MINUTES OF A MEETING OF

AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL

held at the Council Offices,

66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill

on Wednesday 17^th March 2010 at 7.30pm

Present: Councillors R Holden (Chairman), Mrs S Bacon, P Eversley, M A Smith, G Pascal,

G Summerfield, R Tebbutt, Mrs M E Wilson, Mrs M Wright and Dawn Sutherns, Clerk.

P.C. P Element, Mr N Milway, Chairman of Parkside Hall Redevelopment Project and Mr D Ratcliffe, founder of the Town Twinning Project.

Also present were 28 members of the public.

1. 297.         Apologies.

Apologies were received from Cllrs R A D Chappell (unwell) P Duckett (another commitment)

1. 298.         Period of Public Participation.

• Mr N Milway, Chair of Parkside Hall Redevelopment Project, addressed the Council with regards to the subject:

“What is needed to make the redevelopment of Parkside Hall a success”

Mr Milway provided Members with a written copy of his address as appended to these minutes.

• Mr David Ratcliff addressed the Council on Town Twinning.

Mr Ratcliff provided members with a document giving the benefits that twinning could bring to Ampthill as appended to these minutes.

After receipt of Mr Ratcliff’s address he asked if any of the Councillors could attend the Remembrance Service in Nissan-lez-Enserune on 8^th May to mark the end of the war in Europe.

After discussion it was:

Resolved that a meeting be arranged for 31^st March to discuss this matter in greater depth. 

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

There were no declarations made.

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

There were no declarations made.

1. 292.         Town Mayor's Announcements

Cllr R Holden had the following events to report:

7^th  March 2010             Leighton Linslade Town Council’s Civic Service

10^th March 2010             Ampthill & District Rotary Club lunch, thanks are given for the generous donation of £400 to the Mayor’s Charity, this being half the proceeds of the Tree of Light

2^nd March 2010              Visit from High Sheriff of Bedfordshire to Ampthill.

Cllr Holden then went on to remind Councillors of two events;

• The launch of the Woolnough Trail, Ampthill Park 3^rd April 10.00am.
• Charity Spring Lunch, the Old Court House 16^th May 12.30am.

1. 293.         Minutes of the Council meeting held on  17^th February  2010 pages 82 to 88

The minutes having been circulated to Members prior to the meeting were taken as read

The following amendments were made:

Minute no 287    The minute is to be amended to reflect the sum of £30.00 grant made to Bedfordshire Police.

Minute no 290    The word “contact” is to be amended to “contract”.

It was then:

             Resolved that the minutes be approved as a true copy as amended.

Matters arising from previous minutes for note.

1. 294.         To discuss the bus services in Ampthill – Cllr G Summerfield. (see minute no 266

Correspondence has been received from Central Bedfordshire and Grant Palmer Passenger Services, Both letters were copied to members.

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

Cllr Mrs M Wright provided an update on the meeting held on 2^nd March 2010.

Councillors met with a Planning Officer and a Health and Safety Officer from Central Bedfordshire Council, initially they thought the wire was not a problem, but were convinced otherwise by the Councillors present. The Health and Safety Officer is to talk to the proprietor of the White Hart and ask him to remove the barbed wire from the top of the fence. If the Town Council do not object the whole fence could be removed.

1. 296.         14a Dunstable Street (see minute 273) 

Central Bedfordshire have been advised that security may have been breached and thanks have been received for the Town Council’s vigilance.

1. 297.         Shared Space (see Highways Working Group report minute no 279

A letter was sent to Ben Hamilton–Baillie inviting him to address the Council, however he has come back with the cost of £800 to £850 and therefore Cllr G Summerfield is taking this up with Chris Yates of the Safer Ampthill Community Group.

Cllr Summerfield advised that he will be talking to Mr Ben Hamilton–Baillie himself.

1. 298.         Possible relocation of the Ampthill Farmers’ Market to Bedford Street. (see minute 286)

A few Councillors met on site this morning and set up two stalls on the area outside Alders opticians, this did not affect visibility and there was enough space for pedestrians. There is space for eleven stalls using both sides of the road, but avoiding outside 10 Bedford Street and residential properties.

Planning permission maybe necessary as under the permitted development rules you have to own or maintain the land you are applying for use of.

1. 299.         Boarding up the windows of empty premises. (see minute no 287)

David Dennis, Planning Investigation and Enforcement Officer at Central Bedfordshire has contacted the agent/owners of the property at 1 Bedford Street and has been told that the boards are only there for a short period as a number of windows have been broken.

