CHIRK TOWN COUNCIL

CYNGOR TREF Y WAUN

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING HELD 31^st January 2007

Present

Mr D Evans (Chairman), Mr M Fennell, Mr N James, Mr R Jones, Mrs H J Spragg, Miss C Ashford, Mr G Roberts, Mr B Evans, Mr F Hemmings, Mr D Richards, Mr M Williams, Mr G Hatton, Mr R Smith.

Mr S A Hughes, Clerk to the Council.

Cllrs Terry Evans, Wrexham County Borough Council.

Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Mr J Pierce and Mr I Roberts.

The Chairman proposed that agenda items 4 and 5 are dealt with first and this was agreed.

101. YOUTH SERVICE IN CHIRK.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Dewi Thomas, Development Officer Wrexham Youth Service and Mr Ian Jones Youth Officer South Area Wrexham CBC. Mr Thomas apologised that Jean Allen and Donna Dickens were unable to attend the meeting.

Mr Thomas mentioned that Chirk Youth Club had had problems with staffing since the Worker in Charge had left the service but despite three failed attempts a new Worker in Charge had now been appointed to Chirk Youth Club and an assistant worker is to be appointed. Mr Thomas said there were 4 points to be achieved for the Youth Club: -

Need for Staffing stability
Programme for Youth
Youth Work programme
Good behaviour

Mr Ian Jones informed the Council that the new Worker in Charge of Chirk Youth Club was Shirley Jones and she would be taking up the appointment on 1^st February and would be calling a management meeting.

Members made comments as follows: -

It has been difficult for the Youth Club as the Youth Leader left in May 2006 with no person taking up the appointment till now but hopefully matters will now improve.
The Council and the community were promised a Youth Forum when Jeff Moore and colleagues attended a meeting of the Council two years ago. Mr Allan Williams carried out some work with the schools and reported to the Council on several occasions but nothing has come to fruition and Mr Williams taken from the duty.

Mr Thomas said that the Worker in Charge would deal with the setting up of a Youth Forum.

An outreach worker was also needed in this area.

The Wrexham Youth Service has not kept promises for new furniture and other items to be installed at Chirk Youth Club
The Youth Club is well attended, having support from the CBM’s but the problem of lack of leadership also gives problems for the community.

The Chairman thanked Mr Thomas and Mr Jones for their attendance and reports and looked forward to hearing more from them and their colleagues in due course.

102. COMMUNITY POLICING.

The Chairman welcomed Inspector Firth, PC Cullen and PCSO Rhiannon Placket.

Inspector Firth informed the Council that PC Bates after his illness had been moved to the Police Control Room. The post for a new CBM is now vacant but Inspector Firth said he is striving to fill the position soon. He also said that a second PCSO is to be appointed for Chirk and a third PCSO for the Ceiriog Valley (based at Chirk Police Station).

Inspector Firth was asked about the proposed loss of Police Officers when an additional amount of Council Tax was and still is being paid to appoint and keep them. Inspector Firth said that this question should be put to the Police Authority.

PC Cullen reported that the recent operation Bander had been a success –

50 bottles/cans of alcohol were taken from youths – the youths were all under 18years old but the alcohol was not purchased in Chirk. Home visits had been made.

10 stop searches were made and Yellow Cards issued – a new system introduced for follow-up procedures is now in place.

2 visits to homes had been made with officers from Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd.

102. COMMUNITY POLICING (cont).

PC Cullen reported on the Wrexham South Environmental Audit and provided a sample report on the patrolling of the area making notes with regard to Social Disorder, Physical Disorder, Drugs and Substance Abuse Problems and Traffic and Parking issues. PC Cullen said he was accompanied by members on several of these occasions and wished this to continue.

During November and December PC Cullen reported that the following incidents had occurred: -

13 violent incidents (not serious assaults)
10 incidents of criminal damage
5 various incidents
18 reports of anti-social behaviour

PC Cullen said the Arson Reduction Team dealt with 3 incidents in November including the recycling bin fires and arrests have and are still being made in respect of these incidents.

