BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Monday 3rd September 2007 at the Parish Room, Throckmorton

Members and Officers present: Mr D Cheetham (chairman), Mr M Argyle, Mr J Morrison, Mr C Tucker, Mr E Beever (from 8.00pm) Mr J Mills, Mr D Baldwin and Mrs C Morris (Clerk).

Also present from 9pm was County and District Councillor Liz Tucker.

The meeting opened for the Open Forum at 7.33pm.

Open Forum
Three residents of Broad Lane in Bishampton attended the meeting to talk to the parish council about the serious flooding which occurred in the village during the unprecedented rainstorm in July. Geraldine Green and Peter Chatterton also attended, representing Throckmorton Church. See notes below.

The meeting re-opened at 8.10pm.

07.09.01 To receive apologies and approve the reason for absence
Cllr Lammas sent her apologies, as she could not attend due to illness, and Cllr Burtoft sent his apologies as he had work commitments.

07.09.02 To consider the adoption of the revised Code of Conduct
The council decided to adopt the Local Authorities Model Code of Conduct 2007, and to follow the advice of NALC, in relation to Section 12 (2):
To allow a period for public question time before the start of each scheduled council meeting when members of the public are invited to give their views and question the Council on items on the agenda, or raise issues for future consideration, at the discretion of the Chairman. Members of the public may not take part in the Parish Council meeting itself and a Councillor with a prejudicial interest in a particular issue is allowed to address the Council during public question time on the issue, subject to the Councillor leaving the room in the event of an exchange on the issue between the public and the Council during public question time.

07.09.03 To record: a) Declarations of Interest (Personal & Prejudicial) and b) Any changes to be notified to the Register of Interest and Gifts & Hospitability
Cllrs Argyle and Baldwin declared personal and prejudicial interests in item 7. Cllr Mills declared a personal interest in a planning matter.

07.09.04 To approve the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on July 2nd 2007
The minutes were approved and signed by the chairman as a true record. It was also noted that an item (telephone allowance) had been missed from the minutes during discussions on the clerk’s wages in April. Members who attended the meeting confirmed the details and it was agreed the chairman should sign an appendix to be added to the minute.

07.09.05 Finance:

07.09.05.01 To note any receipts

07.09.05.02 To approve the statement of cash reconciliation for July/Aug
The statement of cash reconciliation showed that in July and August, the council gained £978.85 in income and spent £5,226.04 from its current account, which, at the end of the period, on August 31, contained £7,409.69. The savings account earned £174.45 interest, which brought its total to £33,517.27. Therefore, allowing for unpresented cheques of £2,185.70, the council’s total cash assets stood at £38,517.27. The council noted the clerk’s report and all members received a copy of the accounts and latest budget sheets.

07.09.05.03 To approve outstanding invoices for payment
The following invoices were approved for payment:

The council approved the following payments of invoices which were made between meetings:

* Last yr the audit was £250 before tax and now it’s £400. The PC fell into the higher fees bracket because of the size of its reserves.
** Cost of Lengthsman’s training course. (Reclaiming costs from CC)
***Approved in March – finally paid for and fitted.

07.09.05.04 To approve claims for expenses/overtime
Clerk’s expenses of £12.08 were approved. Clerk reported that she had now taken her wage rise, agreed in April, (backdated) because the national payscale dispute, which was to have had a bearing on the wage scales, had still not been settled.

07.09.05.05 To hear news about the External Audit
The council noted it had received an unqualified audit opinion.
The clerk reported details of a small mistake on the form which led to a query from the auditors and a request for a copy of the council’s asset register. Clement Keys, the auditors, were then satisfied. Copies were posted on the notice board in Bishampton for the required 14 days.

07.09.05.06 Application for rural rate relief – Miss A B Garbett, The Dolphin, Bishampton
The council passed the following resolution: ‘In view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the public and press be temporarily excluded, pursuant to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. The reason being to consider applications for rural rate relief payments.’
Members agreed that the pub was of benefit to the local community and should be supported, and agreed to pay the parish contribution requested by Wychavon of £585.23 (£287.55 for 2006/7 and 297.68 for 2007/8).

07.09.06 Planning

07.09.06.01 To note the council’s response to applications between meetings

07.09.06.02 Current Planning Applications
The council delegated comment on the following matters to members of the planning committee

(Cllr Mills had declared an interest as a neighbour of the following property.)

