Minutes of ARLESEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING held in the Village Hall, Arlesey on Tuesday 1 February 2011 at 7pm. 

PRESENT:       

            Cllrs:    H Harper (Chairman)                                 C Howitt

Mrs D Archer                                           D Page

I Dalgarno                                                M Rainbow

Mrs C Harris                                             A White                                   

R Harris                                                   V Williams                                               

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

In attendance: Central Bedfordshire Councillor John Saunders and PCSO Ann Jeeve. 

983 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Mrs L Bowskill, Cllr N Daniels, Cllr Mrs H Frost and Cllr D West and Central Bedfordshire Councillor Mrs C Turner. 

984 MEMBERS’ INTEREST 

There were no declarations of:

(a) Personal interests  

(b) Prejudicial interests  

985 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Chairman made the following announcement:

BEaR Project – update from BEaR Communication

A copy of the press release has been placed in councillors personal trays. 

986 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

There was no public participation. 

987 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 4 January 2011.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 4 January 2011 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.    

988 MATTERS ARISING

The Clerk reported she had telephoned the Town Council’s solicitor concerning the sale of allotment land in Stotfold Road.  The position was that CBC is still dealing with the CPO, the by-pass land, and he is still not hopeful that this will be done in the near future.   

989 POLICE - REPORT FROM THE LOCAL BEAT MANAGER

PC Steve Holbrook was unavailable to attend the meeting and sent his apologies with PCSO Ann Jeeve who gave out the crime figures for January.  Ann said the ASB and crime figures for January were lower than average.    

§         ASB incidents reported for the month totaled 11, which was more than December

§         Crime – 21 were reported, which is a rise of 13 on the previous month

§         Burglary of other buildings – 3 offences reported.

§         Burglary of dwellings – 3

§         Other theft – 2 reported

§         Criminal damage – 4 offences recorded

§         Violent crime – 5 offences recorded

§         Theft of motor vehicle – 2 recorded

§         Fraud – 1 offence

§         Sexual offence – 1 recorded  

990 REPORTS FROM CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

          Cllr John Saunders for Central Bedfordshire Council reported: 

§         With the present cut backs local communities will be encouraged to get involved and take on work for which training will be given

§         The Gypsy and Traveller consultation has been extended for another two weeks 

Cllr Ian Dalgarno as Councillor for Central Bedfordshire Council apologised for his late attendance at the meeting and reported: 

§         Recently he attended a meeting with the Stotfold Road Flood Protection Group

§         The outcome of the meeting; the Internal Drainage Board will widen Pix Brook up to the A507 and Highways will work on finding ways to mitigate   the recent flood issues to stop them happening again

§         The Hermitage has been adopted by CBC

§         Ofsted gave a good progress report on Children’s Services

§         The centrally managed fund for school meals is being reviewed   

991 SCHOOL/NURSERY GOVERNOR REPORTS

No reports for this meeting.

992 FINANCE

(a) Budget Summary of Income and Expenditure – December 2010      

Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the budget summary of Income and Expenditure for December 2010

RESOLVED

that the Budget Summary for Month 9 – December 2010 be accepted         

(b) Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust – Bobby Scheme

Members were asked to approve supporting the Bobby Scheme by joining as a partner for the annual subscription of £250 as recommended at the General Purpose & Finance Committee meeting held on 18 January 2011 (minute number 367).

RESOLVED

to approve joining the Bedfordshire Police Partnership Scheme with an annual subscription of £250

This is awarded as the provision under S.137 of the Local Government Act 1972

(c) Internal Audit Control – Terms of Reference

Members were asked to approve the internal audit testing – Terms of Reference schedule.

RESOLVED

to approve the Terms of Reference for internal audit testing              

993 BEDFORDSHIRE HIGHWAYS

Prior to the meeting copies of the draft maintenance schemes for Arlesey in the Central Bedfordshire Prioritised Works Programme 2011-2014 were circulated to Members.  The Chairman asked if there were any comments on the schemes for Arlesey.

It was proposed that the road from the A507 roundabout to the pelican crossing in Stotfold Road should be resurfaced.  The Clerk added that this had been brought up at the annual walkabout in April 2010 and confirmed resurfacing work is likely to be carried out on this stretch of Stotfold Road in the near future.  

RESOLVED

the bad road surface in Stotfold Road should be added to the Prioritised Works Programme   

994 GYPSY AND TRAVELLER DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT (DPD)

The Chairman said confirmation had been received from Central Bedfordshire Council of a change to the deadline date for responses to the consultation from 2 February to 5pm on Wednesday 16 February 2011.  This was because of an incorrect address for the Arlesey site in the original documentation.  A tremendous amount of replies to the consultation had been sent in to the office and these will be delivered to the offices of Central Bedfordshire Council before the 16 February. 

RESOLVED

to note the Chairman’s report and the new deadline date of 16 February 2011 for responses to the consultation 

995 CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE HOUSING STRATEGY CONSULTATION

Prior to the meeting Members received copies of the Executive Summary and questionnaire for the Housing Strategy for Central Bedfordshire. The Chairman said Central Bedfordshire Council would like the Town Council views on the priorities of the Housing Strategy for Central Bedfordshire by 1 April 2011.

RESOLVED

the Chairman formulates the reply to the consultation on behalf of the Town Council  

996 TOWN AND PARISH COUNCIL CONFERENCE

The Chairman gave a report on the Town and Parish Council Conference held at Central Bedfordshire Council, Chicksands on Thursday 13 January 2011.  He said the meeting was well attended.  He posed the question from the Town Council to the meeting; why orange sacks were no longer available so that residents can collect them from the Town Council Office.  They have since addressed this question and orange sacks should soon be available in the office again. 

