HOLYWELL TOWN COUNCIL
CYNGOR TREF TREFFYNNON
Minutes of the meeting of Holywell Town Council held in the Council
Chamber, Bank Place Offices, Holywell on Tuesday 16 July 2013 at 6.30pm.
------PRESENT: Councillor E.B. Palmer (Mayor).
Councillors: Mrs. M. Auty, Mrs. R. Dolphin, J. Griffiths, J.M. Johnson, D.W.
Jones, P.J. McGarry, Mrs. M.D. Phelan, H.G. Roberts, K. Roberts and B.
Scragg.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Councillors P.J. Curtis,
Mrs. K. Davies, Mrs. S.E. Wallbanks, E. Watkinson and P.A. York.
(Note: Councillor E. Watkinson, Deputy Mayor, was representing the Mayor
at Holywell High School’s Annual Prize Giving event).
IN ATTENDANCE: D.C. Pierce (Clerk) and M.G. Fearnley (Community
Support Officer).
41.
PRESENTATION BY MAYOR – GREAT BRITAIN DEAF SWIMMING
CLUB
The Mayor presented to Mr. Peter Noden, father of Emily of Lloc near
Holywell, a cheque for £200 made up from a personal £50 donation from
Councillor P.J. Curtis and £150 from the Mayor’s fund. Emily had been
selected to swim for Great Britain in the Deaflympics 23 July – 5 August in
Sofia, Bulgaria, the only Welsh swimmer to be selected.
Mr. Noden suitably responded and thanked the Members concerned for
their generosity and the Council as a whole for their support.
42.
BEST WISHES
The Clerk reported that Councillor Mrs. K. Davies had not been well
recently and Members asked that their best wishes be conveyed to her.
43.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – MEMBERS’ CODE OF CONDUCT
The following declarations of personal interest were made and the
relevant forms completed for the Clerk to forward on to Flintshire County
Council’s Monitoring Officer.
Minute Name of Councillor
No.
58.1(3) Mrs. M. Auty
Personal
Prejudicial
√
√*
Nature of Interest
Non-local authority
appointed
representative/Trustee –
58.1(3) Mrs. R. Dolphin
√
√*
58.1(3) K. Roberts
√
-
Greenfield Valley Trust
Ltd
Flintshire County
Council’s appointed
representative /Trustee–
Greenfield Valley Trust
Ltd
Town Council’s appointed
representative/Trustee –
Greenfield Valley Trust
Ltd
*Member left the meeting room for the discussion and voting.
44.
MAYOR’S REMARKS
The Mayor reported that, since the last meeting, he had attended the
Chairman’s Civic Sunday – Connah’s Quay Town Council. He also reported
on the recent successful 999 Emergency Services Day and the Transition
Holywell & District’s Craft & Produce Fayre in the town centre.
Holywell had been judged on its entry in the Wales in Bloom
Competition on 4 July and earlier in Flintshire County Council’s Best Kept
Communities Competition. The results were expected by mid-August.
Accompanied by Councillor J. Griffiths, he would be judging the Council’s
Wales in Bloom School Projects Competition on 17 July.
45.
MINUTES
45.1.
General
RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the following meetings be approved
and signed as a correct record by the Mayor.
Council Meeting held on 18 June 2013;
Finance Committee held on 26 June 2013.
45.2.
Finance Committee
RESOLVED:
That the resolutions of the Finance Committee held on
26 June 2013 in respect of policy matters be supported
and approved.
46.
PLANNING
46.1.
Planning Applications
Consideration was given to applications forwarded to the Town
Council as part of the County Council’s planning consultation process.
RESOLVED:
That the following responses be submitted to the
Flintshire County Planning Authority.
No
Proposal
050818
Installation of GRP enclosure mounted on a reinforced
concrete base to house high voltage switchgear and
alteration to existing steel palisade boundary fence to
divert around new GRP substation – Unit 34 Greenfield
Business Park, Holywell: for Unifrax Emission Control
Europe Ltd.
No objection.
050920
Erection of a detached garage – 2 The Ridgeway,
Holywell: for Mr. R. Robinson.
No objection.
050929
Erection of 8 No. flats – Heathfield, Greenfield Road,
Greenfield, Holywell: for Miss Francesca Melia.
Objection on the following grounds:


adverse impact on residential amenity by way of overdevelopment; and
the scale of the proposal would also have an adverse effect on
the character and appearance of the streetscene.
050941
2no. extensions to existing production buildings –
Kingspan Ltd, Greenfield Business Park, Greenfield,
Holywell: for Kingspan.
