Betley, Balterley & Wrinehill Parish Council

 

Minutes of the Meeting held on 24 October 2002

 

PRESENT            Ian M Ashbolt                                                                                (Chair)           

                        Steven K Ball

Rita Chisnall 

Ken Eaton

John Price                                                                                 

                        Roland P Seymour

Jennifer J Walton

Ann Wynn-Jones

G Roger Gleave

BC David Becket                                                             (Clerk)

One members of the public

 

APOLOGIES            Anne Mountford

Ronald C Howarth

Bob E Lindblom

CC Ted Holland

BC Gavin Webb

 

ABSENT            Frank A Speed

 

170/02 There had been two applicants for the casual vacancy of a councillor.  One, Carl Davies, had subsequently withdrawn and the Clerk was asked to write to him thanking him for his interest and informing him that if Bob Lindblom ceased to be a councillor he would be considered for the vacancy.

            RESOLVED that Ann Wynn-Jones be co-opted to fill the vacancy on the Council.

 

171/02 The Council considered the following planning application.

02/00309/FUL: Detached bungalow and garage; Land The Butts Off, Church Lane, Betley.

The papers had not been received.  However BC David Beckett informed the Council that he believed that there were not substantial changes from the earlier application that the Council had considered.

RESOLVED that in the light of the information form BC David Becket, the Council stood by its resolution when it last considered this application; that resolution read:

RESOLVED that the Council had no objection in principle to development on this site, but the present application for a four bed roomed two storey ‘bungalow’ was out of keeping in scale and size with the neighbouring properties of traditional bungalows and terraced houses.

 

172/02 The Council did not consider the following planning application as it lay outside the parish boundaries.

02/00791/FUL: Conversion of barn to cottage; Hillside Farm, Heighly Lane, Betley.

 

173/02 The Council did not consider the following planning application.   BC David Becket informed the Council that this application had been withdrawn.

02/00804/TDET: 15m high column comprising telecommunications antennae with associated ground level equipment cabins; Land off, Bow Hill Lane, Betley. (with amended set of drawings)

 

174/02 The Council considered the following planning application.

02/00827/FUL: First floor extension; Chapel side, Den Lane, Wrinehill.

RESOLVED that the Council recommends to Newcastle Borough the approval of this application.

 

175/02 The Council considered the following planning application.

02/00839/FUL: Two storey extension; Wellbank Cottage, Old Road, Wrinehill.

RESOLVED that the Council recommends to Newcastle Borough the approval of this application.

 

176/02 The Council did not consider the following planning application as it lay outside the parish boundaries.

02/00840/FUL: Extensions and alterations; Five Acres, Bowsey Wood, Betley.

 

177/02 The Council considered the following planning application.

02/00861/LBC: Internal and external alterations; The Old Post Office, Main Road, Betley.

RESOLVED that the Council had no objections to this application subject to the approval of the external alterations by the Conservation Committee.

 

178/02 The Council received the result of the following planning application.

02/00114/LBC: Repositioning of stairs and creation of ground floor flat; Summer House, Main Road, Wrinehill.

APPROVED

(with four schedule 2 conditions to ensure that the architectural and histories character of the building is safeguarded)

 

179/02            RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting (copy in minute book) held on 26 September 2002 be approved with one typographical correction.

 

180/02            RESOLVED that the following report/actions consequent upon a consideration of matters arising be approved.

a)      155/02 (b) Den Lane & 166/02 Bow Hill Lane There had been no developments.

b)     155/02 (c) Sign at Balterley.  It had not yet been erected.

c)      155/02 (f) Appointment of Internal Auditor.  The Chairman reported that he had made  contact with Whitmore Parish Council and that there was a possibility that there could be cooperation on internal audit.

d)     155/02 (g) Re-location of BT Telephone Box.  BC David Beckett informed the Council that the Planning Committee had approved the repositioning.  However the earlier agreement with BT that the box should be placed further back did not seem to have been implemented.  The Chairman said he would try to find out the situation from BT perspective.

e)      163/02 Freedom of Information 2000

RESOLVED that the Chairman and the Clerk should prepare the nature of the resolution for adoption by the Council at its next meeting.

f)       161/02 Local Plan - Public Enquiry The Chairman said that he attended the meeting with the Inspector to consider the Council’s two objections.  The Inspector would give his ruling in the future.

g)      162/02 Village Plan  The Chairman said that he was arranging for a number of speakers to address a public meeting together with persons from Barlston who had prepared a village plan.

