BOARD MEETING

 

The MINUTES of a BOARD MEETING held in the Board Room, Town Hall, Derby Road, Peel on Thursday 20th  July 2006 at 7 p.m.

 

Present                         Mr. D J Lace (Chairman)

                                    Mr. T M Crookall

                                    Mr. R Gimbert

                                    Ms. P Hardman

                                    Mr. J E Lightfoot

                                    Mrs. C A Moughtin

                                    Mrs. P S Sweeney

 

Apologies                     Mrs. P Pugh

                                    Mrs. T M Birkett  

                                                                       

In attendance                Miss P L Bampton (Finance Officer)

                                    Mr. J T Quayle (Technical Officer)

                                                                                   

CHAIRMAN’S           06/105               The Chairman welcomed everyone to the

WELCOME                                          meeting and reported that he had been please to attend the recent Isle of Man Business School graduation ceremony at St. Germans Cathedral. 

 

                                                              The Chairman wished to thank the Viking Festival Committee for all their hard work.

 

WARD LIBRARY       06/106               Mrs. Horton expressed the view that she had been pleasantly surprised at the number of borrowers using the Ward Library over the summer.  Mrs. Horton praised the pupil that she had recently had on work experience.

 

                                                              Mrs. Horton expressed concerns about a small number of borrowers who hadn’t returned books or paid outstanding fines.  Mr. Lightfoot asked whether action should be taken if a strongly worded letter didn’t work.  The Librarian undertook to pursue the matter.

 

                                                              Mrs. Horton reported that the Family History Society Annual Exhibition would be held in September at the Centenary Centre and they wished to have a section on John Kewley Ward which she thought was a useful means to promote the Library especially during its Centenary.

 

                                                              Mrs. Horton also stated that she wished to thank Mr. Eddie Leece and Mr. Sam Knight who were resigning as Town Members for all the hard work and support they had given the library over recent years.

 

  LEECE MUSEUM     06/107               The Curator reported that the Leece Museum has had a good season so far with 1700 visitors from Easter.

 

                                                              Mr. Baker stated that there had been a number of new acquisitions donated to the library including World War 2 medals donated by Mr. Robert Faragher, World War 2 service records donated by Mrs. Tricia Faragher.  Mr. Bill Edgar donated a copy of his book “Warrior of Kokoda” and Mr. Tom Durrant donated two original prints of Peel Castle dated 1857.  The Vikings from Wolin Poland also donated a rune stone.

 

                                                              Mr. Baker commented that the BBC Bus had revisited the Leece Museum on the 8th July 2006.  The Leece Museum in conjunction with the Viking Festival had staged a very successful children’s Viking Art exhibition. Every Wednesday the Leece Museum had up to thirty visitors as part of the ghost walk tours and received a percentage of the takings. 

 

                                                              Mr. Baker enquired about a mezzanine floor for the Leece Museum and was advised by the Board to submit the figures when the next budget was considered.

 

MINUTES                   06/108               The Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd June 2006 were taken as read and CONFIRMED.

 

ST. PETERS                06/109               Mr. Lightfoot referred back to Minute 06/066

COLLECTORS FAIRS AND               and asked if we had received a response in

CAR BOOT SALE.                              writing from Mr. Moore.  The Finance Officer reported to date no response had been received.

 

DOG CONTROL        06/110               The Chairman referred back to Minute 06/065

BYELAWS                                           asked for a definition of what “dogs at large” meant.  The Finance Officer reported that she had spoken to Mr. Roy Corlett from Department of Local Government and the Environment who said the definition was set out in the 1990 Dogs Act, which defined a dog at large as not on a lead or under the effective control of a person over 10 years old.

 

DERBY ROAD           06/111               Mr. Gimbert referred back to Minute 06/067

CAR PARK                                          and asked if anything had been done about Derby Road car park layout.  The Technical Officer reported that work was to be carried out in the near future.

 

PEEL CARNIVAL      06/112               Mrs. Sweeney raised the issue of Minute 06/068 as to whether Peel Carnival Committee had been written to with regards to the Commissioners giving prize money for the best float. The Finance Officer said she would liaise with the Town Clerk about the matter.

