Election/Appointment of Councillors

MINUTES OF THE ANNUALMEETING OF THE SALTNEY TOWN COUNCILheld at the ODDFELLOWS HALL, 65 HIGH STREET, SALTNEY on WEDNESDAY9 MAY,2012

PRESENT: (In the Chair) The Retiring Mayor, Councillor Richard Lloyd; Councillors H D Beddow;D Evans; T A Evans; V Gay; E E Greensmith;D A Hope; A C Lloyd; B J Marshall; A J Pearson; A V Rattigan; M S Streeter; T Walkerand the Town Clerk.

ELECTION/APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILLORS

The Town Clerk formally reported the following appointments to the Town Council:

Saltney Stonebridge Ward:

H D Beddow

J D Evans

T A Evans

V E Gay

E E Greensmith

A J Pearson

M Streeter

T Walker

Saltney Mold Junction Ward

D A Hope

A Lloyd

T R Lloyd

B J Marshall

A Rattigan

1.APPOINTMENT OF TOWN MAYOR

RESOLVED (nem con): That Councillor David Evans be appointed Mayor for the Municipal Year 2012/2013. Councillor Evans thanked the Members for their confidence, signed the necessary Declaration and was invested with the Chain of Office by the Retiring Mayor Councillor Lloyd..

Councillor Evans in the Chair.

2. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR

RESOLVED (nem con); That Councillor Mrs E E Greensmith be appointed Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2012/2013. Councillor Mrs Greensmith thanked the Members for their confidence and signed the necessary Declaration

3. FORMER TOWN COUNCILLOR PETER FROST

The Town Clerk reported the untimely death of former Councillor Peter Frost. Mr Frost had served as a Town Councillor for nearly 40 years and had served as Mayor on three occasions. As well as being an acknowledged expert in the Towns Street Lighting system he was also sincerely committed to the development of the Youth Service within the Town. Indeed it had been his vision that had started the Summer Play Scheme which, with funding from the Town Council, had grown from strength to strength. Councillor Walker paid tribute to Councillor Frost’s service to the Town and, on behalf of the family, he thanked those Members who had been able to attend the funeral service.Members stood in silent tribute to departed merit.

4. DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE/CODE OF CONDUCT

The Town Clerk reported that all Town Councillors had signed their Declarations of Acceptance of Office and their Acceptance of the Town Council’s Code of Conduct.

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RESOLVED: That the report be received

5. VACANCY FOR A TOWN COUNCILLOR

The Town Clerk reported on the election/appointment of Members to the Town Council and reminded Members that there was a vacancy for a Councillor in the Saltney Stonebridge Ward. Members were asked to consider the co-option of a member to fill that vacancy. As there were two persons nominated for co-option a ballot was held.

RESOLVED: That Mr Rob Lythe of 7 Belmont Drive, Saltney Ferry, be invited to accept co-option as a Town Councillor for the Saltney Stonebridge Ward.

6. MINUTES

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 April, 2012be confirmed as a correct record.

7. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

RESOLVED: That the following be appointedas representatives on the undermentioned outside bodies:

One Voice Wales – Councillor V Gay and the Town Clerk;

County Forum – Councillors E E Greensmith; T R Lloydand the Town Clerk;

Police Joint Consultative Committee – Councillors T A Evans; B J Marshall and A J Pearson;

Community Centre Management Committee – CouncillorB J Marshall;

Youth Centre Management Committee – (this appointment was deferred pending further investigation by the Town Clerk.)

8. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES

RESOLVED: That this matter be deferred to the next meeting to allow for some changes to be suggested.

9. POLICE MATTERS

PC Millington was in attendance and reported upon the following:-

• the continued reduction in anti social behaviour;
• it was noticeable that, due to the warmer weather, the public were leaving windows open and he warned against the temptation of the ‘sneak thief’. PCSO Hughes was checking for this and warning householders where necessary;
• there had been a noticeable increase in metal thefts in all areas especially lead from roofs and he asked all to be most vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour;
• there had been one stolen pedal cycle from outside the Morrisons Store and again he asked the public to make sure that their cycles were securely locked before leaving them.

Members asked questions on a number of matters including:-

• security at ‘Go-Outdoors;
• the incident involving the Arriva Bus on the Green Lane level crossing;
• anti social behaviour in and around Marley Way:
• closure of the main road for the resurfacing works.

10. ADJUDICATION PANEL FOR WALES – NOTICE OF DECISION APW/008/2010-011/CT

1. Suspension of Standing Order 72.

The Town Clerk reminded Members that at a Special Meeting of the Town Council held on 1 February, 2012, (Minute 123 refers) Standing Order 72 was suspended until after review at this Council meeting.

