Ratified Minutes for April 2010

ALTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting
Monday April 12th, 2010
Alton Village Hall commencing at 7.00pm

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

In Attendance:   5 parishioners
         Ms L Court, Clerk



Apologies:       None

Councillor Eyre expressed condolences on behalf of the Council to Councillor Hollins on the loss of Roy – a valued member of the community.

9.149 Minutes of the meeting held 1st March 2010
The minutes were signed as a true record with one change to spelling.

9.150 Matters Arising
An update on Christmas Tree suggestions for outside The Roundhouse was given by the Clerk and the Chair. The Clerk was asked to follow up the request for permission to sink a tube into the cobbles for a tree through Clarence. An offer of assistance made by Alton Towers was also discussed.

An update on the idea for a promotional leaflet was also given by the Chair. A suggested layout from a local artist and writer was circulated to the meeting. It was agreed that this was of very high quality and the type of publication that the Council would like to see. Alton Towers have donated £175.00 towards the printing costs and SMDC have also provisionally agreed to help to fund the project. It was proposed to distribute the leaflet through the school, pubs, local shops and to display it in the notice board. The price for 5000 copies will be approximately £350.00 as quoted by a company in Cheadle. There was some discussion on additional items that could go onto the leaflet if there was enough room.

9.151 Alton Towers
There was some discussion about the noise from Alton Towers, The Clerk was asked to contact Alton Towers to request the number that residents can use when the noise is very loud in order to report it. The Clerk was asked to put this matter onto the next agenda. The Clerk also announced the next Alton Towers’ Community Surgery to take place in St Peter’s School on 28th April at 6.00pm. The Clerk was asked to request a flyer to go out to all residents.

9.152 Footpaths
Councillor Bailey reported on the Community Paths Initiative bids and suggested interpretation boards to be sited by the Village Hall and possibly elsewhere in the village. This was felt to be a good idea. It is possible that the Parish Council would be asked to match fund the project and it was agreed that Councillor Bailey should look into the costings for such an item.
Councillor Cope commented that the stile by the pigeon coops seems to be solid at the moment and that there was a problem with the gullies being filled with stone along the Staffordshire Way between Rambler’s Retreat and Wood Farm. Councillor Bailey offered to organise a ranger visit to look into this. Councillor Cope also mentioned the tree stumps down by the Station building and work needing to be done on the track bed. It was agreed to speak with Farley Parish Council about this matter.

9.153 Village Hall
Councillor Snow reported that the Race Night had been cancelled due to lack of support. A meeting of the Committee was due later the same week. There was some discussion over some funding granted for an enclosed play area. Councillor Brindley reminded the Council that the Parish Council should be involved at all stages regarding ongoing funding such as insurance implications and ongoing maintenance.

9.154 Lengthsman
Councillor Forrester reported that the keys had been passed back to Mr Bailey to continue his work. All the equipment is in good order. Alton Towers will provide plants for the boxes in the village again. The cuttings down Limekiln Lane and Gallows Green were removed free of charge. The area needs raking and the path brushing so the Lengthsman will see to this. The litter pick the previous weekend had been very successful. The Village signs need cleaning. A large accumulation of leaves down the Hurstons and on the Doctor’s Steps need clearing. The Lengthsman will look at these jobs. The previous contractor had fallen whilst working and sprained and chipped a bone in his ankle. Councillor Forrester reported that the injuries were now healing.

9.155 Highways and Road Safety
Councillor Brindley reported that the Council were still awaiting action from the Public Meeting held over a year ago.
The Council are still awaiting written feedback from Anne Marie Raffrety of SCC to give reasons about the decisions regarding double yellow lines and pedestrian crossings. Councillor Mycock will pursue this matter at the end of the week. The Council is also still awaiting confirmation of funding towards the light across from the Hurstons.
There was a discussion regarding feedback from meetings held about the spending of the s.106 monies. No feedback has been given the Parish Councils as yet. Councillor Moult suggested inviting Ms Raffrety to the next meeting but it was agrred that Councillor Brindley would pursue this matter through Councillor Mycock at the end of the week and see if any feedback is forthcoming before the Council invites her to attend.
Councillor Cope commented on the grit bin at Station Bank and also on the signs still all over the village after the works done last year. These have also been piled into the Village Pump area. Councillor Brindley agreed to take this up with Councillor Mycock.

9.156 Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard
Councillor Forrester reported that the wreaths had been cleared in preparation for the next season’s mowing.
The tenders received were circulated and discussed. It was decided that the benefits of a larger company is that illness or other issues do not prevent the work being completed. Councillor Forrester proposed that the contract be awarded to Jacksons, Councillor Hollins seconded this and was agreed unanimously.      Clerk to action

9.157 Planning and Licensing Applications
Premises Licensing Variation Application for 27/28th June – Alton Towers Hotel
No objections
New Premises Licence Application for Sharkbait Reef
The Council voted on this matter and a majority voted to object to this application on the grounds of this being an area for children’s entertainment unlike the other areas currently licensed.                         Clerk to action
LG/10/00206/FUL, Provision of two external canopies, one over the front main entrance and a second over a side entrance, St Peters Church of England First School, Alton
No objections
WJ/10.00149/FUL, Two storey and a single storey rear extension, The Cedars, Cedarhill, Alton                               No objections
9.158 Planning Decisions
Crumpwood Farm – proposed internal and external alterations - granted
9.159 Correspondence
1.   Requiring response
2.   For information only
SPCA newsletters for Councillors were distributed
9.160 Finance
Invoices for payment
Supplier   Details   Gross £   VAT £   Net £
Liz Court   Clerks Fees   274.17   0.00   274.17
CAT Security Systems   CCTV Maintenance contract   395.00   69.13   464.13
Times and Echo   Adverts – Tendering and Annual Parish Meeting   38.40   6.72   45.12
SPCA   Annual Membership   354.00   0.00   354.00
Peter Hill   Lengthsman’s wages and expenses   162.99   0.00   162.99

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

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

Signed…………………………………………………..Chairman,12th April 2010
Signed…………………………………………………...Clerk