MINUTES OF AMEETING OF THE SALTNEY TOWN COUNCILheld at the ODDFELLOWS HALL, 65 HIGH STREET, SALTNEY on WEDNESDAY21 NOVEMBER,2012

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; A V Rattigan; T Walkerand the Town Clerk.

98. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from CouncillorsB J Marshall and AJ Pearson.

99. MINUTES

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 October, 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

100. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor reported that since the last meeting of the Council he had:-

  • attended the Remembrance Day Service at St Mark’s Church and presented a wreath on behalf of the Town Council;
  • attended the Chairman of the County Council’s Annual Dinner;
  • attended the open meeting of the Environmental and Re-Generation Committee with representatives of the Department of the Environment, Mark Tami and local farmers and interested bodies. He thanked all the Council members who attended.

He reminded Members that the Christmas Parade would be held on Monday 3 December. The road closure had been approved and Councillor Alan Evans was acting as Chief Marshall. Letters were being prepared for all the residents on the High Street reminding them that the road would be closed and asking for their co-operation.

101. POLICE MATTERS

Due to Operational Matters it was not possible for a Police Representative to attend but the Town Clerk read a short statement from PC Ian Millington;

  • there had been no reported ASB incidents during the Halloween and Bonfire Night period which had also encompassed half-term and he thought there should be a big ‘pat on the back’ for all our young folks and those who contributed to guiding them; He had sent his congratulations to the local schools and had visited the youth club;
  • the latest action plan targeting the use of motor cycles had received no complaints to date;
  • he circulated a report received from ‘Go Safe’. The enforcement vehicle would be visiting Sandy Lane following the receipt of a number of community concerns.

102. HEALTHCARE IN NORTH WALES

Members had already received letters that had been received from the Minister and the Community Health Council; the Town Clerk reported the receipt of a letter from Professor Merfyn Jones, Chairman of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, assuring the Council that he had read our letter and that he would be considering its contents carefully. It was not expected that any more responses would be obtained from the LHB until the period of consultation had expired.

RESOLVED: That the report be received.

103. BRADSHAW AVENUE PLAY AREA

At the meeting of the Town Council in January approval had been given to ‘match fund’ with the County Council a scheme for the further improvement of the Bradshaw Avenue Playground. The draft scheme had now been approved by the County Council and the Town Council were asked to consider the suggested improvements. A copy of the proposals was circulated but Members suggested that the children themselves should say in the matter.

RESOLVED: That Councillor R Lloyd be authorised to meet with the staff from County Hall and the local children and settle the final arrangements.

104. IMPROVEMENTS TO PLAY AREAS

The Town Clerk reported the receipt of a letter from the County Council inviting the Town Council to nominate a play area for improvement in the financial year 2113/14. The cost would be ‘match funded’ by the County Council and the maximum contribution would be £10,000. In order to meet the County Council’s timetable for budget preparation the nomination was required by 1 January, 2013.

RESOLVED:That this matter be deferred to the January Council meeting in order that the funding arrangements could be considered within the budget framework.

105. FOOTPATH LIGHTING

By Minute 66 of 2011/12 the Town Council had approved the installation of lighting along the pathway leading from the High Street to Salisbury Avenue at an estimated cost of £5,200. The approval had been subject ‘match funding’ with the County Council. In the event the County Council could not find their share of the costs. Nevertheless the lighting of this pathway was of public concern due to the high incidence of ASB in this dark pathway.

There was in the Town Council’s budget a sum of £7,000 for New Lanterns and it was suggested that, on this occasion, the Town Council fully fund the cost of providing these new lanterns.

RESOLVED: That the full cost of providing these new lanterns be met by the Town Council and the Town Clerk be authorised to obtain tenders for the same.

106. PROVISION OF BROADBAND SUPER FAST HIGHWAY

Members were reminded that Saltney was by-passed when the super new Broadband Highway was installed along the Flintshire Coast. Flintshire County Council had been asked to ensure that the Town’s Business Parks were included in the next tranche of provision. This had not happened and Businesses within the Town were suffering because of the lack of access to the system. Members considered what action could be taken to ensure that the Town is connected as soon as possible.

RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk be authorised to write to the persons now indicated reminding them of the original undertakings given when Saltney was by-passed and asking them to expedite the solution.

107. BALDERTON BROOK/DRAINAGE DITCHES

The Town Clerk reported that over 50 people had attended the open meeting of the Environmental and Regeneration Committee at the Community Centre on Wednesday 14 November. People from Saltney, Chester and from Broughton were present. A full and frank discussion took place and the Officer Representatives from the Environment Agency, from Cheshire West and Chester and from Flintshire County Council answered questions. Agreement was reached on a number of matters that were to be actioned within the next two weeks. Following the meeting the Town Clerk had been in discussion with the representatives of the Environment Agency Wales. They had pointed out that Conwy CBC had set up a Conwy Drainage Group Meeting and suggested that, on a smaller scale this area might do the same.

RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk be authorised to approach the organisations now mentioned to see if they would agree to form such a Group.

108 BUDGET 2013/14

Members gave a first consideration of those items suggested for inclusion in this and future budgets. The Town Clerk reported that because of delays in the Welsh Government Consultations on the RSG for the forthcoming year the whole programme of financial information from the County Council had been delayed and suggested that, in order that proper consideration could be given to the budget for 2013/14 by the Finance and General Purposes Committee, the January meeting of the Town Council should be delayed.

RESOLVED: That (1) the items now indicated be included in the items to be considered by the Finance and General Purposes Committee for inclusion in the budget for 2013/14 and (2)

the January meeting of the Town Council be deferred until Wednesday 16 January, 2013.

109. QUESTIONS

There were no questions in accordance with Standing Order 23.

110. INFORMATION FROM THE LOCAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Further to Minute 210, County Councillors Gay and Lloyd were invited to give any feedback they might have received from County Council meetings that may or will affect Saltney.

Councillor Lloyd updated Members on the position with regards to the planning application for the new scout hut and the considerable delay in the process; Councillor Gay reported that the Flintshire Connect programme had been looking at a number of sites within the Town but that no decision had yet been made and the problems associated with the introduction of the Welfare Reform Act.

111. PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS

RESOLVED: (1) That the payment of the following accounts be approved:

PayeeInvoiceAmount

A ThornileySalary + Office (£50.00) Nov £982.62

HMRCTown Clerk’s Income Tax£233.20

NI£74.74

£307.94

A ThornileyTravel and Office Expenses £217.96

Deeside Ldge Room Hire £18.00

NWPMaintenanceSep£245.84

VAT £49.17 £295.01

RBSAlpha Software Maintenance£104.00

VAT £20.80 £124.80

Scottish PwrEnergy to 30/9/12£653.69

VAT£130.74 £784.43

(2) That in view of long delay before the next meeting the Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Town Clerk be authorised to make any necessary payments subject to confirmation by the Council.