BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Monday 6th February 2006 at the Villages Hall, Bishampton

Members and Officers present: Mr E Carter (Chairman), Ms T Gilligan (Vice Chairman), Mr E Beever, Mr D Cheetham, Mrs M Hall, Mrs B Lammas, Mr M Argyle (from 8.15pm), Mrs A Boocock (Clerk)

Mrs E Tucker (County Councillor) was also present.

The meeting opened at 7.35pm.

06.02.01 Apologies for absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Charles Tucker who was attending another meeting, and Cllr Chadwick who was at work.

06.02.02 Declarations of interest
There were no declarations of interest at the start of the meeting, although when Cllr Argyle arrived, he declared an interest in the play area – Item 5.

06.02.03 Minutes of the meetings held on Monday 12th December 2005 and Monday 9th January 2006
The minutes of this meeting on 12th December were approved and signed as a true record. The minutes of the 9th January were incomplete as there were a number of amendments required. Also a copy of the agreed budget should be attached. It was confirmed that the Clerk would deal with amendments and issue the revised minutes to all the councillors. These would be signed off at the next meeting. AEB

As our County Councillor was in attendance, it was decided to bring the Councillor’s report item forward in the meeting.

06.02.16 Councillors’ Report
Cllr E Tucker confirmed that Cllr Carter had attended the Pershore Forum meeting and she thanked him for his attendance. She confirmed that the new building by the Civic Centre is the new hospital for Pershore.

With regard to the Highways Partnership Unit Cllr Tucker advised the proposals being considered and how the loss of local knowledge would be detrimental if it went to a central unit. (Councillors would discuss the proposals later in the meeting).

The final budget proposals would become clear when the cabinet meets although a lump sum may be cut from highways maintenance.

A reduction in the amount of waste collected will save money. There would be no area review of Pershore schools by the County Council as there was no money to carry this out in the next few years

Local Government reorganisation is possible and the relevant meetings were to take place soon.

Cllr Liz Tucker left the meeting at 8.15pm; Cllr Argyle arrived at the same time.

06.02.04 Finance

06.02.04.1 Cash Reconciliation
The Clerk would prepare the cash reconciliation and pass this to Cllr Carter in the next day or so. The Clerk confirmed that although there had been a problem with the cheques paid in from the Village Hall, the bank had confirmed that as at 6th February 2006, the current account held £36,116.40. The Clerk would check regarding interest payments in the event that £28,000 was put into the deposit account, and councillors confirmed that it would be in order for this to be transferred across.

Cllr Carter had tried to contact Clement Keys the external auditors but had left a message for them. The internal audit was outstanding and a quotation would be obtained for this, as soon as possible. EC/AEB

06.02.04.2 Approval of Payments
The following payments were approved:-

The cheques were issued and signed by Cllr Lammas and Cllr Argyle.

06.02.02 Declarations of interest
Cllr Argyle declared an interest in Item 5 – Villages Hall Play Area.

Cllr Argyle left the room.

06.02.05 Villages Hall Play Area – updates of financial position and work schedule.
After further investigation, the grant from Awards for All of £5000 would be to the Village Hall, and the order for the play equipment had been altered, with the order from the Parish Council to be £38,533.00.

VAT will be added which will then require payment and then to be claimed back. Cllr Hall would check this point and advise prior to the next meeting. It was confirmed that there were enough funds to cover the cost of the play equipment and the VAT.

06.02.07 Parish Plan – Agreement to go to print. Approval of expenses to produce draft copies
The draft plan had been circulated in September and it should be submitted to Karen Armstrong and Jo Scrutton. Draft copies would be £2.00 per copy. There was still a large amount of unused grant money and quotes were required for printing. The Council confirmed that this could go ahead. Cllr Carter would be visiting Wychavon District Council on Tuesday.

The Parish Council needed to formally adopt the Parish Plan and to establish printing costs based on 500 copies.

