Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council
Held at the Memorial Centre, Quarry Road, Brynteg
on Wednesday 12 February 2020
Members
Councillor A Humphreys (Chair)
*Councillor G Davies Councillor A Lovett
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
Councillor S. Roscoe
*Absent
101. AVOW PLAYSCHEMES
The Chair welcomed Officers from AVOW to discuss the above. AVOW currently run two playschemes, one at Coed Efa and one at Pentre Broughton. Clare Pugh from AVOW outlined what they currently provide. The Coed Efa session is run on a Monday, either from 4pm-6pm or 6 pm – 8pm, depending on the time of the year. The Pentre Broughton scheme is run on a Friday from 4pm to 6pm.
A total of 584 children had attended the Coed Efa Scheme, with 722 attending the Pentre Broughton scheme. The age range covered 5 to 14 year olds at Coed Efa, and up to 14 years of age at Pentre Broughton.
A Facebook Group had been created.
Some Members expressed concern that the local PCSO did not know that the schemes existed.
Agreed :
That the Schemes continue to be funded for 2020/21, on the condition that AVOW work closely with other such community council funded youth provision schemes in the area, particularly the Caia Park Partnership Scheme.
102. COMMUNITY POLICING / ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
The Clerk informed Members that Inspector Darren Whibberley had decided that police statistics would not be provided in the future. Members stated that this had been muted at the last Police Forum meeting but the vast majority of those present objected to the decision.
Members felt extremely disappointed by the decision, given that the Community Council were going out of their way to support the Police, given the sizeable investment in issues such as CCTV, speed signs etc.
Agreed :
That Inspector Wibberley and Sgt. Katie Davies be informed of the Council’s extreme disappointment at the decision and request that the statistics be reinstated. In addition, should this not be the case, and to compensate for the loss of the statistics, a PCSO be required to attend each meeting of the community council, with Sgt. Katie Davies to attend on a quarterly basis.
103. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs. F.Derbyshire, S.Hughes and S.Williams.
The Clerk informed Members that, under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, he was required to inform Members that Cllr. F. Derbyshire had not attended a meeting for six months, due to his work commitments.
Members felt, as precedents under similar circumstances had been set in the past, that there was no alternative but to declare a vacancy in the Gwenfro Ward. Members requested that the Clerk inform Mr. Derbyshire of the decision and to thank him for his services both to the council and the wider community.
Apologies were accepted from Cllrs. G. Davies. S. Hughes and S.Williams
104. DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST
There were no declarations of personal interest.
105. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15 JANUARY 2020 / MATTERS ARISING
Members accepted the minutes as a true and accurate record.
Page 1 – Website Design
A Member pointed out that there were a few spelling mistakes on the website. The Clerk stated that he would ask the web designer to check.
Page 2 – Lodge Community Centre
Keys had now been located and a set passed to WCBC.
Page 3- Planning Application 13 Moss Hill
A Member informed the Council that the application had been approved despite the Community Council’s objections.
Page 4 – LED Lighting
A Member was concerned that the replacement column at 42 Brynmally Park had still not been erected. The Clerk would again chase up the issue.
Page 4 – Speed Signs
There were still issues as to the location of a couple of the signs. The Clerk would meet the appropriate councillor(s) to discuss.
106. FINANCE
The following payments were ratified :
Expenditure
- Wrexham County Borough Council £ 500.00 Cheque No. 202001
(Annual Memorial Hall Office Rent)
- Wrexham Citizen’s Advice Bureau £ 2250.00 Cheque No. 202002
- Scottish Power £ 1751.29 Cheque No. 202003
( December Energy Bill)
- Wrexham County Borough Council £ 5902.94 Cheque No. 202004
(Play Area – Insp. & Maint.- Half Year Oct. 2019 to March 2020) - Wrexham County Borough Council £ 2042.40 Cheque No. 202005
(Bowling Green Maint. – Half Year Oct 2019 to March 2020)
- Information Commissioner £ 40.00 Cheque No. 202006
(Data Protection Registration)
- Ysgol Penrhyn PTA £ 500.00 Cheque No. 202007
- Wrexham Citizens Advice Bureaux £ 2250.00 Cheque No. 202008
(Quarter 3 Oct to Dec 2019)
- Wrexham County Borough Council £ 15303.49 Cheque No. 202009
(Maint., Inspection & Repairs April 2019 – December 2019) - Digital Issue £ 720.00 Cheque No. 202010
(Website Support- Jan to Dec 2020)
Income
No income had been received since the receipt of the January Bank Statement.
