MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING HELD 27th FEBRUARY 2019
Present
Cllrs. Mrs Jackie Allen (JA), Mr Brian Colley (BC), Mrs Barbara
Humphreys (BH), Miss Lynne Painter (LP),
Apologies for absence: Cllrs. Mr Gareth Baines, Mr Mark Holmes & Ms
Kirsty Cottam.
131. TO CONFIRM AND SIGN THE MINUTES AS A TRUE RECORD OF THE ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 30TH JANUARY 2019.
The draft minutes for the Council Meeting held 30th
January 2019 are now put to the Council as an accurate record of
proceedings. The motion proposed FH and seconded EB was passed
unanimously. 132. TO CONSIDER ANY MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES RECEIVED ABOVE NOT REPORTED ELSEWHERE. Minute 119 EB made enquiry over CCTV in the vicinity of the Colliery Road Public Toilets (managed by Wrexham CBC). This was confirmed.
133. TO CONSIDER NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING MATTERS.
134.
TO RECEIVE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM STAFFING AND POLICIES COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 12TH
FEBRUARY 2019.
135.
TO RECEIVE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD 12TH FEBRUARY 2019. · Item 6. A query over the Millennium Gardens being noted on Wrexham CBC Asset Register. SJ will try to gain clarity ahead of approving any of the spend already tabled. · Item 9. BC suggests taking up the offer of a survey by British Gas on possible improvements to our current heating installation. SJ will follow this up.
·
Item 11. Concern over speed of vehicles coming up Trap Bank again
expressed. The use of fixed mirrors on junctions with poor
visibility is not an option Highways allow. It was confirmed the
Speed Sign does work at night. 136. TO RECEIVE ORAL REPORTS FROM COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.
· EB participated in the Dementia Awareness program when the Dementia Bus visited Wrexham Town Centre. Not for the faint hearted. · EB attended an Aqueduct AONB event at Lion Quays. · BH attended a similar Aqueduct AONB event at Chirk Library. · FH reported that around 900 people had visited the Dementia Bus. The biggest take up across the UK. At a recent presentation given by FH to the Wrexham & District Scouts on Dementia Awareness use of an adapted pair of shoes with insoles to mimic walking on a pebbly beach and with pain was incorporated. · SW reported from a recent meeting of Chirk Youth football all going OK. · JA attended a Chirk & Ceiriog Valley meeting on Rights of Way. Currently there are 2 live applications to convert footpaths to bridleways in the Ceiriog Valley. There is more of a wish to downgrade rather than upgrade, miss-use by 4x4 vehicles still a problem. · BC mentioned that dog owners must take responsibility, having dogs off leads where livestock are present is irresponsible. Seen within Chirk Castle grounds.
137. TO RECEIVE ORAL REPORTS FROM LOCAL MEMBERS WREXHAM CBC. TE reported that there have been complaints over the current state of the roads broken sections and pot holes. It is proving hard to get remedial works done due to budget constraint within the WCBC Highways Dept. The road sweeper has been through town. Articulated lorries still causing issues at New Rhos y Waun. The one way system there was introduced to allow better access for the bus services. The problem is lack of parking provision on numerous occasions we have advocated using more of the green space to add more parking spots.
FH made mention of Wrexham CBC increasing Council Tax by 5.5% from
April 2019. The road junction at Whitehurst has recently been the
site of another bad road traffic accident. Someone was seriously
injured hit head on. There is a Welsh Government trunk road
meeting planned to look at improvements. Regarding the general
state of the roads, FH encourages the use of Fix my Street app
loaded on a smart phone. Register with Wrexham CBC. SW happy to
support improvements at the Whitehurst junction. Also a joint visit
with FH agreed to see the impact on play space for children because
of the site of a work depot (garden improvements) Rhos-y-Waun.
138.
TO OUTLINE PLANS FOR THE CHIRK VISIONING EVENT SATURDAY 23RD
MARCH 2019 CHIRK PARISH HALL.
139.
TO CONFIRM RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP OF ONE VOICE WALES.
140.
TO PRESENT & ADOPT THE CHIRK TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER/OFFICER PROTOCOL. 141. TO HEAR AN UPDATE FROM THE GRANT APPLICATIONS WORKING PARTY. · Kronospan agreed to donate £500 towards the purchase of defibrillators for Pentre and Black Park. · Wrexham CBC Together in Wrexham Enabling Grant Scheme we missed out but will try in the next round. Funding proposal for Pentre Recreation Ground improvements. · North Wales Police & Community Trust grant scheme 113 applications and we are included in the shortlist of 6. This project is to add to the CCTV coverage in Chirk. Online voting is underway and each household can vote 4 times. Members encouraged to spread the word. JB asked to promote through the press.
