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Minutes of March 2010 Meeting
RUSHEN PARISH COMMISSIONERS
Meeting held 7 30pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 at Ballafesson Hall.
MINUTES
Present: Mr P Gunn (Chairman), Mr D Radcliffe (Vice-Chairman), Mr A Tinkler,
Mr D Cain, Mr P Vernon (who was welcomed back from his travels).
1. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting held Wednesday 17th February 2010, having previously been circulated, were taken as read and agreed a true record.
2. MATTERS ARISING
a) Southern Area Plan.
Acknowledgement of receipt of submission received.
Mrs Curphey, Planning Development Officer, had informed the Clerk that the next stage in the process would be the production of a modified draft plan and it would be this plan which would be considered by the Inspector at the Inquiry. At the moment the planning policy officers are working towards the Public Inquiry being towards the end of summer/beginning of autumn 2010.
Mr Vernon, who had not had input into the submission as he was off the Island for some time, said that it was a good submission and he agreed with all the points made.
The Ballakilley working Party Submission had also been sent in and copies sent to all Members of BKWP and the Clerks of Port Erin and Port St Mary Commissioners.
Letter from Southern Nomads – SportErin re the Draft Plan which was a copy of their submission to Planning. Noted.
b) Estimates 2010/11
The £29 increased refuse charge had been before Tynwald on Tuesday 16th and approved.
Rates – The Clerk queried whether Members still wanted to include a letter with the rates bills regarding the increase in refuse disposal – as had been discussed at the Estimates Meeting. It was decided not to do this for 2010 but could be considered in the future.
c) DoLGE/Local Authority Issues:-
Report of COMIN on the Review of the Scope and Structure of the IOM Government – January 2010.
Proposals regarding new Government Departments had been approved at February Tynwald with the old ones being dissolved on 31st March.
There had also been a Ministerial shuffle.
1. Corporate Governance Principles and Code of Conduct.
Record of Members’ Interests.
The Clerk was to bring the book for this to the next meeting when those who had not already included their interests could do so.
2. Changes in Revenue Sharing Agreement nothing further.
3. Auditors
PKF
d) Waste Management and Refuse Collection
Bad Debtors – The Clerk had written again to the three worst offenders. One had since paid but the others had not. She had given a copy of the two letters to Mr Tinkler who had offered to see the offenders to collect the outstanding debts.
Port Erin Commissioners – Joint Meeting on 25th Feb. The Clerk and Mr Tinkler had attended and took part in the discussion. Mr Tinkler gave a report on the Meeting. Although stating that RPC were very happy with Jones Services and would not wish to change (as did Arbory and Santon) it was agreed that, if RPC’s Board agreed, figures regarding their present collection could be sent to Port Erin Commissioners so that they could work on figures for a joint board. It had been felt that they would not come up with a better price than Jones Services but that the proposed joint board should be given a chance to try. The Clerk had pointed out that RPC’s figures would be the ‘end cost’ – there would be absolutely no hidden extras.
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman had been consulted and approval was given for figures to be sent. The Clerk had also emailed these to all Members on 2nd March. Approval was also given for the Clerk would meet with the other Southern Clerks to look at the various figures.
Mr Tinkler felt it may be beneficial for Mr John Wrigley, Waste Manager of DoLGE, to attend a Meeting and an invitation was to be sent for him to attend a future meeting.
The wheelie bins had been delivered by Leece’s wagon – Arbory Commissioners had asked if RPC would consider giving the driver £25 for delivering the bins as he had to deal with stacks of bins – some of which were full of water. Members were not against this but they would need to have an invoice.
e) Lighting/MEA.
Ballakillowey roundabout/Ballagawne Road scheme. Nothing further.
(however a planning application regarding DoT putting in a new compact roundabout had been received)
Cost of electricity – This had been increased in the Budget by 7% and would be in effect from 1st April – not September as was intimated in the Budget in Tynwald. The cost for local authorities would be 14.64 per unit (plus vat) compared to 13.62 as at present.
