Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council
Held at the Brynteg Memorial Hall on Wednesday 9 February 2022
Members
Councillor N Williams (Chair)
Councillor A Lovett (Vice Chair)
Councillor A Humphreys Cllr N Davies
Councillor G Davies Councillor L O’Donnell
Councillor B Parry-Jones Councillor F Prince
Councillor T Alan Edwards Councillor S Williams
*Councillor B Roxburgh *Councillor S Feely
Councillor D Jarvis Councillor C Williams
Councillor E Jones Councillor C Lovett
*Absent
72. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE / PERSONAL MATTERS
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. B. Roxburgh and S. Feely.
Both apologies were accepted.
,
73. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
There were no Declarations of Personal Interest.
74. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 12 JANUARY 2022
The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.
Matters Arising
Page 1 -Defibrillators
The defibrillators had been delivered to Black Lane and Ysgol Penrhyn Schools.
Page 1 -_Gwalia Place
A reply had been received from Wrexham Council in relation to the issue of the car park being unadopted. However no response had been received in terms of the other issues raised.
Page 2 – Street Lighting – New Road, Lodge.
The Clerk had spoken to Mega Electrical, the Community Council’s street lighting contractor. They suggested that the cost of a basic solar light would be approximately £1300 per column but could not guarantee that, in the proposed locations, they would work effectively.
Mega stated that there where more powerful solar /wind powered lamps, but these would cost approximately £2,500 per column, again with no guarantee that they would work effectively.
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The other option was mains powered ones which could cost in total approximately £10,000 to £15,000, dependent upon how many columns were required.
The Clerk had contacted Brymbo Community Council to ask whether they would share the cost. It was due to be discussed at its March 2022 meeting.
Members were also reminded that other requests for additional lighting had previously been received, in particular Gatewen Road and Coed Efa.
Page 2 – Speed Signs
The Clerk expressed concern that, despite placing the order before Xmas, he had heard nothing back from the agreed supplier.
It was agreed therefore to cancel the order and ask for a quote from TWM, who had supplied the previous ones.
The Clerk pointed out that the quote from TWM was likely to be higher that that of the agreed supplier.
Page 3- New Broughton Recreation Ground
Concerns were expressed that it appeared discussions were taking place between Wrexham Council and Coedpoeth Football Club regarding a Lease Agreement for the use of the pitch, without any involvement with the community council, who own the land.
Concerns were expressed about what would happen in relation to the maintenance of the land surrounding the pitch. Some Members also thought that the whole site should be retained by the community council as a community facility.
It was agreed to invite the Chairman of Coedpoeth Football Club to the next meeting.
Page 3 – Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations
Members generally felt that there was public apathy surrounding the event. Instead of organising one large event it may be better to financially support smaller events across the community or through the three primary schools.
It was agreed to organise a Zoom meeting to discuss options in more detail.
75. CRIME STATISTICS
The Clerk had circulated details by email prior to the meeting.
Members considered the report and made the following additional points :
• Concern that it only appeared to cover the Gwenfro and New Broughton wards.
• Parking enforcement had taken place outside local schools and penalty notices issued.
• The Police need to advertise in advance where and when they are holding community meetings.
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76. YOUTH PROVISION
Concern was expressed at the February 2022 meeting that no youth provision had taken place in the past couple of years, mainly due to Covid.
Officers from Wrexham Council had sent out a meeting request to two of the County Borough Members and the Clerk. However it was felt that all members of the Working Group should be involved in such meetings. The Clerk would inform the WCBC Officers of this.
It was agreed to organise a Zoom meeting of the Working Group prior to meeting the WCBC Officers.
77. CEMETERY CONSECRATION
The Clerk updated Members on progress to date. He had purchased a copy of the deeds, with the approval of the Chair, in order to avoid delays.
It was agreed to hold a Zoom meeting once more detailed arrangements became clearer.
It was further agreed that the Clerk investigate the possibility of obtaining copies of the deeds and plans for other areas of land owned by the community council, in particular New Broughton Recreation Ground and Brynteg Memorial Hall site.
Members commented that dog fouling was still occurring at the cemetery, despite the community council having a policy of banning dogs, other than guide dogs.
On a more positive note there had been a number of compliments about the quality of the cemetery.
It was agreed that a site meeting of the Cemetery Working Group be held in the near future.
78. FINANCE
Summary of Payments and Income for January 2022
The Clerk had provided Members with a list of payments made and income received.
Members agreed the details.
In addition a list of outstanding invoices was provided, with copies of the invoices available for Members to scrutinise.
Members authorised the Clerk to process the payments.
Financial Controls Report
The Clerk had provided Members with a copy of the report as part of the agenda papers. He stated that the main purpose of the report was to inform Members of the controls in place to manage the financial business of the community council. In addition, the report reflected changes made to the previous reports regarding the Community Council’s financial regulations and standing orders.
Members agreed the contents of the report.
Risk Assessment Report
The Clerk had provided Members with a copy of the report as part of the agenda papers. He stated that the main purpose of the report was to inform Members of the arrangements in place to mitigate the main risks to the community council.
Members agreed the contents of the report
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79. CORRESPONDENCE
(i) An email from Carla Hughes, WCBC, informing the Community Council that grants may be available to enhance local diversity, wildflower planting etc.
Members felt that the rough area at the cemetery may benefit from such a grant.
The Clerk would contact the Officer in terms of this.
(ii) A request from Family and Friends for a donation – Noted.
(iii) An email from Wales Audit stating that there was a large backlog in terms of completing audits for the previous two years – Noted.
(iv) A request for a donation from LNWCS for a donation- Noted.
(v) An email from Rev. Marshall thanking the community council for its generous donation.
(vi) An email from the Royal British Legion thanking the community council for its generous donation.
(vii) An email from Mega Electrical enclosing the Service level Agreement (SLA) details for 2022-23. The Clerk informed Members that it appeared that there had been an inflation increase of approximately 1.8%.
Members agreed the SLA and asked the Clerk to inform Mega Electrical.
(viii) An email from Paul Rogers, WCBC Officer, informing the Community Council that, on 25 January 2022, a car had collided with a lamp column outside No. 27 School Lane. Wrexham Council had undertaken emergency repairs in removing the column and making the electrical connection safe. The community council would be billed for this work in due course.
The Officer was able to supply the registration number of the car and make.
Subsequently the Clerk was able to ascertain the name and address of the driver involved.
It was agreed to replace the column.
In addition the Clerk was asked to write to the driver, informing him that the Community Council would be pursuing him for any costs involved and advising him to notify his insurance company.
(ix) A request from the Children’s Wales Ambulance Service for a donation – Noted.
(x) A request from Offa Community Council for a donation to erect a memorial to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (RWF).
Given the RWF’s historical connections with Wrexham it was agreed to donate £1000, an amount some other community councils had also donated.
80. MEMBER REPORTS
(i) The Chair informed Members that a Twitter page had now been set up.
(ii)Concern was expressed that it was proving difficult to post on the community council’s Facebook page and that perhaps a new page needed to be developed.
Signed ………………………………..
Date …………………………………….
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