BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Monday 20th February 2006 at the Villages Hall, Bishampton

Members and Officers present: Mr E Carter (Chairman), Ms T Gilligan (Vice Chairman)(from 7.42pm), Mr C Tucker , Mr D Cheetham, Mrs B Lammas, Mr M Argyle, Mrs A Boocock (Clerk)

The meeting opened at 7.34pm.

06.03.01 Apologies for absence
Apologies received from Cllrs Beever and Chadwick who were working and Cllr Hall who was ill.

06.03.02 Declarations of interest
There were no declarations of interest.

06.03.03 To approve the minutes of the meetings and Monday 9th January 2006 and Monday 6th February 2006
The minutes of Monday 9th January 2006 were approved and signed. The minutes of Monday 6th February 2006 were approved and signed with one amendment.

06.03.04 To approve the cash reconciliation for January 2006
These were approved.

06.03.05 To approve any outstanding payments
One payment to Cllr Carter of £90.48 for placement of the Clerk vacancy advertisement in the local papers was approved.

06.03.06 To approve an internal auditor for the 2004/5 accounts
Tenders from IBS Norton and Mrs L Oliver for auditing the 2004/05 accounts were considered. A third applicant had not submitted a tender. The quotation from Mrs L Oliver for £90 was proposed by Cllr Tucker, seconded by Cllr Cheetham and agreed unanimously.

06.03.07 To approve the quotation for raising the tree canopy in the Bishampton Amenity area to make safe for the improved facilities
A quotation from Limebridge of £280 for lifting the tree canopy in the Villages Hall Amenity Area for safety and environmental improvement was accepted. Work is to be completed as soon as possible in order to comply with legislation under the CROW act.

06.03.08 To consider any action in respect of the leaning, and possibly dangerous apple tree, at the entrance to the Bishampton Amenity area
Cllr Argyle stated that he did not feel there was an immediate safety issue with the tree and that, as the tree was of an old variety, steps should be taken to try and preserve it. He would approach Mr John Edgely, an expert in tree maintenance, for an opinion and possible quotation on pruning the tree to be obtained before February 27th. MA

If appropriate pruning is practicable the council approved expenditure up to £100.

06.03.09 To short list applications for the post of clerk and agree a suitable interview panel of three councillors and interview date
Two applications had been received and both were considered suitable for interview. The interview panel would be made up of Cllrs Gilligan, Lammas and Cheetham and, subject to candidate availability, interviews would be held at the Villages Hall on Monday 27th February at 7.30pm (councillors meeting at 7.15pm). TG/BL/ DC

The Clerk would contact the candidates, confirm their attendance and book the Villages Hall AEB

It was agreed that should the panel receive any late applications from suitable candidates that they should also be interviewed.

06.03.10 To consider options of a roving or acting clerk in the event of insufficient suitable applications
Cllr Carter pointed out that in the event of a suitable clerk not being appointed there were two options, a roving clerk who would cost £150/meeting and only deal with the agenda and minutes of the meeting or a councillor acting, unpaid, as clerk. He considered the latter to be a more attractive proposition and offered, as an absolute fall back position, to undertake the work but would be required to drop the chairmanship. It was agreed that the council must continue to operate as near normal a routine as possible over this period in view of the amenity work in progress and that a clerk, in some form, was mandatory to achieving this.

06.03.11 PACT Account
Cllr Carter had circulated a letter from Cllr E. Tucker calling him to a meeting to discuss closure of the account with a proposal that the remaining monies be donated to the “Acorns” Children’s Hospice. Cllr Lammas expressed the view that, since the money was raised locally, it should be used for a cause more local to the community. General opinion was that there may be more issues yet to deal with over the Throckmorton Airfield and the fund should be maintained for that purpose but Cllr Lammas’s views were supported if the account is to be closed.

06.03.12 Throckmorton Parish Rooms
Cllr Tucker reported that DEFRA had approved the grant for replacement of the existing Parish Room. All that remained was for the Throckmorton Parish Charity to gain ownership of the property and, despite some problems over the exact specification of the building with the Land Registry Office, he was hopeful that this would now proceed quickly. The Clerk confirmed that she and Cllr Carter had signed a surrender of the lease to the Throckmorton Parish Charity and this was now with David Jackman, solicitors acting for the Scout Association.

06.03.13 Date of Next Meeting
This would be determined when a new clerk had been appointed but would probably be Monday 6th March 2006.

As there was no further business, the meeting closed at 8.20pm.

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Chairman Date