It had been reported by MEA that a new light was required at Fleshwick Road. The cost for light and arm would be £560 plus VAT. The Clerk was to instruct the MEA to progress this.
g) Carrick Bay View.
Carrick Bay View – nothing further on the ‘purchase’.
Plot between pavement and road – The Clerk said she would ‘keep her eye on it’ to see that it did not become overgrown like the previous planting scheme.
i) Hedges
High Hedges:-
Dragonscroft Honna Road/Tynewydd, Mill Road.
j) Traffic matters – Department of Transport and other DoT matters.
Meeting Wednesday 24th February which had been changed to an afternoon meeting which meant that the Clerk could only stay until 3 20pm.
The new Director of Highways will be Richard Pearson and he will be starting on 6th April but Mr Hannay will be staying on until after the TT.
Mr Almond informed those present that DoT were getting close to a new Speed Limit Policy (monitoring the A1 and A10 at present – as reported from previous meetings). 30mph limits would coincide with built up areas and fronted areas; 30, 40 and others would have ‘calming’ features such as gateway features (presumably similar to what they intended putting at Lhingague). They were looking at safety and congestion. Parking issues would take lower priority to safety related matters.
Ballachurry Corner - DoT had received complaints about this but also some approvals. They were going to look at it again as they also felt that the corner on the Ballchurry side was coming out too far and would require some of that taken off. The white lines in the road had not yet been repositioned but would be done very soon.
The Clerk was to request that they look again at continuing the railing further round the corner down Ballafesson Road to improve visibility.
Rushen School – Although work had started the scheme still had not been finished. This was because, when they dug in the pavement on the PSM side there were too many other services underground. They would now have to put the electrical installation further down, near the car park. This had been re-advertised. They hoped it would all be completed by Easter.
Received – the Rural Roads (Speed Limits) School Entrances (Amendments).
Any objections to be sent by 22nd March.
Plantation Hill. Lines would be painted – a sort of ‘painted pavement’.
Civic Amenity Site. Brian Kelly, Clerk of Port St Mary Commissioners, said during the meeting that there would be a site meeting with DoT the following morning which he was attending with PSM’s representative. When the Clerk queried with him that RPC’s representative did not know anything about the meeting he said PSM’s representative knew about it. It had been called by the CA Clerk. The Clerk re-iterated that Rushen knew nothing about it and had not been invited even though it is in Rushen.
She thought that speed signs were possibly going to be erected.
Ballakilpheric DoT were to extend the 30mph zone up as far as the Chapel. Information regarding a proposed 50mph limit at Lhingague had also been received, including a design for the sign, which the Clerk had forwarded by email to all Members for approval.
The Level DoT would be refreshing the lines at the bus stop, etc.
Glen Chass – sharp corner & turning circle. The Clerk had asked what was happening and was told the signs were ‘on order’. She also asked for a cul-de-sac sign for the Chasms road.
Bay ny Carrickey Cycleway – DoT had now put this on hold – it was scheduled for the 2010/11 financial year. They would not be promoting it until additional funding was made available to create the new infrastructure which would primarily promote and support leisure cycling. The decision had been made due to the substantial reduction in the Department’s highway improvement budget following the reduction in the Isle of Man Government’s VAT income.
Other DoT matters:-
Glen Chass Road – narrow corner.
The Clerk had written again to Jim Davidson (3rd March). He was on leave but another engineer had contacted the Clerk. He said that the DoT were unlikely to have money for this.
The Clerk had offered to contact the owner again to ask if he would sell at the price they offered.
Members decided to wait until Jim Davidson came back from leave and contacted RPC.
Ballachurry Road – flooding; letter from Bill Corlett, Network Operations Engineer.
