Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council

on Wednesday 14 June 2023

 

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*

 

15. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllrs. K. Robinson and  E. Jones.

Both apologies were accepted.

The Clerk informed Members that he had received an email from Cllr. G. Davies, informing him that he was resigning.

The Clerk was authorised to put in place the required procedures to fill the vacancy.

16. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST

There were no Declarations of Personal Interest.

17. PCSO REPORT

PCSO Tim Peers and PCSO Lowrie Jones were welcomed to the meeting.

A report detailing incidents for the period 15 May 2023 and 10 June 2023 was discussed, with the following points being raised :

• Are the playschemes provided by Wrexham CBC making a difference in terms of anti-social behaviour?
• It was important that any issues be reported to the Play Scheme organisers.
• Could future reports be broken down into areas/wards ?
• Issues with electric bikes and scooters.
• Speeding on Berse Road, New Broughton.
• Parking issues, particularly on Chapel Road and Weston Road. Cllr. C. Lovett had met with Wrexham CBC Officers and patrol checks would be carried out.
• Cars with no MOTs.
• Cars still being repaired at the house opposite Community House, Brynteg and even on the Community House driveway.
• The PCSOs emphasised the need to keep reporting incidents.

The PCSOs were thanked for their attendance and input.

18. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 10 MAY 2023.

 

The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.

 

Matters Arising

Page 3 – Youth Provision

It had been reported that there had been a report of a bullying incident, which was reported to the supervisor.

It was pointed out that there were still a number of anomalies in the proposed Service Level Agreement.

It was agreed that the Chair and Clerk  meet to look at the contract. In particular Members were keen that it includes a provision to provide regular monitoring reports.

 

Page 3 – Community House

An update was given on the current position :

• The bulk of the furniture was being handed over to Brymbo Heritage.
• The furniture will have gone by the end of June.
• A question was asked as to what is to happen to the CCTV equipment which was purchased by the community council.

It was agreed to discuss it further at the July meeting.

 Page 3 – New Broughton Recreation Ground

It was agreed to discuss this issue further at the September meeting.

 Page 4 – Bus Services

Members were informed that funding had been extended until December 2023.

Page 4 – Cemetery

The Clerk informed Members that local funeral directors and stone masons had been informed of the new charges.

A quote for removing the stone dumped over the fence by the gravedigger had been received, amounting to £2500. However Members felt that this was excessive and that public money should not be spent on an issue that the gravedigger had caused.

The Clerk was asked to formally write to Roberts Bros., Funeral Directors, to express their disappointment that the gravedigger had continued to do this, despite previous warnings and request that he removes all the stone to the waste tip at the bottom of the cemetery.

 Page 5  – Cemetery

The Clerk informed Members that he had received a quote from  the Council’s temporary grasscutting contractor for cutting the hedge (£300), cutting back overhanging trees (£800) and weedkiller spraying (£250).

Members agreed the above but, as stated previously, not to accept the quote for the stone removal.

It was agreed that a safety risk assessment be undertaken  regarding the headstones at the cemetery. The Clerk would attempt to identify potential contractors to undertake it.

 

Page 5 – Village Notice Boards

The Clerk reminded Members the village notice boards were currently being stored at Community House. However, they needed to be removed from there by 31 August when the keys would be handed over.

It was agreed that the decision on their location be delegate to the appropriate Ward Members and that the Clerk would get quotes from suitable installer(s).

 

Page 5 – Speed Signs

The Clerk informed Members that he had met with a solicitor.

It was agreed that a letter from the solicitor be sent to SID Signs, Smart Group to demand a full refund.

 

The Clerk also presented quotes for the purchase of four additional wired speed signs and the potential conversion of the current solar powered one to electrically wired.

It was agreed to purchase from TWM, but not until confirmation had been received from Wrexham CBC that they were of a type acceptable for installing on their lighting columns.

 

Page 5 – Flag Poles

The Clerk informed Members that he was still awaiting confirmation of planning permission before placing an order with the chosen contractor.

Defibrillators

The Clerk reminded Members that the two defibrillators for Southsea and Moss had been received and were being stored by Mega Electrical. In addition he was expecting delivery of a further one for locating at Hall View, Caego. Unfortunately, however, all the lamp columns in that area were owned by Wrexham CBC.

Page 6 – One Voice Wales

The Clerk informed Members that he had subscribed to One Voice Wales as agreed at a 50% discount for the first year.

19. FINANCE 

Summary of Payments Made and Income Received during May 2023

Members agreed the above , with income being Nil and expenditure amounting to £6,234.88. 

Outstanding Invoices for Payment (Invoices available for Inspection)

Members the Clerk to pay the outstanding invoices amounting to £4,412.42. 

Statement of Accounts – 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023

The Clerk presented the above. He highlighted in particular the increase in balances and  answered relating to the accounts.

The  following points were raised :

• A Member queried why the accounts and assets were showing grit bins, as he thought that they were all the property of Wrexham CBC. The Clerk explained that the community council had purchased a number of grit bins following the floods in New Broughton and Lodge to store sandbags.
• A Member queried the increase in expenditure on street lighting repairs. The Clerk explained that it included the conversion of a quite a number of lights to LED which required work undertaken by Scottish Power.
• A Member stated that he was disappointed in the relatively low take up of the Environmental Budget.
• A Member queried, following a recent sinkhole issue at Solway Banks, whether we were getting value for money from the expenditure on CCTV. The Clerk explained that the figure shown in the accounts was for two years, as the invoice for 2021/22 had been received in 2022/23.

Members thanked the Clerk and accepted the accounts, which would then be signed and submitted to the community council’s internal auditor with the Annual Return for 2022/23. 

The Clerk recommended that an additional meeting be arranged to consider the Internal Auditor’s Report when it is received.

Members agree to meet on Tuesday 27 June 2023 at 6.30 pm  to consider the report, assuming it had been received by then.

 

Audit Wales – Annual Returns 2020/21 and 2021/22

The Clerk informed Members that he had recently received the above. He stated that he was disappointed with some of the findings, in particular the one relating to the perceived lack of evidence in terms of making a SALIX loan application, even though he had submitted a copy of a letter from SALIX Finance confirming that the application had been successful  and that the monies had been received. However he did feel that there were areas which required improvement.

He suggested that we await the Internal Auditor’s Report for 2022/23. Following this he would bring back an Action Plan to cover all the issues to a future meeting.

Members accepted the reports and agreed the way forward.

 

20. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

P/2023/0314 – Y Gilfach. Pisgah Hill. Pentre Broughton

Supported. 

P2023/0304 – Cutting back trees – 21 Moss Valley Road, New Broughton

Supported. 

21. MEMBER REPORTS

• It was suggested that consideration be given to the erection of an additional street lighting column at Penrallt, Pentre Broughton, given reports of anti-social behaviour.
• Concern that a business was being run from a property at the rear of Windsor Road , New Broughton.
• A Member queried why there was no correspondence. The Clerk explained that all correspondence had been addressed under Matters Arising and that the specific issue she was referring to had been discussed by Members as a Confidential Item under Part II at a previous meeting.

  

Signed  …………………………………… (Chair)

 Date …………………………