GENERAL MEETING

 

The MINUTES of a GENERAL MEETING held in the Board Room, Town Hall, Derby Road, Peel on Thursday 21st February 2008 at 7.00p.m.

 

 

Present                         Mrs. P S Sweeney (Chairman)

                                    Mrs. P Pugh

                                    Mr. R M Gimbert

                                    Mr. D J Lace

                                    Mr. J E Lightfoot

                                    Mrs T M Birkett   

                                    Mrs. C A Moughtin

                                    Mr. P Hardman

 

Apologies                     Mr. I Baker

                                   

In attendance                Miss L Bampton (Finance Officer)

                                    Mr. T Quayle (Technical Officer)

 

CHAIRMAN’S           07/385               The Chairman informed the Board that she

WELCOME                                          wished to express her thanks for the two events which had been organised to celebrate the Town Hall’s 50th Anniversary.  The Chairman reported that she had received a letter from Ms. Faulkner thanking her for inviting to the event held on 13th February 2008.  Ms. Faulkner expressed in her letter that she particularly enjoyed Mr. Harrison Quirk speech on how the Commissioners meetings were run fifty years ago. 

 

MINUTES                   07/386               The Minutes of the meeting held on 17th January 2008 were taken as read and CONFIRMED.

 

STORAGE OF            07/387               Mr. Gimbert referred back to Minute 07/357 an

SOIL ON LAND AT                            informed the Board that the Minute should

BALLAWATTLEWORTH                   state that Heritage Homes Limited should keep the level of soil below a height of 2 metres and not 6 metres. Mr. Lightfoot commented that Mr. Gimbert should have raised the issue before the Minutes were signed, therefore the Minute stood.   It was AGREED to ask the Town Clerk to verify the correct figure and adjust the Minute if necessary.

 

SPEED HUMPS          07/388               Mr. Gimbert referred back to Minute 07/358

BOILLEY SPITTAL                             and enquired whether a traffic/speed hump needed planning permission.  The Finance Officer reported that the hump didn’t need planning permission as long as it was going to improve road safety.  The Board AGREED to the installation of the traffic calming measure and the Technical Officer undertook to arrange for one to be installed.

 

MANX                        07/389               Mrs. Birkett referred back to Minute 07/355

SAXOPHONE ENSEMBLE                and enquired as to whether any information had been received from Manx Saxophone regarding their intention to put on an evening concert in Peel.  The Finance Officer informed her that to date no correspondence had been received.

 

RATES                        07/390               Consideration was given to a rates statement

STATEMENT                                       which had been prepared by the Finance Officer.  Mr. Lightfoot proposed that the statement be issued to all households with their rates bill.  This was seconded by the Chairman.  The Chairman enquired as to whether the Commissioners could adopt a similar format to Onchan’s which was published on their Website.  The Finance Officer undertook to look into the matter and change the statement accordingly.

 

STANDING                07/391               Mr. Gimbert informed the Board that point C

ORDERS                                              under the regulation of general meetings which states that the lead member for each committee should submit to the lead member of finance details of any extraordinary payments likely to be incurred during the following financial year be changed from February to December.  AGREED

 

                                                              Mr. Gimbert reported that as well as having a young person representative the Board should also have an elderly person’s representative.  Mrs. Pugh comment that Mr. Lightfoot was chairing a meeting of the Western Liaison group and they were looking at having representatives for both the young and elderly.  Mrs. Pugh stated that if we had representatives for the elderly and young then should we have a middle age representatives and then we would end up with to many representatives.  The Board AGREED not to have any elderly people’s representative.

 

                                                              Mr. Lightfoot suggested that the revised Standing Orders be issued as a draft copy for the next board to decide on.  Mr. Gimbert argued that the Standing Orders should be decided on before the election.  The rest of the Board disagreed with him and AGREED that the new draft standing orders be presented to the new board to vote on whether they wanted to adopt them or not.

 

WARD LIBRARY       07/392               Members considered a proposal from Douglas Borough Library to let Peel rate payers use the library in Douglas, if Peel Town Commissioners paid them a set fee each year.  The Commissioners AGREED that the Ward Library provided Peel residents with good quality facilities and had a knowledgeable librarian.  The Board declined the offer.  Members AGREED that they should encourage residents to use the library in Peel rather than one elsewhere.

