Minutes of ARLESEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING held in the Village Hall, Arlesey on Tuesday 3 November 2009 at 7pm. 

PRESENT:       

            Cllrs:    H Harper (Chairman)                             Mrs C Harris

Mrs D Archer                                       R Harris

D Beatham                                          C Howitt

N Daniels                                            D West

Mrs H Frost                                         V Williams                       

Also present:   Unitary Councillors John Street and John Saunders

Mrs E Hare (Clerk)                               Mrs L Rowe (Assistant Clerk)

621 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mrs L Bowskill, Cllr I Dalgarno, Cllr D Page and Cllr M Rainbow 

622 MEMBERS’ INTEREST

The following disclosures of interest were received:

Agenda item 14 – Land at Stotfold Road

Cllr D Beatham disclosed a personal and prejudicial interest, as he is a director of the company owning the land.  Cllr Beatham left the meeting during the discussion on this matter.

Agenda item 19 – Removal of Public Phone Kiosk – House Lane

Cllr C Howitt disclosed a personal interest, as he is a BT employee and left the meeting during the discussion on this matter.

No other declarations of personal or prejudicial interests were received.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

(a) Total Place Briefing note: Luton and Central Bedfordshire

The Chairman said a copy of the Total Place initiative briefing note has been placed in all councillors trays.

(b) Keech Hospice Care - for adults and children

The Chairman read a letter which announced an important change for the organisation, a new name Keech Hospice Care.  This will replace The Pasque Charity as well as the two separate hospice names they have used in the past – The Pasque Adult Hospice and Keech Cottage Children’s Hospice.

(c) Garden House Hospice

A letter has been received from Garden House Hospice enclosing their most recent newsletter which is available for viewing in the office.  The letter thanked all their supporters.

(d) Report of a meeting of the Local Strategic Partnership Board – 22 September 2009

Copies of the LSP Report have been placed in councillors personal trays

(e) Road Victims Trust

The Chairman read a letter from the Events & Finance Manager which announced they had launched a Double your Donation scheme.

(f) BRCC Bulletin – October 2009

Copies of the BRCC Bulletin for October 2009 have been placed in councillors personal trays

(g) Remembrance Sunday

The Chairman said the War Memorial has been prepared for the Remembrance Service.   He asked Members to volunteer to place the road closure and diversion signs before and after the service.   

624 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

There was no public participation. 

Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 6 October 2009.

            RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 6 October 2009 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.   

626 MATTERS ARISING

There were no matters arising from the previous meeting

PC Steve Holbrook from the Safer Neighbourhood Team was unavailable to attend the meeting.  The Chairman read a report to the meeting. 

·         Monthly information normally presented to Council will not be available in that format

·         The information will now cover more villages as opposed to specific areas.  This is a Home Office initiative

·         PC Holbrook’s report stated that there was an increase in vehicle crimes at the railway station

·         There are still more areas in Arlesey to be monitored for speeding vehicles

·         Local shops had been targeted for selling alcohol to under age children.  One shop may lose its licence  

Unitary Councillor John Street for Central Bedfordshire Council reported: 

·         The new Chief Executive Richard Carr is now in office with the Council.  He succeeds Jaki Salisbury who had overseen the bringing together of the new unitary authority

·         The LDF Team are continuing work with Arlesey and Stotfold’s proposals and over 1,000 new homes have been approved for Arlesey

·         The safer routes to school scheme at Etonbury School is complete, the lights are now working and the road markings in place

·         The new pump has been installed in the A507 under pass

·         The food waste collection has proved successful.  Nearly 5,000 tonnes of food waste has been collected this year.  This is used to create energy

·         The Speed Dating evening in October was very successful with nearly 30 pupils and 30 councillors involved

·         An Anti-Bullying Week will run from 16 to 20 November 2009 and the awareness theme is ‘Stay safe in cyberspace’ 

629 SCHOOL GOVERNOR REPORT 

            Cllr N Daniels as School Governor representative reported: 

·         The intake of pupils in September was 173, 96 boys and 77girls

·         There will be an intake of 205 pupils in January 2010 rising to 228 pupils in April 2010

·         The swimming pool cover work is complete and external painting finished

·         50% of children now have school meals

·         The Standard National Average results has improved from 85.7% in 2008 to 89% in 2009

·         Special Education Needs children number 45, which is down on last year

·         46% of the school budget has been used in the first 6 months

·         As there were no suitable candidates for the Head position, the acting School Head will stay until the end of the year and a new process to appoint a new Head will start again

·         The Caretaker has now returned to full time work 

630 FINANCE

(a) Budget Summary of Income and Expenditure – September 2009    

Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the budget summary of Income and Expenditure for September 2009

RESOLVED

that the Budget Summary for Month 6 - September 2009 be accepted

(b) Internal Auditor’s Report

The Chairman read a report to the meeting from the Internal Auditor David Jones.  On the basis of the records and documents he examined he concluded that the Council complies with the relevant procedures and controls.  He noted that the Financial Regulations had been reviewed and adopted by the Council in July 2009 and that the work is in hand to update the risk assessment of the Council’s procedures and the Asset Register.