07.09.06.03 Reports on planning decisions

W/07/00633 - Willow Bank, 16 units.
REFUSED: Planners were against building in open countryside in an ‘isolated, unsustainable rural location where there are no facilities or transport etc/they thought the plans would result in overdevelopment in open countryside/ they would set a precedent which could lead to development harming the quality of the local environment and for neighbours.

W/07/00985/CU – Field in Babylon Lane, Bishampton, Change of use from agricultural to keeping horses with stables, ménage and access track.
APPROVED

07.09.07 Play Areas
(Cllr Baldwin had declared his interest as chairman of the play area committee and also chairman of the BATVMC/ Cllr Argyle had declared his interest as members of the play area committee)

07.09.07.01 To hear any update from the BATVH Junior Play Area Committee
Cllr Baldwin reported that the Junior Play Area site had said been cleared to a satisfactory state. The committee was still awaiting news on its applications for major grants.

07.09.07.02 To consider any action necessary to continue work on the Junior Play Area project
Cllr Balwin offered to organise some seeding of the bare areas of ground at the area. Action Cllr Baldwin

07.09.07.03 To consider any other matters relating to the play areas
Barbed wire had been removed from near the playground perimeter, following talks with neighbours.

07.09.08 Footpaths – To consider any footpath issues
The Badgers Walk footpath has been partially cleared by Mr Phil Day and it has been strimmed by Limebridge. It had been walked by the chairman and Cllr Morrison and it was confirmed that although it was walkable now, it would still be difficult on horseback. It was also noted that damp areas may be able to be filled in to improve the path once it was cleared further. The clerk had been asked by the chairman to write to the landowners neighbouring the path, to remind them of their responsibilities in trimming their hedges back to stop the path overgrowing. Action Clerk
Clerk to thank Mr Day for his work. Action Clerk
Parish Paths Warden Mr Peter Averis had suggested a public meeting to recruit path path wardens who could be responsible for monitoring certain paths. Cllr Morrison to arrange a date and clerk to publicise. Action Clerk/Cllr Morrison

 

07.09.09 To consider adding the churchyard in Bishampton to the PC mowing schedule
The clerk had obtained a quote for the mowing of the churchyard, which would apparently save the church money on organising separate contracts. Members agreed in principle to add to the schedule but agreed that further details needed to be organised. Action Clerk
The clerk also reported that the PCC had sent its thanks to the PC for the recent donation to assist with its mowing costs.

07.09.10 To consider the latest situation regarding the proposed mobile phone mast
The council heard how BAM delegates had travelled to T-Mobile’s headquarters to hand over a petition but the mast had since been erected.
The clerk had written a draft letter in response to the last correspondence from the Government. Cllr Argyle wished to redraft it before it was posted and the council agreed he should do so. (The clerk also reported Cllr Burtoft’s disappointment that the letter had not already been sent, despite the Parliamentary recess over the summer, which was noted by members). Action Cllr Argyle/Clerk
The council noted a letter sent to the council from Mr E Morris of Bishampton. Members agreed he should be sent a copy of the latest Government correspondence so he could see the council’s action. Action Clerk

07.09.11 To hear any issues regarding the sewer/roadworks in Bishampton
County and District Councillor Liz Tucker said there had been a meeting with Severn Trent in August and Mr Ockenden, who had been helping monitor the situation, had been kept informed. The council heard that there could have been a mistake made with the system outside Walnut Cottage. Cllr Tucker agreed to ask Severn Trent to check.

07.09.12 To consider progress on the Affordable Housing Survey
The survey has been printed and is ready to be distributed with the October NewsSheet. Action Clerk

07.09.13 Request for funding contribution to the local NewsSheet
Members agreed to increase their usual annual donation to NewsSheet (£200) by another £100, in thanks for NewsSheet printing and distributing quarterly PC newsletters, if that was acceptable to NewsSheet. Clerk to check. Action Clerk

07.09.14 To consider the production of another PC newsletter
The council agreed that another newsletter should be distributed with the October NewsSheet. The following topics were put forward for inclusion: Defibrilator scheme/ Future of Village Shop/ Flooding Update/ Housing Survey/ Footpath Meeting/ Mast Latest/ Play Area Update. Action Clerk

07.09.15 Lengthsman – To consider any action necessary to continue with the Lengthsman Scheme
The clerk reported that the county council had not yet provided any health and safety equipment for the Parish Lengthsman. Clerk to continue chasing. Action Clerk
The chairman had been approached by animal owners concerned about ragwort plants growing unchecked around the parish and the council agreed its removal would be a good task for the lengthsman. The clerk was also asked to write to the Vale Golf Club to ask if it could help the situation by controlling ragwort growth on its land. Action Clerk
Councillors asked the clerk to ask the Lengthsman if, as soon as he was able, he could

  1. check all the parish drainage structure and clear what he was able to, or report any blockages/problems
  2. add a monthly check of the drains to his schedule and
  3. either safely remove - or note now and remove later – ragwort plants growing in verges around the parish.

