BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Thursday 4th December 2006 at the Villages Hall, Bishampton

Members and Officers present: Mr D Cheetham (Chairman) Mr M Argyle (from 8.33pm), Mr J Morrison, Mrs B Lammas, and Mrs C Morris (Clerk).

The meeting opened at 7.34pm.

Mr David Baldwin, chairman of the Junior Play Area Advisory Committee attended the open forum session of the meeting to inform councillors of the progress to date regarding the junior play area. He showed councillors the proposed layout and informed them of current developments and that the next meeting was to take place on December 5th.
The Council Meeting began at 7.46pm.

06.13.01 To receive apologies for absence:
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Carter, who was away, and Cllr Beever and Cllr Chadwick who were working away from the area. Cllr Tucker was attending another meeting. (Cllr Gillian had submitted apologies at an earlier meeting)

06.13.02 To receive any Declarations of Interest:
Cllr Morrison declared a personal and prejudicial interest relating to Item 06.13.05.

06.13.03 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on November 6th 2006 and note the minutes of the play area committee:
The minutes were approved and signed by the chairman.

06.13.04 Finance

06.13.04.01 To note any receipts:
The E-On grant for Christmas Lights had been received and banked. Cllr Lammas proposed and Cllr Cheetham seconded thanks to the clerk for securing the funds.

06.13.04.02 To approve the Statement of Cash Reconciliation for Nov 06:
The cash reconciliation showed that as of the statement date of November 24th, the council held £3,972.96 in its current account, (£3,440.72 after all cheques presented) and £33,795.43 in its savings account, bringing its total cash assets to £37,236.15.

06.13.04.03 To approve outstanding invoices for payment.

• Limebridge Rural Services - Installation of two metal gates. - Clearance of footpath next to the church. £246.75
  
• Limebridge Rural Services: As there were no footpath representatives present to confirm that the work carried out by Limebridge had been completed as requested and to the council’s satisfaction, it was agreed that Cllr Lammas should make a final check with Cllr Chadwick/Carter before the signing the cheque. Action Cllr Lammas

06.13.04.04 To approve payment for Christmas decorations:

The council received a grant of £2,500.00 for Christmas lights/decorations from E-On and has until December 11 to organise/install them. Cllr Carter and Cllr Argyle, along with the clerk were delegated to try to meet the deadline.
The council approved payments necessary to get the job done, including the following invoices already received:-

• Lamps & Tubes Ltd - Lights for Village Hall £1,135.05 (1)
• Festive Lighting Co - Lights for Bishampton tree and Throckmorton £928.25 (3)
• Limebridge Rural Services - Supply and fitting of Christmas Tree £170.38
• BATVHC - Trees and small lights £150.00 (2)
  1. Paid already as an urgent payment between meetings.
  2. Committee members bought smaller decorations locally up to the value of £150 and will be reimbursed up to limit on production of receipts.
  3. Another order was approved from The Festive Lighting Company (two extra transformers for Throckmorton) which should amount to £58.75.
  Total spent so far including all extras above: £2442.43, which leaves £57.57 in the pot)

06.13.04.05 To approve the urgent payment of an overdue sum of £35.25 to Ward & Dale Smith for preparation of plans for the new parish hall:
Councillors approved the payment made during the month.

06.13.04.06 To approve the clerk’s expenses for November 2006:
Councillors approved the sum of £36.36 for the clerk’s expenses which included the purchase of a storage tub for files costing £12.98.

06.13.05 Planning

06.13.05.01 To note the response by the planning committee to applications received between meetings:
There were none.

06.13.05.02 To make comment on current planning applications:

• W/06/01979 Temporary siting of mobile home for Manager’s Office, Rest and Refreshment. Vale Golf and Country Club, Bishampton.
• W/06/01957 Proposed ancillary facilities, WCs, Bait and Maintenance Store, Generator Shed. Vale Golf and Country Club, Bishampton.
  The council agreed to urge refusal of the plans, which they felt amounted to a resubmission of the previous plans in a different form. They also called for enforcement action to be taken against breaches of planning regulations as soon as possible. It was suggested that councilors or members of the public could start gathering evidence of regulation-breaking activity to present a case for enforcement at a later date. Clerk to send details of council views to planners. Action Clerk

