MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING HELD 31st JULY 2019

 

Present

Cllrs. Mr Brian Colley (BC), Mrs Jackie Allen (JA), Mrs Barbara Humphreys (BH), Miss Lynne Painter (LP),
Mr Terry Evans (TE), Mr Mark Roberts (MR), Mr Gareth Baines (GB), Mr Michael Maxfield (MM),
Mr Chris Burgoyne (CB), Mr Frank Hemmings (FH),Mr Newman James (NJ), Mrs Sarah Williams (SW)
& Mrs Dot Griffiths (DG).
Mr Shaun Jones (SJ), Clerk to the Council. 
PCSO Martin Griffiths (MG) – North Wales Police.  Mr. Jack Butler (JB) – Press – NWN.

 

Councillor resignation:  BC advised receipt of a letter from Cllr. Eleanor Burnham tendering her resignation as a member of Chirk Town Council.  She cited personal reasons and stated it had been a privilege to serve. The members stated this was a great shame and sent their best wishes to Cllr. Burnham.  SJ to write and thank Cllr. Burnham for the service given since being co-opted in June 2017.  He will also advise the Electoral Dept at Wrexham County Borough Council of the member vacancy.

 

Apologies

Apologies for absence: Cllr. Mr Mark Holmes.
Declarations of Interest
None.

 

45.      TO CONFIRM AND SIGN THE MINUTES AS A TRUE RECORD OF THE ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 26TH JUNE 2019.

The draft minutes for the Council Meeting held 26th June 2019 are now put to the Council as an accurate record of proceedings.  The motion proposed JA and seconded CB was passed unanimously.

 

46.      TO CONFIRM AND SIGN THE MINUTES AS A TRUE RECORD OF THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON 3RD JULY 2019.

The draft minutes for the Council Meeting held 3rd July 2019 are now put to the Council as an accurate record of proceedings.  The motion proposed GB and seconded JA was passed unanimously.

 

47.      TO CONSIDER ANY MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES RECEIVED ABOVE NOT REPORTED ELSEWHERE.
 CB advised his name was missing from the list of those present at the meeting on 26th June 2019.  SJ will correct and apologised.
Minute 31 – GB asked for correction of the spelling of Fron Isaf.  SJ to action.
Minute 32 – SW looking for any update on the suggestion to install bollards on Colliery Road.  Or the potential for having CCTV footage of vehicles mounting the kerb and illegally parking.
Minute 34 – The Tesco Bags for Help grant of £1,000 has been confirmed.  A new grant application is being drafted and JA asks if she can approach the ATC to sound them out on the possibility of siting a mobile unit to support an initiative for those with practical skills, e.g. carpentry, electrics & construction.  This aims to bring out some special members of our community to socialise, combatting loneliness and producing useful pieces of work that make Chirk and even better place to reside.  All members were in agreement for JA to make this approach.

Minute 38 – GB has learnt since that rather than Black Park be the initial site for a defibrillator the first has been designated for Pentre – based on grant monies already received.  Members noted. 
Minute 35 – The civic event on Saturday 6th July 2019 was deemed a great success.  LP wishes to thank the Council.  DG attended the Exhibition Show at the William Aston Hall as well as LP.  They thoroughly enjoyed and DG adds her thanks over Chirk hosting the Shaolin Warrior Monks, particularly The Bunkhouse where they stayed.

 

 

48.      TO CONSIDER NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING MATTERS.

MG presented the Chirk Crime Figures report.  11 crimes are recorded and additionally 3 reported cases of anti-social behaviour.  Members raised a couple of follow up questions on the theft of mail and one case of leaving a local restaurant without paying their bill.  MG updated members on recent reports of unlicensed minicabs operating in the town, Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC) Enforcement Team are dealing.  MG also stated the recent request for CCTV footage concerning a serious incident involving the injury of a Police Constable provided key information, including licence plate, thanks to the Chirk wide system.

 

49.      TO RECEIVE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFFING AND POLICIES COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 16TH JULY 2019.
 The draft report for the Staffing and Policies Committee Meeting held 16th July 2019 is now put to the Council as an accurate record of proceedings. There was a request that the minutes should list the changes agreed.  Discussion ensued with a suggestion that the agreed version of the 3 documents be attached to the meeting minutes and also to be circulated to all members.  SJ to action.  The motion proposed CB and seconded LP was passed. 

Matters arising:
Clarification over the process of the interviewing of candidates for the Clerk/RFO post.  All applications will be reviewed and shortlist for interview – stage 2 will be drawn up.  Interview candidates will be agreed upon by the Staffing & Policies Committee.  After the interviews the committee will make a list of two or three preferred candidates to propose to a Special Meeting of the full Council.  Full Council will then decide who should be offered the position.  This approach was placed as a motion proposed by JA and seconded CB – motion carried.  Additionally it was agreed that NJ will take the place of SW, who is currently recovering from a recent operation on her ankle, and be part of the interview panel.  LP agreed to undertake a final check of the documents to be sent to candidates.

