MINUTES OF MEETING 17TH MARCH 2010

Approved by the Board, subject to amendment in italics re Streetlights

The Monthly Meeting was held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17th March 2010 at the Halley MacLiag. Present were Mr Berry (Chairman), Mr Rae, Mr Cringle and Mrs Edds . Apologies were received from Mr Cowin. The Clerk, Mr W I Lowey, was in attendance.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 17th February 2010 were confirmed as a true record and signed.

The following on-going matters were discussed:-

Risk Matters

It was noted that Port Erin Commissioners had engaged Mr John Edwin of Edwin McGrath as health and safety advisor, and it was agreed to invite him to undertake the work for Arbory.

Police Matters

The Minutes of the February Meeting of the Southern Policing Partnership were received and noted.
A copy of the Policing Plan 2010/11 was received and noted.

Highways Matters

Mr Berry reported on the recent Southern Road Traffic Liaison Group Meeting. Amongst the matters that had been discussed were a road crossing at Colby Bridge, double yellow lines at Duck Street Corner and parking at Ballabeg Shop corner.

It was noted that advice had been received from the DOT that, in view of the current financial restrictions, the coastal cycleway from Castletown to Port St Mary was not be taken forward until such time as funds again became available.

Ballamaddrell Allotments

The Chairman gave a further progress report, advising that the plots had been ploughed, limed and power-harrowed and would probably be available for the plot-holders to take over by 1st April.

Community Strengthening Initiatives

Mr Berry advised that he had spoken to the Southern Befrienders regarding holding monthly coffee mornings for elderly people, perhaps in Colby, and that they were enthusiastic and willing to co-operate. It was agreed that Mr Berry would take this forward.

Municipal Association Matters

Mrs Edds reported on a recent meeting of the Association, at which, amongst the matters discussed were the role of the Children’s Champion for Young People in Care and the function of the Richmond Hill Consultative Committee. Mrs Edds advised that the DOLGE Senior Planning Officer would be attending the next meeting and that members were being asked to put forward planning issues for discussion.

Streetlighting

With regard to reduced lighting hours, it was noted that the Police had suggested that the lights near to Colby Glen Hotel should be left on later than midnight .It was agreed that MEA advice be sought regarding leaving the lights on later throughout the Parish on Friday and Saturday evenings only.

Advice was received that proposed lighting improvements at Station Park would be taking place.

With regard to the proposed new lighting associated with the new Colby AFC grounds, it was considered that bollard lighting would be preferable to standard lighting.

Unsightly properties and Overgrown Hedges

Correspondence was received from the DOT, suggesting that the Commissioners might take a more active role on the issue of hedges overgrowing pavements. It was agreed in principle that this would be acceptable and the Clerk was instructed to seek further information regarding powers and sanctions.

A letter from the Chief Environmental Officer in connection with unsightly properties confirmed that the DOLGE officers would continue to be available to assist, but that there would be a charge for such work, the level of charging yet to be determined. It was agreed that, where appropriate, the Commissioners would take on this more direct role, at least at the earlier stages of the procedure.

Refuse Collection

The Chairman reported on a recent joint southern authority meeting at Port Erin. He indicated that Port Erin, Port St Mary and Malew Commissioners were in favour of a joint approach to refuse collection and were instructing their clerks to investigate further. Castletown Commissioners were not in favour, and Arbory and Rushen Commissioners were keeping a watching brief on progress.
The Clerk advised that he had attended an officers meeting at Port Erin Commissioners Office in connection with combined local authority refuse collection. He reported that a summary of existing costs had been prepared, but that it had been agreed that further data was required before any firm costings could be prepared. It was noted that a further meeting would be held on 29th March.

Grass-cutting

It was noted that the DOT had advised that 2010/11 would probably be the last year in which the grass-cutting and weed-spraying agency arrangement would take place, and that after that the DOT might be obliged to use its own workforce.

