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Minutes of ARLESEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING held in the Village Hall, Arlesey on Tuesday 1 April 2008 at 7pm.
PRESENT: Cllrs: H Harper (Chairman) Ms C Marshall Mrs D Archer D Page I Dalgarno M Rainbow R Harris Mrs S Sarll Also present: D Ambler (Local Correspondence) County Cllr J Street County Cllr J Saunders Mrs E Hare (Town Clerk) 211 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Cllr D Beatham, Cllr J Caffrey, Cllr N Daniels, Cllr Mrs H Frost, Cllr C Howitt, Cllr D West and Cllr V Williams 212 MEMBERS’ INTEREST No declarations of personal or prejudicial interest were received 213 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS (a) Mid Beds Citizens Advice Bureau The Chairman reported that a thank you letter had been received from Mid Beds Citizens Advice Bureau for the Town Council’s donation towards their home visiting outreach service. (b) Partnership Bulletin (Issue) 6 The Chairman informed Members a copy of the Partnership Bulletin had been placed in their personal trays. (c) Criminal Damages Compensation The Chairman reported to the meeting that following guilty pleas to the two criminal damage cases committed in April 2007, the offender had been ordered to pay compensation of £300 to the Town Council for both occasions in respect of damage to Town Council property. (d) Commuter Parking in Arlesey THe Chairman reported the Town Council had received a copy of the letter and supporting petition sent to Bedfordshire Highways concerning commuter car parking in Chase Close and The Poplars, Arlesey. This petition had been ably managed by Cllrs Ms C Marshall and R Harris. (e) MBDC – Arts Aloud – Community Touring Scheme The Chairman said an invitation had been sent in to the office from the Youth and Community Arts Worker to members of the Town Council for a meeting at the MBDC offices on Tuesday 29 April 2008 at 6.30pm to talk about Arts Aloud. (f) Participate – involving young people in the community The Chairman reported that following the youth engagement evening in November 2007 to launch ‘Participate’, a guide for Town and Parish Councils and Community Groups, a copy had been received and was in the office for viewing. (g) Family Fun Day – 12 July 2008 The Chairman gave an update on the Family Fun Day arrangements and said there had been a good response from organisations. The same band we had for last year was booked for this year’s Fun Day. The Salvation Army Band has been booked for two sessions in the arena. Some of the setting up this year would take place on the Friday evening with overnight security. 214 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There was no public participation 215 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 4 March 2008 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record. 216 MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising 217 LOCAL BEAT MANAGER’S MONTHLY REPORT PC Steve Holbrook from the Safer Neighbourhood Team was unavailable to give his monthly report to the meeting and sent his apologies. Cllr Hugh Harper presented the March crime figures to the meeting on PC Holbrook’s behalf. · There were a total of 14 reports of anti-social behaviour in March. Apart from 2 nuisance vehicles, all related to young people · A total of 17 crimes were recorded · 1 serious house burglary which was a domestic related offence and the offender was arrested and charged · 5 criminal damages were reported · 4 violent crimes, there were assaults on Police, an assault on a taxi driver and a reported harassment which was domestic related · 5 reported thefts from motor vehicles, no reported thefts of motor vehicles · 2 reported thefts – one was still to be ascertained as to whether there had been a theft committed · No other crimes were recorded and no fraud or drug related incidents · Following sentencing at Bedford Magistrates Court an offender had pleaded guilty to two incidents of criminal damage to Town Council property and pleaded guilty to a public order offence. The offender received a 12 month community order, a 12 month supervision order, ordered to attend “Think First” programme, a curfew order to be at home between 19:00 and 7:00 Thursday to Sunday was imposed lasting 5 months and ordered to pay compensation of £600 to Arlesey Town Council 218 REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES County Councillor John Street reported; · Both he and Cllr Saunders had a small budget to share out between Arlesey and Stotfold · The new unitary authorities for Bedfordshire will be Beds Borough Council and South and Mid Beds District Councils · Elections will take place in April 2009 and there will a lot of work to do in the next 12 months to get things in place for when the new authorities take over · Projects already started with Beds County Council will still carry on, such as the energy and waste programmes County Councillor John Saunders reported: · He had received several complaints when Highways recently closed the High Street for resurfacing 219 REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS Cllr Ian Dalgarno as District Councillor reported: · Because of limited parking spaces MBDC was looking at improving parking facilities at Saxon Pool in Biggleswade · The Gypsy and Traveller Preferred Options should be received early May. All district councillors are very involved with the plan. As there was some ambiguity over some of the letters sent in to MBDC during the consultation, this had caused some ill feelings when some people were informed their letters could not be accepted · MBDC has planned to spend £300,000 over the next 10 years on renewing street name plates. Cllr Dalgarno said he would follow up on other signage, such as village and WI halls to go forward as well · The unitary transition will start taking place and there will shortly be an inaugural meeting of the Shadow Authority. Cllr Dalgarno said he will work on the Community and Customer Service Access Committee · The new concessionary bus passes from this week will shortly be sent out. The present pass was still valid until 30 September 2008. The late problem arose because information had been sent too late to the card producers 220 SCHOOL GOVERNOR REPORT There was no report County Councillors Saunders and Street left the meeting at this point. 