 

50.      TO RECEIVE ORAL REPORTS FROM COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES.

JA & BC attended the One Voice Wales – Innovative Practice Conference.  19 councils were represented.  The keynote speech by a Welsh Assembly spokesperson did not take place.  A break out session hosted by Carmarthenshire CC on Tourism described how a redundant Velodrome has been brought back into use and seen as a great success.

 BC went along to the kick off meeting by the new Police Inspector – Daz Whibberley (DW) at the Llay Police HQ.  Views and way forward were put by DW.  Sergeant Luke Hughes is heading up the Southern grouping which both Chirk wards are part of.  There is an objective to involve Town and Community Councils more.  FH stated an email has since been circulated confirming the changes.

Members who attended the recent Chirk Citizen of the Year 2018 event on Monday 8th July 2019 were well pleased with the evening and delighted that Mrs Patricia Kendrick was the recipient.

 

51.      TO RECEIVE ORAL REPORTS FROM LOCAL MEMBERS – WREXHAM CBC.

TE stated that it has been a busy month.  Drains, hedges and roads feature quite a bit.  Now seeing the budgets bite, it is getting difficult – mention made of the likelihood that a charge for having green waste collected at the kerb side is high. 

FH recently undertook a tour of his ward with PCSO Gareth Jones.  Came across a nest of bees, hedges in need of a trim and instances of rat infestation.  New fence work at Black Park underway.  Concern over allegedly speeding lorries servicing Kronospan Ltd.  Thoughts of a Community Speed Watch scheme.  Chirk Town Council will soon deploy their recently purchased Active Speed Watch road sign. 

JA asked of both members if they would consider holding a regular surgery for residents at Chirk Parish Hall.  TE & FH both stated they were willing to give this a go.

 

 

52.      TO RECEIVE CONSULTATION RESULTS OVER PICNIC TABLES TO BE SITED ON LONGFIELD RECREATION GROUND.
 DG confirmed that 35 households were consulted in the near vicinity of Longfield Recreation Ground on the matter of having the Council purchase and install one or more picnic tables on the rec.  She received 100% support.  It is appreciated this is not scientific approach but does give some level of support.  NJ has knowledge of a resident against, with a preference for replacing the missing goal post.  After a little more discussion, including mention of past anti-social behaviour at this park, a proposal from LP to purchase one picnic table and replace the goal post – seconded by BH.  Motion carried.

 

53.      TO CONSIDER A PROPOSAL FROM MFS SYSTEMS LTD TO ALLOW FOR A PHASED EXPANSION OF THE CURRENT CCTV COVERAGE IN CHIRK.
 SJ outlined work to undertake a fourth phase of the development of the Town wide CCTV system.  We have been successful in receiving a grant of £2,500 from North Wales Police along with a £1,000 contribution from the 2019/20 budget of the Council to add coverage of Colliery Road Car Park (2 cameras).  There is also a need to have CCTV coverage of Chapel Lane Recreation Ground (matching that of Chirk Recreation Ground) particularly as we are soon to install a Wheelchair swing in the play area – could be a target for vandalism.  The improvement of coverage at West View/New Rhos y Waun – currently one stand-alone camera, is proposed – adding a camera viewing the main road North and fully completing the network communications so that we have the same technical framework as elsewhere in the town. The recording equipment is to be upgraded to add the 5 cameras (4 new and the existing camera at West View).  As well as the £3,500 funding outlined, a further £3,285 is to be paid on completion.  SJ emphasised the sense in completing all the works as described and suggested using Council reserves to facilitate the job being completed in this financial year.  Both MFS Systems and their Groundworks sub-contractor are making very competitive offers to reflect their being part of our community.  Motion to approve this approach proposed by JA and seconded by SW.  Motion carried.

 

8:30pm GB left the meeting

8:35pm SW left the meeting

 

54.      TO DECIDE UPON APPEALS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RECEIVED.

·         Chirk AAA Bowling Club – Mr David Evans has written seeking financial support to purchase materials to undertake a program of improvements to both the bowling green and a painting project.    A proposal to make a grant of £500 was made by TE and seconded by MM.  An amendment proposed by JA and seconded BH to grant £200.  The amendment received 7 votes in favour and carried. 

 

55.      TO RECEIVE THE ORAL REPORT OF THE CLERK – INCLUDES CORRESPONDENCE.
 Matters to note:

·         Promised follow up email from Insp. Darren Whibberley – North Wales Police promised at the Wrexham Rural Neighbourhood Policing Forum – 4th July 2019. Full contact details provided.

·         Letter from Tesco Bags of Help confirming an award of £1,000 towards the Playground Equipment for Disabled Children project.  Acceptance of the offer is the next step.

·         By email the Planning Sub-Committee reviewed the following planning applications:-
P/2019/0486 Application For Consent To Display 2 No Hoardings
Land to the North of Station Avenue Chirk Wrexham LL14 5NA
P/2019/0499 Garden Path Reinstatement Works.
Chirk Castle Chirk Wrexham LL14 5AF
In both cases the response was that “The Council has no objection to the proposal.”

