MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 21ST JANUARY 2009.
Approved as a true record 18 Feb 2009.
The Monthly Meeting was held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 21st January 2009 at the Colby Sunday School Hall. Present were Mr B Rae (Chairman), Mr M Cringle, Mrs K Edds, Mr A Cowin, Mr M Berry and Mr W I Lowey (Clerk).
The Minutes of the December Meeting were confirmed as a true record and signed.
The following on-going matters were discussed:-
Risk Matters
The Clerk reported that the Friary Park play area equipment would be receiving its annual inspection by the manufacturer’s inspector during February.
Highways Matters
There was further discussion on the general bad state of the roads in the Parish and it was agreed to write to the DOT Minister to seek information on the Department’s plans in this regard.
It was noted that there had again been flooding during periods of heavy rainfall in Ballabeg, in the Iron Spout area and at two properties on Ballacriy.
It was advised that there was a danger for traffic from the Ballakaighen direction turning right at Duck Street, especially with the increased amount of traffic using the route during roadworks at Castletown. It was agreed to suggest to the DOT that this could be partially remedied by the halt area being narrowed, thus moving traffic closer to the pavement where visibility for vehicles leaving the halt was somewhat better.
Mr Berry reported that he would be attending the Southern Road Traffic Liaison Group Meeting on 28th January and advised of the issues that had been raised at the previous meeting of the Group.
Police Matters
It was agreed that the issue of responsibility for removing excessive mud on the roads should be clarified at the next meeting with the Police.
Advice was received that a new Criminal Justice Act would probably be in place by Summer 2009, under which local authorities would have a legal responsibility to liaise and co-operate with the Police but that this would have little additional impact on the South because the Southern Liaison Group was already operating successfully.
Allotments
It was reported that the agreement of the DOT had been obtained regarding access, trackway and parking area and that the formal planning application was ready for submission subject to Professor Maddrell agreeing to the detailed proposals. Indicative prices were received for the access track, parking area and fencing. They were considerably higher than anticipated but it was nevertheless agreed to proceed by seeking formal quotes from contractors, the track and parking area to be either of rolled MOT Type 1 on a membrane or plastic paving mesh and the perimeter fence to be rabbit proof.
It was agreed to advise the prospective allotment holders of progress to date but to defer a further meeting with them for a short period.
Hall Roof
It was reported that six firms had indicated an interest in tendering and that the asbestos survey was to take place on 29th January. It was also reported that Isle of Man Bank had informally agreed to the loan subject to DOLGE approval
Civic Service
Final arrangements were discussed and agreed.
Budget Report
The Budget Report for the period to 31st December 2008 was received and noted.
Estimates for 2009/10
Projected final figures for 2008/09 were noted and the likely income and expenditure for 2009/10 was discussed.
Regarding the refuse collection costs, because fuel costs had increased by 19% over the year whereas the overall RPI was only 2.8%, it was agreed on this occasion to increase the contractor’s payments by more than the RPI, the exact figure to be agreed between the Chairman and the contractor.
It was agreed to include an amount in the Estimates towards a possible play area at Ballacubbon, Colby and to service the additional borrowing required for the Parish Hall roof project..
The Clerk was awarded a 6% pay rise in recognition of additional responsibilities involved under the new financial regulations.
It was agreed that the rate for the coming year would be unchanged at 88 pence in the pound.
Planning Matters
The following new application was considered:-
08/02302 – Ballacubbon Barn, Glen Road – windows, porch & balcony – no comments.
08/02294 – Ballayelse Farm, Ronague – garage and sheep pens & alterations to renovations and barn conversion – it was felt that the proposed agricultural building could not be justified by the size of the holding and the number of stock kept and that the size and construction of the pens seemed more appropriate to a dwelling than to an agricultural shed.
08/02290 – Ballacomish, Ronague Road – Alterations and extension – the very ornate facade of this proposed development was felt to be very much out of keeping with the vernacular architecture and the character of the Manx countryside.
09/00024 – Ballalona, Quayles Orchard – reinstatement of redundant dwelling and access drive in principle – there were reservations expressed regarding the distance from the main road and the absence of an indication whether or not the building would be retained as a modest cottage or developed into a large dwelling.
09/ 00064 – Field 425091, off Corlea Road, Ronague – removal of mound and re-profiling of land. – there were concerns expressed over the amount of heavy haulage traffic that might be generated by the removal off site of significant amounts of gravel.
The following decisions were received from DOLGE and noted:-
08/01966 – Ballacomish, Ronague Road – enclosed manege – Approved.
08/02168 – The Bungalow, Duck Street – part demolition of existing house, new detached bungalow, etc – Approved.
08/02153 – Rambling Rose, Glen Road – alterations & extensions, etc – Approved
08/02174 – Mount Pleasant, Main Road, Colby – rear extension – Approved.
08/02104 – Gys yn jiass, Main Road, Colby – replacement windows – Approved.
08/02113 – Coach House, Ballabeg – conservatory – Approved.
Sundry Correspondence & Other Matters
The following correspondence was received:-
- Invitation to Malew Civic Service 15th February – Mr Rae, Mrs Edds, Mr Cowin and Mr Berry indicated that they would attend.
- Query from IOM Safeguarding Children Board – agreed to attend presentation on the role of the Board at a date to be arranged.
- Letter from Mr H Duff re war memorials – agreed to pass on to the Vicar and Wardens of Arbory Church.
- St John Ambulance brochures – noted.
- Letter from Planning Enforcement Officer in connection with local authority powers regarding temporary dwellings and advertising on vehicles – noted for future reference.
- Letter from DOLGE re Community engagement in Southern Plan – agreed to take part.
- Invitation from DAFF to community meetings on the marine nature reserve project - noted.
- Information on Arbory School 175th anniversary book - noted.
- DOLGE refuse collection forum questionnaire on refuse collection practices – agreed to complete.
- Advice of public meeting in connection with the use of land at Ballakilley, Rushen – Mr Berry agreed to attend.
- Notification of new speed limits in the vicinity of Arbory School and between Ballabeg and Colby - noted.
- Statistics on the visits to the Arbory website over the past year - noted.
- Letter from Onchan Commissioners regarding defamation of members and the remedies available - noted.
- Letter from Phil Gawne MHK in connection with beating the bounds between Arbory and Rushen – deferred until the February Meeting.
- Letter from Juan Watterson MHK in connection with the Leadership in the Community courses – agreed to advise Mr Watterson that the Commissioners had been represented at the recent presentation on the subject and were therefore aware of the courses.
Accounts for Payment
The following accounts were passed for payment:-
Jones Services Ltd - Refuse collection Jan £2,283.82
IOM Govt - Refuse disposal Dec £1,033.00
Manx Telecom - Office £45.79
DAFF - Christmas trees £107.07
WI Lowey - Reimbursement for stamps, etc £50.20
S Swimming Pool Bd - Annual contribution £4,908.75
Chris Littler - Annual website hosting fees £135.00
Quine & Cubbon - Civic Service invitation cards £39.79
Wicksteed Leisure - Annual play equipment inspection £105.00
Colby Methodist Chapel - Hire of hall £15.00
Commissioners Bonds
It was noted that all of the bondholders had agreed to renew their loans for a further year at 3% per annum.
Sundry Matters Raised by Members
- Mrs Edds suggested that consideration might be given to producing a parish calendar for 2010 – agreed.
- Mr Cringle enquired about the hours that the streetlights were lit – agreed to invite a MEA representative to attend the next meeting.