BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Monday 3rd March 2008 at the Parish Room, Throckmorton

Members and Officers present: Mr D Cheetham, Mr D Baldwin, Mr G Day, Mr J Mills, Mr J Morrison, Mr C Tucker (7.45-8.20pm) and Mrs C Morris (Clerk).

The meeting opened at 7.30pm and adjourned to hear from residents of Broad Lane, Bishampton, concerned about the Eco Town and about flooding (see attached note)

ADMIN

08.03.1 To receive apologies and approve the reason for absence
Cllrs Argyle was on holiday, Cllr Burtoft and Beever were working away from the area. Their apologies were approved. Cllr Tucker apologised for having to leave the meeting for another commitment.

08.03.2 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 declared his interest in item 5, item 7 and item 10.

08.03.3 To approve the minutes of the PC Meeting held on February 4th 2008
The minutes were approved and signed by the chairman as a true record.

NEW ITEMS

08.03.4 To consider issues relating to The Dolphin Inn
The PC heard that the clerk had written to Enterprise Inns expressing the importance which the parish placed on the local pub but had received no reply. There was an informal request for parish council financial help for the tenants but the council felt it would not be appropriate use of parish money.

08.03.5 To consider a grant to plant flowers in the village
(Clr Baldwin declared his interest as chairman of the village hall committee and links with the gardening club)
The parish council agreed to fund the planting of snowdrop and crocus bulbs on the grass bank outside the village hall, up to a value of £100.

08.03.6 To consider the state of the War Memorial site
The council agreed to ask its lengthsman to prune back the shrubs and trees surrounding the war memorial. Action Clerk

08.03.7 To consider donating a satellite navigation system to the First Responder Scheme
(Cllr Baldwin declared an interest as a member of the scheme)
The council agreed to fund a satellite navigation system to enable first responders to find addresses they are not familiar with. Cllr Baldwin to investigate the best system available and present invoice to clerk. Action Cllr Baldwin

REGULAR ITEMS

08.03.8 Finance

08.03.8.1. To note any receipts
Receipts for February included:

08.03.8.2. To approve the statement of cash reconciliation for February
The accounts for February show that the PC received £996.42 in income and spent £914.00, which left £5,006.60 in its current account at the statement date of Feb 22nd. The savings account gained £102.94 in interest which brought its total, at the end of the month, to £5006.60. This meant that as of February 22nd, the council’s total cash assets stood at £45,108.47.

08.03.8.3. To approve outstanding invoices for payment:
The following invoices were approved for payment:

08.03.8.4. To approve claims for expenses/overtime
Clerk’s expenses of £20.76 were approved (paper £7.84 and mileage £12.92).

08.03.8.5. To consider any end of year/audit preparations
The council agreed to appoint the same internal auditor as last year, at the same cost.

08.03.9 Planning

08.03.9.1. Council’s response to applications between meetings

08.03.9.2. Current Planning Applications:

08.03.9.3. Reports on planning decisions:

08.03.10 Play Areas:
(Cllr Baldwin had declared his interest as a member of the junior play area committee)

08.03.10.1. To hear any update from the Junior Play Area Committee
Cllr Baldwin reported that he had secured a reduced price for the equipment and it was to be ordered by the clerk the following day. Cllr Liz Tucker had donated a £500 grant to the scheme, which she had available from Wychavon District Council and Cllr Baldwin reported that the village hall committee had agreed to give extra funds to enable it to go ahead. The estimated time of work starting was six to eight weeks. He was congratulated on his work.

08.03.10.2. To consider any action necessary to continue work on the Junior Play Area project
As above.

08.03.10.3. To consider any other matters relating to the play areas
Cllr Baldwin had spoken to an alternative inspector and it was agreed that if possible, he would be booked to carry out the annual inspection. Action Cllr Clerk

08.03.11 Footpaths – To consider footpath issues and a quote for footpath work
The clerk had attended a Parish Paths Partnership information evening and questioned the value of the PC’s involvement without volunteers coming forward to walk/inspect the paths. The clerk had found out that there were plans by the CC to cut back Badgers Walk, despite previous assurances that it was the responsibility of the landowner. Cllr Day reported that Phil Day had cut most of the hedges well back already. Clerk to discuss the matter further with the county council. Action Clerk
Cllr Day reported that following the points raised last month, the stile in Gunnings Lane had been cleared, and that access across the path in Abberton Road was possible now the land had dried out.
The clerk had asked if the county council provided dog gates in stiles but the county said it was not able to do that, although many could be replaced with gates or kissing gates. She had also collected a supply of dog waste bags which were to be deposited in the shop and left outside by the footpath sign. Action Clerk

08.03.12 To consider any Lengthsman Issues
The lengthsman had provided a report on the state of the pavements in Bishampton and several areas were identified as being in very poor repair. Clerk to forward his report to the highways department (see also correspondence). Action Clerk
It was also noted that Cllr Liz Tucker had recently inspected and raised concerns about the footpaths at the southern end of the village.

