Minutes of ARLESEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING held in the Village Hall, Arlesey on Tuesday 3 June 2008 at 7pm.

PRESENT:       

            Cllrs:    H Harper (Chairman)                     C Howitt   

                        Mrs D Archer                               Ms C Marshall

                        D Beatham                                  M Rainbow

                        J Caffrey                                      Mrs S Sarll

I Dalgarno                                    D West

                        N Daniels                                     V Williams

                        R Harris                                               

Also present:   County Cllr J Street                  

                        Mrs E Hare (Town Clerk)               

An apology for absence was received from Cllr D Page

No declarations of personal or prejudicial interest were received

(a) Basic Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training 9 June 2008 at the Rufus Centre, Flitwick 

The Chairman reminded Members that there were still some places available on the B:DAT training course on 9 June 2008 and that the training was being funded through the Confident Communities Fund.

(b) TCN Consultation – new close date

The Chairman reported that the TCN Consultation had been due to end on 22 May.  However, in the light of feedback they had received during the first two months of the consultation, people had felt there was insufficient time to consider the details and they had decided to extend the consultation period by four weeks to close on the 19 June 2008.

(c) St Peter’s Church Flower Festival

The Chairman announced an invitation had been received to take part in St Peter’s Church Flower Festival on 28 and 29 June 2008.  He said Betty Edlin was willing to do an arrangement for the occasion. 

None

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 6 May 2008 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

263 MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising from the previous meeting

PC Steve Holbrook from the Safer Neighbourhood Team sent his apologies as he was unavailable to attend the meeting, due to being on a Police Response Driving refresher course.  The Chairman read out PC Holbrook’s report for the month of May: 

·         There were a total of 18 reports of anti-social behaviour.  These were evenly spread across the month and none were in any of the recently reported  ASB locations

·         Of the three house burglaries 2 were in Stotfold Road and 1 in Chapel Drive

·         There were 4 reports of theft from motor vehicles, one known offender was arrested and subsequently charged

·         One violent crime took place at the train station, two offenders were arrested and following an interview were charged with the offence

·         Six reports of criminal damage, two were still being investigated

·         Burglary from other buildings – 2

·         There were 6 reported thefts, one offender is currently on bail

·         One domestic related GBH offence was committed with the offender arrested and charged with the offence

·         One drug related offence where the offender was arrested for possession and received a street caution for the offence

County Councillor John Street arrived at the meeting at 7.45pm and gave the following report;

·         Cllr Street apologised for being late, he had just come from a school governors meeting

·         He said it was interesting times at the county.  They were continuing to maintain quality of services and work towards the new unitary authority

·         By May 2009 we will be under the new governance of the unitary authority

·         After a shaky start Beds County Council is now working with South Beds District Council and Mid Beds District Council in preparation for the new authority

·         Beds County Council had been short listed for 4 different awards; these would take place in June at a venue in London.  Originally, the County Council had been listed for 6 different awards

·         He said he hoped the new services under the new unitary authority will be as good

266 REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

 Cllr Ian Dalgarno as District Councillor reported: 

·         Work through the District Council is beginning to decrease as they prepare more towards the  new unitary authority

·         Focus will be on things to be delivered on 1 April 2009

·         The District Council is working on the Eco-Towns consultation

·         Sites are being considered for the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document.  In late 2007 the District Council undertook consultation on the Second Issues and Options document.  Officers are now preparing the next stage and working towards the Preferred Options document being published in the summer of 2008

Cllr Hugh Harper as District Councillor reported:

·         On the recent Site Allocations, Issues and Options Consultation by Vision 21 on behalf of MBDC, Arlesey had 18 sites submitted for potential development, 13 were residential sites, 1 employment site and 4 sites for mixed use.

