ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the Parish Council Planning Meeting held at the Old School on Thursday, 1st July, 2004

PRESENT: Cllrs D G Hopkins (Chair), Mrs G M Beechey,  I R Copcutt, R Kidson, D T Leeson, P Lusk, D R V Murray, J Nelson, Mrs S Nelson, M G Pate, Mrs S J Pate and M Underwood

APOLOGIES :  Cllrs Mrs E L Byrne, Mrs G M Hopkins and P Illes

1.       DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

 Personal:    Cllr Lusk declared a personal interest in item 7 on the grounds that his family used the swimming pool

2.       PERMISSIONS – 04/ 0252, 0384, 0438 and 0446 - Noted

3.     CORRESPONDENCE

a)       Mr D Marrison, 2 Church Rd – Copy of letter objecting to application for Special Hours Certificate for Shrewsbury Arms

b)       Mr Peter Bradley MP – Letter enquiring about the Council’s position on the Shrewsbury Arms Special Hours Certificate

It was agreed that the Council should write to the Licensing Justices and to BDC endorsing the views expressed by Mr Marrison and drawing attention to previous instances where major complaints had been received.

c)       Mrs J M Thomas – Letter seeking approval for proposal to erect a fence at corner of Windsor Rd and Barclay Close

           It was agreed that Mrs Thomas should be informed that, while the Council had sympathy 

           for her problems it did not have the power to approve or disapprove the erection of a  

          fence and therefore recommended that she should consult a solicitor. 

d)       BDC Environmental Health – Response to enquiry regarding LPG tanks at rear of Library

It was agreed that the Clerk should draw the attention of BDC to reports of an offensive smell of fuel in the vicinity of the tanks and ask to be kept informed of the ongoing situation relating to these tanks.

5.       FINANCE

Cllr M G Pate, seconded by Cllr Mrs S J Pate, proposed that the following payments and transfer be approved - carried  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 VAT

Transfer of  £1000  from deposit to current account  

6.       OTHER URGENT BUSINESS

Swimming Pool – Consideration of measures to retain the facility for the current season

        The Clerk explained that, because of regular damage caused by vandals and a large increase in  

        insurance premium, the Swimming Club had reluctantly decided not to open the pool during the

       forthcoming holiday period.  Concern had been expressed    about this decision by local residents     

      and provisional arrangements had been made for a meeting with interested parties on 6^th July to

     discuss the nature and extent of the problems and what, if anything could be done to keep the pool

    open. The Head  Teacher of County Junior School would not be able to attend but had recommended a

    further meeting in September to consider  the long term situation and had indicated that it would be

    necessary to arrive at a decision to be made on 6^th July if the winter  closure of the pool were to be

    avoided. He had also indicated that he would only be willing to permit the use of the pool by the

   Swimming Club or by a similarly responsible organisation such as the Parish Council. It was pointed out

   that the Club had not  requested a grant from the Council (or, probably, from Donington PC) for the past

   two years and was also due to receive a grant   from BDC. Consequently it seemed likely that up to £4000

   was available in respect of these grants. Cllr Mrs Pate informed  members that it was hoped to form a

  new Swimming Club which would include some people  employed in education who had  been CRB

  checked, those who had not could still officiate as long as they were supervised. With regard to insurance

  it seemed that the premium would be significantly lower if the activities were described as sport rather

  than leisure.  In addition to the need for payment of the insurance premium it was likely that improved

  security fencing would need to be provided together with new  curtains for the changing rooms. Cllr M G

 Pate suggested that the long term future of the Pool needed to be linked to the issue of   leisure provision in

 general and, particularly the proposal for expenditure of up to £10,000 on consultancy. Cllr Murray,

 seconded  by  Cllr M G Pate, proposed that authority be given for amount of up to £5,000, including grants

 included in the current and past  budgets  to be spent on necessary works to enable the pool to be kept

 open – carried. It was agreed that The Head of County Junior School should be asked to ensure that the

 pool was not drained.                               

D G Hopkins - Chairman