CHIRK TOWN COUNCIL
CYNGOR TREF Y WAUN
MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING HELD 27th April 2011
Present
Cllrs Mr I Roberts, Mr T Evans, Wrexham CBC. Mr S A Hughes, Clerk to the Council.
The Chairman welcomed the two new members co-opted to the Council Cllrs Ms Hilary Pepler for Chirk North Ward and Mrs Barbara Humphreys for Chirk South Ward.
126. MINUTES.
The minutes of the Council Meetings held the 30th March were confirmed as a correct record.
127.MATTERS ARISING.
114/ 92/87/79 Black Park Colliery Monument.
Cllr Mrs Spragg remarked that the monument was very impressive and thanked the Clerk and Cllr Barry Evans for their part in getting it erected.
128.NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING.
PC Danny Cullen and PCSO Dean Sawyer were welcomed to the meeting. PCSO Sawyer gave the following statistics of crimes reported since the last meeting: -
A total of 10 crimes, namely: - Burglaries – 1; Burglaries OTD – 2; Criminal Damage – 2; Theft (other) – 3;
Theft from person – 1; Vehicle theft – 1.
PCSO Sawyer said that there were also 6 incidents of anti-social events and that 2 persons were given charges, 1 person was cautioned, 1 person given a fixed penalty notice issued and yellow cards were issued to 2 persons.
PCSO Sawyer informed the Council that he and his colleague PCSO Stephen Griffiths were patrolling various areas with regard to dog fouling and in conjunction with WCBC’s dog wardens. Advice was given to dog owners and doggy bags. They would be patrolling the area following fire damage to trees and had contacted the Community Safety Team with regard to visiting local schools and the youth centre.
Members drew attention to the problems of anti-social drinking on the recreation ground and the litter left behind including bottles (smashed), cans, beer glasses. 9 bags of litter and waste had been collected during the week end and litter baskets had been set on fire.
PC Cullen said that no incident had been reported to the police.
However, Cllr Barry Evans said this was disturbing pointing out that the recreation ground (and other areas) are listed by the police as a “hot spot”for patrolling thus expecting the officers to be policing the area as a matter of routine.
PCSO Sawyer said he would liaise with the CCTV team to find out about incidents that are and have been occurring.
PC Cullen informed the Council that from 4th May restructuring of policing in North Wales would occur and Chirk would be in the Wrexham Rural Policing area. However, he and other CBM’s would be stationed at Rhos Police Station with Sgt Mark Williams. He would still be looking after Neighbourhood Policing in Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley areas. Immediate response policing teams would deal with crime incidents with officers visiting complainants by appointment on other matters.
Cllr Ian Roberts said that the new arrangements were a retrograde step since it would harm the work over the past 10 years or so where the police have been more involved and getting closer to the communities with neighbourhood policing. There was a worry too that there would be a loss of links with the police inspector.
PC Cullen said that it was not in the plans for Chirk Police Station to close and that the present PCSO’s would still be stationed there.
In view of the concerns expressed by members it was decided to invite the Police Inspector to attend a meeting of the Council.
129.REPORTS – COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
Chirk Environmental Liaison Group.
The Clerk said he had attended the meeting with Cllr Mrs Allen, Mrs Spragg and Mr Richards when representatives from Cadbury’s reported on matters. All appeared to be going well with Kraft maintaining the factory and carrying out improvements. Members of the Group were pleased with the report from the representatives.
The Clerk also reported that representatives of Kronospan attended the meeting and an up-date report was given by Mr McKenna, Company Chairman. It was reported that 14 complaints had been made since the last meeting of the Group these being concerned with – noise – 6 and dust – 8. The noise concerned reversing alarms on vehicles and dust due to teething trouble with the installation of a new filtration plant to the PAL chippers that had now been dealt with.
The meeting was informed of a proposal by Kronospan to build and install a Bio Mass Plant that would burn wood waste from the factory and others to create electricity for use in the plants and be connected to the National Grid.
Details of the proposals are to be submitted in a detailed application for planning permission to Wrexham CBC that the Council will be consulted on.
Reports were also given by the Public Protection Officers, Wrexham CBC and officers from the North Wales Environmental Agency.
130.REPORT – WREXHAM CBC MEMBERS.
Cllr Terry Evans informed the Council that the Dog Wardens had issued fixed penalty notices to owners of dogs caught fouling. He also reported that repairs to the Pontfaen Bridge are to commence on 3rd May and will last for 14 weeks.
Cllr Evans said that several new litter bins had been provided in the area and that further work is to be done on the grass cutting as the recent work left the areas in a dreadful state.
131.CORRESPONDENCE.
The Clerk reported receipt of the following correspondence that was considered and dealt with:
1.Letter from Wrexham CBC regarding the renewal of contract for waste collection from the Parish Hall at a cost of £371.00 for a weekly collection of a wheely bin. The Council agreed to accept the contract for this year.
2.Letter from Fields in Trust Cymru with regard to the “Queen Elizabeth 11 Fields Challenge – a project to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics and an aim to protect 2012 outdoor recreational sites. It was agreed to nominate Pentre and Longfield Playfields for the programme.
3.Letter from the Extra-curricular Co-ordinator, Ysgol Dinas Bran seeking some jobs for 4-6 pupils aged 14 from 5th to 8th July as part of the Year 9 Community Action. Noted.
4.Letter from the Divisional manager, Environment and Development, Wrexham CBC confirming the start on the Pontfaen Bridge works on May 3rd. Noted.
5.Notice from the Committee and Member Services Officer, Wrexham CBC advising that the next meeting of the Wrexham Town and Community Council Forum will be held at the Guildhall, Wrexham on Tuesday 28th June 2011 at 6.30pm. Noted.
6.Letter from the Civic Support Officer Wrexham CBC to the Chairman to attend the Annual Meeting of Wrexham County Borough Council on the 16th May 2011. The Chairman accepted the invitation to represent the Council at this function.
132.PLANNING MATTERS.
1.Applications The Clerk reported that the Plans Committee had considered the under-mentioned Planning Applications received from the Chief Planning Officer Wrexham CBC under the consultation procedures and dealt with as follows: -
P/2011/0242 Extension to Dwelling – Rose Cottage, Tyn Y Groes, Chirk.
The Council has no objection to the proposal.
P/2011/0276 Replacement Shed (in retrospect) - 5 New Bungalows, New House Lane, Pentre, Chirk.
The Council objects to the proposed development considering the type of shed and location is not in keeping with the existing dwelling and other dwellings nearby and would be better located well away from the side boundary fence and to the rear of the dwelling.
P/2011/0291 Crown lift two oak trees (T1 & T2) to a height of 3.5 to 4 metres – The Lodge, Black Park, Chirk
The Council has no objection to the proposal.
2.Planning Committee Report.
The Committee received a letter from the Chief Planning Officer, Wrexham CBC with a copy of his report to the Planning Committee in connection with Planning Application (Code P/2011/0207) for the Erection of a Timber Framed two storey dwelling and new vehicular access on land adjacent to Plas Celyn, Pentre.
It was noted that the Chief Officers recommendation is for Planning Permission to be granted.
133. ACCOUNTS.
.Payments.
A list of invoices and payments amounting to £17,825.21 were given to the Council and were passed for payment.
Signed Chairman 25th May 2011.