06.13.05.03 To receive reports on Wychavon planning decisions:

• W/06/01688 Erection of single storey side extension to form annex extension and detached double garage. Little Tiffy, Abberton Road, Bishampton, WR10 2LU.
  Approved
  Conditions: Development must be used only in conjunction with the house. Garage only for domestic storage – not for business or conversion into accommodation.
• W/06/01760 New Two-storey dwelling and detached garage plus alterations to the vehicular access. Kepton and Kasvin, Broad Lane, Bishampton.
  Refused
  Reasons:
  • With low bungalows in front and land rising behind, the development would be very prominent and have a harmful impact on the character of the area.
  • It would cause unacceptable overlooking of other property.
  • It would leave a minimal depth of garden for Kepton.
  • There is insufficient information on the access arrangements to make a decision on highways grounds.

Planning: For information only.
Re: Enforcement matters regarding parking and use of garages in Babylon Lane, Bishampton (further to minute 06.11.09). Wychavon Enforcement Officer Adam, Gatier has confirmed he is investigating the matter and will inform the council of progress in due course.

06.13.06 To hear news regarding enforcement matters at the fishing lake at the Vale Golf and Country Club, Bishampton.
New planning applications have once again put a stop to enforcement against night fishing. See Planning. Councillors noted the letters of objection sent in by neighbouring residents.

06.13.07 To consider the council’s budget and precept for the coming year.
Councillors agreed points of the budget but Cllr Argyle and Lammas declared an interest in the section dealing with grants for the play area, because of their involvement in the Junior Play Area Committee. As the remaining council was unable to form a quorum without them, the full budget was unable to be set. Therefore, the council agreed to a precept of £13,000, to which a play area grant figure could be added at the next meeting. See separate sheet for details.

06.13.08 Play Areas:

06.13.08.01 To hear an update on tenders for the removal and clearance of the junior play area at Bishampton Villages Hall (6.11.10) and to consider the continuation of the play area committee in its current form.
After discussions with Mr Baldwin, the council also agreed that the Junior Play Area Advisory Committee should be disbanded and the members (Cllr Lammas, Argyle and Carter) instead be co-opted as a committee of the BATVH Trust in order to give more flexibility in applying for grants while retaining the project’s continuity. It was agreed the clerk should continue attending and recording the meetings.
Members noted the designs and agreed that they favoured the Wicksteed equipment which appeared to be better looking and have a higher play value.

06.13.08.02 RoSPA Safety Check: For Information
Clerk has applied for Bishampton to be included on the RoSPA safety check schedule in March 2007.

06.13.09 To hear a report from the chairman on development plans for land next to Willow Bank Residential Home, Tilesford (06.10.12).
Agents for the owners of Willow Bank House invited interested people to talk about plans for land next to No 1 Tilesford Park (as previously circulated). Cllr Cheetham went along to find out more. He said the owners of Willow Bank are keen to find some kind of commercial use for the land and were consulting people on what they might like to see on the site. No firm plans were revealed by the agent but Cllr Cheetham said he formed the impression that the firm hopes to use the land for some sort of commercial purpose linked with the residential home.

06.13.10 Footpaths:

06.13.10.01 To consider a quote for footpath maintenance.
See Finance. Cllr Chadwick being consulted. Action Cllr Lammas

06.13.10.02 Cllr Chadwick’s response for the Worcestershire County Council Rights of Way Improvement Plan:
Cllr Chadwick wrote: “Having read the draft ROWIP plan, I find it thorough in its coverage of most of the points concerning rights of way in Worcestershire. My only observation would be about enforcement. The council already does a good job ensuring landowners keep paths open during the cropping season in spring. But I would also like to see more effort made to make landowners restore paths in the immediate aftermath of ploughing in the late summer and autumn. Many paths are not reinstated or defoliated until the spring, which means walking them in the winter months is very awkward and distinctly muddy.”
Councillors decided to ask Cllr Chadwick to clarify who is responsible for the maintenance of footpaths crossing farm land – the landowner or the tenant – and whether any action needs to be taken. To report at next meeting.

