BOARD MEETING

 

The MINUTES of a BOARD MEETING held in the Board Room, Town Hall, Derby Road, Peel on Wednesday 4th October 2006 at 7.00p.m.

 

Present                         Mr. D J Lace (Chairman)

                                    Mrs. T M Birkett  

                                    Mr. T M Crookall

                                    Mr. R Gimbert

                                    Ms. P Hardman

                                    Mr. J E Lightfoot

                                    Mrs. C A Moughtin

                                    Mrs. P Pugh

                                    Mrs. P S Sweeney                   

                                                                

In attendance                Miss P L Bampton (Finance Officer)

                                    Mr. T Quayle (Technical Officer)

                                                                                   

CHAIRMAN’S           06/231               The Chairman welcomed the Press to the first

WELCOME                                          meeting of October.  The Chairman reported that he had recently attended the opening of Peel Charity Shop and wished to thank all the people who had supported the venture.  Mr. Lace had recently attended both Castletown and Braddan Civic Sundays.  The Chairman also expressed his extreme disappointment that the  opening of the Harbour Bridge had to be postponed.

 

MINUTES                   06/232               The Minutes of the meeting held on 6th September 2006 were taken as read and CONFIRMED.

 

HERITAGE                 06/233               The Chairman referred back to Minute 06/186

HOMES                                                and expressed the opinion that due to the IRIS site not being on line in Peel until at least 2010  that in his mind future housing development in Peel should be halted as the present sewer system could not cope.  Mr. Lace expressed particular concern with Heritage Homes proposed development of 400-500 houses at Ballawattleworth Farm.

 

                                                              Mrs. Birkett felt that a feasibility study on the sewage pipework at Ballawattleworth should be carried out.  Mr. Lightfoot commented that it was up to the Department of Transport who owned the pipework to carry out the study not the Commissioners.  Mrs. Birkett commented that the Commissioners should insist that a feasibility study was carried out.

 

                                                              Mr. Lightfoot explained that the Commissioners needed to prove that the current system could not cope.  Heritage Homes as the developer would then have to put in a new sewage system.  NOTED

 

LORRY PARK            06/234               Mr. Lightfoot enquired as to the current situation regarding the lorry park. The Technical Officer reported that to erect a temporary fence would cost in the region of £1800 to £2000.  The Board AGREED to proceed with the fence.

 

PUBLIC                      06/235               Mrs. Sweeney referred back to Minute 06/189

CONVENIENCES                               and asked if notices regarding the time the toilets had been cleaned had been placed in each convenience.  The Technical Officer reported that the notice boards were to be erected shortly.  NOTED

 

NEGLECTED              06/236               Reference was made back to Minute 06/191  

PROPERTIES                                       and the Finance Officer advised that Mrs. Hannan had not replied to the Town Clerk’s letter regarding neglected properties in Peel.  Mrs. Birkett requested that a meeting be set up with Mr. Ian Mansell from Environmental Health regarding the issue.  AGREED        

 

CCTV                          06/237               Reference was made back to Minute 06/192. 

CAMERAS                                           The Technical Officer updated members on the current situation regarding the CCTV cameras which were now up and running.  Negotiations were continuing with the Fire Brigade.  The Board requested an update on the current position regarding the Webcam on Empire Garage.

 

MARINE                     06/238               Mrs. Birkett referred back to Minute 06/193  

PARADE                                              regarding the restoration of Marine Parade footpath.  It was AGREED to contact the Department of Transport to ascertain when the work was to be undertaken.

 

BLOCKED                  06/239               Mr. Gimbert referred back to Minute 06/194.

DRAINS                                               The Technical Officer confirmed that the Department of Transport would unblock road gullies if they were informed that they were blocked.  Mr. Gimbert felt that the Department should have a regular maintenance programme, and undertook to carry out an inspection of gullies next time it was raining and report any problems to the Department of Transport.

 

 

HGV ROUTES            06/240               Mr. Lightfoot referred back to Minute 06/197

IN PEEL                                               and enquired as to what the Department of Transport was doing to enforce the weight restriction of heavy goods vehicles travelling through Peel.  Mr. Gimbert reported that the Department undertook spot checks on vehicle weight. Mr. Crookall requested that a meeting be arranged with the Department of Transport regarding this matter.  AGREED

 

PLANNING                06/241               Mrs. Birkett referred back to Minute 06/199

APPLICATION                                    and enquired as to whether the Planning Department had granted an extension of time to allow residents of Peel sufficient opportunity to comment.  The Finance Officer undertook to contact the Department to see if an extension of time had been granted.

 

PEEL                           06/242               Mr. Gimbert referred back to Minute 06/201

CONSERVATION AREA                    and suggested that a letter should be sent to the Minister asking him to make available funding to examine the reduction of Peel Conservation Area.  AGREED

 

PLANNED                  06/243               Reference was made back to Minute 06/207.

MAINTENANCE                                 Mr. Lightfoot enquired as to whether tenants had received letters advising them of the installation of central heating in their homes.  The Technical Officer reported that in his opinion the letters were not sent out soon enough.

 

PARKING IN             06/244               Members discussed at great length a letter

PEEL                                                     received from Mr. G F Crowe regarding parking in Peel.  Mr. Gimbert reported that he thought it was strange that Mr. Crowe had not seen any problems parking in Peel.  Mrs. Pugh also commented that she didn’t agree with Mr. Crowe’s comment that the town was dying on its feet. In her opinion the Town was very much alive and had a lot to offer.  Mr. Lightfoot however felt that Mr. Crowe had a point regarding Tynwald Mills Craft Centre which was owned by a private company and provided free parking outside its shops which were in direct competition with Peel traders.

 

                                                              The Board AGREED to write to the Department of Transport to see if they would write off the debt that the Commissioners had borrowed to resurface the car parks on condition the Commissioners implemented pay and display parking in all of its car parks.