‘I write further to your letter of 18th Dec. 2009 addressed to Mr Hannay. DoT personnel have attended the area on numerous occasions. Indeed specific attention was given to the claim that trenching works were the cause of the problem. Nothing was found to indicate any interference to the drain by any trenching contractor. That was only to be expected as the flooding problems at times of heavy rain and high water table had been occurring several years prior to the trench works. At present we have a work order outstanding for exploratory excavations to be made to give better access into the drain. The surface water system in the road cannot drain into the land on the lower side where it is understood to go. Hopefully the excavations will provide more information on this and we will then carry out further work to fix the problem. Due to the severe problems we have experienced with snow and frost damage any work of this nature is being delayed.’
This was noted.
Rural Roads (Speed Limits) on the B44 Ballakilpheric Road. Notice received. It appeared that there was no speed limit on this road. It was proposed to make it 30mph from the junction at Belle Abby up to just past the Chapel. (RPC had been asking for this for several years but nothing had been done).
k) Police
Meeting – Thurs 18th March – Mr Radcliffe had been unable to attend.
The Clerk asked if there was anything to be brought up at the next meeting but there was nothing.
l) Litter, beach cleans, dog fouling, etc.
Colby Football Club – the Clerk had not contacted anyone from the club yet but was to write to Mr K Skinner who was the Chairman to ask if they would be interested in doing a beach-clean – possibly before TT Week.
Roadside litter – Mr Radcliffe said that a roadside litter-pick would also be a good idea as when DoT trim hedges they expose lots of litter in the hedges and verges which they don’t remove. It was decided not to do this at present.
m) Ballafesson Playing Field, Car Park, The Howe:-
Port Erin Commissioners had been asked if they would be able to do one very low cut of the grass on the Playing Field with their collector mower. This would remove some of the thick growth and prepare it for cutting with RPC’s mower. Their Foreman said it would take a day. The cost would be £219 and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman had approved this to go ahead.
n) Web Site
Mr Vernon was now back from leave and would be inputting items onto the site.
o) Southern Civic Amenity Site
see Traffic re the site meeting with DoT.
The Clerk asked if Representatives were being kept informed of everything as Mr Cain had been asked at previous meetings when a site meeting with DoT was being held and he said he did not know about it. The Clerk had reported that it had been discussed at Traffic Meetings in the past.
The general feeling was that the lack of information regarding the meeting did not matter and the Minutes were to record that RPC had been lead to believe by DoT that RPC would be invited to the site meeting but weren’t.
Mr Tinkler had queried the wages for the weekend workers at the Site. Mr Cain confirmed that they were under Whitley Council Regulations.
p) Southern Swimming Pool
Mr Radcliffe reported that the gas bill for the Pool had doubled in January. Mr Cain queried whether the wood-chip burning heating system had been installed. Mr Radcliffe said that it was not installed and had not been mentioned.
q) Municipal Association.
Meeting was held 25th February. Mr Gunn had attended and reported that Mr Dudley Butt had spoken about children in care. Everyone, including Local Authorities should consider whether they could provide employment opportunities for young people leaving care.
At the next Meeting Jennifer Chance, Senior Planning Officer, would be speaking.
Subscriptions to the Society had been discussed but it had been agreed to leave them as at present.
r) Allotments
Received – a copy of a letter sent to Mr Radcliffe (as representative for RPC on the Committee) PSM Commissioners wanted to convene a meeting of the Committee to discuss:- representation from Allotment Holders, communications, site management, planning applications for sheds/greenhouses, finances, handover to Society. PSM said they were willing to provide the secretariat and venue for the meeting. They asked Mr Radcliffe if he was happy for a meeting to be convened and if he would let them know when he could attend.
Mr Radcliffe said that he did not know yet when the meeting would be held.
Mr Tinkler informed Members that he now had an allotment.
s) Southern Healthcare Committee
Mr Tinkler said there was nothing to report at present.
t) Marashen Crescent
Mr Radcliffe said there was nothing to report.
u) Rushen Ambulance
Mr Vernon said there was nothing to report.
v) MNH nothing at present.
w) Risk Assessment
The Clerk reported that she had been to look at Tom the Dippers again and felt that the best thing to do would be to put three or four shallow steps in at the bottom of the slope. This would be done shortly – hopefully before the Easter holidays.