 

PRECEDENCE IN      06/113               The Chairman referred back to Minute 06/071

PUBLIC AFFAIRS                               and stated that contrary to Central Government advice he had not been accorded his rightful status as Chairman of the Commissioners at the recent Business School Graduation Ceremony.  Despite the Town Hall ringing up before hand to explain where Mr. Lace should sit the \chairman was given a seat on the second row behind university staff and MHKs.  The Chairman felt it was embarrassing to be treated in this way.

 

WEST VIEW               06/114               Mr. Gimbert referred back to Minute 06/077.

PARK                                                   The Technical Officer reported that at the present time of year it was uneconomical to turf the goal post area.  He thought September would be a better time to carry out the work.  Mr. Crookall asked if the dead tree and post could be removed.  The Technical Officer undertook to do this.

 

MANX NATIONAL   06/115               Mr. Crookall reported that regarding Minute

HERITAGE                                           06/076 he and Mr. Lightfoot together with the Town Clerk had met with Mr. Blackford from Manx National Heritage and Tim Price from Health and Safety.  The result of the meeting was that Mr. Blackford agreed that he would go back and report to the Committee that the fence blocking off the access from the Castle to Fenella Beach would be taken down.  Mr. Crookall reported that Manx National Heritage said the sally port railings were to remain.

 

DOG BINS                  06/116               Mr. Gimbert asked relating to Minute 06/079 if a dog bin could be placed at Willow Close, Ballawattleworth .  AGREED

 

HEADLANDS             06/117               Mr. Crookall reported that on the headlands the picnic table and bench were broken and the slide was in need of maintenance.  The Technical Officer AGREED to look into the matter.

 

 

 

SECOND                    06/118               The Board considered the second supplemental

SUPPLEMENTAL VALUATION        list which was noted.   Mrs. Sweeney asked for 

LIST                                                      an up to date list of rate defaulters.  The Finance Officer confirmed that Treasury that were responsible for pursing outstanding arrears.

 

ISLE OF MAN            06/119               The deadline date in respect of objections to Mr

RENT AND RATING APPEAL           Hughes and Miss Laces appeal had passed. 

COMMISSIONERS                             With regard to Mr & Mrs Young’s appeal in respect of living at 16 Ballatessan Meadow and being next to a site compound the members objected and requested the Town Clerk to attend the appeal hearing.

 

ARTICULATED          06/120               Mrs. Sweeney expressed concern over the  

VEHICLES                                           consultation document and thought heavier vehicles would undermine the roads.  The Chairman commented that the Commissioners had for years been trying to decrease the weight of vehicles.

 

                                                              The Chairman stated that the Board should be insisting that only smaller vehicles came into town.

 

                                                              It was agreed to ascertain what the designated routes for HGV’s would be and that a letter be sent to the Department.

 

MANX RADIO           06/121               The Board considered a request by Manx Radio

ISDN LINE                                           to install an ISDN line into the Town Hall.  AGREED.

 

PARISH WALK          06/122               Members NOTED a letter of thanks from the Race Secretary of the Parish Walk.

 

CAMPSITE                 06/123               The Finance Officer read out a letter of thanks from Mr. & Mrs. Rivell who had organised a camping rally at Peel Campsite.  They were particularly impressed with the cleanliness of the site.  The Board noted the letter and asked if a copy could be passed on to Mr. Quane the Campsite Attendant.

 

CENTRAL                  06/124               The Finance Officer reported that a Petition had

HEATING                                             been sent to the Department of Local Government and the Environment to borrow £348,388 over fifteen years to complete the installation of central heating in the Commissioners housing stock.  NOTED.

 

 

REQUEST FOR          06/125               The Board considered a request from Mrs.

BENCH                                                 Webb who wanted to put a plaque on a bench

ST. PETERS CHURCH YARD            in St. Peters Church Yard as their previous bench had been destroyed by vandals.  The Board AGREED to this request.

