COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of the MEETING of the COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE held on 14 MARCH 2011

PRESENT: Chair: Councillor Judith Hough Vice-Chair: Councillor Clive Carver

Councillors: As per Council Meeting

Officers: R N Barnes, Clerk & Financial Officer

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kevin Jones and Ralph Small

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

No declarations of interest were made.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING:

IT WAS RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 14 February be received as a true record and that they be signed by the Chair.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:

There were none

ALLOTMENT LAND:

The Chair invited the Clerk to introduce the report.

The Clerk said that the purpose of the report was to apprise the Committee of the present situation vis-à-vis three possible allotment sites i.e. one at land off Lane, one at land to the rear of Penarlag CP School and the Penymynydd site.

The Clerk advised that so far as the site in Penymynydd was concerned the soil tests to be undertaken on behalf of Community Council had not yet been carried out.

With regard to land off Mancot Lane the Clerk reminded the Committee that the Council had been seeking to negotiate the rental of the land and had been awaiting information from the Agents who had advised that the land was to be sold. He said that no such information had been received but sales particulars had been obtained indicating that the land had a guide price of £30,000 - £41,000. It was evident from the particulars that the Agents considered that the land had future potential residential use. He said that beyond the purchase price the Council could expect to spend £10,000 to fence and service the site and provide parking. Anticipated income from the renting of the allotment plots would be in the region of £3,000 per annum. He recommended that

- 156 - Chair’s Signature ______the Council did not pursue its interest in purchasing the site at this stage but waited to see if the land was sold and if so whether the purchaser would be interested in renting the land to the Council or alternatively seeking to purchase the land at a lower valuation if it did not sell.

The Clerk said that since the last meeting a further parcel of land of up to 6 acres to the rear of Penarlag CP School had been offered to the Council as a potential allotment site. Unfortunately the only access to it would be through the Open Space to the side of Penarlag CP School. The Open Space was in the ownership of County Council and a request had been made to the Council to ascertain whether the County Council would agree to allow a right of access across the Open Space. At present no reply had been received.

Councillor Hardcastle said that he would not support the Council progressing the land to the rear of Penarlag CP School as he had concerns with regard to potential parking problems, antisocial behaviour and disturbance to local residents.

Councillor Halford said that she would prefer the Open Space to be used as an access to allotments rather than the construction of further houses and should approval be given for this proper parking could be provided on site thereby overcoming any parking issues on Carlines Avenue.

Councillor Brown said that if approval was given by Flintshire County Council to use the Open Space as an access to the site then a programme of consultation could be carried out with adjacent residents.

IT WAS RESOLVED: to receive the report and to await the developments on all three sites.

CLERK’S REPORT:

The Clerk advised that there were no matters which he wished to draw to the Committee’s attention.

MEMBERS’ INFORMATION ITEMS:

There were none

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