Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council
on Wednesday 12 April 2023
Members
Councillor N Williams*
Councillor S Feely
Councillor G Davies* Councillor C Lovett
Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones Councillor N Davies
Councillor T Alan Edwards Councillor Mrs S Williams
Councillor C Williams * Councillor Mrs E Jones
Councillor A Lovett Cllr K Jones
Councillor T Williams Cllr. J. Pettigrew
Councillor K. Robinson* Cllr. J. Williams
Cllr. J. Williams was welcomed to her first meeting.
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllr. N. Williams, C. Williams, G. Davies and K. Robinson.
The apologies were accepted.
- DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
There were no Declarations of Personal Interest.
- PCSO REPORT
Members considered the PCSO report for the period 6 March 2023 to 31 March 2023. inclusive. It was pointed out that as the previous report only went up to 3 March 2023 there was a gap of three days unaccounted for.
The following points were raised :
- Yet again, no PCSOs were available to attend the meeting. Members felt that it was vitally important that they attend.
- Concern was again expressed about a lack of Police response to issues even when they had been reported.
- Members requested an update on the current position in terms of PCSOs covering the Broughton area, including their contact details
The Clerk would again contact the PCSOs to again request that someone from North Wales Police attends the next meeting.
- MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 8 MARCH 2023
The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.
Matters Arising
Page 1 – Youth Provision
The Clerk had attempted to contact the Youth Provision Team Manager but, unfortunately, he was on leave until 17 April 2023.
Page 2 – Community House
,A further meeting had been held with representatives of various organisations :
- Some of the equipment, crockery, stationery etc had been donated to other organisations.
- The CAB Outreach service had now been successfully relocated to the Broughton Housing Estate Office.
Page 2 – Southsea Church
The Hub Service had ended on 31 March, with feedback being very positive.
Page 2 – Donation – Brymbo Lodge Football Club
The Clerk informed Members that had received a refund amounting to £125.50.
He had been informed that they were hoping to undertake the decoration of the changing rooms at the end of the season.
Page 2 – Cemetery
It was agreed that the Cemetery Working Group meet visit the cemetery on Sunday 23 April at 11 am.
Page 3 – New Broughton Recreation Ground
The Clerk informed Members that he had finally been able to make contact with a representative of Coedpoeth Football Club to discuss progress with arrangements for a potential lease for the recreation ground and football field.
The issue appeared to be that whilst the land is owned by Broughton Community Council, the land is currently leased and maintained by Wrexham County Borough Council.
The football club would hold further discussions with Wrexham CBC.
Page 5 – Memorial Park Play Area
The Clerk informed Members that he had contacted Wrexham County Borough Council to progress the repairs.
Page 5 – Donation – Pentre Broughton Bowling Club
The Clerk informed Members that he had contacted the Bowling Club with the Community Council’s decision.
Page 5 – Chief Executive , Wrexham Citizen’s Advice Service
The Clerk had met with the above to discuss future arrangements for the provision of the Outreach Service.
Page 6 – Quote – TWM
The Clerk explained the reasons for not progressing this issue. It would be discussed in more detail under Agenda Item 6 – Speed Signs.
Page 6 – Member Reports – Bus Service to Plas Coch Retail Park
A Member stated that he had emailed Ken Skates, Assembly Member, regarding concerns to cuts on this bus service.
Members were informed that the whole issue of the Welsh Government Transport Subsidies had been discussed at a Wrexham County Borough Council workshop, as there had been major cuts to the subsidy.
- FINANCE
(i) Summary of Payments Made and Income Received
Members agreed the figures presented by the Clerk.
(ii) Outstanding Invoices
Members agreed that the Clerk process the payments listed.
(iii) Quotes – Grasscutting – Broughton Cemetery
The Clerk informed Members that he had drafted and submitted a tender document to
contractors for grasscutting and related maintenance at the cemetery.
Members agreed that the quote from A. Lloyd be accepted.
(iv) Burial Fees – 2023/24
The Clerk informed Members that he had been unable to obtain figures relating to fees to be charged at other cemeteries for the coming year.
It was agreed that the decision be deferred until the May meeting , when more information may become available.
- PROJECTS
(i) Village Notice Boards
The Clerk informed Members that the contractor to erect the notice boards was no longer incapacitated and therefore in a position to erect them.
The following locations were suggested :
- By the bus stop in New Broughton. However it would require permission from Wrexham CBC.
- On a grassed area at the Southsea Road/ Forge Close Junction. Again it would require permission from Wrexham CBC.
- At the fenced off grassed area on Darby Road (Again it would require permission from Wrexham CBC.)
- The Clerk would meet with the local Member to agree the location for the one in Bryn Cefn
(ii) Speed Signs
The Clerk reminded Members that, at its last meeting, the Council had agreed to commission TWM to undertake an assessment of the speed signs purchased from SID Signs. He had not progressed this for the reasons detailed below.
Members had felt that the signs were either not working properly or, in some cases, not working at all.
