THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION AT THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ON 17TH MARCH

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF

AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL

held at the Council Offices,

66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill

on Wednesday 17^th February 2010 at 7.30pm

Present: Councillors R Holden (Chairman), Mrs S Bacon, P Duckett, P Eversley, M A Smith, G Pascal, G Summerfield, R Tebbutt, Mrs M E Wilson, Mrs M Wright and Dawn Sutherns, Clerk.

Also present were four members of the public.

1. 264.         Apologies.

Apologies were received from Cllrs R A D Chappell (unwell) and Mrs P K Foster (prior commitment) and P.C. Element (work commitment).

1. 265.         Period of Public Participation.

Mr Alan Sprod addressed Members on the problems with the bus services in Ampthill assisted by aide memoir as appended to these minutes.

1. 266.          To discuss the bus services in Ampthill – Cllr G Summerfield.

Cllr Summerfield advised that he felt that the Town Council should take the matter of the inadequate timings of bus services up with Central Bedfordshire.

After discussion it was:

            Resolved that:

i)                    A robust letter is sent to Central Bedfordshire advising that the Town Council support the wish of resident’s to improve the timings of the bus services through Ampthill to ensure a 30minute interval between services.

ii)                  A copy of the letter is to be copied to Flitwick Town Council, Bedfordshire Association of Town & Parish Councils, Grant Palmer and Stagecoach bus companies and Cllrs Summerfield and Duckett.

1. 267.         To receive a report from a representative of Bedfordshire Police.

P.C. Element was not in attendance however Members wished the following items to be noted:

• After an incident in the Kings Arms Gardens Mr Keenan had requested P.C Element to try an obtain CCTV images, but has been told that at the time of the problem the camera was not working.
  • A man has been assaulted in Waitrose Car Park.
  • A window has been broken in Paris Antiques, Dunstable Street.
  • There has been an assault resulting in the theft of a laptop.
  • There is the ongoing problem of inconsiderate parking in the Station Road area.

Resolved that a discussion be held at the next Highways Safety Working Group meeting on the Station Road problem.

1. 268.         To receive and record declarations of interest of a personal nature

Cllr M Smith declared a personal interest on the item concerning the grant application from the Citizens Advice Bureau as he is a Trustee of this organisation.

1. 269.         To receive and record declarations of interest of a prejudicial nature

Cllr M Smith declared a prejudicial interest on the item concerning the grant application from the Citizens Advice Bureau as he is a Trustee of this organisation.

1. 270.         Town Mayor's Announcements

Cllr R Holden had the following events to report:

• 24^th January       High Sheriff’s Service at Dunstable.
• 29^th January       Katherine of Aragon Commemorative Service at

Peterborough.

• 13^th February     Afternoon tea at Flitwick Town Council

Cllr Holden announced that tickets are now available for his Charity Lunch on Sunday 16^th May.

1. 271.         Minutes of the Council meeting held on  20^th January 2010 pages

The minutes having been circulated to Members prior to the meeting were taken as read and signed as a true copy.

Matters arising from previous minutes for note.

1. 272.         Fencing along Kings Arms Path (see minute no 216)

The Clerk advised that a site visit has been arranged for Tuesday 2^nd March at 9.45pm. Officers from Central Bedfordshire will be in attendance.

Resolved that Cllrs Mrs M Wilson, Mrs M Wright, R Tebbutt, R Holden and P Eversley will attend.

1. 273.         14a Dunstable Street

The building has been secured, however it has been noticed that children are riding bikes down the entrance track again.

Resolved that the Clerk advises Central Bedfordshire just in case the building has been breached again.

1. 274.         To consider the grant application from Queensmen Football Club

Cllr Holden advised that as there were representatives from Queensmen F.C. this item would be taken earlier in the meeting.

Queensmen FC were requesting the sum of £3,000 under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s19 towards a new roof.

A Member was advised that there are two or three teams and the ground is also made available to Russell School on a Saturday morning, the club is a valuable community facility and as such should be supported.

Standing Orders were suspended at 8.01pm to allow Representative’s from Queensmen Football Club to address the Council.

Standing Orders were resumed at 8.07pm.

The Clerk advised that if the Council wished to pass a resolution to vire part of the budget set under Section 137 grants this would free up funds in the Other Grants budget.