·         The public exhibition for the proposed Arlesey sites was held by Vision 21 on the 19 March 2008.  The exhibition was attended by 72 residents.  It was noted that considerable consultation on development issues had already been carried out by the Town Council

·         Cllr Harper went through details of the surveys and representations of each of the Arlesey sites and reminded Members of the sites that were identified or supported by the Town Council during the consultation

·         He went on to say that a number of issues had been highlighted by residents which the District Council felt should be taken into consideration on all the potential sites in the parish.  

 267 SCHOOL GOVERNOR REPORT

There was no report

(a) Budget Summary of Income and Expenditure – April 2008  

Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the Budget Summary of Income and Expenditure for month 1, April 2008 

RESOLVED

the Budget Summary for April 2008 be noted

(b) Accounts Year ending 31 March 2008

As there was a problem with the final accounts received from RBS Accounting Solutions this will be carried forward to the July meeting

(c) To complete Section 2 of the Annual Return – Annual Governance Statement

Due to the problem with the final accounts received from RBS Accounting Solutions this will be carried forward to the July meeting for Members to confirm their responsibility for ensuing that there is a sound system of internal control, including preparation of the statement of accounts. 

269 MUGA

Cllr Harper gave a report to Members on the course of action to be taken and the timescale for alterations to the existing MUGA building and proposed that initially, architects fees would need to be considered.  He had contacted a suitable architect who had sent in a quotation to carry out a survey and sketch for £250 plus VAT and to deal with the planning £850 plus VAT.  It was proposed to accept these costs.

RESOLVED

1. to accept the quotation from HSSP Architects for £1,100

2. the initial costs to be taken from the Reserves

3. funding would be sought for the improvements and alterations project  

Cllr Harper thanked Cllr Vic Williams who was treasurer of Arlesey Sports Association for completing the final accounts and arranging the audit.  Cllr Williams said £1,030.76 would be transferred to the Town Council’s MUGA budget.

The Chairman proposed two additional amendments to the currently updated Standing Orders, item 50 Committees.  This is to include the new functions of the Property Committee and the General Purpose/ Finance Committee.  He also proposed to amend item 33 Disorderly Conduct to delete from ‘Code of Conduct which was adopted by the Council on 5 March 2002’ and insert ‘New Code of Conduct and the Ten Principles of Public Life which was adopted by the Council with effect from 31 July 2007’

RESOLVED

1. to add  the new function to the Property Committee to administer the sports facilities and maintain the MUGA building

2. to add the new function to the General Purpose/Finance Committee to  administer the Arlesey Resource Centre

3. to delete ‘Code of Conduct which was adopted by the Council on 5 March 2002’  and insert New Code of Conduct and the Ten Principles of Public Life which was adopted by the Council with effect from 31 July 2007

271 MID BEDS DISTRICT COUNCIL – LEGAL NOTICE OF CHANGE OF PROCESS

Members received a copy of a legal notice received from Mid Beds District Council on the change of process for complaints against elected and co-opted members.  It states that from 8 May 2008 the Council’s Standards Committee will initially assess allegations against elected or co-opted members.

RESOLVED

to note this information                 

272 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL HIGHWAYS

A letter was received from the Street Lighting Steward concerning an unserviceable lighting column in Hitchin Road.  An estimate of £904.96 plus VAT was included in the letter to replace the unserviceable column.  It further states if Council agrees to replace the column Highways would adopt this column and the one outside 188 Hitchin Road therefore relieving the Town Council of future maintenance costs.

RESOLVED

to pay £904.96 to replace the column 

273 STEEL BENCH AND LITTER BIN REPLACEMENTS

Members approved recommended expenditure of the Environmental Committee at their meeting held on 20 May 2008 when it was resolved to accept a quotation for £490.00 plus VAT from Clements Play Management for a replacement seat in Stotfold Road.  The cost to remove and dispose of the old seat would be £25.00.

Also recommended from that meeting was a quotation for £248.34 plus VAT from Glasdon UK for the Glasdon Evolution litter bin complete with metal liner and firexpire kit.  This is to replace the litter bin damaged by fire in the recreation ground next to the MUGA.

