CHIRK TOWN COUNCIL

CYNGOR TREF Y WAUN

 

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING HELD 25th June 2008

 

Present

Mr Barry Evans, Mrs H J Spragg, Mrs C Gough, Miss J Win-Jones, Mr M Fennell, Mr D Richards, Mr D Evans, Mr F Hemmings, Mr M Maxfield, Mr R Jones, Mr R Smith, Mr J Vant.

Mr S A Hughes, Clerk to the Council.

 

Before opening the meeting the Chairman welcomed Miss Jacqueline Win-Jones to the Council as the newly

co-opted member for the Chirk North Ward.

 

Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Mr N James and Mr J Pierce.

 

24. MINUTES.

The minutes of the Council meetings held the 28th May and 11th June 2008 were confirmed as a correct record.

 

25  MATTERS ARISING.

16.c Chirk Housing Estate Office. The Chairman reported that he had spoken further with Mr Bob Haynes who confirmed he was to produce a draft business plan having had a copy of the Councils approved list of ideas for the use of the premises. It was also mentioned that the Chirk and Ceiriog valley Partnership support the Council’s proposals.

 

26. COMMUNITY POLICING.

The Clerk informed the meeting that Inspector Lisa Surridge would attend a meeting at the Parish hall on Wednesday 2nd July 2008 at 7pm.  This information was noted.

 

PCSO Steven Griffiths was welcomed by the Chairman and he gave a report on the crime statistics since the last meeting as follows: -

Arson – 1; domestic burglary – 1; other burglaries – 3; criminal damage - 4; theft motor cycle – 2;

theft bicycle – 1; other thefts – 2; anti-social behaviour – 6..

Members passed comments that it was nice to see officers on the beat again around the community.

 

27.  VACANCY CHIRK SOUTH WARD.

The Clerk informed the Council that the Returning Officer, Wrexham CBC had advised that an appropriate request had been made for an election and that this would take place on the 24th July if contested. This information was noted.

 

28.  REPORT FROM COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.

a.   Chirk and Ceiriog Valley Partnership.

Cllr Fennell said he had attended a recent meeting of the association and that the Partnership was to provide a new booklet about its activities and information about the area. The Chairman thanked Cllr Fennell for his report.

      b.   Changing the Structures of the NHS in Wales.

The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Cllr Fennell attended a meeting concerning the above-mentioned proposals by the Welsh Assembly Government as part of the consultation process referred to at the last meeting.  It was a meeting attended mainly by officers and persons employed in the hospital and social services departments that new a lot about the proposals and therefore at an advantage.  However, the members reported on the proposed restructuring and an agreed reply to the consultation had been sent on behalf of the Council – copy of which was available for members.

       c.   Chirk Environmental Liaison Meeting.

Cllr Hilary Spragg reported on her attendance at the recent meeting that was attended by officers of Wrexham CBC Public Protection Department, the Environment Agency and Kronospan Management.

 

 

Mrs Spragg mentioned that the siren warning system was tried out recently but not all the immediate area heard the warning.

d.   One Voice Wales.

      Members had received a written report by Cllr Smith on the meeting he had attended.

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  1. World Youth Skills Challenge 2009.

Cllr Spragg reported on her attendance with Cllr Win-Jones to meeting at Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen.  The School will be hosting this event that will be very interesting for young persons across the world – a sort of youth Olympics with outdoor activities, master chef, come dancing, art, mime, chess etc. to which a good number of countries had applied to compete.

Support from the Council and the community was asked for the event and hosting the competitors and more would be forthcoming in this direction.

  1. Chirk Youth Centre.

Cllr James reported that the Youth Leaders report had been received by the management committee and this mentioned a loss of some members and the centre manager.  Seven members were however involved in the Area Youth Forum. At a special event a laptop, printer etc was presented to the centre with monies from the North Wales Police and a big thank you to them and the local officers.

 

The Chairman thanked the members for their informative reports.

