GENERAL MEETING

The MINUTES of a GENERAL MEETING held in the Board Room, Town Hall, Derby Road, Peel on Thursday 17^th February 2005 at 7.00 p.m.

Present Mr. D J Lace (Acting Chairman)

Mrs. T M Birkett

Mr. R Gimbert

Ms. P Hardman

Mrs. C A Moughtin

Mrs. P Pugh

Mrs. P S Sweeney

Apologies Mr. T M Crookall

Mr. J E Lightfoot

In attendance Mr. P G Leadley (Town Clerk)

MINUTES 04/429 The Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th January 2005 were taken as read and CONFIRMED.

PLAYGROUND 04/430 The Town Clerk referred back to Minute 04/398

EQUIPMENT and indicated that a safety report on the Commissioners playground equipment had recently been received from Wicksteed Leisure Limited. It was AGREED that the report be copied to Members for information purposes.

MANX HARRIERS 04/431 Members noted receipt of a letter from Manx Harriers Athletics Club concerning the annual Easter Athletics Festival which was due to take place on 25^th – 27^th March 2005. It was noted that the Peel Hill Race was scheduled for Saturday 26^th March 2005 commencing at 2.15p.m. from the Creek Inn. Permission was granted for the event as in previous years.

PEEL CHAMBER 04/432 Members noted receipt of a request from Mr.

OF TRADE AND COMMERCE Shakespeare on behalf of Peel Chamber of Trade and Commerce for the Commissioners to join the Chamber. It was noted that the Leece Museum had already joined the association and it was AGREED that the Commissioners in the form of the campsite should join also.

WEBSITE 04/433 Copies of the rules and regulations relating to

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION the on going photographic competition for the Peel Online website was NOTED.

DOMESTIC 04/434 A letter from the Treasury dated 19^th January

PROPERTY REVALUATION 2005 together with an accompanying paper relating to a proposed revaluation of domestic properties was NOTED.

The proposals centred on a new system of nine capital value bands (Band A being the lowest and Band I being the highest). It was noted that Treasury had taken into consideration the ability to pay principle when making the proposals to revise the current rate system. Some concern was expressed over issues relating to single occupancy.

LOCAL 04/435 Members considered a copy of a letter from the

AUTHORITY REFORM Department of Local Government and the Environment concerning the latest stage in proposed local authority reform. It appeared that the Department intended to hold meetings throughout the Island with regard to their latest proposal for reform which concerned the establishment of four area authorities excluding Douglas to deal specifically with housing and refuse only. It was noted that the meeting for the west would be held in St. Johns Methodist Hall on 17^th March 2005 and it was noted that responses from the local authorities would be sought thereafter.

PLANNING 04/436 The following planning applications were

APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT submitted for comment:-

PA 05/00154/B Installation of uPVC sliding sash windows to replace existing on the front elevation, 28 Patrick Street, Peel. RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

PA 05/0019/B Erection of conservatory to rear elevation, 2 Ramsey Road, Peel RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

PA 05/00228/B Replace existing sign, 1 Douglas Street, Peel. RECOMMNEDED FOR APPROVAL.

PA 05/00228/B Erection of garden shed and conservatory, 13 Aspen Drive, Ballawattleworth Estate, Peel. RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

PA 05/00210/B Revision to previously approved application No PA 04/00457/B for minor revisions to siting of dwellings on plots 2, 3 and 4, land adjacent for former dwelling known as Dalemount, Peveril Road, Peel. RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

PA 05/00206/B Replace existing small asbestos roof to fibre-glass roof, 13 Douglas Street, Peel. RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

PA 05/00193/B Erection of a two storey extension on side of property, 29 Oak Road, Ballawattleworth Estate, Peel. RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

LOCAL AUTHORITY 04/437 The Town Clerk referred to a letter from the

RENT INCREASE Department of Local Government and the Environment which proposed a rent increase for 2005/2006 of 5.5% in respect of local authority rents. The maintenance allowance and the administration allowance of 33⅓% and 5.5% respectively remained unchanged. NOTED

RENT AND 04/438 The Town Clerk referred to a request by two

RATING APPEAL occupants of Apartment 1 and Apartment 2,

COMMISSIONERS Chambers House, Douglas Street, Peel requesting a reduction in rates due to building works taking place at the Newby and Padley Opticians property. It was noted that the Valuation Assistant had recommended a temporary deduction of 10% in the rateable value effective from 1^st April 2005. The Commissioners had no objection to this proposal.

ROAD TRAFFIC 04/439 The Town Clerk referred to three Orders made

REGULATION ACT 1985 by the Department of Transport in respect of a Temporary Prohibition of Through Traffic Order 2005 (Statutory Document number 79/05) whilst manhole work was being undertaken in Market Street.

A Temporary Prohibition of Through Traffic Order 2005 (Statutory Document number 82/05) in respect of Peveril Road together with an associated suspension of parking places in Ballaquane Road (Statutory Document number 81/05) again for manhole refurbishment work. NOTED

THE LITTER 04/440 Consideration was given to an E-mail dated 15^th

(AMENDMENT) ACT 2003 February 2005 from Port Erin Commissioners concerning the Department of Transport’s decision to transfer responsibility for the collection of public litter bins to each local authority from 1^st April 2005. Port Erin Commissioners were concerned that the Department of Transport intended transferring ownership of the public litter bins when certain of the bins were in less than satisfactory condition and state of repair. Port Erin Commissioners wished to ascertain whether other authorities also had defective and broken street litter bins and believed that the Department should transfer the public litter bins in good condition. The Town Clerk indicated that he would request the Technical Officer to undertake an audit of the town’s litter bins to ascertain their condition.

FLAG DAY 04/441 A request had been received from the Peel Branch of the RNLI to hold a flag day collection on Thursday 9^th June 2005. AGREED

PHILIP CHRISTIAN 04/442 The Town Clerk referred to a letter from the

CENTRE Fire Safety Officer dated 15^th February 2005. It appeared that following a recent inspection by a Fire Safety Officer a number of improvements were required to the level of fire precautions within the Philip Christian Centre building. It was noted that the Technical Officer had been requested to cost up the improvements which included extending the existing fire alarm system to cover all major areas within the building, upgrading the emergency lighting system, provision of additional fire exit and exit directional signs and provision of fire resistant doors. The Fire Safety Officer had requested that these works be completed by 1^st May 2005. NOTED

MONA STREET 04/443 Mr. Gimbert referred to a blocked drain at Mona Street in the vicinity of Chapel Court and it was AGREED that the staff be requested to unblock the drain.

This part of the meeting ended at 7.35p.m.