MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SALTNEY TOWN COUNCILheld at the ODDFELLOWS HALL, 65 HIGH STREET, SALTNEY on WEDNESDAY11 SEPTEMBER,2013.
PRESENT: The Mayor Councillor E E Greensmith; Councillors H D Beddow; D Evans; T A Evans; V Gay;A C Lloyd; T R Lloyd; B J Marshall; A J Pearson;A V Rattigan; M S Streeter; T Walkerand the Town Clerk.
50. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillor D A Hope.
51. RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLOR
The Town Clerk reported the resignation of Councillor R Lythe consequent upon his transfer to Airbus France based in Toulouse. The Notice of a Vacancy for a Councillor for the Stonebridge Ward would be posted on 13 September. If the requisite number of electors failed to request an election, he explained the new rules with regards to filling the vacancy by co-option.
Mr Lythe was present and thanked the Members and the Town Clerk for their friendship and support over the past few years.
RESOLVED: That the resignation be received with regret and Mr Lythe be thanked for all his work as a Town Councillor and in particular for his very practical help with events such as the Christmas Parade where he will be sorely missed.
52. CODE OF CONDUCT – DECLARATION OF INTEREST
The Mayor, Councillor Greensmith and Councillor Gay declared an interest in item 10 on the agenda.
53. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 July, 2013 were confirmed as a correct record.
54. MATTERS ARISING
Under this item the Town Clerk was asked if he had received any response from St Anthony’s School re the appointment of a school governor and the difficulty in meeting the requirement of the early start to their Governing Body meetings. He replied that, as yet, he had not received any response but he had asked if the Governing Body would reconsider the timing of their meetings at the first opportunity.
55. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS
The Mayor reported on her attendance at various functions within the Town since the last meeting.
56. POLICE MATTERS
Inspector Iwan Jones together with PC Ian Millington attended the meeting. Inspector Jones outlined the principles behind the changes in the policing of Saltney. The new scheme, which had only begun on 1 September, would ultimately lead to a stronger police presence within the Town. The ‘new’ team would need time to build their knowledge of the neighbourhood and would be relying on Ian and Danni sharing their experience. Not all members of the new team had actually moved across and Members were asked to give them time to settle in.
Members were concerned about the increase in the number of OWL alerts appertaining to Saltney during the summer and Inspector Jones gave an explanation of how the alerts were compiled.
RESOLVED: That the report be received and the Police staff be congratulated on their efforts to reduce crime and ASB in the Town.
57. SUMMER PLAY SCHEMES – SALTNEY YOUTH CLUB
1) Reduction in hours-Following strong representations made by parents and others concerning the reduced period of the summer play scheme, Councillors Walker; Streeter and Rattigan requested this item be included in the agenda. Councillor Walker handed the Town Clerk a petition signed by a large number parents, relatives and guardians of children in the area requesting that the play schemes be run for the full 3 weeks next year.
A full and frank discussion ensued and it was agreed that a meeting should be held with the relevant Officers of the County Council in order that the question of the necessary fundings could be explored. The Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and Cllr Lloyd reported that the necessary arrangements were already in hand.
2) Reports - Members received reports from the Community Youth Worker on the Saltney Summer Play Scheme and the Saltney Summer Activity Programme.
RESOLVED: That 1) the discussion on the question of grants be deferred until the next meeting of Council; and 2) the reports be received.
Having declared an interest in the following item The Mayor vacated the Chair and together with Councillor Gay withdrew from the meeting during the discussion thereon.
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alan Evans in the Chair.
58. REQUEST FOR A GRANT SECTION 137
Members considered a request from the Saltney Community Centre Committee for a grant of £250 towards the expenses of a Tea Dance to be held on 1 October, which had been organised by The Mayor, Councillor Greensmith, to celebrate Older Persons Day.
RESOLVED: That a grant of £250 be made to the Saltney Community Centre Management Committee as requested.
The Mayor, Councillor Greensmith resumed the Chair.
59. REPORT OF THE EXTERNAL AUDITORS ON THE TOWN COUNCIL’S ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH, 2013.
The Town Clerk reported that the external auditors, UHY Hacker Young, intended to issue an unqualified audit certificate. They wished to draw the Council’s attention to the fact that the asset figure has been increased from £73,663 to £95,263 and they required an explanation for the increase.
The Town Clerk informed Members that the asset figure had been increased to cover the artwork at Morrisons - £14,000 and the two CCTV cameras at £4,310 each.
RESOLVED: That the external auditors report be received; the explanation for the increase in the asset figure and the accounting statements under Regulation 9 (3) Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations 2005 (as amended) and the Annual Governance Statement for the year ended 31 March, 2013 be approved and The Mayor be authorised to sign the relevant documentation.
60. EXPERT GROUP ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIVERSITY –CALL FOR EVIDENCE
Members received a letter from Professor Laura McAllister, Chair, Expert Group on Local Government Diversity, asking if Members would consider submitting evidence to the Group.
RESOLVED: That Members make their own contact with Professor McAllister if they so wish.
61. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The Town Clerk reported the receipt of the following planning applications:
1. Ref: 051013
Proposal: Replacement Scout building, fence and formation of new vehicular access
Location: Scout and Guide Headquarters Bradshaw Avenue, Saltney Ferry, Flintshire
Grid Ref: E336918 N 365128
Members expressed some concern about the style of the proposed building but accepted the need for the changes.
Councillor Streeter apologised and retired from the meeting at this point.
2. CWAC Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Proposal: Outline planning application for erection of 34 dwellings
Location: Land Off, Green Lane, Marlston cum Lache, Chester
Following notification of the abovementioned application to CWAC the Town Clerk reported that in view of the timescale for comments he had submitted the following comment:
My Members are concerned about the disposal of the surface water from these dwellings. The Balderton Brook, which takes most of the run-off water from this area, has problems with silting up. Despite attempts by the Environment Agency to upgrade the sump and the pumps adjacent to the river bank, changes in responsibilities and the economic downturn has seen little or no money spent on dredging the river bed and serious problems could occur downstream of the development if the surface water is allowed to drain into the Brook.
Members also expressed concern about the access road and its affect on the safety of the Green Lane Level Crossing.
RESOLVED: That the action of the Town Clerk be confirmed.
62. FLINTSHIRE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (LDP)
CONSULTATION ON DRAFT DELIVERY AGREEMENT (DA)
The County Council was embarking on the preparation of a Local Development Plan for the County. A key feature of the LDP process was the opportunity for engagement from early on in the process, in order that people can have the opportunity to influence the Plan as it progressed. The preparation of a Delivery Agreement was the first stage in the LDP process.
The County Council was inviting comments on the DA in order to ensure that there was a broad consensus about how the Council proposed to prepare the Plan. The aim was to assist the Plan to progress smoothly and avoid disputes and delays later on.
RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk be requested to respond to the County Council in the terms now indicated.
63. GREEN LANE LEVEL CROSSING AND THE ENVIRONS
Following the re-surfacing work to the road and the level crossing there had been considerable speculation locally as to the delays and the rescheduling timetable for the ‘dualling’ of the railway line between Chester and Wrexham which was to have included the re-alignment of the level crossing. Members consider whether they wished to lobby the Welsh Government Minister for some intervention in resolving this continued problem with the crossing.
It was some 5 years since the initial meeting in 2008 and little progress had been made since then. Recently during the resurfacing work the footpath had now changed sides of the road at the level crossing.
RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk be requested 1)to obtain, under FOI, the minutes of the meeting held in October 2008; and 2) to write to Network Rail, Rail Safety Executive; CWAC and Stagecoach reminding them that despite the Town Council’s expressed concerns over the safety of this level crossing going back over 5 years nothing had been done and the recent announcement in the delay in dualling the line between Chester and Wrexham, which would have lead to a re-alignment of the crossing, had exacerbated the situation.
64. WELCOME TO SALTNEY SIGN
RESOLVED: That the Allotment Society be requested to increase the soil level in the planting box and maintain the flower bed around the abovementioned sign for the winter period.
65. CODE OF CONDUCT TRAINING
The Town Clerk reported the receipt of a notification from County Monitoring Officer that he was arranging a training session on ‘Code of Conduct’ for Members of Town and Community Councils on Thursday, 7 November at Flint Town Hall, commencing at 6pm.
RESOLVED: That any Member who wished to attend should notify the Town Clerk.
66. 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 reported a meeting with Neil Cockerton and the possible arrangements for the replacement of the commemorative plaque on the Saltney Ferry footbridge and also the introduction of the Civil Parking Enforcement.
Councillor Gay reported that the County Council were still looking for premises for a ‘one stop shop’ in Saltney. She was still searching for funding for tree planting within the Town and referred to the Hawarden Airport relief road.
RESOLVED: That the reports be received.
67. TOWN CLERK’S SALARY
The Town Clerk reported the receipt of notification that the three-year pay freeze on Local Authority pay scales had ended and an overall 1% increase on the April 2010 salary scale had been approved at National Level. The Town Clerk’s salary would increase from £12.322 ph to £12.938ph.
RESOLVED: That the report be received.
68. PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS
RESOLVED: That the following accounts be approved for payment:
PayeeInvoiceAmount
A ThornileySalary + Office (£50.00) Sep £991.86
HMRCTown Clerk’s IT£235.40 NI£74.01 £309.41
A ThornileyStationery/Mileage/Sundries £185.76
Deeside Ldge Room Hire £27.00
Vision ICTVision Extra£510.00
VAT£102.00 £612.00
During the recess it had been necessary for the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, in accordance with the decision at the July meeting, to authorise the following payments:
Scottish PowerEnergy to 31/7£787.46
Zurich MunicipalInsurance Premium 01/09/13-14£1879.77
D and J Garden CareMaintenance of the Sculpture£140.00
One Voice WalesAttendance at AGM£150.00
HMRCTown Clerks NI an IT£305.00
RESOLVED: That the action of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee be confirmed.
69.RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLOR D EVANS
Councillor D Evans announced that as he had moved out of the area he felt it necessary to resign. Members thanked Councillor Evans for his considerable efforts on behalf of the Council and in particular during the year of his Mayoralty.