Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held at the Community Pavilion, Llys Ben, Northop Hall on Tuesday 14 November 2017 at 7.00pm Present: Councillors John Golledge, Linda Thew, Martin Richardson, Bill Tait, Peter Gibson, Graham Cooke, Gelnis Jones, Steve Robinson, John Lamb and Hilary Astbury. In attendance: Stephen C Harms, Clerk. 1. Apologies for absence Apologies were received from Cllr Elaine Price. 2. Members Code of Conduct - Declarations of Interest Councillors Lamb and Astbury declared personal and prejudicial interests relating to any discussions about the proposed development of the Wellfield Farm land. Councillors Richardson, Cook and Tait declared personal interests relating to any discussions about the Pavilion. 3. Ten minute public participation session in accordance with Standing Orders No members of the public were in attendance. 4. North Wales Police Report PCSO Stephanie Jones reported on incidents affecting the village recorded by the Police since the last meeting on the 10 October. 1 incident of criminal damage had been reported – paint had been thrown onto a driveway in Newton Close, while the householders were away from home. No cctv recordings were available and the Police were at present unable to identify suspects. 1 incident of anti-social behaviour had also been reported of a group of males harassing 2 females, however when the Police attended the area, no one was found. The PCSO had attended Northop Hall Primary School to discuss the parking problems, and the school newsletter had included some advice on parking. The PCSO was carrying out ‘spot-checks’ in the vicinity of the school, which would be on-going. Several incidents of speeding had been reported in the village, including one where a member of the public involved in the candle-lit walk had been hit on the elbow by a vehicle. The Bryn Gwyn Lane area was causing concern with speeding vehicles, which the PCSO would look into. Signed..................................................................... 48/17 www.northophallcommunitycouncil.btck.co.uk Councillor Cook reported on a vehicle with a loud exhaust around the Bryn Gwyn Lane area after midnight. Councillor Astbury asked what the legal position was in respect of exhausts, and the PCSO confirmed this was the responsibility of Traffic Police. Councillor Lamb asked what area the PCSO covered, and Members were advised the villages of Northop Hall, Northop, Sychdyn and Ewloe. With no further items to report, the PCSO asked if any issues could be reported back for her to look into. The Chairman thanked the PCSO from everyone for her attendance. 5. Minutes – To Approve the minutes from the Ordinary Meeting of the 10 October, and the Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the 24 October. Councillor Astbury referred to item 6 on the minutes from 10 October, indicating she had not seconded the proposal made by Councillor Gibson, and had not voted on this proposal. Councillor Thew advised she had seconded the proposal. Councillors Astbury and Lamb advised they had declared ‘personal and prejudicial’ interests in relation to any discussions about Wellfield Farm development, rather than ‘personal’ interests. The minutes would be amended accordingly. Councillor Gibson referred to item 5 of the minutes of the 24 October, indicating he had not indicated the estimated cost of engaging a traffic specialist, Councillor Golledge advising he had indicated these costs. Subject to the above amendments, Councillor Cook proposed, and Councillor Gibson seconded, the minutes of 10 October and 24 October be approved. Carried. 6. Matters Arising. Councillor Astbury referred to her letters of the 2nd, 5th and 23rd October to which she had not received a reply. The Chairman advised this matter was to be dealt with under ‘correspondence’ later during the meeting. Councillor Astbury asked whether the Council should seek independent advice whether it had breached the Human Rights Act in its dealings with the Trustees of the Owen Jones Trust. It was pointed out that the Council had not made any formal comments to the Trustees. After discussion, the Chairman stated that Northop Hall Community Council cannot make an impartial decision if any Councillors get involved with the ‘Anti-Wellfield Farm Group’ and requested all Members to retain their impartiality. Signed..................................................................... 