CHIRK TOWN COUNCIL
CYNGOR TREF Y WAUN
MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING HELD 30th May 2007
Present
Mr Barry Evans, Mr M Fennell, Mrs H J Spragg, Mr D Evans, Mr F Hemmings, Mr M Maxfield,
Miss C Ashford, Mr R Jones, Mr M Williams, Mr G Roberts, Mr J Pierce, Mr R Smith, Mr N James.
Mr S A Hughes, Clerk to the Council.
Mr Ian Roberts and Mr Terry Evans, Local Councillors Wrexham CBC.
1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN.
Cllr Michael Williams was nominated by Cllr Michael Fennell and seconded by Cllr Gwilym Roberts to be Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year and was unanimously accepted by the Council.
Cllr Dewi Evans thanked all members and the Clerk for their support. He said it had been a privilege and honour for him and he had enjoyed every single minute of his time in office. In handing over the Chairman’s Chain of Office Cllr Evans wished Cllr Michael Williams a successful term in the next year.
Cllr Mr Michael Williams the newly appointed Chairman of the Council thanked members for electing him and also thanked Cllr Evans for his excellent service to the Council and the community over the past year.
2. ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN.
Two nominations were received.
Cllr Frank Hemmings was nominated by Cllr Christine Ashford and seconded by Cllr Richard Jones.
Cllr Gwilym Roberts was nominated by Cllr Dewi Evans and seconded by Cllr Hilary Spragg.
On being put to the vote Cllr Gwilym Roberts was appointed Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.
3. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
Burial Ground Committee.
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Mr M Maxfield, Mr N James, Mr D Richards,
Mr F Hemmings.
Planning Sub-Committee.
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Mrs H J Spragg, Mr D Richards, Mr M Fennell,
Mr F Hemmings, Mr B Evans, Mr N James, Mr D Evans, Mr G Hatton.
Finance Sub-Committee.
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Mr F Hemmings, Mr R Smith, Miss C Ashford.
Recreation Grounds Sub-Committee.
Chairman, V/Chairman, Mr R Smith, Mr J E Pierce, Miss C Ashford.
Standing Orders Committee.
Chairman, Mrs H J Spragg, Mr F Hemmings, Mr R Smith
Special Sub-Committee.
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Mr D Richards, Mr J Pierce.
Consultations Sub-Committee.
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Mr M Fennell, Mrs H J Spragg.
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4. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES.
School Governors
Ceiriog Junior School Chirk Mr R Smith
Chirk Infants Mr F Hemmings.
Pentre Controlled Mr F Hemmings.
Rhyn Park Mr M Fennell.
Chirk Charities Mrs H J Spragg, Mr B Evans, Mr F Hemmings, and Mr G Roberts.
Chirk Environmental Liaison Group Mr M Fennell, Mr B Evans, Mrs H J Spragg, Mr D Richards
Chirk Swimming Pool Trust. Mr B Evans and the Clerk.
Chirk Swimming Pool Trust. Mr B Evans.
Black Park Community Centre. Mr F Hemmings and Mr J E Pierce
Wrexham Association of Local Councils. Mr F Hemmings, Mr R Smith.
Shrewsbury/Chester Rail Users Association. Mr M Fennell.
Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Mr F Hemmings
Chirk Air Training Corps. Mr M Fennell
Kronospan (Unions) Liaison Committee. Mr B Evans Mr D Evans, Mr F Hemmings,
Mr M Fennell, Mr M Maxfield, with the Clerk.
North East Wales Play and Playing Fields Association. The Clerk.
Penybont Liaison Group. Mr F Hemmings.
Wrexham Sports Council. Mr N James.
Chirk Youth Football Club. Mr M Maxfield, Mr N James, Mr G Hatton.
Footpath Liaison. Mr F Hemmings and Mr R Jones.
Chirk/Ceiriog Valley Partnership. Mr M Fennell.
Chirk/Ceiriog Valley (Education) Liaison Committee. Mr N James, Mr D Evans and the Clerk.
Wrexham Environment Agenda 21 Group. Mr M Fennell
Police Community Consultative Group. Mr M Fennell, (deputy –Mr D Evans).
Chirk Celebrations Committee. Mr M Fennell, Mr F Hemmings, Mr R Smith, Mr N James,
Mr R Jones, Miss C Ashford.