No objection.
050976
Change of use from A1 to A3 (Chinese takeaway) – 12
High Street, Holywell: for Mr. W. Chan (fresh
application).
Objection on the following grounds:

the High Street currently needs more diversity rather than a
duplication of the type of business referred to in the
application, as a means to reverse the decline in the town centre
and facilitate its regeneration.
(Note: Councillors J.M. Johnson and H.G. Roberts did not vote on the
above five applications).
46.2.
Town & Country Planning Regulations – Request for Scoping Opinion
for the Preparation of an Environmental Statement in respect of the
proposed erection of Three 2 MW Wind Turbines at Land at Garreg
Wen, Near Lloc, Holywell
Although the proposal by West Coast Energy Ltd was not within the
community of Holywell, the Town Council’s observations had been
invited by the County Council.
RESOLVED:
(1) That the Town Council makes the following
comments for the attention of the County Council
and West Coast Energy Ltd:
The Council has serious concerns regarding the proposed Wind
Farm on the following grounds:




adverse environmental impact, the proposed site being only
within about 2½km of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty;
impact on the character and appearance of the area and its
tourism potential through the adverse visual intensity of the
proposal;
detrimental impact of construction including its large turbine
blades on the nearby busy highway and its users and general
public health and safety issues arising therefrom;
impact to the detriment of effective search and rescue functions
of emergency support units (Police and Air Ambulance), air
traffic enforcement and communication with nearby airports.
(2) That the County Council be thanked for the
opportunity afforded to the Town Council to submit
its comments at this early stage.
47.
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
47.1.
Accounts for Payment
RESOLVED:
That payment of the following accounts be approved,
the necessary audit checks having been undertaken in
accordance with the requirements of the Audit SubCommittee.
Voucher
5310
5311
5312
5313
5314
5315
5316
5317
5318
5319
5320
£
Viking – Stationery/cleaning materials/
Office sundries
124.74****
JDH Business Services Ltd – Internal
Audit 2012/13
280.80^^
Bernard Dykes & Son – Updating Town
Mayor’s Board
40.00^
Copyrite Systems – Final Copier
Charge 17/5/13-17/6/13
28.06****
BPH – Water Sprayer service
(Wales in Bloom)
42.00^^
Computer Tech Solutions – Computer
Set up/loan PC
60.00****
D. Owen – Erection of floral displays
(50%)
225.00^^
Pottles Premier Plants – Floral
Displays (Wales in Bloom)
3,174.00^^
K. Fricker (Treetops) – Watering
Floral Displays Jun/Jul
400.00^^
D/D: BNP Paribas – Lease payment (1)
Photocopier
162.00****
Jolora – Upgrade Web Housing
Package to 4/4/14
76.71***
53215325 Various ‘999 Day’ Lunchtime
Refreshments
59.79^^
5326 British Telecom – One Bill Plus to
June ’13
93.42****
5327 British Telecom – 07436273793
Solo Contract end June/July
31.08****
5328 St. Kentigern Hospice – Donation
200.00^^
5329 Holywell Autumn Club – Donation 200.00^^
5330 The Holywell & District Society –
Donation
100.00^^
5331 Holywell Debonaires Morris
Dancers – Donation
300.00^^
5332 Carmel & District Cricket Club –
Donation
200.00^^
5333 Greenfield Senior Citizens Club –
Donation
200.00^^
5334 Holywell Band – Donation
200.00^^
5335 Flintshire Citizens Advice Bureau –
Donation
1,000.00^^
5336 Holywell Town Football Club –
Donation
750.00^^
5337 D.C. Pierce – Salary – July
1,318.52***
5338 M.G. Fearnley – Salary – July
1,119.94***
5339 Mrs. M. Reed – Secretarial Expenses –
July
40.00***
5340
HMRC (Inland Revenue) – PAYE/
Nat Ins – July
998.48***
________
11,421.54
*
The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales
(IRPW) Regulations for the remuneration of
members and co-opted members of relevant
authorities – Part 5 Community/Town
Councils).
Local Government Act 1972 S.137
Local Government Act 1972 S.112, 151
Local Government Act 1972 S.133
Local Government Act 1972 S.111
Local Government Act 1972 S.144, 145
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Act 1976 S.19
Local Government Act 1972 S.143
Local Government Act 1972 S.140
Local Government Act 1972 S.176
Local Government Act 1972 S.13
Local Government Act 1972 S.34
Local Government (Misc. Provisions) Act 1953
S.4
Local Government Act 1972 S.174
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Act 1976 S.4
Local Government Act 1972 S.124
Local Government Act 1972 S.142
Representation of the People Act 1983 S.34
Powers to make payments:-
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47.2.