RESOLVED 1) That the suspension of Standing Order 72 be lifted;

2. Response from the Chief Executive of Flintshire County Council

Further to Minute 123 the Town Clerk reported upon the response received from the Chief Executive of the County Council and circulated copies of the letter he had received.

RESOLVED 2) That the Town Clerk be requested to prepare a report for the County Standards Committee in the terms now indicated.

11. PLANNING APPLICATION

The Town Clerk reported that the following Planning Applications had been received for comment:

REF: 049685
PROPOSAL: Retrospective - Change of use from car park to an external area to display tents in association with the Go Outdoors retail unit and external alterations
LOCATION: former Morrisons unit River Lane, Saltney, Chester
GRID REF: E 337707 N 365184
In accordance with the adopted procedure full details of the application were on the County Council web-site

REF: 049593
PROPOSAL: Erection of single storey bin compound
LOCATION: St Davids High School, St. Davids Terrace, Saltney Ferry, Chester, CH4 0AE
GRID REF:E 337282 N 364930
In accordance with the adopted procedure full details of the application were on the County Council web-site

REF: 049693
PROPOSAL: Retrospective application for the erection of advertisements
LOCATION: former Morrisons unit River Lane, Saltney, Chester
GRID REF: E 337707 N 365185
In accordance with the agreed procedure full details of the application were on the County Council’s web site

RESOLVED: That the County Council be informed that the Town Council have no comments to make on the abovementioned planning applications.

12. MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE

The Town Clerk reported that, following representations from Councillor Marshall, the Library Service were to introduce a 3 weekly stop at Belmont Drive on Wednesdays between 11.30 and 12 noon with the new service to commence on 20 June. The book mark produced to advertise the commencement of this service was somewhat ambiguous in the statement and had lead some to believe that the new service was to replace the present service.

RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk be asked to ascertain the correct meaning.

13. SECTION 137 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972

The Town Clerk reported the receipt of a letter from the Head of Creative Arts at St David’s High School. 30 pupils from the school were going to the Catalonia region of Spain in July to perform several concerts in the area. The pupils were all paying their own air fares however, the instruments and associated equipment had to go by road and together with the cost of coach transfers the school had to raise an extra £1,000 themselves.. The school were asking if the Town Council would be prepared to help with a grant.

RESOLVED: That consideration of this matter be deferred to the next meeting for further information’

14. QUESTIONS-STANDING ORDER 23

The Town Clerk reported that no questions had been received.

15. NOTICES OF MOTION

Members considered the following Notices of Motion (1) from Councillor Richard Lloyd ‘that Saltney Town Council congratulate the Corner Pin football team on winning the Chester Sunday League section A title, the Welsh National Premier Division. and also on reaching three cup finals. These being the Chester Sunday FA Cup, the North Wales FA Sunday Cup and the Chester League Cup

RESOLVED: That the motion be carried and the congratulations of the Town Council be conveyed to the Corner Pin Football Team.

(2) from Councillor Ann Lloyd ‘that the Town Council consider purchasing small commemorative flags for the children to wave when the Olympic Torch passes through the Town’

RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk be authorised to purchase the small official commemorative flags for the school children as now indicated.

16. INFORMATION FROM THE LOCAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER

Further to Minute 210, County Councillor Gay reported that (1) following a visit to Windsor Shoes supermarket on River Lane it had been brought to their attention that they were not forced to implement a surcharge on plastic carrier bags as the store is in England and not Wales. The management had calculated the additional charge at £45 and had made a donation of that amount to The Mayor’s Charity Fund; (2) the enforcement of planning and environmental matters on some of the developments in River Lane had not been kept up to date and she had asked the County Council to investigate the matter as some of the businesses had complained that they were being treated unfairly..

17. PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS

(1) Authorised signatories

The Town Clerk reported that the authorised signatories for Council expenditure at the bank were Councillors H D Beddow; EE Greensmith and T R Lloyd and that it would be helpful if at least one other Member would be prepared to act as an authorised signatory.

RESOLVED: That HSBC be informed that bank mandate should be amended to remove the names of Ms T J Elliott and K Armstrong-Braun and add the name of Councillor Alan Evans.

(2) To authorise payment of the following accounts:

PayeeInvoiceAmount

A ThornileySalary + Office (£50.00) April £982.62

HMRCTown Clerk’s Income Tax£233.20

NI£79.57 £312.77

A ThornileyOffice Sundries and Mileage £46.67

Deeside Ldge Room Hire £30.00

NWPMaintenance£245.84

VAT £49.17 £295.01

PykesTwo new plates for Mayoral Chain

And engraving the same£414.58

VAT£82.92 £497.50

FCCRent of 3.8acres at Saltney Ferry for

Recreational purposes £50.00