Resolved that:

i)                    The grant be awarded in the sum of £3,000 to be paid in two stages; £750 in this year’s budget, and £2,250 in 2010/2011 budget.

ii)                  The budget is to be vired form Section 137 budget in this financial year to allow the payment to be paid.

iii)        The Queensmen Football Club are to be asked to do a 100 word article for Around the Pump.

1. 275.         Treasurer’s Report

Current Balances as at 31^st January 2010.

            Resolved the report as appended to these minutes be noted.

1. 276.         To consider the Budget comparison of expenditure and income against estimates month 10 – January  

Members were provided with a copy of the estimates showing the expenditure and income for month nine against the budget, as appended to these minutes.

Resolved the report as appended to these minutes be noted.

1. 277.         To consider the payment of all monies on the list of Supplier Invoices Due to the 16^th February 2010

Members were provided with a copy of the list of Supplier invoices due as appended to these minutes.

            Resolved that all monies on the list be paid.

To approve and adopt the Committee report as follows:

1. 278.         Park Open Spaces and Burial Ground Committee meeting held on 3^rd February 2010.

Cllr Mrs M Wilson presented the report and asked for its adoption.

             Resolved that the report be adopted.

The Clerk advised that there has been no response from Lorna Walker at The Greensand Trust on whether a meeting can be held on 24^th February so therefore at this moment no agenda will be issued.

1. 279.         Highways Safety Working Group of 27^th January 2010.

Cllr G Summerfield presented the report and asked for its adoption.

             Resolved that the report be adopted and the recommendation approved.

1. 280.         Finance and Policy Working Group of 10^th February 2010.

Cllr R Holden presented the report and asked for its adoption.

             Resolved that the report be adopted.

1. 281.         Planning Committee held on 16^th Feb 2010.

Cllr Mrs S Bacon presented the report and asked for its adoption.

An amendment on page 3 is to be made to ‘Mr Clarke’ as he does not have an ‘e’ on the end of his name.

Resolved that the report be adopted as amended.

Written Meeting Debriefings:

1. 282.         Friends of Ampthill Christmas Lights – 9^th February 2010

Resolved that the report be noted.

Thanks were extended to Cllr Mrs M Wilson and Sue Whittaker for the effort put into the Christmas Concert that made it the huge success it was.

1. 283.         Covanta update – Cllr G Summerfield & IPC letter

Cllr Summerfield gave the following information of the last meeting:

• It was noted that minutes from the group’s meetings were loaded towards Convanta and future reports are to reflect the concerns of the community representatives as well.
• A site visit has been arranged for 27^th February, the height of the building will be shown by use of balloons, boundary post, laminated plans and topography reports have also been requested.
• Four more public exhibitions are planned there will be one in Ampthill and one in Millbrook.

The letter from the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) has asked for a response to be sent back to be considered when compiling the Environmental statement relating to the project. The closing date is by 12^th March.  A draft response has been drawn up.

A letter has also been received from Mr D Flowerday raising concern over the size of the current proposal, i.e. over twice the size of Wembley Football pitch and almost as high as the Stadium roofline.

Cllr Pascal advised that he felt local people needed to be made to wake up to the fact that this project is proposed and as such provided members with a draft article for inclusion in Around the Pump. This is as appended to these minutes.

Resolved that:

                                               (i)      Cllrs Summerfield, Mrs Wright and Pascal get together to draw up the final response to the IPC using information available, with the traffic movements forming a major part of this. The letter is sent to reach IPC by 12^th March.

                                             (ii)      A copy of the paper petition is to be placed in public places in the town.

1. 284.         Youth Working Group – 25^th January 2010

Amendments are to be made as follows:

• Ryan Honibrookis to be amended to Ryan Hornibrook
• Wootton Upper School is to be amended to Harlington Upper School

Resolved that the report be noted as amended.

1. 285.         Central Bedfordshire Councillors Communications. (Cllrs Duckett and Summerfield).

Cllr Summerfield gave the following information:

• The full Council meeting will meet next week to set the Council Tax levels for 2010/2011. The proposed increase is 3.5%.

Cllr Duckett gave the following information:

• He had been sitting on the committee who had the job of fixing budgets for 2010/2011. There had been £12million savings made and the Council should end the year within budget. Recruitment has been frozen and staff numbers paired down. There is no scope to make any further savings unless service provision cuts are made.
• On the matter of potholes caused by the recent bad weather it is hoped that Amey will be able to fill in the majority within the next four weeks. Any potholes are to be reported through the Highways Helpdesk.

