BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Monday 7th January 2008 at the Parish Room, Throckmorton
Members and Officers present: Mr D Cheetham, Mr M Argyle, Mr D Baldwin, Mr E Beever (from 9pm), D Burtoft, Mr J Mills, Mr C Tucker and Mrs C Morris (Clerk).
The meeting opened at 7.30pm and adjourned to hear from local policing officers. See attached note. The meeting re-opened at 8.00pm.
ADMIN
08.01.1.
To receive apologies and approve the reason for absence
Cllr Morrison was on
holiday abroad. His apology was noted and approved.
08.01.2.
To record: a) Declarations of Interest (Personal & Prejudicial) and b) Any
changes to be notified to the Register of Interest and Gifts & Hospitability
Cllr Baldwin and Cllr argyle declared personal and prejudicial interests in
item 11.
08.01.3.
To consider the co-option of a new councillor
There were no applicants for the vacant position. Clerk to continue advertising.
Action Clerk
08.01.4.
To approve the minutes of the PC Meeting held on December 3rd 2007
The minutes were approved and signed by the chairman as a true record.
NEW ITEMS
08.01.5.
To consider housing matters in the parish – an invitation to attend discussions
on the Regional Spatial Strategy, the plans for an Eco-Town and Joint Core Strategy
reponse
The Joint Core Strategy
document has been completed by Cllrs Cheetham and Mills and delivered to Wychavon.
The Clerk had produced posters for notice boards and the shop to inform villagers
about the Eco Town plans and one letter of opinion had been received from a
parishioner. The Clerk had written to MP Peter Luff with the Parish Council’s
viewpoint and the chairman had spoken to him and Wychavon officers to discover
the latest situation. There were no further developments to report. Councillors
agreed to further inform parishioners by producing a PC newsletter as soon as
possible and to keep watch on developments. Councillors to inform clerk if they
can attend a Regional Spatial Strategy meeting, to look at the other housing
plans for the region, on January 24th. Action
Clerk/Cllrs
08.01.6.
Newsletter – to consider items for the next PC newsletter
It was agreed that the clerk should organise a newsletter as soon as possible
which would be distributed by councillors. Topics to include: Eco Town/ dog
fouling/ speeding/ litter pick/ new councillor/ defibrillator scheme/ parish
room/ play area update/ email round robin system.
Action Clerk
08.01.7.
To consider dates for the parish litter pick
The date for this year’s
annual litter pick was set for February 16th and 17th, so it could be carried
out before the grass started to grow. It would be advertised in the newsletter
in the hope more volunteers would join in this year. Action
Clerk
08.01.8.
To consider the problem of dog fouling in Bishampton
There had been a notable increase in dog fouling in the village and it was suspected
that there was a single culprit. Councillors and the police were keeping an
eye on the situation and were ready to inform the dog warden if the owner could
be traced.
REGULAR ITEMS
08.01.9. Finance
08.01.9.1. To note any receipts
A £258.20 cheque had been received from the county council in reimbursement for the PC’s lengthsman costs. Clerk had banked it.08.01.9.2. To approve the statement of cash reconciliation for December
The cash reconciliation showed that spending in December amounted to £385.00 and £6,000.00 from the recent precept payment was transferred to the savings account, leaving a total of £3,834.95 in the current account on the statement date of December 24th. With its £6,000 gain from the current account and £94.87 interest, the savings account statement showed a total of £39,890. There were no unpresented cheques and this meant the council’s total cash assets on December 24th stood at £43,724.95. The council had received £21,266.27 in income and spent £13,639.30 so far during the year.08.01.9.3. To approve outstanding invoices for payment
The following invoices were approved for payment:
- BATVHT Hall Hire £24.00
- S J M Showell Carol sheets etc £39.79
- Throckmorton Chapelry New Mower £700.00
Total £763.79
Action Clerk08.01.9.4. To approve claims for expenses/overtime
Clerk’s expenses of £8.40 were approved (mileage).
08.01.10. Planning
08.01.10.1. Council’s response to applications between meetings
- W/07/02506/LB - W/07/02494/PP - W/07/02505/LB Court Farm, Main St, Bishampton – outbuildings and natural pool/internal alterations
No objection08.01.10.2. Current Planning Applications
- W/07/02721/PN Marshalls Transport, Pershore Airfield, Long Lane, Throckmorton – New warehouse.
The council agreed to write to object to the plan as it could set a precedent for further industrial development of the site in the future. Action Clerk08.01.10.3. Reports on planning decisions
- W/07/01625/PN Kepton and Kasvin, Broad Lane, Bishampton. Development of one three-bedroom bungalow and detached double garage, alterations to Kapton, landscaping and parking and alterations to access (resubmitted).