The boards will be painted white very shortly. The agents are in the process of submitting a new planning application for a front floor retail unit and  1 to 2 bed room flats. It is hoped to be received by the Planning Department by the end of March.

1. 300.         Litter problem in Ampthill.(see minute 287a)

Letters have been sent to Central Bedfordshire and Waitrose store as per the resolution. There has been a response from Waitrose in so much as they have arranged for a litter clearing exercise to take place.

1. 301.         Access to Ampthill Social Centre (see minute no 288)

A letter has been sent to Carole Hegley at Central Bedfordshire Council raising concern over the complaint the Town Council have received and asking why these new regulations have been introduced. There has been no response to date.

1. 302.         Launch date for the Woolnough Trail. (see minute no 289)

The date of the 3^rd April has been agreed with Mr Richard Woolnough and posters have been placed around the Town and in the Park for meeting in the Football Club Car Park at 10.00am

Richard Woolnough will open the trail and lead the guided walk, Lorna is to prepare something quite elementary for the children.

Wooden marker posts, even if temporary, will be in place by the 2^nd April. Mr B Morwood Tree and Landscape Manager, Central Bedfordshire Council has offered the Town Council oak tree stakes that can be used as waymarkers.

Cllr Tebbutt has offered to contact local schools to try and get the event into their newsletters.

The event has been placed onto the Website and also in the current Around the Pump.

A letter has been sent to Queensmen Football Club to enquire as to whether the Council can use their ground for parking on the day. Phil Napoli the Ice Cream licence holder has been invited to attend.

1. 303.         To receive an update on the rebuilding of Parkside Hall and to consider ways in which the Town Council may be able to help - Cllr Mrs P Foster.

Cllr Mrs P Foster advised that at the recent meeting of the Parkside Hall Management Committee held on 9^th March 2010 discussions were held on whether or not to spend money on the boiler which is in a poor state of repair.

Members went on to discuss the matter of Parkside Hall with the following comments being made:

• The report from Mr N Milway was very comprehensive; Parkside Hall is dear to people’s hearts and has been well used by the community, but is also underused because it is not providing what people want.
• One of the main issues is that it is a charitable organisation, a way of funding the rebuilding project could be via Section 106 money from Developers, there may be a way that this could be channelled into this project.

Standing Orders were suspended at 8.00pm to allow Mr Milway to address the Council. with the following point:

Parkside Hall Redevelopment Project would not like to see the money held by the Council disappear.

Standing Orders were resumed at 8.01pm

Members continued to make comments as follows:

• Cllr M Smith gave an update as a Trustee of Parkside Hall that he has been setting up an on-line giving service which will allow the population of Ampthill to get behind the project.

A proposal was made by Cllr G Summerfield

                       “That a Working Group is set up to see what the Town Council can do”

Further discussion took place:

• The Town Council may want to put the building of the Visitor Centre in the park on hold.

As Cllr G Summerfield and Cllr Mrs M Wright have already declared a prejudicial interest in the Visitors Centre they could take no further part in the discussion or voting.

• It is very important for the whole Council to be involved to look at funding as a whole.
• As the information had been tabled this evening it was thought that it should be digested and then come back to the Town Council to discuss.

It was then:

Proposed and seconded that:

“Ampthill Town Council meet with the Parkside Hall Project Team to establish a joint venture with the intention to plan and deliver a new Parkside Multi Use Community Hall with Town Council offices and facilities. In the meantime all other building projects are halted until a viable plan; including sources of funding have been agreed, for a new Parkside Hall”

A vote was taken 5 for 2 against.

This then became a RESOLUTION

It was then discussed on when the meeting could be held and the Clerk advised that the 28^th April could be available.

A member advised that there could be substantive questions such as:

i)           Can the Town Council work with a Charity?

ii)          Covenants on the Parkside Hall.?

iii)                  Pros and cons of project?

iv)                  Licensed premises

v)                   Charity status.

The Clerk is to look into these matters.

Members of the public then left the meeting.

1. 304.         Report from Bedfordshire Police

P.C. Element gave his apologies for not attending the February meeting and explained it was because of an early morning drugs raid which had resulted in two people being arrested. The next raid in Flitwick also saw two other people arrested.

The Council were thanked for the £30 grant; this will be used for prizes for the children’s poster competition on road safety and parking.

