BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council held on Monday 7th September 2009 at the Parish Room, Throckmorton

Members and Officers present: Mr D Cheetham (Chairman) Mr C Tucker (Vice Chairman), Mr J Mills, Mr D Baldwin, Mr M Argyle, Mr J Morrison, Mr R Hodgkins and Mrs C Morris (Clerk)

In attendance:

The meeting opened at 7.30pm.

ADMIN

1. To receive apologies and to approve the reason for absence
An apology was received and accepted from Cllr Day who was ill. Cllr Beever was unable to attend due to work commitments.

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 as leader of the local CFR group.
Cllr Mills declared an interest in his own planning application – item 10.1 and Cllr Cheetham declared a non-pecuniary interest in the same application.

3. To approve the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on July 6th 2009
The minutes were approved and signed as a true record of proceedings.

4. To review the council’s risk assessment
Deferred

NEW ITEMS

5. To consider Rate Relief requests
Bishampton stores’ rural rate relief request was received and approved by councillors during the recess so the cheque was signed for Wychavon District Council. Action Clerk

6. To consider issues arising from the plans to spend the Wychavon grant for flooding work
Cllr Argyle reported that he had organised the drain camera work, as requested by Wychavon, for the culvert by the shop and that it was imminent.
It was also reported that a letter had been received from Rupert Keys regarding the drains/culverts outside the Elms in Throckmorton and requests for them to be repaired before the winter. The lengthsman was contacted and he had dug some grips nearby. He was also due to speak to the highways department about the problem.

7. To consider a request to maintain grounds at Wellfield
The housing association got in touch said the paths needed spraying and asked if it was something the Parish Council did or could do together with the cutting of the grassed area outside the bungalows. The clerk had asked for more information about the ownership of the houses and systems used elsewhere. It was agreed to wait until there was more information, as traditionally there had been no parish council maintenance in this area.

8. To consider a donation to a village quiz, raising money for Acorns Children’s Hospice
The church was organising a quiz (October 9th) and was asking for donations for raffle prizes, with all proceeds to the charity. Members felt it would not be right for the PC to donate prizes and would rather support the charity directly if a request was received. They also felt singling out a cause or charity for support in this manner would not be fair to all the other charity events staged locally.

REGULAR ITEMS

9. Finance

9.1. To note any receipts

• £6.70 E-on wayleave for 2009-2014
• £3.13 savings interest for Jul & Aug

9.2. To approve the statement of cash reconciliation for July/August 2009
The reconciliation for July and August showed that in the current account, a total of £6.70 had been received in income and cheques for £3,574.69 had been written. Of the outgoings, cheques for £354.55 had not yet been presented, leaving a total in the account at August 31 of £1,426.61. In the savings account, the balance of £36.725.15 had accrued £3.13 in interest, leaving its total at £36,728.28. This meant the accounts contained, at the end of August, a total of £38,154.89 and taking into account the unpresented cheques, the council’s total cash assets stood at £37,800.34.

9.3. To approve outstanding invoices for payment/payments made between meetings
Payment made between meetings on clerk’s authorisation were approved:

• 1231 Limebridge footpaths £37.95
• 1232 D Gibson lengthsman (final) £60.00
• 1233 Throck charity hall hire £10.00
• 1234 N Winter lengthsman £149.25
• 1235 GBD mowing £477.85

  TOTAL £735.05

New items:

• BATVHT Village Hall hire £51.00
• LImebridge footpath mowing £33.00
• GBD mowing £246.15
• Wychavon rate relief £127.31

  TOTAL £457.46

Cllr Cheetham raised an issue with the mowing of the village boundaries. The clerk had raised it with the contractor and it was agreed not to withhold payment at this stage.

9.4. To approve claims for expenses/overtime
Clerk’s expenses for July and August - £16.27 - were approved (£4 mileage, £12.27 stationery items halved with Hill & Moor PC)

9.5. To consider any issues arising with the annual return
There were no issues raised with the external auditor. The conclusion has been advertised.

BREAK FOR CHEQUE SIGNING

10. Planning

10.1. Council’s response to planning applications between meetings
(Cllr Mills declared an interest in the following item as the property owner and Cllr Cheetham declared his interest as a personal friend. There was no discussion as the issue had been dealt during the recess without consultation with the interested parties.)

• W/09/01602/PN container for domestic storage, The Stables, Millhaven, Broad Lane, Bishampton
  The council sent following response by delegated powers between meetings:
  a) The site is the subject of a conditional 106 agreement tying 'The Stable' building to use by Millhaven. It is understood that this agreement has not been finalised so members feel that this condition should be fully met before further applications are considered.
  b) While the container is not visible from the lane, the councillors believe it has already been there for more than 12 months, so question the nature of the temporary condition and how long this means the container will have permission to remain.

