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Minutes of the ANNUAL MEETING of ARLESEY TOWN COUNCIL held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 6 May 2008.
PRESENT: Cllrs Mrs D Archer R Harris D Beatham C Howitt J Caffrey Ms C Marshall I Dalgarno Mrs S Sarll N Daniels M Rainbow Mrs H Frost D West H Harper V Williams ALSO PRESENT: County Cllr J Saunders 1 member of the public Mrs E Hare (Clerk) and Mrs L Rowe (Assistant Clerk) 230 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN Nominated: Cllr H Harper Proposed by: Cllr D West Seconded by: Cllr N Daniels It was RESOLVED that Cllr H Harper be elected Chairman and Arlesey Town Mayor of Arlesey Town Council for the subsequent year. 231 TO RECEIVE THE CHAIRMAN’S DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE Cllr Harper signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office in the presence of the Town Clerk. 232 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN Nominated: Cllr I Dalgarno Proposed by: Cllr V Williams Seconded by: Cllr Ms C Marshall It was RESOLVED that Cllr I Dalgarno be elected Vice-Chairman of Arlesey Town Council for the subsequent year. 233 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Cllr D Page and County Councillor J Street. An apology for late arrival at the meeting was sent in from Cllr I Dalgarno. 234 TO DISCUSS FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR 2008/2009 It was proposed that 15 Members remain on the Planning Committee and that the Environmental, Property and General Purpose & Finance Committees have 10 Members. The Public Relations Committee shall remain with 6 Members. It was also proposed that the Environmental and Property Committee meetings should continue on the third Tuesday of each month and to include the General Purpose & Finance Committee meeting every month with the Property and Environmental Committees every other month following the Planning Committee. 235 ELECTION OF STANDING COMMITTEES Planning Property All Councillors Cllrs J Caffrey I Dalgarno N Daniels H Harper R Harris Ms C Marshall M Rainbow Mrs S Sarll D West V Williams Environmental General Purposes/Finance Cllrs I Dalgarno Cllrs D Beatham N Daniels J Caffrey Mrs H Frost I Dalgarno H Harper N Daniels R Harris H Harper C Howitt R Harris Ms C Marshall C Howitt M Rainbow Ms C Marshall D West Mrs S Sarll V Williams D West Public Relations Task and Finish Zone Cllrs Mrs D Archer Cllrs D Beatham J Caffrey I Dalgarno I Dalgarno R Harris Mrs H Frost M Rainbow R Harris D West C Marshall V Williams Arlesey Historical Archive Group Resource Centre Strategy Group Cllrs Mrs D Archer Cllrs I Dalgarno H Harper H Harper Ms C Marshall MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) Cllrs I Dalgarno N Daniels H Harper D West V Williams 236 TO APPOINT REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES The following councillors were appointed to represent the Town Council to outside bodies: Beds Association of Town & Parish Councils Cllr H Harper Arlesey Landfill Liaison Group Cllrs D Beatham, N Daniels Co-ordinating Committee Cllr N Daniels Glebe Meadow Management Cllrs Ms C Marshall, V Williams Arlesey Community Safety Group Cllr I Dalgarno Blue Lagoon Cllr H Harper Health Facilities in Arlesey Cllr N Daniels Town Plan Cllrs H Harper, Ms C Marshall, R Harris 237 APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNORS It was confirmed Cllr N Daniels remain as Town Council representative Governor on Gothic Mede Lower School and Cllr Mrs H Frost remain as Town Council representative on Arlesey Nursery School Governing Body 238 SUBSCRIPTIONS FALLING ANNUALLY – BATPC Bedfordshire Association of Town and Parish Councils subscription £889.00 (last year £809.00) It was AGREED that this should be paid. 239 STANDING ORDERS It was proposed to make the following amendments to Standing Orders DELETE 1a – Smoking is not permitted at any meetings of the Council Number 43 – The following committees comprise of: AMEND the number of committee members from 15 on the Environmental, General Purpose/Finance and Property Committees to 10 members on each committee Number 55 – AMEND the sentence commencing: Statement of Accounts of the Council …… to Council for formal approval before the 31 July 2008 RESOLVED to make the amendments as proposed to Standing Orders 240 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None 241 MEMBERS’ INTEREST Cllr D West declared a personal interest on agenda item 15 – Local Beat Manager’s Monthly Report as some of the crime figures were against him No other declarations of personal or prejudicial interest were received. 242 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 1 April 2008 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record. 243 MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising Cllr Mrs H Frost left the meeting at this point 244 LOCAL BEAT MANAGER'S MONTHLY REPORT PC Steve Holbrook from the Safer Neighbourhood Team gave the following report for the Arlesey ASB incidents and recorded crimes for the month of April: · There were a total of 26 reports on anti-social behaviour during April; most of the incidents were in 3 main areas, Gothic Way, the railway station and St Peters Avenue. PC Holbrook said the police were continuing to work with MBDC and Aragon Housing Association with the Gothic Way issues. · A total of 14 crimes were recorded · There was 1 house burglary, fortunately nothing was stolen · No theft of motor vehicles reported in April · 2 thefts from motor vehicles, one offender was identified · No violent crime was reported, 6 incidents of criminal damage · Other burglary - I recorded incident and there was a match to footwear · No theft, fraud or drug related incidents reported · 1 other crime which was a sensitive issue and 3 others were reported 245 REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES County Councillor John Saunders reported: · We must carry on opposing the proposed Gypsy and Traveller sites in Arlesey and Stotfold · Services and land that belongs to the County Council will be transferred to the new Unitary Central Bedfordshire Authority 246 REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS Cllr Hugh Harper as District Councillor reported: · On the Seconds Issues and Options