Minutes of the Meeting of Broughton Community Council
on Wednesday 15 January 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
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE / DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
Apologies were received from F. Derbyshire, N. Davies, A. Lovett, S, Williams MBE, K. Robinson, J. Williams, T. Williams, and A. Edwards. All apologies were accepted.
- DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
None.
- COMMUNITY AGENT
The Chair welcomes Ms. Claire Partridge to the meeting. Ms. Partridge had recently been appointed as the Community Agent for Broughton.
The following points were raised :
- Partridge taken up her post in November 2024.
- She outlined her duties, which included signposting to services and now
advice on Blue Badge issues.
- Her main duties related to social inclusion, benefit and dementia issues.
- She was dealing with both new and existing clients.
- She did not work set days / hours.
The Clerk had been informed that residual monies following the closure of Community House may become available to the community agent to support or set up various groups within Broughton.
Ms. Partridge was thanked for her attendance.
It was agreed to set up a meeting with the Community Agent and the Community House trustees to discuss further the potential additional funds.
On addition the Clerk offered to give Ms. Partridge a tour of the community.
- YOUTH PROVISION
The Chair welcomed Officers from the Wrexham CBC Youth Team to the meeting.
The Clerk informed the Officers that Members had expressed particular concerns about the perceived low levels of participation and a lack of impact on anti-social behaviour, given the cost of the service.
The Officers outlined the services currently being provided :
- The average attendance at sessions was currently 13, which was slightly above the county wide target of 12. However some Members felt that the target number was not challenging enough.
- Discussions around moving one session to Solway Banks, given the high level of anti-social behaviour in that area. This could result in having to cease a session at either Broughton Heights or Coed Efa. The alternative was to fund an additional session at Solway Banks.
- 3 members of staff attended the play /youth sessions.
- Concern about the amount of preparation time and the half hour afterwards which was perceived as nonproductive time. The Officers stated that this was the same arrangement which exists across Wrexham.
- The Officers could provide further information as to whether it is the same children who attend both play sessions.
- Only one young person attends from outside the Broughton area.
- The PCSOs had not attended any sessions.
- Officers had been in contact with the schools and secondary feeder schools to promote the sessions.
- It was unnecessary to have a water or electrical supply should a container be sited at Solway Banks, but it would be beneficial.
The Officers were thanked for their attendance.
It was agreed to schedule the issue for further discussion at the next meeting.
- PCSO REPORT
The report had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting.
Once again Members were concerned about the lack of detail and accuracy of the report.
The clerk informed Members that a new Area Inspector was due to take up his post in January.
It was agreed that the Clerk contact the new Inspector to voice Member
concerns.
- MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 11 DECEMBER 2024.
Cllr. Pettigrew stated that she had not attended the December meeting but that she had submitted an apology.
The Clerk apologised for the error and stated that he would amend the minutes accordingly
Other than this the minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record.
Matters arising
Page 1 -Bowling Club
The Clerk Informed Members that the hedge had been cut .He had spoken to Mr Tony Jones from the bowling club who was extremely happy with the work.
Page 2 – Defibrillator
The Clerk informed Members that the defibrillator had been ordered for Pleasant View, Pentre Broughton.
- MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 13 NOVEMBER 2024.
The Clerk reminded Members that, at the December 2024 meeting it had been agreed that Members submit amendments to the minutes. Revisions based on those comments had been included with the agenda papers.
A Member suggested one addition comment i.e. that representatives of the Royal Artillery and Woodies Lodge had also been in attendance.
Members agreed to the additional amendment.
The Clerk stated that he would make the amendments prior to publication on the website.
