03.7.5.1 Cash reconciliation

A balance of £17,162.53 as at 24 June 2003 was reported by the Clerk.

03.7.5.2 Budget update

An update showing total spending of £3,211 to 24 June was noted.

03.7.5.3 Payments

The following payments were approved:

• Mrs A Belcher (May salary) £277.11
• Mrs A Belcher (expenses) £15.04
• Worcestershire CALC £54.05
• npower £15.60

03.7.6 Co-option of two Councillors

03.7.7.1 Report of the internal auditor and annual return 2002/2003

A written report from the internal auditor was received by the Council. One of his recommendations was for consideration to be given to computerising the accounts. The Clerk reported that a CALC model spreadsheet programme was available but that it was not compatible with her computer. Eric Carter agreed to look at the CALC disk to see if this problem could be overcome. EC
The internal auditor also recommended that a contract of engagement be prepared for the Clerk. The Clerk offered to draft a contract based on the CALC model and to bring it to the next meeting of the Council. AMB

The internal auditor’s final recommendation related to the review of financial regulations which was the next item on the agenda. The auditor’s finding that the Council’s books of account and financial records were well kept, accurate and complete was welcomed.
The Council then considered the eight-part statement of assurance which they were required to give as part of the audit and this was approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman and the Clerk.

03.7.7.2 Adoption of financial regulations

The Council had before them the NALC model financial regulations and a draft based on the model which had been prepared by the Clerk in consultation with Annette Bufton. After debate the draft with amendments, as set out in the annexe to these minutes, was proposed by Rupert Segar and adopted unanimously by the Council. It was agreed that a note should be made on the budget of any amount of grant approved but not paid to the Villages Hall Trust at the end of the financial year. A vote of thanks to the Clerk and to Annette Bufton for their hard work in preparing the draft was also proposed by Rupert Segar and carried unanimously. AMB

AB/03/00991/AB Nightingale Farm, Main Street, Bishampton - Erection of an open-fronted steel framed portal building for storage of straw and hay

Comments on this application had been made under the Clerk’s delegated power. No objections had been made to the application.

W/03/00925/PN MTC Pershore, Long Lane, Throckmorton, Pershore - Temporary siting of portakabin for office use

Comments on this application had been made under the Clerk’s delegated power. The duration of the permission sought had been queried.

W/02/0132/PN Land rear of Nightingale Lodge, Main Street, Bishampton - Dwelling for an agricultural worker (Planning appeal)

No further comments were considered necessary beyond those made in connection with the original planning application.

The following application had been received after the distribution of the agenda and was made available for members to consider the plans:

W/03/01215/CU Court Farmhouse, Main Street, Bishampton - Proposed conversion of barn to residential use

Approvals in respect of the following applications were reported:

W/03/00987/PP 8 Stanton Fields - Erection of a single storey front extension

W/03/00916/PP & W/03/00937/LB - Sunnybank Cottage, Bishampton - Alterations to existing dwelling

• To add a paragraph to the draft health and safety policy from the Financial Regulations concerning risk assessment, and to remove the reference in paragraph to the final level of responsibility for health and safety being that of the employee or volunteer; AMB
• That a risk assessment should be carried out on the Throckmorton Parish Room and Play Area together with a review of the management arrangements for health and safety; EC, AMB & CT
• That the Fire Brigade be asked to conduct a fire inspection of the Parish Room; EC
• That a risk assessment be carried out on the Conservation Area; EC
• To produce a draft policy in consultation with the Footpath and Conservation Group co-ordinators which could be used to instruct volunteers; EC
• That volunteers should be at least 18 years old;
• To give approval for the Conservation Group Co-ordinator, Bob Averis, to go on a course of instruction in how to use a brushcutter.
• To consider the draft policy further at a future meeting.
  

03.7.12.1 Draft Countryside Recreation and Access Strategy

This document had been received from Community First for comment by the Parish Council. Any response was delegated to the Clerk in consultation with Rupert Segar. AMB & RS

03.7.12.2 Affordable housing

A letter from the Rural Housing Enabler, Alan Saunders, was read out. It was agreed to respond to the effect that the information available to the Parish Council was that officers in Wychavon were looking at alternative sites. Until any firm proposals for development were put forward the Parish Council was happy for Mr Saunders to continue to work alongside Wychavon officers in those negotiations. AMB

03.7.12.3 The response of DEFRA to the DNV public health risk assessment relating to the FMD burial site in Throckmorton

This document would be circulated for consideration by members. Members attention was drawn to the fact that DEFRA had rejected one of the recommendations of DNV that the Department should apply for a waste management licence to control its operations at the burial site, on the grounds that this was not legally possible. However, DEFRA had agreed voluntarily to take on all the restrictions that would apply under such a licence, thus giving the Environment Agency greater powers in relation to operations at the site.

03.7.12.4 Rural Rate Relief

A letter had been received from Wychavon District Council in response to the Parish Council’s letter querying the lack of financial information in rate relief applications and the shifting of responsibility for making such enquiries onto the Parish Council. The response would be circulated for members attention.

03.7.12.5 Definitive map review

A letter had been received from Worcestershire County Council requesting the assistance of the Parish Council with a review of the definitive map in the parish. It was reported that the Parish Footpath Officer, Peter Averis, was already engaged in considering the proposals and Eric Carter undertook to liase with him in formulating a response. EC

03.7.12.6 Minor local authority representatives

It was reported that from 1 September 2003 minor local authorities would no longer have the automatic right to nominate a representative on school governing bodies, although they would still be free to recommend suitable candidates to County Councillors.

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Chairman Date