Income Received
Members received the schedule of income, circulated with the agenda,
regarding income between 1 and 30 June 2013.
48.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER’S REPORT 19/6/13 – 16/7/13
Members had before them the Community Support Officer’s (CSO)
report that summarised his duties in the period since his report to the June
meeting as well as updating Members regarding ongoing issues.
The CSO gave a summary of the recent changes and proposed changes
in business tenants in the town centre. He also asked Members to let him
know of any possible accessible storage accommodation in the town centre to
assist with safe-keeping of items for organisations involved in the town centre
events programme.
He reminded Members of the open invitation from the Good
Companions of Holywell Hospital to arrange a short tour of the hospital and
its Community Garden for any Member who wished to visit.
RESOLVED:
That the CSO’s report be received with thanks.
49.
DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES IN WALES
Councillor Mrs. M.D. Phelan requested the Council to support the
following Notice of Motion:
“The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board covers a large area and
it is obvious from the latest campaigns around the closure of local hospitals
that people feel they have no real power to influence decisions about health
care in spite of consultations. Staff, the public and other groups could elect
members of the Health Board according to an agreed process and the Chair of
the Board should also be elected, possibly by Members to avoid the selection
by one interested group.
With an elected Health Board, members will also be accountable for
the finances they control which come from public monies.
Accordingly, the Town Council is asked to:
1. agree that the public should have a democratic say in what happens
to their Health Services, through elected Health Boards;
2. request the Town Clerk to write to the Minister for Health and
Social Services at the Welsh Assembly Government to ask that
consideration be given to establishing elected Health Boards;
3. seek the support of the North Wales Association of Town and
Larger Community Councils for its proposal;
4. send a copy of the above decisions to the MP and AM for Delyn
and also to the local press”.
RESOLVED:
That the Notice of Motion be supported with the
addition of the following:5. request that no member of the Board elected or otherwise be paid
more than the average wage of a skilled worker.
(Note: Councillors Mrs. M. Auty and K. Roberts requested that their
names be recorded as having voted against the above resolution).
50.
HOLWAY ROAD BUS SHELTER (OPPOSITE JAMES’S PLACE)
HOLYWELL – FURTHER UPDATE
The Clerk reported that matters appeared to be moving forward on this
item with the co-operation of the County Council’s streetscene service. In
this connection, Councillor H.G. Roberts reported on the site meeting that had
taken place with the Streetscene Supervisor for the Holywell area.
RESOLVED:
That the further update be welcomed.
51.
PROVISION OF DOG FOULING AND LITTER BINS
The Clerk reported a request from the Streetscene Supervisor for the
Holywell area for any reasonable requirements for bins.
RESOLVED:
That Members notify the Clerk of any place within the
community that would benefit from having a bin of
either type, to enable the County Council to thereafter
carry out the necessary pre-installation consultation.
52.
APPOINTMENT OF A MINOR AUTHORITY MEMBER ON THE
GOVERNING BODY OF ST. WINEFRIDE’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY
SCHOOL, HOLYWELL
Consideration was given to appointing a representative from the Town
Council to fill the vacancy on the Board of Governors after former Councillor
Mrs. Madeleine Jones had stepped down.
RESOLVED:
That Councillor Mrs. M. Auty (Greenfield Ward) be
appointed to fill the vacancy on the Governing Body of
St. Winefride’s Catholic Primary School, Holywell, for
the next term of office.
53.
REPORT(S) ETC. RECEIVED
Members were informed that the following items had been received
and unless otherwise circulated*, were available for perusal from the Clerk.
(a) Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery – Call for
Evidence*;
(b) Public Health Wales: Screening for Life – Raising awareness of the
importance of screening – July 2013*;
(c) Flood Briefing Note from the Association of British Insurers (received via
the AM for Delyn)*;
(d) Public Services Ombudsman for Wales: Annual Report 2012/13;
(e) Flintshire County Council: Changes to the Ombudsman’s Guidance on the
Code of Conduct*;
(f) Flintshire County Council: Minutes and supporting papers from the
County Forum meeting held on 28 February and agenda and papers for the
meeting held on 27 June;
(g) Flintshire County Council: Summer Playscheme Programme 2013*;
(h) Sefton Council: Comments on the proposed Burbo Bank Extension
Offshore Windfarm Order – Application EN010026*;
(i) North Wales Association of Town and Larger Community Councils:
Agenda for the Annual General Meeting and Conference on 19 July 2013
and Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 20 July 2012;
(j) Bitesize: The Physical Activity and Nutrition Networks for Wales
quarterly newsletter for community food and physical activity initiatives in
Wales – June 2013;
54.
