Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council
on Wednesday 12 February 2025
Members
Cllr. K. Jones (Chair)
Cllr. F. Derbyshire (Vice Chair)
Councillor C Lovett Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones
Councillor N Davies Councillor T Alan Edwards
Councillor Mrs S Williams MBE*Councillor Mrs E Jones
Councillor C Williams Councillor A Lovett
Councillor T Williams* Cllr. J. Pettigrew
Cllr. J. Williams Cllr. N. Williams
Cllr. K. Robinson Cllr. S. Feely
*Absent
- RESIGNATIONS
The Clerk informed Members that he had received resignations from K. Jones and K. Robinson. Members reluctantly accepted the resignations.
The Clerk was requested to write to both of them to thank them for their service.
The Clerk was also requested to put the necessary processes in place to advertise the vacancies.
It was agreed that Cllr. F. Derbyshire be appointed as Chair, with the decision on the Vice Chair being deferred until the Annual Meeting in May.
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE / DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
Apologies were received from T. Williams, and S. Williams.. All apologies were accepted.
However the Clerk informed Members that Cllr. T. Williams had not been to a meeting for over six months.
Given her current personal circumstances Members agreed to defer the issue until the Annual Meeting in May.
- DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
None.
- PCSO REPORT
Members considered the January 2025 monthly report, with the following points being raised :
- Concern about the level of youth anti-social behaviour in the area. PCSO Jones informed Members that it appeared youths from Caia Park and Rhos were targeting the area.
- Members were asked to identify three priorities. These were community engagement, illegal parking and youth behaviour.
- A Member informed the PCSO that the local police had been given a speed gun which, presumably, they still had. The PCSO stated that she would make enquiries.
- Members expressed concern once again that issues they were either aware of or had reported personally did not appear in the report. PCSO Jones informed Members that the reporting format was being reviewed. Members hoped that the new reports would be more accurate, comprehensive, identify more clearly actions taken and the location of road traffic collisions.
PCSO Lowri Jones was thanked for her attendance.
- MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15 JANUARY 2025
The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.
Matters Arising
Page 1 – Community Agent
The Clerk informed Members that a meeting of the trustees of Community House had not yet taken place.
Page 4 – Planning Applications
The Clerk informed Members that he had submitted a response to the planning application P/2025/0004 (Pat’s Coaches).
Page 5 – Bus Shelter
The Clerk and the local County Borough Member were both still awaiting a response from Wrexham County Borough Council.
Page 5 – Bellway Homes
The local County Borough Council Members informed other Members the decision to allow a layby / additional temporary entrance had been taken by WCBC Planning Officers under delegated powers. However other Members felt that this constitutes a major alteration to the planning application.
The local County Borough Council Member stated that she would request further clarification.
- FINANCE
Risk Assessment Report
The Clerk presented the report highlighting that it contained both the financial risks and controls and the main service risks. Whilst Members accepted the report a request was made to include an additional risk relating to the need to back up the cemetery registers in some way.
The Clerk would make enquiries as to available options.
Members agreed income amounting to and payments amounting to £250.00 and £ 17,757. 47 respectively.
SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE – JANUARY 2025
(Payments inc. VAT where Applicable)Income –
| Date | Payee | Method of Payment
|
Amount
£ |
| 20 Jan 2025 | Buckley Memorials – Headstone Fee | CR | 250.00 |
| TOTAL 250.00 | |||
Expenditure
| Date | Payer | Method of Payment
|
Amount
£ |
| 12 Jan 2025 | AVOW – January Salaries | BACS | 2729.34 |
| 19 Jan 2025 | B. Parry-Jones – Reimbursement for batteries | BACS | 8.00 |
| 19 Jan 2025 | Memsafe – Headstone Repairs | BACS | 4305.60 |
| 19 Jan 2025 | Wrexham CBC – Playground Insp. & Maint – Oct 2024 to March 2025 | BACS | 7962.18 |
| 19 Jan 2025 | Pretty Greenery – Bowling Club Hedge cutting | BACS | 800.00 |
| 19 Jan 2025 | Mega Electrical – Street lighting repairs Oct to Dec 2024 | BACS | 691.78 |
| 22 Jan 2025 | SSE – Dec Energy Costs | DD | 1255.57 |
| 25 Jan 2025 | HSBC – Bank Charges | DR | 5.00 |
| TOTAL 17,757. 47 | |||
Bank Balances at 31 January 2024 :
Business Account : £ 146,064.14
Deposit Account : £ 116,880.69
Total : £ 262,944.83
Members also authorised the Clerk to make payments amounting to £ 9,030.84
INVOICES FOR AUTHORISATION
FEBRUARY 2025 MEETING
(Copies Available for Inspection)
16 Jan 2025 TWM – Speed sign , Forge Road, Southsea £ 2,814.00
21 Jan 2025 Blue Ribbon Solutions (formerly Landscapers That Care) – Weedkiller on paths, cutting rough
area and hedge cutting) £ 990.00
23 Jan 2025 Mega Electrical – Remove & Store Xmas Lights £ 3,465.00
23 Jan 2025 Defib Store – Defibrillator for Pleasant View £ 1,641.84
28 Jan 2025 Mega Electrical – Repairs to damaged
Xmas Lights £ 120.00
TOTAL £ 9,030.84
- YOUTH PROVISION – 2025/26 SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
Members reflected on the proposed Service Level Agreement for 2025-26, with the following comments being raised :
- Members still felt that losing a full hour for preparing and packing up out of a total three hour session was excessive and felt that a half hour should be adequate.
- Consideration be given to replacing one youth session with more detached working.
- The Clerk would obtain quotes for installing a concrete base and ancillary work for a container to be sited at Solway Banks.
- A review of the service to be undertaken in September 2025 prior to consideration of the service for 2026-27.
The Clerk was given authority to pay the 2024/25 invoice amounting to £32,495.01.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P/2025/0074 – Change of Use of Existing Commercial Office to Residential Use at Yew Tree Cottage, Church Road, Southsea , LL11 5PG
Noted.
P/2025/0060 – Single Storey Front Extension and Erection of Porcha, Smithy Road, Southsea LL11 6PN
Noted.
- CORRESPONDENCE.
- The Clerk shared details of an initiative from Keep Britain Tidy relating to posters aimed at reducing dog fouling.
Members agreed to purchase the package at a cost of £1600.
- Details of the National Joint Council Pay Award, applicable from 1 April 2024 –
- Compulsory survey from the Office of National Statistics to be completed quarterly, in relation to employee vacancies.
The Clerk was requested to complete it.
- The Clerk informed Members that he had received confirmation that the owner of the original bench at the cemetery was willing to allow a new bench to be installed.
- MEMBER REPORTS
- A Member reported that some branches were blocking the new speed sign on Forge Road, Southsea. A Member stated he would get them cut back.
- In addition the speed sign on Southsea Road is not working. The Clerk stated that it had been reported but he would report it again.
- A Member queried why the speed sign on Broughton Road, Lodge had not been converted to mains. The Clerk stated he would check.
- Click and Collect boxes have been installed at the junction of Westminster Road and Wrexham Road, allegedly without planning permission, which is causing parking and traffic problems. It had been reported.
- A Member asked for an update in relation to the replacement lamp column on Windsor Road, New Broughton. The Clerk stated that he had spoken to Mega Electrical and they were waiting for permission from Wrexham CBC to close off the road.
- A meeting of the Street Lighting Working Group needs to be arranged in the near future.
- The Clerk stated that the annual subscription to the SLCC was due. Members agreed to its renewal.
Signed …………………………………… (Chair)
Date ………………………