consultation to the sites for Gypsy Accommodation and gave details of the response from the public consultation · He said that only 1% of respondents to the consultation supported the site in West Drive and 34% did not support the site, 65% stated no preference or made no response. The majority of supporters for this site were from Blunham and Stotfold · The Highways Authority is satisfied with the access for up to 8 pitches therefore unlikely to cause concern from a highways perspective. · West Drive is a private road which is intended to be adopted to provide a bus route to Fairfield Park development. An electronic gate will be installed at the eastern end for bus access only, no other through traffic will be able to pass between Arlesey and Fairfield Park · Although West Drive is prone to water logging, the use of sustainable drainage systems will address the existing surface water issues and is not a constraint to development · On the proposed site Land north of Arlesey Road, Stotfold public consultation results were, 1% of respondents supported the site, 48% do not support the site and 51% stated no preference or made no response Cllr I Dalgarno entered the meeting at 7.50pm 247 SCHOOL GOVERNOR REPORT There was no report 248 FINANCE (a) Budget Summary of Income and Expenditure – 31 March 2008 Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the Budget Summary of Income and Expenditure for month 12, March 2008 RESOLVED the Budget Summary for March 2008 be noted (b) Draft Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2008 and year end close down report Cllr Harper reported the year end close down had taken place. The final set of accounts still had to be completed. He said the accounts were healthy. He signed the draft copy. It was RESOLVED to note this information 249 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES Reports from the following Committees: Environmental Committee – 18 March 2008 Property Committee – 15 April 2008 General Purpose/Finance – 15 April 2008 RESOLVED the above committee minutes be accepted and these would be approved and signed by the Chair of the committees at their next meeting 250 MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR Previous to the meeting Members had received a copy of the report of the meeting with Mr Johns, Mrs Rowe and Mrs Hare on the 25 April 2008. It was RESOLVED to note the report on the meeting with Mr Jones on 25 April 2008 251 FAMILY FUN DAY The Chairman reported on the Family Fun Day meeting of the 17 April 2008 and said the planning of the day’s events were coming together with many more and different attractions for this year. There would be overnight security provided this year so that some people could setup there stalls on the Friday evenings. Members were asked if they would be available. 252 MBDC – ARTS ALOUD – COMMUNITY TOURING SCHEME Cllr H Harper reported on the meeting he attended on Tuesday 29 April 2008. He said it was a very interesting meeting and the touring scheme run by MBDC would pay 50% of the costs towards professional actors for live performances or 30% towards films shown in community halls. He said it would be something that the Town Plan could work on. It was RESOLVED to note this information 253 BASIC DRUG AND ALCOHOL AWARENESS TRAINING The Chairman reminded Members that the Basic Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training arranged through the Confident Communities Fund as requested by Members, had arranged two dates for the training Monday 2 June or Monday 9 June 2008 at The Rufus Centre, Flitwick. Forms are available from the Clerk and these needed to be returned by 20 May 2008 254 REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS The following report was given from a representative of an outside body: Glebe Meadow Management Group Cllr Ms C Marshall reported on the meeting that took place on 23 April 2008: · The information cabinet to the entrance of Glebe Meadows will need replacing within the next two years · Due to foot and mouth disease there was no grazing last year on the meadows · Red Polls are now being vaccinated against Blue Tongue and will be on the meadows by late June · Widening for ease of mobility vehicles to the area inside the metal gate leading to the Glebe Meadow entrance is under consideration. · Andy Fleck from the Wildlife Trust expressed his thanks to all the volunteers and said the meadows were being kept in good order · Cllr Ms Marshall said she had been elected as acting chairman in the temporary absence of representation by the Ivel and Ouse Valley Countryside Project · The next meeting would be on the 8 October 2008 255 CHAIRMANS ANNOUNCEMENTS (a) Bedfordshire County Council – Arlesey Children’s Centre Professional Lunch The Chairman read out a letter from the Children’s Centre Development Officer inviting Members to a Professional Lunch on the 3 June 2008. The lunch was to give an update on Bedfordshire Children’s Centres and to discuss the way forward for Arlesey Children’s Centre. He went on to say if anyone wanted to attend the lunch they should inform the Clerk It was RESOLVED to note this information (b) Temporary Road Closures The Chairman announced temporary road closures for Chase Close, Everest Close, Hillary Rise, The Poplars and Vicarage Close, Arlesey this was to enable resurfacing works to take place between 1 May and 30 June. Specific dates would be advertised on site closer the time. It was RESOLVED to note this information 256 MID BEDS DISTRICT COUNCIL A Notice of Application to vary Arlesey Social Club Premises Licence was received from MBDC. All representations must be made in writing by 30 May 2008 RESOLVED to approve the variation subject to neighbours being consulted 257 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL HIGHWAYS – ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP SCHEME FOR 2008/09 The Chairman reported that a letter had been received from Bedfordshire County Council Highways Team following the Annual Parish Liaison meeting on 3 April 2008. The letter highlighted the town’s highway issues discussed at the meeting and these had been scheduled into the Highways Programme for this year. It was RESOLVED to note this information CHAIRMAN
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