ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

 

The MINUTES of the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING held in the Board Room, Town Hall, Derby Road, Peel on Tuesday 1st May 2007 at 7.00p.m.

 

Present                         Mrs. P S Sweeney (Chairman)

                                    Mr. I Baker

                                    Mrs. T M Birkett  

                                    Mr. R M Gimbert

                                    Ms. P Hardman

                                    Mr. D J Lace

                                    Mr. J E Lightfoot

                                    Mrs. C A Moughtin

                                    Mrs. P Pugh

                                                                

In attendance                Mr. P G Leadley (Town Clerk)

                                                                

APPOINTMENT        07/001               In accordance with Standing Order number 3

OF CHAIRMAN                                  (a) Mrs. P S Sweeney was appointed Chairman of Peel Town Commissioners for the municipal year 2007/2008.

 

                                                              Mrs. Sweeney was invested with the Chain of Office by the retiring Chairman, Mr. D J Lace.  Mrs. Sweeney chaired the remainder of the meeting. 

 

                                                              As retiring Chairman Mr. Lace addressed the meeting and wished to extend his thanks to his partner Jane, daughter, Deborah, his friend Ann and the Members of the Board.  Mr. Lace indicated the highlight of the year was Tynwald Day and he was pleased that staff had worked hard to bring the accounts up to date.  In conclusion Mr. Lace was hopeful for the replacement of the Promenade railings with a new Promenade wall by the Department of Transport in the near future.  Mrs. Sweeney presented an engraved shield to Mr. Lace as a memento of his year in office.

 

                                                              The Chairman responded and indicated that the Board was moving in a progressive manner with the recent meeting involving Government Departments concerning commercial activity in the Town.  It was Mrs. Sweeney’s aim that progress continue with no negativity evident.  She referred to the Water Separation Scheme and wished to thank all residents and businesses of the Town for their tolerance in what was a difficult period in terms of access.  Mrs. Sweeney concluded that with regard to the Peel Bay Festival, Inspector Kinrade was scheduled to orgranise a meeting for the public on 9th May 2007 in the Corrin Hall to discuss any issues concerning parking during the Festival. 

 

                                                              Ms. Hardman left the meeting.

 

DEPUTY                     07/002               On the proposal of Mr. Lightfoot seconded by

CHAIRMAN                                        Mrs. Pugh it was AGREED that Mrs. T M Birkett be elected Deputy-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2007/2008.

 

LEAD MEMBERS      07/003               It was AGREED that the following Members of the Commissioners be appointed as Lead Members as follows:-

 

                                                              Finance – Mr. J E Lightfoot

                                                              Works – Mrs. C A Moughtin

                                                              Housing – Mrs. P Pugh

                                                              Recreation – Ms. P Hardman

 

APPOINTMENT        07/004               It was AGREED that the following Members

TO OUTSIDE BODIES                        of the Commissioners be appointed to the following outside bodies:-

 

                                                              Manx National Heritage - Mr. D J Lace

                                                              Western Civic Amenity Site – Mr. R M Gimbert

                                                              Western Pool Authority – Mr. I Baker

                                                              Peel & Western District Housing Committee – Mrs. P S Sweeney and Ms. P Hardman

                                                              Peel Heritage Trust – Mrs. T M Birkett

                                                              Peel Chamber of Trade – Mrs. T M Birkett.

 

MINUTES                   07/005               The Minutes of the meeting held on 4th April 2007 were taken as read and CONFIRMED.

 

RAGGATT                  07/006               Mr. Lightfoot referred back to Minute 06/457

DISCHARGE                                        and requested that the Raggatt discharge figures be obtained from the Department of Local Government and the Environment.  The Town Clerk undertook to obtain the appropriate readings of the discharge from the site. 

 

PHILIP                        07/007               Mrs. Pugh referred back to Minute 06/471 and

CHRISTIAN CENTRE                         updated Members on the current position.  The Rank Organisation fund raising together with BBC Northwest Children in Need had recently attended the Childrens Centre when a cheque for £82,300.00 had been presented to the Isle of Man Childrens Centre to fund the costs of a project leader for three years.  Mrs. Pugh indicated that both organisation were complimentary to the Commissioners in respect of the work done in improving the fabric of the Philip Christian Centre. 

 

TENANCY                 07/008               Mr. Gimbert suggested the need for a meeting

MATTERS                                            to deal with tenants and their concerns.  The Chairman suggested that any tenant with a query should attend the regular Commissioners surgery and in that respect Mrs. Pugh indicated, as Lead Member of Housing, that she would be prepared to join an appropriate meeting of the surgery if required.

 

YOUTH                       07/009               Consideration was given to a Notice of Motion

CHAMPION                                        submitted by Mr. Gimbert for a proposed amendment to the Standing Orders to include a Youth Champion post, providing an annual representative to look after the interests of the youth within the Town of Peel.  The motion was seconded by Mrs. Pugh and the matter was discussed at some length.  Mr. Gimbert suggested that an annual representative of the Commissioners would provide a visible contact point in respect of any youth matters.  Mr. Lightfoot suggested that it may have some effect on membership Commissioners with regard to the inter-agency group and the Peel Youth Project.  There were other areas and organisations dealing with the youth and looking after their interests.  Mr. Gimbert was of the opinion that a single point of contact was important and that contact would be able to bring back to the Board various issues that were raised.  Mr. Lightfoot was of the opinion that this was duplication of what currently took place. 