 

29.  REPORTS FROM LOCAL MEMBERS, WREXHAM CBC.

Cllr Terry Evans informed the Council that the household waste collection service was being revised. Tracker systems are to be fitted to the lorries allowing managers to be able to direct lorries to particular areas in case of break downs etc.

With regard to the Connect magazine Mr Evans said that from July the delivery system is to be monitored to try and ensure all households receive copies.

In respect of the complaint made at the last meeting Cllr Evans said that the pavement along the Pentre Road was to be attended to and cleaned up.

He mentioned the Wales in Bloom competition commenting how good the hanging baskets and other floral tubs were and the attention needed before the judging was to take place.

Cllr Evans requested that the Council see to the placing of the photographs of Alderman Thomas and of Billy Meredith.

 

Cllr Ian Roberts said that he had been made a member of the Scrutiny Panel following the elections and that a task and finish group had been formed to study the School Transport position.  He was a member of the panel too and was concerned about the bussing of school children from Chirk to Llangollen and other schools outside the county borough and parental choice in schools to be attended by their children. He said parents were to be informed by newsletter.

Following this information Council were very concerned to what seems to be a change of policy by Wrexham CBC without proper consultation that will effect the traditional schooling option that children from Chirk have been accustomed to for many, many years.  It was agreed that this is a choice that should be closely guarded and that consideration should be given to involving our Member of Parliament and our Assembly Member and to convene a special meeting.

 

With regard to a question about vehicles being displayed for sale at on the visibility display verge at Whitehurst (toll bar) Cllr Roberts explained that as the vehicles were road taxed and no more than two belonging to one person were there it was not an illegal practise.

 

The Chairman thanked the two members for their reports.

 

30.  NOTICE OF AUDIT.

The Clerk reported receipt of the notice of audit of the Council’s accounts for the year ending 31st March 2008.  This would take place on the 18th August 2008. The Clerk also said that notices of the audit will be posted in due course.

 

      With reference to the Audit the Clerk informed the Council that he had prepared a Statement  

      of Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2008 as required for the audit. He also confirmed that the

      Council needed to give a Statement of Annual Governance and read out the eight parts of the statement  

      concerned.

      Following this the Council agreed to give the Annual Governance Statement and agreed that this and the

      Statement of accounts as prepared by the Clerk to be signed by both the Chairman and Clerk.

 

 

 

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31.  REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY.

The Clerk informed the Council that he had been invited and had attended a meeting with the members of the Committee of the Chirk Branch of the Royal British Legion with regard to the forthcoming Remembrance Day on the 9th November 2008. He said that Mr Harry Holgate had retired from the Presidency of the Branch and that Mr Tom Jones was the newly appointed President and Mrs Ann Davies the Hon.Secretary.  The members confirmed that they wanted the Remembrance Day Parade and Service to carry on as in the past two years and that they would inform the Council when their new Chaplain had been appointed.  The Clerk said that he informed the branch committee members that the Council would consider the matter and that he would arrange and deal with matters as previously if so directed.

After due consideration, the Council agreed to hold the Remembrance Day Parade and Service as done previously.  It was also agreed to look into the position with regard to closing the main road for the parade and service.

 

32.  PROPOSED REMOVAL OF THE PAYPHONES.

The Clerk reported receipt of a letter from the Chief Planning Officer, Wrexham CBC advising the Council of British Telecommunications proposal for removing 18 payphones in the County Borough – one of them being the payphone at Station Road, Chirk. As time was short the Clerk said he had replied on behalf of the Council objecting to the proposal on various grounds.  The Council confirmed the Clerk’s action in this matter.

 

33.  ANNUAL REPORT 2007/08 OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN FOR WALES.

The Clerk reported receipt of the report that was duly noted by the Council.

 

34.  ONE VOICE WALES.

The Clerk reported

1.      receipt of letter inviting members to man the One Voice Wales stall at the forthcoming National Eisteddfod of Wales to be held in Cardiff 2-9th August.  This was noted.

2.      Receipt of the National Training Programme for Community and Town Councillors.  This was a 6 modular programme. The cost will be £25 per member per module. 

The Clerk asked members to let him know if they wish to take part so that he can advise the Training and Development Officer accordingly.

