CHIRK TOWN COUNCIL

CYNGOR TREF Y WAUN

 

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING HELD 9th JANUARY 2008

 

Present

Mr Michael Williams (Chairman), Mr Gwilym Roberts, Mrs Hilary J Spragg, Mr Richard Jones, Mr Michael Fennell, Mr Newman James, Mr John E Pierce, Mr Barry Evans, Mr Raymond Smith, Miss Christine Ashford.

Mr S A Hughes, Clerk to the Council.

Cllrs Terry Evans and Ian Roberts, Wrexham CBC.

 

Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Mr Dewi Evans, Mr Frank Hemmings, Mr David Roberts.

 

The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and proposed that item 4 on the agenda be taken first and this was agreed.

 

87. COMMUNITY POLICING.

Inspector Firth and PC Cullen, Community Beat Manager attended the meeting and were welcomed by the Chairman.

 

Inspector Firth informed the Council that during the past year 192 crimes were reported in this area compared to 269 the previous year. These included 48 for criminal damage compared to 83 and 38 in respect of violent crime compared to 66 last year confirming the reductions as mentioned in previous months.

Inspector Firth told the Council that a new initiative was being introduced  with the PCSO’s in Chirk attending Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen 2/3 times per month at the School Drop In Centre, they were also travelling on the school buses from time to time, all in an effort to build relationships.

Inspector Firth mentioned that Quality of Service questionnaires were to be introduced with officers making visits to residents in the community at random – these addressing the fear of crime issues.

 

PC Cullen gave details of reported crime since the last meeting, namely: -

6 anti social incidents, 7 criminal damage incidents, 3 violent crimes (all detected), 7 shop unit burglaries (1 person arrested) and 2 public order offences (2 persons arrested and fined), 2 drug offences (2 persons arrested).

PC Cullen informed the Council that IT equipment is to be used in crime prevention issues.

With regard to the Neighbourhood Policing Plan he proposed to open a surgery 30 minutes before the Council meeting for the public to meet and discuss their problems with offices.

In connection with speeding PC Cullen said that all the officers in Chirk had been trained to use speed guns and these will be used in the area where problems have been included in the Neighbourhood Policing Plan.

PC Cullen informed the Council that details of the local police officers and PCSO’s was being published and posters are being put up in the area.

Unlawful parking at Colliery Road and other roads previously mentioned is still a chronic problem and the officers asked to monitor this more often especially at peak times in the evenings.

 

Inspector Firth said that misinformation is dealt with by the police in accordance with procedures. Specific details of a complaint need to be had to enable to pursue matters.

 

PC Cullen informed the Council that the Police Environmental Audit will be carried outtwice yearly with dates to be published.

 

88. MINUTES.

The minutes of the Council meetings held the 28th November were confirmed as a correct record.

 

79. Youth Council For Chirk. The Clerk said no report had been received from the Wrexham Youth Service.

 

89. REPORT OF PARISH HALL COMMITTEE.

Members received a copy of a report of the committee meeting held 12th December 2007.  This was considered by the Council and it was agreed to accept the report and the recommendations made.

 

90. REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Members received a copy of a report of the committee meeting held 18th December 2007.  This was considered by the Council and it was agreed to accept the report and the recommendations made.

 

91. COMMUNITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2008.

The Clerk reported receipt of letter from the Deputy Returning Officer, Wrexham CBC advising of the estimated costs of elections and that for wards with numbers of electors up to 2000 it will be £2000.00.

The Clerk said this would mean a cost of £4000.00 to the Council in the next financial year if contested elections are held.

After consideration it was decided to include this estimated amount in the Councils financial budget for the next financial year.

 

92. OMBUDSMAN FOR WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2006/07.

The Clerk reported receipt of this document that gave information of cases that the Ombudsman had dealt with.  The report had been laid before the National Assembly for Wales in June 2007.  This information was noted.

 

93. PROPOSED OVERHEAD 132Kv OVERHEAD LINE ROUTE – LEGACY TO OSWESTRY.

The Clerk reported receipt of letter together with a plan showing the proposed line route and referred to the consultations that had taken place previously. The line will cross land between The Tenements and Court Lane, Pontyblew and to the rivers meet.  SP Manweb will now be carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment on the proposed route and submitting an application to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for consent to construct the overhead line next year.

The Council were concerned that the line was not being placed underground as had been recommended in answer to the consultation but hoped that careful consideration will be given to the siting of the pylons in this special area of outstanding beauty.

