Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council

on Wednesday 12 November 2025

 

Members

Cllr. F. Derbyshire (Chair)

Cllr. J Pettigrew (Vice Chair)

Councillor C Lovett*                      Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones*

Councillor S. Evans-Turner          Councillor T Alan Edwards

Councillor Mrs S Williams MBE   Councillor Mrs E Jones*.

Councillor C Williams                   Councillor A Lovett *

Cllr. J. Williams                              Cllr. N. Williams

Cllr. S. Feely                                   Cllr A Hughes

*Absent

 

  1. MINUTES SILENCE FOR CLLR. S. WILLIAMS MBE

A minutes silence was held for Cllr. S. Williams MBE who had sadly recently passed away.

 

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllrs. B,. Parry-Jones, E. Jones. A. Lovett, and C. Lovett. All apologies were accepted.

  1. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST

None.

  1. PCSO REPORT

The report had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting. Members felt that the report lacked any meaningful information and omissions of incidents which Members were themselves aware of.

The Clerk would make enquiries with other community councils to ascertain their experiences.

It was agreed that the PCSO Report would continue to be circulated to Members for information but would not in future appear as an agenda item.

 

  1. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 8 OCTOBER 2025

The minutes of the meeting were accepted as a true and accurate record other than the fact that Cllr. S. Turner-Evans was in attendance, not N. Davies.

The Clerk apologised and stated that he would correct the minutes.

Matters Arising

Page 2 – Bus Shelter, High Street, Pentre Broughton

The Clerk informed Members that the bus shelter was due to be installed on 3 December 2025.

Page 2 – Replacement Speed Sign

The Clerk informed Members that he had received a quote of £135 to investigate the current issues. However the repair costs, if that is possible, would be in addition to

this cost. The community council would also be responsible for the cost of sending them to the company.

Members agreed not to take up this option at this stage.

Cemetery

The Clerk had received a quote of £700 for cutting the hedges at Brynteg Memorial Park. The quote was accepted.

In addition Members accepted a quote of £695 plus VAT from Blue Ribbon Solutions (Landscapers That Care) to cut the hedges  and edge the paths at the cemetery.

Page 4 – Remembrance Sunday

Mrs. Barbara Jones had offered to lead on organising next year’s event.

Members accepted the offer and agreed to work closely with her.

In addition it was felt that it would be helpful if the order of wreath laying was announced.

Page 4 – Xmas Lights

The Clerk informed Members that the lights were due to be switched on 24 November 2025.

Members agreed that they be switched on a week or so earlier next year, but giving enough time for Remembrance poppies to be taken down.

Page 5 – Miner’s Statue, Southsea

Confirmation that the miner’s statue was now in place, with another one to be erected in Pentre Broughton.

 

  1. FINANCE

Members agreed payments amounting to £12,279.59.                                                             

A Member suggested that a review of cemetery fees needs to be undertaken to increase income.

 

SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE  – OCTOBER 2025

(Payments inc. VAT where Applicable)

Income –  Nil

Expenditure

Date Payer Method of Payment

 

Amount

£

7 Oct 2025 SP Cable Ties -cables ties for poppies Visa 150.40
9 Oct 2025 Hafren Dyfrwdy – Half year cemetery water charges BACS 168.58
9 Oct 2025 Wrexham CBC – Cemetery Trade Refuse – Oct 2025 – March 2026 BACS 907.50
9 Oct 2025 Digital Issue BACs 810.00
9 Oct 202 Aaron Badrock (Landscapers That Care) – Cemetery Grasscutting, 2 cuts BACS 2028.00
9 Oct 2025 Broughton District History Society (Donation) BACS 1000.00
14 Oct 2025 AVOW- October Salaries BACS 2895.68
15 Oct 2025 Flagpole Express – Replacement Flags for Flagpoles Visa 108.54
17 Oct 2025 Flag Shop Ltd.- Replacement Royal British Legion Flag for Flagpoles Visa 25.95
20 Oct 2025 B & Q – Plants – Env. Budget Visa 314.59
20 Oct 2025 B & Q – Compost, Baskets & Plants – Env. Budget Visa 79.00
21 Oct 2025 * Roberts Bros, Funeral Directors – Funeral Wreath BACS 70.00
21 Oct 2025 Bryn Alyn School – Donation BACS 1000.00
23 Oct 2025 Screwfix – Cable Ties BACS 4.39
23 Oct  2025 Poppy Shop – 2 poppy wreath  + £20 donation Visa 69.98
29 Oct 2025 SSE – August Energy Bill DD 1038.20
30 Oct 2025 Grosvenor Garden Centre – Plants – Env. Budget Visa 64.00
30 Oct 2025 SSE – September Energy Bill DD 1216.22
30 Oct 2025 B & Q – Plants – Env. Budget Visa 30.00
31 Oct 2025 R&R Engineering – Miner Statue BACS 298.56
TOTAL                                                                                                                                 12,279.59                                                                     

