Minutes of the Zoom Meeting of Broughton Community Council
on Wednesday 10 March 2021
Members
Councillor A Humphreys (Chair)
Councillor Miss N Davies (Vice Chair)
Councillor G Davies Councillor Mrs L O’Donnell*
Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones Councillor F Prince
Councillor T Alan Edwards* Councillor N Williams
Councillor Mrs B Roxburgh* Councillor Mrs S Williams
Councillor D Jarvis* Councillor A Lovett
Councillor Mrs E Jones Councillor S Feely
Councillor C Williams
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from , B Roxburgh, D Jarvis, L. O’Donnell and A . Edwards.
The apologies were accepted.
- DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
There were no declarations of personal interest.
- MINUTES OF MEETING 10 FEBRUARY 2021
The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.
Matters arising :
(i) The Clerk informed Members that the Council had now subscribed to Zoom on a month by month contract.
(ii) A new PCSO was now in post and was keen to use Community House as his base.
(iii) The Clerk had passed on Members’ comments to WCBC Planning Department re the 31-37 Coed Efa planning application.
(iv) Broughton Heights Play Area – The site meeting had not yet taken place. It was agreed to rearrange the meeting and hold an additional council meeting to make a decision as to which option to agree.
(v) The Clerk informed Members that the annual subscription to the Society of Local Council Clerks had been renewed.
(vi) Cemetery – The Clerk informed Members that a second quote had been received for the removal of the tree stumps at Broughton Cemetery at a cost of £360. Members accepted this quote for the work to be undertaken.
Members also agreed to the planting of additional privet hedging at the cemetery. It was agreed that the Clerk would ask the cemetery contractor to progress this.
A quote had previously been received of £6,000 for the construction of a concrete hardstanding and walled area for use as a spoil heap. This quote was felt to be excessive, so the Clerk was asked to get a second quote.
The Clerk reminded Members that the pillar and plaque at the entrance to the cemetery still needed repairing. It was agreed to defer this until the work on the hardstanding was completed.
(vii) The Clerk informed Members that an order for seven planters had been placed with TDP Ltd., to be funded from the Brynteg Ward’s Environmental Budget. It was further agreed to order six identical planters for the Bryn Cefn Ward, again to be funded from that ward’s Environmental Budget.
- FINANCE
The Clerk presented details of income and expenditure for February 2021. Members agreed the details.
Financial Regulations
The Clerk presented a revised set of financial regulations. He reminded Members that the Council’s auditor had recommended that the Council consider the adoption of the “One Voice Wales Framework for Financial Regulations”.
However, at its meeting on 10 February 2021, Council felt that, whilst elements of the framework were useful, much of the detail was unnecessary for a community council of this size.
Members considered the revised regulations. One Member did query whether there needed to be more detail about decision making in relation to the Ward Environmental Budgets. The Clerk advised that this detail was probably more relevant to the Council’s Standing Orders. He would bring a revised version to the next meeting.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Three planning applications had been received :
- 15 Mosswood Court, New Broughton
- 6 Berse Gardens, Caego
- The Stables, Gatewen Hall, New Broughton
Members had no issues with any of them.
- CEMETERY FEES – 2021/22
The Clerk had sent out, as part of the agenda papers, a table detailing the fees being charged by other local community councils, local authorities and the Church of Wales.
Members reflected on the difficult problems residents had faced over the past year. However, it was felt that this had to be balanced against the need to produce sufficient income to maintain and invest in the cemetery.
In addition, Members were informed that some neighbouring cemeteries were full or not accepting non-residents for burial and that residents were also contributing to the cost of the cemetery through the precept, whereas non-residents were not.
re agreed not to increase fees for residents. It was also agreed not to increase the cost of headstone erection.
The following fees were therefore Agreed for 2021/22 :
Resident’s Burials £ 400
Non Resident Burials £ 1,500
Resident Burial of Cremated Remains £ 200
Non Resident Burial of Cremated Burial £ 600
Headstone Erection (Residents and Non Residents) £ 150
- CORRESPONDENCE
(i) A letter had been received from Broughton District History Group, detailing work they had, or would be, undertaking. Members were full of praise for work of the Group, particularly in relation to a number of publications and the work in recording details and memories of local residents , which could have been lost.
