AC/94/08
OSWESTRY TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Amenities Committee held on Wednesday,
12th March, 2008 following the meeting of the Development and Planning
Committee in the Guildhall, Oswestry.
PRESENT: The Mayor, Councillor Mrs. D. Barrow
Councillors K. Barrow, M. Bennett, Mrs. A.H. Bickerton,
Mrs. M.E. Chamberlain, M. Chamberlain, Mrs. E. Channon,
J.R. Evans, Miss B.Y. Gull, Mrs. C. Hawksley, R.W. Hoseason,
J.G. Jones, W.O. Jones, W.S. Keable and C. Schofield.
Also in attendance: The Town Clerk.
1 member of the public.
In the Chair: Councillor Mrs. C. Hawksley
264.
PUBLIC SESSION
Between 7.00 and 7.15 p.m. members of the public were invited to
question the Council on local issues etc.
RESOLVED to note that no member of the public raised a question.
265.
APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor F.D. Aldridge –
family commitments, Councillors Mrs. M. Benyon and W. Benyon –
family commitments.
RESOLVED the above apologies be noted and accepted.
266.
DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS
Declarations of personal and prejudicial interests on any item included on
the agenda were invited in accordance with Sections 50-52, Local
Government Act 2000 and The Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct)
(England) Order 2001.
Councillor Mrs. M.E. Chamberlain declared a personal interest in agenda
item 16 – St. Oswald’s Closed Churchyard – Trees and item 17 –
Lychgate Passageway – as a member of St. Oswald’s congregation.
Similar personal interests were recorded in these two agenda items by
Councillors Mrs. E. Channon, R. Hoseason, Miss B.Y. Gull and Mrs. C.
Hawksley.
Councillor Mrs. M.E. Chamberlain declared a personal interest in agenda
item 18 – Cambrian Visitor Centre – as the Town Council’s representative
on the Tourism Association as did Councillor Miss B.Y. Gull on this matter.
Councillor W.S. Keable declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 20 –
Oswestry Tennis Club – due to his involvement with the Governing Body
of Oswestry School. Councillor Miss B.Y. Gull declared a similar interest.
267.
MINUTES
Minutes of a meeting held on 23rd January, 2008, AC/93/08, were
confirmed and signed.
268.
BUS SHELTERS
Report from the Town Clerk in the form of an update following discussions
with Shropshire County Council and anticipated future action as required.
After discussion, it was RESOLVED
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269.
That Report TC/1704/08 be adopted and the Council take up the offer
of a meeting with the County Council to review each
bus shelter site and cost against the original conditions laid down by
the Town Council at adoption and to determine the best action with a
preference to retain the service if it can be made more cost effective,
through either resiting or design change.
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee, together with The
Mayor and Deputy Mayor and Community Services Officer be
delegated to arrange and attend the meeting.
To ask Oswestry Borough Council to consider enforcement action
against fly posting taking place on the shelters at present.
CAE GLAS PARK – MONITORING MEETINGS
RESOLVED to adopt reports on monitoring meetings as held on:
17th January, 2008
8th February, 2008
21st February, 2008
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CGP/119/08
CGP/120/08
CGP/121/08
It was further RESOLVED to recommend that
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270.
With regard to the issues of dogs running free in the Park, to invite the
Dog Warden to undertake regular patrols of the site, looking to use
available legislation to profile the concerns of the Council.
To record thanks to the Town Council staff for the refurbishment of
benches and pavilion during the winter period.
To place a notice on the MUGA confirming that it is available for public
hire, as opposed to explicit Team Tennis usage.
OSWESTRY MUSIC LIVE 2008
Report from the Community Services Officer on advance arrangements for
the event.
RESOLVED Report TC/1699/08 be adopted.
271.
OSWESTRY ARCHIVES – UPDATE REPORT
Report from Helen Hayes, Archivist, on activities relating to the Oswestry
Archives. After considerable discussion, it was RESOLVED
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272.
To welcome and adopt Report TC/1705/08 but to ask for future reports
to be provided within the deadlines as set.
On the basis of governance change and the need for future potential
investment in the archive service and the recent move to an external
provider, the Town Council set up a Task and Finish Group with a brief
to revisit the archive service of the Town Council in terms of location,
promotion, unitary partnership, storage and associated matters such as
climate control. The Task and Finish Group to include the County
Archivist and Eileen Simpson, together with nominated elected
Members of the Town Council.
To look for a report by September/October 2008 that identifies options,
costings and short, medium and long term priorities for the service.
The County Archivist and the Chief Executive of Oswestry Borough
Council to be asked to outline the policy for preservation of local
records following the introduction of unitary to ensure that items of
value, particularly relating to Oswestry Borough, are protected and
retained.
The Task and Finish Group for the archives review to comprise of
Councillors M. Bennett, Miss B.Y. Gull, Mrs. C. Hawksley, K. Barrow,
together with The Mayor and Deputy Mayor, together with the County
Archivist or a representative and Miss Eileen Simpson.
CAE GLAS PARK PLAY AREA
Report from the Community Services Officer regarding the possibility of
introducing additional seating into the play area as previously considered
by the Amenities Committee.
RESOLVED Report TC/1700/08 be adopted. In addition, satisfaction be
recorded with the arrangements, together with thanks to Councillor J.R.
Evans for his interest in the matter and offer of assistance.
273.
LEISURE AND AMENITIES SUB-COMMITTEE
Minutes of a meeting of the Leisure and Amenities Sub-Committee held on
the 28th January, 2008.
RESOLVED Report LASC/3/08 be adopted.
It was further RESOLVED that congratulations be extended to the
Chairman and Festival Committee and the many volunteers for providing
an excellent Festival that presented the highest of standards. Various
comments were made concerning further encouragement for participation
by local schools, provision of replica trophies etc. and it was agreed that
the Leisure and Amenities Sub-Committee discuss these issues within
their debrief of the event and bring a report back, as appropriate, to the
Amenities Committee of the Council.
274.
MANUAL STAFF – SCAFFOLDING
Report from the Community Services Officer asking the Council to
consider the purchase of scaffolding to carry out certain duties on external
sites, TC/1701/08.
RESOLVED to confirm satisfaction, in principle, with expenditure in an
amount of £1,462.46, however the Community Services Officer to
investigate if such a provision is not available within the assets to be
transferred to the Council from Oswestry Burial Joint Committee.
275.
JUNIOR LEADERS MEMORIAL
Report from the Town Clerk on a meeting of representatives held to
consider provision of a memorial and a dedication ceremony.
RESOLVED Report TC/1706/08 be adopted, together with the various
recommendations.
276.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIVE LIGHTING
Report on a meeting of the Decorative Lighting Committee held on the
4th February, 2008.
RESOLVED Report CDL/9/08 be adopted.
It was further RESOLVED to highlight the need for future financial
commitments at the earliest opportunity from Oswestry Borough Council to
ensure the continuing viability and delivery of the scheme that is so
important to Oswestry.
It was RESOLVED further to invite a representative of Park Right to
attend a meeting of Oswestry Town Council to discuss concerns relating
to on-street parking enforcement in Oswestry town centre, based on local
complaints being generated and as outlined by the Chamber of Commerce
and Industry at a recent meeting.
277.
AMENITIES – ANALYSIS OF ACTUAL INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
TO DATE
RESOLVED to adopt a report from The Finance Officer in the form of an
analysis of actual income and expenditure up to 4th March, 2008,
TC/1703/08.
278.
EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
RESOLVED that the public and press be requested to leave the meeting
to allow discussion of an item relating to a legal matter as it was
considered publicity would be prejudicial by reason of the confidential
nature of the business to be transacted.