49/17 www.northophallcommunitycouncil.btck.co.uk 7. Grants Sub-Committee. The renovations works on the Cenotaph had now been completed, and the re-dedication service and the 11.00am Remembrance Sunday service had been well attended and a great success. Over 60 members of the village residents, including children, had turned out for the candle-lit procession and comments afterwards had revealed a renewed sense of community in the village. There had now been three articles in the local press, and local MP, David Hansen had been reported in commenting that more villages should take the lead from Northop Hall. The Chairman took this opportunity to record a Vote of Thanks to Councillor Thew and the two previous Clerks, Sharon and Bridget, for all their hard work in getting this project started and seeing it through to completion. Approved Unanimously. The Chairman proposed the Council should write to the Heritage Lottery Fund requesting we now include details of soldiers from World War 2. The book and the dvd now needed to be completed. There had been an offer from a village resident, who runs a gardening service, to tend the lawns and hedges at the Cenotaph site for no charge. Councillor Cook proposed the Council should accept this offer, subject to checking whether the service would be covered under the existing Council insurance. Approved Unanimously. Councillor Jones asked what was happening with the fencing, and the Yew tree. Members were advised that the fencing was to be replaced next year, and the Yew tree has been re-planted, and it is hoped it will now flourish as the cherry tree has been felled. Councillor Robinson asked about the memorial plaque for Colin Jenkins, from the bench which had not been re-fitted. Councillor Richardson advised he had the plaque which would be re-fitted in a prominent position. Councillor Robinson proposed, Councillor Astbury seconded, that the plaque should go back onto the bench. Carried. 8. Risk Assessment Up-date. The Clerk advised there were no new items relating to the Risk Assessment. Councillor Robinson asked whether the new gardener would need to be included as a ‘risk’ for the Council. The Clerk would contact the insurers for clarification. Councillor Astbury asked whether copies of the Risk Assessment were available for Councillors to review. It was agreed to distribute these for discussion at the December meeting. 9. Clerk’s Report and Consideration of Action Log. On reviewing the action log, several older items appeared to be open, and it was agreed that the Clerk should review all open items and clear those that had been completed. Councillor Astbury requested a printed copy of the action log. The Clerk advised Members that at this time of year, Council should review the expenditure for the year, and commence preparations to set the Precept for 2018/19. After some discussion, it was agreed that we should include a ‘budget setting’ item on the December meeting’s Agenda. Signed..................................................................... 50/17 www.northophallcommunitycouncil.btck.co.uk Councillor Lamb asked whether Council should look at including a provision for possible expenditure in respect of any transfers of services from County Council as a result of the continued budget setting difficulties at County level. 10. Budget Report 2017/18 Councillors reviewed the up-date of the budget monitoring report. The Clerk would check on the ‘recommended reserve’ to be held at year end. This item would be reported during the December meeting. Councillor Robinson commented on the estimated costs included for ‘website maintenance’ which would not be payable. All items of expenditure would be reviewed and a detailed up-date would be reviewed at the December meeting in preparation for setting of the 2018/19 Precept. 11. Defibrillator for the Village. Councillor Jones requested an up-date on the proposed provision for defibrillator equipment in the village. Councillors were reminded that we had agreed to provide two sets of equipment for the village, one to be installed at the Methodist Church and the second at the Pavilion. Councillor Richardson advised that grants were available from the Big Lottery Fund for equipment and proposed that Northop Hall Community Council should apply for such grant funding to assist with the cost of the equipment. Agreed Unanimously. The Clerk would prepare and submit the documents. 12. Dog Fouling and Litter Picking. Councillor Cook advised that Flintshire County Council would be putting up the signs relating to the new Dog Control measures as soon as possible. Enforcement Officers from the County would be patrolling the area, however advised that reports to the Council would result in an increased presence of the Officers. The litter picking events had now finished for the year, the next event scheduled for January 2018. 13. Community Transport. Flintshire County Council had now produced the timetables for the service which had been put up at stops on the route – despite the service running for some time without timetables. Further leaflets were to be distributed in the near future. Signed....................................................................