There were no other problems with regard to areas on the Risk Assessment Register
x) Land in front of Hillcrest, Cregneash.
Mr Cain has asked D Cooil if he would cut back the gorse, etc on this land. He contacted the Chairman first to get approval.
Mr Cain said that Mr Cooil had not been able to do this yet as he had taken the cutter off the tractor but he would do it soon.
y) Golden Jubilee Trust.
Nothing at present.
z) Chain of Office and Board for hall with list of all past Chairmen.
Chain of Office – the Clerk would be contacting Charles Alexander, Jewellers, to carry this out.
Past Chairmen.
aa) Ballakilley Working Party
The submission from the Working Party regarding the Southern Area Plan had been sent in.
ab) Addresses in Rushen. & 30 & 31 Christeens Way.
Christeens Way – erroneous addresses in the Electoral List. The Clerk had, once again, contacted the MEA and had now been assured that they would change it to the proper address on the Data Base.
ac) Flooding at Surby. This now to be taken off the Agenda.
Ad) Housing
The Housing Conference was held on March 5th and the Clerk had attended and had brought back a spare copy of the conference pack and a disc with the ‘power points’ in case any of the Members wished to look at it.
Speakers included Debbie Reeve, Director of Estates and Housing who spoke on ‘protecting our assets (our housing stock) She gave great importance to housing authorities working together in areas such as upgrading housing – e.g. large bulk buying of kitchens and bathrooms, etc and having building firms able to give a good price for installation as they would be guaranteed a worthwhile amount of work. Also maintenance of the housing such as servicing boilers, checking electrical installations, etc and keeping a record of these. Phil Halliwell, architect in DoLGE, spoke about the new housing and how they were progressing; Christopher Pattinson (from UK) who spoke about Managing Your Assets – putting strategy into practise (mostly about keeping records – which was more relevant to large authorities)’ Gas Safe Register – Mr Arnold and Mr Greaves from Health and Safety DoLGE gave a presentation; Eddie Strong from Ferncraft spoke about asbestos; Ian Thomson (UK) spoke about Efficient and Effective Procurement Through Collaboration.
The Clerk, as Housing Officer, said she through RPC were doing a reasonable job in protecting their assets – the houses were reasonably new and any work which needed doing was more or less kept on top of rather than waiting for more major problems to arise.
ae) Contribution to Port Erin Commissioners finances
Letter of thanks for the £850 cheque received from Port Erin Commissioners. The PE Clerk apologised as he had not been at the December Meeting, when it had been received, and the reply must have been overlooked.
Mr Tinkler said that he had spoken with the Librarian who said that she did not get any extra money but just received the same amount. Mr Tinkler felt that the extra money given by RPC just went into Port Erin Commissioners’ coffers.
The Clerk reminded Members that £650 had been given as a ‘contribution as they (RPC) are keen to help towards encouraging young people to read and use the Library.’ As it came out of the General Rate Fund it was regarded as working with Port Erin Commissioners rather than when a donation was made from the Thousla Cross Trust as it could be given as an extra payment from the Charity and was specifically for buying books for young people.
Mr Tinkler said that it should be looked at again the following year especially as people in Rushen still pay to borrow books from the Library.
Af) Bus Network Review Consultation
Mr Radcliffe and Mr Vernon have given the Clerk some views to be submitted – which she had done.
Ag) Marine Events February – March
No Members of RPC had attended this.
Ai) Unsightly Buildings and Land. Local Government (Misc. Provisions) Act 1984, Section 14; and Building Control Act 1991, Section 24.
The Clerk had submitted RPC’s views on this.
Aj) Consultation – Children Bill.
This could be accessed on www.gov.im/consultations and the Clerk had given Members a hard copy of this.. Views by 16th April.
Deferred from February meeting.