RESOLVED

to note the contents of the Internal Auditor’s report for the Town Council’s financial and administrative procedures from 1 April to 12 October 2009

(c) Letter regarding cancellation of Resource Centre and Village Hall Bookings

Members considered the recommendation to waive the cancellation fee for both the Village Hall and the Resource Centre from the Property Committee meeting held on 20 October 2009 – minute number 156 (b)

RESOLVED

to waive the cancellation fee for both the Resource Centre and the Village Hall, as recommended by the General Purpose & Finance Committee

(d) Town Council Contractor

Members considered the recommendation to approve an increase in line with the latest CPI figure of 1.1% to the Town Council Contractor, Mr Jones, from the General Purpose & Finance Committee meeting held on 20 October 2009 – minute number 237

RESOLVED

to approve an increase of 1.1% to the Town Council maintenance contractor

(e) 2009/2010 National Pay Awards

Members considered the recommendation from the General Purpose & Finance Committee meeting held on 20 October 2009 – minute number 238 that the recommended salary pay scales for staff be accepted.  The Chairman reported that the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) joint recommendation is that from the 1 April 2009 the salary pay scales of all full and part-time clerks be adjusted accordingly with the new spinal column points.  The joint recommendation was increases of 1.25% for SCPs 4 – 10 inclusive and 1.0% for SCPs 11 – 49. 

RESOLVED

from the 1 April 2009 in agreement with the joint NALC and SLCC recommendations that the full and part-time clerks salary pay scales be adjusted accordingly with the new spinal column points            

631 CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL – THE LICENCE ACT 2003

The Chairman reported that comments to the new Licensing Policy Statement from Central Bedfordshire Council consultation must be received by 9 December 2009.  Members considered the draft copy of the new Licensing Policy Statement.    

It was proposed to accept the draft copy as it stands.   

RESOLVED

the Town Council accepts the amended draft copy of the new Licensing Policy Statement

632 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK 

The Chairman reported that on 23 October 2009 he attended the Development Strategy Task Force meeting to discuss with them allocation of sites for employment or housing in specific areas in Arlesey.  He said the two proposed sites by the Town Council in Arlesey, had been agreed.  He was also able to elaborate on the Town Council’s proposals.   

He went on to say the CBC Development Strategy Task Force is responsible for considering all non-strategic matters in relation to the Local Development Framework and is currently considering sites for additional housing and employment for the North of Central Bedfordshire. 

The Chairman reported that comments to the draft copy of the new Statement of Principles from the Central Bedfordshire Council consultation must be received by 30 November 2009.  Members considered the draft copy of the new Statement of Principles and it was proposed to accept the draft copy as it stands.

RESOLVED

the Town Council accepts the amended draft copy of the new Statement of Principles  

Unitary Cllr John Street left the meeting

Cllr D Beatham left the meeting and gave his apologies for absence 

634 LAND AT STOTFOLD ROAD 

The Clerk reported she had contacted the Town Council’s solicitor to ask if there was any progress on the land purchase.  The solicitor had heard nothing further on the matter. 

The Clerk reported she had at last spoken to someone at the Environment Agency.  They did explain why she hadn’t been contacted and this was due to illness and holidays which had made them short staffed.  Although the Environment Agency is reluctant to allow culverting of the ditch, a site visit could still be arranged and they would look at the problem as sensitively as possible, to try to come up with an effective solution. 

RESOLVED

to note the information and wait for the report from the Environment Agency’s site visit

636 EAST OF ENGLAND PLAN > 2031 CONSULTATION EVENT

The Chairman reported the Clerk had given him a full copy of the consultation document which set out four very different approaches suggested by Government information and they would like the Town Council’s views.  The approaches are set out as “scenarios” for possible growth for the East of England region. 

The Chairman said in section 6 of the document they have posed a few questions to help us give a response and went through them.

RESOLVED

to respond to the consultation that the Town Council considers Scenario 1 is the right way forward and in Council’s opinion Central Bedfordshire Council is carrying out the distribution of growth in a balanced way

(a) Central Bedfordshire Highways Five-Year Programme

The correspondence received from the Bedfordshire Highways Watchman-in-Chief informed the Town Council they had received the completed scheme request and this will be assessed along with all others.

RESOLVED

to note this information

(b) Parish Partnership

An email was received from the Area Technician concerning the Parish Partnership Allocation 2009 work.  The Chairman reported that this is work requested by the Town Council, after the annual Highways walkabout report to find ways to use this year’s Parish Partnership allocation.  The request was to resurface footways in Gothic Way as a matter of urgency. 

