Welshpool Town CouncilOperations & Development Committee
Wednesday 08/10/2025 at 6:30pm in Council Chamber, Welshpool Town Hall.
Agenda Agenda & Reports Pack Approved Minutes
You can access this meeting via Zoom by clicking https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85268450586?pwd=u5xorQOHWew71eaGKKsV0hyjYiPfiv.1.
Zoom Meeting ID: 852 6845 0586
Passcode: 855276
Below shows the attendance for the meeting.
| Attendee | Attendance | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Cllr Dr Ben Gwalchmai | Absent | Committee Member |
| Cllr David France | Apologies for absence | Committee Member |
| Cllr Estelle Bleivas | In attendance | Committee Member |
| Cllr Nick Howells | In attendance | Committee Member |
| Cllr Phil Owen | In attendance | Committee Member |
| Cllr Phil Pritchard | In attendance | Committee Member |
| Cllr Sally Fitzgerald | In attendance | Committee Member |
TBC
1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Chair will welcome Councillors and members of the public and will receive, and if desired, resolve to approve, any apologies for absence.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS AND DISPENSATIONS
To receive and resolve if desired, declarations of interest and relevant dispensations.
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
To receive members of the public who wish to address the meeting, in respect of any item of business included in the agenda. No resolutions may be made under this item and should relate only to matters of Council policy or practice, and not individual affairs or the questioner or any other named person.
4. MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING
4.1. Previous Minutes
To approve and sign as a correct record, the minutes from the meeting of the Operations & Development Committee on 10/09/2025.
4.2. Matters Arising
To report for information purposes only matters arising from the Operations & Development Committee on 10/09/2025.
5. LAND AND BUILDINGS
5.1. General Update
To receive, and resolve if desired, an update from the Operations Manager in respect of Council land and buildings.
5.2. Playground Maintenance
To consider the attached quotes for works to repair various elements of playground equipment (There is currently £9,847 in Play Equipment and £2,715 left in Repairs and Maintenance budget lines - 130 or 140/4085).
5.3. Equipment
To consider the request to purchase a Stihl KMA 135 R battery powered long reach hedge cutter for £1,287.45 ex VAT (There is currently £4,464 in the budget for equipment - 130 or 140/4340).
5.4. All Wales Play Opportunities Grant
To note that the Council has been awarded £20,000 from the All Wales Play Opportunity Grant to install accessible play equipment in Maes y Dre play park, endorse the Town Clerks acceptance of the grant, approve the match funding contribution of £954 from the Play Equipment budget and to approve the quotation from Ray Parry Playgrounds Ltd to carry out the works.
6. SERVICES
6.1. Meals on Wheels
To receive an update from the Tourist Information Centre Manager in respect of Meals on Wheels.
6.2. Markets
To receive an update in respect of the indoor and outdoor market.
7. BUSINESS PLANNING & FINANCIAL MATTERS
7.1. ISP Action Plan
To consider the approved committee ISP action plan.
7.2. Budget and Committee Finance (Month 6)
To consider the current spending position against the budget for the committee for September (Month 6).
8. BUDGET 2026/2027 - DRAFT 1
To consider the Draft 1 budget for areas of responsibility, the Interim Strategic Plan (ISP) action plan and identify any changes/additions as appropriate.
9. PROJECTS & NEW DEVELOPMENTS
9.1. Town Hall Transformation
To consider a report from the Town Clerk in respect of Town Hall Transformation project governance.
9.2. Oldford Estate
To consider the way forward in relation to play and land in Oldford.
10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
To note that the next meeting of Operations & Development Committee will be held on 12th November 2025 at 6:30pm.
11. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION - EXCLUSION
To resolve, if required, that members of the public and press be requested to leave the meeting by reason of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted.
12. REVIEW OF CLEANING CONTRACT [CONFIDENTIAL]
To consider the report from the Town Clerk in respect of the cleaning contract (deferred from July).
- Confidential Document [Appendix L]
13. BERRIEW ST TOILETS [CONFIDENTIAL]
To consider an update from the Town Clerk in respect of Berriew St Toilets.
- Confidential Document [Appendix M]
| # | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome and Apologies for Absence The Chair will welcome Councillors and members of the public and will receive, and if desired, resolve to approve, any apologies for absence. |
| 2 | Declarations of Interests and Dispensations To receive and resolve if desired, declarations of interest and relevant dispensations. |
| 3 | Public Participation To receive members of the public who wish to address the meeting, in respect of any item of business included in the agenda. No resolutions may be made under this item and should relate only to matters of Council policy or practice, and not individual affairs or the questioner or any other named person. |
| 4 | MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING |
| 4.1 | Previous Minutes To approve and sign as a correct record, the minutes from the meeting of the Operations & Development Committee on 10/09/2025. |
| 4.2 | Matters Arising To report for information purposes only matters arising from the Operations & Development Committee on 10/09/2025. |
| 5 | LAND AND BUILDINGS |
| 5.1 | General Update To receive, and resolve if desired, an update from the Operations Manager in respect of Council land and buildings. |
| 5.2 | Playground Maintenance To consider the attached quotes for works to repair various elements of playground equipment (There is currently £9,847 in Play Equipment and £2,715 left in Repairs and Maintenance budget lines - 130 or 140/4085). |
| 5.3 | Equipment To consider the request to purchase a Stihl KMA 135 R battery powered long reach hedge cutter for £1,287.45 ex VAT (There is currently £4,464 in the budget for equipment - 130 or 140/4340). |
| 5.4 | All Wales Play Opportunities Grant To note that the Council has been awarded £20,000 from the All Wales Play Opportunity Grant to install accessible play equipment in Maes y Dre play park, endorse the Town Clerks acceptance of the grant, approve the match funding contribution of £954 from the Play Equipment budget and to approve the quotation from Ray Parry Playgrounds Ltd to carry out the works. |
| 6 | SERVICES |
| 6.1 | Meals on Wheels To receive an update from the Tourist Information Centre Manager in respect of Meals on Wheels. |
| 6.2 | Markets To receive an update in respect of the indoor and outdoor market. |
| 7 | BUSINESS PLANNING & FINANCIAL MATTERS |
| 7.1 | ISP Action Plan To consider the approved committee ISP action plan. |
| 7.2 | Budget and Committee Finance (Month 6) To consider the current spending position against the budget for the committee for September (Month 6). |
| 8 | Budget 2026/2027 - Draft 1 To consider the Draft 1 budget for areas of responsibility, the Interim Strategic Plan (ISP) action plan and identify any changes/additions as appropriate. |
| 9 | PROJECTS & NEW DEVELOPMENTS |
| 9.1 | Town Hall Transformation To consider a report from the Town Clerk in respect of Town Hall Transformation project governance. |
| 9.2 | Oldford Estate To consider the way forward in relation to play and land in Oldford. |
| 10 | Date of Next Meeting To note that the next meeting of Operations & Development Committee will be held on 12th November 2025 at 6:30pm. |
| 11 | Confidential Session - Exclusion To resolve, if required, that members of the public and press be requested to leave the meeting by reason of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted. |
| 12 | Review of Cleaning Contract Confidential To consider the report from the Town Clerk in respect of the cleaning contract (deferred from July).
|
| 13 | Berriew St Toilets Confidential To consider an update from the Town Clerk in respect of Berriew St Toilets.
|