Ratified Minutes for February 2010

ALTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting
Monday February 1st, 2010
Alton Village Hall commencing at 7.00pm

Present:      Councillor I Cope
         Councillor F Eyre
            Councillor S Hollins
         Councillor A Moult
Councillor E Bailey
Councillor E Brindley
Councillor A Forrester
Councillor P Ballard
Councillor A Snow

In Attendance:   Staffordshire County Councillor Barrie Mycock
5 parishioners
         Ms L Court, Clerk
         1 member of the press


Apologies:       None

9.123 Visit from Councillor Barrie Mycock
The Chair welcomed Councillor Mycock and gave some background regarding the information given to the Parish Council regarding Highways issues. Councillor Mycock listened to the Council’s concerns and requests regarding pedestrian crossings, yellow lines and VAS signs. Councillor Cope asked about the refilling of grit bins and the signs left in the village after the road works in November. Councillor Mycock committed to contact the Clerk, Councillors Forrester and Brindley with updates on the situation regarding yellow lines and the grit boxes. He also offered to make sure that something came back to the Parish Council in writing from the Community Highways Liaison Officer detailing the reasons why pedestrian crossings are not viable for the village of Alton.

There was further discussion regarding planning applications and the lack of objections from the Highways department to the growth of Alton Towers despite the local infrastructure of roads being unable to cope.

Councillor Brindley asked Councillor Mycock if he would consider funding 50%(approx £2250) of the cost for the streetlight requested by The Hurstons. Councillor Mycock agreed to this and asked Councillor Brindley to download and fill in the forms for this grant.

Councillor Mycock was thanked for all his help and invited to remain for the rest of the meeting which he did.

9.124 Minutes of the meeting held 4th January 2010
The minutes were signed as a true record.

9.125 Matters Arising
•   Councillor Eyre gave clarification over the £50,000 spend on traffic monitoring from Alton Towers. Councillor Mycock agreed to ask for further details on this matter.

9.126 Alton Towers
Nothing in addition to the matter arising.

9.127 Footpaths
Councillor Bailey gave feedback regarding the use of the track from Wood Farm. SCC have agreed to look at instigating signage.
Councillor Cope reported that flooding on Saltersford Lane has been very bad and that cows have been out again. Councillor Bailey agreed to ask Paul Rochfort of SCC to follow up both the issue of flooding and livestock on the path.

9.128 Village Hall
Councillor Snow had nothing to report.

9.129 Lengthsman
Councillor Forrester reported that some work had been done in the Cemetery and clearing snow and ice. Mr Bailey will take over the position of Lengthsman again in April following surgery.
Councillor Cope reported that the Doctor’s steps still need clearing and that a local resident has cleared Post Office Alley.
Councillor Forrester reported that leaves by the Cemetery and on Malthouse Road have been cleared.
Councillor Moult asked if the cutting back needed on Limekiln Lane would be done. Councillor Forrester replied that he hoped that this job could be done before April.
Councillor Moult also noted that Gallows green could not be mown due to the shoots from the bottom of the sycamore trees. Councillor Forrester agreed to look into this matter.

9.130 Highways and Road Safety
•   Update re gritting bins – Email from Clarence read to the meeting
•   Staffordshire Highways :A guide for community leaders – distributed to all Councillors
•   Tree inspection report (as enclosed) The trees to be felled will be replaced with Maples
•   Neighbourhood Highways team letter dated 20th January - contents discussed.
•   Councillor Brindley asked about a new sign for Limekiln Lane. Councillor Forrester reported that one had been ordered and was ready for fixing. Other signs by the Church cemetery and on Dimble Lane will also be fixed at the same time.
•   Councillor Brindley also reported on grid work still outstanding and this led to a discussion regarding the remit for the Community Gangs and what the Lengthsman can do due to Health and Safety restrictions.
•   Councillor Bailey reported damage to a dog bin. Councillor Forrester agreed to deal with this matter.
•   There was also a discussion regarding the potential use of a lollipop person to help road crossing, the provision of a pavement along Hurstons Lane by the Village Hall allowing pedestrians a safe route to the surgery and the school and a chicane or road widening to allow for a pavement.
9.131 Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard
Councillor Forrester had nothing to report.

9.132 Planning and Licensing Applications
Pink License Application – granted. Councillor Eyre gave details of the conditions attached to this license regarding traffic, policing and noise.
Update re Battlesteads was given by the Clerk and clarified by Councillor Forrester. The Clerk was asked to invite a representative of the planning department to attend a meeting to give the Council information on permitted development.      Clerk to action
WJOHNS/09/01224/LBC, Crumpwood Farm, proposed internal and external alterations – no comments
RSIMPK/09/01139/FUL, Change of use from existing hotel C1 to youth retreat centre C2, The Lord Shrewsbury, New Road, Alton
It was agreed that much more needed to be known about the proposed usage before the Council could comment. This includes the ages and numbers of people who will be using the retreat as well as the types of activities and supervision envisaged.
Planning Decisions
Alverton Hotel - refused                Noted by the Council

Councillor Eyre declared an open forum to allow parishioners present to ask questions/raise issues:

•   A parishioner asked for clarification regarding the Eastern Access Road. Councillor Mycock replied.
•   A parishioner gave the Chair minutes from previous SRB meetings with reference to the grants gained for the Bowling Club equipment.
•   A parishioner announced that the SRB group were willing to take on the Best Kept Village competition next year and asked for the help of the lengthsman in this. This was agreed by the Council. Councillor Forrester offered to continue to organise the litter picks around the village.
•   A parishioner spoke about problems with the lack of grit and buses accessing Alton Castle. This led to a discussion regarding the statutory limitations put onto the borough councils by central government over which roads can be treated.

9.134 Correspondence
1.   Requiring response
1.   Polling districts/polling place review – no comment
2.   Letter from St Peter’s CE First School Governors -Councillor Forrester declared an interest and withdrew from discussions. After some discussion, a contribution of £250.00 was proposed by Councillor Brindley, seconded by Councillor Cope and agreed unanimously by the rest of the Council.
2.   For information only
1.   BKV entry forms
2.   Update re Deed of Easement
3.   Electoral register
4.   Mobile Library Service review
Noted by the Council

9.135 Invoices for payment
Supplier   Details   Gross £   VAT £   Net £
Liz Court   Clerks wages   274.12   0.00   274.12
Peter Hill   Lengthsmans Wages   132.00   0.00   132.00
St Peters School   Donation   250.00   0.00   250.00

Councillor Brindley proposed payment, Councillor Moult seconded and all were in favour.                           Clerk to action

There being no other business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed.

Signed…………………………………………………..Chairman,1st February 2010
Signed…………………………………………………...Clerk