Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council

on Wednesday 11 October 2023

 

Members

Councillor S Feely (Chair)

Cllr. K. Jones (Vice Chair)

                       

Councillor C Lovett*                                     Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones

Councillor N Davies                                      Councillor T Alan Edwards*             

Councillor Mrs S Williams*                           Councillor Mrs E Jones          

Councillor C Williams                                    Councillor A Lovett *                                        

Councillor T Williams                                     Cllr. J. Pettigrew

Cllr. J. Williams*                                              Cllr. N. Williams

Cllr. K. Robinson                                             Cllr. F Derbyshire*

 

 

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllrs. F. Derbyshire, A. Edwards, A. Lovett,  C. Lovett, J. Williams and S. Williams

All apologies were accepted.

  1. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST

There were no Declarations of Personal Interest.

  1. COMMUNITY AGENT

The Chair welcomed Mr. Ian Pope, Director of Operations at the Rainbow Centre, Penley and Ms. Jemma Eastwood, the newly appointed community agent for Broughton.

Mr Pope gave an introduction to the service and background into the Rainbow Centre, who had been commissioned to provide the service for a number of community areas. Ms. Eastwood then outlined her role and background.

A number of points were raised :

  • The model for this area was based on that operated in the south of the authority which had been in operation for a number of years.
  • The community agent is employed for 16 hours in Broughton and 16 hours in Brymbo, working Tuesday and Friday in Broughton and Wednesday and Thursday in Brymbo.
  • A consortia stakeholder meeting will be held every three months at the Rainbow Centre, Penley.
  • The service provided the facility to provide transport for clients in social isolation situations.
  • Active Futures – A twelve week physio led programme.
  • The need to work closely with the Housing Estate Office staff and Citizen’s Advice service, which is based at the Housing Estate Office on a Tuesday morning.
  • The Clerk informed Members that he had provided Ms. Eastwood with a key to the office at the Memorial Hall. It was suggested that it may also be possible to use the bowling pavilion for meetings, events etc.
  • It was agreed that the council be provided with a copy of the monitoring report which is prepared monthly.

Ms. Eastwood and Mr. Pope were thanked for their attendance.

  1. PCSO REPORT

The Clerk had circulated the report to Members prior to the meeting. It covered the period 1 September to 30 September 2023 inclusive.

  • Once again no PCSO was able to attend.
  • There were still no phone number details for PCSOs Lowri Jones and Stephen Howsom.
  • It appeared the incidents relating to anti-social behaviour were on the increase.
  • The details need to be broken down on a ward basis.
  • The PCSO service seems to operate more effectively in other parts of the authority.

It was agreed that the Clerk write to the Area Inspector to express the community council’s concerns.

  1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 13 SEPTEMBER 2023.

The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.

 

Matters Arising

 

Page 2 – Cemetery

Concern was again expressed about dogs entering the cemetery, which is contrary to council policy and the amount of dog fouling that occurs due to this.

It was agreed :

  • that Cemetery Working Group meet on Sunday 22 October 2023 at 11 am to look at this and other issues relation to the cemetery.
  • to leave a strip of grass along the right hand side of the new section of the cemetery, similar to the existing part of the cemetery.
  • that three more grass cuts be undertaken by the contractor. If any additional cuts were required in addition to this, approval by Council would be required.
  • Consideration be given as to future arrangements in terms of re-tendering the work should the original contractor be unable to resume his work.

 

Page 3 – Xmas Lighting

The Clerk informed Members that he had placed the order for the additional Xmas lamppost motifs, with an anticipated delivery date of 16 October.

It was agreed that the lights be switched on week commencing 13 November 2023 until week commencing 8 January 2024 from 7.30 am to 9am and 3.30 pm to 12.30 am.

 

Page 3 Pentre Broughton Bowling Club

The Clerk informed Members that the annual donation of £1500 agreed at the last meeting had been paid.

 

Page 4 – Remembrance Sunday

The Clerk informed Members that he had purchased 100 additional lamppost poppies.

He was also asked to purchase sufficient cable clips to erect the poppies.

 

Page 6 – Insurance Premium

The Clerk informed Members that the insurance premium had been paid.