PC Cullen reported that the “Youth Fun Bus” would be visiting Chirk during the schools half term. He was pleased that a new Youth Leader had been appointed and said that PC Dave Evans who dealt with grants/funding was looking for and would like a list of ideas for youth schemes and opportunities.

Members reported the following incidents: -

3 lads dropping stones on to by pass traffic.

Burglaries and “fishing hook thieves” were mentioned for the community to take extra care in securing their premises and belongings.

PCSO Rhiannon Placket informed the Council that she was conducting an Environmental audit the purpose to try and improve the quality of life for residents in Chirk.

Several points were mentioned for attention: -

Dog fouling
Lighting at the Millennium Gardens
Parking on pavements
Graffitti on walls around the Car park.

103. MINUTES.

The minutes of the meetings held the 29^th November 2006 and 17^th January 2007 were confirmed as a correct record.

104. LOCAL MEMBERS REPORTS.

Cllr Terry Evans reported on the following matters: -

Community Forum were busy on projects,

· a route map had been made and would be available for the Council’s perusal.

2. Wrexham CBC

· had started clearing up at the rear of the Cemetery.

· are to complete repairs to the entrance to Maesywaun.

· a team is to assess the problem of dog fouling.

the Principal Engineer is to make a report on the pedestrian crossing in Church Street, Chirk.
Two trees have been removed from Castle Road and surfacing to the pavement made safe.

105. REPORT – PARISH HALL RENOVATIONS.

The Clerk reported that work on the renovation scheme was well under way with the contractors all in attendance. He pointed out that planning permission in principle for replacing the foyer entrance doors with all glass units had just been received and had advised the contractor accordingly. However, details of the actual units still have to be approved.

The Clerk said every endeavour is being made to make rooms available for meetings so as not to disrupt the routine of the organisations.

106. APPEALS.

The following appeals for financial aid were received and dealt with as follows: -

Chirk Gardeners’ Club – It was agreed to support the Chirk Gardeners’ Club with the proposed 2007 Gardening Competition and for the Clerk to obtain further information from the Club as to what sort of prizes etc are being considered.
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod – It was agreed to make a donation of £100.00.
Urdd Gobaith Cymru Fflint Maelor – It was agreed to make a donation of £50.00.
St Christopher’s School – It was agreed to make a donation of £50.00.
Wrexham Homework Club – It was agreed to make a donation of £100.00.

107. COMMUNITY COUNCIL FORUM.

The Clerk informed the Council that a meeting of the Forum was to be held at the Guildhall Wrexham on the 13^th February, 2007. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman would be attending with the Clerk.

108. MAKING THE CONNECTIONS – DELIVERING BEYOND THE BOUNDAIRES –

TRANSFORMING PUBLIC SERVICES.

The Clerk reported receipt of this consultation document from the Welsh Assembly Government. Members agreed that the sub-committee should peruse the document and report as necessary to the Council.

109. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

The Clerk referred to the recent workshop held at the Parish Hall with regard to the new Local Development Plan and that the Council could make comments in the matter now. Following a short discussion it was agreed for the matter to be dealt with by the plans sub-committee.

110. ONE VOICE WALES.

The Clerk reported receipt of Notice of Meeting of the Wrexham Flint Area Committee on Thursday 8^th February 2007 at the Clwyd Room, County Hall, Mold. Cllrs Hemmings and Smith, the Council’s representatives had also received the notification.

111. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Clerk reported receipt of the following: -

1 Notice from the Shrewsbury Chester Rail Users Association of a Public Meeting at the Chirk Royal British Legion Club on Monday 19^th February 2007 at 7.45pm. This was noted.

2 Notice of meeting of the Chirk and Ceiriog Valley Partnership on Tuesday 30^th January 2007 at the Golden Pheasant, Dolywern. This was noted.

3 Notice of the AGM of the Alzheimer’s Society on Tuesday 8^th March 2007 at Capel Y Groes, Wrexham at 11am. This was noted.