Members were to send any views they had to the Clerk for collation and submission.
Ak) Criminal Justice Bill
Headline Response and the Department’s Formal Response. This had been emailed to the Clerk that day and he informed the Members that she had forwarded it to them for their information.
ak) The Leigh, Surby Moar.
Members thought that there was no problem with the work carried out.
al) Insurance,
This was due for renewal in July and would be considered prior to that to see if any changes should be made.
RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REPORT:
This can be viewed at the office of the Commissioners.
7. AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS 08/09.
The Clerk’s Contract of Employment. Mr Tinkler had taken this to Moore-Stephens and he would wait to hear from them regarding the cost of them looking at it.
Mr Tinkler had been given a copy of a list – ‘Outstanding Accounts not signed by the Public Auditors by 27th January 2010’. Rushen were on this as not having had their accounts signed off for year end 2009. The Clerk reminded Members that these had been signed at the October Meeting and received back in time for them to be included with their documents for the November Meeting. She had queried this with Yvette Mellor – who had replied :-
Yvette Mellor said that she did not receive the accounts until 10th March 2010 from Moore Stephens. She accepts that they were signed in the timescale I told her. She sympathises but the responsibility for sending accounts to the Department ‘sits with the commissioners and the auditors’. The Clerk had replied that in the past – whoever was the Official Auditors (KPMG and Moore Stephens) had always sent a copy of the accounts to DoLGE – she also asked her if PKF have been informed that they should do this – if not, Local authorities need to know so that they could then take on the responsibility of doing so themselves.
The Auditors are chosen by DoLGE and Local authorities have no input into the decision.
Mr Tinkler recommended that in future Local Authorities should send DoLGE a copy of their Audited Accounts.
8. CORRESPONDENCE
a) 1st Supplemental List 2010.
The Clerk was to make enquiries as to what is classes as a ‘farmhouse’ in the rates and therefore rated as agricultural.
b) Easter Athletics Festival – Good Friday Road Race – 2nd April 2010.
Letter from D Ronan. The Great South Run course starts at Port Erin. They are following the same format as the 2009 event. The organisers would welcome nay input from the Commissioners and would be happy to discuss their plans in more detail. Noted.
c) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD or Rio Convention)
Consultation on the extension to the IOM of the UK’s signature to the convention.
The consultation document was available at www.gov.im/consultations.gov. Any views to be sent in by 31st March.
Although not having many views on this it was felt that the Isle of Man Government should sign up to the convention.
d) Consultation – Reviewing the Isle of Man’s Business Taxation System. Email.
The Clerk had copied to Members on 25th February. Any views to be sent by 28th May.
This was noted.
e) Consultation – Draft Pedal Cycle Regulations.
Received by email and copied to Members. Views by 5th April
There were no views on this and it was noted.
f) Sewerage Rehabilitation 2009/10.
Received from Homes Grace – Copy of report to DoT on Scoping and CCTV survey – Mount Murray, Ballabeg, Colby, Rushen, Port St Mary, Dalby, Glen Maye, Foxdale, Patrick, St Johns, Derbyhaven and Ronaldsway.
The Clerk had omitted to bring this to the meeting but she said it was available at the office for Members to look at as they may find it interesting.
g) Tynwald Advisory Council for Disabilities.
Copy of their Report for year ending December 2009 – Noted.
h) Roads Transport Licensing Committee.
Applications, decisions and notices – Noted
i) Civic Service – Patrick
Invitation to Chairman, members plus guests to attend 18th April at St James’s Church, Dalby at 3pm. Light refreshments after the service. Chains of Office may be worn.
Mr Gunn and Mr Tinkler indicated that they would attend.
9. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
a) 10/0272. Bridge House, Surby Road. Mr A Crowther. Levelling of existing upper garden area to form car park. This was retrospective.
No objections.
b) 10/0248. Ballakillowey Roundabout. Department of Transport. Replace the existing mini roundabout with a compact roundabout; provide pedestrian crossing points; improve visibility and safety on the approaches to the roundabout.