 

                                                              It was generally felt that the parameters of the motion needed further discussion and clearer definition and in that respect Mrs. Birkett proposed that the motion be deferred for further consideration.  This was seconded by Mr. Lightfoot and by a majority vote was approved. 

 

 

 

 

ROAD TRAFFIC        07/010               Members considered an amendment to the

ACT                                                      Road Traffic Act 2006 which had been issued on a consultation exercise basis by the Department of Transport.  The Board had no comment to make on the amendment. 

 

MEMORIAL               07/011               Consideration was given to a letter from Mrs.

SEAT                                                    Janet Duckworth requesting a memorial seat to be placed on the Headlands in memory of her late husband.  It was AGREED that one of the existing concrete bases on the Headlands be utilised for an appropriate memorial seat to Mr. Duckworth. 

 

PLANNING                07/012               The following planning applications were

APPLICATIONS FOR COMMENT    considered by the Board as follows:-

 

                                                              Mrs. Pugh declared an interest and left the meeting at this point.

 

                                                              PA 07/00553/B Conversion from retail to Holistic Spar Treatments and Massage, 6a Market Street, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

 

                                                              PA 07/00567/A Approval in principle for the erection of a new Vicarage with access onto Albany Road, land to rear of St. Germans Vicarage, Albany Road, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

 

                                                              PA 07/00577/B Installation of replacement windows to front elevation, Merchant House, 18 Castle Street, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

 

                                                              PA 07/00587/B Alterations, installation of velux roof windows and creation of patio doors at rear elevation, 4 Albany Close, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

 

                                                              PA 07/00633 Change of Use from private residential property to holiday accommodation, 23 Ash Close, Ballawattleworth Estate, Peel.  The matter was discussed at some length and regard was had to a letter received from Mr. Michael Kelly of 1 Ash Close, Ballawattleworth Estate opposing the application. After discussion Members were of the view that the residential estate should remain as such and RECOMMENDED REFUSAL of the application for change of use to holiday accommodation.

 

                                                              PA 07/00645 Erection of satellite antenna, 54 Patrick Street, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.

 

                                                              PA 07/00630 Installation of new window to accommodate shower/bathroom, 38 Market Street, Peel.  RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

 

PLANNING                07/013               The following planning decisions had been

DECISIONS NOTIFIED                      received as follows:-

 

                                                              PA 07/00357/B Installation of uPVC patio doors to rear elevation, 46 Michael Street, Peel for C A Ollett.  APPROVED

 

                                                              PA 06/02182/B Installation of uPVC sliding sash windows and door to front elevation and uPVC casement windows to rear (re-submission of 06/01540/B), 35 Douglas Street, Peel for A & B Seafoods Limited.  APPROVED

 

                                                              PA 07/00299/B Removal of rear window and brickwork and installation of uPVC French doors, 11 Stanley Road, Peel for Mr. M J Bridson.  APPROVED

 

                                                              PA 07/00185/B Alterations and erection of a first floor extension 63, Kerroo Coar, Peel for Mr. & Mrs. R Faragher.  APPROVED

 

WATER                       07/014               The Town Clerk updated Members on a recent

SEPARATION SCHEME                     progress meeting with the contractor and the Department of Transport concerning the Water Separation Scheme in Peel.  It was noted that the scheme was currently on schedule for completion in mid-May 2007.  A firm date on when the sections of Church Street and Albany Road would be resurfaced by the Department of Transport was still awaited. 

 

ISLE OF MAN            07/015               The Town Clerk referred to an invitation to the

MUNICIPAL MEETING                      Annual General Meeting of the Municipal Association scheduled for 17th May 2007.  The invitation was extended to all Commissioners staff and Clerks to attend.  NOTED

 

 

PEEL BAY                  07/016               The Town Clerk referred to an enquiry as to

FESTIVAL                                            whether the Commissioners wished to take out an advert in the forty page souvenir brochure/programme being prepared for the Peel Bay Festival.  It was AGREED that an appropriate quarter page advert at a cost of £244.00 be undertaken. 

 

                                                              Arising therefrom concern was expressed over the recent letter issued to residents near to the concert site concerning car parking permits.  Mr. Gimbert indicated that there was also concern from the publican of the Highwayman Public House concerning the possible abuse of the car park.  Mrs. Sweeney indicated that as a result of concerns expressed the Police had agreed to host a public meeting to discuss any issues raised by residents with regard to parking in respect of this event.  Mr. Lightfoot indicated that the letter to residents should really have been issued by the Police and not Street Heritage Limited.  Mrs. Moughtin wished to allay any fears of the publican of the Highwayman indicating that discussions had taken place with the Brewery and that patrons of the public house would be the only ones allowed to use the Highwayman car park. 

 

SALE OF                    07/017               Mr. Lightfoot referred to the previous decision

BUS TICKETS                                     to reject the proposed sale of bus tickets on an agency basis from the Town Hall as a result of the bus company’s decision requiring payment up front.  It was requested that the Town Clerk discuss the matter further with the bus company.

 

                                                              This part of the meeting ended 8.05p.m.