panel hadmade determinations in respect of travel and subsistence, attendance allowance,financial loss allowance and civic allowance. The levels of these allowancescurrently available to members of community and town councils would bemaintained for the foreseeable future. The Panel hadalso extended the current remuneration framework a community or town council thediscretion to make a payment of up to £100 to each of its members per year inrecognition of costs which might be incurred in respect of telephone usage,information technology, consumables etc. This was the Panel’s first response to itsinitial consultation but there would be further dialogue with community and towncouncils. Consultation on the draft Report had produced some concerns about thepublic perception of any payments to community and town councillors and thepractical impact on precepts of such payments, particularly for the smaller councils.
RESOLVED: That the report be received and there be no change in the Town Council’s scheme for expenses.
119. APPROPRIATE SUM - SECTION 137(4)(a) LGA 1972
The Town Clerk reported that the appropriate sum under the above Act had been increased to £6.98 per elector for the financial year 2013/14.
RESOLVED: That the report be received.
119. FLINTSHIRE LIBRARY STRATEGY-CONSULTATION DOCUMENT
The County Council had issued a consultation paper on their proposed strategy for the library service in Flintshire 2013 -2016. Members were asked to comment generally and in particular as to the suitability of the 5 objectives.
RESOLVED: That the County Council be informed that the Town Council have no comments to make on the objectives.
120. SCOUT AND GUIDE HEADQUARTERS, BRADSHAW AVENUE, SALTNEY FERRY
The Town Clerk reported the receipt of the planning permission for the development of the new Scout and Guide Headquarters at Bradshaw Avenue. The present site was the subject of a sub-lease by the Town Council to the Scouts from a lease to the Town Council from the County Council for the whole of the Bradshaw Avenue playing field. Negotiations will now begin with the County Council and the Scouts for amendments/new lease for the enlarged plot.
RESOLVED: That the report be received and the Town Clerk be authorised to make the initial approaches to the County Council for the changes to the leasing arrangements.
121 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – GREEN FUTURES TRAINING PROGRAMME - STRONG ROOTS PROJECT
Training on this matter was to be delivered by Cynnal Cymru and it will help Town Councils to fully understand the concept of sustainable development and how it relates to their communities; to have full access to information and support enabling them to play a key role in delivering the vision of the ‘One Wales One Planet’ strategy which includes climate change adaption and mitigation; development of community scale renewable energy; local food production; support for zero waste; support for social enterprise; fostering and protecting bio-diversity and supporting action that promotes well being.
The course was supported by ‘One Voice Wales’; but there was only one venue for the course in the area on Monday 18 February at the Town Hall, Mold between 6.30 – 9pm. The cost of the course was £30.00
RESOLVED: That any Member wishing to attend this course to contact the Town Clerk in order that he might make the necessary arrangements.
122. TRAINING EVENTS
The Town Clerk reported that One Voice Wales had prepared a number of training events in the coming year; listed in a paper circulated. Members were asked to notify the Town Clerk of any courses that they were interested in so that a booking could be made.
RESOLVED: That the report be received.
123. DEFRA – DICUSSION PAPER – TRIENNIAL REVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY AND NATURAL ENGLAND
The Town Clerk reported that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had prepared a discussion paper. It was available at In its present form it did not affect Wales insofar as Natural England just covered England. But the consultees were being asked to give an opinion on a number of questions beginning with:
Do the functions and/or form of the EA and NE continue to be appropriate in terms of dealing with the Government’s ambitions on the environment and flood and coastal management?
In view of the proximity of the Town with the England border and the confluences of the Balderton Brook and River Dee, Members were asked if they wish to make any comments on the discussion paper?
RESOLVED: That this matter be referred to a Special Meeting of the Environmental and Regeneration Committee to be held at 7pm on Wednesday, 23 January at the Oddfellows Hall and, in view of the short time available for responding to the discussion paper, the Committee be given power to act.
124. INFORMATION FROM THE LOCAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Further to Minute 210 of 2008/9 Local County Council members, Councillor Richard Lloyd and Councillor Gay were invited to give any feedback they might have received from County Council meetings that may or will affect Saltney.
Councillor Lloyd informed Members that following a site meeting the arrangements for the new equipment at Bradshaw Avenue Playing field had been agreed; there were some problems with the land owner at the rear of the Barclays Bank on the High Street who was threatening legal action if residents placed there refuse bins awaiting collection, on his land. Councillor Gay referred to the plans by the County Council to charge/not charge for various parking arrangements within the County. This matter had now been referred back to the Executive Committee for further consideration. She asked members to note that the County Council had not been included Saltney Business Park in the Dee Enterprise Zone. Every effort would be made to keep the pressure up to get recognition for the Saltney Business Park. She had also noted that with the exception of the Doctors surgery in the Lache, Chester Surgeries were now banned from enrolling any Welsh patients.