 

PUBLIC                      06/245               Consideration was given to a letter received

TRANSPORT TICKET SALES           from the Department of Tourism and Leisure requesting that the Tourist Information Office in Peel Town Hall sell “Manx 12” tickets and explorer tickets on behalf of the Isle of Man Transport for which the Commissioners would receive 10% commission on all ticket sales.

 

                                                              THE Board felt in principle it was a good idea if staff received sufficient training on how to sell the tickets.  After some discussion it was AGREED to write to Mr. Moore for a meeting to discuss this and other issues.  The Finance Officer undertook to find out what the staff’s opinions were with regard to selling bus tickets as the Commissioners didn’t want to sell them if the staff were not happy with the idea.

 

MEMORIAL               06/246               The Board considered a request from S Crellin

SEATS                                                  who enquired as to whether a memorial bench in memory of her brother Jonathan Cain who lived in Peel could be placed along the sea front.  The Board AGREED that Mr. Crellin could place a plaque on one of the existing benches along the seafront in memory of Mr. Cain.

 

                                                              The Board considered a request from Dave and Karen Hori who wished to apply for permission to purchase a bench in memory of their father and mother who lived on the Island for many years and had a special bond with Peel.  The Commissioners AGREED that Mr. & Miss Hori could purchase a bench which could be placed on the headlands looking out to sea.

 

ROYAL NAVY           06/247               The Board noted an invitation from the Royal

PRESENTATION                                 Navy Presentation team who were having a social event at Mount Murray Hotel on Monday 20th November 2006.  Unfortunately none of the Members were able to attend.

 

PLANNING                06/248               The following planning applications had been

APPLICATIONS (FOR COMMENT) received for comment as follows:-

 

                                                              PA 06/01029/B Refurbishment of Viking Longhouse and Harbour  View and conversion plus new building to form 25 apartments and 3 commercial units, Quirks Coal Yard, Smithy Site, Viking Longhouse and Harbour View, East Quay, Peel (amended plans).  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

 

                                                              PA06/01523/R Replacement front doors to match original, 22 Atholl Street, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

 

                                                              PA 06/01525/B Construction of garage with roof terrace over, on rear elevation, 2 Ballaquane Road, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.        

 

                                                              PA 06/01530/B Installation of uPVC casement windows to replace existing, 35 Douglas Street, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

 

                                                              PA 06/01596/B Installation of a uPVC front door to replace existing timber front door, 27 Church Street, Peel. RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

 

                                                              PA 06/01600/B Refurbishment of hall, removal of chimney stacks, porch and erection of a glazed link, Peel Methodist Church Hall, Atholl Street, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

 

                                                              PA 06/01602/B Installation of uPVC casement windows to replace existing timber windows on rear elevation, Castle View, Victoria Terrace, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

 

                                                              PA 06/01622/B Erection of a detached garage, 8 Mountain View, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

 

                                                              PA 06/01647/B Construction of utility room and alterations, 24 Bridge Street, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

 

                                                              PA 06/01628/B External and internal alterations, 18 Bridge Street, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

 

PLANNING                06/249               The following planning decisions had been

DECISIONS NOTIFIED                      notified by the Planning Committee:-

 

                                                              PA 06/00795/b External alterations to include demolishing and rebuild front wall, installation of new doors and windows and extend bathroom on the second floor, Peveril Hotel, Crown Street, Peel.  APPROVED

 

                                                              PA 06/01234/B Amendment to previously approved conservatory, 30 Stanley Road, Peel.  APPROVED

 

                                                              PA 06/01396/B Removal of two chimneys, Myrneen, 31 Albany Road, Peel.  APPROVED.

 

                                                              PA 06/01313/B Creation of a uPVC window to gable end of extension on rear elevation, Ashcroft, Tynwald Road, Peel. APPROVED.

 

                                                              PA 06/01062/B Construction of two dormers on front elevation and one dormer on rear elevation 19 Ballaterson Crescent, Peel.  APPROVED.

 

CHIEF                         06/250               Members studied a page from the Chief

CONSTABLE’S REPORT                   Constables report 2005-2006 which praised

2005-2006                                            Peel Town Commissioners for their joint operation with the Western Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Youth Justice Team which had lead to a reduction in anti-social behaviour by local youths in the area.  The Board were pleased to note this.

 

                                                              Mr. Lightfoot enquired as to whether the Chief Constables report was available on CD.  The Finance Officer undertook to find out if an copy could be obtained so the report could be distributed to the Commissioners electronically.

 

                                                              The Commissioners also noted that the report stated that the Northern Neighbourhood Policing Team retained a good working relationship with local Commissioners and jointly sought an extension of CCTV coverage and street lighting to prevent crime and reassure the Ramsey Community.  The Board was of the opinion that Peel Commissioners should approach the Department of Home Affairs to see if there was any funding available for Peel to improve its CCTV coverage and street lighting.

 

PEEL ONLINE           06/251               Mr. Gimbert commented that the Minutes

WEBSITE                                             posted on Peel online only went up to July.  The Finance Officer reported that she would speak to the Town Clerk about updating the system.

 

WEST VIEW               06/252               The Technical Officer reported that to re-turf

PLAYGROUND                                   the goal area at West View Playground would cost in the region of £900.  Mr. Quayle suggested that astro turf might be a better long term solution, Mr. Gimbert suggested the area should be turfed now, Mrs. Sweeney thought it would be better waiting till the costs for the astro turf had been obtained and the Commissioners had made a decision as to which way to proceed.  Mrs. Birkett enquired as to whether any grants were available for returfing the goal area.  The Finance Officer undertook to find out if there were any available.

 

                                                              This part of the meeting ended at 7.40p.m.