ACTION DURING THE RECESS PERIOD
RESOLVED:
That the Clerk, in consultation with the Mayor and/or
Deputy Mayor, be authorised to deal with urgent
matters during the recess period.
55.
REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS
Councillor K. Roberts reported on the proposal to install a
commemorative seat within the Greenfield Valley Heritage Park in memory of
Jason Owens who had died there recently.
Councillor J. Griffiths reported on a meeting he had been asked to
attend to hear a progress report about the development of the new school in
Holywell.
56.
HOLYWELL TOWN PARTNERSHIP/HOLYWELL TOWN COUNCIL –
JOINT MEETING REGARDING HOLYWELL STREETSCAPE
PROPOSALS
The Clerk reported that all Councillors were invited to a joint meeting
with the Holywell Town Partnership on Wednesday 28 August 2013 at 6pm at
the Flintshire Connects building (Old Town Hall) as part of the consultation
on the streetscene proposals for Holywell town centre. The proposals would
then be open for public consultation.
RESOLVED:
That the information be noted and that, if possible, a
meeting of the Town Centre Sub-Committee be
arranged before the September meeting of the Council
to formulate recommendations for the Authority’s
consideration.
57.
DERELICT HOUSES ON GREENFIELD ROAD, HOLYWELL
The Clerk circulated a copy, for information, of the responses from the
County Council to the Town Council’s earlier representations on the above
matter relating to the development at the old “Greenfield Valley Service
Station”, Greenfield Road, Holywell.
The work on completion of the properties had been held in abeyance
following a longstanding dispute over the responsibility for the structural
integrity of the reservoir to the rear. This in turn had prevented the
determination of the outstanding planning application.
The issue with regard to responsibility had since been concluded. It
was hoped that swift progress could be made to determine the planning
application and assessing matters relating to the reservoir.
RESOLVED:
That the position be noted.
58.
EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
RESOLVED:
That the public and press be excluded for the following
minutes (58.1 to 58.3) on the grounds that publicity
would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of
the confidential nature of the business to be transacted
arising from the supporting financial information
reported with the applications for financial assistance; a
proposed pre-planning application consultation; and
public office contractual matters.
58.1.
Applications for Financial Assistance 2013/14
Members considered requests received for financial assistance from
various organisations. The Clerk reported on the supporting
background and financial information provided by each organisation.
RESOLVED:
(1) That the following donation be made from the
general provision in the 2013/14 budget.
Flintshire Optec Youth Exchange
£
200
(2) That the following donation be confirmed from the
earmarked provision in the 2013/14 budget.
£
Clwyd Community Chest Membership 2012/13 300
(AGM on 25/7/13 – Councillor J. Griffiths to
attend. Also, Councillor J. Griffiths nominated
to fill the vacancy on the Management Committee).
(3) That the application in respect of the Greenfield
Valley Trust Ltd be referred to the Council’s
Finance Committee (meeting as the full Council)
for consideration and determination – the meeting
to take place on Tuesday, 23 July at 6p.m. with the
applicant in attendance.
58.2.
Planning Presentation – E.P. Emery Planning Partnership Ltd – Tan y
Felin, Greenfield
Consideration was given to a request in the letter from the E.P.
Planning Partnership Ltd to attend a Committee or other meeting with
the Town Council in relation to the above matter.
RESOLVED:
That E.P. Emery Planning Partnership be informed that
the Town Council’s considers that a meeting would be
premature and that, if required, further consideration
would be given to the matter once it had been consulted
by the County Planning Authority following the
submission of a formal planning application.
58.3.
Bank Place Offices, Holywell
Consideration was given to a number of issues following a report from
the Clerk.
RESOLVED:
(1) That the revised contract start date of Monday, 2
September for maintenance/repairs at the Council’s
Bank Place Offices (for an estimated six week
period) be noted.
(2) That the reported interest in occupying No. 14 Bank
Place be noted but that, in the first instance, the
Council continues to explore the possibility of
adapting the ground floor of the accommodation as
a meeting room/Council Chamber.
(3) That temporary storage in No. 14 Bank Place be
permitted until such time as the Council decides on
the future of the accommodation and that any
arrangements made do no conflict with the
maintenance/repairs contract works in (1) above.
59. CLOSE OF MEETING
The Mayor closed the meeting at 8.15 pm.
……………………….
Mayor