·
Fundraising for additional Defibrillators sites Rhos y Waun and
Lodgevale being considered. CPR training opportunities also
mentioned and all encouraged to participate. 142. TO DECIDE UPON APPEALS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RECEIVED. · Family Friends for 5s to 11s a letter received has requested financial support. Proposed EB, seconded SW to grant £100 motion carried. · Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod a letter has requested financial support. Proposed TE, seconded SW to grant £250 motion carried. · Conway County National Eisteddfod request for financial support. Members agreed to leave this request on the table motion carried. · Welsh Air Ambulance request for financial assistance. Members agreed to leave this request on the table (as we have already made a donation in this financial year) motion carried.
·
Urdd National Eisteddfod
request for financial support. Members agreed to leave this
request on the table motion carried.
143.
TO RECEIVE THE ORAL REPORT OF THE CLERK INCLUDES CORRESPONDENCE. · Bespoke One Voice Wales training courses to be run by Glyntraian Community Council. Members were supportive of having courses run nearby but have an open viewpoint on take up as it depends on the courses being run. Back in November 2016 a similar exercise took place in Chirk so their maybe overlap in similar modules being run. SJ to feedback. · SJ advised members that the Chirk Community Newsletter is due to be published soon. Members are happy for SJ to submit copy for publication but written in the 3rd person. This change being instigated after a review of Council protocols. · Notification via an Advice Note from the Society of Local Council Clerks that Website Accessibility rules are coming into force. We have until 23rd September 2020 to comply. This will probably form part of an overall review of the Chirk Town Council website. · Welsh Government support for Initial Set-up of Joint Arrangements. A letter has been received that provides for applications in this financial year and 2019/20 for funding on offer. Maximum of £5,000 as a one off grant. · SJ outlined the progress to date over the appointment of a new contractor for Grass Maintenance services covering all green spaces and the cemetery managed by Chirk TC. 3 quotations have been received, only one covered both the recreation/play areas and cemetery and SJ requests delegated powers to work with this bid on a preferred supplier basis and see if agreement can be reached. It was proposed by FH and seconded EB that SJ is permitted to proceed on these lines. All agreed, motion carried. · Planning application P/2019/0075 has been circulated via email merely confirming that the Council has no objection Members agreed and SJ will respond accordingly.
· Sue Wyn Jones Digital, Brand and Communications Lead Wrexham County Borough Council Email outlining a review of Bilingual Signage across Wrexham County Borough. Signs erected after 30th March 2016 must comply with current standards. Residents asked to report signs which are believed to be non-compliant using steps described. Noted.
·
Christine Ashford Friends of Chirk Station
Email advising of nomination of their group in the Community Awards
Group category organised by the High Sheriff of Clwyd. In
addition a forward notice of an event in October to mark the groups
15th Anniversary since being station adopters.
Noted.
144.
TO RECEIVE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE
MEETING HELD 5TH FEBRUARY 2019. · On a related planning issue, members were advised that a meeting has been called for 12:30pm on Monday 4th March 2019 to finalise the statement Chirk Town Council wish to be presented at the Wrexham CBC planning meeting being held later that day at 4pm. The application relates to the proposed addition of Oriented Strand Board production at Kronospan and residents are encouraged to fill the public gallery. Our view is that this application should be refused.
·
NJ has been approached by the proprietor of a Taxi business in Chirk
with a query over consistent treatment of planning applications to
operate taxis in the town. Members outlined the Town Council are
statutory consultees and each application is considered within
planning rules Wrexham CBC make the final decision.
145.
TO APPROVE PAYMENTS TO BE MADE AS ON LIST ATTACHED. 146. TO PRESENT ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE NEXT AGENDA. To note: · TE would like consideration to be given on inviting the group Flicks in the Sticks to show a program of films that might appeal to younger residents. Members agreed to put this on a future General Purposes Committee agenda. · DG railed over the large number of complaints she personally has been receiving over the Contractor installing renewed water main pipes to many properties in Longfield and Bron Y Waun. It is claimed householders were leafleted but it appears patchy and not seen by all. The state of the roads after work is completed is poor. A residents meeting was understood to take place on Wednesday at 3pm but then moved to the day before at 2pm no residents were notified of the change and therefore were not present. Chirk Town Council are being kept in the dark over these works undertaken by WCBC Housing. CTC should be notified as a courtesy of meetings being arranged in Chirk. NJ also has received similar complaints and has a query over works to both Council and Private houses under this program of works how can this be ? Heard of stop tap repairs, omissions and rude WCBC Officers. Not good. FH and TE attended a meeting today and report that renewal of supply is inconsistent. LP has knowledge that issues at the top end of Highfields are equally bad. · On the matter of Housing, a further letter to be sent to Steve Bailey at WCBC on the subject of being consulted over allocations in Chirk North and South wards. SJ and JA to action. · LP wishes for the highway enforcement issues to be discussed, including the presence of the Wrexham CBC officer. To be added to a future General Purposes Committee meeting agenda. · SW asks that members think out of the box for the youth provision in Chirk. This will be incorporated into the Visioning event. · SW also asks when will new signage be erected to deter dog fouling ? This is a very important matter. · TE advises that Mark Evans the new Chair of Chirk Youth Football is looking into raising funds to improve the changing facilities at Chirk AAA Sports and Social Club.
Meeting closed 8:45pm.
Signed Chairman 27th March 2019
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