4 Letter from the Social Business Councillor, Northern Marches Cymru with details of training events being organised for voluntary groups and local councils at the Rossett Hall Hotel on Tuesday and Wednesday 13^th and 14^th February 2007 and inviting members to attend. This information was noted.

5 Notice of meeting of the National Assembly North Wales Regional Committee at the International Pavilion, Llangollen on Friday 9^th February – the subject for discussion being Tourism. This was noted.

6 Letter from the Service Manager, Housing Strategy and Private Sector Housing, Wrexham CBC regarding a Rough Sleeping Count that will take place in March 2007 and asking for information as to likely spots for officers to visit. Noted.

7 Letter from the Dr Dawn Roberts, Economic Development Manager, Wrexham CBC with regard to the proposal to nominate Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the extension of the site to include the Horseshoe Falls Llangollen through to Chirk and for Dr Roberts to speak to the Council. It was agreed to invite Dr Roberts to a meeting of the Council.

112. PLANNING MATTERS.

The Clerk gave a verbal report on the following: -

Applications for planning consent received from the Chief Planning Officer, Wrexham County Borough Council Planning Authority under the consultation procedures.

P/2007/0028 Erection of 89 residential dwellings, garages and associated road works –

Ley Farm, off Sycamore Drive, Lodgevale Park, Chirk.

The Council is concerned that: -

1. the site will be over-developed.

2. the layout is generally in long rows.

3. the public open space with path is on steeply rising ground.

4. a children’s play area and equipment have not been included in the proposals.

5. the existing sewerage system serving Chirk and Lodgevale Park in particular is at present giving rise to surcharging and flooding and foul smells.

These problems need to be properly dealt with before the discharge of sewage from this

development site is allowed.

6. the existing surface water sewer discharges to a ditch to the Northern part of Lodgevale Park. No detail is given to show how surface water is to be dealt with.

7. that foul sewage is discharged to the surface water and ditch at times of heavy rain. The potential for a substantial health hazard exists due to the foul sewerage system serving Chirk being inadequate.

112. PLANNING MATTERS (cont).

8. that Sycamore Drive is an un-adopted road and the sewerage system is believed to be un-adopted too. (The plan submitted with the proposal show Sycamore Drive to be in the ownership of the applicant/prospective purchaser).

9. the proposed new estate access off the B5070 is considered not to be the best option. The Council recommends that access to the development should be from Chirk Green Lane (suitably upgraded and improved) to the East of the site.

P/2007/0054 Five (5) Bay Warehouse extension , Kronospan, Chirk.

The Council has no objection to the proposal.

P/2007/0069 Retention of 2No. single mobile classrooms – Pentre Controlled School.

The Council has no objections to the proposal.

Certificates of Decision.

The following certificates of decision were received and noted: -

P/2005/0877 Planning permission granted for the use of land and buildings, conversion, construction, car parking and service facilities for B1 work space –

Estate Yard and Walled Garden, Brynkinalt Estate, Chirk.

P/2006/1166 Planning permission granted for the erection of 7No. single storey semi-detached bungalows and associated parking and access road –

Land fronting on to Colliery Road, Chirk.

P/2006/1241 Planning permission granted for the removal of three conifers –

The Vicarage, Trevor Road, Chirk.

P/2006/1264 Planning permission granted for a two storey side extension –

5 Castle Mill, Chirk.

P/2006/1323 Planning permission granted for the construction of a dwarf wall –

Brynkinalt Hall, Chirk.

P/2006/1442 Planning permission granted for single storey side extension –

Ashover, Holyhead Road, Chirk.

113. ACCOUNTS.

1. Payments.

A list of invoices and payments amounting to £46,282.89 were presented to the Council and were agreed.

2. Accounts.

The Clerk presented members with a report showing the amount of income and expenditure to the 31^st December 2006 together with details of Bank Reconciliation. This showed expenditure of £98,172.00 and income of £96,678.00.

Graphs were also provided showing the amount of expenditure under the various headings compared to the budget estimates for the financial year. The reports were noted and accepted by the Council with the Chairman thanking the Clerk.

Signed Dewi G Evans Chairman 28^th February 2007