AGREED to note the Chairman’s report.

997 WESTERN ACCESS LOOP ROAD TO ARLESEY STATION, HENLOW

The Chairman gave a report on the Traffic Management meeting held at Dunstable on Wednesday 26 January 2011.  The outcome of the meeting was that Highways would start on Phase 1 of the proposed restrictions on the north side and will spend around £13,000.  These measures would start before the car park work.  He said he would also be attending another meeting on 2 February 2011.

AGREED to note the Chairman’s report  

998 CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL – TEMPORARY TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER

           The Chairman said Members had received a copy of the correspondence from Central Bedfordshire Council, Highways and Transport, which gave details of the proposed Temporary Road Closures for Street Parties in celebration of the Royal Wedding on Friday, 29 April 2011.  Application forms for a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) can be obtained from the Town Council Office.  

The Clerk added this information was being displayed on the village hall notice board.

           The Chairman asked if Members had any transport issues in Arlesey to present as comments to the Arlesey and Stotfold Local Area Transport Plan consultation.    

            RESOLVED

to respond to the consultation that the draft LTP3 document is sound

1000 ARLESEY YOUTH CLUB

The Chairman gave an up to date report following his recent brief discussion with the Head of Youth Support on youth provision in Arlesey.  He said as a consequence of a number of similar enquiries received by the Director of Children’s Services, they are planning to organise a partnership day where schools, voluntary sector and Town and Parish Councils can have discussions about the implications of running parts of the delivery of services, to young people in the future.  That meeting should be arranged shortly.  He and Cllr Williams will attend the meetings as agreed at the General Purpose/Finance Committee meeting held on 18 January 2011.

RESOLVED

to note the Chairman’s report and that the Chairman and Cllr Williams will bring update reports back to Council 

1001 HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE

The Chairman asked Members to put forward for discussion ideas to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in Arlesey.  It was proposed to involve as many groups in the town as possible to put together a project.  A sensory garden outside the Community Centre was also proposed as a more permanent feature.

RESOLVED

1. the Clerk writes to as many groups as possible to ask them if they would like to be involved in a community project

2. following the response from the groups arrange a meeting

PCSO Ann Jeeve left the meeting. 

1002 TOWN COUNCIL POLICIES

The Chairman reported the Clerk had prepared four policies for approval.  They went to the General Purpose and Finance Committee    on the 18 January 2011 and the decision was to defer them for approval at the next Town Council meeting. 

The Clerk reported that two councilors had contacted her before the meeting to consider amendments to some of the policies.

(a) Disciplinary Procedure Policy                                                  

(b) Staff Grievance Procedure Policy             

(c) Bullying and Harassment Policy and Procedure   

RESOLVED

to take the Disciplinary Procedure, Staff Grievance and Bullying and Harassment Policies to the next General Purpose/Finance Committee meeting on 15 February 2011, highlighting the suggested amendments

Cllr Dalgarno added we must have these policies in place before the end of the Financial Year.

The Chairman asked for a proposal for the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations

(d) Protocol on Member/Officer Relations          

RESOLVED

to adopt the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations

1003 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

The Chairman reported on the Examination into Central Bedfordshire (North) Site Allocations Development Plan Document.  He said the Inspector’s report has been published and the proposals for Arlesey are positive.  He read out to the meeting an extract from the report and added Arlesey has followed principles.

RESOLVED

to note the Chairman’s report and that the Report on the Examination into the Central Bedfordshire (North) Site Allocations Development Plan Document by the Inspector, can now be viewed on Central Bedfordshire Council’s website

1004 QUALITY COUNCIL

Members were asked to consider the Council obtaining quality status.  The Chairman reported that there were 10 tests that Council needed to complete.  Most of the tests the Town Council are already demonstrating.  The Clerk had not been able to complete her portfolio although Council had approved that she found time during her working day, this had not been possible.  She asked that she could discuss this with the Chairman of the GP&F Committee.

RESOLVED

Council continues to work towards Quality Status 

1005 CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL - SEASONAL VEGETATION CONTRACT 2011-2012

           The Chairman reported the correspondence circulated to Members prior to the meeting from Central Bedfordshire Council’s Rights of Way Team Leader – Countryside Access Team, informed Council they are preparing their grass cutting programme for 2011/2012.  The Chairman said they are currently reviewing the ways they work in Arlesey. 

The Clerk added that she had spoken to the Rights of Way Officer over another matter and he mentioned the Seasonal Vegetation Contract to her.  All they would like to know from the Town Council is which routes general walkers prioritise and he did suggest that ACORN and the P3 Group may help to answer the question.  The officer informed the Clerk that they are still working on the permissive footpath. 

RESOLVED   

Cllr Harper will contact the ACORN and the P3 Group to obtain the information on prioritised routes      

1006 MINUTES FROM COMMITTEES

Members received reports from the following Committees:

Environmental Committee – 18 January 2011                

Property Committee            18 January 2011    

RESOLVED

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

1007 REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS

There were no representatives of outside bodies’ reports for the meeting. 

1008 PLAYBUILDER GRANT AND S106 MONIES

The Chairman reported he and the Clerk had a meeting with the Recreation and Open Space (Strategy) Officer who came to the office to discuss the Central Bedfordshire Play Partnership and how they can help to develop the play facilities at the MUGA through the Playbuilder grant and using outstanding S106 monies. He added it was hoped to get the project completed before the school summer holidays.

RESOLVED

to work with Central Bedfordshire Play Partnership in order that the trim trail project can be completed before the school summer holidays   

                                                                                                                        CHAIRMAN