GENERAL MEETING

 

The MINUTES of the GENERAL MEETING held in the Board Room, Town Hall, Derby Road, Peel on Thursday 20th September 2007 at 7.00p.m.

 

Present                         Mrs. T M Birkett (Acting Chairman)

                                    Mr. I Baker

                                    Mr. R M Gimbert

                                    Ms. P Hardman

                                    Mr. D J Lace

                                    Mr. J E Lightfoot

                                    Mrs. P Pugh

 

Apologies                     Mrs. P Sweeney   

                                    Mrs. C A Moughtin

                                   

In attendance                Mr. P G Leadley (Town Clerk)

                                    Miss P L Bampton (Finance Officer)

                                                                

ACTING                     07/197               The Acting Chairman welcomed the Press to

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS                 the meeting and indicated her pleasure at inviting Mr. Malcolm Kelly to present the T A Kelly Shield to Mr. Jonathan Irving in recognition of his efforts to provide a major music festival in Peel in June 2007.  Mr. Irving upon receiving the shield thanked Mr. Kelly the Commissioners and his family in their support over this award. 

 

MINUTES                   07/198               The Minutes of the meeting held on 16th August 2007 were taken as read and CONFIRMED. 

 

DEPARTMENT          07/199               Reference was made back to Minute 07/156

OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY             and it was noted that significant efforts had

MILL ROAD SITE                               been made to tidy up the area and it was AGREED that an appropriate letter of thanks be sent to the Department of Trade and Industry. 

 

LEECE MUSEUM      07/200               Reference was made back to Minute 07/159 and it was AGREED that in recognition of her voluntary work for the Leece Museum that a letter of thanks be sent to Mrs. Hanneke Tamil-Young. 

 

SETTING OF              07/201               Consideration was given to a letter from the

TOWN RATE                                       Department of Local Government and the Environment together with an attached response from Port Erin Commissioners concerning the setting of local authority rates.  Mr. Gimbert indicated after having spoken to Mr. Shimmin, Minister for the Department that all local authorities must justify any proposed expenditure over and above 4%.  Mr. Lightfoot expressed his alarm at the manner of the response by the Minister to Mr. Kewley, Clerk to Port Erin Commissioners letter in answer to the proposed increase.  Mr. Lightfoot was of the view that this was a rate capping exercise and rather than look at setting an arbitrary inflationary increase across the whole of the Island that each local authority should be looked at individually. 

 

                                                              It was AGREED to request a meeting with either the Minister or Mrs. Mellor of the Department of Local Government and the Environment to discuss the proposal. 

 

AMENDMENT           07/201               It was AGREED to hold over the review of the

OF STANDING ORDERS                   draft Standing Orders pending clarification of one particular matter relating to the membership of outside bodies with the Chairman Mrs. Sweeney on her return.

 

LOCAL                       07/202               Members noted receipt of a letter from the

GOVERNMENT ACT 1984                 Environmental Health Office concerning the storage of materials at the former Sailcrest Engineering site.   It was noted that the Environmental Health Officer had confirmed the need to remove all loose wood from the site and screen the boundary from the adjacent properties as an interim solution.  NOTED

 

PEEL CARNIVAL      07/203               Members noted a receipt of a letter from Mr. Baker, Chairman of the Peel Carnival Committee thanking the Commissioners for their assistance and contribution towards this year’s festival. 

 

ST PATRICK’S          07/204               Consideration was given to a request from St.

CHURCH                                             Patrick’s Church for the provision of a domestic wheelie bin.  After discussion it was AGREED that a bin be provided under the provisions of the Public Health Act enabling places of worship and registered charities to receive a free bin.

 

GAYLES FAYRE        07/205               Consideration was given to a letter from the Highways Division of the Department of Transport regarding proposed parking restrictions outside Gayles Fayre.  Mr. Sewell had indicated that the measures to improve visibility from Derby Drive and Church Street would entail parking on the opposite side of Christian Street outside house numbers 39, 41 and 43.  Members queried this proposal and AGREED that it be raised with the Department. 

 

                                                              Mr. Baker arrived at 7.30p.m.

 

ROAD TRAFFIC        07/206               Consideration was given to a draft Order

REGULATION ACT 1985                   enabling the creation of a reserved parking place on a section of the eastern side of Shore Road fronting property numbered 17.  Members had no objection to the proposal and it was AGREED to advise the Department accordingly. 

 

NEW BUS                   07/207               Mr. Lightfoot confirmed that the proposed new

SHELTER                                             bus shelter on the Douglas Road was scheduled for installation on 22nd September 2007.

 

HEADLANDS             07/208               Mr. Lace referred to the headlands field and

FIELD                                                   enquired as to why the gates were locked.  It was indicated that this was to prevent parking of cars on the field.  Mr. Lace further referred to the lower field beneath Battery Road and indicated whether it could be designated an area on which dogs could roam at large now that the new dog byelaws prevented dogs from being at large.  It was AGREED that the matter warranted further consideration. 