Annual Investment Strategy 2020/21 Report
The Clerk, in his role as Responsible Finance Officer, presented the report. He highlighted the fact that the total balances held by the Council had reduced, particularly in relation to the Revenue Account. There had been a slight increase , due to a small amount of interest, on the Business Account balance, which is seen as their reserve account.
The report also outlined the main issues facing the council.
Members approved the report and agreed the recommendations in the report.
107. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P/2020/0043 – Broncoed, Wrexham Road, Brynteg, Wrexham (Two Storey Side Extension)
Members had no objections to the application.
108. CAIA PARK PARTNERSHIP
Members fed back the discussions held on 30 January 2020 with Officers from the Caia Park Partnership. The main discussions had centred around a proposal for the Partnership to provide a weekly Youth Club at Brynteg Memorial Hall on a Thursday evening (at a cost of £12,600.24) and an agreed amount of detached youth work in the Broughton community on a Tuesday evening (at a cost of £9,399.24).
Members agreed the proposal, with any shortfall in terms of budget being met from balances.
The age range would be for 8 to 16 year olds. Caia Park Partnership to be informed that they would be required to work closely with AVOW who were providing two playschemes in the community.
109. CEMETERY
A site meeting was arranged for Tuesday 25 February at 10 am. It was agreed to await feedback from this meeting before any further discussions.
Members were informed that a tree had been damaged by high winds. The situation had been made safe.
110. SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS (SLA)
A draft SLA had been received from WCBC in relation to the inspection and maintenance of play equipment amounting to £10, 347.84 + VAT for the year 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.
A meeting had taken place with an Officer from WCBC, where this SLA and other issues had been discussed.
Members agreed the SLA at the above cost.
A similar SLA had been received in relation to the maintenance of the Street Lighting Council’s stock.
Members agreed to investigate alternative provision before making a final decision.
111. CORRESPONDENCE
(i) Request from Rev Will Marshall for a contribution towards the maintenance of St. Paul’s Churchyard. Agreed to donate £250.
(ii) Letter from FCC Environment advising a Liaison Meeting on 12 February. This clashed with the community council meeting – Noted.
(iii) Annual Renewal Notice for Annual Membership of the Society for Local Council Professionals at a cost of £161 – Agreed.
(iv)Letter from Little Hobbits Forest School Nursery requesting the lease of a small area of woodland – Noted.
(v)Letter from WCBC re. the Surrender of Lease following the demolition of New Broughton Community Centre. – Members requested that the Clerk ask for clarification regarding point vii “The Community Association will be responsible for any services, pipes (inc. sewer pipes), cables and other media serving the property”.
(vi) Letter from OWL Crime Watch asking for a donation to its continuation – Noted.
(vii)Request for a donation to Children’s Wales Air Ambulance Service – Agreed to donate £50.
(viii) Emails from Carla Hughes, WCBC, with a revised quote for fencing in the Skate Ramps at Solway Banks. It was agreed to obtain a quote from an alternative provider.
In addition an email detailing the costs of weed control at Southsea and Brynteg Play Areas. – Agreed to replace the bark at Brynteg at a cost of £3,151.68, and to trial four extra grass cuts per year at Southsea at a cost of £160.
(xi) Wales Audit Office Consultation Document regarding “Future Audit Arrangements for Community Councils in Wales”. The main proposal is to introduce a more in depth audit every three years. – Agreed that the Clerk respond on behalf of the Council.
(x) Email from M&J Services stating that work to start on the concrete hardstanding at Broughton Cemetery week commencing 24 February 2020 – Noted.
(xi) Request from North Wales Police for the community council to purchase a handheld speed camera –Agreed up to a cost of £120.
(xii) Copy of Renewal Certificate for ICO Registration- Noted.
(xiii) Updated quote from TWM for 8 Solar Powered Speed Signs – Agreed .
Please note that the decision to appoint TWM was taken at a previous meeting.
(xiv) Request to join Play for Wales – Noted.
(xv) Consultation Document “Review of Electoral Arrangements of the County of Wrexham Borough” – Noted.
Chair)…………………………………………………..
Date……………………………………………………..