 

181/02            RESOLVED that the financial statement (copy in minute book) as at 18 October be received.

           

182/02 Arising from the financial statement and the lack of reserves fully to meet current and future commitments, The Chairman outlined the arrangements he had been pursuing so that the Council could meet the expenses for the work at Laudy Croft.  In the long term the monies promised under the Section 106 agreement over the development at the ex-site of Andersons Saw Mills would provide the necessary funding.  The short-term requirement was for £23,000 (circa) and a draw down loan facility had been negotiated with Newcastle BC.

            RESOLVED that the Council approve the arrangements that the Chairman had negotiated.

 

183/02 Councillors received a copy of ´Statement of Responsibilities of Local Councils and their Auditors’ published by the Audit Commission.

 

184/02 The Council considered a policy update from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister concerning ‘Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003’.

            RESOLVED that the Clerk and the Chairman should prepare a response for approval by the Council.

 

185/02 The Vice Chairman would telephone Mr Cooper to pursue the work under the Highway Maintenance Agreement that was required.

 

186/02            RESOLVED that the Chairman should compete the application for a grant for work at Laudy Croft under the Local Member Initiative Scheme.

 

187/02            RESOLVED that the payment of invoices (copy in minute book) be approved; and Mr Mottram should be asked to meet with the Chairman to review the year’s work.

 

188/02            RESOLVED that Jennifer Walton and Steven Ball should complete, on behalf of the Council, the questionnaire from Newcastle BC concerning ‘Setting Council Priorities’.

 

189/02            RESOLVED that the Chairman would complete the response to the consultative document from Newcastle BC concerning ‘Leisure Link’.

 

190/02            RESOLVED that pending Bob Lindblom’s resignation a notice should be placed in the Parish Magazine seeking to find a person to manage the Council’s Website.

 

191/02 The Chairman made the following reports.

a)      He had attended a meeting concerning Rural Transport and plans were being made with nearby councils to provide a transport services under grant from the Countryside Agency.

b)     The Christmas Tree would arrive on 13 November and the lights turned on 13 December.  He would make the necessary arrangements with MEB.

c)      It had been reported that the noticeboard at Balterley had been damaged.  John Price was thanked for his offer to repair it.

d)     He had been informed of a meeting to be held on 5 November concerning the Staffordshire Coalfields Community Chest.  Rita Chisnall hoped to attend this meeting.

 

192/02 BC David Becket made the following reports

a)      He was hopeful that wooden posts for the Church Lane sign on the Village Green could be provided.

b)     He was preparing a report on the state of roads and gulleys.

 

193/02            RESOLVED that the correspondence under Item 13 be received and appropriate action taken.

a)      Items 13 (b) i, iii & v (c), (d) & (e) were tabled.

b)     SPCA:

i           AGM 16 October 2002. The Chairman and Vice Chairman had attended                                

ii         Smoke Free Staffordshire. The documentation was passed to John Price and Village Hall Committee

iii        2002/3 National Salary Award for Local Council Clerks.  The Clerk was to prepare a pare indicating the effect of this award.

c)      Staffordshire County Council

i     Community Paths Initiative – Bids for 2003/2004.Any  member with information should contact the Clerk.

ii    Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service Newsletter – ‘Time2Time Autumn/Winter 2002.’ Send to Local History Society.

 

Signed…………………………….Date………………………………