Gardd Cae’r Groes Trust. Mr B Evans and Miss C Ashford.
Chirk Recreation Ground Trust. All members of the Council.
Wrexham Association of Local Voluntary Organisations. Mr B Evans, Mr F Hemmings.
Chirk Youth Club Management Committee. Mr M Fennell, Mr F Hemmings, Mr N James,
Mr R Jones, Mr M Maxfield.
Chirk Court Residential Home Management Committee. Mrs H J Spragg, (Deputies –
Mr M Fennell and Mr D Evans)
National Assembly North Wales Regional Committee. Mr B Evans and Mr D Evans.
Recreation Ground Committee. Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Mr R Smith, Mr J Pierce,
Mr M Fennell, Miss C Ashford.
Chirk Community Forum. Miss C Ashford.
5. MINUTES.
The minutes of the Council meetings held the 25th April and 16th May 2007 were confirmed as a correct record.
6. MATTERS ARISING.
137. Wrexham Youth Service. The Clerk informed the Council that he had invited Mrs Jean
Allen to a future meeting to give a further up to date report on the Youth Service in Chirk.
Cllr Newman James said he was pleased the way the Chirk Youth Centre was going since the appointment of new staff.
141. Gardd Cae’r Groes – Millennium Garden. The Clerk informed the Council that a letter had been received from the Charity Commissioners with regard to the way forward. Following a proposal by Cllr Fennell and seconded by Cllr R Jones a sub-committee was set up to pursue matters. Members appointed were: The Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Cllrs James, Pierce, Jones and Fennell.
The Clerk said no reply had been received from the AAA’s Committee regarding their fence etc.
Cllr Terry Evans said he would be arranging for the Millennium Garden to be made good shortly.
143. Old Rhosywaun Residents Association. Congratulations were expressed to the members of the Association for their great efforts in creating and providing such a good play area for the children.
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7. COMMUNITY POLICING.
1. Police Community Consultative Group.
Cllr Michael Fennell gave a report on his attendance at the recent Group meeting that had been called to discuss further the North Wales Police Budget for the coming financial year. He said it is now common knowledge that the approved budget is not enough for the police to maintain the levels of policing that they did last year, with cuts making a large number of civilian employees redundant and the loss of a Community Beat Manager in three areas of North Wales – Chirk being one of the areas. This was of much concern to the meeting as was the fact that nine experienced police officers were taken from their beat jobs to man office jobs previously done by the civilian personnel – these cuts in personnel coming after £1million was wasted last year on the proposed scheme by the Government to amalgamate Wales’ police forces.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Fennel for his report.
2. Neighbourhood policing.
The Chairman welcomed PC Cullen and PCSO Plack. Apologies were received from Inspector Paul Firth and Sgt Darren Wibberley.
PC Cullen, Community Beat Manager said that his colleague CBM for the Ceiriog Valley and four PCSO’s will be stationed in Chirk with himself and the CBM for the Ceiriog Valley. PC Cullen also said that the PCSO’s will not be taken away from Chirk to carry out other duties. He said that some administration duties had been taken from CBM’s so giving him and his colleague more time to spend on neighbourhood policing matters.
With regard to crime statistics PC Cullen reported the best monthly figures for 12months, viz.
7 anti social behaviour reports; 8 criminal damage incidents; 2 (minor) violent incidents and 3 theft incidents.
One youth had been issued with a yellow ticket for alcohol purchases and fined £80.00
PC Cullen said the Neighbourhood Police Forum will meet at the Parish Hall on Wednesday 13th June and due notice would be given.
PCSO Plack said that she and her colleagues had been tackling illegal parking and had given out tickets for parking offences. She also said that they were attending training sessions with regard to dealing with dog fouling and alcohol abuse. The coming weekends will see them have additional help to target hot spots for with anti social behavioural problems. Stephen Griffiths the PCSO now in his 6 weeks training will soon be with the fully fledged and enable a shift system to be employed by the PCSO’s giving them more presence in the community at various times.
Members commented that it was good to have visual presence of officers in the locality giving parishioners, especially the elderly, more confidence and for their work with the youth not only making them very much aware of the consequences of bad behaviour but also helping them to achieve more.
The Clerk reported receipt of agenda and minutes of the Wrexham South Community Safety Group.
1. REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Members had received a copy of the report and after consideration it was decided to accept the report and recommendations made by the Committee.