221 FINANCE (a) Budget Summary Members received a copy of the Budget Summary of Income and Expenditure for month 11, February 2008 RESOLVED the Budget Summary for February 2008 be noted (b) Bedford Area Bus Users Society (BABUS) Brought forward from the Town Council meeting on 4 March 2008 when Members noted the information received and agreed it would be beneficial to join the BABUS organisational membership for £12 a year RESOLVED to take up the BABUS organisational membership (c) Audit Commission A letter dated 17 March 2008 from the Audit Commission confirmed the appointment of BDO Stoy Hayward LLP as the external auditor to Arlesey Town Council. The appointment covers the audit of the accounts for the financial years 2007/08 to 2011/12. The letter also confirmed the appointment of the panel of Audit Commission officers, and that members of the panel would act as the external auditor to the Town Council in the unlikely event that BDO Stoy Hayward LLP would be unable to continue the appointment. AGREED to note this information (d) Bedfordshire County Council - Arlesey Urban Grass Cutting Agreement – 2008 The Chairman reported to the meeting that the County Council’s contribution to the Town Council for the urban grass cutting for 2008 will be £2,207.18. AGREED to note this information 222 CHILDREN’S RECREATION GROUND – FENCE Recommendation brought forward from the Environmental Committee meeting held on 18 March 2008, that as all quotations for fencing were not received in time before that meeting, these will be considered at the next full Council meeting. Members deliberated over the quotations that had been received for the new replacement fence for the children’s recreation area. RESOLVED 1. To accept the quotation from Steelway-Fencsecure for 16mm infill bars to RoSPA guidelines, galvanized and polyester powder coated green painted Bowtop fencing for £10,385.38 2. Funding for the replacement fence to be taken from General Reserves 223 CHILDRENS PLAY AREA – TRAIN Recommendation brought forward from the Environmental Committee meeting held on 18 March 2008, that as all quotations for the replacement train were not received in time before that meeting, these will be considered at the next full Council meeting. Members deliberated over the quotations that had been received for the new replacement train for the children’s recreation area. Cllr Harper had photographs available of a steel train installed locally. Members felt this to be similar to the previous train and the stronger train to stand up to any possible vandalism. RESOLVED 1. To accept the quotation for £11,155.00, this would include removal of the old bark pit, supply and installation of the train engine and carriage and installation of 28sq mtrs of ‘Grassmat’ safety surfacing. 2. Funding £3,250 from insurance £3,162 from developer’s contribution for play space balance of £4743 from General Reserves or any other available funding that can be acquired 224 MUGA/FOOTBALL CLUB Cllr Hugh Harper gave an update report to the meeting and reminded Members that the Town Council was now managing the running of the MUGA from today, 1 April 2008. · He reported that all the booking details had been handed over. · The main entrance door is in urgent need of replacing · Internal work is needed in several areas such as the changing rooms and the floor · He felt the Town Council should look into improving the facilities Cllr Harper then reported that following a meeting at Arlesey Town Football Club a letter had been received from the consultant Julian Pagliaro proposing the first stage of the Football Development Project at the football club’s ground. There was enough usage to justify new pitches. Depending on the justification of a full sized pitch, the balance of the Foundations decision is more likely to tip in favour of funding towards the facility. In order to achieve the first stages of developing the project and to obtain the planning permission a work plan should be drawn up and the information from this produce a report. Cllr Harper said that the consultant’s initial costs would be £2,100. With the shared costs of the project it was proposed at the meeting that the Town Council should be in control of the funds. Cllr Harper proposed that the Town Council should appoint the consultant to carry out the first stage of the project. RESOLVED 1. To appoint the consultant to carry out the first stage of the project 2. The initial costs of £2,100 to be taken from General Reserves 225 STREET LIGHTING Cllr Harper reported to the meeting that the Clerk had enquired about the cost of replacing a street light in London Row. The worse scenario would cost £3,613.49 to remove the existing light, supply and erect a new column on the other side of the road and all EDF charges. At this stage it was not possible until a survey had been carried out on the position of the power cable but the anomaly with the electricity service exists due to the main supply cable being on the other side of the road and EDF would probably refuse to connect to the existing service supply. Cllr Harper said that he and the Clerk would be having the annual Highways Liaison meeting on 3 April 2008 and would follow this up with the area technician. AGREED to note this information and report to the next meeting 226 ARLESEY CHILDREN’S CENTRE SERVICES Cllr Harper read out to the meeting the email received from the Children’s Centre Development Officer, Nicola Lee, regarding space for the new Co-ordinator for the Arlesey Children’s Centre base at the Town Council office. Members felt that the Youth Club would be a more suitable place for the Co-ordinator’s base as it was a Beds County Council building. RESOLVED to reply suggesting the Youth Club would be a more suitable place for the Co-ordinator’s office base 227 COMMUNITY CENTRE – SITE AGENT The Chairman said that the Clerk had been advised to discuss the new site agent’s position with the Head teacher at Gothic Mede School, as she had not had a suitable response from contacts at Bedfordshire County Council. AGREED to note this information and wait for an update at the next Town Council meeting 228 HIGHWAYS – ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP SCHEME FOR 2008/09 Prior to the meeting Members had received a copy of the correspondence and details of the Enhanced Parish Partnership Scheme for 2008/2009 from Bedfordshire County Council Highways. The Chairman said that he and the Clerk could discuss this further when they meet with the area representative at the annual liaison meeting on 3 April 2008 and bring this back to the next Town Council meeting for further discussion. RESOLVED to make a decision on the allocated funding for 2008/09 following the report from the meeting on 3 April 2008 229 REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS There were no representatives’ reports available for this meeting. CHAIRMAN
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