Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council Held at the Memorial Centre, Quarry Road, Brynteg
on Wednesday 13 February 2019
Members
Councillor G Davies (Chair)
Councillor A Humphreys (Vice Chair)
Councillor P Coops *Councillor Mrs S Kearns
Councillor Miss N Davies *Councillor Mrs L O’Donnell
Councillor F Derbyshire Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones
Councillor T Alan Edwards Councillor F Prince
*Councillor Mrs S Hughes Councillor Mrs B Roxburgh
Councillor D Jarvis *Councillor N Williams
Councillor Mrs E Jones Councillor Mrs S Williams
*Absent
The Chair welcomed Mr Keith Lea, who had recently been appointed as the new Clerk / Responsible Finance Officer, to his first meeting.
It had been highlighted that no rooms were available at the Memorial Centre for the March and May meetings. It was agreed that these meetings be held at Community House, Darby Road.
955. COMMUNITY POLICING / ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
There were no Police in attendance as they had had to respond to a major incident in the Broughton area. The statistics for January 2019 were circulated to Members.
Cllr Mrs S Williams expressed concern about anti-social behaviour to the rear of Community House. PCSOs would be attending the Community House event on the following Saturday morning.
She updated Members on progress with the consultation process being undertaken by the Caia Park Partnership. Mr A Watson, leading the project, would be holding meetings in the three primary schools in the area.
An email had been received from Police Inspector Owens, highlighting that there had been an overall reduction of 9 PCSOs, with only 2 being allocated to this community. There would also be flexible approach to this arrangement, dependent on need.
Cllr. B Parry Jones stated that, to her knowledge, there were only 24 Police Officers on duty across North Wales at any one time.
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956. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE / PERSONAL MATTERS
Apologies for absence were received from Mrs S Hughes, Mrs S Kearns, Mr N Williams and Mrs L O’Donnell.
957. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
None.
958. MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING
The minutes of the meeting of 9th January 2019 were confirmed as a true record. The Chair duly signed the minutes.
Matters Arising
Page 516 – New Broughton Community Centre.
Meetings had taken place with Mr M Howarth and Mrs D Garland from Wrexham County Borough Council regarding the handing back of New Broughton Community Centre which would lead to its demolition and clearance of the site.
Discussion took place regarding the adjacent changing rooms. There had been interest from one Club to play at the Recreation Ground, but some Members expressed concern that in the future, should this Club fail to meet its obligations, the Community Council could be left with a substantial bill in relation to the changing room.
Cllr Humphreys informed Members that monies may be available to enhance facilities. It was agreed that Wrexham County Borough Council be informed that the Community
Council would wish both the community centre and the changing rooms be demolished at no cost to the community council and the lease be returned to the Community Council.
The Clerk would inform Wrexham CBC of this decision.
Page 516 – Street Lighting
The Clerk updated councillors on a meeting held with Mr. Geoff Edwards, former Street
Lighting Engineer at Wrexham County Borough Council. It was suggested that a working group be set up, comprising of one councillor representing each of the four communities. It was agreed that the group comprise :
- Councillor F Derbyshire (Gwenfro)
- Councillor D Jarvis (New Broughton)
- Councillor D Parry-Jones (Bryn Cefn)
- Councillor P Coop (Brynteg)
Page 518 vi – Tree
It was agreed to take no further action on this matter.
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Page 518 vii – Cemetery Bench
The resident no longer wished to pursue this request
Page 518 ix – Bryn y Gaer Road Double Yellow Lines There was no further update on this issue.
959. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The following planning applications had been received and considered at the meeting :
P/2019/0017 – Application for Variation of Condition 1 imposed under Planning Permission
P/2014/0054 to allow additional time for commencement of development of first floor bedroom extension – 9 Longview Road, Pentre Broughton, Wrexham.
– Noted
P/019/0028 – Application for works to trees subject to Tree Preservation Order No. WCBC TPO 288 218
W4, whole belt (ash, oak ,birch, alder, willow) – crown lifting to allow 4 metres clearance from the buildings
W1, whole belt (sycamore, elm, ash, hawthorn, oak, goat willow, lime, cherry) – crown lifting to allow 4 metres clearance from the buildings.
– Trees at Ashfield Court, New Broughton, Wrexham
– No objection
P/2019/0089 – Outline Application for Residential Development (8 No. dwellings) and construction of new access, closure of existing access to Garden Centre and construction of new access point. – Ferndale Garden Centre, Berse Road, Caego, Wrexham
– Object based on access concerns
960. FINANCE
Various financial items were considered:
i- Members agreed that the following payments be ratified/approved:
(a)- WCBC-Bowling greens-2nd instalment – £2002-20-Cheque number 201908
(b)-WCBC-Play area repairs – £46-46-Cheque number 201909
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(c)-Wrexham CAB-4th instalment – £1875-00-Cheque number 201910
(d)-AVOW-Brynteg Playscheme-4th instalment – £1769-75-Cheque number 201911
(e)-AVOW-February pay – £1917-91-Cheque number 201912
(f)-AVOW-Pentre Broughton Playscheme-4th instalment : £ 1769-75
Playschemes underpayment £ 2009-58 – £3779-33-Cheque number 201913
(g)-Scottish Power-January – £1715-40-Cheque number 201914
Donations
The following requests had been received and were considered at the Meeting:
(a)-Southsea Church-agreed donation of £250
(b)-St.Paul’s Church-agreed donation of £250
(c )-Tenovus-agreed donation of £50
(d)-Carers Trust-agreed donation of £50
(e)-Family Friends-agreed donation of £50
(f)-Llangollen International Eisteddfod-noted
Mr Wilson Clerk reported that he had received a letter of thanks from the RBL for the donation from the sale of refreshments following the Remembrance Service.
ii- Budget Monitoring Report
Mr Wilson circulated the Report which showed the Council Financial Position up to 4th February and his projections to year end.
