Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Broughton Community Council
on Wednesday 8 May 2024
Members
Cllr S. Feely
Councillor K. Jones
Councillor N. Williams Councillor C Lovett*
Councillor Mrs B. Parry-Jones Councillor N. Davies
Councillor T. Alan Edwards* Councillor A. Lovett*
Councillor Mrs S. Williams MBE Councillor C. Williams
Councillor Mrs E. Jones Councillor K. Robinson*
Councillor J. Pettigrew Councillor T. Williams
Councillor J. Williams Councillor F. Derbyshire
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
A apologies were received from Cllrs. C. Lovett, A. Lovett, A. Edwards and K. Robinson. All apologies were accepted.
2.DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST –
Cllrs N. Williams and S. Williams MBE declared an interest in relation to Item 5, should Cllr. C .Williams be proposed for the position of Vice Chair.
- PCSO Report
The Chair welcomed PCSO Lowri Jones to the meeting.
She highlighted that there was a new report format which would be used across the Wrexham County Borough and explained each section of the report.
The following comments were made :
- No specific wards or villages were identified in the report. The PCSO stated that she would speak to her Inspector and report back.
- The burglary section covers houses and outbuildings.
- Other incidents had been reported over the Bank Holiday weekend.
- Operation Gravel was targeting off road bikers.
- Could drones be used more frequently and effectively ?
- Issues with vehicles parking on pavements.
- Operation Cinnamon to take place in July and August.
The PCSO was thanked for her attendance
- CHAIR’S ALLOWANCE
It was agreed that the Chair be paid an allowance of £300 for the coming year.
- APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR
It was agreed that Cllr. Keith Jones be elected as Chair for the coming year.
Cllr. K. Jones thanked the outgoing Chair Cllr. S. Feely for her work and support during the previous year.
- APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIR
It was agreed that Cllr. F. Derbyshire be elected as Vice Chair for the coming year.
- MEMBER ALLOWANCES
The Clerk informed Members that the Independent Remuneration Panel had recommended a Member salary of £156 for the coming year. He circulated a letter to each Member, asking them to notify him if they wished / did not wish to claim the allowance.
- DATES, VENUES AND TIMES OF MEETINGS 2024/25
The Clerk presented a schedule of meetings for the coming year. He pointed out that no meeting had been scheduled for August.
In addition he reminded Members that, last year, an additional meeting had to be arranged in order to comply with audit timetables. He therefore suggested that, to avoid this, the June 2024 be put back one week until 19 June 2024.
Members agreed to this proposal.
Members agreed the timetable of meetings, which would be displayed on the Council’s Village Notice Boards, the Memorial Hall Notice Board and on the Community Council’s website.
It was further agreed , as no meeting was scheduled for August 2024, the Chair and Vice Chair, together with the Clerk, should be given delegated powers during this period, with any authorised expenditure and decisions being reported to the September meeting.
9 APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO WORKING GROUPS/ OUTSIDE BODIES
(i) Brynteg Primary School Governing Body – Cllr. S. Feely
(ii) Ysgol Penrhyn Governing Body – Cllr. C. Lovett
(iii) Black Lane School Governing Body – Cllr. F. Derbyshire
(iv) Broughton Partnership Board
It was agreed to delete this group.
(v) Cemetery Working Group – Cllr. S. Feely
– Cllr. E. Jones
– Cllr. A. Lovett
– Cllr. N. Williams
– Cllr. C. Williams
– Cllr. B. Parry-Jones
– Cllr. K. Jones – Cllr. K. Robinson
(vi) Brymbo Heritage Group – Cllr. S. Williams MBE
– Cllr. B. Parry-Jones
– Cllr. K. Jones
– Cllr. K. Robinson
(vii) Events \ Projects Working Group
It was agreed to invite all Members to this group.
(viii) Street Lighting Working Group – Cllr. B. Parry- Jones
– Cllr. C. Lovett
– Cllr. K. Jones
– Cllr. S. Williams MBE
– Cllr. N. Williams
– Cllr. C. Williams
– Cllr. J. Williams
– Cllr. J. Pettigrew
– Cllr. F. Derbyshire
(ix) Youth Provision Working Group
– Cllr. B. Parry-Jones
– Cllr. N. Davies
– Cllr. C. Lovett
– Cllr. A. Lovett
– Cllr. S. Williams MBE
– Cllr. T. Williams
– Cllr. N . Williams
– Cllr. J. Williams
– Cllr. J. Pettigrew
– Cllr. F. Derbyshire
- MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 10 April 2024
The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.
Matters Arising
Page 2- Cemetery
The grasscutting had started and the Clerk had received an invoice for the first two cuts. However some Members felt that they were not completely satisfied with certain aspects of the work.
It was agreed therefore that the Chair and Vice Chair meet with the contractor.
Page 2 – National Eisteddfod
No further information had been received.
Page 2 – Trade Waste
No further information had been received.
