Apologies Were Received from Councillor T R Walker
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SALTNEY TOWN COUNCILheld at the ODDFELLOWS HALL, 65 HIGH STREET, SALTNEY on WEDNESDAY28 JANUARY, 2008
PRESENT: The Mayor, Councillor Eng K Armstrong-Braun; Councillors H D Beddow; W Crawford, T J Elliott; D Evans; V Gay; E E Greensmith; D A Hope; W P Jones; C P Streeter; M S Streeter; A C Lloyd; T R Lloyd; and the Town Clerk.
138. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillor T R Walker.
139. CODE OF CONDUCT- DECLARATION OF INTEREST
In accordance with the Code of Conduct, The Mayor, Councillor Eng K Armstrong-Braun declared an interest in item 13 on the agenda.
140. MINUTES
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 December, 2008be confirmed as a correct record.
141. ENVIRONMENTAL REGENERATION COMMITTEE
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Environmental Regeneration Committee held on 18
December, 2008 be received and the recommendations contained therein adopted.
142. FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Council received the Minutes ofthe Finance Committee meetings held on 7 January (jointly
with the Environmental Regeneration Committee; 14 January (jointly with the Highways and
Planning Committee) and 21 January and considered the recommendations contained therein with
the exception of the recommendation contained in Minute 15 which was to be considered with a
later item on the agenda.
Members discussed Minute 14 of the meeting held on 21 January, 2009, with regards to the receipt
of the Audit Report from UHY Hacker Young, the external auditors
RESOLVED: That (1) the Minutes of the Finance Committee meetings held on 7 January (jointly
with the Environmental Regeneration Committee; 14 January (jointly with the Highways and
Planning Committee) and 21 January be received and the recommendations contained therein with
the exception of the recommendation contained in Minute 15 which was considered with a later
item on the agenda be received and the recommendations contained therein adopted; (2) the Town
Clerk be requested to write to UHY Hacker Young to confirm that an in-depth audit of the
accounts has taken place.
143. COMPLAINT OF FRAUD
Further to Minute 122 of the last meeting the Town Clerk reported the receipt of a letter from the North Wales Police referring to the complaint of fraud. The letter confirmed that a full investigation had been carried out and that no criminal offence had been committed and that unless any further information was available the matter was closed
RESOLVED: That the report be received.
144. CHILDREN’S PLAY AREAS - PARK AVENUE
Further toMinute 124 of the last meeting the Council gave further consideration to the
improvements to be carried out to the Children’s Play s at Park Avenue. At the last meeting the
Council had agreed, in principle, the works costing £50,000, suggested by the Officers from
Flintshire County Council, subject to the views of those attending the Community Conference
meeting on 6 January and a report from the Finance Committee. The discussion at the meeting on
6 January had not discussed the improvements to the play area but had concentrated on the anti
social behaviour in the area. The matter had been considered by the Finance Committee who
had recommended that the work be phased and that a sum of £15,000 be included in the budget for
2009/2010.
RESOLVED: That the improvements to the play area be carried out on a phased basis with
£15,000 being included in the budget for 2009/2010
145. BUDGET ESTIMATES 2009/2010.
The Council considered the budget estimates for 2009/2010 (a copy of which is in the Official Minute Book) and the recommendations of the Finance Committee contained in Minute 15 of their meeting on 21 January, 2009.
RESOLVED: That the budget estimates in the sum of £121,725 be approved and the expenditure be met as follows:
From balances£51,000
Council tax precept£70,725
The precept will increase by 3.9% from £39 to £40.52
146. GOVERNOR WOOD MEMORIAL SCHOOL
The Town Clerk reported that at the last meeting of the Town Council (Minute 125 refers) Councillor V Gay had been appointed the Town Council representative on the Governing Body of Wood Memorial School. She had now been appointed as the LEA representative and the Council were requested to appoint another representative to this Governing Body.
RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs E E Greensmith be appointed the Town Council representative on the abovementioned Governing Body.
147. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
Further to Minute 126 of the last meeting the Town Clerk reported that the Town Council had
now complied with the Act in adopting the model scheme. The very short timetable attracted a
number of complaints to the Commissioner for which there had been an apology.
RESOLVED: That the report be received.
148. LETTER OF COMPLAINT
The Town Clerk reported the receipt of a letter of complaint which was brought to the attention of the Council. As the letter referred to the actions of both The Mayor and the Town Clerk it had been passed to the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mrs A Lloyd for her to process.
In accordance with his Declaration of Interest at Minute 139 the Mayor vacated the Chair.
The Deputy Mayor Councillor Mrs A Lloyd in the Chair
The Deputy Mayor read the letter from the complainant with regards to a request for a donation from the Mayor’s Allowance for a prize for a children’s Christmas party; together with a second letter in which the complainant absolved the Town Clerk from any blame. The Mayor indicated that he did not intend to respond to the complaint or apologise and refused to comment further.
RESOLVED: That the Mayor, Councillor Eng K Armstrong-Braun be censured for his actions and that the Town Clerk be requested to write to the complainant in the manner now indicated.
The Mayor, Councillor Eng K Armstrong Braun resumed the Chair
149.PLANNING APPLICATION
The Town Clerk reported the receipt of Notice on the following Planning Applications:
Ref: 045893
Proposal: Erection of Porch at front of dwelling
Location: 77 Beechwood Road, Saltney, Chester, CH4 8TN
For: Mrs G Wayne
Ref:045807
Proposal: Erection of two storey extension to side and single storey extension to rear of property.
