Town Council Minutes 15 July 2009

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF

AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL

held at the Council Offices,

66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill

on Wednesday 15^th July 2009 at 7.30pm

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

Also present were four members of the public and P.C Paul Element.

65. Apologies

Apologies were received from R A D Chappell (illness) Cllr M A Smith (holiday) and R Tebbutt (holiday).

66. Period of Public Participation

Dr W De Groot of 25 Church Street addressed the Council on the matter of the many disturbances that residents in the vicinity of the Town Centre regularly suffer on Fridays and Saturdays in the early hours of the morning.

Residents feel that since the extension to the licence for the White Hart Hotel to 2am the incidents of anti social behaviour have increased and residents have doors knocked on, windows broken, people urinating in the street and criminal damage, all being caused by people who are around at this time in the early mornings.

Concern is felt over the fact that when people are ejected from the White Hart by the door staff they leave in an agitated manner and this can lead to problems.

Councillor Holden thanked Dr De Groot and asked Members if they wished to bring the agenda item relating the White Hart forward to this part of the meeting.

This was agreed.

67. To consider a proposal from Cllr Pascal that Ampthill Town Council seeks a review of the late license of The White Hart

Councillor P Duckett declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item as he is a Publican in the Town.

Councillor G Pascal had been advised that he may have to think about declaring a personal and prejudicial interest in this matter as he lives on the same road as this business and had publicised his views on a local community website.

Councillor R Holden advised Members that although the Town Council has every sympathy with the residents, the Town Council as a Corporate Body are not legally allowed to ask for a review of the licence. The persons that can apply are:

Interested or responsible Authority, i.e. The Chief of Police, the Chief of the Fire Service, the enforcement agency responsible for enforcing Health and Safety at Work 1974, the local area child protection committee.
a person living in the vicinity of the premises,
a body representing persons who live in that vicinity,
a person involved in a business in that vicinity,
a body representing persons involved in such businesses.

As such Ampthill Town Council has no powers in this matter.

Councillor R Holden allowed Mr P Duckett to speak as a member of the public on this matter.

Mr Duckett advised that there is a formula for taking this matter forward before any review can be sought. A mediation meeting needs to be held with interested parties, the Police and the Licensing Officer of Central Bedfordshire Council to try and seek a solution to the problem. If no solution can be found then the matter can go to a review.

Councillor P Duckett left the building as he had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item.

Councillor G Summerfield advised that in the past a group had been set up and worked towards addressing the problems of that time, this type of group could be formed again as the matter cannot be ignored.

Standing Orders were suspended at 7.20pm to allow Central Bedfordshire Councillor M Gibson to address the meeting.

Councillor Gibson advised that would be difficult calling for review without carrying out mediation first. The Licensing Authority i.e Central Bedfordshire may be able to mediate in this instance,

P. C. P Element advised that the Landlord of the White Hart is doing above what he is required by law to do. When the licence was extended to 2am there was no Police Licensing Officer in place and therefore it may be that the Police were not seen to be against the extension in opening hours.

There are Police patrols in the vicinity of the Town Centre on Friday and Saturday nights and the door staff assist the Police by ensuring people leave the area and they then go around picking up bottles.

The CCTV system has assisted in reducing the amount of incidents occurring. A number of assaults have had arrests made on them and the people have also bee caught that broke the window in Earl’s Restaurant.

The White Hart is sometimes blamed for things that re nothing to do with it, a recent noise disturbance was caused by people who had been dropped by a minibus after a night out in Bedford.

The White Hart Hotel is only responsible for the footpath directly outside the premises, when people move off it becomes a Police matter.

P.C. Element then advised that he would go back to his Sergeant to see if Police Officers can be spread out from the centre of town to try and prevent incidents further away from the centre.

Councillor Holden advised that the Clerk had sought information on the cost and maintenance cost for two further cameras; one on Church Street looking back to the Market Square and one outside 101 Dunstable Street.

A resident advised that one of the major noise disturbances is of bottles being emptied into a bin at 3am. P.C. Element advised he would talk about this with the Landlord and request that this is done the next morning.

