ALTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Council Meeting
Monday November 5th, 2007
Alton Village Hall commencing at 7pm
Present: Councillor E Bailey
Councillor P Ballard
Councillor I Cope
Councillor F E Brindley
Councillor F M G Eyre
Councillor S Hollins
Councillor A Moult
In Attendance: 10 parishioners
1 member of the press
Ms L Court, Clerk
Presentation from Mr M Sharratt of Landmark Trust regarding Alton Station
The Chair welcomed Mr Sharratt and explained to the meeting some of the background to his visit.
Mr Sharratt handed out plans of the site to the councillors and gave a brief history of the Landmark Trust and Alton Station. He also outlined the details of the planned conversion.
There was discussion regarding the retention of floor tiles, panelling, notices on cubicle doors and benches. Mr Sharratt confirmed that the only alteration outside the property would be the replacement of a halogen light with more sympathetic lighting.
The council were unanimous in having no objections to the proposals.
Clerk to action
7.103 Apologies: Councillor A S Forrester
7.104 Minutes of the meeting held 1st October 2007
The minutes were signed as a true record.
7.105 Matters Arising
There were no matters arising that were not reflected in the agenda
7.106 Alton Towers Relief Road
Mark Fisher, MD Resort Theme Parks at Merlin had stated that he will try to arrange a meeting in October re Relief Road with APC. There has been no further communication. The Clerk was asked to contact Mr Fisher and get a date for the meeting in November if possible. Clerk to action
7.107 Footpaths
Councillor Bailey reported that Paul Rochfort had not returned his call as yet regarding funding for Saltersford Lane work. Clerk to action
7.108 Village Hall
The Chair passed information regarding funding from SPCA to Councillor Brindley for the Village Hall Committee.
Councillor Brindley raised the issue of dog fouling in the playground and on the playing field. In particular, dogs are being let out of cars from the Surgery car park and put through the fence onto the field to foul. Councillor Ballard confirmed that this is a problem. It was agreed that the Lengthsman would obtain some netting to be fixed to the fence in the surgery car park to prevent this happening. Lengthsman to action
There was much discussion over notices to be erected. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the Dog Warden and check appropriate wording about the CCTV and prosecution. 3 signs to be made. Clerk to action
Councillor Brindley reminded the council that he had been covering the position of Village Hall representative in addition to Highways and Road Safety since September 2006. He resigned as Village Hall representative and asked for others to stand. After discussion, it was agreed that the councillors would take it in turns to attend the Village Hall meetings after the AGM which is due to take place on 28th November. Councillors Cope, Bailey and Hollins agreed to attend the AGM. Clerk to contact the Village Hall clerk to ask her to contact the clerk with meeting dates so that a councillor can be asked to attend. Clerk to action
7.109 Highways and Road Safety
Temporary Road Traffic Regulation order at High Street Alton was read to the meeting.
Councillor Brindley reported that the Knight Lane sewers project is imminent and discussed the road closure.
The pavement re-alignment project on Limekiln Lane is awaiting legal agreement and finalisation.
Councillor Cope asked whether it would be possible to have a cast iron signpost by the Roundhouse signing the Churches, School, Village Hall, Surgery and Car Park. The Clerk was asked to contact Mr P Gee in the first instance to seek information on how to go about this. Clerk to action
There was some discussion regarding progress on the restoration of the well on Dimble Lane.
7.110 Parish Cemetery and St Peter’s Churchyard
There has been a nil response to invitation to tender for mowing. The clerk was asked to contact Jacksons to ask for prices for next season. Clerk to action
7.111 Best Kept Village Competition 2008
Nothing to report this month
7.112 SPCA
Annual Report and Accounts for 2006/07 noted
7.113 Planning and Licensing Applications
RSIMPK/07/01200/LBC and RSIMPK/07/01201/FUL Alton Station, Alterations to accommodation within the station masters house and former waiting room
No objections
LG/07/01224/FUL and LG/07/01226/LBC 22 Town Head, Single storey side extension and proposed double garage
No objections provided that the design and materials are sympathetic.
Clerk to communicate
Councillor Mould showed the Council draft plans for work proposed at Alverton on Denstone Lane. This was discussed.
7.114 Planning Decisions
07/01046/CONSER The Lord Shrewsbury, Alton, Demolition of existing side extension and garage - granted
This was noted by the meeting.
Councillor Moult declared an open forum to allow parishioners present to raise issues/ask questions.
· A Parishioner queried the road access plans for the proposed development at Alverton. It was noted that these plans are only preliminary at this time.
· Thanks were given to APC for supporting objections to the Lord Shrewsbury planning application. Discussion followed on noise late at night from the White Hart and the Lord Shrewsbury. It was felt that this was out of hours. The clerk was asked to write to Mrs Duffy at the licensing department at SMDC on the matter. Clerk to action
· A parishioner noted that dog fouling problems are rife on Saltersford Lane. After a discussion, it was decided that another bin should be requested and sited in consultation with the Lengthsman. Clerk to action
· A parishioner discussed a flyer to be sent around the village about dog fouling
· A parishioner asked whether the Parish Council were intending to comment on the draft Alton/Farley conservation area document. It was agreed that a joint meeting should be held with Farley Parish Council on 10th December in order to discuss this. The clerk was asked to have the closing date for comments deferred from the end of November in order to allow for this. Councillor Brindley asked for a copy of the documentation as he was absent at the last meeting.
Clerk to action
7.115 Correspondence
Requiring response
1. Letter and invoice re deed of easement from SCC
2. Street Lighting quotations and column positions from Peter Walton of SCC
· The quotes were passed, proposed by Councillor Eyre and seconded by Councillor Hollins Clerk to action
· Councillor Brindley suggested moving the Limekiln Lane light. He agreed to look at the positioning and report back at the next meeting.
· There was discussion on an obscured streetlight on Battlesteads. Councillor Brindley agreed to contact SCC
Councillor Brindley to action
For information only
1. Letter from ‘Your Leek Paper’ looking for a village correspondent
2. Return of Audit paperwork from Audit Commission
3. Invitation to the Launch of Warm Up Moorlands Villages – Wed 7th November
4. Letter of introduction from Chief Constable of Staffordshire
5. West Midlands Regional Assembly news magazine
6. Election recharges notification
7. SCC letter re Seasonal Decoration on or above the highway
8. Standards Board for England – Clerk to action
9. SMPA- copy of response re post office closures
10. Alton and Bradley PCC thanking APC for work on Churchyard wall and mowing
All correspondence noted by the Council
7.116 Finance
Accounts for payment
Gross Net VAT
Jacksons September/October mowing 1857.14 2182.14 325.00
Cheadle and Tean Times Advertisement 21.90 25.73 3.83
SCC Deed of easement 250.00 250.00 0.00
E Bailey Wages and expenses 297.44 303.99 6.55
British Legion Donation for Wreath 35.00 35.00 0.00
The Clerk was asked to contact the Bank to request a form to change the signatories for the accounts. Clerk to action
Councillor Eyre proposed payment, Councillor Ballard seconded, and all were in favour of payment.
7.117 Any Other Business
There being no other business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.30pm.
Signed…………………………………………………..Chairman,5th November 2007
Signed…………………………………………………...Clerk