The crime figures for March were gone through with the following being advised:

• Anti social behaviour                  none in March   8 in the last three months.
• Violence against a person           2
• Burglary dwelling                       2
• Theft from a motor vehicle         2
• Burglary other                            2
• Other theft                                 4
• Drugs                                        2
• Criminal damage                        2

P.C. Element praised the work of the PCSO’s who have been instrumental in bringing drug matters to his attention resulting in action being taken against the perpetrators.

176 parking advice tickets have been issued, £30 fines have been issued for parking on footpaths, speed checks have resulted in 3 being caught, I being fined £60 and issued 3 points on their licence.

Members then made the comments resulting in the following information being given:

• The Ringmaster system has been found to be very useful.
• Green bins are being tipped up on a fortnightly basis in the Lea Road and Brinsmade Road area. Whole car wheels are also being dumped in the same area.
• Church Street Residents Association has now linked in with the Dunstable Street Residents Association and are interested in the report commissioned from the Ampthill Community Safety Group via John Plummer. The Clerk advised that Mr Plummer is to address the Town Council meeting on 21^st April on this matter.

P.C. Element advised that he was of the opinion that the residents associations should all come under the umbrella of the Ampthill Community Safety Group and the Community Safety Forums.

• The Street Pastors scheme is still live and will be launched soon.
• There has been no trace of the bike that was stolen from outside Martins newsagents. There are no definite sightings on the CCTV recordings.

P.C. Element then advised that PCSO Arno Van Heygen will be leaving next week to join a volunteer group in Costa Rica. The Council wished Arno well.

P.C. Element then left the meeting.

1. 305.         Treasurer’s Report

Current Balances as at 28^th February 2010.

            Resolved the report as appended to these minutes be noted.

1. 306.         To consider the Budget comparison of expenditure and income against estimates month 11 – February  

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. 307.         To consider the payment of all monies on the list of Supplier Invoices Due to the 9^th March 2010

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

Questions were raised with the following information being provided by the Clerk:

• The repairs to the Kubota resulting in the large bill from Browns was down to the vehicle being driven in four wheel drive at times and the winch being used to try and pull a trailer up. A log is now being made on a daily basis to see who is using what vehicles.
• The soap dispensers are for the public conveniences and are stainless steel.
• The invoice from R Davis is for the Quantity Surveyor’s budget report for the building in Ampthill Park.

            Resolved that all monies on the list be paid.

1. 308.         Donations

Letters of thanks have been received from Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Queensmen Football Club for the Town Council’s donations to them.

To approve and adopt the Committee report as follows:

1. 309.         Finance, Policy and General Purposes committee meeting held on 3^rd March 2010.

Cllr Holden presented the report of the Finance, Policy and General Purposes Committee held on the 3^rd March 2010 and asked for its adoption.

Amendments were made as follows:

• Cllr G Pascal was not in attendance and is to be added to the apologies.
• Under minute no 9 the word “wre” is to be amended to “were.”

In relation to minute no 4 Cllr Mrs Wilson advised that a meeting had been arranged with Karen Kendall of Central Bedfordshire but Central Bedfordshire will not be funding any further printing of leaflets

             Resolved that the report be adopted as amended.

1. 310.         Newsletter Editorial Team report from meeting held on 17^th February 2010

Cllr Holden represented the report of the Newsletter Editorial Team held on 17^th March 2010 and asked for its adoption.

A member raised concern over the fact that decisions are being made on a Town Council publication without any recommendations coming through to the Town Council for adoption.

It was to be noted that Donna Searle works really hard on Around the Pump and is to be thanked for her diligence. For future issues the proof can be forwarded via e-mail to all Councillors.

             Resolved that the report be adopted.

1. 311.         Written Meeting Debriefings

• Ampthill Community Safety Group held on 16^th February 2010.

Resolved that the report be noted

• Covanta update.

Cllr Mrs M Wright provided a report on the IPC meeting on 12^th March as appended to these minutes.

Cllr Mrs Wright went on to advise Members that it is imperative that any views are sent to the IPC during the pre examination stage.

The landscape is very important and English Heritage are concerned about the view from Houghton House which is a Grade 1 listed building and are against the project. This matter is being discussed at their head office in London.