1. 286.         To explore the possible relocation of the Ampthill Farmers’ Market to Bedford Street.

The Deputy Clerk had provided members with a report showing the current actions taken on this matter as appended to these minutes.

Members discussed this matter before it was:

            Resolved that:

i)              The Town Council continue to explore the possible relocation.

ii)      A market stall is to be erected on the left hand side going towards Bedford to ascertain whether there is sufficient space.    

287.     Cllr Pascal proposes that ATC prevents any business in the town centre from boarding up the windows of empty premises.

Cllr Duckett advised that he had already raised this matter with Central Bedfordshire, but to date had not received any reply.

As the Town Council have no powers to place this type of restriction on owners and tenants of building it was:

Resolved that the Clerk writes to Fiona Webb and Rob Uff to raise concern over the visual effect of boarded up windows in the Conservation Area.

1. 287.         Cllr Pascal proposes an investigation into the litter problem in Ampthill.

Cllr Pascal advised that he feels the litter in the town is increasing and that Central Bedfordshire Council does not seem to be doing a very good job and Waitrose do not appear to be clearing their car park.

             Resolved that:

i)              This matter is placed on the next agenda for Pride in Ampthill.

ii)            The Waitrose contact with the Town Council is to be checked to see if there is any mention of cleaning the car park within it.

iii)          A letter is to be sent to the Manager of Waitrose asking them to take action to make sure the whole car park is kept clean and free of litter.

iv)          A letter is to be sent to Central Bedfordshire to advise that the Town Council is very disappointed with the standard of street cleaning in the roads and paths of Ampthill. It is also to be enquired as to how often the bottle banks are emptied in the Waitrose Car Park.

1. 288.         To discuss access to Ampthill Social Centre, complaint has been received that you now have to have checks carried out before you are allowed in to meet with friends - Cllr M Smith.

Members were advised that the Social Centre is now Ampthill Day Centre and acts as a dementia centre and that the rulings appear to have been changed on visitors.

Resolved that a letter is sent to Carole Hegley at Central Bedfordshire Council raising concern over the complaint the Town Council have received as asking why these new regulations have been introduced.

1. 289.         To consider the launch date for the Woolnough Trail.

Cllr Mrs Wilson advised that the leaflets are to be printed.

It would be good to involve the local schools and marker posts will have to be installed before the launch.

             Resolved that:

i)                    The Clerk contacts Bob at Greensand Trust to arrange for the marker posts to be installed.

ii)                  The date of the 3^rd April is to be suggested as a possible date for the launch, this being Easter Saturday an Easter Egg hunt could be part of the launch.

iii)                In order to get this publicised in Around the Pump a definite date will be needed by 1^st March.

1. 290.         To consider grant applications:

Citizens Advice Bureau requesting the sum of £2,000 under the Local Government Act 1972 s137 towards outreach work.

The Council is mindful of the importance of this work especially in these times of financial hardship.

Resolved that the sum of £2,000 is granted, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau are to be asked to do a 100 word article for Around the Pump

Bedfordshire Police requesting the sum of  £30,00 under the Local Government Act 1972 s137 towards a prize for  a schoolchildren’s competition on anti social parking outside their school.

Resolved that the sum of £2,000 is granted, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau are to be asked to do a 100 word article for Around the Pump

1. 291.         Consideration of whether any Press Releases are to be made.

Press releases can be prepared for:

• Bus Service problems
• 0% increase in Ampthill Town Council precept.

1. 292.         Cllr Mrs M Wilson passed the following:

“That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted relating to staff and financial matters, it is advisable in the public interest that the public and press be temporarily excluded and that they are instructed to withdraw”.

             To approve and adopt the confidential minutes of the following meetings:

1. 293.         Confidential minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 20^th January 2010 pages 80 & 81.

This minute is appended for Members only.

1. 294.         Confidential minutes of the Parks Open Spaces and Burial Ground Committee meeting held on Wednesday 3^rd February 2010 page 5.

This minute is appended for Members only.

1. 295.         Confidential minutes of the Staffing Panel meeting held on 15^th February 2010. Cllrs Holden, Chappell, Eversley, Summerfield, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Wright only.

This minute is appended for Members only.

1. 296.         To receive information on a Property Matter.

            This minute is appended for Members only. 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.00pm

CHAIRMAN                                                  DATED