Standing Orders were resumed at 7.30pm

Members went on to discuss this matter further before it was:

Resolved that:

i) Following a representation from many members of the public raising the problems in the Town Centre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday a meeting is to be sought between the Licensing Authority, the Police interested parties and local Landlords to discuss this matter.

ii) The Clerk is to write to Barbara Morris, Assistant Legal Director and the Licensing Officer at Central Bedfordshire to enquire what Ampthill Town Council are able to do to assist in anyway.

iii) If a mediation meeting does not work then local residents themselves can raise the matter through the form available on the Central Bedfordshire website, www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

iv) The correspondence is to be copied to Dr De Groot, all other letter writers, Councillor M Gibson and the Ampthill Safety Group.

Councillor P Duckett returned to the meeting.

68. To receive a report from a representative of Bedfordshire Police

P.C Element advised that PCSO Sarah Goldsmith has joined the team in Ampthill and is settling in well with the other members of the team.

P.C Element then went on to give the following information:

Anti Social Behaviour have fallen since last month from 11 to 10 incidents.
Recorded Crime incidents have increased from 31 from 20.
House Burglaries incidents have been recorded as one
There have been no thefts of motor vehicles this month.
- Thefts from motor vehicles have increased to three from one; this is due to BMW cars being targeted.
- Violent crime incidents have reduced from eight to four. Included in these incidents was one of a domestic nature, a neighbourhood disagreement and an assault; culprits have been arrested on all incidents.
- Criminal damage incidents have increased by nine from six to seventeen, including broken windows, a wheeley bin fire, damage to vehicle and vehicles being scratched.
- Theft etc shows an increase on last month of five to eight. The incidents include shoplifting, theft of a bike, a tree from a back garden and mobile phones.
- Drugs incidents remain at three, street cautions have been given for a two incidents in Woburn Street and an arrest has been made for being in possession of a controlled drug.
- Five 176 notices have been issued to persons parking vehicles on pavements.
- The Ministry of Youth nights are going well, the next one is scheduled for 16^th August and this will be a beach party.
- The owner of the truck that parks outside the scooter shop in Dunstable Street has been told to only park in front of the shop when he is loading or unloading a scooter, he must then move off and park elsewhere to free up the pavement.
- The Cabinet Office has agreed to the Bedfordshire Police radios being linked into the monitoring system at Stevenage Borough Council, this means that the Police Officers can call for CCTV coverage when necessary and incidents captured by CCTV can be radioed through to the Police.
- The presets for the camera in Ampthill Park were not set to cover the play area, this has now been addressed. However a further light needs to be installed to allow the area of the youth shelter more visible.

P.C Element then requested that the Council consider installing bollards along the wide area of pavement in Bedford Street to prevent vehicles being parked on it.

Resolved that this matter be placed on the agenda for the October meeting of the Parks, Burial Ground and Open Spaces Committee, costs are to be sought for bollards similar to those on the Market Square and large oblong heavy planters.

P.C Element also requested that further CCTV signage be placed on the playground fencing, the tennis court and entrances to car parking areas in Ampthill Park.

Members asked P.C Element to answer questions which resulted in the following information being given in answer:

The number of large trucks coming through the town can be addressed by providing P.C. Element with the registration number and time the truck was seen.
The incident resulting in a man drowning is still to be considered by the Coroner. The owner of the land has tried fencing the area off, but each time the fencing is taken down.
The incident resulting in a broken window in Church Street has been classified as an accident, the damage has been paid for and the owner of the Property does not wish to take it any further. Data Protection prevents the CCTV recordings being views unless it is to assist in obtaining evidence and in this case it was not requested.

Councillor R Holden thanked P.C Element for his interesting report, P.C Element then left the meeting.

The Clerk has made some enquires as to whether it would be possible to install two more cameras one on Church Street looking back towards the town centre and the other in the vicinity of 101 Dunstable Street.