10.2. Current planning applications
None.

10.3. Reports on planning decisions

• W/09/01325/PN – Nutkins Drey, Broad Lane, Bishampton, new house in garden –
  Withdrawn.
• W/09/01602/PN container for domestic storage, The Stables, Millhaven, Broad Lane, Bishampton.
  Approved.
• W/09/01333/PP – 7 Orchard View Cottages, Main Street, Bishampton. Conservatory.
  Approved.

11. Play Areas - To consider any matters relating to the parish play areas/village hall grounds. (Rospa Inspection/play area notices/safety procedure)
The lengthsman was due to add to the fencing in the gap in the hedge by the junior play area which had been widened by people climbing through.

12. Footpaths: To consider footpath issues and spending of the footpath grant
No issues

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

14. To consider any newsletter/website issues
The clerk reported that she had been unable to complete a newsletter as not only did the planned scale picture of the wind turbine plans fail to materialise, there were no updates on the issues from the last one. Cllr Argyle reported that the plan was imminent, so it was agreed to wait until then to publish, hopefully in time for the next Newssheet. In the meantime, Scottish Power drop-in information sessions would be advertised on the noticeboards. Action Clerk

UPDATES

15. To consider any matters regarding ongoing issues

• War Memorial refurbishment – the last of the tree work was kindly carried out by Cllrs Argyle and Morrison and taken away by F I Morris & Sons - thanks were expressed to all those who carried out all the work.
• Speed Activated signs – no news
• Moat Farm Lane Conservation Area – it was agreed that if conditions were right, then ditch maintenance could be organised during the autumn.
• Housing: – airfield scheme/ affordable housing / RSS&JCS regional housing blueprint – No new issues
• Community First Responder Scheme – no new issues, apart from district internal management alterations.
• The Lenches Wind Turbine scheme – new terms and conditions were circulated and the Scottish Power information drop-in days for parish councillors were noted.

REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE

16. PACT news
None

17. CALC/ training matters
It was agreed to request a local training session.

18. County and district councillor report
None

19. To receive reports from councillors and items for future agendas
A letter had been received from BT proposing the decommissioning of the phone boxes in Bishampton and Throckmorton and their adoption by the parish council. It was agreed to think about it and put it for discussion next time.
Cllr Morrison reported his imminent resignation due to moving house. He agreed to send in his formal resignation once details/dates were finalised.
Cllr Hodgkins raised the issue of lorries losing their way in Broad Lane, thanks to inadequate sat-nav information.

20. To consider any further items of correspondence

• Severn Trent responded to another letter by the clerk referring to an old water leak in Broad Lane.
  ”I am sorry about the problems you have experienced with the leak and for the inconvenience caused. I can confirm that one of our technicians visited site on 14 August 2009, to check for a water leak. Our technician has advised that water was located in the verge, but there was no evidence of an old supply. The water appeared to be stagnant and our technician has advised that no follow on work is necessary.”
  Local information suggests an old water pipe could be responsible so it was agreed to ask the lengthsman to investigate.
• Bishampton and District Gardening Club – request for £50 grant to upkeep the planters in the village. Next Agenda
• WDC - Canvassing for register of electors – poster
• Invitation to an open day at Lower Moor Village Hall, where they have just had solar panels installed.
• Gypsy and Traveller Issues Scrutiny – review of progress. To report back by end of Sept.
• Sustainable Communities Act – this act has been passed to give more powers/say to parish councils and NALC etc. Info in the circulation envelope.
• Droitwich area forum information?! – Pershore area takes place on October 8th, 7pm Peopleton village hall.
• Wind Turbine Working Party- new terms and conditions. Noted.
• Have Your Say: Policing Matters in Wychavon meeting September 23rd 7pm Evesham Town Hall.
• Calc suggested implementing a sick clerk policy in the event of swine flu – not considered necessary.
• Road Closure: Badgers Hill 5th October for 8 days.

Circulation: Standards Committee info/ Rural Services Manifesto (circulated by email)/ sustainable communities act/ Bus bulletin/ children and young people strategic partnership newsletter/ ancient trees and woodland info/ Partnership Matters mag/
21. To affirm the dates of the next meeting of the Parish Council.
It was confirmed that the next meeting was to take place on Monday, October 5th at Bishampton Villages Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.00pm

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

Clerk to the Council
Mrs C. Morris