It was necessary to clarify whether it is of benefit to the Parish Council to adopt the parish plan after 1st April 2006.

Cllr Gilligan advised that a consultation at Wychavon was to be set up with the Parish Plan being used by them. EC/TG

06.02.08 Planning Applications

06.02.08.1 W/06/00095/PP – Mr and Mrs Jones, Wenville, Broad Lane, Bishampton
Amendment to previously approved application W/04/01649 – deletion of conservatory and enlargement of two-storey extension. The council confirmed that there were no objections to this amendment, provided the work was carried out sympathetically to the building.

06.02.08.2 Water Resources Act 1991 – Application for consent to discharge trade effluent from Hill and Moor Landfill Site, Throckmorton Road
A response to Mr Kelly at the Environment Agency would be made to the effect that if he considered this alteration to be in order, then the Parish Council had no objections. AEB

06.02.09 Footpaths – progress on work agreed
The work previously discussed had not yet been commenced, although a start date would be obtained as soon as possible. A quotation to clear the play area was required and this would be obtained from Limebridge Rural Services Limited. EC/AEB

06.02.10 Dates for Annual Parish Meetings
These were to be deferred until the March meeting.

06.02.11 Consider applications for replacement Clerk to the Parish
No applications had been received and it was therefore agreed that an advertisement would be placed in the local paper. It was agreed that Cllr Carter would deal with the advert, as this needed immediate attention to meet the Tuesday 12-noon deadline. A staffing committee to interview applicants would be made up of Cllr Cheetham, Cllr. Lammas, Cllr Hall and Cllr Beever, and a meeting would be required to discuss the questions to be asked. EC/DC/BL/MH/EB

If no clerk was appointed by 1st March, a locum clerk may be available. Cllr Argyle would investigate this possibility. MA

06.02.12 Consultations of the future structure of the Health Service
Cllr Carter would copy the details by email to all councillors. Cllr Gilligan advised that she might be able to attend the public meeting on 13th February 2006. EC/TG

06.02.13 Worcestershire Highways Partnership – Rationalisation of the HPUs in Worcs. – Response required
Councillors discussed a summary of the proposals and it was agreed that Option 1 (to retain 3 HPU offices in Bromsgrove, Worcester and Wychavon) should be retained, in order to keep greater efficiency at a local level. The Clerk would write to Worcestershire County Council accordingly. AEB

06.02.14 Capital Flood Alleviation Programme – Contribution by the Council to be considered
Correspondence from Wychavon District Council had been received to confirm that work had been approved for Broad Lane, Bishampton, although no time scale was available. However, a contribution to the cost was required from the Council as Wychavon are not responsible for payment of the work. A contribution of £5,716.35 over a three-year period was detailed and Councillors discussed how the cost would be met. As the precept had been set for 2006/2007 the precept for the following three years would need to take this into account, thereby increasing the precept by £2000 each year for the next three years.

Cllr Argyle advised that work might not start until 2008 anyway. The Clerk would write to Wychavon District Council to confirm that the Parish Council would contribute to the scheme and also to obtain confirmation that the figure of £5,716.35 was the total amount required. AEB

Cllr Beryl Lammas gave her apologies and left the meeting at 9.40pm

06.02.15 Social Housing Allocation – lettings update notification
The Housing Services Department of Wychavon District Council had provided a list of properties available for rental from 1st April 2006, and the notice would be displayed on the notice board in the village. AEB

06.02.16 Councillors’ Reports and items for future agenda
Cllr Argyle advised that the Waste and recycling Scrutiny has been completed, with the result that wheelie bins will probably be introduced, with grey waste to be collected fortnightly, and for the recycling to continue to be collected fortnightly. He confirmed that the tipping of green waste was now virtually non-existent. There were no further reports.

06.02.17 Date of next meeting
The date of the next meeting was provisionally arranged for Monday 6th March 2006, although this would be confirmed nearer the time in the light of the change of clerk.

As there was no further business, the meeting closed at 9.55pm.

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Chairman Date