ALTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting
Monday October 1st, 2007
Alton Village Hall commencing at 7pm
Present: Councillor E Bailey
Councillor P Ballard
Councillor F M G Eyre
Councillor A S Forrester
Councillor S Hollins
Councillor A Moult
In Attendance: 10 parishioners
1 member of the press
Ms L Court, Clerk
7.88 Apologies: Councillor I Cope
Councillor F E Brindley
7.89 Minutes of the meeting held 3rd September 2007
The minutes were signed as a true record with two clarifying amendments.
7.90 Matters Arising
There were no matters arising that were not reflected in the agenda
7.91 Alton Towers Relief Road
The clerk reported a phone call and showed the meeting a letter from Mark Fisher, MD Resort Theme Parks at Merlin. He has stated that he will try to arrange a meeting in October re Relief Road with APC.
The clerk communicated a request from Julie Deacon for meeting with Councillors of APC and FPC regarding Alton Towers’ 08 plans on 9th October. Councillors Ballard, Bailey, Forrester and Moult all thought that they would be available.
Clerk to action
7.92 Footpaths
Councillor Bailey reported that the ‘No Cycling’ signs had been put up. There was some discussion regarding other areas where signs could be erected and it was decided to have four more signs made.
Clerk to action
7.93 Dog Fouling
Councillor Ballard reported that there were problems with dog fouling on the children’s play area but that there was no CCTV footage of the incidents. She felt that the sign regarding dogs should be more prominent.
Councillor Bailey reported that Hurston’s Lane is very bad for dog fouling. He read a letter to the meeting that he had written on the subject and it was agreed that this letter should go to the press. Clerk to action
There was some discussion regarding reporting offenders to the Dog Warden and the legality of threatening to prosecute over the matter. Councillor Forrester reminded the meeting that if reports are made, those reporting the incident must be prepared to go to Court as a witness.
7.94 Village Hall
The Chair read a note from Councillor Brindley to the meeting regarding the receipt of a £3000.00 grant towards the Village Hall refurbishment.
Currently there is a balance of £11944 already pledged by the Parish Council. The two items of refurbishment still outstanding are the disabled toilets and the refurbishment of the existing toilets. As there will be a shortfall between the costs and the pledged money, a grant has been obtained towards the disabled toilets. This has been gained through Councillor Barrie Mycock and is a Local Members Initiative Scheme Grant. As the Parish Council will be meeting the costs of this project, the £3000.00 has been transferred to the Parish Council bank account in order to ring fence it for this project.
Many thanks were expressed to Councillor Mycock for his help and support in this matter
7.95 Highways and Road Safety
A press release re Limekiln Lane pavement was read to the meeting and noted. It was commented the Mr D Walters from SCC will feed back any information from this in due course.
A temporary Road Traffic Regulation order at Knight Lane was read to the meeting and noted.
A letter from SCC re Road gullies and setts on Cheadle Road was also read to the meeting and noted.
7.96 Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard
Councillor Forrester asked for tenders to be invited for the mowing of the Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard for next season. The Clerk was instructed to place an advert in local press with a closing date before the next Parish Council meeting.
Clerk to action
Councillor Forrester reported that both sites were in generally good order, although the lawned area of the cemetery is still being encroached upon by flowerpots.
7.97 Best Kept Village Competition 2008
Feedback from 07 judges was read to the meeting and given to Councillor Forrester. Thanks were expressed to the WI for their upkeep of the War Memorial. The minutes from the latest BKV co-ordinating group meeting were read to the meeting. Councillor Forrester wished to thank the sub-committee and to express his sadness that there were only 2 attendees. A comparison was drawn with Oakamoor’s community spirit when it comes to this competition. It was however acknowledged that some Alton residents do work on their own initiative. Councillor Moult urged all those who could help to do so and Councillor Forrester pointed out that unless the community pulls together, the village will never win.
7.98 SPCA
No correspondence
7.99 Planning and Licensing Applications
Premises licence variation - Alton Towers Hotel for 25/26th November 2007
This was discussed and there were no objections.
07/01046/CONSER and 07/01050/FUL The Lord Shrewsbury, demolition of existing side extension and garage replaced with 3 storey side extension to provide 30 bedrooms and function room
The plans were studied by the councillors and there was much discussion over the application. It was decided to object strongly to this application on the grounds of over-development, noise, lack of sufficient parking, traffic impact and access onto the road.
Clerk to action
Councillor Eyre queried the status of the appeal regarding the Freedom Farm planning application. It was reported back that the appeal has been dismissed.
Planning Decisions
07/00796/LBC Fairview Cottage, Knight Lane, replacement wooden windows – granted
This permission was noted by the Council
Councillor Moult declared an open forum to allow parishioners present to raise issues/ask questions.
· A Parishioner raised an issue about building work that has been allowed behind the Londis shop due to the fact that a wall was knocked down. She pointed out that if the wall had not been allowed to be knocked down some time ago, this building work would have had no access and therefore would not have taken place.
· This led to a discussion regarding the Limekiln Lane pavement widening project. It was suggested that all local residents who felt strongly that this project should go ahead should write to the County Council. Members of the Parish Council expressed their frustration about this issue. Councillor Moult gave clarification of the background in reply to a question from the floor. This led to a discussion about the sharpness of the bend.
· A Parishioner noted the increased noise as a result of the smoking ban within public buildings. This has resulted in far more noise as many pub customers sit outside in order to be able to smoke. Councillor Eyre suggested a letter be written to the police and licensing authorities asking if anything could be done or whether this could be taken into account when licences are granted.
· A Parishioner asked why 30 bedrooms were needed at the Lord Shrewsbury in reference to the planning permission being sought. It was also stated that another function room in the village would be detrimental to the Castle and the Village Hall.
· A Parishioner requested authorisation to purchase bulbs for the War Memorial. This was given by the Council with thanks.
7.100 Correspondence
Requiring response
1. Invitation to ethics and standards briefing – Warslow, Monday 8th October 2007 - no councillor available to attend.
For information only
1. Phone call 10/9 from Peter Walton re lighting – decision to be made re service provider implications. It was decided that standard fittings would be appropriate. Clerk to contact
2. Letter from Mark Kerrigan re Cloud Seeding
3. SMCVS re wheels to work scheme
4. SPCA Arrangements for AGM
5. Staffordshire Moorlands Local Development Framework Consultation docs
6. 6 copies of Alton Conservation Area Appraisal for Consultation – to be given out
7. SPCA Newsletter
8. An invitation to the SMCVS Rural Forum on 11th October
All correspondence noted by the Council
7.101 Finance
Accounts for payment
Gross Net VAT
Jacksons August mowing 928.57 1091.07 162.50
Alton Village Hall Playground insurance 501.61 501.61 0.00
CAT Security CCTV and Alarm system Village Hall 545.00 640.37 95.37
Liz Court Expenses - travel to auditor 23.61 23.61 0.00
E Bailey Wages 260.00 260.00 0.00
P Ballard Expenses 29.75 29.75 0.00
Councillor Forrester proposed payment, Councillor Eyre seconded, and all were in favour of payment.
7.102 Any Other Business
There being no other business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.00pm.
Signed…………………………………………………..Chairman,1st October 2007
Signed…………………………………………………...Clerk