·         SJ confirmed that the Year 6 leavers from Pentre and Chirk were each presented with a gift from Chirk Town Council.  The book mark printed for the Chirk leavers was displayed to members.

·         Email reply from Paul Egan of One Voice Wales – stated that it is not normally the case for full Council to interview for the post of Clerk.  Also, if standing orders do not prohibit, the change of a committee’s terms of reference may be made at any time although normally this business is undertaken at the Annual Meeting.


 

 

Correspondence:-

 

·         Siτn Edwards – Wrexham County Borough Council – Playday – Email advising of the upcoming event to take place on Llwyn Isaf and Queen’s Square on Wednesday 7th August from 12 – 4pm. Noted.

·         Christine Ashford – Friends of Chirk Station – Letter providing an update on their activities this year to date. In addition a portfolio document recently published. Noted.

·         Annette Phillips – Chirk AAA Cricket – Letter of thanks for recent grant of £240.  Noted.

·         Christine Ashford – Friends of Chirk Station – Email informing members of a recent instance of collaboration between British Transport Police and the Station Adopters.  Noted.

·         Christine Ashford – Chirk Celebrations and Lights Committee – Email providing an update of the early planning underway for Christmas Lights in Chirk in 2019. Switch on to take place on Saturday December 7th.  Noted.

 

56.      TO RECEIVE ORAL REPORT FROM PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE THAT MET PRIOR TO THIS MEETING – 31ST JULY 2019.
P/2018/0551 Section 78 Appeal at: Kronospan Ltd, Holyhead Road, Chirk, Wrexham.
 Our planning committee asked for the meeting note dated March 4th 2019 and transcript of what the Chair of Chirk Town Council presented to the WCBC Planning Committee be sent.  In addition there is a webcast of the WCBC planning meeting in question available for viewing.

P/2019/0505 Development Of A Building Containing 2 No. Gas Engines Each With A Maximum Electricity Generating Capacity Of 9.73 Mw, 2 No. Steam Boilers, Roof Mounted Coolers, Walkway Between An Adjacent Building And The Proposed Building, Exhaust Gas Offtake Pipes And Steam Pipes From The Gas Engine Building And Carbon Catalyst Abatement System

Kronospan Ltd Holyhead Road Chirk Wrexham LL14 5NT
 The Council does not support this application.

• They have concerns over the noise the new fans being sited on the roof of the building will generate and the variable direction judging by the stated design.

• Although mention of the 2020 investment programme is made, our Councillors have yet to see any improvements, dust and noise from the site continue and residents are fed up.

• We call for independent monitoring equipment to be installed that clearly states what pollution is being endured in Chirk.

• The Nation has a Zero net carbon emissions commitment by 2050 – how can the installation of gas powered electricity generation help ?  Use of gas, a fossil fuel, does impact on global warming.  All domestic properties are to switch away, this application flies in the face of this.

P/2019/0511 Application For Works To Tree Subject To Tree Preservation Order WCBC No. 33 - Mature Sycamore On Front Lawn (T1) - Reduce Over-Long Side Limbs Extending Towards House And Over Drive By 2 - 3 Metres - Selectively Reduce Remainder Of Crown By 1 – 2 Metres To Leave A Balanced Appearance – Remove Deadwood And Broken Branches

9 The Parklands Shepherds Lane Chirk.
The Council has no objection to the proposal.

 

57.      TO REVIEW Q1 EXPENDITURE AGAINST BUDGET AND BANK RECONCILIATION REPORT.
 SJ guided members through both reports.  Members approval given.

 

58.      TO APPROVE PAYMENTS TO BE MADE AS ON LIST ATTACHED.
 A list of invoices and payments (to 31.07.19) amounting to £10,937.11 & £244.65 (using pre-paid creditcard) was given to the Council and were passed for payment (see addendum).  The motion proposed JA and seconded LP to approve was passed unanimously.
 

 

59.      TO PRESENT ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE NEXT AGENDA.

To note:

·         Special Council Meeting scheduled for Friday 16th August 2019 to confirm the preferred candidate to fill the Clerk/RFO role.

·         LP – proffers apologies for the September meeting, she will be on holiday.  Goes on to thank SJ for all his help and assistance.  Also, the effort SJ took to ensure the Offa Play Area had the recent improvements undertaken.

·         LP – grateful for initial support from the Clerk when she was co-opted onto Chirk Town Council back in 2017.

·         FH – Requests the creation of a linesman/handyman role be considered at an upcoming General Purposes Committee meeting.

·         TE – Business Investment District (BID) could be a scheme that Chirk might benefit from.  Already Colwyn Bay, Oswestry and Llangollen have established a BID.  It might provide funding for the role FH just mentioned.  Asks for a BID for Chirk be included at an upcoming GPC meeting.
  

Meeting closed 8:57pm.

 

 

 

Signed                                    Chairman                                                                            25th September 2019