Minutes of Council Meeting held on 12 April 2010 Cont….
ULVERSTON TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES of the Proceedings of a meeting of the
Ulverston Town Council held in the Town Hall, Ulverston
on 12 April 2010 at 7.15.p.m.
PRESENT : Councillor N. Bishop-Rowe (Chairman), J. Airey, J. Hancock,
C. Hodgson, M. Hornby, H. Irving, J. Jenkinson, P. Jones, P. Lister, B. Marr,
J. Prosser, J. Rice, A. Rigg, R. Gill, C. Williams.
Also Present : Cllr. M. Wilson (SLDC) , Press (1), Public (Nil).
N.363. APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE :
Cllrs. J. Pickthall (personal), T. Watson (personal), B. Wilkinson (personal).
N.364. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST :
Cllr. Jenkinson declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7 with regard to planning applications as members of the District Council Planning Committee and would not be taking part in the discussions or in voting. Cllr. Jenkinson also declared a personal and prejudicial interest in planning application SL/10/0183.
N.365. TOWN MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS :
Cllr. Bishop-Rowe referred to his Mayoral engagements during the period which had been varied. A copy of the functions attended was posted on the Council Chamber notice board.
N.366. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION : Nil.
N.367. MINUTES :
It was resolved that the minutes of the council meeting held on 22 March 2010, including the minutes held in closed session, be approved and adopted.
N.368. COUNTY COUNCILS/DISTRICT COUNCILLORS/POLICE
a. County Councillors
Cllr. Airey referred to the appeal regarding the Roxy in Ulverston. The appeal hearing with the Magistrates had been deferred for the third time, which was a cause for concern and was very unsatisfactory. Residents were still affected due to poor management at the Roxy. Cllr. Hodgson proposed that the Council write to the Crown Prosecution Service at Barrow on this matter with concerns over the lack of action. This was agreed.
Cllr. Airey said that he also continued to press for action on pot holes.
Cllr. Jones congratulated Cllr. Airey as deputy leader on the County Council Conservative Group.
b. District Councillors Nil
c. Police
No report. Cllr. Bishop-Rowe referred to various correspondence regarding police matters. (“Safer, Stronger Communities”), including a letter from the Chief Constable. It had been confirmed that these meetings will take place on a Wednesday evening, on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.pm in the Ulverston Library. Any Cllrs wishing to attend these meetings, to be involved in the setting of community policing priorities will be most welcome. This will ensure that police business does not encroach on council business in the future. Local officers will also continue to support Town Council meetings whenever possible.
N.369. TOWN PLANNING :
(i) Resolved : That the following observations be made on planning applications :-
SL/10/0183 Penn Close, Pennington Lane. The Town Council APPROVE this application. Cllr. Jenkinson left the chamber for this item.
SL/10/0208 Stockbridge House, Stockbridge Lane. The Town Council APPROVE this application.
SL/10/0224 18 Sunderland Terrace, Ulverston. The Town Council considers that the proposed windows are not sympathetic to the surroundings and need to reflect the existing windows. APPROVED subject to these recommendations.
(ii) Applications Granted and Refused by the District Council noted.
N.370. STREET NAMING : Noted.
N.371. CORRESPONDENCE :
a) Market Place Ulverston – Traffic Regulation Order, Formal Consultation
This proposed TRO is intended to impose new restrictions at Market Place. Tesco Stores Ltd has requested that provision for a loading only bay is made on Market Place for their new store. This would amend the existing TRO to make a dual-use bay, allowing provision for loading only and Taxis only, except on Market days (as currently), as it will improve the amenities of the area. The proposals for the dual-use bay are as follows :
· Loading only : 6 am to 10 am and
· Taxi only : 10 am to midnight and midnight to 6 am
A previous TRO made operative on 1 June 2009, imposed a 24 hour Taxi only bay and, whilst this order was brought into force “on paper”, it was never implemented “on the ground” as Tesco’s request to look at a loading bay was received at the same time.
It was noted that the deadline for receipt of comments and objections is 30 April.
At present large delivery vehicles tend to arrive at 6 am to avoid disturbance. The Council agreed in principle to the proposed TRO as long as rules are met, but did not want to see any loss in residential parking and that this be available when not being used by taxis. It was proposed by Cllr. Hodgson, seconded by Cllr Bishop-Rowe that the order for Taxi parking in Market Place is between 6.00 pm and 6.00 am and not 10.00 am through until 6.00 am the following day. This was agreed.
b) SLDC Land at North Lonsdale Road
A letter had been received from Jayne Kendall, Regeneration Manager, SLDC confirming that it is proposed to await the outcome of an Environment Agency Study on all land in South Ulverston, following the flooding in 2009. A report is due during Spring 2011. SLDC will then review this report and with the benefit of this data, review the way forward. Residents through the newly formed South Ulverston Flood Action Group have also been advised of this action.
c) CALC District Association Meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 17 June at Kendal Town Hall from 7pm. The minutes of the meeting held on 4 March were noted by Councillors.
d) Conference on Re-using Rural Buildings of Character for Jobs and Homes
This will take place on Wednesday 21 April in the Bindloss Room, Kendal Town Hall between 10.30 am – 3.30 pm.
e) Lakes Leisure – Funding Application for Pool Hoist
Fund raising efforts have reduced the shortfall required to £1,397. The Council agreed to pay this amount, which will allow the purchase to go ahead.
f) Citizens Advice South Lakeland
CASL had written to thank the Council for the recent grant of £2,000 towards the cost of their on-going work in Ulverston.
g) Bracken Fire on Hoad Hill, Ulverston
A letter on this matter from a resident had been received and the contents were noted. A copy of the letter had been sent to Town Lands for action.