2. APPEALS.
The following appeals for financial aid were received and dealt with: -
Purchase of Bibles for Junior School Leavers (via Rev Rees) – agreed to pay the cost of the bibles as chosen by Rev Rees at a cost of £350.00
Age Concern North East Wales – agreed, lie on the table.
3. Wrexham CBC – Street Scene/Highway Issues.
The Clerk reported receipt of communication from Stephen Jones, Streetscene Divisional Manager with regard to the recent re-organisation to deal with highway and environmental matters. The Clerk informed the meeting that he had contacted Mr Jones and invited him to the next Council meeting to give a presentation and answer any queries members may have about the service.
4. NOTICE OF AUDIT.
The Clerk reported receipt of Notice of Audit of the Councils Accounts for the financial year ending 31st March 2007. The date for this had been agreed as 15th August 2007. The Clerk said he would be preparing the accounts and details required. Proper notice of the audit was to be exhibited in due course.
The Clerk drew attention that the accounts also needed to be dealt with by the Internal Auditor. The Council agreed to appoint JDH Business Services Ltd to carry out this work.
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5. DRAFT LOCAL HOUSING STRATEGY FOR WREXHAM COUNTY BOROUGH.
The Clerk reported receipt of the document that has been developed in partnership by the Wrexham Housing Alliance for the Council’s comments and observations.
It was agreed that the Consultation Sub-Committee members should peruse the document.
6. CORRESPONDENCE.
The Clerk reported receipt of the under-mentioned correspondence that was considered and dealt with:
1. Chirk and Ceiriog Valley Partnership agenda together with minutes of the previous meeting. Noted.
2. Notice of the AGM of the Shrewsbury/Chester Rail User’s Association. Noted.
3. Copy of “The Leisure Review – Towards a Twenty First Century Service” which is a summary of the Wrexham CBC’s Leisure Review. Noted.
4. Letter from the Chair One Voice Wales Wrexham/Flint Area Committee with regard to the forthcoming National Eisteddfod at Mold and asking for volunteers to man the O V stand. Noted.
5. Letter from the Wrexham Tri Club with regard to the successful 2007 Chirk Triathlon.
7. PLANNING MATTERS.
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/2007/0522 Rear living room extension – 2 Cilcoed, Lodgevale Park, Chirk. No objection.
P/2007/0576 Ground floor extension – 4 Forest Hills, Black Park, Chirk. No Objection.
P/2007/0625 Single storey side extension to dwelling – 61 Maesywaun, Chirk. No objection.
P/2007/0630 Outline application for single storey dwelling (previously granted under code no.
P/2002/0266) – Plot 8 Land Opposite New Houses, Pentre, Chirk. No objection.
P/2007/0616 Single Storey extension to front – 43 Maesywaun, Chirk. No objection.
P/2007/0593 Urea Silo and resin reactor house weighbridge – Kronospan Ltd., Chirk
No objection.
2. Certificates of Decision.
He following details of decisions on applications for planning permission were received from the Chief Planning Officer: -
P/2007/0366 Permission granted for the erection of a mast for non-operational taxi office –
24 Walden Crescent, Chirk.
P/2007/0312 Permission granted for alterations etc - Pen Y Waun, Chirk.
P/2007/0264 Permission granted for single storey rear extension – Stanton House Inn, Chirk.
P/2007/0878 Listed Building Consent granted for conversion to B1 Office and development of walled
garden etc – Brynkinalt Hall, Chirk.
8. ACCOUNTS.
1. Payments.
A list of invoices and payments amounting to £10,229.10 were given to the Council and were passed for payment. (See addendum).
2. Accounts.
The Clerk presented members with a report showing the amount of income and expenditure to the 31st March 2007 together with details of Bank Reconciliation. This showed expenditure of £149905.00 and income of £153426.
Graphs were also provided showing the amount of expenditure under the various headings compared to the budget estimates for the financial year.
The Clerk drew attention to the large expenditure due to the schemes completed for the installation of a lift at the Parish Hall and the installation of dynamic play equipment at the Chapel Lane recreation Ground. He also mentioned that there were some outstanding invoices to be paid for the renovations etc to the meeting rooms etc at the Parish Hall that would be paid in the coming financial year.
The reports were noted and accepted by the Council with the Chairman thanking the Clerk.
Signed Michael C Williams Chairman 27th June 2007.
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