 

WESTERN                  07/393               The Chairman suggested that Members defer

PARTNERSHIP POLICING PLAN     any concern they had on the Western Partnership Policing plan till the following week when the Board were due to meet the new Chief Inspector and the new Inspector for Peel.  AGREED

 

LOCAL                       07/394               Consideration was given to a letter received

GOVERNMENT PENSION                from Port Erin Commissioners who were

PLAN                                                   concerned at the increasing level of employer contributions to the pension scheme.  Members also noted receipt of a copy of the reply sent to Port Erin Commissioners from Mr. Bolt, Treasurer to the Isle of Man Pension scheme.   Mrs. Birkett reported that she shared Port Erin Commissioners concerns and felt Mr. Bolt’s letter didn’t go far enough in addressing their concerns.  Mr. Lightfoot suggested that the Board write to Port Erin Commissioners and tell them that we share their concern and suggest that a meeting be arranged between the local authorities, Douglas Corporation who administer the pension scheme and the Department of Local Government and the Environment to discuss the issue.  AGREED

 

 

 

 

ROAD TRAFFIC        07/395               The Board noted receipt of the following draft

REGULATION ACT 1985                   Orders –

 

                                                              1.  Peel (Various Roads) (Reserved Parking Places) (Amendment (No) Order 2008.

 

2.      Parking Places (Peel) (Roads, streets and carriage way) (Amendment) (No) Order 2008

 

3.      Station Place (Peel) Prohibition of Waiting order 2008.

 

                                                              Members had no objections to the draft orders

 

FLAG DAY                 07/396               Members considered a request from St. John Ambulance to hold a flag day in Peel on 24th May 2008.  AGREED

 

ISLE OF MAN            07/397               The Commissioners considered a request from

WIND ORCHESTRA                           the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra who wished to stage a series of concerts in Peel.  The Board AGREED that the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra should be invited to perform in Peel.  Mr. Lightfoot commented that the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra could make a useful contribution to Carnival Day and it was AGREED to invite them to come to a meeting and discuss the logistics and suitable venues for the staging of the concerts.

 

STATUE OF               07/398               The Board considered an e-mail request from

NORMAN WISDOM                          Mr. J Hillier to erect a statue of Norman Wisdom.  Mr. Lightfoot report that there was already a statue of Mr. Wisdom in Douglas and he felt that it wouldn’t be in keeping to have another one in Peel.  AGREED

 

CONSERVATION     07/399               Members noted receipt of a building

GRANTS SUMMARY                         conservation grant summary which stated that Peel had received £293,949.42 to date.  The Chairman reported that she would like to know where they money had been spent.  It was AGREED to write to the Conservation Officer and ask him for a break down of where the grants went.

 

MR. DILLON              07/400               Members refused a request from Mr. Dillon

AND MISS SHIMMIN                        and Miss Shimmin to buy a parcel of land from the Commissioners behind Glenfaba Road. 

 

ISLE OF MAN            07/401               The Board considered a request from the Isle

CHILDRENS CENTRE                        of Man Children’s Centre to erect a sign to be placed under the present Town Hall notice board, advertising the Isle of Man Children’s Centre.  The Technical Officer informed the Board that in his opinion the sign was too large.  Mr. Lightfoot reported that if the sign was erected here it would not enhance the entrance into the Town Hall.  Members AGREED that a smaller sign be erected on two poles at the side of the steps going to the Philip Christian Centre.  The Technical Officer undertook to speak to the Isle of Man Children’s Centre regarding the positioning and size of the sign.

 

TOWN CENTRE        07/402               Mr. Lace reported that he had read in the paper that the Isle of Man Government had money available to spend on regenerating Town centres.  Mr. Gimbert commented that Douglas had reacted very quickly on securing funding for work to be carried out in Douglas.  It was AGREED to see if there was work that needed to be carried out in Peel that could be funded from Central Government.

 

HEAVY GOODS        07/403               Mr. Lightfoot informed Members that despite

VEHICLES                                           discussing the problem of heavy good vehicles using Church Street with Mr. Hannay and Mr. Crookall of the Department of Transport   heavy goods vehicles were continuing to use the road.  The Board AGREED that a letter should be sent to Mr. Hannay demanding a weight limit be placed immediately on Church Street.  A copy of the letter would also be forwarded to Mr. Crookall, MHK.

 

COMMERCIAL          07/404               Mr. Lightfoot reported that there were at least

VEHICLES                                           five commercial vehicles parked on roads in Peel each night.  It was AGREED to place notices on these vehicles asking them to park their vehicles in the lorry park and a letter be sent to Manx Telecom as a majority of the vehicles belonged to them asking them to tell their staff to park in the area designated for commercial vehicles.

 

MICHAEL                   07/405               Mr. Lightfoot informed Members that he had

STREET                                                rang the Police as he had seen a car driving up Michael Street when the street was closed. Its occupants parked outside Duncans Dinner and went into the café.  He was told by the Police that they would send the Traffic Warden to investigate the matter.  However the Police had failed to inform Mr. Lightfoot of the outcome of the incident.  The Board AGREED to find out what action was taken by the Police when they met with them next Wednesday.

 

                                                              This part of the meeting ended at 7.50p.m.