Arbory School

Mr Phil Manton, Head Teacher at Arbory School, attended part of the Meeting to discuss proposed developments at the school over the next five years, and in particular to seek the members’ views on a possible community hall within the school. Mr Manton indicated that the rationale behind this was his wish to continue and broaden links with the wider community, as well as providing more space for school use.
The Commissioners agreed that they would fully support Mr Manton regarding the community hall. On a related point, they felt that the DOE should review its charging for hiring school halls, it being felt that the high cost was presently deterring smaller groups.

Planning Matters

The following planning applications were received:-

- 1000310 – Brook Cottage, Main Road, Colby – replacement windows – no comments
- 1000298 – Ballaglonney, Ronague – agricultural building – no comments

The following planning decision was received and noted:-

- 10/00014 – Round Table House, Ronague – Alterations, extensions, etc – Approved
- 09/01888 – Ballafodda Cottage, Ronague – Boundary wall – Approved.
- 10/00103 – Harbory, Main Road, Ballabeg – extension – Approved.

Sundry Correspondence & Other Matters

The following correspondence was received:-

- Information on sewerage rehabilitation 2009/10 – noted.
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- Consultation on Convention on Biological Diversity – there were no comments.

- Consultation on Children Bill – it was agreed that notes prepared by Mr Berry and Mrs Edds would be the basis of the Commissioners’ response.

- Consultation on Pedal Cycles Regulations – no comments.

- Invitation to Patrick Commissioners Civic Service.

- Appeal against re-rating of Middlefield, Glen Road by owner – the members expressed sympathy with the general points made in connection with the shortcomings the rating system, but they did not consider that any case had been made for reducing the rateable value of this property in particular.

- The 1st Supplemental List 2010 was received. It was noted that the rates income from the Cringle Quarry had reduced considerably compared to the previous year.

Accounts for Payment

The following accounts were passed for payment:-

- Manx Telecom - Office phone £44.39
- DOLGE - Refuse disposal Jan £1,108.35
- Jones Services Ltd - Refuse collection Jan £2,512.95
- Sadler Agricultural Ltd - Materials – Ballamaddrell allotments £141.59
- John Barron Ltd - Painting Hall & cottages £1,680.25
- Aardvark Home & Garden - Fencing – Ballamaddrell allotments £2,607.39
- IOM Government - Refuse disposal February £1,096.25
- J Clawson Ltd - Hall & cottages roofing – final payment £1,248.46
- Webster & Smith - Tree work Millennium Wood and Ballastrooan £235.00
- Groundtech Plant Hire - Ground work to date – Ballamaddrell allotments £2,613.27
- Manx Telecom - Telephone £44.87
- W I Lowey - Net salary for year ending 31/03/10 £5,600.00
- IOM Government - ITIP on Clerk’s salary£ 1,400.00
- IOM Government - Nat Insurance – Clerk £168.96
- W I Lowey - Postage & cartridges £51.47
- MEA - Streetlight maintenance £1,465.93
- Quine & Cubbon - Stationery£ 38.54
- Computech - New laptop plus transfer of data, etc£ 921.15
- IOM Newspapers - Adverts re leasing allotment field£ 226.36
- John Roberts - Ploughing allotments £235.00
- John Taggart - Power harrowing work allotments £258.50
- Adrian Cowin - Attendance allowance to 31 March £210.00

Sundry Matters Raised

The following issues were raised by members:-

Mr Rae reminded members that the annual Newsletter is usually ready for distribution after Easter and it was agreed to proceed with this in the usual format.
He also advised that there was a lot of loose gravel on the road on parts of Ballacriy – agreed to bring to attention of the DOT.

Mr Cringle reminded members that Ballabeg WI would be placing flower tubs at Ballabeg Station during the coming summer and that arrangements with the DOT Drainage Department for a water supply to be made available from the pumping station had been promised.

The Meeting ended at 10.10pm.