RESOLVED 

to note this information

638 CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL – DESIGN GUIDE FOR CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE

The Chairman reported that this item had been brought forward from the last meeting for time to make any comments on the new Design Guide for Central Bedfordshire which should be returned by 16 November 2009.  Members considered the extended document to cover the new Central Bedfordshire area and Highway issues. 

It was proposed to accept the contents of the draft Design Guide and its Supplements.

Cllr C Howitt left the meeting whilst the following item was discussed

The Chairman reported to the meeting that due to an accident the payphone in House Lane had been removed by BT and they had proposed not to replace it and to permanently cease service at the site.  Central Bedfordshire Council is seeking the Town Council’s views on the proposed removal of the payphone, if the telephone kiosk is needed by the local community and should Central Bedfordshire Council object to its removal. 

Prior to the meeting Members were given some background information to guide them in deciding if a public payphone is really needed.

It was proposed the pay phone should be reinstated as the nearest payphone was too far away for emergency calls.

RESOLVED

the public pay phone should be reinstated, as the nearest payphone in the High Street was too far away in an emergency

640 CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL SERVICES

The Chairman read out to the meeting the response from Central Bedfordshire Council to suggestions put forward to them for devolved services to the Town Council.  It advised that the Council should wait for Central Bedfordshire Council’s Executive decision on the Community Engagement Strategy before furthering discussions.

RESOLVED  

to note this information

641 DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTIONS

The Chairman said the Clerk had received an email update on the S106 monies due which the Town Council had planned for use on various projects.  It said Enforcement is checking on the progress of developments to see if they have reached the trigger point for paying out the S106 contributions.    

The Chairman reported he had hoped all the S106 money currently proposed would be available for the children’s multi-units but only two of all the S106 monies due have actually paid their contributions.  Therefore, as only £5,766 is available and not the full £13,392, the cost of the project is £14,598.49, £8,832.49 will have to be found from reserves.  It may be possible to claim retrospectively.

RESOLVED

1. to note the update information on the S106 monies

2. to pay the project balance of £8,832.49 from reserves          

642 NATS – TERMINAL NORTH CONTROL UPDATE

Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the correspondence from NATS which gives information of their work to revise the airspace design for the Terminal Control North region. 

RESOLVED

to note the information of the ongoing work to revise the airspace design for the Terminal Control North  

643 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

Members received reports from the following Committees:

Environmental Committee – 20 October 2009    

Property Committee – 20 October 2009 

General Purpose & Finance – 20 October 2009   

RESOLVED

the above committee minutes be accepted and these would be approved and signed by the Chair of the committees at their next meeting 

644 MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR 

Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the report outlining details of the meeting with Mr Jones, Mrs Rowe and the Town Clerk Mrs Hare, that took place on Wednesday  30 September 2009. 

The Chairman asked if there were any comments on the report.   

RESOLVED

that the contents of the report be noted of the meeting with Mr Jones on 30 September 2009 

645 REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS

Reports from representatives from outside bodies:

            The Chairman reported on:

            Arlesey Landfill Liaison Group

·         It was reported at the meeting earlier this evening that 35,000 metres of capping is now complete

·         Soil is still being delivered to the site at about 30 lorries a day

·         Of the 17 gas wells being drilled, 15 wells are connected

·         Dust monitoring is still ongoing.  There has been no complaints regarding dust

·         Seeding will continue in 2010

·         A site visit will be arranged before the next meeting in May 2010

Cllr Mrs Christina Harris reported on:

·         Cattle placed in the meadow on Friday 2 October 2009, escaped on the Saturday

·         They were soon rounded up and re-introduced to the meadow

The Chairman reported on:

·         A meeting of the Group was held on 26 October 2009

·         There is a new landlord of the Old Oak Public House.  He is a local and should be aware of the music restrictions

·         PC Holbrook, representatives of Central Bedfordshire Council did a walk around with Aragon Housing

·         PC Holbrook  informed the meeting that the local shops had been targeted for selling alcohol to under age children

·         New pedestrian warning signs will be going up on the A507

The Chairman reported on:

·         He attended the annual meeting on 19 October 2009

·         He reported to the meeting that the Town Council had opposed the site allocation proposal near the Lagoon

·         It was proposed the Shadow Board should continue to exist

The Chairman gave an update on:

·         The fencing at Pocket Park had been removed and he thanked Cllr Beatham for supplying the soil

·         It will soon be ready for bulb planting

·         We are waiting for a quotation for wild flowers for summer planting

The Chairman reported on:

·         The Open Morning held in the Village Hall on the 24 October was very successful

·         There were many visitors that came along, some very keen to join the group

To resolve to exclude the public and press from the meeting under the Local Government Act 1972 Schedule 12a exempt information - Confidential

RESOLVED

to exclude the members of the public and press from the meeting for consideration of the exempt items

                                                                                                                                                    CHAIRMAN