RESOLVED

1.         to purchase the seat from Clements Play Management for £490.00 plus £25.00 to remove and dispose of the existing damaged seat.  

2.         to purchase the Evolution litter bin from Glasdon UK for £248.34 for the recreation ground

274     274 COMMUNITY CENTRE – SITE AGENT 

            The Chairman gave an update on the site agent position.  He said that Gothic Mede School and The Nursery School were going to take on a Caretaker and it had been suggested that any other small maintenance work that may be needed by the Community Centre users could be charged at an hourly rate by the new Caretaker.  Members felt this was not a suitable option as this did not cover the security of the complex. 

            County Councillor John Street said he would investigate at County Hall.

            RESOLVED

            to note this information  

 275      275 RESOURCE CENTRE  

            Prior to the meeting each Member had received a copy of the notes of the Resource Centre Strategy Group meeting which took place on 3 April 2008.  Cllr Harper asked Members if there were any questions from that meeting. 

            RESOLVED

the Resource Centre meeting notes for 3 April 2008 be accepted

 276     276 MBDC - ARTS ALOUD – COMMUNITY TOURING SCHEME

            The Chairman gave a further update on the Community Touring Scheme’s live performance and film shows and said the Town Plan Committee, with the Town Council’s approval would be happy to work towards holding film shows in the Village Hall.  These could start from October 2008 as it was felt the winter months would be a better time to hold them.   

            A survey could be held through the Town Plan Committee at the Family Fun Day to find out what evenings would be preferable with the public. 

RESOLVED

to approve the Town Plan Committee’s offer to work towards holding film shows during the winter months in the Village Hall

 277     277 THREE TUNS GALACTICO FOOTBALL TEAM

            The correspondence from Three Tuns Galactico was brought forward from the Environmental Committee meeting held on 20 May 2008 as they had requested the use of a football pitch for their adult team on Saturdays for the 2008/09 football season. 

            The Chairman reported he had approached the Chairman of the Youth Teams.  No objections were raised providing a cost sharing basis could be worked out for maintaining the pitches throughout the season.

           RESOLVED

           that the Three Tuns Galactico could have use of the pitch for 2008/09 providing there was an agreement on the maintenance costs

278     278 MBDC – BT’S PROPOSAL TO RE-ALIGN PAYPHONE PROVISION

            Prior to the meeting Members were given a copy of the correspondence from MBDC concerning BT’s intention to remove 36 payphones located throughout the district not within 400m of another.                       

             Two payphones in Arlesey were listed for removal.  Members felt these payphones should not be removed by BT.  The Chairman had checked on the position of the payphones before the meeting and said the payphone in Hitchin Road was already non-existent.

            RESOLVED 

            to respond that the payphone in Hitchin Road was already non-existent and in the Town Council’s opinion the payphone outside the Post Office in the High Street is vital and must stay  

 279      279 REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS

            There were no representatives’ reports from outside bodies as the Town Plan Committee meeting was covered under the MBDC Arts Aloud Touring Scheme

The Chairman reported that a meeting of the Fun Day Committee had been held the previous week.  He said that would be the last meeting as all the planning for the day was now in place.  He proposed that there should be an evening meeting on Monday 7 July at the Village Hall at 7pm, and urged that all volunteers attend this meeting so that everyone will know what duties they will be responsible for on the day.

He reported that one of the proposed attractions was helicopter rides which would cost a £1,000 for the pilot to attend on the day.  His concern was that so far there had only been a verbal agreement.  The Chairman reported that he had been given verbal permission by the Headmistress for the helicopter to land on the school recreation ground.

A discussion took place between Members to agree the charge for the helicopter to attend the Fun Day. 

RESOLVED

to hire the helicopter for the day subject to the cost of the helicopter rides being agreed by the Chairman and Clerk, as it would be an exciting attraction 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                CHAIRMAN