Approved.
08.01.11.
Play Areas
(Cllr Baldwin and Cllr Argyle had declared their interest as members of the
junior play area committee)
08.01.11.1. To hear any update from the Junior Play Area Committee
Cllr Baldwin reported that he was awaiting a new quote for the play area and once it was confirmed, it was hoped a start date could be booked, hopefully within the next fortnight.08.01.11.2. To consider any action necessary to continue work on the Junior Play Area project
None08.01.11.3. To consider any other matters relating to the play areas
Work to tidy trees in the Throckmorton play area was due to start next week.
08.01.12. Footpaths
– To consider footpath issues and a quote for footpath work
The clerk was awaiting
the quote – councillors agreed that if it was satisfactory, the contractor
should go ahead as soon as possible. Action Clerk
08.01.13. To consider
any Lengthsman Issues
Concern was voiced
about potholes in the pavements in Bishampton and it was agreed to ask the lengthsman
to make a report for the county highways team.
Cllr Tucker spoke about the parish lengthsman review meeting which he had attended.
It was agreed to ask the lengthsman to carry out a monthly inspection of highways
and drains in order to report any matters for attention to the county highways
department as soon as they occur. Action Clerk
UPDATES
08.01.14. To consider
any issues relating to earning Quality Parish Status
Councillors agreed
it would be a good idea to prepare a list of members’ names and contact
details to be posted on the notice board and in the newsletter.
08.01.15. To consider
any issues relating to the flooding in the parish and spending of the grant
There was still no
news on the outcome of the grant application from Wychavon DC. Clerk to chase.
Action Clerk
It was also agreed that in the light of parishioners’ concern about a
repeat of the serious flooding in the village, the clerk should write to Wychavon
again to ask about the drainage work planned for Bishampton and when it was
due to start. Action Clerk
Cllr Argyle reported that he had spoken to WDC engineers about the flooding
situation in the village and Cllr Liz Tucker reported that the county council
was soon to complete its own report into last summer’s floods.
08.01.16. To consider
grants for mowing parish churchyards
No news.
08.01.17. To consider
progress on the affordable housing survey
No news
08.01.18. To consider
plans to close rural Post Office branches
It was agreed that there would be little benefit in conducting a survey relating
to the shop and that the PC would keep watch on developments at this stage.
08.01.19. To consider
matters relating to speeding in the parishes
PC de Paris had reported
that she would conduct some speed checks in Bishampton in the mornings and evenings.
Cllr Liz Tucker said she would investigate costs of a portable electronic speed
check sign. PC de Paris also said she would request a speed monitor check to
survey speed through Throckmorton.
08.01.20. PACT News
No News
REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE
08.01.21. CALC/Training
Matters
Clerk to circulate training dates. Action Clerk
08.01.22. To receive
reports from councillors and items for future agendas
County and District
Councillor Liz Tucker had reported on items during the meeting and also mentioned
her concern about the state of the road outside Tilesford cottages.
Cllr Tucker reported
that Throckmorton Parish Room had won a ‘Distinction in Building’
award from Wychavon District Council. The PC congratulated all who had been
involved in the scheme.
08.01.23. To consider any further items of correspondence
08.01.24. To affirm
the date of the next meeting of the Parish Council
The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Monday, February 4th, Bishampton.
Meetings for the year ahead were confirmed as (where hall bookings allow):
Plus the Annual Parish Council/
Parish Meetings to be arranged – to take place between March 1 and –June
1.
Clerk to book halls. Action Clerk
The meting closed at 9.37pm
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Chairman Date
Clerk to the Council
Mrs C. Morris
Notes
from the public session
PC Julie de
Paris and CSO David James attended the meeting to meet with councillors. They
reported that in the six months from July 1 to Dec 31, there had been one burglary
of a business premises, two incidents of theft at the golf club and two cars
were broken into. PC de Paris spoke about speeding which she said was emerging
as a main concern in every village. She also said she would soon be conducing
surveys for the PACT group about people’s concerns in the villages and
said she had noticed an increase in dog fouling in Bishampton. PC James said
he would be making foot and vehicle patrols through the villages and the officers
were asked by the chairman if they could ensure they made their presence visible
in the parish as often as possible.
Cllr Mills also raised the issue of the recent closure of The Dolphin, in his capacity as parishioner. Councillors asked the clerk to write to the brewery to try to discover what was planned for the pub. Action Clerk