Nelson Town Council Minutes of a Meeting of Nelson Town
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Minutes of a Meeting of Nelson Town Council held on 10th January 2018 NELSON TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES OF A MEETING OF NELSON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT NELSON TOWN HALL ON 10th JANUARY 2018 - 7pm. PRESENT – Councillor Zafar Ali (in the Chair) Councillors: Faraz Ahmad, Sajid Ali, Zeeshan Amjad, Majid Ali Anwar, Mohammad Aslam, Adrian Barrett, Malik Anwaar Hussain, Mashuq Hussain, Mohammed Khalid, Kamran Latif, Hassan Mahmood, John Richardson, Saanval Safir and Sheila Wicks In attendance: County Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Borough Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, Simon Bucknell (LCC Highways) Steve Watson (Clerk) and 1 resident. Councillor Zafar Ali opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. 17/18/129 ONE MINUTE SILENCE A one-minute silence was observed. 17/18/130 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillor George Adam who was unwell, Councillor Najaf Anwar who was away and Councillors Neil McGowan, Michelle Pearson-Asher and Nigel Pearson-Asher who were working. RESOLVED: That the above apologies and the reason given are accepted. 17/18/131 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 17/18/132 FORMALLY ADJOURN FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION RESOLVED: That the meeting is formally adjourned for Public Participation. 59 Signed ....................................................................... 14th February 2018 Minutes of a Meeting of Nelson Town Council held on 10th January 2018 A resident of Kings Causeway requested a bus service as she had become house- bound following an operation and relied on taxis. It was noted that Kings Causeway is actually in Brierfield and historically has not been a bus route. Bus operators will consider new routes if they can be profitable. Councillors Faraz Ahmad, Majid Ali Anwar and Zeeshan Amjad attended the meeting. County Councillor Iqbal agreed to write to the County Council requesting the route be considered. As an Officer from the County Council was in attendance it was agreed to bring forward item 16 of the agenda. Simon Bucknell from Lancashire County Council explained the priority grit routes and provided maps. It was commented that gritting in Nelson had been inadequate this year. Simon explained that the County had a contract with the Met. Office to provide information on when gritting was needed and that there were 18 gritters in Lancashire. Simon outlined that there has been no change to the levels of gritting in Nelson and the gritters have been out most days, doing a pre-treat and continuous treatments. The secondary routes were actioned on the 11th December. County Councillor Iqbal has made a formal request to the County for additional resources for gritting and this has been refused. It was noted that there was no criticism of the Officers and lack of resources was with the County Executive. The current policy does not prioritize areas around schools. The Leader of the County Council is to be requested to provide additional resources for gritting around schools. A map of priority footways is to be requested from the Borough Council. The County Mutual Aid Policy means they can supply the Town Council will grit. Borough Councillor Nadeem Ahmed gave his support towards the approval of the back of Victoria Street, item 18, being resurfaced. There were no further public questions. 17/18/133 FORMALLY RECONVENE THE MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL RESOLVED: That the meeting of the Town Council is reconvened. 17/18/134 MINUTES The Minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 13th December 2017 were circulated. Minute 17/18/116 should have stated Barnoldswick and not Barrowford. RESOLVED: That, with the above amendment, the minutes of the Full Council meeting held on the 13th December are accepted as a true record. 60 Signed ....................................................................... 14th February 2018 Minutes of a Meeting of Nelson Town Council held on 10th January 2018 17/18/135 COMMITTEE MINUTES Minutes of the following Committees have been circulated: Planning Committee, 13th December 2017 RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on the 13th December are accepted as a true record. Unity Wellbeing Management Committee 20th December 2017. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Unity Wellbeing Management Committee meeting held on the 20th December are accepted as a true record. 