ALTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting
Monday February 2nd, 2009
Alton Village Hall commencing at 7pm
Present: Councillor E Bailey
Councillor E Brindley
Councillor I Cope
Councillor P Ballard
Councillor S Hollins
Councillor A Moult
Councillor A Forrester
Councillor A Snow
Councillor F Eyre
In Attendance: 9 parishioners
Ms L Court, Clerk
1 member of the press
8.151 Apologies
8.152 Minutes of the meeting held 5th January 2009
The minutes were signed as a true record with one amendment to 8.146 to include Councillor Cope’s comments regarding the Replacement Rollercoaster. Councillor Cope asked that his three points be included:
1. Of the 43 trees to be felled, only 7 are mature specimens
2. The site is scrubland
3. The site will not be visible from the village and therefore will not affect the village.
These points have been added to the minutes and will be part of the minutes on the Village website. Clerk to action
Councillor Cope also wished to thank the member of the press for all the coverage given after the last meeting.
The Council discussed the request from a Parishioner for more detailed minutes. All Councillors agreed that the current level of detail was appropriate and that no changes should be made.
8.153 Matters Arising
Councillors asked the Clerk to contact William Cash M.P. on the matter of the Eastern Access. Clerk to action
8.154 Alton Towers
1. Public meeting to be held on 23rd February re way forward for traffic issues. SCC and AT representatives have been invited to attend. Councillor Eyre who proposed the meeting, felt that the purpose of the meeting was to be a public meeting of residents. Neither SCC nor Merlin Entertainments are going to change their views regarding funding a road. All councillors agreed and the Clerk was asked to contact John Wakefield of SCC and Alton Towers representatives to retract the invitation. Phillip Atkins of SCC had replied that he could not attend. Councillor Barrie Mycock has replied that he will be able to attend and all Parish Councillors agreed that his attendance is appropriate. It was agreed that Parish Councillors will attend as members of the public with the exception of the Chair who will chair the meeting. The Clerk was asked to minute the meeting. The Clerk offered to print the flyers and posters for the village. Councillor Forrester will co-ordinate the delivery of the flyers with Councillor Ballard offering to do Hurstons Lane area and place some at the PCT
Clerk to action
2. Validity of policies and documents – section 52 of 1981, Alton Towers Supplementary Planning Guidance of 1987/8 and the 1998 Local Plan. The Chair confirmed that all documents are still valid but that it is a matter for the planning department to take these into consideration. The planning authority is SMDC not Alton Parish Council. Indeed, the inclusion of Alton Parish Council’s consultation is a courtesy as Alton Towers is not within the parish of Alton.
3. Email correspondence from Parishioners regarding the abandonment of the Eastern Access route and the validity of policies and documents was summarised to the meeting by the Chair. He expressed his concern over the amount of time that is being taken over these matters. He reminded the meeting that the Clerk works for the Parish Council not individuals. The Chair stated that parishioners with concerns were very welcome to attend meeting and air those concerns to the whole council. Decisions will be made at meetings by the Council. The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge this type of correspondence in future and inform that sender that it would be presented at the next meeting. Councillors agreed and there was some discussion on the fact that the Parish Council are merely consultees in the planning process and that issues should be addressed to SMDC on this matter. Councillor Forrester clarified the procedure for members of the public to attend planning committee meetings.
Clerk to action
4. Councillor Brindley requested that a review of the Clerk’s salary and allocated hours be added to the next agenda. Clerk to action
8.155 Footpaths
1. Councillors Bailey and Cope met with Paul Rochfort of SCC to walk Saltersford Lane and Footpath 16 – Toothill. It was agreed that work would be done to Saltersford Lane although budget limitations mean that a time scale has not been given as yet. Work on Toothill will be done by the end of March. Councillor Cope commented that both paths were in very poor state that day of the site meeting with standing water on both. Councillor Snow informed the meeting that cattle are being grazed regularly on Saltersford Lane compounding the poor state of the path. The roaming livestock represent a danger to the public, especially dog walkers. Councillor Eyre proposed writing to SCC as a matter of urgency especially given that this is part of the Staffordshire Way. Clerk to action
8.156 Village Hall
Councillor Snow informed the meeting that bollard were now in place to prevent vehicles driving onto the field. She told the meeting about an incident with a British Gas van which had to be winched from the field after attempting to access a property on Angel Row by driving across the field. Councillor Brindley suggested that a letter be written to British Gas asking for payment for the damage done as a result. Councillor Snow agreed to take this suggestion back to the Village Hall committee.
8.157 Highways and Road Safety
A report was given by Councillor Brindley:
• Patching work continues
• The new fingerpost is due to be installed in the next few days
• PCT signs are currently awaiting installation
• The ‘Give Way’ warning sign at the end of Uttoxeter Road has been approved. A warning sign will be sited further along the road.
• Road sweeping is needed and grids are still in a poor state. Once the snow has cleared, it was suggested that this be followed up. The Clerk was instructed to write to SMDC on the matter. Clerk to action
• The site for the lamppost on Hurston’s Lane has been clarified with SCC again
• The proposed dangerous junction sign at New Road is to be chased again
• A report on progress regarding registering land was given by the Clerk
• Councillor Eyre queried whether a reply had been received to his query regarding democratic process. Nothing has been received. It was agreed that this matter should be raised with William Cash M.P. Clerk to action
8.158 Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard
• Councillor Forrester reported that the Eucalyptus tree had been cut down and cleared. Both the Churchyard and the Cemetery are in a good state.
