BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Monday 2nd December 2003 at the Villages Hall, Bishampton

Members and Officers present: Mr E Carter (Vice Chairman), Mrs A Bufton, Mr E Chadwick, Ms Toni Gilligan, Mrs A Boocock (Clerk)
Mrs E Tucker, County councillor was also present for part of the meeting.

PC C Cavendish addressed the Council before the start of the meeting about police matters including item 03.11.9.1 on the agenda.

In order to allow Liz Tucker to depart early it was agreed to receive her report immediately following item 03.11.7.

03.11.1 Apologies for absence
Received from Malcolm Argyle, who had business commitments outside of the UK, Charles Tucker, who had a conflicting council meeting, and Ed Beever, due to illness.

03.11.2 Election of New Chairman
A letter had been received from Malcolm Argyle, resigning as Chairman, but to remain as a Parish Council member. Annette Bufton proposed Eric Carter as Chairman, and was seconded by Edward Chadwick. Eric Carter was elected as chairman and the appropriate Declaration of Acceptance form was signed.

03.11.3 Declarations of interest
Eric Carter declared prejudicial interest in late planning application no. W/03/02145/CU.

03.11.4 Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 3rd November 2003
These were approved and signed as a correct record.

03.11.5 Co-option of one Councillor
Beryl Lammas was unanimously co-opted as a member to the Parish Council and completed the Declaration of Acceptance form. The appropriate form required by Wychavon District Council was passed to Mrs Lammas, along with a copy of the parish councillor's guidebook. AEB

03.11.6 To review the areas of responsibility for each councillor
A revision of responsibilities was made as follows:

Mr M Argyle

Landfill site and airfield, Planning, Vice Chairman

Mr E Carter

CALC representative, Villages Hall representative, Parish Transport

Mr E Chadwick

Planning, Financial matters, Footpaths

Mrs B Lammas

Health and Safety/Risk Analysis

Mr C Tucker

Flooding, Throckmorton matters, Parish Plan

Further changes were deferred until the next meeting when more councillors were expected to be present.

03.11.7 Throckmorton

03.11.7.1 Throckmorton Parish Room
Eric Carter advised that an approximate cost for providing the illuminated fire exit signs was £120, plus additional wiring costs. As this work is required as a matter of urgency, the council decided that when Charles Tucker received the quotes for the work, he should confirm acceptance if the quotes are under £200.00. EC/CT

03.11.7.2 Play Area
Toni Gilligan had obtained a survey conducted by local children and sho would now discuss with Mrs Rimmel, landowner, which of these she would be prepared to permit on the land. Annette Bufton to liaise with the Villages Hall Committee to identify suitable equipment, suppliers and costs. AB/TG

03.11.16 Mrs Tucker's Report

03.11.16.1 Throckmorton Parish Room
Mrs Tucker reported that the Charity Commission have turned down the request to transfer the Parish Room from the Scouts to Throckmorton Village Charity. Charles Tucker was now attempting to check the legal position to establish if the decision could be contested.

03.11.16.2 Canadian Airmen's Memorial
Ed Beever has been in touch with Ruth Keys who is going to make a suitable design for the desired location. Mr Julian will meet with Ed Beever and Ruth Key end December/beginning January to discuss best location.

03.11.16.3 County Council
No firm details of the annual budget were available yet. However, there is likely to be an increase in the education budget of 5.8% - 6%, although as Pershore High School had Beacon School funding, their increase would be lower at 4%. All the schools have met together and although there will be a review next year, it was agreed to maintain a 3 tier system. The local bus services were also being reviewed.

PC Charles Cavendish and Mrs Tucker left the meeting at 8.30pm.

03.11.8 Footpaths

03.11.8.1
The problem of dog fouling on private gardens crossed by footpath 10 was considered. On checking the route on the map Eric Carter advised there were notices available and these would be supplied to home owners for erection. EC

03.11.8.2
It was contested by council members that Eric Carter's interest in the matter was personal and not prejudicial. He therefore remained in the room to explain the route on the map but took no part in the vote. A letter from the Queen's Jubilee Committee requested the replacement of the collapsed stile at the junction of footpaths 20 and 24 and linking to Church Lench with a kissing gate, together with two kissing gates on footpath 16. The total cost for replacement is approximately £300, and approval was given to go ahead with the work. AEB