17/18/136 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES Updates from representatives on the following outside bodies were received: a) Nelson Committee, Pendle Borough Council – Councillor Nazeem Hayat and Councillor Zeeshan Amjad. There was a meeting that was over quickly as it was a short agenda and there were no real issues. b) Pendle Branch, Lancashire Association of Local Councils – Councillors George Adam and Nazeem Hayat. A meeting is due and will be reported back to the next Full Council. c) Pendle Fair Trade Group – Councillor Sheila Wicks. There is a joint meeting with the Barnoldswick group on the 22nd January at St Joseph’s Church to discuss an event. d) Town Centre Partnership/Town Team – Councillors Sajid Ali, Eileen Ansar and the Town Clerk. There has not been a meeting. e) Nelson Youth Forum – Councillors Nazeem Hayat and Saanval Safir. The Councillor in attendance had not been notified of any meetings. f) Whitefield Community Forum – Councillors Majid Anwar and Najaf Anwar. Gritting around schools is an issue as there has been an injury and schools have 61 Signed ....................................................................... 14th February 2018 Minutes of a Meeting of Nelson Town Council held on 10th January 2018 been closed. g) Bradley Big Local Committee – Councillors John Richardson and Nazeem Hayat. Progress is being made on the housing and land trust and a meeting is due on the 11th January. 17/18/137 FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS The financial transactions for the month of December 2017 were circulated at the meeting (See Appendix A). RESOLVED: That the Financial transactions for December are approved. 17/18/138 TRANSFERRED SERVICES MUGA signage is to be chased. Reports are to be requested again. The 2018 Parks Maintenance costs are £4,000 greater than expected. The Borough Council are working towards a 100% contribution and will consider the transfer of parks, though this will result in additional costs. 17/18/139 CLERK’S REPORT INCLUDING CORRESPONDENCE The Clerk’s report was noted. The Clerk has completed 5 out of the 6 Certificate in Local Council administration units. 4 have been assessed and passed. The last unit will be completed before the end of the month. In order to gain Quality Council Status there are a number of Policies and Procedures that need to be approved and the Clerk is working on these. RESOLVED: That the Clerk’s report is noted. 17/18/140 2018-2019 BUDGET The Finances and General Purposes Committee held on the 9th January recommended a proposed budget. Appendix B. RESOLVED: That the Proposed Budget is approved. 17/18/141 2018-2019 Precept The Finances and General Purposes Committee held on the 9th January recommended a proposed precept of £452,421.00. RESOLVED: That the Proposed precept of £452.421.00 is approved. 62 Signed ....................................................................... 14th February 2018 Minutes of a Meeting of Nelson Town Council held on 10th January 2018 17/18/142 INTERNAL AUDIT INTERIM REPORT The 6-month Internal Audit Interim report was circulated. No issues were identified, and it was recommended that the Clerk’s hours and workload are monitored to ensure that the high standards currently achieved are maintained. The Clerk was thanked for the work. RESOLVED: That the Interim Audit Report is approved. 17/18/143 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Councillors were asked to consider a Working Group for the 10-year anniversary. It was proposed that this work is delegated to the Events Committee. RESOLVED: That the Events Committee take on the responsibility for the 10-year anniversary. 17/18/144 GRITTING POLICY The item was discussed earlier, however clarity was requested on the setting of a Policy and prioritising the areas to be gritted. It was noted that the responsibility to grit is the County Councils and the Town Council does not have the capacity to grit all areas. There was a general concern about gritting around school areas. It was proposed that the Town Council no longer grits. RESOLVED: That the Town Council will no longer provide a gritting service. 17/18/145 STATUE FOR LEARIE CONSTANTINE A further request has been received to support a statue for Learie Constantine and Nelson Cricket Club have stated they are in support of the proposal but cannot offer any finances towards it. The Town Council will provide assistance to the Cricket Club if requested. 17/18/146 NELSON AREA COMMITTEE FUNDING REQUEST Member were asked to consider a funding request for resurfacing works to the back of 26-42 Victoria Road at a cost of £15,256. It was noted that Minute F17/020 of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on the 26th July and agreed by Full Council on the 9th August stated. “It was generally agreed to recommend the project goes ahead on condition that Nelson Area Committee is advised that the Town Council would not match any further back- street projects as it is developing its own policy on this matter and clarity is sought on what is being covered.” It was therefore Proposed that the funding request is put on hold for consideration from the 2017-18 Budget. A Counter Proposal that the scheme is funded from the 2016-17 Budget was 63 Signed ....................................................................... 14th February 2018 Minutes of a Meeting of Nelson Town Council held on 10th January 2018 seconded and lost at vote. The original proposal was amended to include: “Due to the Council’s previous resolution not to support any further back street improvement requests, the Victoria Street request is put on hold for consideration from the 2017-18 Budget.