• A report of the Clerk’s meeting with Eric Whitehead Solicitors was given. She informed the Council that authority needed to be given in order to release documentation and deeds from Dicksons Solicitors to the Eric Whitehead Partnership to complete the work on the granting of the deed of easement. It was unanimously agreed that the documents should be transferred and that the Eric Whitehead Partnership should handle the Parish Council’s matters from now on as they are more local. Clerk to action
• Jacksons have confirmed that they will hold prices for the 2009 season. Re-tendering will take place in Autumn 2009. Clerk to action
8.159 Best Kept Village Competition 2009
Councillor Forrester announced that he would be standing down as he needs to cut back on his commitments. The Clerk was asked to put the matter on the next agenda to see if anyone is willing to take on this role.
Several Councillors thanked Councillor Forrester for his efforts towards the Best Kept Village Competition. It was agreed to pass on a vote of thanks to Mr Forrester for his sterling work over the years.
The Clerk was asked to complete the entry form in the interim for the 2009 competition.
Clerk to action
8.160 SPCA Correspondence
• Staffordshire Moorlands Parish Assembly minutes from 4th December 2008
• Training offered – The Council and The Community
8.161 Planning and Licensing Applications
Premises Licence Application (Variation) – Alton Towers Resort, Tweenies Theatre, Alton
No objections
Premises Licence Application (Variation) – Alton Towers Hotel
The Clerk was asked to find out more details regarding this event and to contact Councillors Clerk to action
JC/08/01990/FUL-MJ, Erection of 16 no. 2 bedroom starter homes, Alverton Hotel, Denstone Lane, Alton
Discussion on this application centred around keeping the properties as starter homes. There were no objections to the application, but the Clerk was asked to include the Council’s feelings about keeping the properties as starter home size.
Clerk to action
St Peter’s School, Alton – Outline of the application for a covered play area
Councillor Forrester gave details and showed plans to the Council. The matter has not come through SMDC as yet, but Councillor Forrester wanted the Council to have view of the plans first in order to answer any questions at this stage. There were no objections.
8.162 Planning Decisions
08/01897/FUL, Single Storey rear extension, Rose Cottage, Cheadle Road, Alton - granted
8.163 Resignation of the Chair from Alton Parish Council
The Chair felt that the time has come to resign from the Chair and the Council. He has served for over 30 years. He felt that now was appropriate as it would also allow time for a new councillor to be co-opted on before the AGM in May. The role of Chair does involve a certain amount of time and phone calls. He wished to thank the Parish Council for all their support over the years and wish them all the best in the future.
Councillor Forrester expressed the Parish Council’s thanks to the Chair for the excellent job that he has done over the years. All agreed and there was a round of applause from the Council and the floor.
Councillor Brindley asked whether the Chair would be prepared to stay on until May and stand down at the AGM. After some discussion, the Chair agreed to this proposal and all Councillors were in agreement.
Councillor Moult declared an open forum to allow parishioners present to raise issues/ask questions:
1. A parishioner wished to thank the Chair for all his hard work. He also raised the state of the Lord Shrewsbury site at the moment. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to the owners, believe to be John Pointon and Sons of Cheddleton to ask them if the area could be tidied. Further to a conversation at the last Parish Council meeting regarding planning discussed at the site meeting for the Lord Shrewsbury a copy of the correspondence on the matter was given to Councillor Forrester.
2. A parishioner queried whether a meetings date clash had been resolved. The Clerk reported that the head teacher at St Peter’s had agreed to change the date of the PTFA meeting so that it did not conflict with the public meeting.
3. A parishioner suggested that the SRB group should look to road safety issues. The AGM for the SRB group is due to take place on 24th February. The Council agreed that this was a productive way forward and that this should be raised at the meeting on 23rd February. The Clerk was asked to look for a copy of the documentation suggesting improvements from 2003/4 which were produced in consultation with SCC – Peter Gee. Clerk to action
8.164 Correspondence
• Requiring response
1. 2009 Diary of Village Festivals and Events to be completed – a copy was given to Councillor Snow to pass onto the Village Hall Committee
2. Emails from Mr P Denning re abandonment of the Eastern Access proposals and Replacement Rollercoaster ride. It was felt that 6this matter had ben covered and would be covered again at the public meeting to be held on 23rd February
3. Form of Authority from The Eric Whitehead partnership – it was agreed that the Clerk should complete this Clerk to action
4. Notice of vacancy for Local Education Authority Governor for St Peter’s School, Alton – noted and filed
• For information only
1. SMDC – Information on Rural Services Network
2. Full electoral register
3. Letter from Parishioners regarding decision on funding works by The Malthouse
4. POhWER advocacy re complaints procedure for NHS
5. Copy of letter sent to Planning Department of SMDC on the application for a replacement rollercoaster by a parishioner
6. Acknowledgment from SCC regarding query about Alton Parish Road Safety – this was read to the meeting and noted
8.149 Finance
Invoices for payment
Supplier Details Gross £ VAT £ Net £
Clerk Extra Hours and mileage 35.20 0.00 35.20
Community Council of Staffordshire Best Kept Village Entry Form for 2009 15.00 0.00 15.00
Clerk to action
Councillor Brindley proposed payment, seconded by Councillor Eyre with all in favour.
.
8.134 Any Other Business
There being no other business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed.
Signed…………………………………………………..Chairman,2nd February 2009
Signed…………………………………………………...Clerk
