Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council
Held at the Memorial Centre, Quarry Road, Brynteg
on Wednesday 11 March 2020
Members
Councillor A Humphreys (Chair)
Councillor G Davies *Councillor A Lovett
Councillor Miss N Davies Councillor Mrs L O’Donnell
Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones *Councillor F Prince
Councillor T Alan Edwards Councillor Mrs B Roxburgh
*Councillor Mrs S Hughes Councillor N Williams
Councillor D Jarvis *Councillor Mrs S Williams
Councillor Mrs E Jones
Councillor S. Feely
*Absent
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs. S.Hughes, F.Prince, A.Lovett and S.Williams . They were accepted by the Members present.
- DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
There were no declarations of personal interest.
- MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 12 FEBRUARY 2020 /MATTERS ARISING
Members accepted the minutes as a true and accurate record, other than the fact one Member stated that it had been agreed to discuss the issue of VE Day commemorative mugs at the next meeting. The Chair agreed that this would be discussed under Any Other Business.
Page 1 – AVOW Playschemes
The Clerk stated that he had been in contact with AVOW to confirm the Council’s commitment to continue the schemes in 2020/21.
Page 1 – Community Policing /Anti-Social Behaviour
Members continued to express concern about the withdrawal of police statistics. The WCBC
Lead Member had agreed to take up the issue on behalf of the community council.
Page 2 – Apologies for Absence
The Clerk informed Members that he had posted the required notice in relation to the vacancy.
Page 2 -Lodge Community Centre
A Member stated that a local resident had queried whether the community centre was actually owned by WCBC. There was also a lack of clarity as to WCBC’s long term intentions about the centre. The Clerk would contact them for an update.
It was also agreed to reimburse Cllr. Beverley Parry- Jones a sum of £13 for duplicate keys purchased for Lodge Community Centre, subject to appropriate receipts being produced.
Page2 – Speed Signs
The Clerk informed Members that he had contacted Darren Green, WCBC, re. the installation of the speed signs on WCBC lamp columns, but had not yet received a reply.
The Clerk would again email the Officer concerned, copied to Cllr. Nigel Williams.
- FINANCE
The following payments were ratified :
(i) Expenditure
- Wales Audit Office £ 310.75 Cheque No. 202011
(Memorial Office Rent)
- AVOW £ 1346.13 Cheque No. 202012
(February Pay)
- Scottish Power £ 1746.52 Cheque No. 202013
(Jan. Energy Bill)
- St. Pauls Church £ 250.00 Cheque No. 202014
(Donation towards upkeep)
5 SLCC £ 161.00 Cheque No. 202015
(Annual Subscription 2020/21)
- Children’s Wales Air Ambulance £ 50.00 Cheque No. 202016
(Data Protection Registration)
- Allan Lloyd £ 325.00 Cheque No. 202017
(Dealing with Fallen Tree at Cemetery)
- AVOW £ 1346.13 Cheque No. 202018
(March Pay)
- Dragon Fire Computing £ 999.40 Cheque No. 202019
(CCTV at Community House /Darby Road)
Income
No income had been received since the receipt of the January 2020 Bank Statement.
(ii) Clerk’s Expenses
Members agreed the Clerk’s expenses as per list attached to the agenda.
(iii) Risk Assessment Report 2020/21
The Clerk outlined the main points of the above report. In particular he highlighted para 2.12 which highlighted that the Council had applied for a loan to update its lighting stock to LED. However, at the present time, no monies had been received and therefore no repayments had been made.
In addition, he referred Members to the Investment Strategy Report, submitted to the February 2020 meeting, which had highlighted the potential service based risks.
Members agreed the recommendations highlighted in Section 6 of the report.
(iv)Appointment of Auditor
It was agreed to appoint JDH Business Services as the Council’s auditor for the audit of the 2019/20 accounts.
(v) Staff Pay Review
The Clerk reminded Members that they had agreed to undertake an annual review of staff salaries. Members agreed to increase the Cemetery Assistants salary from £200 per month to £220 per month gross.
At this stage the Clerk left the meeting.
Members had carried out a review of comparative salaries with other neighbouring community councils , with similar budgets and services.
It was agreed therefore that the Clerk’s salary should be increased to NJC Play Scale Band LC2 at New Spinal Point 26 (£15.40 per hour gross, pay award pending).
It was also agreed that a review of Staff salaries be undertaken by the Chair and two councillors each February.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The Clerk confirmed no applications had been received.
- FEEDBACK FROM THE CEMETERY WORKING GROUP
(i) The Clerk stated that he had contacted the contractor who had been working on the cemetery project. Members were extremely disappointed with the attitude of the contractor, both in relation to the lack of progress with the concrete spoil area and his denial of responsibility for the cracks that had appeared in the concrete walkways.
It was agreed to suspend further work until such time that an independent assessment could be undertaken.
