MINUTES OF AMEETING OF THE SALTNEY TOWN COUNCILheld at the ODDFELLOWS HALL, 65 HIGH STREET, SALTNEY on WEDNESDAY9 JUNE 2010

PRESENT: The Mayor, Councillor Veronica Gay; Councillors K Armstrong-Braun; T J Elliott; T A Evans; E E Greensmith; D A Hope; A C Lloyd; T R Lloyd and the Town Clerk.

15. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 12 May, 2010 were confirmed as a correct record subject as follows:

Under Minute 10 – that Cllr T A Evans approach the Douglas Place residents.

16. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor reported that she had:

  • attended at St David’s School and presented a cheque in aid of Miles of Smiles;
  • visited Detex – social enterprise in River lane – ‘the pink bin people’;
  • met with Carl Sargeant and discussed the new library and obtained his support;
  • visited the Deva Boxing Club and was so impressed by the discipline of the young people there.

17. POLICE MATTERS

PC Ian Millington attended the meeting and reported upon the following matters:

  • policing forum – 30 people had attended and discussed various items including the action plans ; sale of alcohol to minors; anti social behaviour on the ‘rec’ and in Douglas Place; lack of security for the tenants of the elderly persons complex;
  • the large number of youths 60/70 who had been gathering on the ‘rec’ over the last few weekends – using up a lot of police resources; a joint action with Cheshire police was being carried out;
  • drug and alcohol teams had tried to ascertain what the youths wanted – funding for diversionary tactics had not shown any great effect;
  • Youth Club attendances were up – those youths are not the problem;
  • new CCTV cameras being erected on Tuesday 15 June; press release to be actioned

18. SALTNEY FERRY SCOUT AND GUIDE GROUP

Members discussed with representatives of the Saltney Ferry Scout and Guide Group their proposals for their existing HQ in Bradshaw Avenue. The present building is on land that the Town Council lease from the County Council and a larger area will be required for the new building.

RESOLVED: That 1) this matter be given further consideration at the joint meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Environmental and Regeneration Committee; 2) the Town Council support the Group in their planning application for the new building.

19. ALLOTMENTS

The Town Clerk reported on the latest position with regards to the allotment gardens on Victoria Road. The final section of security fencing was awaiting delivery to the site and would be fitted during the next week. The situation with the provision of a water supply was taking rather longer than anticipated and negotiations were still continuing with the Dee Valley Water Co. re the provision of a new water main.

RESOLVED: That the report be received.

20. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The Town Clerk reported on the following Planning Applications:

Ref: 047181

Proposal: Change of use of former overspill car park for the Saltney Ferry Public House to car sales including temporary siting of portakabin and the addition of an entrance barrier.

Location: Carpark adjacent to no 11 Chester Road, Saltney Ferry, Saltney, CH4 0AQ

For: Ben Wild Motors

Grid Ref: E 337059.4 N 364753.7

This matter had been considered by the Town Council at their meeting on 10 March, 2010 and notification had been to the County Council that this Council objected most strongly to this application for change of use on a number of grounds. The attention of the Town Clerk had been drawn to the fact that there had been a slight amendment to the plan in the re-siting of the sales cabin following an objection by one of the adjoining householders, but that the Planning Officers of the County Council were to recommend to the County Planning Committee approval to a temporary planning consent. Consequently the Town Clerk had reminded the Planning Officers of the Town Council’s objections and asked the two County Councillors to assist in any way that they could to press home the Town Council’s objections.

Councillor Armstrong-Braun Reported that, at the planning Committee earlier in the day, temporary planning permission had been granted for a period of two years subject to the provision of a higher quality portakabin.

The Town Clerk also reported the circumstances in which he had been prevented from attending the Planning Committee to speak on behalf of the Town Council.

Ref: 047465

Proposal: Provision of a new brick wall to accommodate proposed changes and generate a secure car park with sliding electronic gates and the erection of a construction hording to an adjacent piece of land.

Location: Viscount House, River Lane, Saltney, Flintshire CH4 8RH

For: Condie Investments Ltd

Grid Ref: E 338392 N 365324

RESOLVED: That 1) the report be received; 2) the Town Clerk be authorised to attend meetings of the County Council’s Planning Committee to speak on behalf of the Town Council whenever circumstances warranted; 3) no objection be raised with regards to planning application ref 047465 subject to the use of good quality materials.

