MINUTES OF A MEETING OF AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL

held at the Council Offices,66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill

on Wednesday 17^th December 2008 at 7.30pm 

Present: Councillors: G Summerfield (Chairman), Mrs A M Wright, Mrs S A Bacon, R A D Chappell, P A Duckett, P A Eversley, Mrs P K Foster, G Pascal, R A Holden, R Tebbutt, Mrs M E Wilson and Dawn Sutherns, Clerk. Also present were P.C. Element and 1 member of the public. 

215.         ApologiesThere were apologies received from Cllr M A Smith (Christmas Party at workplace). 

216.       Period of Public Participation There were no Members of the public registered to speak. 

217.       Donations:  

Standing Orders were suspended at 7.32pm to allow a representative from Firs Lower School to address the Council on the grant application  Ms Bennett provided Members with a brief overview of the project for the outside classroom. The project was first muted by the Parent Teacher Association to be used for before and after school clubs along with holiday clubs open to the whole community.  

The outside classroom would be a great facility for the children; it will be able to seat 30 for lessons and it could also it could be used for shelter during such events as football matches, or end of season Barbeques. The schools capital budget does not stretch for projects like this and therefore grants have been sought from Tesco, Mid Beds District Council and Sure Start. The Mid Beds District Council’s grant is dependant on the Town Council making a contribution as well. The total cost of the project is £12,500.

Standing Orders were resumed at 7.35pm.

THE FIRS LOWER SCHOOL

Application for a grant of £1,000 under Section 19 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, community education, towards a new outdoor classroom for after school care for the whole community for children between the ages of 4 and 8. 

Resolved that a grant of £1,000 be made to Firs Lower School under Section 19 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. 

FULL HOUSE THEATRE COMPANY    

Application for a grant of £1,000 under Section 145 of the Local Government Act 1972, support of the Arts, towards an open air theatre project in Ampthill Park. 

Resolved that as no Representative from the Group was able to attend this application be deferred to the January meeting.  

218.       The following resolution was then made: That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted relating to Policing matters, it is advisable in the public interest that the public and press be temporarily excluded and that they are instructed to withdraw” 

219.       The Confidential minute relating to Policing Matter is appended for Members only. 

220.       Report from P.C. Element on behalf of Bedfordshire Police.

P.C Element provided Members with details of the Crime figures over the last month. These figures show that incidents of anti social behaviour are down on the previous month, but recorded crime is up.  There were 31 recorded crimes, 12 arrests, I outstanding arrest and 4 drug related detections awaiting further action, therefore there were 17 positive results. Details of a few of the arrests are: A house burglary, an assault at the Ossary Arms, a public disorder incident outside the White Hart Hotel, threats to care workers, assault on a Police Officer, assault on a taxi driver, criminal damage and fraud relating to motor vehicles. A local male has been in court charged with two offences relating to criminal damage to vehicles in Park Hill, he has been fined. It is not possible to prove the same man was involved in any other incidents. P.C Element was thanked for getting this far as the matter had been ongoing for a long time. Questions were then received from Members resulting in the following information being given: §         Residents of Park Hill are unable to take the known offender to civil court as there is no evidence to back up further incidents of damage to their vehicles and the person has not admitted the two incidents he was charged for. §         Videos of the CCTV footage will be used if people plead not guilty when taken to court. All incidents are logged and held on disc whilst investigations are live. §         Anti social behaviour happens throughout the week and is not just at weekends. §         After a spate of distraction burglaries leaflets have been dropped through doors in Station Road, The Crescent, Ashburnham Road and Sidney Road giving advice. §         Door to door cold calling is not covered under the Trading Standards if the company is a legitimate business. Councillor Summerfield thanked P.C Element for attending and wished him a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year before P.C Element left the meeting. 

221.       To receive and record declarations of interest, whether personal or prejudicial   

There were no interests declared.  

222.       Town Mayor’s AnnouncementsCllr Summerfield gave a report of the events he had attended as follows:           

Cllr Summerfield’s Progressive Dinner fund raiser raised a total of £650.§           

6^th December: Ampthill Rugby Club Vice President’s Dinner where the club was given an award for their work with young people. There are 501 younger players registered at the club.It was announced that the Rugby Club has been in talks with local landowner Mr Olney over the purchase of either the field next to the existing club or one across the other side of the A507 to use as additional pitches enabling them to stay in their current position. It is very early days and discussions are being held with Planning Officers, an indoor tennis court has also been suggested.      

14^th December: Bedford Borough Carol Service       

15^th December: Bedfordshire & Luton Fire Service Christmas Tingle Service

§         17^th December: Attendance at the unveiling of the commemorative bench in honour of the late John Wilson, former Mayor of Ampthill, held at the location adjacent to the Feoffee Cottages. The Lord Lieutenant, Samuel Whitbread gave a speech followed by a short service taken by Rev Trodden. 

223.         To confirm and sign as a true record the minutes of the Council meeting held on 19^th November 2008 pages 53 to 62

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

To note matters arising from previous Town Council minutes  

224.         Internal Auditor (see minute no 180)

The Clerk has spoken to three local Accountants and will have costings available for the Finance Policy and General Purposes meeting on 7^th January for consideration and appointment. 