03.11.9 Highways

03.11.9.1 Vehicle Parking near the Bishampton Stores
Following receipt of a letter by the Parish Council, the problem fo vehicles parking close to Bishampton Stores in such a way as to present a hazard to pedestrians and other road users was considered. It was agreed to contact residents near to the shop and ask them to avoid long term parking in the shop
layby during opening hours. AEB

03.11.9.2 Parish Lengthsman Scheme
The council declined to adopt this scheme as it could see few benefits for the amount of work required. RS

03.11.10 Finance

03.11.10.1 Cash Reconciliation
In view of the recent change in Parish Clerk, it was agreed that the bank statement reconciliation would be dealt with before the next meeting.

03.11.10.2 Approval of Payments
The following payments were approved, but will be dealt with at the next meeting:

03.11.11 Planning

03.11.11.1 W/03/02066 Woodside, Main Street, Bishampton
Alterations and extensions including the provision of dormer bedrooms. It was agreed to raise no objections to this application.

03.11.11.2 W/03/01820/CU - Operation of Specialised Driver Training School.
A lengthy discussion was held regarding this application and the parish council felt it had no alternative but to object to the application on the grounds that vital information was still missing. Many questions remained unanswered, even after conversations with Mike Hurst. A list of these questions was sent to the planning department.

03.11.11.3 Honeylands, Abberton Road
This application has been refused by Wychavon.

03.11.11.4 W/03/02145/CU - The Vale Golf Club
Change of use of lake for coarse fishing and construction of vehicular access off Bishampton Lane, and hardcore parking area.
The Parish Council had received copies of objection letters from residents and we will be taking these on board in our comments.
Eric Carter left the room during discussion of this item declaring a prejudicial interest.

03.11.11.5 APP/H1840/A/03/1115833 - Land to the read of Nightingale Lodge
Dwelling for an agricultural worker
No further comments were necessary as previous objections still stand.

03.11.12 Late Item of Correspondence

Public Inquiry - Wychavon District Local Plan Review
There is a Pre-Inquiry Meeting which begins at 10.00am on Tuesday 16th December 2003 and any objections must be detailed on the questionnaire and returned to the Civic Centre in Pershore by Friday 5th December 2003.
The meeting on 16th December 2003 is entirely procedural but Malcolm Argyle should be advised as soon as possible in order that the forms may be completed with regard to the Landfill site and the Airfield. Toni Gilligan will speak to Jack Hegarty. Eric Carter will attend the meeting.

03.11.13 Changes to Bus Services
The bus service from Throckmorton and Bishampton to Stratford and Redditch will now only run to Stratford on the second Thursday f each month. The reason for this is lack of use. A note has been put in the parish magazine. EC

03.11.14 Funding for Worcestershire
This was to be deferred until the next meeting.

03.11.15 Correspondence

03.11.15.1 Micro recycling site - Village Hall
The letter from Wychavon District Council regarding the above was reviewed, and it was considered not appropriate to have this facility at the Villages Hall. AEB

03.11.15.2 Standards Committee Meeting
The next meeting is on 3rd December.

03.11.15.3 NALC RFC Regional Planning & Local Development Framework
It was thought that there were no significant changes in the framework which would impact on this council. Annette Bufton agreed to examine the documentation and report back any significant issues.

03.11.16 Councillors Reports

03.11.16.4 Parish Council Web Page
It was suggested that a more identifiable URL be considered. A list of councillors, detailing names and responsibilities would be posted, with a generic email address for information purposes. The agenda would also be placed on the web page. EC/AEB

03.11.16.5 Parish Plan
Toni Gilligan advised the next Four Parishes meeting would be 13th January 2004.

03.11.16.6 Budget
Annette Bufton advised that a letter should be sent to all groups who use the village hall regarding grants or donations they may require for the next financial year.


03.11.17 Items for future agenda
None were put forward.

03.11.18 Date of next meeting
A council meeting to discuss the 2004/5 budget is to be called on December 10th. The next ordinary meeting of the Council will be on Monday 5th January 2004 at 7.30pm. All meetings for 2004 will be held on the first Monday of the month, with the exception of the meeting in May, which will be held on May10th. There will be no meeting in August.

The meeting ended at 9.45pm.

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Chairman Date
AEB/23.12.2000