 

94. LOCAL MEMBERS REPORT.

The Chairman welcomed Cllrs Terry Evans and Ian Roberts.  They reported that the environmental dog warden had been busy in the area with several offenders caught allowing their dogs to foul and littering in the area.

Members mentioned that dog messing seemed to have got worse over recent weeks in all areas. Cllr Evans said he would arrange for dog pooh bags to be available and advise the dog wardens of the continuing problems. 

Cllr Richard Jones said that Streetscene would attend to clean up areas.

Cllrs Evans and Roberts were asked to look into white lining to estate roads at Highfield and trespass on Council owned fields, Chirk Green Farm.

 

95. APPEALS.

The following appeal for financial aid were received and dealt with: -

North Wales Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus - It was agreed to make a donation of £100.00.

 

96. WREXHAM RIGHTS OF WAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

The Clerk reported receipt of letter advising the Council that his document had been recently published by Wrexham CBC.  It was agreed to obtain a hard copy and for the Council’s Footpath representatives to have it for their information in the first instance.

 

97. CORRESPONDENCE.

a.      Letter from the Chief Executive One Voice Wales with regard to training seminars being set up for Councillors – these were at Llanrwst February 18th; Llandulas February 28th; Ammanford April 5th.

      This information was noted.

b.      Letter from the Chairman, Wrexham Civic Society inviting the Council to join the Society at annual cost of £25.00.  It was decided not to become members of the Society.

c.       Letter from the Scrutiny Facilitator, Wrexham CBC together with a copy of the minutes of the Corporate Governance & Policy Scrutiny Committee held November 28 2007. The issue considered was Alcohol Control Zones and the report included this Council’s comments on the proposals.  The decision of the Scrutiny Committee was to support the proposal for further Alcohol Control Zones in the County Borough. This information was noted.

 

 

 98. PLANNING MATTERS.

1.      Report of Planning Sub-Committee.

a.      Planning applications

The Clerk gave a verbal report on the meeting of the sub-committee held prior to the Council meeting on the applications received from the Chief Planning Officer, Wrexham CBC in accordance with consultation procedures and dealt with as follows: -

 

P/2007/1372 Erection of Garden Shed (in Retrospect) – 43 Highfields, Chirk.

No objection.

 

P/2007/1423 Erection of 12 No. Dwellings and 6No. Apartments –

Former Plas Y Waun, Chapel Lane, Chirk.

The Council is concerned that this development is opposite Chirk Infants School on Chapel Lane where dangerous conditions exist especially at school opening and closing times due to parking of vehicles.  The development proposed will add to the hazardous conditions due to vehicle movements to and from the site and this being so the Council considers that a parking bay should be provided at the school entrance with the developers of the Plas Y Waun site carrying out the work.

 

The proposed development being close to the Chirk Court Old Peoples Residential Home and Chirk Infants School the Council recommend that if the development is allowed the permission is conditioned to ensure works, including the HGV’s, equipment, machinery and other traffic flow do not impinge on the sensitivity/privacy of these neighbours.

 

The Council recommends that if the development is allowed that the boundaries are properly secured prior to any start of the building works.

 

The Council recommends that the Wrexham County Borough Council ensure that a Section 106 agreement is made so that in lieu of providing play facilities a sum of money is provided to be used for such purpose on the playing field opposite the development site.

 

The Council is concerned that the public sewerage system is causing flooding and foul smells in areas of Chirk now and recommend that the Welsh Water Authority provide evidence that the additional loading that will result from this development will not exacerbate the nuisances to residents in the areas affected.  Otherwise the application should be refused planning permission.

 

P/2007/1484 Extension and alteration to Grocery Store including provision of combined condenser housing and repositioning of ATM machine –

Co-operative Store, Holyhead Road, Chirk.

No objection.

 

b.      Certificates of Decision.

The following certificates of decision of the Wrexham CBC Planning Authority were received and noted.

P/2007/1140 Permission refused for outline application for the erection of two bedroom bungalow – Plas Dyffryn, Pentre.

P/2007/1211 Permission granted for a porch extension – 15 North View, Chirk.

P/2007/1248 Wrexham CBC have to rebuild overhead line – Caeau Gwynion, Chirk.

P/2007/1252 Permission granted for the erection of a 3 bedroom dwelling –

131 Crogen, Lodgevale Park, Chirk

 

99. ACCOUNTS.

Payments.

A list of invoices and payments amounting to £4,350.96 were given to the Council and were passed for payment. (See addendum).

 

 

 

 

 

Signed Michael C Williams Chairman                                                                                   30th January 2008.