  1. FINANCE

Summary of Payments Made and Income Received during July and August 2023

Members agreed the payments and income amounting to £ 10,554.04 and £ 20,961.21 respectively.

 

SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE  – 1 SEPTEMBER 2023 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

(Payments inc. VAT where Applicable)

Income –

Date Payee Method of Payment

 

 Amount

 
2 Sept 2023 Interest on Deposit Account 472.43
6 Sept 2023 HMRC CR 10,071.61
TOTAL                                                                                                                            10,554.04                                  

Expenditure

Date Payer Method of Payment

 

 Amount

£
8 Sept 2023 Mr Lee C Dunmer – Cemetery Grasscutting BACS 720.00
8 Sept 2023 AVOW – September Salaries BACS 3,561.84
14 Sept 2023 House of Flags – Flagpoles & Flags BACS 3,259.60
14 Sept 2023 Grosvenor garden Centre – Plants (Env Budget) Visa 137.94
15 Sept 2023 Mr Lee C Dunmer – Cemetery Grasscutting BACS 720.00
15 Sept 2023 Wrexham CBC – Office Rental  (2021.2022 & 2023) BACS 1,500.00
15 Sept 2023 Broughton Amateur Bowling Club – Donation BACS 1,500.00
17 Sept 2023 Mr Lee C Dunmer – Cemetery Grasscutting BACS 720.00
18 Sept 2023 SSE – August Energy Costs DD 1,375.59
18 Sept 2023 Zurich Insurance – Premium BACS 1,102.07
19 Sept 2023 The Poppy Shop( Royal British Legion) – Poppies & Wreaths Visa 289.98
25 Sept 2023 HSBC – Bank Charges CHG 5.40
25 Sept 2023 Lumalite – Xmas Lamppost Motifs BACS 5,803.20
25 Sept 2023 Zoom – Webcasting Subscription Visa 15.59
27 Sept 2023 The Poppy Shop( Royal British Legion) – Poppies Visa 250.00
TOTAL                                                                                                                         20,961.21

Bank Balances at 30 September 2023 :

Business Account : £ 203,683.44

Deposit Account : £ 114,030.91

Total : £ 317,714.35

Invoices for Authorisation

1 April 2023                 Wrexham Citizens Advice Bureaux

– Outreach Service Quarter 1                                                 £ 2,250.00

1 July 2023                  Wrexham Citizens Advice Bureaux

– Outreach Service Quarter 2                                                 £ 2,250.00

6 October 2023           Mega Electrical – Concrete Lamp Column

Replacement Programme                                                       £ 3,600.00

6 October 2023           Stephen Price Memorials -Removal of Pillar

to enable fitting of bench                                                            £ 72.00

9 October 2023           Southern Assessment Management –

Structural Lamp Column Testing                                            £ 4,500.00

10 October 2023         Mr. Lee Dunmer – Grasscutting 15th / 20th

September 30th September/ 1st October &

7th October  / 10th October.

Hedge Cutting 10 October                                                      £ 2,460.00

TOTAL                                                                                                                      £ 15,132.00       

Members approved the following invoices to be paid amounting to £ 15,132.00

  1. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Land at Lower Berse Farm, Bersham, Wrexham

A Member stated that he had attended a meeting  at Brickfield Football Club, at which there was strong opposition to the proposed development of 1520 properties.

It was agreed that the community council submit a response opposing the development. Members should submit any comments they have to the Clerk by Friday 13 October 2023, after which the Clerk would compose a coordinated response.

 

Replacement Dwelling at Parkview, Gatewen Road, New Broughton

Members had no objections to the application.

 

  1. CORRESPONDENCE

All items of correspondence had been dealt with under previous agenda items.

  1. MEMBER REPORTS
  • Concern about speeding cars near the New Broughton roundabout. Member felt that the creation of a raised island on the roundabout may assist in speed reduction.
  • A member of the public raised an issue relating to disabled access near the bowling green. This led to a discussion about the feasibility of  converting the nearby tennis courts to an artificial turf area.
  • An issue about the purchase of an area of land near the flats in New Broughton. It was pointed out that this was a county borough council issue.
  • The Clerk was requested to put councillor contact details on the four village notice boards. 

Signed  …………………………………… (Chair)

Date …………………………