HADLEY AND LEEGOMERY PARISH COUNCIL DRAFT Minutes of a meeting held on the 1 st December 2015 commencing at 7.00 p.m. 273/15 PRESENT Councillors S Evans, M Grindrod, W McClements, K Minchin (from minute 277/15), G Moore, J Smart (Chairman), P Thompson, and A Wood. In attendance: J Brumwell, Clerk to the Council 274/15 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE RESOLVED that apologies are accepted from Councillors U Ahmed, T Bentley, L Murray, F Sloan, R Sloan, P Smart, and A Twyford. 275/15 DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS (a) Dispensations none. (b) Declarations none. 276/15 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 4 members of the public (including PC Robert Hughes, West Mercia Police) attended the meeting. 1. Tracey Thatcher and Jenny Fletcher informed the Council of further issues identified regarding the planning process and ongoing management arrangements affecting residents of Sankey Drive and Castle Meadows. Ms Thatcher said that no response had been received from Mark Pritchard MP other than a holding response. Ms Fletcher identified further issues regarding management of public areas of the developments. The Chairman instructed the Clerk to write to Mark Pritchard MP expressing the Parish Council s concern at his inability to respond to and support residents of the parish and requesting that he meets with residents to discuss the issues they have identified. Cllr A Wood offered to attend any meeting arranged with residents in order to support them. 2. PC Robert Hughes reported crime statistics for November 2015. There were 15 burglaries (mostly from sheds); 18 assaults in the area (including at the Princess Royal Hospital); and 35 reports of anti-social behavior (mainly fireworks, motorcycles or noise related). The local policing team is liaising with the Safety Camera Partnership and borough council to resolve issues with speeding by motorists on Sommerfeld Road, Hadley. 277/15 CO-OPTION TO FILL A CASUAL VACANCY As a result of the death of Cllr D Jones a vacancy occurred in the Hadley Castle Ward of the Parish Council. The Parish Council resolved to advertise the vacancy (minute 238/15). One candidate had come forward for consideration. RESOLVED that Keith Minchin is co-opted to fill the casual vacancy existing in the Hadley Castle Ward of the Parish. Councillor Minchin then completed a declaration of acceptance of office, the Chairman welcomed him and he took his place as a councillor for the remainder of the meeting. 278/15 HADLEY LEARNING COMMUNITY Dr Gill Eatough, Principal of Hadley Learning Community was present and spoke about the following: HLC s 10 th Year in operation and planned celebrations for May 2016 Primary Phase fully subscribed (Secondary Phase is over-subscribed) Staffing levels fully staffed with specialist teachers in every area of the curriculum Best ever results last summer in Primary (12% increase in one key measure ) 1
Progress measures for English and Maths are the best in Telford and Wrekin Value-added measures are particularly strong (probably in top 10% nationally) with strong progress for all children regardless of ability Community Projects Wrekin Walk, sponsored by Saint Gobain, raised 14,000 for charity (Macmillan and Hope House) intending to repeat in 2016 Project Hadley including tidy of cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday, Christmas afternoon tea party, and distribution of Christmas cards to all older local residents HLC Live magazine produced regularly Library footfall has increased following re-modelling Dr Eatough identified dog-fouling as an issue for HLC, particularly on the sports field, and asked for the Parish Council s support in combatting this. Dr Eatough also briefed the Council on the background to the permanent expansion of HLC s Primary Phase, with the Reception intake increasing from 60 pupils to 90 pupils from September 2016. This has been achieved by moving the on-site Nursery to a different part of the existing building and creating a new Primary Phase dining room in the Forum area. The Chairman asked Dr Eatough what impact the additional 882 homes, excluding those on the Maxell site, planned for the Hadley and Leegomery areas would have on HLC. Dr Eatough said that HLC could not expand to absorb all of this demand and a further primary school would need to be provided; however, a large number of the planned homes, including those on the Maxell site, fall within the attendance area for Apley Wood School and therefore would not affect HLC. Dr Eatough identified traffic issues on Crescent Road, Hadley as a serious concern and said she had written to the borough to request consideration of re-opening Crescent Road to through traffic, possibly with a one-way system to reduce congestion. However, the expansion should reduce the number of families with primary-age children attending more than one school. On behalf of the Council the Chairman congratulated Dr Eatough on HLC s continuing success and its achievements in support of its community and charitable aims. 279/15 HADLEY LEARNING COMMUNITY PERMANENT EXPANSION OF PRIMARY PHASE RESOLVED that the Council supports the expansion of Hadley Learning Community s Primary Phase but requests that the borough considers re-opening Crescent Road to through traffic (with appropriate controls) and gives serious consideration to the need for an additional primary school in the Apley area to meet demand from new housing in the area. 280/15 MINUTES OF LAST MEETING RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on the 3 rd confirmed and signed by the Chairman. November 2015 are 281/15 MINUTES OF FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 17 TH NOVEMBER 2015 The Council considered the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on the 17 th November 2015. RESOLVED that the minutes are approved and adopted. 282/15 MINUTES OF THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE 27 TH NOVEMBER 2015 The Council considered the minutes of the meeting of the Personnel Committee held on the 27 th November 2015. RESOLVED that the minutes are approved and adopted. The Chairman informed the Council that a resignation had been received from a member of staff and it would therefore be necessary to convene a further meeting of the Personnel Committee to consider what action to take. It was agreed that the Committee would meet on Thursday 3 rd December 2015 at 9.30 a.m. 2
