BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Parish Council held on Monday 2nd March 2009 at theVillages Hall Bishamptonn.

Members and Officers present: Mr D Cheetham, Mr Charles Tucker (from 8.10pm), Mr M Argyle, Mr E Beever, Mr J Mills, Mr J Morrison and Mrs C Morris (Clerk).

In attendance: Cllr Liz Tucker (WDC, WCC).

The meeting opened at 7.30pm and was adjourned to hear from Nigel Potter and Kate Singleton who came to talk about affordable housing. See notes below.
The meeting reopened at 8.00pm.

ADMIN

1. To receive apologies and to approve the reason for absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Day, who was going into hospital, and Cllr Burtoft, detained at work and Cllr Baldwin who was unable to attend. Cllr Tucker had sent apologies for late arrival.

2. To approve the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on February 2nd 2009
The minutes were approved and signed as a true record of proceedings.

3. To record: a) Declarations of Interest (Personal & Prejudicial) and b) Any changes to be notified to the Register of Interest and Gifts & Hospitability.
None

NEW ITEMS

4. To consider housing issues – regional strategy and local affordable housing sites
The council agreed that out of the options outlined, it would prefer the housing officers to consider a site at the end of Babylon Lane, which had been previously earmarked when a similar scheme was mooted a few years ago. It would be close to the village amenities, part of the centre of the village but would not affect the entrances to the village either. Clerk to inform the officers. Action Clerk

5. To consider an invitation to join Wychavon Parish Games
No member offered to organise teams for the parish games.

REGULAR ITEMS

6. Finance

6.1. To note any receipts
None

6.2. To approve the statement of cash reconciliation for February 2009
There was no income received in the current account in February and cheques were written for £1,124.94. The total February 28th stood at £15,769.94 but there were two unpresented cheques to be accounted for, totalling £311.50, which would bring its total to £15,458.44.
The £22,717.36 in the savings account had accrued interest of £1.92, bringing its total to £22,719.28.
Allowing for the unpresented cheques, the council’s total cash assets at February 28th stood at £28,177.72.

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

• 1204 Throckmorton Village Charity £500.00
• 1205 Throckmorton Village Charity £10.00
• 1206 Limebridge Rural Services £201.25
• 1207 BATVHT £24.00

TOTAL £735.25

6.4. To approve claims for expenses/overtime
The clerk’s claim for half a day’s overtime for writing, printing and organising the newsletter and for £25.85 in expenses (£23.85 printer ink and £2.00 mileage) was approved.

BREAK FOR CHEQUE SIGNING

7. Planning

7.1. Council’s response to planning applications between meetings
None

7.2. Current planning applications
A late application was received and was dealt with under delegated powers:

• Lawful use of existing two log cabins next to fishing lake. Rookery Farm, Ab Lench Road, Abbots Lench, Evesham
  No comment – clerk to ask why the parish was consulted. Action Clerk

7.3. Reports on planning decisions
None

8. Play Areas

8.1. To consider any matters relating to the parish play areas/village hallgrounds
Rospa Inspection/play area notices/safety procedureIt was agreed that signs were needed for the play area. Action Cllr Baldwin.

9. Footpaths: To consider footpath issues and spending of the footpath grant
It was agreed that the parish council would not apply for a grant for the year ahead as there was still some money to be spent and there was no parish warden in place at present. Any urgent work could be passed to the county council if necessary. Clerk to inform the county officer. Action Clerk
Cllr Morrison also noted a broken stile. Cllr Cheetham to contact the landowner. Action Cllr Cheetham

10. To consider any parish Lengthsman issues/jobs
No new issues.

11. To consider any newsletter/website issues
The newsletter was being distributed. Councillors thanked the clerk. The clerk reported that the new website was live but she was trying to get the county officers to join Bishampton & Throckmorton before loading it up.

UPDATES

12. To consider any matters regarding ongoing issues

Wind Turbine plans – Wychavon had sent the PC a ‘scoping’ document setting out more details about the plans and about likely effects. It was noted that the since the group meeting staged in Norton, most of Church Lench Parish Council had resigned and a meeting in Norton could not go ahead. It was agreed that Cllr Argyle would offer support to the other councils and he and Cllr Tucker would review the scoping report before compiling a response to Wychavon. Members asked the clerk to invite members of the protest group to the next meeting to talk about issues further. Action Cllr Argyle/ Clerk

• Review of the role of the PC No News
• War Memorial refurbishment No News
• Speed Activated signs No News
• Moat Farm Lane Conservation Area Cllr Argyle was investigating.
• Allotments No News
• Community First Responder Scheme No News
• Flooding/drainage issues – grant money – A new grant scheme was being offered to parishes, giving up to £5k for schemes. Councillor Tucker will look at ways the money could be spent, ready for an application to be made at next meeting. Action Cllr Tucker.
  Rotherdale farm and Severn Trent have been asked to clear ditches on the airfield.

REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE

13. PACT news
A meeting was coming up. Cllr Morrison could not attend but had asked to be kept informed.

14. CALC/ training matters
None

15. County and district councillor report.
Cllr Tucker spoke about council budgets and a meeting about bus transport in the Pershore area, where it seemed the officers were considering improving the plumline service.

16. To receive reports from councillors and items for future agendas.
Cllr Cheetham reported that he had managed to arrange for litter picking equipment to be available at least for the weekend of March 6-8. Clerk to produce posters. Action Clerk

17. To consider any further items of correspondence:

• Mowing prices for the coming year were noted and the council agreed to continue with GBD for the coming year. Clerk to ask again about mowing around the planters in Broad Lane.
• Calor Village of the Year Competition time.
• Pershore Area Forum (worcs CC - local councillor on hand and transport, highways, hub, policing) – March 26th 7pm. All welcome.
• Joint Core Strat update
• Wychavon DC photocopying service 2p per copy.
• Wychavon DC community grant scheme.
• Coaching/sporting sessions available from Wychavon.
• Independent Remuneration Panel vacancy.
• Volunteering for all conference Worcester Rugby Club 17th March 9.30-3.30
• Rural Services Network – Information leaflet.
• Circulation: Connect Mag/ PHS newsletter/ Volunteer Centre newsletter/

18. To affirm the dates of the next meeting of the Parish Council
The next meeting of the parish council was confirmed as Monday, April 6th 2009, at Throckmorton.

The meeting closed at 9.38pm

………………………………………………… …………………………..
Chairman Date

Clerk to the Council Mrs C. Morris

Notes from the public session

Mr Nigel Potter from community First and Miss Kate Singleton, Wychavon Housing Development Officer, attended the meeting to talk about potential plots for affordable housing in Bishampton. They had earmarked a number of sites around the village and said they had identified a need for possibly ten homes. The scheme was in very early stages, they said, but the parish council was asked for its opinion on the position of a development. Preferred sites could then be looked at in more detail by all the agencies involved. The chairman thanked them for attending.