BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Monday 4th September 2006 at the Villages Hall, Bishampton

Members and Officers present: Mr D.Cheetham (Chairman), Mrs B.Lammas, Mr M.Argyle, Mr E Chadwick, Mr C Tucker, Mrs T Gilligan, Mr E Carter and Mrs C.Morris (Clerk).

The council went into open session before the meeting, details of which are below.

The meeting opened at 8.18pm

06.09.01 Apologies for absence.
Apologies were received from Cllr Beever who was unable to attend due to work commitments.

06.09.02 Declarations of interest
There were no declarations of interest.

06.09.03 To welcome the newly appointed Clerk to the Council Mrs C.Morris.
Mrs Morris was welcomed to her appointment by the Chairman.

06.09.04 To affirm the conditions of employment for the clerk
The conditions of employment were approved and signed by the clerk and chairman.

06.09.05 To approve the minutes of the meeting 7th August 2006.
The minutes were approved and signed.

06.09.06 Finance

06.09.06.01 To note receipts to the Parish Council
The following receipts were noted

• Highways verge cut grant £398
• VAT return £407.18

The clerk had transferred £5,000 from current to deposit account as requested in minute 06.08.05.02

06.09.06.02 To approve the statement of cash reconciliation for 24th July 2006.

The cash reconciliation indicated that the council holds £6,395 in the current account and £24,573 in the deposit account. Since the reconciliation, further interest of £36.80 had been added to the deposit account in August bringing the total cash assets of the Parish Council to £31,005.08. It was agreed that the clerk should transfer the next precept payment, due this month, into the deposit account as soon as possible. ACTION Clerk

06.09.06.03 To approve outstanding invoices for payment

• Limebridge Rural Services (amenity area mowing and Jubilee walk cutting) - £268.49. ACTION Clerk

06.09.06.04 To approve the acting Clerk’s expenses for August 2006
Expenses of £53.88 were approved.

06.09.06.05 To receive a report on the internal audit of accounts
Cllr Lammas had inspected the accounts for this year and reported them to be in order.

06.09.06.06 To approve the transfer of bank account access to Mrs C.Morris
This was approved and a letter of authority signed by Cllrs Cheetham, Argyle, Chadwick and Lammas. ACTION Clerk

06.09.06.07 Plans for a standing order payment for the clerk’s salary were deferred.

06.09.07 Planning

06.09.07.01 To note the response by the council to planning application

W/06/01402/PN Two storey extensions to the front and rear of the existing building forming 16 new bedrooms. Willow Bank House, Long Lane, Tilesford, WR10 2LA
The Parish Council objected to the proposal on the following grounds:

• The scale of the development on the site proposed, particularly in respect of its proximity to residential properties, is considered to be both practically and aesthetically much too large; it would represent significant overdevelopment of the site.
  
• It is believed that the figure of 4 cars/day would be a substantial underestimate of the extra traffic that would arise should this application be approved. Traffic control is important on this site as there are frequently vulnerable adults walking on the driveways. Furthermore, there is an issue of car parking which has not been fully addressed as currently the overspill parking on the east side of the access road is on DeFRA land and it is not known if any agreement has been reached with DeFRA for its long term use for car parking.
  Some concern has been expressed that the lounge area for residents will be reduced whilst the number of people will be increasing both by this application and the previous application for an extra 11 rooms.
  
• The concerns of the residents were noted again, although councillors agreed they could do no more at the moment in planning terms. Cllr Argyle, as district councillor would be following the progress of the plans at Wychavon and liasing with planning officers. It was agreed that steps would be made to investigate the status or changing status of Willow Bank as a nursing home or residential rest home. Action Cllr Carter and Gilligan. See also agenda item 12.

06.09.07.02 To make comment on planning applications

• W/06/01462/PN Proposed extensions to rear to form bedroom, en suite and enlarged living room and kitchen. Churchfields, Church End, Bishampton, WR10 2LT
  This item was deferred to clerk, awaiting comments from the planning committee. Action Cllrs Chadwick, Argyle and Lammas.
• W06/01308/PN Conservatory to rear and extension to side/rear to provide garden room. Rosedene, Abberton Road, Bishampton, WR10 2LU
  The council had no objections to the application. ACTION Clerk
• W06/01488/AC Proposed new vehicular access. Wenville, Broad Lane, Bishampton, WR10 2LY
  This items was deferred to clerk following a site meeting by the planning committee. ACTION Cllrs Chadwick, Argyle and Lammas.

06.09.07.03 To receive reports on planning decisions.

• W/06/01095/CU Temporary stationing of mobile home for accommodation of Fishery Manager, ancillary store and WCs plus removal of condition 8 consent W/04/00426 (i.e. no time restrictions upon use of fishing lake) to allow night time fishing. Vale Golf & Country Club, Hill Furze Road, Bishampton.
  It was noted that this had been refused although further portakabins and sheds had been added to the site and night fishing was continuing.
  It was agreed that planning enforcement officers should now be contacted and progress reported at the next meeting. ACTION Cllr Argyle.
• W/05/00074/CU Division of existing building into two flats together with use of three lock up garages and parking space (resubmission). Old School, Main street Bishampton, WR10 2LX
  It was noted that this long outstanding issue had now been approved. The concerns about parking raised by Mr and Mrs Morrison in the open session were noted and it was agreed that the chairman would contact the owner, Mr Mills and report back to the next meeting. ACTION Cllr Cheetham.