283/15 CHAIRMAN S COMMUNICATIONS Open Spaces Society report Letter of thanks from Telford Sea Cadets Response from Richard Partington regarding proposed parking restrictions on High Street, Hadley 284/15 REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES MATTERS SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO THE PARISH P.A.C.T. Cllr M Grindrod reported on anti-social behaviour relating to particular properties on Hurleybrook Way. The Chairman asked PC Hughes if he could provide further information on the issue. PC Hughes said the issues relate mainly to houses of multiple occupation ( HMOs ) and that Telford and Wrekin Council have contacted the landlord to inform them that they are monitoring the situation and further action would be taken if anti-social behavior is not reduced. PLANNING APPLICATIONS 285/15 Applications for consideration RESOLVED that the under-mentioned applications are dealt with as follows: 1. TWC/2015/1045 erection of a first floor extension above garage and the erection of an orangery to rear, 11 Longthorpe Drive, Hadley, Telford: no objection. 2. TWC/2015/1053 erection of a two storey side extension and single storey rear extension, 6 Spruce Drive, Leegomery, Telford: no objection. 3. TWC/2015/1064 - Hybrid planning application. Part A: Outline planning application for the construction of an employment park comprising of up to 65,000 sq.m of general industrial / warehouse and distribution floorspace (Use Classes B8 and B2) with ancillary floorspace comprising offices, retail, restaurant/café and hot food take away (Use Classes B1, A1, A3 and A5) with all matters reserved except for the means of access to the site. Part B: Full planning application for the construction of two general industrial / warehouse and distribution units (Unit 9: 6,400 sq.m and Unit 10: 3,156 sq.m) with ancillary office accommodation (Use Classes B2, B8 and B1) along with site-wide infrastructure works (access, drainage, earthworks and strategic landscaping, land east of Queensway HLC, Queensway, Hortonwood, Telford: the Parish Council does not object to this application providing that the conditions agreed with HLC Queensway School are implemented to the satisfaction of the school. 4. TWC/2015/1068 - erection of a two bay garage with workshop and garden studio (Listed building application), The Solar, 25 Apley Castle, Apley, Telford: no objection. 5. TWC/2015/1069 - erection of a two bay garage with workshop and garden studio, The Solar, 25 Apley Castle, Apley, Telford: no objection. 286/15 Permissions granted (for information only) None to report. 287/15 Applications/Appeals withdrawn (for information only) NOTED that the following application has been withdrawn: 1. TWC/2014/0228 appeal against a decision to refuse permission for erection of 4no. bungalows following demolition of Haybridge Hall flats (Additional Information Received), Site of Haybridge Hall Flats, Haybridge Road, Hadley, Telford. 3
4 APPENDIX A 288/15 WEST MERCIA POLICE REQUEST TO ALLOW USE OF CASTLE FARM COMMUNITY CENTRE TOILETS BY STREET DRINKERS The Council received a report and recommendations relating to a request from West Mercia Police to allow use of the toilet facilities at Castle Farm Community Centre by street drinkers. The request followed a meeting of the multi-agency team dealing with anti-social behaviour in the Hadley and Leegomery area. Concerns were expressed that the use of toilet facilities at Castle Farm Community Centre by street drinkers would present an unacceptable level of risk for users of the Community Centre, particularly user groups comprising vulnerable people such as the Council s Youth Zone project; would lead to street drinkers attempting to access the building outside normal opening hours or during private hire functions; would deter potential users from using the Community Centre; and that staffing levels at Castle Farm Community Centre were incompatible with the safe operation of such a scheme. RESOLVED that the Council will not permit the use of toilet facilities at Castle Farm Community Centre by street drinkers. (Cllr Thompson left the meeting at this point). FINANCIAL REPORT The Council received a report which included the bank reconciliation to 31 st October 2015. These are due to be checked by a Councillor week commencing the 7 th September 2015 and confirmation of this will be reported to the next meeting of the Council. 289/15 Expenditure for ratification RESOLVED that expenditure incurred on behalf of the council under the terms of Financial Regulation 4.1 as detailed below is ratified: 36.00 Campaign to Protect Rural England annual membership (s.143, LGA 1972) 289.18 Churches Fire Security Ltd., - service and replace fire extinguishers 16.99 C Henderson reimburse purchase of workware (s.214(6), LGA 1972) 28.27 Ultravend Hygiene Services CFCC cleaning supplies 156.00 S P Holding Services empty septic tank at cemetery 25.00 Hadley Rest Room donation from Chairman s Allowance (LGA 1972, ss15(5) and 34(5)) 200.00 Hadley Orpheus Male Voice Choir Christmas Concert 200.00 Apley Wood Primary School Christmas Concert 200.00 Millbrook Primary School Christmas Concert 50.00 Hadley Methodist Church Christmas Concert 25.00 Holy Trinity Church, Hadley Christmas Concert 290/15 Bank reconciliation RESOLVED that the bank reconciliation to 31 st October 2015 is noted. 291/15 Payments for approval Councillor J Smart had verified against invoices etc. the cheques to be drawn and payments to be made.
RESOLVED that: the drawing of cheques numbered 022670 to 022683, and payment of direct debits in favour of Neopost Ltd and TalkTalk Business, all payments totaling 5,384.76 and as detailed in approval lists submitted with the report is authorised; Councillors W McClements and J Smart, and the Clerk, are authorised to sign the relevant cheques and payment authorities. 292/15 MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, EVENTS, TRAINING ETC. Parish Council Christmas Concert 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 8 th December at Hadley Methodist Church. Parish Council Christmas parties for senior citizens Thursday 10 th and Friday 11 th December, 12 noon 3.00 p.m. at Hadley United Services Club 293/15 DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS RESOLVED that the dates of the following meetings are confirmed: Council 5 th January 2016 at 7.00 p.m. Parish Events Committee 12 th January 2016 at 11.00 a.m. Finance and General Purposes 19 th January 2016 at 7.00 p.m. The meeting closed at 8.40 p.m. Chairman, 5 th January 2016 5