BISHAMPTON AND THROCKMORTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Parish Council held on Monday 6th April 2010 at theVillages Hall Bishampton

Members and Officers present: Mr D Cheetham (chairman), Mr G Day, Mr R Hodgkins, Mr J Mills, Mrs L Rimell, Mr C Tucker (from 8pm) and Mrs C Morris (Clerk).

In attendance: Mrs E Tucker, Worcestershire County Councillor and
Wychavon District Councillor.

The meeting opened at 7.30pm.
It was adjourned to hear from Mr B McGinity, Mr G Kingston and Mr E Morris (See attached note).
The meeting reopened at 8pm.

ADMIN

1. To receive apologies and to approve the reason for absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Baldwin, Cllr Argyle and Cllr Beever.

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

3. To approve the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on March 4th 2010
The minutes were signed by the chairman as a true record of proceedings.

4. To review the council’s obligations under the Freedom of Information Act
The council voted to formally adopt the Freedom of Information model scheme and agreed not to publish the tailored public information sheet prepared by the clerk.
Clerk to update websites and place copy with minutes in the shop. Action Clerk

NEW ITEMS

5. To consider any updates regarding the future of the village shop and post office
Cllr Cheetham reported that there had been a valuation of the shop building but nothing yet back in writing. He had been given a verbal report and the council agreed unanimously that he should put in an offer to the owners up to a certain amount.
Some concern was expressed about the amount that the purchase would commit the council to repay on a loan but it was stressed that an offer was not a commitment to purchase and as soon as/if an offer was accepted, then an emergency meeting would be called to study all implications to the council.
It was also agreed to ask the working party to look into the possibility of obtaining grants towards the purchase cost.

6. To adopt the Power of Wellbeing
The council officially voted to adopt the Power of Wellbeing and the clerk had NALC training certificates for all councillors who attended the training session: Cllr Cheetham, Cllr Argyle, Cllr Day, Cllr Hodkins, Cllr Mills, Cllr Rimell , Cllr Beever and the clerk. Cllr Tucker was asked to produce a certificate/proof of his previous training session in the event that there was a query as to the correct percentage of councillors trained. Action Cllr Tucker
Clerk to inform NALC Action Clerk

7. To consider parish council support for the village hall
Cllr Rimell reported on meetings with the village hall management committee. Membership was low and the council was asked if there was anything further it could do to support the hall. Members noted the concerns, noted its annual grant, play area maintenance, hedge and grass cutting, and agreed to think about the issue of what more it could do.

8. To consider grants to the Wychavon Citizens’ Advice Bureau and the local Silver Circle
The Silver circle’s ususal grant request for £200 was approved.
The council considered the situation of the CAB and noted that its usual donation was £250. This year the CAB was asking for £1,000 from each parish because of Wychavon District Council’s decision to cut its funding by half.
The PC agreed to donate £1,000 this year, without commitment to future years, and to write an open letter to Wychavon to highlight its disappointment at the decision to cut funding to the service at a time when it is needed most

REGULAR ITEMS

9. Finance

9.1. To note any receipts and to approve invoices for payment
The following invoices were approved for payment

• Starsigns nature reserve signs £202.57
• GBD mowing £118.37
• CALC Calc/Nalc subs £373.81
• Lengthsman parish & county work £270.00
• BT phone kiosk £ 1.00
• Thompson & Morgan bluebells £ 32.43
• Throck Village charity Hire £ 10.00
• GBD V. Hall hedge trim £211.50 (see 12)

TOTAL £1,219.68

9.2. To approve the statement of cash reconciliation for March 2010

The cash reconciliation showed that in March, the council spent £1,322.96 and received no income, leaving its current account total at £5,756.36 at March 31. In the savings account interest of £1.29 was accrued, bringing its total to £33,738.02. This meant, that with no unpresented cheques, the council’s total cash assets stood at £39,494.38.
The clerk presented initial end of year budget figures. Clerk to prepare and distribute a full financial report before the annual meeting. Action clerk
The external audit date had been received - June 14th – and the clerk was preparing the annual return. It was agreed to appoint the same internal auditor.

9.3. To approve claims for expenses/overtime
The clerk’s expenses of £8.42 (£2 mileage, £6.42 paper) were approved.

10. Planning

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

10.2. Current planning applications
None

10.3. Reports on planning decisions

• W/10/00066/PP - 3 Moat Farm Lane, Bishampton. Single storey front elevation and two-storey extension to the rear to create disabled facilities
  Approved.
• Planning Appeal diversion of footpath in Throckmorton
  Footpath Nos 510, 511, 514 & 520 (parts) (formerly nos 5, 7 & 11) - diversion order approved.