It was agreed, therefore, to award a grant of £1000.
A Member suggested that the Council needed some form of grant criteria when considering grants. The Clerk promised to look into it.
(ii) The Clerk had taken part in a Zoom meeting with other community councils and representatives of Mega Electrical, the appointed contractor for these councils. A Schedule of Rates was presented for the year 2021/22.
Members agreed to the rates.
(iii) The Clerk informed Members that the annual subscription for Microsoft Office and McAfee Virus security would be due shortly.
Members agreed to the renewal of both.
(iv) The Clerk had contacted Wrexham CBC regarding the compromise offer in relation to the office accommodation. However, the reply intimated that Wrexham CBC would draw up a formal agreement for future years which would include charging the community council for meetings.
Members wished to remind Wrexham CBC that the reason an informal arrangement had existed was because they had never charged Wrexham CBC ground rent for the Memorial Hall, situated on community council land.
The Clerk would respond accordingly.
- ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(i) A Member reminded other councillors that a Covid Remembrance Day was to take place on 23 March, with some buildings being lit up in yellow.
The Clerk agreed to make enquiries as to whether and how the community council could light up the War Memorial gates.
(ii) Problems were again being encountered in relation to drainage issues at Southsea Play Area. A Member stated that he had requested the gullies be cleaned again.
(iii) Concern was expressed that parking on pavements, particularly at Holborn Crescent, was a danger. It was to be reported to WCBC’s Enforcement Team.
(iv) The site in Southsea which housed caravans was again contravening its planning conditions. Wrexham CBC are aware of the issue.
(v) A Member had undertaken research into the purchase and location of defibrillators.
It was agreed that the Working Group established at the last meeting meet to discuss in more detail.
(vi) It was reported that the zebra crossing beacon at Windsor Road, New Broughton had not been working for some considerable time. It had been reported.
(vii) It was reported that a feasibility study of future usage of the Lodge Community Centre was planned.
It was agreed to discuss it further once more detail was known.
Signed …………………………………… (Chair)
Date ……………………………………………….
Minutes of the Zoom Meeting of Broughton Community Council
on Wednesday 17 March 2021
Members
Councillor A Humphreys (Chair)
Councillor Miss N Davies (Vice Chair)
Councillor G Davies * Councillor Mrs L O’Donnell*
Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones Councillor F Prince *
Councillor T Alan Edwards* Councillor N Williams*
Councillor Mrs B Roxburgh* Councillor Mrs S Williams
Councillor D Jarvis* Councillor A Lovett*
Councillor Mrs E Jones Councillor S Feely
Councillor C Williams
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from , B Roxburgh, D Jarvis, L. O’Donnell, F Prince, A . Edwards, G. Davies, N Williams and A Lovett. The apologies were accepted.
- DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
There were no declarations of personal interest.
- BROUGHTON HEIGHTS PLAY AREA
The Clerk informed Members that a site visit with a small number of Members, socially distanced, had taken place to look at the site firsthand. Members were now reassured by both the size of the site and the capacity to extend the site at a later date, if funding was available.
Whilst there would be fencing alongside the play area, there was concern that there was no fence alongside a busy road. The Clerk informed Members that he had spoken to the Wrexham CBC Officer, but she had stated that this issue was a Highways one and therefore outside the scope of this project.
Having considered the two quotes Members unanimously agreed to the HAGS option.
- COVID REMEMBRANCE DAY – 23 MARCH 2021
A number of options were considered to commemorate this day :
- Tree planting
- Yellow lighting
- Yellow ribbon on lampposts
Given the short notice it was agreed that tying yellow ribbon on lampposts in the four wards was the most appropriate course of action.
The Clerk would purchase the appropriate ribbon.
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- DEFIBRILLATOR WORKING GROUP
It was agreed that the Defibrillator Working Group would hold a Zoom meeting on Thursday 27 March 2021.
Signed …………………………………… (Chair)
Date ……………………………………………….