225.         Eco-Towns (see minute no 193)

An invite was sent to Mr Denis Spooner of the Eco Towns Team to attend the Council meeting on 17^th December however this offer has been declined. Further correspondence has been received by e-mail and is copied to Members. 

226.         BEAR Project (see minute no 196)

An invitation has been sent to all neighbouring parish councils and most have responded that they would be pleased to meet up again in January, currently the 8^th or the 15^th is being considered as the best day. 

227.         Treasurer’s Report – available at the meeting             

Budget Comparison    November 2008                     

Current Balances        November 2008           

The reports as appended to these minutes were noted. 

228.         To consider the payment of all monies on the list of aged creditors to the 20^th December 2008    

Resolved that all monies on the schedule as appended to these minutes be paid.

To approve and adopt the Committee report as follows: 

229.         Park and Open Spaces Committee of 4^th December 2008 

Cllr Chappell presented the minutes of the meeting and asked for their adoption.            

Resolved that the minutes be adopted as a true copy. 

230.         Pride in Ampthill meeting of 10^th December 2008.

Cllr Summerfield presented the minutes of the meeting and asked for their adoption. The names of the Councillors present at the meeting are to be included in the minutes.            

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

County and District Councillor Communication 

231.         County and District Councillor Summerfield

Cllr Summerfield advised that he has been advised that the Gas House Lane planning application may go to the Development Control at the February meeting. Cllr Summerfield advised that he will be requesting a site visit. The Scrutiny meeting for Central Beds have been asked to look at the charges levied for services such as pest control and waste collection. There is a difference in charges levied over Mid Beds and South Beds and the Committee have asked for reassurance that Mid Beds Residents will not be out of pocket once the charges are set. In both the County Council’s bids and Central Bedfordshire’s bids it stated that savings would be made in Council Tax to the lowest common denominator. In planning for the launch of the new Unitary it has been announced that personnel will remain within County Hall in two teams. All staff will be protected under TUPE regulations. Some staff are still not sure whether they will have a job or not.  

232.         Written Meeting Debriefings

Ø      Ampthill Community Safety Forum Meeting 3rd December 2008. 

Ø      Farmers Market Working Party Group 2^nd December 2008.

Ø      Greensand Ridge Local Action  Group 1^st December 2008

Ø      Action for Market Towns County Network Meeting 12^th November 2008

Ø      Bedfordshire County Council Town & Parish Council Reception 25^th November 2008.

Ø      WREN Bedfordshire and North Hertfordshire Advisory Panel 20^th November 2008.

Ø      Bedfordshire Playing Fields Association Executive meeting 25^th November.      

All reports were noted and are as appended to these minutes. 

233.         To consider a date for the Highways Working Party to meet to discuss:

Parking matters in Ampthill and a 50mph speed limit being introduced at the Millbrook   Crossroads.            

Resolved that the Working Group meets on Wednesday 14^th January at 6.30pm    

234.         To consider a date to meet with Members of the Angling Club towards the end of January 2009 to further discuss a parking area off of A507  

Resolved that the Working Group meets on Wednesday 28^th January at 6.30pm 

235.      To consider the action the Town Council wish to take to mark the 790^th anniversary of the granting of the Charter Market on 29^th January 1219. 

Members discussed this matter and it was felt that it was too late to arrange anything, however if the Stall Holders wished to mark the occasion they could. 

Resolved that the Town Council will arrange a celebration in 2019 for the 800^th anniversary. 

236.         To consider the matter of making the entrance into Waitrose Car Park from Church Street one way over the Town Council owned land following the consultation with the Manager of the Bank and Waitrose.

Members discussed this matter with various ideas being muted. 

Resolved that this matter be placed before the Highways Working Group to work on a feasible plan. 

237.         To consider the draft documents for:  

§        The Mayor’s Role

§        The Role of a Councillor

§        Councillor’s Competences. 

Resolved that all drafts be adopted, the documents are as appended to these minutes. 

238.         To consider a request from Mrs Ann Sunman to plant a dedicated Lime Tree in Ampthill Park in memory of her late husband Alan Sunman, former Mayor of Ampthill. 

Members were advised that Mrs Sunman would like to purchase a tree and plant it in the area around the cricket club, the cost implication of £50 will be paid by Mrs Sunman. 

Resolved that the council are happy to grant permission for the tree to be planted. This tree can be a replacement for the tree that has recently been lost through disease. 

239.         To receive an update on the current work on the Katherine’s Cross.

The report was provided to members and is appended to these minutes.                        

Resolved that the report be noted. 

240.         Correspondence

Ø      Direct Information Service issue nos 697

Ø      Fieldwork – December 2008

Ø      Talk to Mid Beds – November 2008 to January 2009            

The three publications above can be obtained from the Clerk. A thank you card has been received from the Poppy Appeal for the donation totalling £18.35 from the collection box in the Town Council Offices. 

241.         The following motion to exclude the press and public from the remainder of the meeting was then passed: “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” 

242.         To approve the confidential minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 19^th November 2008 page 63.

This minute is appended for Member only 

243.         To receive a copy of the Performance Review for the three office staff. 

This minute is appended for Members only. There being no further business Cllr Summerfield closed the meeting at 9.30pm by wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.             

CHAIRMAN                                                    DATED