Clitheroe Town Council

CLITHEROE TOWN COUNCIL.

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 6 September, 2010.

PRESENT: Councillors David Berryman, Ruth Hargreaves, Allan Knox, Sue Knox, Mary Robinson and Stephen Sutcliffe.

APOLOGIES: Apologies for absence, together with reasons, were received from the Town Mayor, the Deputy Town Mayor, Councillors Rose Connor and Chris Punchard.

RESOLVED: That the apologies be accepted.

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN. Having regard to the absence of both the Town Mayor and the Deputy Town Mayor it was RESOLVED - That Councillor Stephen Sutcliffe be appointed Chairman for the purpose of this meeting.

245.10 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. Laura Travers from the Environment Agency addressed the meeting on arrangements being made to hold a public meeting on the 8 November, 2010 in the Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Council Chamber starting at 7.00pm to discuss the preparation of a Community Flood Plan relating to parts of Clitheroe. A copy of the letter inviting members of the public to attend along with a Plan showing the flood risk areas in Clitheroe was circulated to Members.

246.10 MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS. Details of the official duties undertaken by the Town Mayor and Mayoress since the last Council meeting were circulated for information.

247.10 MINUTES. The Minutes of the Town Council held on the 28 June, 2010 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

The Minutes of the Planning, Finance and General Purposes Committee held on the 19 July, 2010 were noted.

248.10 PLANNING APPLICATIONS . Consideration was given to planning applications for weeks ended 13, 20 and 27 August, 2010 .

Tim Dean representing Gladman Developments addressed the meeting in regard to application 3/2010/0719 – proposed residential development of up to 270 dwellings, landscape, open space, highways and associated works on land off Henthorn Road, Clitheroe. He reported that, irrespective of the Town Council’s views on the application , if approval was forthcoming his Company would discuss with the Town Council the provision of suitable Community facilities in the area which they would consider helping to fund.

David Butterworth also addressed the meeting on behalf of the residents Action Group which has been set up to object to this application.

Ron Lobell, a local Clitheroe resident also addressed the meeting outlining his objection to this application.

RESOLVED: (1) That no objections be raised to any of the following Applications :- 3/2010/0653; 0678; 0682; 0683; and 0717; and

(2) That Ribble Valley Borough Council be informed that the Town Council object to application 3/2010/0719 on the following grounds:-

(a) it contradicts policy G2;

(b) the District Plan 1998 also excludes land off Henthorn Road from development under policy ENV 3 ;

(c) the Town Council has concerns about the effect of the development on the towns’ infrastructure and while it appreciates that the County Council can force the developer to take action regarding school places the Town Council is aware that the geography of the town means that traffic is a major issue for development at this site specifically the Henthorn Road/Thorn Street junction bottleneck, Thorn Street/ Eshton Terrace level crossing being closed to traffic 38 times a day, the narrowed Bawdlands Bridge and the ongoing sore of Woone Lane between Eshton Terrace and the Brown Cow public house;

(d) regarding future policies of the Borough Council the Town Council notes that the site was not identified as one of the Borough Council’s preferred options for development in its Current LDF draft document; and

(e) the SHLAA report cites Indicators of Settlement Sustainability which will ensure that sites contribute to the Creation of sustainable, mixed communities. Given the physical insularity of the site in question it is unlikely to mix well with the rest of the community. The nearest food shop, ideally within 400m is 622m by road from the site exit point. NHS health provision ideally within 1000m is 1850m from the exit point. Primary education ideally 600m is 955m from the exit point. There is no village hall nearby, except for the community facility used mainly by the residents of Henthorn Sheltered Housing complex.

-124- 249.10 ACCOUNTS PAID DURING JULY, 2010. The Town Clerk submitted details of Accounts paid during July, 2010, details of which are shown in the Appendix to these Minutes.

RESOLVED: That the accounts be approved.

250.10 LICENSING ACT 2003 AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ACT 1982 - CONSULTATION ON DRAFT LICENSING POLICY STATEMENT 2011-2014 AND ON THE ADOPTION OF POWERS TO CONTROL SEXUAL ENTERTAINMENT VENUES. The Town Clerk reported that the Town Council had been consulted on Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Licensing Policy Statement 2011-2014 and on the possible adoption by the Borough Council of the powers contained in Schedule 3 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982, relating to sex entertainment venues.

RESOLVED: That the Town Council has no comments on these matters.

251.10 LANCASHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE - PERFORMANCE REPORT AND ACTION PLAN 2010. The Town Clerk reported that the Town Council had been invited to comment on the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Performance Report and Action Plan 2010.

RESOLVED: That the Town Council has no comments on these matters.

252.10. CONSULTATION ON PROPOSAL TO CHARGE ENTITLED PUPILS A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE COST OF DENOMINATIONAL TRANSPORT. The Town Clerk reported that the Town Council had been invited to comment on the Lancashire County Council’s proposal to ask those parents whose children are currently entitled to home to school transport on denominational grounds to contribute a fee of £2 per day return per child towards the cost of their transport.

He reported that the proposal would see a phased introduction of the contributory charge which would apply to new pupils only starting denominational schools from September, 2010 onwards.

RESOLVED : (1) That the Lancashire County Council be informed that the Town Council object to these proposals as it would result in discrimination against children who attend church schools and, furthermore, it will restrict parents choice of schools for their children. ;and

-125- (2) That the County Council be informed that the Town Council are unhappy that none of the ‘drop in’ sessions are located in the Ribble Valley area.

253.10 ITEMS RAISED BY MEMBERS RE: THEIR WARD.

CONDITION OF ROUNDABOUT AT CHATBURN ROAD. Councillor Ruth Hargreaves drew attention to the overgrown and unsightly condition of the roundabout at Chatburn Road.

The Town Clerk reported that he had been informed by the local Company who maintain the roundabout that they will be dealing with the matter during Spring 2011.

CLOSURE OF PIMLICO ROAD – RAILWAY BRIDGE REPAIRS. Councillor Allan Knox drew attention to the County Council’s proposals to close Pimlico Road for a period in the next few months so that bridge works can be carried out.

254.10 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC.

RESOLVED: That the public be excluded from the meeting before discussion takes place on the remaining item of business on the grounds that it relates to an individual and, if the public were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of Part VA of the Local Government Act, 1972.

255.10 PAYMENT OF A GRATUITY TO THE TOWN CLERK. With reference to Minute No E3.09(3) (October 2009) of the Estimates Committee, the Town Clerk reported that he had discussed with the Society of Local Council Clerks National Financial Adviser and the Town Council’s Internal Auditor the most appropriate way in which the decision to pay the Town Clerk a retirement gratuity can be implemented.

He reported that they had recommended that the Town Council set up an earmarked reserve which can be called “ Town Clerk’s Gratuity Account” in its accounts which can receive interest on a notional basis. This assumes that the money in the reserve is invested as part of the Town Council’s normal cash management arrangements. In practical terms it is just an additional annual contribution from the reserve account.

In addition, the Town Clerk reported that the SLCC Advisor recommended that the payment of a gratuity be included in the Town Clerk’s Contract of Employment.

-126- RESOLVED: (1) That the proposed method of payment be approved ;and

(2) That the decision to pay the Town Clerk a gratuity on retirement be included in his Contract of Employment.

The meeting finished at 8.35pm .

………………………….. Chairman.