Stocksbridge Town Council
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Town Council Meeting 11th June 2015 STOCKSBRIDGE TOWN COUNCIL Minutes of a meeting of the Stocksbridge Town Council, held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, The ARC, Stocksbridge on Thursday, 21st May 2015 PRESENT : Cllr. J Clarkson (Chair) ; Cllrs. N J Owen, H L Hanson, A S Law, B Grundill and K Davis 11 members of the public ************ 23. To Receive Chairman’s Remarks and Apologies for Absence Apologies for Absence were received from Cllrs. R J Crowther, J A Grocutt. 24. Declarations of Acceptance of Office The Clerk noted that Cllr. R Crowther was still to sign his Declaration of Acceptance of Office which could be done on his return from annual leave or at the next meeting. 25. Exclusion of the Press and Public The Clerk noted that she wished to raise an issue under item 10 - Correspondence in Part 2 of the meeting. 26. Declarations of Interest Cllrs. J Clarkson and A S Law declared an interest in agenda item 11 – To consider Planning Applications and receive the Decisions of the Sheffield City Council North West Planning Board. 27. Public Questions and Petitions S Parry asked if the Town Council agree that Stocksbridge becomes Dementia Friendly, noting that the Clerk and Assistant Clerk had attended a Dementia Friends training session earlier today. Cllr. JC stated that the Town Council were fully behind it, noting that Susie Abrahams had attended meetings and reported back when she was a Town Councillor. Representatives from several businesses on Manchester Road attended the meeting to raise their concerns at the slow progress of the development works which was affecting their income as customers were avoiding the area due to the traffic lights causing lengthy delays. The works had been ongoing for several months and they had not been forewarned or informed of the length of time the works would take. A representative from Henry Boot had advised that unforeseen delays had been caused by Yorkshire Water issues and the works should be completed by the end of June but there appeared to be no efforts to make up the time by weekend working or longer working days. Cllr. JC reported that he had written to Cllr. L Bramall asking for assistance with possible claims for compensation for the loss of business/earning. A copy of the response received was circulated to shop owners for information. Cllr. ASL noted that the works had been ongoing for months and normally an idea of the programme of works would have been issued. Cllr. NJO stated that the Town Council were regularly bringing issues to the attention of SCC and it had been their aim to support the Town’s businesses over the past four years. The Clerk was requested to invite representatives from Dransfield’s and Henry Boot to the next Recreation and Environment Committee meeting on 2nd June. Page | 1 Town Council Meeting 11th June 2015 Cllr. JC stated that the traffic lights could be better controlled as they were causing major hold-ups. Members of the public noted that workmen from the site were parking in the public car park, hence there were no spaces left for the public to park in order to access the shops on Manchester Road. Cllr. KD felt it was important to get a resolution or all the shops would be closed down by the time the development was completed, residents were no longer shopping locally but using the back roads to avoid the traffic lights and shopping out of the area. There were also hold-ups being caused by the siting of the bus stop in the middle of the traffic lights. Cllr. NJO reported that traffic was being diverted via Victoria Road, creating a rat-run which was a health and safety risk. T Martin noted that the Stocksbridge Regeneration Company had provided no communication or support for local businesses and they have the responsibility. This needs to happen in the future and there is a need to protect what we have now. Successful Centres monies had been utilised to invest in local businesses but this had been insufficient and not successful. 106 monies had disappeared, they had not been spent on local infrastructure. Cllr. JC noted that the Neighbourhood Plan Group were looking for new members if anyone was interested in joining the group. TM stated that it was all talking and no action. The Clerk was requested to:- a) write to Henry Boot again and invite a representative to attend the meeting with M Dransfield b) request that Henry Boot employees do not use the public car park in Lidl as this was taking up spaces for possible customers c) write to SYPTE requesting that they re-site the bus stop to a more appropriate location d) contact Henry Boot with a request that the traffic lights system is better controlled Cllr. JC undertook to write to Cllr. L Bramall again. The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and hoped that a resolution could be sought in the near future. 