* This payment was authorised by the Chair and Vice Chair under delegated powers.

 

Bank Balances at 31 October 2025 :

Business Account : £ 136,054.73

Deposit Account :    £ 118,417.13

Total :                        £ 254,471.86

Members also authorised payments to be made amounting to £4,389.13

INVOICES FOR AUTHORISATION

NOVEMBER MEETING

(Copies Available for Inspection)

 

1 Oct 1025                Citizens Advice Outreach Service – Qtr. 3          £ 2250.00

30 Sept 2025            Mega Electrical – Faults April to Sept 2025         £ 1659.13

14 Oct 2025              Mega Electrical – Speed Sign Installation           £   480.00

 

TOTAL                                                                                                   £ 4,389.13

 

  1. CONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYING A HANDYPERSON

Members were informed that a meeting had been held on 4 November 2025 to consider this proposal.

At the meeting on 4 November it was proposed :

  • That, given the need to put an infrastructure in place, that the current grasscutting contractor be employed for the 2026 grasscutting season.
  • That a handyperson be employed from October 2026 on a contract of 15 hours per week, made up of 20 hours from April to September and 10 hours for the winter months from October to March.
  • That a budget be established as part of the precept for 2026/27 to fund the salaries, equipment, a vehicle, a storage facility, training etc.
  • That a working group be established to take the project forward.

Members agreed the proposal.

  1. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

None.

  1. CORRESPONDENCE
  • A thank you from Broughton History Group for the donation of £1,000.
  • An email from Gareth Newton, claiming that the solar powered street lighting column interfered with his access to a piece of land he owns.

Members rejected the claim.

  • A request from Wales Air Ambulance Service for a donation – It was agreed to donate £500.
  • Email from Tom Lawson giving details of a Community Speedwatch scheme – It was agreed to note this for the time being.
  • Email from St Paul’s Church Council requesting a donation towards the cost of refreshments at the Xmas Carol Service – It was agreed to donate £50.
  • Email from MS Wrexham CIC requesting a donation –
  • Annual Report from Nightingale House –It was agreed to donate £500.

 

  1. MEMBER REPORTS
  • Members agreed that the cost of Xmas trees, lights ,decorations, batteries etc be met from Environmental Budgets.
  • Members were still unclear where Section 106 monies from the two housing developments in New Broughton was being spent.

Members requested the Clerk to contact the Head of Planning for clarification.

  • The Clerk would make enquiries about potential flagpole maintenance contractors.
  • A Xmas Concert at Southsea Church had been arranged for 20 December 2025 – It was agreed to authorise a budget of up to £200 for refreshments.
  • The potential of installing a lighting column at the top of School Lane, Southsea to assist with the safety of children and parents to and from school. – The Clerk was requested to contact the community council’s street lighting contractor to ascertain if there is an electrical supply. If not , perhaps a solar or turbine column could be installed ?
  • A streetlight is not working outside the bungalows on Berse Road, New Broughton.
  • Concern about a number of caravans appearing on the Stryt y Bydden site in New Broughton. Members were told that an enforcement meeting was to take place with the site owners.
  • A member of the public had concerns that a strip of land along the fence at the cemetery was not being maintained properly. It was thought that perhaps weedkiller could be used. 

 

Signed  …………………………………… (Chair)

 

Date …………………………