COPYRIGHT
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF ALFORD TOWN COUNCIL
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CORN EXCHANGE, ALFORD
ON 20th April 2010.
Present: Councillors Hounslow, Quantrell, Milson, Allan, Cooper, Devereux, Jarnell, Miles and Rawson
Mrs L Croft (Clerk)
Cllr G Marsh (LCC)
2 members of the public
APOLOGIES
328 Apologies and reasons for absence were received from Cllr Kelk.
Proposed Cllr Rawson
Seconded Cllr Jarnell
Resolved that the reasons for absence be approved.
DECLARARION OF INTERESTS
329 Cllr Allan declared a personal interest in agenda item 13
Cllrs Quantrell and Devereux declared a personal interest in item 7a.
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 16th March 2010
330 Proposed Cllr Quantrell
Seconded Cllr Milson
Resolved that these be signed as a true record.
CLERKS REPORT
331 Item 324 – Insurance – Events organised by the Events group can be covered by ATC Insurance if members of Town Council are part of group, minutes of the meetings are provided to the Town Council and become part of Town council minutes. Alford Town council do risk assessment of the event and all financial transactions are through the Town council.
332 Cllr Allan to meet with ELDC regarding the shed for the new compound.
333 Resolved that it was understood by Alford Town Council over a period of years that should the existing storage facility in Caroline Street be demolished ELDC would provide a suitable compound with shed. It was noted that an ELDC Officer verbally assaulted Cllr Rawson during arrangements for the vacating of the Caroline Street Depot.
TABLE CORRESPONDENCE
334 a. LCR – Spring 2010.
b. Fieldwork – April 2010.
c. Lalc news – March 2010.
d. Wolds News – April - October 2010. Guide to events in the Wolds.
e. Market Times – April 2010.
f. Growing Communities – Spring 2010. List of Britain in Bloom 2010 finalists.
g. Emda news – Spring edition 2010
h. Voluntary Sector News – Spring 2010 – Includes Bus Design Challenge held in February at JSTC judged by among others Cllrs Hounslow and Milson.
i. Community Lincs grants – Active Parishes Grant Programme. Grants up to £10,000.
j. LCC Grants – Available to rural retailing businesses and community groups for projects that improve access to local services.
N/003/00769/09 & N/003/02565/08 Sir Robert Christopher Almshouses, West Street – Listed building consent and planning permission for extension to 4 existing terraced houses - Permission granted
N/003/00107/10 10 Chauntry Rd – Planning Permission for extension to provide enlarged bedroom and bathroom. Permission granted.
N/003/00064/10 Tothby Manor – Erection of general purpose agricultural building and outside riding area. Permission granted.
CORRESPONDANCE THE CHAIRMAN WISH TO PUT BEFORE THE COUNCIL
335 Events Group meet to look at Christmas, this is to take place on Saturday 4th to run along side the Manor Houses Christmas event. Minutes of the meeting were submitted to the Council.
336 Concern regarding the Public Toilets being closed from 3.30pm – the 24 hour toilet is open when the main toilets are closed. Early closer is due to continued vandalism.
FINANCIAL
337 a.)Accounts for Payment.
Proposed Cllr Allan
Seconded Cllr Milson
Resolved that the accounts as put before the Council totalling £9,173.75 be paid.
b.)Financial Report to end of March 2010 to be deferred to next meeting to allow Councillors to review. It was agreed that the internal auditor Robin Cook be requested to complete an internal audit.
c.)Request from memorial Park Trust for donation.
Proposed Cllr Allan
Seconded Cllr Milson
Resolved that £2,000 be donated to the Memorial Park Trust
d.) Request for donation from Lincoln & Lindsey Blind Society
Proposed Cllr Quantrell
Seconded Cllr Allan
Resolved that £50 be donated to the Lincoln & Lindsey Blind Society
REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES
338 LCC looking at ways to take 120million out of its budget. Cuts will be across the board mainly through in-house efficiencies. There will be no cuts to services this year 2010/11.
TO CONSIDER CCTV SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT.
339 The specification of work to be carried out by contractors under their contract with ELDC
was requested. It was decided that the Clerk should look at this and report back to the Council at the next meeting.
The service level agreement does not cover the cost of new cameras, which means these could be obtained from another supplier. Clerk to obtain prices from previous maintenance contract and one other.
The service level agreement does not cover the cost of new cameras, which means these could be obtained from another supplier. Clerk to obtain prices from previous maintenance contract and one other.
TO DISCUSS FLORAL DISPLAYS IN TOWN CENTRE.
340 Wood Thorpe Garden Centre are willing to donate potting compost and the Clerk is willing to plant the tubs in the market place and water them each morning. An offer of plants has been received at a cost of .45p per plant. 10 plants each pot would cost £90 in total.
Council asked Clerk to obtain prices from other sources and also speak to Mandy’s Plants regarding possible donation of hanging baskets for town entrances.
TO CONSIDER ENTRY IN LINCOLNSHIRE BEST KEPT VILLAGE & SMALL TOWN COMPETITION.
341 Resolved that Alford should be entered.
TENDERS FOR PAINTING OF CEMETERY LODGE AND GATES.
342 Letters were sent out for tenders to previously used tradesmen. However due to various reasons including retirement only one tender had been received. The Council requested that the clerk obtain further tenders for the work.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
343 Arthur Wood & Son, Commercial Road – Demolition of existing stores & garage and erection of 3 houses and 1 bungalow with covered parking – No objection.
Arthur Wood & Sons, Commercial Road. – Workshop – Change of use and conversion to 4 dwellings.
Resolved to object due to lack of provision of adequate parking for 4 dwellings.
344 Diversion & extinguishment of part of footpath 285.
Council expressed concerns regarding section E – F on map provided and requested the Clerk contact LCC for a meeting with either Cllr Allan or Cllr Jarnell to walk the route and discuss their issues.
ANY OTHER MATTERS FOR GENERAL DISCUSSION OR INCLUSION IN THE NEXT AGENDA
345 Alford CCTV was useful in the apprehension of the culprits who were blowing up letterboxes between Cleethorpes and Skegness.
346 Advertising of Alfords Markets has been requested. As the brackets on buildings in West Street and East Street are only used at Christmas it was suggested that banners could be hung to advertise the Tuesday and Friday Markets and the Craft Market.
347 Area of fenced off ground on Willoughby Road has now been cleared of rubbish although there is still an unsightly pile of surplus earth. This area is a Green field site and must not be developed. Suggested that this would be an ideal site for Allotments.
348 Potholes in the rear overflow South Street Car Park need repairing.
349 Park Lane – part of the road appears to have subsided.
350 Potholes at the entrance to Co-Op car park need repairing.
351 Following her resignation Cllr Devereux was thanked for her work over the years.
TO RESOLVE WHETHER COUNCIL WILL MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION
352 Proposed Cllr Quantrell
Seconded Cllr Jarnell
Resolved to move to closed session.
PAY REVIEWS
353 A schedule of cleaning duties for the Corn Exchange needs to be agreed upon.
Proposed Cllr Quantrell
Seconded Cllr Jarnell
Resolved to increase market operatives/toilet cleaner’s pay by 1.9% in line with the increase in precept.
354 Decision on Clerks salary delegated to Cllrs. Hounslow and Quantrell as NALC scales of pay to be considered.
Resolved to increase burial board fees to clerk by 1.9%
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.20pm.
Third Tuesday in each month
Currently only the approved minutes of the last meeting are here