28. To Approve as a True and Correct Record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 9th April 2015 Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 9th April 2015, copies of which had been circulated prior to the meeting were taken as read. Proposed by Cllr. N J Owen, seconded by Cllr. J Clarkson and RESOLVED:- That the minutes be confirmed and signed by the Chairman. 29. To Receive Remarks from the Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 9th April 2015 With reference to item 316, paragraph six – Highway Works. The Clerk reported that she had received correspondence from P Vickers stating that everything possible is done to minimise disruption to the area during the highway works, which would normally include a representative from SYPTE. The effect on bus routes and timetables is always considered and there are lots of tools available to manage the programmed works. Representatives from the two main bus companies are situated in the Carbook offices who have immediate radio contact with all of the bus fleet throughout the area and telemetry systems on site enable them to monitor journey times in large areas of the City. If any Councillors would be interested in a visit to the Traffic Control Centre at Carbrook he would be pleased to make the necessary arrangements. With reference to item 327 a) fifth paragraph – Dog Bin, Clock Tower Gardens. The Clerk reported that she had received correspondence from D Dawson, Parks and Public Realm advising that a new dog bin had been ordered and will be installed as soon as possible. The Clerk reported that she had received correspondence from L Biggin, Central Library giving reassurance that there are plans to rectify the situation with respect to the ramp in front of Page | 2 Town Council Meeting 11th June 2015 Stocksbridge Library, however, initially works need to be undertaken following a recent fire risk assessment. LB undertook to keep the Town Council informed. 30. To Approve as a True and Correct Record the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Town Council held on 19th May 2015 Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 19th May 2015, copies of which were tabled at the meeting were taken as read. Proposed by Cllr. N J Owen, seconded by Cllr. H Hanson and RESOLVED:- That the minutes be confirmed as signed by the Chairman. 31. To Receive and Approve Balances and Comparison of Spending Against Budget The Clerk reported that the details of the Balances & Comparison of Spending Against Budget had been previously circulated. Proposed by Cllr. A S Law, seconded by Cllr. N J Owen and RESOLVED:- That the Town Council accept details of the balances and comparison of spending against budget for April 2015 as supplied by the Clerk. Cllr. NJO requested the Clerk to give new Councillors a brief update on the budgets. The Clerk reported on funding given to 4SLC to assist with the re-opening of the small pool and running costs for the 2015/16 financial year, which it was hoped would continue year on year. The Council Tax Support Grant from the Government had been passed down from SCC this year but cuts will be phased in and the reduction would be passed down to the Town Council and this may be nil next year. Therefore, the Town Council need to be aware and budget heads had been cut to the wire this year. Cllr. KD enquired whether the Christmas Lights contract had completed. The Clerk advised that the old contract had finished in 2014, a tendering process had been undertaken and a contractor appointed for one year, Christmas 2015. The new Council would need to decide if it wished to continue with a further contract during the budget setting process for 2016/17. Cllr. NJO noted that there had also been a tendering process for the re-decoration of the Town Hall offices, work was to commence shortly. 32. Stocksbridge Tennis Club The Clerk reported that she had received correspondence from Stocksbridge Tennis Club enclosing photographs of the upgrading of the tennis courts on Linden Crescent and the installation of the flood lighting. This correspondence was noted. 33. Citizen’s Award The Clerk reported that she had received correspondence from Cliff North expressing his thanks for the Annual Citizen’s Award, the Mayor’s kind words and the Town Council’s generosity which were much appreciated. This correspondence was noted. 34. Streets Ahead The Clerk reported that she had received correspondence from V Varnam enclosing a Work Starting Leaflet for the A15 Penistone Road Zone, a Penistone Road ZoneTree Summary and a Sheffield Streets Ahead Tree Species list, copies of this correspondence had been previously circulated to members’.