N.372. SIR JOHN BARROW MONUMENT :
Cllr. Hodgson provided an update report on the restoration of the Monument. The project was on target for completion in July. Cllr. Hodgson added that he had been contacted by a Senior Director from Marl International Ltd, who specialise in LED lighting. Marl have offered to contribute to the project at no cost to UTC, by making LED lighting available both internally and externally and options were being explored. This will also result in lower consumption levels. Cllr. Hodgson proposed that a letter of thanks be sent to Marl International. This was agreed.
N.373. CONSIDERATION OF GRANTING FREEDOM OF THE TOWN TO THE DUKE OF LANCASTER’S REGIMENT :
Cllr. Bishop-Rowe said that he had been advised that this item should be discussed in a separate meeting and proposed that a special meeting be convened at the end of normal council business. This was agreed.
N.374. SLDC’S OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMENTS – WORK PROGRAMME CONSULTATION 2010/11 :
Papers on this matter were provided for members. After various discussions, Cllr. Hodgson proposed that there should be consultation with other organisations and service deliverers. Cllr. Airey asked that the issue of how SLDC communicates with Town and Parish Councils be examined as it was felt that there were short comings in this area. This was agreed.
N.375. ULVERSTON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP – CONSTITUTION & MEMBERSHIP
The Town Clerk drew attention to the papers and in particular the proposed membership of the Partnership. Cllr. Jenkinson said that this was an important committee, which needed to show community involvement and operating with community partners. The proposed membership was agreed.
N.376. LOCAL AREA PARTNERSHIPS – NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP :
It was noted that the council needed to nominate 3 representatives, in addition to District Councillors who already attend. Cllr. Hodgson proposed that one councillor is nominated from each of the political groups, to also include the Town Clerk and nominated Cllr. J. Hancock. This was agreed. Cllr. Lister will inform the Town Clerk of the nominee from the Labour Group in the near future.
N.377. WINTER MAINTENANCE :
Various papers from C.C.C. had been provided for members, including a report from Cllr. Bishop-Rowe on a seminar that he attended in Kendal on 16 March. After various discussions and in view of the detail to be examined, Cllr. Jenkinson proposed that there should be a working group to study the papers in order to make responses by 4 May 2010. This was agreed and leaders would nominate members at the end of the meeting.
N.378. A590/TANK SQUARE ROUNDABOUT IMPROVEMENT SCHEME UPDATE :
The Town Clerk referred to various papers and correspondence which had been made available to members. This included a recent letter from Mr. H. Knowles, Chief Executive, Furness Enterprise Ltd challenging the need for the utilitarian nature of the Pedestrian Guard Rails. A meeting had previously taken place with Mr Theobalds and Amey Mouchel when concerns were raised over the configuration of the traffic lights and the signs and lines leading to potential accidents. Cllr Bishop-Rowe had written to the Manchester and London office in this matter. All comments were noted and it was agreed that the Project Sponsor, Mr. Theobalds be invited to address the Council on the outcome of this project and to report on the findings of the safety Audit in 3 months time.
N.379. TOWN COUNCIL NOTICE BOARD :
Cllr. Hodgson said that funding for this notice board was almost in place but proposed that UTC release £250 from the Community Development Fund budget to meet the shortfall. This was agreed.
The notice board will be fitted in front of the Coronation Hall.
N.380. REPORTS IN THE PRESS BY SLDC :
Cllr. Jenkinson said that she was concerned that SLDC only use the Westmorland Gazette for their advertisements and press releases, rather than the NW Evening Mail with regard to issues that affected Ulverston locally and felt that the community was being disenfranchised in this regard. It was agreed that the NW Evening Mail was very much read by the community and for getting the local message across. Cllr. Jenkinson proposed that a letter be sent to SLDC on this matter. This was agreed.
N.381. MINUTS OF OTHER MEETINGS :
The following meetings were noted :
· Ulverston in Bloom Committee – 16 March 2010
· Ulverston/Albert Twinning Association – 16 March 2010
· Ulverston Community Partnership – 17 March 2010
N.382. FAIRS 2010 – ULVERSTON : The drawing on and off dates were noted.
N.383. OUTSIDE BODIES :
The reports on ATC, St. John Ambulance, Dickensian and Road Maintenance were all noted.
N.384. FINANCES :
All income and expenditure since 8 March 2010 including Salaries and National Insurance as shown on the Agenda were noted and agreed by all Council Members.
Cllr. Hornby commented that it was encouraging to see so many contributions from the community for UIB.
N.385. OTHER MATTERS :
a. Cllr. Hornby raised the matter of the significant difference in cremation rates and said that the rates outside Barrow were £140 more expensive. Cllr. Hodgson proposed that this issue be put on the agenda for the next Town Council meeting. This was agreed.
b. The Mayor reminded Councillors that the Annual Town Meeting would take place on Monday 26 April 2010 at 7.00 pm in the Coronation Hall Supper Room.
N.386. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION : None.
Chairman
(The meeting closed at 8.35 p.m.)
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