Cllr G Summerfield provided an update of the meeting of the CLP on 15^th March. with the following points being raised:

• The site visit took place and the size and scale of the facility was marked out, this does not change Cllr Summerfield’s view that it will be massive.
• Cllr Summerfield had asked for information regarding why Covanta had identified Rookery Pit , over 300 sites were considered that finally came down to 11, 4 of those in Bedfordshire and it was decided to go along with the site identified for use by the BEAR project.
• A discussion was held on the landscaping and information is to be obtained on how the landscaping is to be dealt with as the site is in an area with a conservation area and areas of natural outstanding beauty.
• A question was asked as to why the tallest and widest part of the building has been designed to be fully visible from the historic Ampthill Park from where the view is so important.
• The heat pump will be able to supply customers within a 6km circumference from the site and Centre Parcs, Nirah and The Wixams have been identified. The power will be transferred in underground pipelines and be 10% cheaper than other providers.
• At the moment the application is going to the IPC and a question was asked if the facility will not run at maximum capacity would the application be decided by the local authority. The answer was no as long as the facility is capable of producing the set amount of power it will be decided at the IPC.
• Community benefits and contributions were not discussed.
• The minutes of the CLP are still having a Covanta slant placed on them despite this being brought up as a concern.
• The Environmental Agency is to be involved.
• If Members of the Council wish to be considered for attendance at any future site visits they are to let Cllr Summerfield know.

Cllr M Smith advised that he and his brother, who works in waste management attended the exhibition on 12^th March and obtained the following information:

• The price per ton of waste will undercut the landfill sites.
• There will be no upfront sorting of waste as it arrives at the site.
• The facility and its machinery is only as good as the skills of the people operating it.
• It is felt that Covanta are being mean in terms of community benefits offered.
• It is to be asked how will 10% come off of bills when there will so many energy providers involved?

Cllr R Tebbutt advised that the strongest case against the facility will be the transport to and from the site which will increase the CO2 emissions far more than the incinerator.

Resolved that the reports be noted and that any comments Members wish to be included in the Town Council’s report to the IPC they are to be advised to Cllrs G Summerfield. Mrs M Wright, G Pascal and R Tebutt.

1. 312.         To consider any recommendations arising from the above reports.

There were no recommendations to consider.

1. 313.         To receive a copy of the newly issued National Association of Local Councils Standing Orders – this will be placed for consideration on the April meeting for adoption at the May Statutory Annual meeting.

Members were provided with a copy of the document to digest and come back to the April meeting with any comments.

Cllr G Summerfield felt that the standing order requiring Members to stand when talking would be a good point to consider retaining.

1. 314.         To consider appointing a group of Councillors to take charge of the preparations for the launch of the Woolnough Trail.

• Parking Stewards.
• Issuing leaflets to attendees.

Resolved that Cllrs G Summerfield and R Tebbutt will arrange the car parking. Cllr Mrs M Wilson will be in attendance with the Clerk to issue leaflets. The area around the Cricket Club can also be used for parking and the gate is to be opened.

1. 315.         Correspondence

a)                  Standards Boards for England – Bulletin 46

This document was part copied for Members as important details are contained on Bias, Pre-determination and the Code, that Councillors should be aware of.

b)                  Standards Board for England – Bulletin 47.

c)                  Central Bedfordshire Town & Parish Council Conference – 9^th June 2010 – forward notice for diaries.

d)                  Invitation to attend the Parish Council Involvement Group at Marston Mortaine Sports Pavilion at 6.30pm to 8.30pm on 4^th May, this has been rescheduled to avoid the Easter holidays and the Covanta consultations. Cllr G Pascal has offered to attend.

e)                  BATPC – Bedfordshire Bugle- Legal topic notes have been requested.

* Copies supplied for Members.

f)                    BRCC Network – February 2010.

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

1. 317.          Cllr Mrs M Wilson passed the following motion:

“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. 318.          Confidential minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 17^th February 2010 page 89.

This minute is appended for Members only.

1. 319.          Confidential minutes of the Extra Ordinary Town Council meeting held on Wednesday 24^th February 2010.

This minute is appended for Members only.

1. 320.          Confidential minutes of the Staffing Panel Meeting held on 3^rd March 2010.

This minute is appended for Members only.

1. 321.          Confidential minutes of the Staffing Panel Meeting held on 10^th March 2010.

This minute is appended for Members only.

1. 322.          Matters arising from confidential minutes for noting only.

These minutes are appended for Members only.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.55pm.

CHAIRMAN                                                               DATED