MOSSLEY TOWN COUNCIL 16th July 2008 Commenced: 7.30pm Terminated 8.30pm Present: Councillors Anderson, Aylett, Brooks, Caldwell, Carter, Dosset, Jones, Leeson and Milne [in the Chair]. 684. Visit of Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer. The Clerk indicated that Sandra Stewart the Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer for Tameside MBC had apologised for being unable to attend the meeting this evening as she was involved in a management team meeting to discuss issues arising from the current strike of local government officers in Tameside. He had arranged that she would attend the next meeting on 3rd September 2008 but in the meantime Ms Stewart had asked if there were any specific points of information that the members would like her to cover in her presentation. In addition she had asked if members were interested in attending training sessions which were to be organised for Tameside members on topics relating to local government. RESOLVED: That the Council would like further information from Ms Stewart on the following at the next meeting: 1. Role the Standards Committee plays in Tameside and how it impacts on Tameside members and parish councillors. 2. The planning system, how the Speakers Panel operates and how officers deal with and process planning applications prior to a decision being made. Which applications go to Speakers Panel? 3. How Tameside MBC works particularly in relation to the Cabinet and the Senior Officers Management Team and the interaction between the two 4. That the Council would welcome the opportunity to participate in training events provided for Tameside council members. 685. Minutes RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18th June 2008, copies of which had been circulated to all members of the Council, be approved as a correct record. . 686. Invoices for Payment The Clerk circulated a list of the invoices that had fallen due for payment since the meeting on 18th June 2008, a copy of which is appended to these minutes. RESOLVED: That these payments be approved. 687. Planning Applications The Council considered one application for planning permission which had been received from Tameside MBC for consultation and which had been circulated to all members of the Council. RESOLVED: That the application be noted. 688. Parish Plan. Councillors Brooks, Anderson and Leeson updated the Council on progress made on action points arising from the parish plan including visits to two primary schools in Mossley by the Mayor and Councillor Leeson, the appointment of a new chair of the business association and the production of a business directory. RESOLVED. That the information be noted. 689. Tameside Standards Committee The Clerk reported that the Standards Committee had asked that the parish council should appoint a further member to sit on the Standards Committee. RESOLVED. That Councillor Carter be appointed a representative of the Council on the Standards Committee. 690. Land at Moorlands Drive Mossley The Clerk reported on difficulties in maintaining this area of land which again had become overgrown and rubbish strewn. He stated that he had approached three firms who had expressed interest in taking over the maintenance of this land and two had submitted proposals the most financially advantages to the Council being a proposal to clear the land at no capital cost with the subsequent maintenance of the land operating on a monthly basis for a fixed fee. RESOLVED. That the offer of Earthworm Services of Mossley as now outlined by the Clerk be accepted for the maintenance of this land. 691. St Josephs R.C Primary School The Clerk reported on a letter received from this school asking whether the Council could assist financially towards the cost of the provision of protective clothing for pupils taking part in adventure weekends, as the opportunity to have this equipment provided by the firm organising the weekends had been withdrawn and in future the school would have to provide such clothing for the children. RESOLVED. That a contribution of £100 be made towards the cost of this clothing and a cheque for this amount be presented to the school when the Mayor and Councillor Leeson visit school in the new term to talk about the parish plan and Mossley as a town; that the expenditure be incurred under the provisions of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972. 692. Standards Board for England Bulletin 38 RESOLVED. That this bulletin circulated to all members of the Council be noted. Chair.