GENERAL MEETING

 

The MINUTES of the GENERAL MEETING held in the Board Room, Town Hall, Derby Road, Peel on Thursday 18th October 2007 at 7.00p.m.

 

Present                         Mrs. P S Sweeney (Chairman)

                                    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

 

Apologies                     Mr. I Baker

                                                                

In attendance                Mr. P G Leadley (Town Clerk)

                                    Mr. R Baker (Curator)

                                    Mrs. C Horton (Librarian)

                                   

CHAIRMAN’S           07/236               The Chairman welcomed the Press to the

WELCOME                                          meeting and was pleased to announce the winners of the garden competition as follows:-

 

                                                              1st Place garden category – Mr. & Mrs. Sayle, 2 North View, Peel

                                                              2nd Place garden category – Mr. & Mrs. Maddrell, 17 Queens Drive, Peel

                                                              1st Commercial category – Mr. & Mrs. K Kelly, Peveril Hotel, Crown Street, Peel

                                                              1st Hanging Basket category – Mr. R Corkill, 19 Bridge Street, Peel

 

                                                              The Lead Member for Recreation and Entertainments Ms. P Hardman presented the cheques to the winners. 

 

MINUTES                   07/237               The Minutes of the meeting held on 20th September 2007 were taken as read and CONFIRMED.

 

WARD LIBRARY       07/238               Copies of the Ward Library report were tabled

REPORT                                               and considered by the Board. 

 

                                                              It was pleasing to report that 89 children had completed the summer reading scheme out of 102 children that had signed up to it. 

 

 

 

LEECE MUSEUM      07/239               The quarterly report for the Leece Museum,

REPORT                                               copies of which had been tabled, was NOTED.  Mr. Baker indicated that the Museum Trust would fund the sand blasting of the recently acquired printing press which would be left on display at the entrance to the Museum.  Mr. Baker confirmed that the Trust had recently held a meeting on 4th October 2007 and it was proposed subject to Board approval that Mr. Ron Cooper who was prepared to stand as a trustee be appointed.  AGREED

 

                                                              Mr. Baker and Mrs. Horton left the meeting at 7.20p.m.

 

TOWN RATE             07/240               Reference was made back to the Department’s decision to limit local authority increases to 4% without prior approval.  It was AGREED that a written request be made to Mrs. Mellor, Finance Officer at the Department to attend a meeting on a suitable date to discuss the matter. 

 

GALES FAYRE          07/241               Reference was made back to Minute 07/205 and it was indicated by Mr. Lace that he remained concerned that the proposed parking restrictions outside Gales Fayre would not adequately address the problem.  Members were of the view that a section of Derby Drive being given over to limited parking would be the better option.  It was AGREED to raise this matter at the next Western Traffic Management Liaison Group meeting. 

 

CONSERVATION     07/242               Reference was made to the Commissioners

AREA                                                   proposal to reduce the Conservation Area and it was AGREED that a meeting be sought with the Conservation Officer in due course.

 

PAY & DISPLAY       07/243               Reference was made to the recent meeting with

CAR PARKING                                   certain of the Town’s traders and it was stated that the traders were not opposed to the proposal for introducing pay and display car parking in Peel.  The traders were of the view that this measure would increase turn around and assist their businesses. 

 

                                                              Reference was made to Central Government assistance to provide car parking facilities at the Tynwald Mills, St. Johns and it was noted that some £34,000 together with £4000 for improving the public conveniences had been provided by the Department of Tourism and Leisure.  NOTED

 

MANX                        07/244               Consideration was given to a letter from Manx

AUTOSPORT – RALLY                      Autosport which intended to run a closed road stage rally on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd February 2008. The rally organisers wished to hold a stage through the streets of Peel and a copy of the proposed route was noted by Members.  After discussion and having raised the matter with the Town’s traders it was suggested that the section in Peel be held on the Saturday afternoon 23rd February 2008 between 2.00p.m. and 5.00p.m.  Mr. Gimbert wished it recorded that he opposed the proposal as the Town should not be the location for a motorsport event. 

 

NEW YEARS DAY    07/245               Consideration was given to a letter from the

DIP                                                       organisers of the Peel New Years Day Dip in which assistance was sought to arrange for a road closure order in the vicinity of the Peel Sailing Club, Promenade on the occasion of the New Years Day Dip.  After discussion it was AGREED that a closure between the hours of 11.00a.m. and 1.00p.m. be sought in respect of that portion of the Promenade from its junction with Crown Street to the Weatherglass Corner. 

 

GOVERNMENT         07/246               Members had received copies of the

STRATEGIC PLAN                             Government’s Strategic Plan 2007-2011.  Mr. Gimbert outlined a number of points in the plan which merited further consideration and raised the question of whether they were cost effective. 

 

                                                              Mr. Lightfoot indicated that the document was in effect another “time for change” and looked to bring in local authority reform through the back door. 

 

ATTENDANCE          07/247               Members noted receipt of a copy of the

RECORD                                              Commissioners attendance record for the municipal year 2006-2007. 