(ii) Following the incident where a tree had come down in the cemetery Members were concerned that more extensive damage could occur in the future. A quote to cut down the tall conifers at the entrance to the cemetery had been received, one was were the trees would be removed from site, a cheaper one where the chippings would be scattered in an area of the cemetery.
Members agreed to the lower priced option.
(iii) Cemetery Fees
Members had received a comparison of cemetery fees with other neighbouring councils and churches. Members were concerned that, with Broughton’s fees being relatively low compared to many others and many other cemeteries reaching capacity, the demand for plots would grow.
The following fees were therefore agreed for the year 2020/21 :
- Resident’s Burials £ 400
- Non-residents Burials £ 1000
- Resident’s Cremations £ 200
- Non-resident’s Cremations £ 400
- Headstone Erection £ 150
- FEEDBACK FROM STREET LIGHTING WORKING GROUP
The Clerk reminded Members that they had not yet made a decision on the Street Lighting
Maintenance arrangements for 2020/21. The Street Lighting Working Group had met to evaluate the options. It would appear that, by joining a local community council consortium, financial savings could be made with no impact on service quality and timescales and potentially give the Council greater control.
Members agreed not to renew the Community Council’s existing contract with WCBC and to join the consortia, the contractor being Mega Electrical. The Clerk would inform WCBC and arrange the contract with Mega Electrical.
- CORRESPONDENCE
(i) Letter from the former New Broughton Bowling Club, now based at the Brymbo Sports and Social Club, since the closure of New Broughton Community Centre. Given that many of the club members resided in Broughton it was agreed to grant a donation of £50.
(ii) Letter from HM Customs and Excise re. changes to Employment Allowance – Noted.
(iii) Email from Sgt. Katie Davies, NW Police, confirming that the handheld speed camera, the purchase of which was agreed previously, would be held at Coedpoeth Police Station. The Clerk pointed that there was a problem in purchasing the camera from Amazon, as all council payments were currently paid by cheque, which Amazon didn’t accept . It was agreed that the Clerk speak to Sgt. Katie Davies again.
(iv) Email from Keep Wales Tidy offering free flowering packages. It was agreed the Clerk follow this up with the packages being used at the cemetery.
(v) A quote from Wrought Iron Design for caging the Skate Park equipment at Solway Bank. Given that all quotes received appeared high and with anti-social behaviour incidents reducing since the installation of CCTV, it was agreed to defer any decision on the work for 12 months.
(vi) Email from Inspector Whibberley, with his response to the Council’s concerns about the withdrawal of crime statistics. This issue had been discussed earlier in the meeting.
(vii) A thank you letter from Minera Community Council on allowing them to have the four concrete seat stations – Noted.
(viii) Email from Netty Hewitson, WCBC, regarding the potential appointment of a community agent. It was agreed to invite her to a future meeting.
(ix) Email from Carla Hughes, WCBC, on the replacement of an item of play equipment at Gatewen Road Play Area, the cost of which would be met from Section 106 monies i.e. no cost to the community council. It was agreed to install the “Penguin” see saw.
(x) Email from Paul Rogers, WCBC, re. replacement lamp column at 42 Brynmally Park, Pentre Broughton. Concern was expressed about the impact it may have of the width of the pavement. However, Members agreed to request WCBC to replace it.
(xi) Email from the Cemetery Contractor. This had been discussed earlier on the agenda.
(xii) Letter from the daughters of Mrs. Katherine Bronwen Jones (deceased) requesting the installation of a bench at Broughton Cemetery in her memory.
Members agreed to the request on the provisos that it is at no cost to the community council, is of a quality similar to those already installed and is maintained by the family. The Clerk would notify the family of the decision.
(xiii) Request from Llangollen 2020 Eisteddfod for financial assistance – Noted.
(xiv) Thanks, you letters from Black Lane School Council and Ysgol Penrhyn PTA for the donations made to them.
(xv) Letter from Nightingale House Hospice thanking the Council for its ongoing support.
(xvi)Letter from Darren Williams, Chief Officer, Environment & Technical, WCBC, highlighting the potential options to combat weed growth and/or safety at the Brynteg and Southsea play areas. Members had previously agreed to top up the bark at Brynteg. They further agreed to install matting and turf at Southsea Play Area at a cost of £2,463.25 plus VAT.
- ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(i) Concerns were expressed about the potholes in Chapel Road, New Broughton. It had already been reported on a couple of occasions.
(ii) Concern that dog fouling appeared to be getting worse and no one had seen any Enforcement Officers in the area.
(iii) A wall was in danger of collapsing on Castletown Road. The local WCBC councillor was aware of the issue.
(iv) The Clerk and the local WCBC councillor had been notified of available Section 106 monies to provide play equipment at Broughton Heights. However, the annual maintenance and inspection costs would need to be met by the community council.
Members agreed to the commitment.
(v) Members agreed to purchase a commemorative mug for children at the area’s three primary schools at a cost of approximately £2 per mug.
Signed ……………………………….. (Chair)
Date………………………………………………
