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Minutes of ARLESEY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING held in the Village Hall, Arlesey on Tuesday 5 April 2011 at 7pm. PRESENT: Cllrs: H Harper (Chairman) R Harris Mrs D Archer C Howitt J Caffrey D Page I Dalgarno M Rainbow N Daniels D West Mrs H Frost A White Mrs C Harris V Williams Mrs E Hare (Clerk) and Mrs L Rowe (Assistant Clerk) In attendance: Central Bedfordshire Councillors John Saunders, John Street and Christina Turner, Cllr Rita Drinkwater and 3 members of the public 1040 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE An apology for absence was received from Cllr Mrs L Bowskill. 1041 MEMBERS’ INTEREST Cllr Mrs H Frost declared a personal interest in agenda item 18 Village Hall Booking – Harvest Lunch as she is a Church Warden of St Peters Church. Cllr Frost took no part in the discussion or voting. Cllr Mrs D Archer declared a personal interest in agenda item 18 Village Hall Booking – Harvest Lunch as she is a member of the Methodist Church. Cllr Archer took no part in the discussion or voting. There were no other declarations of: (a) Personal interests There were no declarations of: (b) Prejudicial interests 1042 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman made the following announcements: (a) Correspondence from Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust A letter has been received from the Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust thanking the Town Council for supporting the Bobby Scheme by becoming a partner and giving a donation of £250. (b) CPRE Bedfordshire – Living Countryside Awards 2011 The CPRE are advertising the Living Countryside Awards 2011 and inviting nominations from members of the public, municipal and other authorities, farmers, individual craftspeople or companies. Entries must be in by 21 May 2011. (c) LCSA’s Spotlight sessions in 2010 The Local Council Support Associates (LCAS) introduced their “Spotlight” sessions in 2010 and are now inviting councilors to attend three special events on writing media releases on 9 April, basic media communications on 21 May and a strategic communications and social media masterclass being held on 21 June 2011. If you wish to attend any of these events details can be obtained from the Clerk. (d) Let’s Talk Central – Council Communications in the Pre Election Period The Let’s Talk Central report on Council Communications in the Pre Election Period explains how communication from the Council is more heavily restricted during the pre-election period and a copy has been placed in councillors personal trays. 1043 YOUTH COUNCIL Due to unforeseen circumstances Nicola King was unable to attend the meeting to give her presentation. 1044 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION A member of the public spoke on the Town Council’s finances. He then thanked councillor Vic Williams on his long service as a Town Councillor. 1045 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 1 March 2011. RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 1 March 2011 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record. 1046 MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising from the last meeting. 1047 POLICE - REPORT FROM THE LOCAL BEAT MANAGER PC Steve Holbrook presented the monthly crime report from the Safer Neighbourhood Team. § ASB incidents reported for the month totalled 14 § Crime – 9 were reported § 3 theft of motor vehicle § 1 theft from motor vehicle § 1 burglary from general building He reported that in future, we would not be seeing so much of him at Council meetings but the Police Community Support Officers will bring reports to the meetings. 1048 REPORTS FROM CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES Cllr Ian Dalgarno as Councillor for Central Bedfordshire Council reported: § Subsidy for transport for schools has been approved and there will be a review in 2013 § Central Bedfordshire Council will not manage school meals contract from September 2011 § The Council has developed a balanced budget that protects vital services Cllr John Street reported: § On an update from Etonbury School and said there had been a number of changes at the school § Etonbury has applied to become an academy, if all goes well this will happen in September § Parents have been notified of Etonbury School’s aims in a consultation § Cllr Street thanked Council for working with him over the years and added that he has enjoyed coming to meetings with his reports 1049 SCHOOL/NURSERY GOVERNOR REPORTS Cllr N Daniels gave a report from the Gothic Mede School Governors meeting: § A new Head teacher had been appointed and will start in September 2011 § Pupil numbers are currently 218 and will increase in the summer term to 238 § There is a 50% take up for school meals § A serious incident was reported and recorded on the misuse of the school’s internet based learning platform, which led to a temporary closure of the site. § The swimming pool has had a heater installed at a cost of £8,000 § There have been serious drainage/sewerage problems. A full survey of the system has been carried out and revealed the system was crumbling § A cleaning and hygiene survey was recently completed and it was recommended the school needed an additional 18 hours of cleaning to bring it up to an acceptable level § Following an accident the climbing frame and safety surface is waiting to be repaired and still out of use § The school would like to use the area behind the Youth Centre for the children’s PE classes § There are currently 40% SEN children on the SEN register § The way forward for schools since the General Election in May 2010 and the White Paper 2010 sanctioned by the Coalition-Government is to encourage schools to become academies. This means schools could become publicly funded independent schools and be accountable to the Secretary of State for Education 1050 FINANCE (a) Budget Summary of Income and Expenditure – February 2011 Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the budget summary of Income and Expenditure for February 2011. RESOLVED that the Budget Summary for Month 11 – February 2011 be accepted (b) Financial Assistance – Vitalise Members were asked to approve a grant of £107.50 to the partnership as recommended by the General Purpose/Finance Committee at their meeting held on 15 March 2011 – (minute number 393) RESOLVED to approve a grant of £107.50 towards the Vitalise subsidised costs for the service they provided last year to Arlesey residents (c) Employment Briefing The Chairman read out to the meeting details from the Employment Briefing E02-11 Local Government Pay: 2011/2012. The Employers Side of the Local Government Services National Joint Council has informed the trade unions that, for