06.09.08 To consider actions in respect of the outstanding councillor vacancy
An advertisement inviting parishioners for co-option would be placed on all notice boards with applicants being considered at the next meeting of the council. ACTION Cllr Carter/clerk.

06.09.09 To consider any action in respect of Worcestershire County Council’s failure to install direction signs to Vale Golf and the Villages Hall.
Cllr Carter pointed out the inability to get any satisfactory action from Worcestershire County Council over the last 6 months and the growing frustration of Vale Golf who had sent £200 towards the signs. It was agreed the chairman would telephone Sally Everest at the county council in an effort to discover the reason for the delay. ACTION Cllr Cheetham.

06.09.10 To consider any actions which the council might take to support the amenity of Bishampton stores.
Following a request at last month’s meeting, from shop owner Mr S Osborne, for views on how to make the shop more attractive to customers, the council first agreed to register support of the Sustainable Communities Bill, which aims to give parish councils and local people more say to protect their communities, and small shops in particular, from decline. ACTION Cllr Carter.
Members also agreed to write to Mr Osborne and offer to help print and circulate a letter (from him) around the villages, asking people specifically what they want from their village shop and also to investigate Business Link courses where Mr Osbourne may gain further inspiration. ACTION Clerk.

06.09.11 To approve a revised tender for the removal of equipment and clearance of the Junior Play Area at Bishampton Villages Hall.
Cllr Carter reported that following a site visit, a more detailed measurement of the area had been made. As it was evident the proposed equipment would not fit into the available space, a revised tender was approved for removal of the equipment, including the removal of half of the double hedge and level the ground in preparation for site works. Clerk to reissue tenders. ACTION Clerk.

06.09.12 To consider further any actions which the council might take to protect the rights of vulnerable adults within the parish communities
(See also agenda item 07.01 and open session comments) Cllr Gilligan was concerned to ensure that residents of the Willow Bank residential home and neighbouring bungalows in Tilesford were given ample chance to express their views as regards the perceived changes to the nature of the home and its environment. Cllr Gilligan offered to meet with the residents initially to gather views and investigate ways in which the council might be able to help. ACTION Cllr Gilligan.

06.09.13 To review the status of the council’s risk management schedule
The Inspection of hand tools has been completed and a risk analysis for footpath/conservation volunteers has been done. Cllr Carter to report on further progress at next meeting. Cllr Chadwick to pursue list of footpath/conservation volunteers. ACTION Cllrs Carter and Chadwick.

06.09.14 To receive reports from councillors and items for future agendas.

• Cllr Lammas offered to help Cllr Carter sort through parish council filing cabinets to see what could be disposed of to reduce file space. Cllrs Carter and Lammas to meet on October 2 2006.
  
• Cllr Tucker (noting his interest as a member of the Throckmorton Village Charity) reported that the Throckmorton Parish Room had been demolished and it was expected that the new building would be open for use in October. The councillors remembered their intention to use the new parish room for meetings alternatively with Bishampton when the opportunity arose.

Cllr Lammas left at 9.47pm

• Cllr Chadwick has signed up for a brush cutting course to learn how to use the equipment properly.
  
• Cllr Cheetham asked for the matter of the council’s chairmanship to be considered at the next meeting.

06.09.15 To consider any further items of correspondence.

• CALC had offered places for the new clerk to attend a one-to-one briefing session at a cost of £30, and a Clerks’ Foundation Course at a cost of £95. The councillors decided it would be beneficial for the clerk to attend. ACTION Clerk.
  
• A letter had been received about a Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Worcestershire. Cllr Chadwick to investigate and report at next meeting. ACTION Cllr Chadwick.

06.09.16 To affirm the date of the next meeting of the Parish Council.
The date of the next meeting was agreed as Monday, October 2nd, at 7.30pm at the Villages Hall, Bishampton.

At the end of the meeting, a cheque was signed for £1000 for the Bishampton & Throckmorton Villages Hall as agreed in minute 06.08.05.06.

The meeting closed at 9.52pm.

………………………………. …………………………………..

Chairman Date

Clerk to the Council Mrs C.Morris

Notes on the Open Session preceding the Council Meeting

A delegation of eleven residents of Willow Bank and Tilesford Park attended the meeting to raise concerns about a planning application to extend Willow Bank Residential Home. They raised issues about the size of the building, the change in the nature of the premises and the state of the sewage system. As the parish council has already sent its comments to planners at Wychavon District Council, the residents were advised to write with their concerns to Wychavon and liaise with Wychavon representative Cllr Argyle. Councillors discussed related matters further under agenda items 7.1 and 12 during the meeting.

Mr and Mrs Morrison of Main Street, Bishampton, raised concerns about parking problems outside garages in Babylon Lane, Bishampton, with reference to an approved planning application for the conversion of two flats at The Old School in Main Street. Their comments were noted for discussion under the agenda item 7.3.