 

                                                              Arising therefrom Mrs. Pugh referred to a letter in the local paper from Mrs. Quayle in which her attendance had been queried.  Mrs. Pugh confirmed that she had attended many other meetings that were not listed as Board meetings and found Mrs. Quayle’s letter offensive.  In answer to Mrs. Quayle’s letter over a period of eighteen months Mrs. Pugh had attended ninety three meetings. 

 

CIVIC SERVICES      07/248               Invitations had been received from Jurby Parish Commissioners, Lezayre Parish Commissioners and German Parish Commissioners to attend their Civic Sunday Services on the 21st October, 28th October and 25th November 2007 respectively.  The Chairman indicated that she would attend each service.

 

RENT AND                 07/249               Members noted receipt of a covering letter

RATING APPEALS                             from the Government Valuer at the Treasury regarding requests for temporary reduction in rates as a result of the building works affecting Rheast Bridson.  Members had no comment to make on the application submitted by the residents. 

 

HOUSING (FLATS)   07/250               The Town Clerk referred to a recommendation

REGULATIONS 1982                          from the Environmental Health Officer to register flat 2, Viking Longhouse, Mariners Wharf, East Quay, Peel under the 1982 regulations.  AGREED

 

CHRISTMAS              07/251               Consideration was given to a letter from Mr. R

TREAT                                                  Baker seeking financial assistance to provide a Christmas Treat for infant school children at the Clothworkers School.  The event would be held in the Centenary Centre on either 4th or 6th December 2007.  The Chairman indicated that £300 had been raised be herself and Mrs. Moughtin in 2006 to help this event.  After consideration it was AGREED that the Commissioners make a £350 donation. 

 

STREET                      07/252               Consideration was given to a letter from Sue

TRADING                                            Bridge who wished to site her Dinky Donut trailer on the Promenade on Bonfire Night, 5th November 2007.  Noting that no applications had been made by the February deadline date it was AGREED to refuse the request. 

 

ISLE OF MAN            07/253               The Town Clerk referred to an invitation to the

COAST GUARDS                                Chairman and Members to a presentation evening to celebrate twenty years service to the community of Peel as part of the Peel Coastguard Team in respect of Mr. Simon Cooper and Mr. Jeffrey Kelly.  It was noted that the Lieutenant Governor would present long service medals on the 29th November 2007 at the Masonic Hall, Peel.  It was noted that the majority of Commissioners agreed to attend the presentation evening.

 

FUTURE                     07/254               The Chairman requested the suspension of

MEETINGS                                          Standing Orders so that the Board meeting scheduled for 7th November 2007 be brought forward to 1st November 2007.  It was also AGREED that the 2nd meeting of November scheduled for 15th November be deferred until Thursday 22nd November 2007 at 7.00p.m.  With regard to the proposed meetings in December it was AGREED that one Board meeting be held on Wednesday 12th December 2007 at 7.00p.m.

 

MEDICAL                   07/255               Mr. Lace referred to the construction of the

COVER                                                new nursing home in Peel and expressed concerns about the increased pressure that would be placed on the medical team in Peel.  It was felt that the surgery was currently overstretched and the new nursing home would make the situation worse.  It was AGREED to make contact with the Health Services to seek a meeting to discuss this issue.  Mr. Gimbert commented that the matter had been raised some two years ago and had still not been adequately addressed by the Health Services. 

 

MEDIA                        07/256               Mrs. Moughtin referred to recent media

COVERAGE                                         coverage obtained by Mr. Gimbert in respect of his role as a parent with regard to the thumb printing of school children.  The radio interview referred to Mr. Gimbert as a Peel Town Commissioner and parent.  It should be emphasised that Mr. Gimbert had raised the matter purely as a parent and not in his role as a Commissioner.  Mr. Gimbert confirmed that it was as a parent that he had sought publicity with regard to this matter and that he was in no way representing the Commissioners.  He indicated that he had been misreported in this respect. 

 

SEWAGE                    07/257               Mr. Lightfoot referred to the recent discussion in Tynwald over the IRIS Scheme with regard to its impact on Peel.  It appeared that Tynwald had approved a new sewage route for the Town’s disposal of sewage.  At this stage the Commissioners would seek consultation with the Department of Transport and in that respect a meeting had been arranged with Mr. Winstanley for the following week. 

 

 

MEMORIAL               07/258               Reference was made to the ongoing pipe work

SITE – PEEL HILL                               being undertaken by Total Limited with particular regard to the hole in the pavement at the entrance to the hill near to the memorial tree planting site.  Bearing in mind that the Service of Remembrance would take place in November it was AGREED to contact Total Oil and request that the hole be in filled and made good prior to this Service.

 

                                                              Mr. Lace wished to thank the outdoor staff for laying a new concrete path and handrail to the tree planting memorial site.

 

PEEL SHORE             07/259               Mr. Gimbert referred to the tractor left on Peel Beach over the weekend which had not been fenced off and could pose a hazard.  Mr. Lightfoot queried whether a post and tape barrier would properly prevent any person gaining access to the machine in any event. 

 

                                                              This part of the meeting ended at 8.20p.m.