UPDATES

08.03.13 To consider housing matters in the parish – the plans for an Eco Town and the Regional Spatial Strategy
Councillors heard that there were meetings being staged to discuss the Joint Core Strategy (Cllr Mills volunteered to attend). The council also heard that the consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy plans had been extended because of the order from Government that higher numbers of homes had to be accommodated in the West Midlands. Action Clerk
There was no further news regarding the Eco Town but Cllr Liz Tucker reported that MP Peter Luff was ready to attend a meeting in the village if there were any indications that Throckmorton was a serious bid.
All those who had emailed their interest to the parish council had been notified of the latest situation.

08.03.14 To consider any issues arising from parish litter pick
Councillors and residents had spent many hours collecting dozens of bags of rubbish from the verges and hedges and it seems that the clean-up passed the Wychavon inspection. Everyone volunteered was thanked for their very hard work.
Wychavon had agreed to clear a bad patch of litter in the hedges along the Throckmorton/Pinvin road.
Councillors reported that since the clear-up there had been a case of fly-tipping in the parish (which had been reported) and Cllr Liz Tucker was asked to pass on news of a litter blackspot along the road to Rous Lench.

08.03.15 To consider issues relating to flooding in the parish and spending of the grant
Cllr Tucker reported that the Wychavon capital scheme for Bishampton was unlikely to start this year, with other villages being given higher priorities. Wychavon wanted to look again at the scheme to see if matters needed to change after last year’s flooding. The PC voiced its disappointment.
He said that the Wychavon action group looking at the flooding problems in each parish was currently producing reports which would come back to parish councils once technical details were finalised.
Cllr Cheetham had met with the consultant to be employed by the PC to study Bishampton’s drain system and he had made some initial investigations but he needed to look at the Wychavon scheme. It was agreed that Cllr Liz Tucker should ask for clear details of the capital proposal and that the consultant be asked to liaise with the Wychavon officer studying the Bishampton scheme.
Any news was to be conveyed to villagers. Action Cllr Cheetham/Tucker/Clerk.

08.03.16 To consider progress on the Affordable Housing Survey
Still no news – clerk to continue to chase. Action Clerk


08.03.17 To consider plans to close rural Post Office branches
There was further discussion on what could be done in the event of a closure but the council felt is was unable to take any action at present – ideas would be welcomed.

08.03.18 To consider issues relating to earning Quality Parish Status
It was agreed to shelve this matter, as the clerk was unable to spare time for pursuing Cilca qualifications at present.

REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE

08.03.19 PACT News
Cllr Morrison reported that there was due to be a PACT workshop at the shop. It was noted that the local officer, PC Julie de Paris, was away for some weeks and the community support officer was on sick leave. The PC expressed its general dissatisfaction at policing levels locally – and noted there had been further thefts from cars in Main Street. It was agreed that the matter should be placed on the agenda at the next meeting. Action Clerk

08.03.20 CALC/Training Matters
Clerk had circulated some training dates and was asked to find out if training sessions could be staged locally. Action Clerk

08.03.21 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 spoke the diversion of a footpath in Throckmorton and about Willow Bank residents worried for their future.
Cllr Morrison reported a grant scheme available for local projects which he will pass to Cllr Baldwin to study.

08.03.22 To consider any further items of correspondence

08.03.23 To affirm the date of the next meeting of the Parish Council
The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Monday, April 7th, Bishampton. The Annual and ordinary Parish Council meeting was set for May 12th at Bishampton and the clerk was to liaise and circulate dates for Annual Parish Meetings
The meeting closed at 10.10pm

………………………………………………… …………………………..
Chairman Date
Clerk to the Council Mrs C. Morris

Notes from the public session
Mr M Burridge first asked about the Eco Town plans and asked about the latest situation and whether residents could help by forming an action group. The chairman informed him that all indications at this stage were that Throckmorton would not be on the list of preferred sites- but should the situation change in any way, the PC, local councillors and MP were ready to inform residents and call on the network of concerned villagers for support.
He then, along with Mr B Betts, asked about the latest situation regarding flooding, voicing concerns that residents were afraid that the still saturated land lead to flooding in their homes again.
He also asked about whose responsibility it was where debris from hedge cutting was heading towards culverts where it could cause a blockage (cllr Liz Tucker to investigate)
He was informed that the PC had been in touch with Wychavon about the flood alleviation programme already in the pipeline for Broad Lane and that the PC was spending some of its grant employing a consultant to survey the village to see if there was any chance of further work to divert water away from other parts of Broad Lane and the village centre. (see also item 15). The chairman said the PC would endeavour to keep the residents informed of developments.