He went through the Report in detail answering various Members questions. Members thanked Mr Wilson for his Report which was agreed.
iii. Annual Investment
The Annual Strategy was circulated and Members agreed the Strategy.
Members agreed specific issues that would impact on Council balances-see Paragraph 3.3 recommendations.
A further update would be given with the Final Accounts Report
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iv- Contracts of Employment.
Following the Internal Auditors Report (2017/18) Members discussed a ‘draft’ Contract of Employment for the Clerk.
Members agreed to finalise this at the March Meeting so that it could be implemented from 1st April. Members also agreed to finalise a contract for the Cemetery Assistant at the same Meeting.
v-Community Activities
Members agreed to contribute £2500 to the above Fund for 2019/20.
vi- Cheque Signing
Members agreed to update the above procedure as part of the Clerk’s handover procedure
vii- Wales Audit Office
Mr Wilson reported that he was still awaiting the following:
a- the invoice for the 2018/19 Audit
b- copies of the Reports produced by WAO on Town & Community Councils
c- the Annual Return Forms and paperwork for the 2019/20 Audit
viii- Internal Audit.
Mr Wilson reported that he had received the Internal Audit Programme from JDH Business Services with their list of requirements.
They had asked for dates of when they could carry out their Audit and also the date of the June Council Meeting so that their audit could be completed by then and ‘signed off’ by the Council-to meet WAO timescales.
Mr Wilson has given them the dates of the May Council Meeting when the Accounts could be presented for Council approval for Internal Audit-subject to receipt of documents referred to under Item viii c above.
xi- A letter had been received from WCBC Play & Youth Support Team informing the Council that it would receive an amount of £3539-50 from the Welsh Government’s All Wales Play Opportunities
Members agreed to ‘invest’ this in play resources.
961. COMMUNITY PROJECTS
i- A Tea Dance to be arranged – Date to be confirmed
ii- A Race Night to take place on Friday 27 April 2019, at Brymbo Sports & Social Club. Race sponsors are being sought. As many councillors as possible are asked to attend.
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iii- Family Games Night to be held on 21 June 2019 at the Memorial Hall,
iv- Broughton Cemetery
Contract work at the cemetery is to restart shortly.
Despite enquiries it has not been possible to identify who caused the damage to the wall/plaque at the cemetery
Agreed – The Clerk to invite Paul Davies (Memorials) to quote for the repairs to the wall and plaque.
Concern was expressed at the lack of progress in completing the work on making headstones safe, given the length of time which has ensued and the fact that monies for the whole job was paid upfront.
Agreed – That the Clerk notify the contractor that, unless the outstanding work is completed by the end of March 2019, the community council will have to consider taking legal action to recover the monies.
v- Brynteg Bowling Club
Members were also updated on discussions that had taken place with Mr Howarth in relation to Brynteg Bowling Club. Whilst Wrexham CBC would continue to maintain the Pavilion the Club itself would have to meet energy and water costs.
Members were also informed that it would cost in the region of £10,000 to replace the one side of the Tennis Court fencing next to the Bowling Club. There could also come a time when the Council may have to remove the existing fence should it deteriorate further.
Grants may be available but any application would need to come from the Club itself.
vi- Brynteg Tennis Courts
Discussion also took place regarding alternative uses for the tennis court area. Cllr B
Parry-Jones asked whether MUGA could be installed, although the cost was likely to be in the region of £50,000. Others felt that this may not be the ideal location for a MUGA, whilst some felt that this amount of investment would be better served employing Youth Workers.
vii- Miners’ Wheel
Members were informed that only three, not four, sites were now being considered for this project. A consultation exercise is currently being undertaken to identify the best site.
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viii- Gwalia Place
At the meeting held to discuss the New Broughton Community Centre Mrs D Garland, Wrexham CBC, had stated that the land at Gwalia Place had not been designated as surplus land and if this turned out to be the preferred location for the Miners’
Wheel, approval would be required from the County Borough Council’s Executive Board.
962. CORRESPONDENCE
- Email from Wrexham County Borough Council reminding the community council that any signage must be bi-lingual.
- A community transport event to be held on 29March 2019 at Plas
- Email from Councillor Sandra Williams reminding councillors of the Open Day at Community’s House on Saturday 16 February 2019.
963. MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS /ANY OTHER BUSINESS
i- Former Stables Site, B5101 Southsea
A councillor expressed concern that a brick bungalow was being built without the appropriate planning permission.
Agreed – That the issue be raised with the appropriate county Borough Council and that a letter be sent to the head of Planning, copied to the Chief Executive, requesting that the appropriate enforcement action be undertaken.
ii- Long Lane Site
Members expressed concern over Health and Safety concerns, given the state of this site
