ALTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting
Monday August 6th, 2007
Alton Village Hall commencing at 7pm
Present: Councillor E Bailey
Councillor P Ballard
Councillor F E Brindley
Councillor I Cope
Councillor F M G Eyre
Councillor A S Forrester
Councillor S Hollins
Councillor A Moult
In Attendance: 7 parishioners
Ms L Court, Clerk
1 member of the press
Councillor Barrie Mycock
7.58 Apologies: None
7.59 Minutes of the meeting held 2nd July 2007
The minutes were signed as a true record.
7.60 Matters Arising
There was felt to be nothing that was not covered by the agenda.
7.61 SMDC Revised Code of Conduct
A copy of documentation for all councillors was given to Councillor Hollins to complete – final copies to be handed to Clerk and they will be sent to the Monitoring Officer in September.
7.62 Alton Towers Relief Road
Councillor Eyre passed a note written regarding this matter to the Chair and this was read to the meeting. This referred to a report in the Sentinel regarding the reported release of capital to Alton Towers. The suggestions was to contact Merlin and ask for a meeting regarding releasing some 10% of the reported windfall towards the relief road project. If this meeting took place, at least the local community would know where it stood on this matter.
Councillor Brindley queried why the relief road is not mentioned in the Alton Towers Community Charter
It was agreed that a letter should be sent to Merlin outlining these concerns.
Clerk to action
7.63 Footpaths
Nothing to report
Disturbances in the playing fields/playground area
Councillor Moult explained the complaints that had been received and that the police presence and patrols have increased. The issues of noise have improved but as it is often visitors to the area, it is difficult to control. The patrols will continue.
7.64 Lengthsman’s equipment
A suggestion re a ride-on mower is to be left until spring 2008
7.65 Highways and Road Safety
Councillor Ballard reported that Cheadle Road is very badly potholed again as are other parts of the village. She queried whether Alton Towers should be approached to help to pay towards the ongoing work.
Councillor Brindley replied that the matter is ongoing and that he has been assured by Mr Middleton of the Highways department that work will be done as soon as possible. He also reported that the Limekiln Road project is ongoing. He made clear that this is not a road widening project, but pavement widening as a safety scheme for pedestrians. This is not in any way connected to or instead of the Eastern Access road.
Councillor Ballard asked whether a reply had arrived regarding the letter sent to SCC about the accident on Uttoxeter Road. It had not.
Councillor Brindley reminded the meeting that the council had been told that there was no justification for the VAS to be sited on Uttoxeter Road or Limekiln Lane.
Councillor Cope commented that in other villages, the flashing lights are always on entry to the village and that he felt that this would be a better placement.
Councillor Moult reported that members of the public had contacted Mr Gee of SCC to query the work scheduled on Limekiln Lane. He urged the meeting not to allow this project to be put into jeopardy.
Councillor Eyre pointed out that the Parish Council are elected to represent the village as a whole. If residents feel that their voice is not being heard, then they should join the Parish Council.
County Councillor Mycock said that Mr D Walters of the Highways department would write a letter explaining what is happening in the case of the Limekiln Lane project. He warned that if these individual letters of complaint keep being sent, SCC will have to do a survey before doing any work in the Parish. He felt that the pavement widening was a valid scheme especially to make access to the Village Hall and Surgery better for pedestrians.
Councillor Cope reported that a lorry had run over the verge between Malthouse Road and New Road.
7.66 Alton Village Hall
Councillor Brindley reminded the meeting that there were still two items outstanding regarding the capital expenditure on the Village Hall. These are the general toilet refurbishment and the disabled toilet. He feels that it must be made clear that these two jobs need to be completed properly and corners must not be cut. As the records must be subject to internal and external audit, the jobs must be contracted properly and be tied to formal contracts. Although this may be perceived to be more expensive that some other options, public money must be accounted for in the correct manner.
Councillor Bailey reported that residents are asking for the hedge at the back of the playing field to be cut back by the Lengthsman. He queried whether this should be done by the Lengthsman. Councillor Moult replied that this type of issue had caused problems in the past, but that he should do what he could to help.
7.67 Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard
Councillor Forrester reported that both areas are in very good order. The wall of the Churchyard has been completed and is an excellent job. An extra £30 worth of work has been done. Councillor Moult queried a tree that appears to be growing out of the redone wall. Councillor Forrester agreed to check this.
Mr M Walker of Uttoxeter Road provided the plans and specifications for the job at no cost. The Clerk was asked to write and thank him for his work. Clerk to action
Councillor Bailey asked whether a wasps nest in the equipment store on the cemetery could be dealt with. Councillor Forrester agreed to organise the environment agency to clear this. Councillor Forrester to action
7.68 Best Kept Village Competition 2007
Results for Alton had been received. The village gained a Highly Commended. It was noted that the visits had been in May and June and that this fell between the spring and summer flower displays.