 

ISLAND IN BLOOM 06/126               Mr. Gimbert announced the winners of the Peel Town Commissioners garden competition as follows:-

 

                                                              First prize:

                                                              Mrs. Harding, 64 Kerroo Coar (large garden)

                                                              Mrs. McLean, 2 Albany Close, (small garden)

                                                              Mrs. Rothwell, (hanging baskets)

                                                              Waldick House (commercial premises).

 

                                                              Mr. Gimbert asked if letters could go out to people in second place and stated that he was very impressed with the high standards of the gardens.  Mrs. Sweeney enquired about whether any children helped judge.  Mr. Gimbert replied that he took his own children round to look at some of the gardens but he felt they were a bit too young to appreciate gardens.  Mrs. Sweeney commented this was not what was agreed last year.  It was agreed that someone would go up to Clothworkers school and get children to go round and get their point of view on the gardens.  Mr. Gimbert said the Town Clerk had told him to see if he could get some children to go round with him while he was judging.  Mr. Gimbert explained that his children did go to Peel Clothworkers School.

 

DONATION OF         06/127               Mr. Crookall reported that he was approached  

STONE                                                 by Matt Owen who was making a gateway at the start and finish of the costal walk.  The gateway will be an outline of the Isle of Man made of stone and Mr. Owen wanted to use stone from all the quarries round the coast and wondered if he could have permission to have a piece of stone from the quarry at the back of the hill.  AGREED

 

SECRET GARDENS   06/128               Mr. Lightfoot said that he would like to thank Peel Heritage Trust for putting a lot of effort into organising the secret gardens competition at the weekend which had brought a lot of people into Peel.

 

 

 

 

CAMPSITE                 06/129               Ms. Hardman enquired as to the lack of two

BENCHES                                            benches located by the campsite. Mr. Crookall reported that there were three other gaps in the area.  The Technical Officer said that they have not placed a bench in each gap.  Mr. Lightfoot commented that he had no objection to putting benches back there but it was not just the cost of buying the benches it was also the cost of maintaining them and the Board needed to be aware of this fact.

 

DIGGERS ON             06/130               Mr. Gimbert raised the issue of diggers on Peel

PEEL BEACH                                       beach and asked if they had a completion date for this work.  Mr. Gimbert was concerned at the health and safety implications

 

                                                              The Technical Officer explained that the contractor had rang him to say they were commencing work on the beach.  Mr. Lightfoot agreed with Mr. Gimbert that if they were using diggers they shouldn’t be left parked on the beach.

 

                                                              Mr. Lightfoot reported that there had also been complaints from local residents in the area about their houses vibrating and they hadn’t been informed that this work was to be carried out.  The Technical Officer agreed to liaise with the contractor regarding a completion date.

 

WILLOW CLOSE      06/131               Mr. Gimbert referred to complaints from  

GARDENS                                           residents of Willow Close regarding the bark that had been put down in the public areas had been blowing into adjacent gardens.  The Technical Officer agreed to look into the matter.

 

PESDESTRIAN          06/132               Mr. Gimbert asked if the Town Hall had

CROSSING                                          received any objections to the Derby Road pedestrian crossing.  The Chairman indicated that such questions should be addressed to staff prior to meetings.

 

FENELLA BEACH     06/133               Mr. Crookall enquired when Fenella beach was being cleared.  The Technical Officer said he had met Ian Jones on site to see what needed doing with regards to clearing the area.  Any necessary work would be undertaken in due course.

 

 

 

 

CCTV &                      06/134               Mr. Crookall enquired what was happening

WEBCAMS                                          with regards to the web cams.  The Technical Officer reported that he had spoken to Eye Spy who had just set up a meeting with Manx National Heritage with regards to progressing the matter about putting a web cam on the side of the House of Manannan.

 

PEEL EVENTS           06/135               Mr. Crookall wished to thank the Viking Festival Committee, and Peel Heritage Trust for the Secret Gardens and congratulated the Tommy Clucas Memorial Fund who worked hard and raised £10,000 over the weekend.

 

                                                              This part of the meeting ended at 8.00 pm.