- FINANCE
Members agreed income amounting to and payments amounting to £58,084.00 and £12,202.98 respectively
SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE – DECEMBER 2024
| 6 Dec 2024 | Wrexham CBC – Precept | CR | 57,521.34 |
| 6 Dec 2024 | HSBC – Interest | CR | 562.66 |
| TOTAL 58,084.00 | |||
Expenditure
| Date | Payer | Method of Payment
|
Amount
£ |
| 2 Dec 2024 | North Hills Farm – Xmas Trees | Visa | 134.00 |
| 10 Dec 2024 | AVOW – December Salaries | BACS | 2.729.34 |
| 17 Dec 2024 | Digital Issue – Website Support & Webhosting Fee | BACS | 1,860.00 |
| 17 Dec 2024 | Mega Electrical – Erection & Testing of Xmas Lights | BACS | 3,135.00 |
| 17 Dec 2024 | Ferndale Garden Centre – Xmas Tree | BACS | 48.00 |
| 17 Dec 2024 | James Plimley – Re-locate Village Notice Boards | BACS | 1,152.00 |
| 17 Dec 2024 | Litemania – Replacement Xmas Motifs | BACS | 464.64 |
| 19 Dec 2024 | Tesco – Refreshments , St Paul’s Carol Service | Visa | 102.78 |
| 20 Dec 2024 | Mega Electrical – Installation of Defibrillator, Lodge | BACS | 1,200.00 |
| 20 Dec 2024 | Sainsbury -Refreshments Southsea Church Carol Service, | Visa | 135.10 |
| 23 Dec 2024 | SSE – November Energy Costs | DD | 1,215.07 |
| 25 Dec 2024 | HSBC – Bank Charges | CHG | 5.80 |
| 30 Dec 2024 | Amazon – Printer Paper | Visa | 21.25 |
| TOTAL 12,202.98
|
|||
Bank Balances at 31 December 2024 :
Business Account : £ 163,571.61
Deposit Account : £ 116,880.69
Total : £ 280,452.30
Members also authorised the Clerk to make payments amounting to £ 13, 997.56
INVOICES FOR AUTHORISATION
JANUARY 2025 MEETING
(Copies Available for Inspection)
16 Sept 2024 Memsafe – Headstone Repairs (Final Payment) £ 4,305.60
6 Jan 2025 Wrexham CBC – Play Area Inspection &
Maintenance – Oct 2024 to March 2025 £ 7,962.18
9 Jan 2025 Information Commissioner -Data Protection Fee £ 40.00
9 Jan 2025 SLCC – Annual Subscription £ 190.00
13 Jan 2025 Pretty Greenery – Hedge cutting around
bowling green £ 800.00
13 Jan 2025 Mega Electrical – Repairs – Oct to Dec 2024 £ 691.78
Dec 2024 Cllr. B Parry-Jones – Reimbursement for batteries £ 8.00
TOTAL £ 13, 997.56
- PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P/2025/0004 – Creation of Additional Parking, Pat’s Coaches, Southsea Road, Southsea, Wrexham LL11 6PP (Retrospective application)
Members considered the above application and agreed to object to it on the following grounds :
- From an ecological viewpoint as trees and hedges had been cut down.
- A flood risk was created by reducing the habitat.
- The Impact on neighbouring properties in terms of noise.
The Clerk was requested to submit the community council’s objections.
- CORRESPONDENCE.
- Notification from Utility Aid that the community council’s current four year contract with SSE for energy costs was coming to an end in February 2025.
The Clerk had submitted the appropriate paperwork to give authorise Utility Aid to search for a new deal.
- MEMBER REPORTS
- A Member again raised the issue about the possibility of a bus shelter on High Street, Pentre Broughton. Some Members were concerned about setting a precedent. The Clerk would contact Wrexham CBC to ascertain its current position on the matter
It was agreed to discuss it further once a response had been received.
- Replacement give way signs to replace the damaged ones were on order by Wrexham CBC for both Gatewen Road and Dale Road. Repairs were also awaited for the damaged kerb area on the New Broughton roundabout.
- Bellway Homes had requested permission from Wrexham Council for a temporary layby for the Gatewen Road housing development.
- It was agreed to schedule an agenda item relating to dog fouling for the next meeting.
Signed …………………………………… (Chair)
Date …………………………
