Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council
on Wednesday 14 February 2024
Members
Councillor S Feely (Chair)
Cllr. K. Jones (Vice Chair)
Councillor C Lovett Councillor Mrs B Parry-Jones
Councillor N Davies Councillor T Alan Edwards*
Councillor Mrs S Williams 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. F Derbyshire
*Absent
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from A. Edwards and T. Williams.
Both apologies were accepted.
- DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
There were no Declarations of Personal Interest.
- PCSO REPORT
Despite assurances that a representative of North Wales Police would attend, no one had turned up.
The Clerk was therefore asked to write to the Chief Constable to express the community council’s concerns and frustrations.
Members had previously received a PCSO report covering the period 1 January 2024 to 31 January 2024 inclusive.
The following points were raised :
- Concerns about traffic issues at the New Broughton roundabout, in particular cars approaching it from Bersham Road.
- Issues relating to Alexander House, New Broughton.
- MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 10 JANUARY 2024.
The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.
Matters Arising
Page 2 -Cemetery
- Members again expressed concern about dog fouling art the cemetery. Whilst a number of notices had been placed in the cemetery it would appear that some people were entering through the St. Paul’s Church gate.
- The Clerk stated that a revised cemetery policy had been completed. A Member queried how many cremated remains could be buried in a cremated remains plot. The Clerk stated that he would make enquiries with other cemeteries.
- Members were reminded that, in the new section of the cemetery, any items placed on a grave, other than on the plinth, would be removed. It was agreed that the Cemetery Assistant be requested to undertake this task and remove them to the side of the spoil heap, with his salary being reviewed accordingly.
- A query had been raised as to whether the community council charges a fee for a child’s cremated remains to be buried in an existing grave.
It was agreed that no charge be made in such circumstances.
Page 2 – Xmas Lighting
Members were reminded that two Xmas motifs had been damaged in the recent storms.
It was agreed that replacement be purchased in readiness for Xmas 2024.
- MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 16 JANUARY 2024.
The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record, other than the fact that the Chair was present at this meeting.
The Clerk apologised and would amend the minutes accordingly.
- A Member informed others that Wrexham CBC had failed to undertake its statutory obligations in terms of posting notices and writing to neighbouring residences. Therefore the statutory 21 day consultation period would need to be started again.
- A request was to be made to install strips across the road at Stryt y Bydden to measure the volume of traffic.
- FINANCE
Members agreed income and payments amounting to £ 500.00 and £11,982.54 respectively.
SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE – JANUARY 2024
(Payments inc. VAT where Applicable)
Income –
| Date | Payee | Method of Payment
|
Amount
|
| 31 Jan 2024 | S. Price Memorials- Headstones | BACS | 500.00 |
| TOTAL £ 500.00 | |||
Expenditure
| Date | Payer | Method of Payment
|
Amount
£ |
| 4 Jan 2024 | Amazon SP Pure Luxuries * | Visa | 30.00 |
| 8 Jan 2024 | Amazon – Xmas Bauble | Visa | 18.88 |
| 9 Jan 2024 | AVOW – Salaries | BACS | 2,574.84 |
| 12 Jan 2024 | Audit Wales – Audit Fee 2021-22 | BACS | 1550.00 |
| 12 Jan 2024 | Wrexham CBC – Playground Maint & Inspection | BACS | 7,406.63 |
| 12 Jan 2024 | SLCC – Annual Subscription | BACS | 188.00 |
| 12 Jan 2024 | Information Commissioner – Annual Subscription | BACS | 40.00 |
| 18 Jan 2024 | Shaw & Sons – Deed Register | BACS | 153.60 |
| 25 Jan 2025 | HSBC – Bank Charges | DR | 5.00 |
| 25 Jan 2024 | Zoom – Webcasting Subscription | Visa | 15.59 |
| TOTAL £11,982.54 | |||
* This is a payment made in error by the Clerk through the Community Council’s Amazon Account as opposed to his own personal Amazon Account. Immediately the error was identified a payment has been made to Broughton Community Council to rectified it.
Bank Balances at 31 January 2024 :
Business Account : £ 190,457.98
Deposit Account : £ 114,586.51
Total : £ 305,044.49
Members also authorised the Clerk to make payments amounting to £ 5,503.39
INVOICES FOR AUTHORISATION
FEBRUARY 2024 MEETING
(Copies Available for Inspection)
15 Jan 2024 Wrexham Council – Cemetery Trade Refuse
Oct 2023 to March 2024 £ 825.00
29 Jan 2024 Mega Electrical – Erect, take down & Store Xmas Lights £ 3,598.20
31 Jan 2024 Mega Electrical – Faults Oct to Dec 2023 £ 919.22
5 Feb 2024 Hafren Dyfrdwy – Cemetery Water Charges
April to 2024 £ 160.97
TOTAL £ 5,503.39
- POLICIES
The Clerk introduced a report relating to the Community Council’s Internal Financial Controls
Members agreed the revised document.
- PROJECTS
Defibrillators
Arrangements were in place to install the defibrillator at a residence on Southsea Road.
It was agreed to accept the quote from Mega Electrical at a cost of £350 plus VAT.
It was further agreed that defibrillator training be arranged at a maximum cost of £110.
Mega Electrical had reported back that they felt it would be unsafe to install a defibrillator on a stone wall at Gatewen Village, At this stage no other location in that vicinity had been identified.
It was agreed that, given this delay, the defibrillator be installed in Lodge if a suitable location could be identified.
The Clerk would contact Brymbo Community Council to request permission to install it on one of their lamp columns, if no location could be identified in the Broughton side of Lodge.
Speed Signs
The Clerk informed Members that the order had been placed.
It was further agreed that an additional speed sign, mains operated, be purchased for Westminster Road, Pentre Broughton.
Additional Lighting Columns
The Clerk presented the list of potential locations for additional street lighting columns. He would meet with a representative of Mega Electrical to discuss the locations and potential costs.
- GRASSCUTTING CONTRACT
The Clerk provided three quotes for Members to consider in order to appoint a contractor for the grasscutting and maintenance of the cemetery.
It was agreed to award the contract to Leon Hughes, Gardening Services.
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Work to Protected Trees at Francis Road, Moss
Agreed.
- CORRESPONDENCE
- A request from Family Friends for a donation – It was agreed to donate £250.
- A request from Eisteddfod Wrecsam for a donation, for the 2025 event to be held in Wrexham. – It was agreed to make enquiries as to if and how much other community councils were donating
- MEMBER REPORTS
- A request had been received to allow horses to graze in the top field of the cemetery in the winter months. The request was turned down.
- Enquiries to be made in relation to acquiring wildflowers. –
- The Clerk asked if anyone had any contact with the Community agent, as he had received no updates. – The Clerk would request an update on her work to date.
- A request was made to put village signs on a future agenda.
- Concern was again expressed about the danger relating to the New Broughton roundabout.
- TREE CUTTING BEHIND BRYNTEG BOWLING GREEN (Confidential Item)
The Council has decided that this item should be considered under Paragraph 12 of Schedule 12A, Part 4 of the Local Government Act 1972, with the press and public
excluded.
Members had been received complaints from members of the public about work being undertaken at the above location. Whilst it was accepted that the community council was aware that some ground clearance work had been undertaken it was far in excess of what they had anticipated.
Given that there was a safety risk the Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair, had arranged for a tree surgeon to undertake the work to make it safe, at a maximum cost of £750. This included the removal of one complete tree.
It was further agreed that should any such future work be undertaken in the future prior permission from the community council would be required, including a detailed Action Plan.
Signed …………………………………… (Chair)
Date …………………………