07.09.16 To consider plans to close rural Post Office branches
The council noted that a decision was likely to be made on Bishampton’s Post Office in May. Members would continue to monitor the situation.

07.09.17 To consider matters relating to crime in Bishampton
The clerk had written to the Inspector at Evesham, to ask about the appointment of a Community Support Officer and point out a rise in crime in the village. Insp Brooker replied to say a CSO had now been appointed. He said crime in Bishampton had risen to nine reported offences this year, compared to four last year, and promised that while it remained a low-crime area, there would be no complacency and patrols would continue day and night and that with the new officer, police visibility in the area should improve.

07.09.18 To hear progress on the review and adoption of

07.09.19 To consider any issues relating to flooding in the parish
Serious flooding had occurred in the parish following record rainfall in July, after an already wet year. Cllr Argyle and Cllr Liz Tucker and the Chairman had visited homes at the time to try to ascertain the damage and it seemed a total of 15 homes had been flooded inside. Clerk had also publicised information for residents on notice boards and in the shop. Cllr Tucker reported that he was to be a member of the Wychavon DC flooding investigation panel which will be carefully surveying all areas which flooded. All homes which suffered, he said, would receive a survey form to complete and return and they would have the opportunity to tell their experiences to the panel which would study each parish in detail. Cllr Liz Tucker confirmed that the Worcs CC was setting up a similar investigation team. The PC agreed to write to both councils in an effort to ensure that drainage work which was already planned for the village (and for which the PC had already set aside money), did not get delayed amongst the clear-up operation. The council also agreed to help publicise any information/meeting dates etc which arose. Action Clerk
The council noted correspondence regarding inconsiderate driving through the floods and the flooding in general from Mr Peter Jesson. The council agreed to draw people’s attention to the driving issue in the newsletter and to keep Mr Jesson informed of meetings in which he could play a part with his local knowledge.Action Clerk
The chairman also reported that farmer Mr Willie Robertson had offered to share his knowledge of the village drainage situation with the relevant authorities. He would also be kept in touch. Action Clerk
The chairman had asked the clerk to repot a blocked drain outside the Dolphin and it appeared it had since been cleared by County Council contractors.

07.09.20 To hear a report regarding progress on the Parish Plan
Clerk had distributed a report on how the council had worked towards the action points promised in the plan. Cllrs to study for next meeting. Action Cllrs

07.09.21 To consider the payment of a Chairman’s Allowance
Payment of a Chairman’s Allowance has been approved by the council but has not been taken by the chairman. Following some advice by CALC, the Chairman asked the council if it should be considered. CALC had suggested a £1,000 per year allowance, which would allow the chairman to buy small items without having to wait for council approval. The Chairman asked the council to consider the matter for the next meeting, when he would be away.

07.09.22 To receive reports from councillors and items for future agendas
The Clerk reported that Throckmorton Parish Room had been entered in the Wychavon Building Design Awards.

The Clerk had written to the Dolphin to again ask about the siting of a new litter bin outside the pub, by the bench. The chairman reported, however, that the landlords did not want one on their land. Cllr Baldwin said there was a site in the village hall grounds where another bin was needed. Councillors to consider at the next meeting.

There was concern expressed about the state of the field behind the new development in Broad Lane but councillors decided to wait to see if it was cleared up by the developers later.

County and District Councillor Liz Tucker spoke about the flooding task forces set up by Wychavon and the CC and her fears for how far the emergency money from Govt wouldn’t go. She said there was an estimate that it would take two years of work on the road system to get it back to the state it was in before the flooding - which was already below standard.
She said there was a pilot scheme set to happen in the area to increase involvement in activities for young people.
She also said the issue of the fortnightly collection of rubbish and a new wheelie-bin system was set to de considered in October.

07.09.23 To consider any further items of correspondence:

 

07.09.24 To affirm the date of the next meeting of the Parish Council
The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Monday, October 1st, Bishampton.

The meeting closed at 10. 25pm

………………………………………………… …………………………..

Chairman Date

Clerk to the Council Mrs C. Morris

Notes from the open session: -