Councillor Moult thanked the Best Kept Village Committee for their hard work and enthusiasm. He noted that there are a few people in Alton who do a lot on this front and also thanked the Lengthsman for the paid and voluntary work that he had done towards this.
7.69 SPCA
There had been no correspondence.
7.70 Planning and Licensing Applications
SLW/07/00796/LBC Fairview Cottage, Knight Lane, Alton – replacement wooden windows
No objections
TE/07/00540/FUL Woodbine Cottage, Saltersford Lane, Alton – single storey front and first floor side extensions
No objections
Premises licence application for Towers Ruins/Fountain Square, Alton Towers – permanent license
No objections
Premises licence application for Corn Maze, Alton Towers- temporary 13/10/07-04/11/07
No objections Clerk to action
7.71 Planning Decisions
Confirmation of enforcement of notice re unauthorised fence on Horse Road Alton was noted
Councillor Moult declared an open forum to allow parishioners present to raise issues/ask questions.
· A parishioner queried the Alton Towers licence application. A representative from Alton Towers explained the reasoning for the application and discussed the implications of the licences. There was discussion over alcohol being available.
· A parishioner asked whether the Traffic Management undertaken by Alton Towers was legal. The representatives from Alton Towers explained the procedures undertaken with regards to the police and local councils. The intention was not to divert traffic but to lessen the impact. It was agreed that communication was difficult and this type of event would need to be managed with more advertising in future.
· A parishioner commented that the number of buses leaving the Towers empty to do other pickups worsens the congestion. This was agreed and trade sales are trying to work on this. It was commented that the relief road would alleviate all these problems and that it had been noted that there is no mention of the road in the Community Charter. The issue of return on capital investment was raised. It was commented that Alton Towers have to go further and further afield for their workforce and this increase buses going in and out of the park. Councillor Eyre’s comments were read to the meeting for the benefit of the Alton Towers’ representatives. It was felt that the figures quoted were probably not correct.
· Councillor Mycock requested that the Clerk contact Mr Gee and Mr Walters of SCC and request that all complaints should be sent via the Clerk rather than directly to the Highways department. Clerk to action
· A parishioner informed the meeting that the New Road drains are blocked again. Councillor Brindley explained the background to the ongoing drainage issues. Horse Road was raised by a parishioner as another ongoing area of concern. Severn Trent have been to the site several times but there has been no real action as regards the issue of sewage and flood water. The parishioner asked for backing from the Parish Council in this matter. Councillor Moult agreed that a letter should be written to Severn Trent by the Clerk. Clerk to action
· Councillor Brindley asked whether the container down Knight Lane is temporary. It is believed that the container is connected to the planning permission for a garage for 1 and 3 Vicarage Row. The Clerk was asked to enquire. Clerk to action
· Councillor Hollins queried the sign for the surgery. The history was given as to why this was not happening.
7.72 Correspondence
Requiring response
1. Phone conversation with SPCA re liability for Drainage Easement. Follow up letter received from SCC. The clerk was asked to contact SCC and to ask for an invoice. Clerk to action
2. Phone call received from Canada from a woman trying to trace Vicarage Cottage 1867 onwards – can any member of PC or public help? Details were given to the meeting and the representative from the Times and Echo. Any information is to be passed to the clerk. Clerk to action
3. Invitation to meeting to be held 20th September at Alton Village Hall by Caldon and Uttoxeter Canals Trust – will reiterate next month Clerk to action
For information only
1. Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan
2. Victim Support Letter
3. Draft Staffordshire Moorlands Sustainable Community Strategy 2007-2020
4. Invitation to presentation of the Peak District Rural Housing Association to be held in Bakewell on Thursday 27th September at 6.45pm
5. Information from the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
6. Information on Rural Car Park Crime
7. Municipal Waster Strategy for 2007 – consultation document
8. SMCVS – Draft Sustainable Community Strategy 2007-2020 for consultation
9. Clarence leaflets
10. SCC re Union Flag
7.73 Finance
1. Accounts for payment
Gross Net VAT
Jacksons Grounds maintenance 928.57 1091.07 162.50
AT Bradley Making safe churchyard wall 2930.00 2930.00 0.00
William Burton Supplies for BKV containers 57.70 67.80 1.10
Edward Bailey Expenses 14.21 16.00 1.79
Wages 432.00 0.00
Councillor Forrester proposed payment, Councillor Brindley seconded, and all were in favour of payment.
7.74Any Other Business
Councillor Moult mentioned that Sat Nav is sending many drivers down Nabb Lane. Discussion revealed that it is very difficult to get public roads removed from Sat Nav although this may change in the future.
Shirley Drive is being used as a cut through by Alton Towers’ staff. Mr M Kerrigan agreed to mention this to staff and to ask them not to use this route.
There being no other business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.55pm.
Signed…………………………………………………..Chairman, 6th August 2007
Signed…………………………………………………...Clerk
