MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF ABENBURY COMMUNITY COUNCIL HELD ON 12^th May 2014 AT ABENBURY COMMUNITY CENTRE

 

PRESENT:

Councillor R Squire (in the Chair), Councillors P R Done, R Jones, F A Reeves, I Squire, and TAG Williams.                       

APOLOGIES: Councillors E Williams and M Roberts

ALSO PRESENT: Clerk – W S Nott, Michael Morris (Wrexham CBC)

PCSOs Aled Hughes and David Jones

 

1 ELECTION OF CHAIR

 

RESOLVED – That Councillor Ray Squire be appointed Chair for the ensuing municipal year.

 

2 DECLARATION OF OFFICE

 

Councillor Ray Squire then read and signed the Declaration of Office before the Clerk as Proper Officer.

 

 3  APPOINTMENT OF VICE -CHAIR

  

 RESOLVED – That Councillor E. Williams be appointed Vice     Chair for the ensuing municipal year.

 

  4   MINUTES

 

Minutes of the Meeting held on 14^th April 2014 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

 

  5   MATTERS ARISING

 

The Chair gave a full report on the visit to Dovegate Prison. It had gone very well and the group were taken around and had the opportunity to speak to some of the Prisoners both in the cell blocks and at their place of “work”. The ethos of Dovegate was a working Prison and Prisoners who were prepared to work or undertake training for work had certain privileges. Reference was made to the liaison arrangements with the local community including regular meetings with the Parish Council. Whilst there were some similarities with the proposed Prison, Dovegate was about half the size and only two storeys. In fact it had been difficult to see the Prison buildings before entering the main driveway as it was heavily shielded by planting and the outer wall blended in with the landscape. These had been planning conditions which Members asked Cllr Morris to note.

 

The Clerk reported that as requested he had sought information regarding the site and related transactions. This he had done via the local AM Lesley Griffiths who had passed it on to Edwina Hart AM, the Minister responsible.

The Clerk asked whether Members had received a copy of the Wrexham CBC newsletter which was supposedly circulated widely. Members indicated that they had not received the Newsletter.

Cllr Morris reported that as Owens Haulage were only proposing using the site for six months he had been advised that Planning Permission was not required.

 

6    POLICING MATTERS

 

The Chair welcomed PCSOs Aled Hughes and David Jones. David Jones would be replacing Luke Dobby as the local PCSO for the Holt Ward. PCSO Aled Hughes would be his mentor until his training was completed. Members wished David Jones well in his new role.

PCSO Jones then presented the crime report for the Holt ward. These included 3 Violence against the Person, 6 Burglaries other than a dwelling, 5 cases of Theft and Handling, 1 drug offence, 5 Criminal damage and 4 cases of anti social behaviour. These figures still represented a significant number of cases and Members expressed their concerns. Cllr Morris indicated that he was still trying to find out what was happening to the PCSO supposedly dedicated to the Industrial Estate.

 

7    FINANCIAL MATTERS, PRECEPT AND ACCOUNTS

 

The Clerk presented the Accounts for 2013/2014 which had been scrutinised by the Internal Auditor who had agreed them. These would now go to the External Auditor. The Clerk then took Members through the Accounts reminding the Council that they had now built up substantial balances and that he would need to include a note with the Accounts for the External Auditor to explain the Councils expenditure plans.

    RESOLVED

    That the Annual Return and Accounts be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

 

    PAYMENTS

The following payments were authorised:

Wrexham CBC – Employer Costs – £641.42

Wrexham CBC – Street Lighting Maintenance – £79.66

Chairman’s Travelling Expenses – £55.80

Compacc (internal Auditor) – £96.00

It was noted that the first Precept Payment had been received.

 

It was agreed to leave applications for financial Assistance to a future meeting.

 

8    CORRESPONDENCE AND CLERK’S REPORT  

 

The Clerk gave a summary of the items of correspondence received, which included:-

1. Wrexham CBC – Service Level Agreement – Payroll services
2. Wrexham CBC – Precept Payment

• Wrexham CBC – Joint Town & Community Meeting – change of date

1. Wrexham CBC – Achieves – confirmation of deposit of past papers.
2. Wrexham CBC – Invitation to apply for grant for lunch clubs
3. Welsh Government – Fuel Poverty Scheme – raising awareness More information on www.nestwales.org.uk

• Splash Community trust – application for financial assistance to reopen Plas Madoc Leisure Centre
• Play for Wales – Report – newsletter

1. Wales Government – Communities Community and Town Councils Welsh Government News. http://wales.gov.uk/topics/localgovernment/communitytowncouncils/publications/community-town-council-news-2014/?skip=1&lang=en

9   PLANNING

   

Cllr G Williams declared a non pecuniary interest in planning application P/2014/0275.

 

Applications

 

• P/2014/0277 – Application for Industrial Building Land adjacent to Graphtec, Coed Aben Road. No objection.
• P/2014/0275 – Construction of two new Warehouse Units and Associated Service/hard standing areas, land adjacent to F Lloyd (Penley)Ltd, Bridge Road South.

Members noted that this was linked to the “mitigation land” for the proposed Prison.  There were no objections to the proposal but suggested that additional landscaping (not bunding) and suitable drainage works should be included in any permission. They also asked the Clerk to seek clarification on whether the reduction in the amount of mitigation land as a result of this proposal will materially affect the existing outline planning permission for the proposed prison?

Notice of GRANTING

• P/2013/0856 – Erection of Innovation and Training Centre, Village Bakery, Abenbury Way.

 

 10   MEMBERS REPORTS

 

• Cllr G Williams asked about grass cutting and expressed concern about the poor condition around the area. Cllr Morris said that Wrexham had cut the budget but that there was still some uncertainty as to what that actually meant as different departments have different standards. It was agreed to monitor the position and if necessary for the Council to consider what might need to be done.
• Cllr Iris Squire raised a linked issue regarding grass cutting on highway verges and was particularly concerned for safety on Cefn Road near the allotments.
• Cllr Reeves indicated that the grid was still loose and asked the Clerk to chase it up again.

 

 11    DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

 

The next Ordinary Meeting would be brought forward a week to MONDAY 2nd June 2014 at 7.00 pm at Abenbury Community Centre.

    

 

 12   DURATION OF MEETING

 

The meeting began at 7.00 pm and ended at 8.30pm

 

 

 

Signed__________________________              Date______________

 

 

SN15/05/2014