 

35.  COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES.

The Clerk referred to the letter from the Countryside Council for Wales together with a booklet giving a flavour of the activities in which the CCW are involved with.  This information was noted.

 

36.  CORRESPONDENCE.

a.      Email letter from the Operations Manager – Waste, Wrexham CBC in answer to the complaint made about the waste collection service in Pentre that gets left and not collected on the proper day. She said that it is proposed to change the order of collections in Pentre and that a new in-vessel composter will be open next year that will greatly reduce the tipping times for vehicles that now have to travel to Chester. 

Also a letter from the Chief Environment Officer, Wrexham CBC saying that problems with the service had been ironed out and the service now up to standard and apologising to the residents for the inconvenience caused to them. This information was noted.

b.      Notice and agenda for a meeting of the Chirk and Ceiriog Valley Partnership together with a copy of the minutes of the previous meeting.  Noted.

c.       Letter from Ian Pearce, Race Organiser of the Chirk Triathlon thanking the Council for all the support given to this event and for the trophies and prize money given to the local winners of the Chirk Triathlon 2008.  This was noted.

d.      Letter from the Chief Legal and Democratic Services Officer Wrexham CBC with a copy of the Dedication Deeds in respect of the “Owain Glyndwr Playing Field” at Chapel Lane, Chirk. The receipt of the document was noted.

e.       Letter from the Secretary, Clwyd Community Chest giving advance notice of the Annual General meeting at the Eirianfa Community Centre, Denbigh on 29th July 2008 and inviting the Council to become members of the association.  After discussion it was agreed to apply for membership of the Clwyd Community Chest at a cost of £35.00.

f.        Letter from Brian Gibbens, Minister of Social Justice and Local Government, Welsh Assembly Government  forwarding a copy of  new Local Government Partnership Scheme and the Local Government Partnership Scheme Report for 2006/07.  Noted.

 

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37.  PLANNING MATTERS.

 

  1. Report of Plans Committee.

The Clerk gave a report on the applications for planning permission received from the Chief Planning Officer, Wrexham CBC under the consultation procedures.  These were dealt with by the Committee as follows: -

 

 

 

P/2008/0569 Change of Use of workroom and offices to dwelling – Chirk Mill Chirk.

 No objection.

             P/2008/0573 Demolition of conservatory and single storey extension and erect single storey and

            two storey extension – Telford Lodge, Chirk.

             No objection.

P/2008/0622 Extension to form 3 No. Dental Surgeries – The Old Post Office, Chirk.

No objection.

P/2008/0691 Erection of Cattle Building – New Hall Farm , Chirk.

No objection.

 

  1. Certificates of Decision.

The following certificates of Decision by the Wrexham CBC Planning Authority were received and noted:

P/2008/0302 Permission granted for the erection of a double detached garage – 2 Ewart Street, Chirk.

P/2008/0313 Permission granted for a single storey extension – 113 Offa, Lodgevale, Chirk.

P/2008/0335 Permission granted for erection of garage and smithy – Plas Offa farm House, Chirk.

P/2008/0374 Permission REFUSED for the Change of Use of Land for the retention of a Mobile Home for  

                     Residential purposes – Coed Gelli, Pentre.

P/2008/0424 Permission granted for a porch and garage extension – 15 Bronywaun, Chirk.

 

  1. Planning Consultations – Electronic Communication

The Clerk reported receipt of letter from the Chief Planning Officer advising the Council that his department will, in the very near future, be seeking to send out consultations by email and will be making plans and details of applications available on the internet.

The Committee considered this to be a wrong move as it will mean that all information about applications will not be readily and easily available as members do not have computer equipment and having to attend at Chirk Library is not convenient. It was agreed to recommend that the Council object most strongly to this proposed type of consultation.

 

38. ACCOUNTS.

Payments

 

A list of invoices and payments amounting to £4,443.90 were given to the Council and were passed for payment. (see addendum).

 

 

 

 

Signed R Barry Evans Chairman                                                                                                        30th July 2008