Unfortunately, since the last meeting, two of the signs had fallen down completely !
The Clerk informed Members that, for safety reasons, he has requested Mega Electrical, the community council’s street lighting contractor, to remove all four signs from site.
Mega Electrical had undertaken an assessment of the damaged signs and had concluded that there appeared to be a design fault, as the weld on the single bracket securing the sign was inadequate and had snapped.
At the Clerk’s request Mega Electrical had returned the signs to SID Signs, with a letter from the community council stating that it was felt that the signs were unsafe and requesting a full refund under the Consumer Goods Act 2015.
He had eventually received an email reply from SID Signs , stating that they refuted the claim, saying that the two signs that had fallen down had been vandalised and that the other two were working perfectly well.
Members instructed the Clerk to take legal advice in order to pursue a claim against the company.
In addition the Clerk informed Members that he had been contacted by Wrexham County Borough Council requesting that four other speed signs located on Wrexham CBC lamp columns be removed as the type of columns that they had been mounted on were inadequate to take the stress and weight of the signs. Mega Electrical had removed and temporarily stored the signs.
The Clerk informed Members that he was surprised and disappointed with the request, given that they had been up for over three years without any problems and two of the columns had passed a structural assessment test.
The Clerk suggested three possible options :
- To apply to Wrexham CBC to erect four, stronger posts alongside the current column (There would be an additional cost relating to this option).
- To relocate the signs to other columns owned by the community council in different locations.
(iii) To utilise columns which had been erected for the signs which had been returned to SID Signs.
It was agreed to re-erect the signs at the following locations :
- Outside Black Lane School (this would need to be reconfigured to a 20 mph speed limit). Page 4
- On the column outside Community House on Darby Road, Brynteg.
- On the community council owned column at Bryn Hedd, Southsea, which previously housed one of the SID Signs.
- The fourth to replace the one at Coed Efa, Wrexham Road. However the Clerk informed Members that it appeared that the columns along that road were all Wrexham CBC owned.
(iii) Flag Poles
The Clerk informed Members that he had submitted the necessary information and photos to Diogel Architecture in order to proceed with the application for planning permission for the erection of the three flagpoles.
The Clerk stated that he had received two quotes from companies for the purchase of the poles. He had requested a third quote but had not received it.
Members agreed to purchase the flagpoles from House of Flags (subject to the necessary planning permission being granted), together with a Welsh Flag, Union Jack and a Royal British Legion Flag.
(iv) Defibrillators
The Clerk informed Members that he had received the two defibrillators, one to be located at Southsea Church and one at a location to be agreed in Moss.
The Clerk was authorised to order an additional defibrillator to be located at Hall View, Caego.
Members would also explore the feasibility of purchase additional defibrillators for Wrexham Road, Brynteg.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Planning Application -P/2023/0135 – Land North of Gatewen Road, New Broughton
Members agreed to strongly opposed the application on the following grounds :
- There are Tree Preservation Orders on a number of trees at the site. The application does not give enough detail in identifying which trees are to be removed.
- The villages of Caego and New Broughton have been affected by flooding issues in the past couple of years. Any drainage work needs to ensure that additional pressures are not put on the current infrastructure.
- There is varying wildlife dwelling on the site. Can you confirm that the necessary surveys have been undertaken, particularly in relation to bats and badgers and provide information on the results of such ?
- Local residents and community council members are extremely upset about the proposed demolition of the remaining Gatewen Colliery building on the site. It is understood that this was used as a store for explosives. It is felt that this is of significant historical interest and is part of the local community’s heritage. This building should be retained.
- In terms of traffic impact the community council understand that the surveys were undertaken during the Covid period. This was completely unrepresentative of the normal number of vehicles which use the road.
- CORRESPONDENCE
(i) King Charles Coronation – The Clerk informed Members that he had researched available suppliers of a coin or medal for children at the schools in the area and had also contacted the schools to see if they had details of any potential suppliers.
The Clerk circulated a photo of a what he felt was the best option in terms of balancing quality and cost effectiveness.
Members agreed to purchase the medals from Trophies plus Medals for all children from Nursery age upwards at a cost of £1,410.10 inc. VAT.
(ii) A report from the Ombudsman relating to a complaint about the positioning of a bench in the cemetery – Noted.
(iii) Details and photos of tarpaulins having been erected on the community council fence without prior consent.
Members agreed that whilst they had no objection any potential damage would rest with owner of the tarpaulin.
(iv) A request for an update on a request to install a bench at the cemetery.
It was agreed that the Cemetery Working Group would consider this application on 23 April.
- MEMBER REPORTS
(i) A request that the Wrexham CBC mechanical road sweeper visit the New Broughton area – The local Wrexham CBC councillor would make enquiries.
(ii) A request for double yellow lines outside Southsea Post Office.
(iii) A general concern about the number of potholes.
(iv) A request that dog fouling be an agenda item for the next meeting – Agreed.
Signed …………………………………… (Chair)
Date …………………………