21. APPLICATIONS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL LIST

Members were reminded that they had considered two applications for inclusion in the above lists from persons wishing to establish dispensing facilities within Saltney. The Town Council had supported the application from Morrisons PLC. Letters had been received from Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board setting out the results of the consultation exercise. From the 16 consultees 10 replied. 3 were in favour; 5 were against and 2 made no comment at this stage.

It was obvious from the responses that most had failed to take account of the fact that prescriptions were free in Wales and the objections were based solely on trading grounds.

RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk be authorised to write to the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board reinforcing the Town Council’s comments.

22. ONE VOICE WALES

  • (1)CONFERENCE AND AGM SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER, 2010 AT PONTRHYDFENDIGAID, CEREDIGION

The Town Clerk reported the receipt of notification of the abovementioned conference. The conference fee was £75 per delegate.

  • (2)MINUTES

Members received the Minutes of the meeting of the Wrexham/Flint Area meeting held on 15 March, 2010.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received and The Mayor and the Town Clerk be authorised to attend the conference and the AGM.

23. FLINTSHIRE DISABILITY FORUM

Members received the evaluation from the Community Information Day held at Saltney Social Club on Friday 16 April, 2010. 32 Groups had been represented with stalls or information desks but on the day the number of visitors had been disappointing. Feedback from those that did attend was good and showed that the day was worth the effort and should perhaps be repeated either in the school holidays or on a Saturday. The grant from the Town Council had been insufficient to cover the cost and the Forum had to use £631.03 from their own small funds to cover the expenditure. The main reason for the deficit was the lack of support from the community shops and workplaces. To repeat the day later in the year on a Saturday it was estimated that the cost would be a minimum of £2,000.

RESOLVED: That the report be received.

24. DRAFT FLINTSHIRE CHARTER

The County Forum at its meeting on 4 March 2009, had established a Charter Working Group to prepare a Draft Charter for consideration by all Town and Community Councils (Cllr Ann Lloyd had been a member of the working party). The Draft Charter was submitted for comment.It was intended to implement the Charter with a short action plan which would identify key priority actions which the County Forum will seek to progress in the next twelve months.

RESOLVED: That comments be made on the following items:

  • use of section 106 agreements by the local Town Councils; page 9
  • responses should mirror the timescale of the Community Councils ie 10 days; page 6
  • exempt planning decisions. Page 7

25. NOTICES OF MOTION

(1) To consider a Notice of Motion in the name of Councillor Armstrong-Braun ‘that the Town Council seek match funding from the County Council to fence off the MUGA at the Park Avenue Playing Fields on Health and Safety grounds’. There had been a number of instances recently where loose dogs had attacked the ball whilst children were playing; fencing the area off would prevent the likelihood of any children being injured by the dogs.

(2) To consider a Notice of Motion in the name of Councillor D A Hope ‘that the Town Council request the County Council to designate North Street, Saltney Ferry as a resident permit parking area only. Members were reminded that the problem of commercial vehicles parking in this Street had been raised some time ago and an attempt was made at that time to solve the problem amicably without any success.

RESOLVED: That both the Notices of Motion, referred to above, be approved.

26. INFORMATION FROM THE LOCAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Further to Minute 210 of 2008/9 Local County Council members, Councillor Armstrong-Braun and Councillor Gay were invited to give any feedback they might have received from County Council meetings that may or will affect Saltney and Members of the Town Council attending meetings on behalf of the Council were requested to report on their attendance.

Councillor Armstrong-Braun informed Members that the planning application for the new development at 142 High Street had been deferred again for a new traffic study.

Councillor Gay reported on the circumstances surrounding the provision of a new library on the land adjacent to the new Morrisons store. Time was of the essence in this matter as a time line of 7 years had been determined by Morrisons for the development of the site. It was suggested that Mr Laurence Rosthorne, Library Director, should be invited to discuss the matter at a future Council meeting.

Councillor Evans reported upon a meeting of the Saltney Community Centre Management Committee. The Committee were finding a difficulty in marketing the use of the building because it was unfit for purpose. The kitchen had been condemned and the disabled toilet needed upgrading and costs were in the region of £14,000. A meeting with County Council Officers had been arranged to discuss the matter further.

27. PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS

RESOLVED: That the payment of the following accounts be approved:

PayeeInvoiceAmount

A ThornileySalary + Office (£50.00) June £946.92

HMRCTown Clerk’s Income Tax£224.20

NI£82.57 £306.77

Deeside Ldge Room Hire £15.00

NWPMaintenance£245.84

VAT £43.02 £288.86