The following information has been obtained from Stevenage Borough Council:

The network is already in place and there is no problem in bringing in extra cameras
A survey of both sites would be needed before giving a price for the two extra cameras
It will not cost anything to get Quadrant to quote a price for the two new cameras
The cost of the monitoring would be at the same current price and your maintenance and NTL costs would be the same.

As the surveys are free of charge the Clerk has authorised for these to be carried out so that the Council have figures available to consider at the October estimates meeting if it is decided that further cameras are a necessity.

69. To receive and record declarations of interest of a personal nature

Councillor P Duckett had previously recorded his personal interest in the matter concerning the White Hart Hotel as he is a publican in the Town.

Councillor G Summerfield declared his personal interest in the item concerning a grant towards Ampthill Town Band as he is a guest player in the band at times.

Councillor Mrs M Wright declared a personal interest in a payment to Barry Wright Partnership as this is her husband’s company.

70. To receive and record declarations of interest of a prejudicial nature

Councillor P Duckett had previously recorded his prejudicial interest in the matter concerning the White Hart Hotel as he is a publican in the Town.

Councillor Mrs M Wright declared a personal interest in a payment to Barry Wright Partnership as this is her husband’s company.

71. Town Mayor's Announcements

Councillor Holden commenced his announcements by advising of the success of the talks with Ampthill District Lions to hold a community firework display on 6^th November this year. Thanks were given to P.C Element for his assistance with this.

The following events had been attended over the last month:

21^st June 2009 Bedford Mill Meadows, opening of the refurbished bandstand.
27^th June 2009 Ampthill Park Proms, approximately 900 people were in attendance and praise is to be given to the Festival Committee for the success of this first staging of the Proms.
28^th June 2009 Ampthill Gala Day: opening of the Three Counties Thai

Festival in Parkside Hall, judging the entries in the procession; finishing with the Songs of Praise in St Andrew’s Church, all in all a day for Ampthill to be proud of!

9^th July Ampthill Bowls challenge match, the Town Council team won back the shield!
11^th July Opening of St Andrew’s Church Fete; Allotment Summer show, a cheque for £170 was awarded to the Mayors Charities; finishing with attendance at the Flitwick Town Council’s Symphonia Academia Concert in the evening.
12^th July Leighton Linslade Town Council Charity Lunch.

Councillor Holden then advised Members that he has set the Civic Service date this year for 6^th September at 6.30pm at St Andrew’s Church. The Bishop of Bedford will be on attendance.

72. Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 17^thJune 2009

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

The minutes were then signed as a true copy.

Matters arising from previous minutes for note.

73. Accounts package (see minute no 39)

The Clerk has arranged for a presentation to the Finance Working Group from RBS software on Wednesday 28th October at 6.00pm. There is no cost to the Council.

74. Councillors Surgery

The updates to the original sheet issued last month were given to Councillors, the next Councillors Surgery is to be held on Friday 24^th July 6.00 to 8.00pm in the Waitrose store entrance.

It was advised that the overhanging branches along the Kings Arms Path need to be cut back away from the Path. The Clerk advised she would ask the Park Keepers to do this work.

75. To consider how life could be injected back into the Charter Market. (see minute no 46)

Vicki Francis will shortly be convening a meeting of the Working Group – provisionally on the evening of Monday 27^th July 2009.

76. Anti Social Behaviour in Willow Way (see minute no 57)

P.C Element has advised that there are not anywhere near enough incidents to warrant taking the CCTV camera away from areas such as Biggleswade and he would not be able to take a strong enough case from Police figures to arrange for the mobile CCTV unit to be placed in this location.

Jane Regan Mid Beds District Council as advised that she would be happy to have some involvement and could help with getting young people views or some form of consultation. The Youth Group cold lead on this. Jane runs a project called My Shout which gains young peoples views about community safety issues and it would be good to have some form of representation from this youth group. Jane is happy to support and work together. The information has been forwarded to Nicola King, Youth Participation Officer for Aragon.

Treasurer’s Report

77. Current Balances 30^th June 2009

Members were provided with the report as appended to these minutes.

Resolved that the report be noted.

