Ratified Minutes for March 2010

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

Present:
         Councillor F Eyre
            Councillor E Bailey
Councillor E Brindley
Councillor A Forrester
Councillor A Snow

In Attendance:   5 parishioners
         Ms L Court, Clerk
         1 member of the press


Apologies:       Councillor A Moult
         Councillor S Hollins
         Councillor P Ballard
         Councillor I Cope

9.136 Minutes of the meeting held 1st March 2010
The minutes were signed as a true record.

9.137 Matters Arising
Reply regarding Permitted Development from Ben Hurst of ESBC was read to the meeting. Councillor Forrester gave some further details regarding the Governmental legislation and the particular background to the development at Battlesteads. The Clerk was asked to request a visit to the meeting from a representative of the planning department at their earliest opportunity.          Clerk to action
9.138 Alton Towers
Active Traffic Management proposals from Alton Towers – tied into Licensing Application for concert of 23rd May. This application and the proposed traffic management was discussed and it was agreed that the Police on duty would need to give some leeway from local residents especially those who live on Saltersford Lane and to request some additional litter picking from Alton Towers after this event and the concert in June. There was some discussion regarding the number of these types of event that are now being scheduled but there were no objections to this application.
                        Clerk to action
9.139 Footpaths
Councillor Bailey reported a conversation with Dawn Green regarding footpath H. Signs have now been erected as requested. SCC have written to Wheel Farm regarding Saltersford Lane and livestock but will write again. The standing water in the lane will be monitored. The new stiles on footpath 28 have been done.

9.140 Village Hall
Councillor Snow reported that a Race Night is due to take place on 26th March – this event is to be confirmed. A new mower has been bought with a grant and the next project is to look to replace the porch. Quotes are being sought in order to look to apply for grants for this work.

9.141 Lengthsman
Councillor Forrester reported that the sycamore shoots on gallows Green have now been cut back. The debris will be removed when the work on Limekiln Bank has been completed. Mr Bailey is due to start back as Lengthsman in April.
Councillor Forrester reported that the next litter picks would take place on 10th April, 3rd July and 2nd October to start at the Village Hall at 10.00am.

9.142 Highways and Road Safety
Councillor Brindley reported that:
1.   The Horse Chestnuts on headlands Way have been replaced by Maples as scheduled.
2.   The Community Work Gang was due to visit in 1st March to clear leaves etc in Doctor’s Alley. They will also look at the alley between Hillside and The Nook.
3.   The hedges which need cutting down Limekiln Lane cannot be done through the work gang but the work will be requested.
4.   The light on Hurston’s Lane will now not be funded by the Local Member’s Initiative but will be partly funded from another pot. Anne Marie Rafferty will liaise directly with the Clerk on this matter
5.   A letter from SCC regarding pedestrian crossings is still awaited.
6.   A response on yellow lines and grit bins is also still awaited

9.143 Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard
Councillor Forrester informed the meeting that no work is ongoing at present but that towards the end of March, Christmas Wreaths will be cleared in preparation for the season’s mowing.
The Clerk was asked to start the tendering process for this season’s mowing contract.
                           Clerk to action

9.144 Planning and Licensing Applications
Licensing Application for Alton Towers resort for 23rd May 2010 – covered earlier.
                        Clerk to action
LG/10/00093/FUL, Wood Farm, Red Road, Erection of detached Double Garage
It was decided that the size of the premises here is already obtrusive and that any additional building would be inappropriate and overdevelopment. The Clerk was asked to object on these grounds.               Clerk to action
WJOHN/10/00099/FUL and 10/00100/LBC, St John The Baptist Roman Catholic County Primary, Change of use of ground floor to provide accommodation
Previous plans for this had been withdrawn due to lack of consulation and car parking issues. It was agreed that there were no objections to the resubmitted plans.
                        Clerk to action
9.145 Planning Decisions
None

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

•   A parishioner requested clarification regarding SatNav discussions about Nabb Lane. The Clerk answered on behalf of Croxden Parish Council who are taking this matter forward.
•   A parishioner asked for clarification regarding Alton Towers’ traffic management and the outcomes from the public meeting held last year. Councillor Brindley gave clarification on this matter.
•   A parishioner asked about access to Saltersford Lane during the police management of traffic for events at Alton Towers. It was agreed that priority should be given to those who live in the area and who are trying to access their own property.
•   A parishioner asked for information regarding noise levels. Councillor Eyre agreed to ask for this information from Alton Towers and let the resident know directly.

9.146 Correspondence
1.   Requiring response
1.   Community Council of Staffordshire – query re Parish Plan
Clerk to action
2.   Invitation to the Chair for a meeting with Alton Towers – the Chair confirmed that this was to take place the following day. After discussion it was decided to ask about the noise levels, numbers of concerts planned, a copy of the noise monitoring reports after the events and that noise be monitored at the same three sites as for the rollercoaster as well as any other site stipulated.

3.   Parish Council Questionnaire regarding Integrated Planning and Transport (freight) –Councillors Eyre and Brindley to complete

4.   Community Paths Initiative – bids for 2010/2011 –
Councillor Bailey to complete
2.   For information only
1.   Letter of thanks from St Peter’s School
2.   Invitation to the ‘Gold’ bus -Councillor Forrester may attend
3.   My Moorlands Community Magazine – request for content –passed to Alton Village Hall
4.   Update on potholes repairs in the County
5.   Funding opportunity from Community Wellbeing Fund – passed to Alton Village Hall
6.   Letter re Quarrying in Staffordshire
7.   Local Transport Plan News
8.   Copies of Bus and Rail Timetable from February 2010

9.147 Annual Parish Meeting date
The Clerk was asked to set this along the same lines as last year. The date is therefore set for the first Monday in April and the meeting will be followed by the Parish Council monthly meeting as usual. This will be on April 12th 2010 due to the timing of Easter this year.                         Clerk to action

Councillor Bailey reported on a leaflet produced by Yoxall and this was taken by the Chair to have a closer look. Councillor Eyre agreed to speak to Yoxall Parish Council to get more details regarding funding for such a venture.

9.148 Finance
Invoices for payment
Supplier   Details   Gross £   VAT £   Net £
Liz Court   Clerks wages   274.12   0.00   274.12
SMDC   Commercial Waste service   135.30   23.68   158.98
Peter Hill   Lengthsmans Wages and expenses   114.98   0.00   114.98


Councillor Snow proposed payment, Councillor Bailey seconded and all were in favour.                           Clerk to action

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

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