 

TRAINING                 07/209               Mr. Lightfoot referred to a training course

COURSE                                              aimed at parents regarding children taking drugs and indicated that it was taking place under the auspices of the Isle of Man Children’s Centre in the Philip Christian Centre.  The course included a £10 per head admission price and it was suggested that the Commissioners might wish to sponsor the course to ensure that those in need of attending were able to do so. 

 

STREET SIGNS          07/210               It was suggested that the sign indicating Tynwald Road placed above the crossroads required to be re-sited on the downside wall where Tynwald Road ended.  It was AGREED that the Technical Officer investigate the need to move the sign accordingly. 

 

                                                              Mr. Baker suggested that a new sign was required on the eastern end of Boilley Spittal where the sign had been removed.  AGREED

 

KERBSIDE                 07/211               Mr. Gimbert summarised the recent

RECYCLING                                       presentation to local authorities by Officers of the Department of Local Government and the Environment together with its consultant Enviros concerning kerbside recycling across the Island. Central funding would be provided for three years to instigate the kerbside recycling scheme and it was noted that Douglas, Onchan and Braddan would be the first recipients of the initiative.  The Department had confirmed that after three years central funding the scheme would be provided through rate borne funds.  Peel and Ramsey were scheduled for consideration of the scheme in 2011 and it was AGREED to enquire whether three years funding would be available from that date for Peel and Ramsey in the same way that Onchan, Douglas and Braddan were to be funded for three years from 2008.  The Minister had also indicated that he did not support any further local authority trials in terms of recycling and Mr. Gimbert had also raised queries as to the costs of the scheme.  Mr. Gimbert confirmed that Phase Three of the scheme across the rest of the Island would only be considered if Phases One and Two proved to be economically viable. 

 

                                                              At this stage it AGREED to clarify whether the proposed Phase Two involving Peel would be funded  centrally for three years.

 

CONSERVATION     07/212               Mr. Gimbert referred to his wish to see the Peel

AREA                                                   Conservation Area reduced and it was noted that a map indicating the Commissioners proposed reduction had been sent to the Minister for his consideration.  It was noted that the Department through its Conservation Officer would look into the Commissioners proposals and liaise accordingly. 

 

RAGGATT                  07/213               Members noted that statistical information on

LANDFILL                                           the Raggatt discharge. The breakdown indicated that the only high reading involved ammonium.  The scientific conclusion was that no problems had been caused to water purity levels.  Mr. Gimbert commented upon the continuing expansion of the Town and suggested that the major housing developments could result in a more concentrated discharge into the sea. He suggested that a review of ten years data was required to ensure levels had not increased. 

 

PAY AND                   07/214               Members noted receipt of a copy of a letter

DISPLAY CAR PARKING                  from Mr. Fred Crowe addressed to the Department of Transport concerning pay and display car parking.  Mr. Crowe was particularly concerned that in his opinion Central Government funded some £70,000.00 grant assistance to provide parking facilities at the Tynwald Mills Craft Centre, St. Johns.  Members noted the contents of the letter.

 

PANDEMIC FLU       07/215               The Town Clerk referred to an invitation he had received from Mrs. Williams, Chief Secretary to attend a pandemic flu tabletop exercise on the 22nd October 2007.  Members indicated that previous pandemic flu seminars had been attended and that there was no need to attend a further tabletop exercise. 

 

CASTLETOWN          07/216               Members noted receipt of an invitation from

CIVIC SERVICE                                  the Chairman of Castletown Commissioners, Mr. P R Kennaugh, J.P., to attend his Civic Sunday service on 21st October 2007 at 3.00p.m. 

 

MUNICIPAL              07/217               Mrs. Birkett and Ms. Hardman indicated that

ASSOCIATION                                   they had been unable to attend the previous meeting of the Municipal Association but would make an effort to attend the next meeting scheduled for 27th September 2007 at 7.30p.m. at Braddan Parish Commissioners offices.

 

LOCAL                       07/218               Consideration was given to an email from the

GOVERNMENT ACT 2006                 Department of Local Government and the Environment seeking feedback on a proposal to allow local authorities to borrow up to £25,000 without Department approval for any rate borne schemes.  It was AGREED to advise the Department that the Commissioners supported the proposal.

 

POPPY APPEAL        07/219               The Town Clerk read out a letter from the Head of the Poppy Appeal indicating that they were looking to recruit new poppy appeal volunteers.  It was AGREED that the matter be given appropriate publicity.

 

 

 

QUEEN                       07/220               Mr. Lace indicated that it had previously been

ELIZABETH 11 HIGH SCHOOL         agreed that a replica prize be given to the music prize winner in addition to holding the plaque for one year.  AGREED

 

                                                              The meeting ended at 8 25p.m.