Location: 7 Mainwaring Drive, Saltney Ferry, Chester CH4 0AX
For: Mr P Franchetti
RESOLVED: That the Flintshire County Council be notified that the Council has no objections to the planning applications outlined above.
150. SUMMER PLAY SCHEMES
The Town Clerk will report request for grants for the Summer Activities Programme for 2009.
Summer Play Scheme at Saltney Youth and Community Centre
3-21 August inclusive – grant requested £2,000
Saltney Summer Activities Programme 2009 Joint Funding with FCC
11-16 yrs old – grant requested £700
RESOLVED: That the applications for grants as set out above be approved.
151. QUESTIONS
In accordance with Standing Order 23 Councillor P Jones asked questions of the Town Clerk with regards to (1) the provision of the new notice boards and the movement of the present notice board in Saltney Ferry and (2) the replacement of the bus shelter in Salisbury Avenue.
The Town Clerk responded by saying that all was in hand for the new notice boards. Some were awaiting permission from various owners of the sites and the erection of all the notice boards and the movement of the one in Saltney Ferry would be carried out at the same time by the same contractor. Insofar as the new bus shelter was concerned the recent petition received by the Council had suggested that a new one should not be erected. The request for shared funding with Flintshire County Council had been agreed in principle but details were still awaited.
RESOLVED: That the report be received.
152. CHRISTMAS LIGHTING
At the request of Councillor Elliott the Council gave further consideration to the provision of new Christmas lights for Saltney. Catalogues and price lists were circulated at the meeting.
Members also discussed the situation with regards to the installation of the Christmas lighting at Christmas 2008. It was reported that only 14 of the lighting columns were in operation.
RESOLVED: That this matter stand referred to a joint meeting of the Finance and the Highways and Planning committees
153. DOG FOULING NOTICES
The Mayor, Councillor Armstrong-Braun requested the Council’s permission to obtain ‘No Dog Fouling’ notices from the Environmental Health Dept of Flintshire County Council that he undertook to affix to appropriate street lanterns owned by the Town Council.
RESOLVED: That this matter be deferred to the next meeting for further information.
154. WELCOME TO SALTNEY SIGNS
At the request of The Mayor, the Council considered the purchase of two street signs with the words ‘WELCOME TO SALTNEY, PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY’ on one side and ‘THANK YOU FOR DRIVING SAFELY’ on the obverse; the signs to be sited at either end of the High Street.
RESOLVED: That this matter be deferred to the next meeting in order to obtain further information and estimates.
155. POLICE MATTERS
Inspector Alun Oldfield attended the meeting and reported upon the following:
ASB in Beechwood Road;
Vandalism Larchway particularly with vehicles;
Speeding in Sandy Lane;
Weight limit on Saltney Ferry Road Bridge;
P C Claire Fielding had obtained another post within the North Wales force and would be leaving at the end of March;
Submitted a Performance Report dated 21 January, 2009 showing that this part of the Division was performing best in the Division in Detecting Crime and an overall reduction in Crime; Reduction in Violent Crime; Criminal Damage Detection Rate and Anti Social
Behaviour Detection Rate.
RESOLVED: That 1) Inspector Oldfield and his team be congratulated for their dedicated efforts
in reducing crime; and 2) the Town Clerk be requested to write to P C Fielding congratulating her on her new appointment and thanking her for her personal efforts in making Saltney a better place to live.
156.PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS
RESOLVED That the following accounts be passed for payment:
PayeeInvoiceAmount
A ThornileySalary + Office (£50.00) Dec£614.46
A ThornileySalary + Office (£50.00) Jan£614.46
HMRCTown Clerk’s Income Tax and NI£402.62
A ThornileyOffice Sundries which includes BT Bill
and Video recording costs£262.32
NWPDecember Maintenance Charge£245.84
Total inc VAT£282.72
Deeside Ldge Room Hire4 meetings £70.00
D&J Garden CareRemoval of bus shelter£300.00
(note in view of the timescale for payment and with the agreement of
the Chairman of Finance Committee this invoice was paid on 14/01/2009).
Flintshire CCContribution to Summer Programme
2008; 11-18 yr olds£500.00
Flintshire CCRental of Playground 01/07/08 – 30/06/09£00.05
157. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS
RESOLVED: That the public and press be excluded under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 in view of the confidentiality of the business to be transacted in the following item.
158.TOWN CLERK’S REMUNERATION
PUBLIC AND PRESS EXCLUDED.
158. TOWN CLERKS REMUNERATION
After answering some questions from Members the Town Clerk withdrew from the Council Chamber during this item.
Deputy Mayor Councillor Mrs A Lloyd in the Chair.
1. 2008/2009 Pay Award for Local Council Clerks
Agreement had been reached on an interim pay award for 2008/2009. Members noted that the Town Clerk was paid on SCP 21 on the scale SCP 21-25; the hourly rate had therefore been increased to £9.814p.
2. Working Hours
In the contract of employment the Town Clerk’s working hours were fixed at 17 hours per week. A report had been produced showing that the average working week since the beginning of June had been 24.7.
RESOLVED: That 1) the results of the interim pay award be noted; 2) in view of the extra hours worked an ex-gratia payment of £2,698.85 be made to the Town Clerk; and 3) Councillor T J Elliott be requested to conduct a review of the pay scale and the contract hours and report back to a future meeting of the Council.