78. To consider the Budget comparison of expenditure and income against estimates month 3 – June.

Members were provided with the report as appended to these minutes.

Resolved that:

i) the report be noted.

i) that details of the money received for the grass cutting from Central Bedfordshire is to be brought to the next meeting.

ii) the cost of the Market adverts is to be vied from the publicity expenditure into Market publicity expenditure.

79. To consider the payment of all monies on the list of Supplier Invoices Due to the 16^th June 2009

Members were provided with the list as appended to these minutes.

Resolved that all monies on the list be paid.

80. To consider opting to tax for the Visitor Centre and replacement tractor shed in order to recoup all VAT on the construction costs. This advice has been received by the VAT office, the Council must be aware that any services provided by the Town Council in the Visitors Centre would have VAT added i.e. hire of rooms. This would not apply to any sub tenants.

Resolved that the Town Council opt to tax the new buildings; Visitor’s Centre and replacement tractor shed in Ampthill Park.

81. Donations

Ampthill Town Band application for a donation of £1,000 under the Local Government Act 1972 Section 145 (support for the arts) towards the purchase of a new musical instrument.

Resolved that a grant of £1,000 be paid to Ampthill Town Band

82. To consider the Town Council booking Parkside Hall for use by the Allotments Association to save cancelling our usual hirers in the Nottingham Rooms, effective from 2010.

Councillor Holden advised that this year’s show was a success, but in talking to Members of the Allotment Association it was felt that as the exhibitors at the show increase more room may be needed.

The Clerk advised that the Parkside hire fee would be £103.00. Alternatively the Town Council could award a grant to Allotment Association to assist in the cost.

If this arrangement would be impractical for the hirers of the Nottingham Rooms to go into Parkside Hall as all their equipment is stored in the Nottingham Rooms.

Resolved that a letter be sent to the Allotment Association making the offer of possible use of the Parkside Hall and asking if they wish to take advantage of this.

To approve and adopt the Committee report as follows:

83. Finance, Policy and General Purposes Committee of 1^st May

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

Members declaring interests asked for whether they had a personal or prejudice interest to be noted:

Cllr Mrs M Wright – personal and prejudicial interests
Cllr G Summerfield – personal interest.
Cllr Mrs P Foster – personal interest.
Cllr M Smith – personal interest.

In regards to the recommendation for minute no 6 the following wording is to be added:

“Several Members were concerned about the cost of this building both in terms of the construction and running costs”

In regards to the recommendation for minute no 7 the following wording is to be added:

“The persons carrying out the work are to be responsible for paying their own tax.”

In regards to minute no 11 the wording of the recommendation is to be amended to:

“That an extensive search is first carried out to ascertain if any grower or producer is willing to attend the Farmers Market within a 30 mile radius. If no grower or producer can be found then the ruling can be extended to a wider area.”

The minutes were then signed as a true copy as amended.

It was then:

Resolved that for coming Farmers Markets the Producer of fruit and vegetables from Lincolnshire can attend until the search is completed, if a producer is found within the 30mile radius this person will take precedence.

84. Planning meeting of 8^th July 2009.

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

The minutes were then signed as a true copy.

85. Financial Working Party meeting of 8^th July 2009

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

The following Councillors are to be deleted from those in attendance:

Cllr Mrs M Wright, Cllr G Pascal, and Cllr P Eversley.

The minutes were then signed as a true copy as amended.

86. Written Meeting Debriefings

Christmas Lights Committee of 14^th July 2009.

Members had been provided with a copy of the report. A member questioned whether the cut off date of 31^st July to get back to the Lighting Contractor had been mentioned at the meeting, other attendees confirmed it had.

Resolved the report be noted.

Burial Ground Working Party of 7^th July 2009.

Members had been provided with a copy of the report.

Resolved that the report be noted.

Highways Safety Group of 6^th July 2009.

Members had been provided with a copy of the report.

In relation to the end of the first bullet point the following wording is to be added:

“ David Bowie is awaiting the drawings from the former Bedfordshire County Council”

Resolved that the report be noted as amended.

Youth Working Group meeting held on 24^th June 2009.

