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Minutes of ARLESEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING held in the Village Hall, Arlesey on Tuesday 8 January 2008.
PRESENT: Cllrs: H Harper (Chairman) C Howitt D Beatham Ms C Marshall J Caffrey D Page I Dalgarno Mrs S Sarll Mrs H Frost D West R Harris Also present: Mrs E Hare (Town Clerk) County Cllr J Street D Ambler (local correspondent) 144 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mrs D Archer, Cllr N Daniels, Cllr M Rainbow, Cllr V Williams and County Cllr J Saunders 145 MEMBERS’ INTEREST No declarations of personal or prejudicial interest were received 146 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS (a) Christmas Tree Festival The Chairman said the Tree Festival was very successful again this year. Over the 2 day festival £830 was collected for St Peter’s Church (b) Fire and Rescue Service – Annual Corporate Plan Summary The Chairman informed Members if they would like to read this document a copy was in the office (c) Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership The Chairman said this document was also in the office for Members to view 147 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There was no public participation 148 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING RESOLVEDthat the Minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 4 December 2007 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record. 149 MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising from the previous meeting 150 MONTHLY REPORTS FROM LOCAL BEAT OFFICER PCSO Patrizia Vetere attended the meeting with PC Steve Holbrook from the Safer Neighbourhood Team. PC Holbrook reported on the recorded crime in December 2007 · 16 incidents of anti-social behaviour · 18 recorded crime incidents in Arlesey. One a serious house burglary and enquiries are still ongoing · 2 thefts from a motor vehicle. A lawnmower was taken from an unlocked vehicle trailer · 2 violent crimes · There were 10 incidents of criminal damage · Residents in Lynton Avenue had raised concerns over vandals using a nearby alleyway · PC Holbrook had done an investigation as to who owned the alleyway. · Patrizia will investigate all reported criminal damage · PC Holbrook commented on the 18th Birthday party held at the WI Hall and the problems which arose from that evening on New Year’s Eve when Hitchin and Arlesey youths fought outside the venue · This resulted in 20 officers being called to the scene, a county cover vehicle from Bedford, 2 dog units and the helicopter. There were 3 arrests. · The District Council will be contacting the WI regarding the licence · PC Holbrook said Luton and Arlesey were the main New Year’s Eve problem areas 151 REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES County Councillor John Street reported: · Due to the Christmas holiday there was little to report · County are considering reducing the speed limit down to 30mph outside Etonbury School and he will be pushing for this to be done as soon as possible · He said he would like to see the speed limit reduced to 20mph but this would prove difficult to enforce · The appropriate budget for this was being sought for the new financial year · The County was working towards a target of 3.8% on Council Tax 152 REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS Cllr Ian Dalgarno as District Councillor reported: · MBDC were setting their budgets for 2008/2009 within the next 4 weeks · Stotfold Leisure Centre will be considered within the next 6 weeks · The weekly Waste Food Trial was an unmitigated success Cllr Hugh Harper as District Councillor reported: · He went on the 2 day coach tour to view the proposed sites for the Local Development Framework (LDF) · A response to the proposals will be known in March and a public consultation will follow · Besides the proposed sites put forward by the Town Council, two other sites in Arlesey had been proposed by developers · An update email from MBDC had been received on the Government’s Consultation on Unitary Local Government in Bedfordshire · The latest document had been sent to stakeholders in Bedfordshire as a further opportunity to give their opinions on the proposed change to unitary local government in Bedfordshire 153 SCHOOL GOVERNOR REPORT No report available 154 FINANCE (a) Budget Summary Members received a copy of the Budget Summary of Income and Expenditure for month 8, November 2007 RESOLVED the Budget Summary for November 2007 be noted (b) Precept for 2008/2009 Members considered the final recommendations presented by the Clerk to the meeting, and unanimously agreed that the precept be £165,211 for the coming Financial Year 2008/2009. This will be an increase of 11.57% on 2007/2008 RESOLVED to submit a request for £165,211 precept from Mid Beds District Council for 2008/2009 (c) Accounts for payment To approve payment of invoices made in December. CEMETERY Handyman 30.11.2007 590.47 Shanks Refuse collection 21.39 VILLAGE HALL Handyman 30.11.2007 102.44 John Jones Litter pick 100.00 Caretaker month 9 147.61 Beds Boro Council Refuse collection 63.69 ALLOTMENTS Handyman 30.11.2007 109.27 ENVIRONMENTAL Handyman 30.11.2007 488.97 John Jones Extra for fencing repair 19/11/2007 40.00 John Jones Extra for fencing repair 12/11/2007 40.00 MJ Ryall Repair of fencing 28.64 JB Fencing Repair of fencing 19.52 Eon Street lighting 176.96 Clements Bench at Skate Park 435.93 GENERAL PURPOSE & FINANCE Handyman 30.11.2007 185.02 Staff Salaries month 9 3,105.35 PAYE/NIC month 9 1,014.13 Superannuation month 9 825.26 Mello Resource Centre Manager - November 843.15 SAGE Payroll Support 59.00 4thenet Internet 19.99 Arlesey Sports Assoc Grant towards repairs to floodlights 560.00 Metrosigns Noticeboard 1,595.65 MJ Ryall Paint & filler war memorial 20.57 AR Worboys Hitchin Rd 2 cuts, Stotfold Rd 1 cut & end of season cut 666.25 Abacus Toner - Resource Centre 61.09 Abacus Photocopier 38.03 Yellow Mood Stationery Resource Centre 29.37 Infotec Balance of RC maintenance contract for Resource Centre photocopier 14.35 BT Telephone 229.52 BT Fax 50.52 RESOLVED confirm these accounts be paid (d) Bank Correspondence The Clerk reported to the meeting that she had received confirmation from the bank that all the formalities for the new Mandate were complete and it was up and running. AGREED to note this (e) Bus Shelter Grants The Clerk reported that since September 2006 she had been chasing Bedfordshire County Council for three bus shelter grants of £1950. This needed to be received before the end of the financial year. Because there had been no response to several requests for payments, the Clerk said she then contacted the Senior Public Transport Co-Ordinator who said he was unaware the accounts department had not sent the grants payment. When payment was eventually received the Clerk said she emailed to thank him, he responded that the delay was caused by an internal accountancy error. AGREED to note this 155 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES Reports from the following Committees: Property Committee – 20 November 2007 Environmental Committee – 20 November 2007 (precept proposal) General Purposes/Finance – 20 November 2007 RESOLVED the above committee minutes be accepted and these would be approved and signed by the Chair of the committees at their next meeting 156 PUBLIC MEETING REPORTS (a) Previous to the meeting Members had received a copy of the minutes of the public meeting held on 26 November 2007 on the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document: Second Issues and Options Consultation RESOLVED to note the minutes of the public meeting on 26 November 2007 (b) Previous to the meeting Members had received a copy of the minutes of the public meeting held on 10 December 2006 on the Town Council’s proposals for the Local Development Framework (LDF) Cllr Hugh Harper reported the meeting went well. He responded to a Members question on a point that was raised at the public meeting, when a landowner said he may not sell his land. Cllr Harper said that this may not necessarily mean the landowner would hold the trump card. RESOLVED to note the minutes of the public meeting on 10 December 2007 157 MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR Previous to the meeting Members had received a copy of the report on the meeting on the 19 December 2007 with Mr Jones. The Clerk went over the issues raised at that meeting. RESOLVED to note the report on the meeting with Mr Jones on 19 December 2007 158 CONFIDENT COMMUNITIES FUND The Chairman went through the details of the application form and Members considered the correspondence from the Neighbourhood Watch Association, the PCSO Services and the information pack from Beds County Council. The Chairman reminded Members of the already agreed £250 of the Town Council’s allocation from the Confident Communities Fund would go towards 7a for Youth Activities in conjunction with Stotfold Town Council as agreed at the Town Council’s meeting on 4 December 2007. RESOLVED the Chairman would look at the application for further consideration at the General Purpose and Finance Committee meeting on 22 January 2008 for the Town Council’s final submission. 159 PARKING IN ARLESEY Members received a copy of the Parking Enforcement issues from 1 June 2007 to 30 November 2007. They were concerned that parking attendants were not visiting the town often enough. Action: The Clerk to contact Mid Beds District Council to ascertain how much this service costs the ratepayer and the amount of time allocated for parking attendants’ visits. 160 CORRESPONDENCE - MID BEDS DISTRICT COUNCIL Correspondence regarding the Review of Polling District and Polling Places AGREED to note this correspondence 161 DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTIONS SECURED Correspondence had been received from Mid Beds District Council informing the Town Council of the Section 106 Agreement secured from the development at 156 High Street towards the provision of play space (£3,162) and sporting facilities (£1,182). RESOLVED the amount for play space will go towards the childrens play area and sporting facilities amount towards the MUGA 162 ALLOTMENT The Clerk reported to the meeting that a payment had been requested from the Town Council for rotavating an allotment plot. There had been no directive from the Town Council office for this work to be done and the Clerk was unaware this work had been carried out until Mr J Jones had informed her at their meeting on 19 December 2007 which was before the demand for payment. Mr J Jones, when asked by the Clerk, said he did not know who carried out the rotovating RESOLVED no payment is made as there had not been a request for the work to be done by the Town Clerk 163 BOTTLE BANK – WEST DRIVE A reminder email had been received from Mid Beds District Council regarding bottle banks in West Drive car park. RESOLVED that West Drive would not be a suitable place after all for a bottle bank 164 REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS Arlesey Landfill Liaison Group · Cllr Harper reported from a meeting that had taken place prior to the Town Council meeting. · Waste importation had ceased slightly later than anticipated on the 10 December 2007 · Restoration materials only will now be coming into the site · Restoration will now proceed and will be monitored quarterly · The quarterly monitoring will coincide with site meetings for the proposed restoration forum · An application had been received to defer the screening bund and associated landscaping adjacent to the gas compound until importation of restoration materials had ceased · Further noise monitoring of the gas engines will take place after a complaint from a resident CHAIRMAN
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