06.13.11 Litter bins: To hear an update on the replacement of litter bins.
Clerk to continue discussions with Wychavon on suitable replacements.
For information: Wychavon officer Phil Merrick reports that after the problems in Bishampton with the litter bins waste collection service, he has gained approval for a separate collection time for litter bins and for domestic waste. This will come into operation in 2008.

06.13.12 To hear a report from the Highways Maintenance Scrutiny Meeting and note a new system of reporting highway problems.
The report was deferred. The council heard how it could now register with the county council website so apparently problems could be dealt with more quickly. It was agreed to place some information about reporting road problems on the council’s news letter. Action Clerk

06.13.13 To consider a request from Pershore High School for information regarding local need for its extended services.
Head Teacher Clive Corbett wrote:
“I am writing to you in an attempt to gather information for both our bid for second phase Technology College status, and Extended Services.
“What I am trying to establish is what the variety of local need is. For example, what can the school do to support the needs of local businesses, especially in the areas of IT, Mathematics, Science and Technology? In a broader sense, what more can the school do for the people in its local area in terms of things like out of hours youth provision, adult classes and leisure services?
“I look forward to hearing from you and however short your response, it will contribute to the broader picture that I am seeking to build up.”
Councillors decided to write to Mr Corbett, congratulating him on the school’s progress and asking if someone from the school would like to come and discuss with the council ways in which its facilities could be shared by villagers. Action Clerk

06.13.14 To hear progress about the affordable housing survery suggested by Wychavon District Council’s Housing Development Officer (06.11.17).
Awaiting information from Wychavon on next steps.

06.13.15 To hear progress on a parishioner’s request for an allotment.
Clerk to continue trying to find a solution. Action Clerk

06.13.16 To consider the maintenance of the Bishampton War Memorial.
Soap and water and a scrubbing brush has been recommended to give the memorial a clean. There has also been a suggestion of approaching the gardening club for a planting scheme.
The council decided to approach the gardening club to see if it would like to consider a scheme for its renovation. Action Clerk

06.13.17 To hear any progress on the planned Memorial for Canadian Airmen.
Deferred.

06.13.18 To consider a grant request from Macmillan Cancer Support.
The council decided it could not make a donation from its charity budget at this stage.

06.13.19 To hear information regarding developments at Throckmorton Airfield.
Cllr Argyle to investigate details of ESP Distribution Centre setting up at Throckmorton Airfield.

06.13.20 To consider reports from councillors and items for future agendas.

REPORTS
County Cllr Liz Tucker:

• Road works: She mentioned the work along Flyford road, Severn Trent work through Bishampton after Christmas and imminent major improvements to the road in Throckmorton. Cllr Morrison asked if she could request gritting of the diversion routes during icy weather.
• Highways: She also spoke about the county highways maintenance scrutiny meeting and the ‘serious problem’ regarding the state of the roads in the county. The Wychavon area is the worst in the county, she said, because of the clay under the surface, and the county council is struggling to meet the costs of repairing its roads, let alone rebuilding any. She felt the consultation with parish councils helped to form a picture of the situation all over the county.
• Cuts: The county council is still trying to find ways of saving £8m in its budget and local schools are upset at the proposed loss of outdoor education centres.
• Local Government changes: The Government’s White Paper on changes in the structure of local government means the county and district councils are facing choices about working closer together, possibly as a single council.
• Regional Spatial Strategy: The regional planning blueprint is soon to be out for consultation. It seems the Government may be looking to place 14,000 new homes in the Wychavon area as well as some of the allocation made to Worcester which it can’t keep within the city.
• School Governors: There are places available on the governing bodies of Abbey Park, Pinvin Middle and Pershore High schools, all needing willing volunteers.

NEXT AGENDA

• Parish council Areas of Interest/committees.
• Procedure for notification of meetings (email system)
• Overtime payments for clerk.

06.13.21 To affirm the dates of the next meeting of the Parish Council.
The date of the next meeting was agreed as Monday, January 8th, at 7.30pm at the Parish Room, Throckmorton.

The meeting closed at 9.55pm.

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Chairman Date

Clerk to the Council Mrs C.Morris