Members had been provided with a copy of the report.

Resolved that the report be noted.

The meeting of the Parish and Town Council Members with Interest in Bedfordshire Waste Problems held on Wednesday 24^th June and the suggested actions. - Cllr G Pascal.

Cllr G Pascal gave a short report on the meeting; it was very well attended and there is still unease from everybody. There is concern over the difference between the Covanta bid and the BEAR project.

The consultation meetings with Covanta had been announced. A letter is to be sent to local papers.

The group is to reconvene after 23^rd July; Stewartby Parish Council will arrange the date and venue.

The report from the meeting is as appended to these minutes.

87. To consider the recommendations from the Christmas Lights Committee.

The following recommendations were made:

a) Lamps and Tubes Illuminations Ltd be contracted to put up and take down our existing lighting display this year at a quoted cost of £3881.00 and to install and pull test two new additional safety brackets (above wooden sills in Bedford St & Woburn St) at a cost of £94.50 each. The installation cost included 4 maintenance visits once the lights are up and attendance of a L&T rep on switch on day.

b) John Bacon and Donna Searle to compile a list of requirements for Lamps & Tubes, such as when the lights need to go up, come down, setting of time clocks, meter readings and the switch on date.

c) Ask Lamps and Tubes to provide a cost for new 3watt single colour bulbs, mixed colours, in our existing festoon. This information is needed for the next meeting so a recommendation can be made to full council on 16 September 2009. The Lights Committee have determined that a maximum budget of £4,000 should be allocated for new bulbs.

d) Ask the Full Council to carry forward any unspent capital cost into the 2010/11 financial year budget.

e) Apply to Central Bedfordshire for a grant towards the Lights.

f) The Secretary to make enquiries about a Highway Licence.

Information had been received that Lamps and Tubes can provide a whole new system of lights for the approximate sum of £12,000. It was therefore:

Resolved that all recommendations be accepted.

88. To consider a proposal that Ampthill Town Council writes to Nadine Dorries MP urging her to sign the Early Day Motion 1608 to raise concern about Covanta's bid to build a multi-million tonne waste burner in Rookery Pit, Stewartby - Cllr G Pascal.

Resolved that a letter is forwarded to Nadine Dorries M.P requesting her to take the action required.

89. To consider appointing Cllr R Holden to attend The Action for Market Towns 2009 Convention – Beyond the Recession, on 13^th & 14^th October in Melton Mowbray at the cost of £295 to include convention, dinner and accommodation.

Resolved that Cllr R Holden attends the 2009 Convention.

90. To consider a request from Art in Ampthill for a gazebo to be placed on the Market Square on 5^th September 2009 to promote an open studio event to be held over the next three weeks.

Resolved that permission be granted subject to the normal regulation for use of the Market Square.

91. To appoint Councillors to hold the Councillors Surgery on Friday 24^th July from 6.00pm to 8.00pm in the Waitrose store entrance area.

Resolved that Cllrs P Duckett, G Summerfield, Mrs M Wilson and Mrs S Bacon will man the tables at the Councillors Surgery.

92. Correspondence

a) Local Councils Review Summer 2009

b) Direct Information Service issue 712

c) NALC Chief Executive Report June 2009

d) Kings Arms Path Garden - Half year report .* Copied for Members

A concern was raised within the report over the fencing that is being placed along the inside of the wire fencing along the Kings Arms Path.

Resolved that enquires be raised with Punch Taverns to obtain details of why the fencing is being erected as there is concern that the area between the two fences will fall into an unkempt condition.

e) Bedfordshire Bugle – July 2009 * Copy provided for Members

f) Clerks and Councils Direct July 2009

g) Standards Board for England Bulleting 44.

h) News Central July 2009

i) Central Bedfordshire Inspired- Stakeholders Newsletter June 2009.

All items of correspondence are available from the Clerk.

93. Consideration of whether any press releases are to be made.

Councillor G Pascal advised that there was one press release to send relating to the rededication of Katherine’s Cross.

94. Cllr Mrs Wilson then moved 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”