( The Clerk said that this had had never been talked of at Traffic Meetings and so RPC had no prior input).
There were no objections but it was to be suggested that the new fencing should be galvanised to prevent it rusting and or needing painting.
Mr Cain stated that the situation on Plantation Hill/Howe Road was more urgently in need of being dealt with. The Clerk to write to DoT pointing this out.
c) 10/0249. Part Field 414140. Glendown Farm, Truggan Road. Mr D Cain. Proposed agricultural worker’s dwelling.
Mr Cain declared an interest and left the room. There were no objections.
d) 10/0321. Greenhill, Ballagale Ave, Surby. Mr J Lister. Extension of existing trading times for nursery from 2 to 4 days per week. Extend ‘season’ from mid-April to mid-September rather than keep to a rigid beginning of May to end of August. Keep daily opening hours from 11m to 4pm.
Members felt that this was more a matter for the neighbours to either approve or object to.
PLANNING APPROVAL
a) 09/2045. Carabas, Mill Road, Surby. Mr S Worthing. Alterations and first floor extension over dwelling and erection of detached garage with driveway.
Decision – Director of Planning. Issued – 19th February 2010.
b) 09/2100. Struan, Ballakillowey Road. Mr & Mrs C Harrison. Alterations and erection of extensions to dwelling house, installation of solar panels and widening of driveway and vehicular access. Conditions include – 3. The proposed works must include a dropped kerb access the whole length of the widened access onto the Ballakillowey Road.
Decision – Senior Planning Officer. Issued 23rd February 2010.
c) 09/1988. Ballaman, Ballnahowe. Cheeseden Investments Ltd. Alterations and erection of an extension to existing storage building to form a helicopter hangar and creation of a landing pad. Conditions include – 3. The hangar and landing pad may only be used for purposes incidental to the occupation of Ballaman, within the defined site and may not be used for general commercial purposes.
Decision – Senior Planning Officer. Issued – 23rd February 2010.
d) 09/2110. Carnanes, Surby Road, Surby. Mr & Mrs N Taylor. Creation of a gable window. Decision – Senior Planning Officer. Issued – 23rd February 2010.
e) 10/0031. Ballanuy, Ballakilpheric. Mr & Mrs W Corrin. Conversion of outbuilding to create a dwelling.
Decision – Director of Planning. Issued – 4th March 2010.
11. PLANNING REFUSALS none.
12. PLANNING APPEALS
2 Grenea Cottages appeal was to be held on 23rd March. Mr Gunn and the Clerk were to attend. Mr Peter Kelly of the IOM Victorian Society had agreed to attend with RPC.
13 COMPLETION CERTIFICATES none.
14. OTHER PLANNING MATTERS
a) 10/0161. Field 414096, Ballaman, Ballnahowe. Cheeseden Ltd. Agricultural Building.
Received – copy of a letter sent by the owners of The Coote, Ballanahowe (Nixons) to the Planning Committee objecting to the building.
Also received – a copy of email from architects to Sarah Corlett, Planning Officer – the Whittakers said that the shed on the other side of the road was too small for current needs and the proposed shed would be situated more centrally. The existing was also close to a dwelling and expansion of the existing building may cause undue disturbance to them. There was also a cottage on that site which had planning approval which they may use as residential in the future and that would be affected by extending the existing shed.
Mr Tinkler had been contacted by someone who was upset that RPC had pointed out that there was already an agricultural machinery shed associated with this property and that the land was rented out. This person had said that the owners were farming the land.
15 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a) Christmas Tree.
Mr Vernon said he had heard that the Christmas Tree had been well received.
b) Sloc Site
Mr Radcliffe asked if something could be done with the Millenium Sloc Site as it was very overgrown. The Clerk was to ask her son to have a look at it to see the amount of work which it would require.
16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Wednesday 21st April 2010.
The Public Meeting closed at 10pm.