Minutes of a Meeting of Usk Town Council held on Monday 10th March 2008 at The Sessions House Usk at 7.30pm

 

Prior to the meeting PC Mike Thomas and Inspector Geoff Smith gave the monthly Police Report.                                   .

 

Present; Cllrs Mrs J Jeremiah (Chairman), A Kear, Mrs K Peacock, B Strong, M. Evans,

 A Leathwood, D Rennels BEM.  C Cllr J Harrhy,

                                               

 

15.2        To Accept Apologies for Absence:

Cllrs Fleming, Galletley, Watkins, Mitchell

           

           

15.3        To disclose personal and pecuniary interest in items of business listed below:

C Cllr Harrhy - All planning,

Cllr Peacock – 76 Mill Street, Usk

           

 

15.4        To Approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 11th February 2008.

One amendment was made 14.2. – delete 40 vacancies.

            .

 

15.5    Matters arising from the minutes of 11th February 2008:

                        Any other matters not commented elsewhere

Regarding the donation to the Town Guide Cllr Kear asked that this matter be formally raised at the Finance meeting. Cllr Leathwood is concerned about the landscaping at the Trailer Park, Llanbadoc as the park is very unsightly. Cllr Harrhy reassured council that officers from Monmouth County Council (MCC) were in negotiation with the trailer park personnel and that that if orders were not met then the application would not be granted.

.

 

15.5        To receive the financial statement of accounts for February 2008.

The monthly reconciliation for February showed no erroneous payments or receipts.

Cllrs approved the monthly figures.

           

 

15.7    To receive a report from the Sessions House Management Committee

Cllrs received draft minutes of meeting held on the 04.03.08.

1.3 The Courtroom needs painting and therefore a price for the scaffolding is required. Cllr Leathwood suggested that the prison be approached to do the job rather than commit to additional expenses. It was suggested that if the scaffolding is obtained then perhaps the cracks in the library ceiling should also receive attention.

The Fir tree by the side of the library is to be felled this month.

 

 

15.8    To receive the latest report on the Movement of Prisoners from HMP  Usk to

                                                                                                HMP   Prescoed.

There are currently two sex offenders. The prison has no plans to take any more sex offenders and they are currently selecting who they consider to be the right type of prisoners, due to prison population pressure. Cllr Harrhy has recently visited HMP Leyhill Prison which he found very interesting and suggested that the Council also visit and see the prisoners working in the community.

Cllr Strong asked whether shopkeeper could be informed if prisoners had absconded as they consider themselves to be in a vulnerable position. It was decided that a member of the Chamber of Commerce would be notified should a prisoner abscond and then via a cascade system inform the relevant shopkeepers. Cllr Peacock asked that the Clerk check who is currently on the prison “cascade system”.

 

15.9        Planning Applications.

DC/2008/00153.  Proposed Installation of Three New Windows

Old Garden Cottage, Barons Court , Usk             Recommend Approval

 

DC/2008/00235  Single storey lean-to-extension to rear of property to provide unheated garden room and new lavatory 76 Mill Street, Usk                                                            

                                               Recommend Approval

 

16.0     Update on areas of concern within the town

It was commented upon that work carried out recently within the Town by MCC had been done very efficiently and that MCC should be complimented on this.

Cllr Rennels commented upon the condition of the sunken paved roadway in Maryport Street. Cllr Harrhy inform Council that Priory Street and Church Street are to be resurfaced in May this year, however, there are insufficient funds  at present to resurface the road defects in  Bridge St.

 

16.1        To Receive Reports from Members serving on other bodies

Cllr Evans said that the Fair Trade evening had been well attended with very interesting speakers and that the Fair Trade were to hold a stall at the Farmer’s Market.

Friends of Usk are waiting to hear whether they have been successful with their grant application.

Usk in Bloom are to hold their annual auction this Tuesday 11th March at the Nags Head.

The Mayor’s recent Charity auction raised £1232.

 

 

16.2        To Receive a Report from the Traffic & HGVs Committee

An email had been received from P.S Stefan Williams with a Police update on the HGV issue. The following points were made:

 

1)    The stand point in terms of prosecutions remains the same from Gwent
Police - due to difficulties with signage and existing orders.

2)    The provision of an operation to focus on such vehicles was not
possible during November due to a lack of resources in the Monmouth
Section and also in Roads Policing.

3)    Further to this there has been a re-structure of the roads policing
unit which has resulted in far less officers being available for this
type of work, although not impossible. The restructuring process is
still in its early stages and therefore unable to progress with the idea
immediately.

Cllr Kear commented that traffic sensors had been noticed in Maryport Street. He asked if there was any specific reason why traffic was being monitored. He asked that Paul Keeble be contacted to see the reason why.

 

 

16.3     To Discuss the 106 Funding due from the Development at Burrium Chase.

It was expressed that the whole process is not progressing and that Usk Town Council should be more involved in the advertising of the funds. It was felt that MCC should take over the project but that the Town Council be involved, particularly so, with the assessment of the applications and to ensure that all applications are within the category and area stated. It was also felt that more time should be given to applicants.

There is a surgery day to be held on the 11th April in the Sessions House and the last day for applications is 30th May 2008. It was agreed that this is not enough time to allow for applications to be submitted and these dates should be extended. Clerk to contact Mike Moran MCC.

 

 

16.4     To Discuss the Recycling Facilities in Usk.

Cllr Leathwood expressed his concern that Usk was being treated differently to other areas regarding recycling. Although the Town has a good recycling centre this does not necessarily benefit the elderly who are unable to manage the steps at the centre. He felt that that Usk is being denied the black box and door to door services and if recycling is to be encouraged then we need this service. He proposed that we write to MCC and start to benefit from the facilities that other Councils already have. Copies should be sent to David Harris and Edward Saxon.

Cllr Harrhy said that all these smaller community issues have recently been discussed by the recycling committee (MCC) and a report forwarded to the Cabinet for approval.

 

 

16.5     To Discuss any Proposals for Road Names in the Development at                    Burrium Chase                                    (Ideas Please)

The Town Clerk put forward some very good suggestions for names that council proposed be put forward to County.

They were Glyndwr, Owain, Stretham (homestead or village on Roman Road), Stretford (ford on roman road) Fossa (ditch), Silures (tribe in the south east Wales-people of the rocks), Blestium.

It was suggested that Usk Church in Wales Primary School may like to partake in the road naming. The Clerk will contact Amanda Perrin to discuss this.

 

           

16.6     To Receive the latest update on Future Burial Arrangements:

No update.

 

 

16.6     To receive developments regarding production of the Usk Town Guide for 2008/2009

No update

            .

 

 

16.8     Correspondence:

From;   MCC re: Supply of Electoral Register 2008

From;   Heritage Lottery Fund

From:   One Voice Wales re:- Membership

From:   Abergavenny Eisteddfod

From:   Local Government Code of Conduct.

From:   Zurich Municipal Policy Renewal

From:   St George’s Day Service Chepstow Castle, 20.04.08

From;   SMP Outdoor Fitness Range

From;   Mike Smith

From;   P.S. Stefan Williams HGVs

From:   MCC Mike Jones, Highways Network Manager

 

 

One Voice Wales re:- Membership - it was decided to renew the Membership

 

16.9     Any other business. Any other business is at the discretion of and with prior notice

                                                                                                to the Chairman

There was no further business for the main meeting and this closed at 9.00pm.