ALTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting
Monday December 7th, 2009
Alton Village Hall commencing at 7.00pm
Present: Councillor I Cope
Councillor F Eyre
Councillor S Hollins
Councillor A Moult
Councillor A Snow
Councillor E Bailey
Councillor P Ballard
In Attendance: 5 parishioners
Ms L Court, Clerk
1 member of the press
Apologies: Councillor E Brindley
Councillor A Forrester
David Kemp of Moorland and City Railways Ltd
Mr Kemp spoke to the meeting regarding the proposed railway link to Alton. In general, the Parish Council were in favour of the project and the public present had an opportunity to ask questions.
The Chair thanked Mr Kemp for his attendance.
9.98 Minutes of the meeting held 2nd November 2009
These were accepted and signed by the Chair as correct with one amendment on page 2 to ‘four wheel drive vehicles’ rather than ‘quad bikes’.
9.99 Matters Arising
Nothing not covered by the agenda.
9.100 Alton Towers
An invitation to look at Woodland Management at Alton Towers was read to the meeting. The Clerk was asked to reply to Mr Massey to ask him to go ahead with planning this for the spring. Clerk to action
Councillor Eyre reported that he had met with Mr Kerrigan of Alton Towers at his request. Items discussed included:
The fact that Mr Kerrigan is happy to meet with the Council or Councillors at any time if there is anything to discuss.
S.106 agreements - Alton Towers have agreed to pay £50,000 to be spent on traffic monitoring. The Council asked for clarification as to which council this money is going to. Councillor Eyre agreed to discuss this with Mr Kerrigan.
Money has been committed for the next 10 years under s.106 agreements and this is to be spent for the benefit of local communities. Councillor Eyre offered to contact the Clerk with the names of those involved in this so that further clarification of this can be sought.
Events will be taking place over Christmas and the park will also be operating during the February half term break 13-21st February 2010.
A concert is planned for 27th June 2010 at Alton Towers with Pink performing. Applications are currently under way. The Council will be consultees and will be kept informed.
9.101 Footpaths
Councillor Bailey reported that further to the issue of vehicles on the Staffordshire Way, a ranger will be sent out to inspect the site.
Councillor Bailey also informed the meeting that the ranger will also come out to look at the stile on path 28 which needs repairing.
A letter from two parishioners expressing their appreciation for the clearing of Saltersford Lane was read to the meeting.
Councillor Cope reported that the work done on Toothill was a tidy job but that pot holes from the Royal Oak end had still not been done. He commented that the horse muck was still piled up on the sides of the path.
9.102 Village Hall
Councillor Snow reported on the AGM held recently. A grant has been received for the mower required for the edges of the field and there may be enough from this grant to buy a reconditioned mower for the football field itself. Toilets are mostly completed now. A fundraising quiz will be held in January. An update regarding the overnight parking mentioned during the last meeting was given. Permission had been granted for this.
9.103 Lengthsman
The Clerk passed on Councillor Forrester’s report on work completed and in progress. The Parish Council agreed in principle to pay for waste removal from the work to be done on Limekiln Lane.
Councillor Moult asked whether the leaves by the kerb outside the cemetery could be cleared. It was suggested that the lengthsman be asked to do this.
9.104 Highways and Road Safety
Apologies from Mike Maryon and Phillip Atkins were passed on. The Clerk was asked to request that they attend on 4th January or at the next available meeting.
Clerk to action
An update on the Christmas Tree idea was given. Councillor Cope suggested that he would speak to Alton Towers to ask if they could assist with this another year.
A report from Councillor Brindley was given via the Clerk. Councillors Cope, Bailey, Snow and Brindley will meet the Community work gang representative on Friday 11th December to discuss work needed.
The pavement from Dimble Croft on Limekiln Lane up towards Uttoxeter Road is in a very poor state. The Clerk was asked to report this. Clerk to action
Councillor Cope also expressed his concern over a hollow on Hurstons Lane which is causing water to be splashed up onto the pavement. Once this freezes, this create a very slippery pavement. The Clerk was asked to report this matter. Clerk to action
Councillor Cope also discussed the clearing of the grids and his disappointment that grids he alerted the work force to, had not been emptied. He will discuss the matter at the meeting to be held on Friday 112th December.
9.105 Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard
9.106 Planning and Licensing Applications
WJOHNS/09/01114/FUL, Change of use of Ground Floor to provide Accommodation, St John the Baptist Roman Catholic County Primary, Alton
Plans were examined and discussed. It was decided that the Council would write to make sure that the Guild Hall’s protection as a Parish Room continue to be upheld and commented on the fact that the stage itself is listed. Clerk to action
WJOHNS/09/01006/FUL, Erection of 16 No. dwellings, Alverton, Alton
This application has been discussed by all councillors and a letter of full support submitted to SMDC
9.107 Planning Decisions
None
Councillor Eyre declared an open forum to allow parishioners present to ask questions/raise issues:
A parishioner asked about progress after Councillor Mycock’s last visit. The Clerk was asked to contact Councillor Mycock to attend a meeting to discuss this.
Clerk to action
A parishioner commented on the poor state of the Red Road.
A parishioner asked about a pavement opposite the Village Hall. This widened into a discussion regarding the idea of a chicane. This idea has been shelved as the road is not wide enough.
There was some discussion on the subject of a leaflet circulated by the SRB group.
9.108 Correspondence
1. Requiring response
2. For information only
3. Copy correspondence regarding current agreements between AT and SMDC. Councillor Eyre took this to review
4. SMDC Addendum to LDF Submission
Councillor Eyre took this to review
9.109 Finance
Conclusion of Audit from Audit Commission – the Clerk had omitted to bring this paperwork. It will be presented at the next meeting in January.
Precept preperations – a copy budget for 2010/11 and accounts for the year so far were circulated to the Councillors. It was agreed that the precept be raised from £12,850 to £13,500 with the suggestion that to save some of the shortfall, the insurance policies for the play area and the parish council could be combined. Clerk to action
9.110 Invoices for payment
Supplier Details Gross £ VAT £ Net £
Liz Court Clerks wages 274.17 0.00 274.17
Jacksons Grounds maintenance 840.00 126.00 966.00
Kev Salt Work on Vilage Hall toilets 1037.01 0.00 1037.01
P Hill Lengthsman wages and equipment 202.11 0.00 202.11
I Cope PCT signage 20.00 0.00 20.00
Audit Commission Audit fees for 2009 155.00 23.25 178.25
Councillor Moult proposed payment, Councillor Brindley seconded and all were in favour. Clerk to action
There being no other business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed.
Signed…………………………………………………..Chairman,7th December 2009
Signed…………………………………………………...Clerk