the second successive year, it will not be in a position to make any pay offer. The Employers Side concluded that the protection of services, and consequent mitigation of job losses and redundancies, should take priority over any increase in pay. AGREED to note the information 1051 ARLESEY YOUTH CLUB The Chairman said that Council was concerned that the Youth Centre would close and had decided to bid to take over the running of the facility. He reported that the evaluation process had been completed and our submission had not been successful. Central Bedfordshire Council had thanked the Town Council for expressing an interest. AGREED to note that the Town Council’s bid was unsuccessful 1052 DEVELOPMENT OF PLAY FACILITIES – TRIM TRAIL PROJECT The Chairman reported that the Agreement in Principle had been approved to release the S106 monies towards the Trim Trail Project. The Clerk had completed purchase orders for the recreational equipment and MUGA fence and informed the Open Space and Recreation (Strategy) Officer they had been sent to the suppliers. AGREED to note the information update on the Trim Trail Project 1053 PURCHASE OF LAND FOR ALLOTMENTS The Chairman reported to the meeting that the Report on the purchase of the land and Contract had been received from the Town Council’s solicitor. In order that the solicitor can be in a position to exchange Contracts on behalf of the Council two councillors need to sign the Contract. A deposit of £1,500.00 was required to be returned with the Contract. It was proposed Cllr Hugh Harper and Cllr Vic Williams sign the Contract on behalf of the Council. RESOLVED 1. the final form of purchase Contract to be signed by Cllr Harper and Cllr Williams 2. to approve payment of £1,500.00 as the deposit to be returned to the Town Council solicitor with the Contract 3. to confirm the completion date 14 days after exchange of contracts 4. to make an application to Central Bedfordshire Council for the connection of water to the allotment site 5. to confirm to the Sellers the access land in pink (access on enclosure 7) is transferred to the Town Council at no cost, rather than be granted a right of way In accordance with the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 ss 23 to provide allotments 1054 FAMILY FUN DAY Cllr C Howitt put a proposal to members that new ideas were needed for this year's Family Fun Day on Saturday 16 July 2011. He said there was more entertainment needed for teenagers 12 to 14 years. A few ideas came up for discussion. RESOLVED to follow up some of the ideas that came up for discussion 1055 PROVISION OF RURAL BUS SERVICES Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the correspondence from Bedford Area Bus User’s Society (BABUS) regarding formulating ideas and proposals to enable a sustainable and best possible bus network to be achieved. RESOLVED to invite a BABUS officer to come along to talk at a Town Council meeting 1056 GOTHIC MEDE LOWER SCHOOL The Chairman said the correspondence received from Mary Phillips, Interim Headteacher of Gothic Mede Lower School was a request to the use the play area to the rear of the Youth Club. He added this may have been possible if the Town Council’s bid had passed the pre-qualifying stage to manage the Youth Service for this area. RESOLVED to inform the Interim Headteacher that the Town Council’s bid had not been successful and therefore we will not be able to help with their request 1057 VILLAGE HALL BOOKING – HARVEST LUNCH
The Chairman read out a letter received from the Arlesey Churches Together requesting free of charge hire of the Village Hall on Sunday 18 September 2011.
RESOLVED to waive the hire charge for Arlesey Churches Together Harvest Lunch on Sunday 18 September 2011 1058 CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN The Chairman said all Members should have received copies of the correspondence from James Gleave, Senior Strategic Transport Officer, which invited the Town Council to formally back their bid for additional funding for sustainable transport in Central Bedfordshire. Response to back their bid should be received by 7 April 2011. RESOLVED the Clerk complete the bid letter on behalf of the Town Council 1059 RESOURCE CENTRE Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the notes from the Resource Centre Strategy Group meeting held on 27 January 2011. RESOLVED the contents of the Resource Centre Strategy Group meeting notes for 27 January 2011 be accepted 1060 VEHICLE ACTIVATED SIGNS The Chairman said the correspondence received from Amey informed the Town Council that the warranty on the two vehicle activated signs expires at the end of February 2012 and December 2012 respectively. Amey would be pleased to arrange maintenance at the Town Council’s cost. RESOLVED to obtain details of maintenance costs so that these can be considered in our budgets for 2012/2013. 1061 SERVICE PERSONNEL FROM ARLESEY A councillor proposed that interment costs incurred by families of all Service Personnel who die in active service, providing that they had been educated and lived in Arlesey, should be waived. RESOLVED that the interment costs incurred by an Arlesey Service Personnel’s family will be waived 1062 CARETAKER FOR THE RESOURCE CENTRE AND VILLAGE HALL Members considered the report from the Clerk to advertise locally for a Caretaker to carry out unlocking and locking duties for the Resource Centre and Village Hall. RESOLVED to place an advertisement on the town’s notice boards for a Caretaker 1063 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CHAIRMAN The Chairman said this was a letter addressed to him and the resident was able to address Council during the open session. All Members received a copy of the letter prior to the meeting. AGREED to note the contents of the letter 1064 MINUTES FROM COMMITTEES
Members received reports from the following Committees:
Environmental Committee – 15 March 2011
Property Committee – 15 March 2011
General Purpose/Finance Committee –15 March 2011
RESOLVED
that the minutes of the above committees are accepted and these would be approved and signed by the Chair of those committees at their next meeting 1065 REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS Arlesey Landfill Liaison Group The Chairman reported: § He had attended an Arlesey Liaison Group meeting earlier that evening § Six wells are being monitored for leache; the complete site will be capped by June § Top up work will continue after capping. Landscaping will have footpaths for public walks § Another survey is being carried out for noise The Chairman reported on the passing of Malcolm Smith who was a Stotfold Town Councillor and had served with him on the Blue Lagoon Shadow Board. CHAIRMAN DATE
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