Page 2 – New Broughton Roundabout
It had been suggested by Wrexham CBC that speed restriction mechanisms need to be put in place to slow down traffic. Unfortunately it does not have funding available to undertake the work.
A Member stated that he would attempt to obtain a cost of such work.
It was also suggested that the hedge near the roundabout restricts vision.
Page 2 – Southsea Play Area
It was agreed to explore options to improve access to the play area.
Page 2 – Road Sweeper retirement
It was agreed to defer this issue to the next meeting.
Page 4 – Defibrillators
The post on which to install the defibrillator is due to be put up this week.
Members were informed that defibrillator training was being arranged for the end of June 2024.
Page 4 – Additional Street Lighting Columns
Quotes had been received from Mega Electrical / Parry Construction for the additional wired columns. However quotes for solar and wind turbine powered ones were still awaited.
It was therefore agreed to defer this item until the next meeting.
Page 4 – Village Signs
It was agreed to obtain quotes for one sign for each of the seven villages.
Page 5 – 80th D Day Celebrations
Anyone wishing to attend should let Cllr. B. Parry-Jones know as soon as possible.
The Clerk informed Members that the donation of £500 to the Friends of Bellevue had been paid.
Page 5 – Zoom Webcasting
The Clerk informed Members that he had cancelled the subscription.
Page 5 – Lodge Community Centre
The Clerk had contacted the Brymbo County Borough Council who stated that Brymbo Community Council had no plans at present for the centre.
- FINANCE
Financial Accounts – 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
The Clerk presented the accounts. He highlighted in particular the fact that the expenditure for the year exceeded income by approximately £70,000. He suggested that Members need to give careful consideration about a more structured approach to deciding on future priorities and projects.
He then answered Member questions on individual items.
Members thanked the Clerk, agreed the accounts and gave him authority to submit them and any additional information to the internal auditor.
Summary of Payments made and Income Received during April 2024
SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE – APRIL 2024
(Payments inc. VAT where Applicable)
Income
| Date | Payee | Method of Payment
|
Amount
£ |
| 5 April 2024 | Wrexham CBC – Precept ,1st Instalment | CR | 57,521.33 |
| 5 April 2024 | Roberts Bros. – Funeral Fees | BACS | 9,850.00 |
| 9 April 2024 | Marcher Stone – Headstone Fee | CR | 250.00 |
| TOTAL £ 67,621.33 | |||
Expenditure
| Date | Payer | Method of Payment
|
Amount
£ |
| 2 April 2024 | Salix Finance – Loan Repayment | DD | 8,010.69 |
| 2 April 2024 | AVOW – April Salaries | BACS | 2,729.34 |
| 11 April 2024 | One Voice Wales – Annual Subscription | BACS | 1,159.00 |
| 11 April 2024 | Inst. Of Cemetery Management – Annual Subscription | BACS | 95.00 |
| 11 April 2024 | Wrexham CBC – CCTV | BACS | 2400.00 |
| 11 April 2024 | Mega Electrical – Street Lighting Repairs | BACS | 72.84 |
| 11 April 2024 | All Saints Church – Donation | BACS | 500.00 |
| 15 April 2024 | The Warehouse Project – Wrexham Miners Donation | BACS | 500.00 |
| 22 April 2024 | SSE – Energy Costs | BACS | 1,255.57 |
| 25 April 2024 | HSBC – Bank Charges | CHG | 5.40 |
| TOTAL £ 16,727.84 | |||
Bank Balances at 30 April 2024 :
Business Account : £ 188,684.53
Deposit Account : £ 115,146.45
Total : £ 303,830.98
Members agreed the information, with income amounting to £ 67,621.33 and expenditure of £ 16,727.84 respectively.
INVOICES FOR AUTHORISATION
MAY 2024 MEETING
30 April 2024 Mega Electrical -Faults Jan to March 2024 £ 799.92 8 May 2024 Lee C Dunmer – First two cuts at Cemetery £1.440.00
TOTAL £ 2,239.92
Members authorised the payments amounting to £2,239.92.
- ADDITIONAL STREET LIGHTING
The Clerk informed Members that he had once again met with representatives of Mega Electrical and had now received additional quotes for Gatewen Road, Berse Road and Southsea Road. However he was still awaiting quotes for the solar and wind turbine options.
It was agreed to defer the issue until the next meeting.
- CEMETERY HEADSTONE AUDIT
The Clerk informed Members that he had received a quote for securing and repairing 170 headstones. He was still awaiting two other quotes.
It was agreed to defer the item until the next meeting.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
None.
- CORRESPONDENCE
- A request from Ysgol Penrhyn New Broughton for a donation towards refurbishing the school’s outdoor area.
It was agreed to donate £500.
- MEMBER REPORTS
- Concern that roadworks had taken place on Berse Road, New Broughton at the same time that major resurfacing work was being undertaken on Gatewen / Wrexham Road, given that these were the two main roads through the village.
Signed …………………………………… (Chair)
Date ……………………………………………….