11. Play Areas - To consider any matters relating to the parish play areas/village hall grounds
No issues.

12. Footpaths and Conservation Area: To consider rights of way issues and funding for improvements for the conservation area

Conservation area
The council heard how Cllr Hodgkins has arranged for two brown direction signs for the nature reserve, four deep water signs and two health & safety nature reserve signs to be made and fitted.
He reported that volunteers had helped with work party sessions and that the site had been cleared for the season ahead. The council approved a request for £32.43 for English bluebells to plant at the site.

Footpaths
Cllr Hodgkins and the clerk had met with Mr Kingston, the footpath warden. Mr Kingston reported:
A missing noticeboard key was tracked down so he was able to place notices about work sessions. Which would usually be held on the second Thursday of the month. He and Cllr Hodgkins had mended a gate along Jubilee Walk.
Mr Kingston was also working on a priority wish list to improve the main footpath network – including ideas to improve muddy sections of path.
Cllr Day asked that landowners be consulted about any Badgers Walk improvement plans so that hedge maintenance could still be carried out. Clerk to report to Mr Kingston.Action Clerk

13. To consider any parish Lengthsman issues/jobs: to sign the contract for the coming year
The council noted that the parish lengthsman allocation from the county council had been reduced to £1,865 for work in the coming year – which works out at £1,500 plus £20 per kilometre of roadway – a new system to make the allocation process fairer for the larger parishes. The amount was less than the parish spent last year so it seems to be adequate at present. Clerk to sign the agreement for the coming year. Action Clerk

UPDATES

14. To consider any matters regarding ongoing issues

• The wind turbine plans for the Lenches
  No news.
• Housing: airfield scheme/ affordable housing / RSS&JCS regional housing blueprint
  No new issues
• Community First Responder Scheme
  No news.
• Flooding issues
  The council was pleased to note that Martyn Cross from Wychavon District Council reported on the scheme to improve drainage in Broad Lane: -
  “I am pleased to tell you that the bid I submitted at the end of November 2009 has been successful. We received confirmation last week from Defra that we have been allocated £60,000. This breaks down to £10,000 for working the scheme up to final design stage (including modelling of flows) and £50,000 for construction costs. This will compliment the funds the Council has and be added to by the Parish Council contribution and whatever contribution we may receive from the County Council.
  We are in the process of discussing modelling of Bishampton with a consultant to establish the level of protection achievable with the feasibility options I am currently working on and will be producing a report for the Council's Executive Board in due course.”
  Telephone box: It was noted that the BT agreement had changed and the company was now prepared to continue paying the electricity charges once the kiosks’ ownership was transferred. The council agreed to go ahead with agreement.
• PACT news
  No news.

REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE

15. To consider any newsletter/website issues
Clerk to produce a newsletter once there was news about the shop.

16. CALC/ training matters
Cllr Rimell is to attend a training session in place of Cllr Hodgkins.

17. County and district councillor report
Cllr Liz Tucker reported that she was looking into the removal of funding for pavements in Bishampton, into the issue of water on the pavement at the south end of Main Street and about the bus route talks which were continuing.
An issue of very smoky bonfires polluting Bishampton was raised and she agreed to consult environmental health officers about the matter.

18. To receive reports from councillors and items for future agendas
No further reports.

19. To consider any further items of correspondence

• Invitation to St Richards Hospice shop opening in Evesham
• Parish Council conference, Bristol (circulated by email)
• Playground safety seminar – April 20th.
• WDC consultation: residential design guide. Looking at locally distinctive design/ design to enhance local character/ incorporates contemporary & sustainable development/ adheres to best practice in design and form. Comments until May 28th. View it at the Wychavon website (www.wychavon.gov.uk) or at the consultation portal (http://wychavon-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/) or request a paper copy.
• Wychavon community grants scheme is open for bidding by the end of May.
• Bobby Club Magazine – magazine by police volunteers giving safety advice to children – goes out to local first schools. Request for a grant. – next agenda Action Clerk
• Tree warden/ community greenspace info.
• Wychavon Parish Games – information to be passed to the pub to see if a team could be raised. Action Cllr Mills
• Circulation envelope: Partnreship matters/ pershore high newsletter x2/ community first newsline/ NSPCC info/ clerks and councillors direct/ local council review

20. To affirm the dates of the next meeting of the Parish Council.
It was agreed that the annual meeting should be combined with the annual parish council meeting and, if possible, to take place on Tuesday, May 4th. An unofficial Throckmorton Parish Meeting would be held before the June meeting on June 7th. Clerk to arrange. Action Clerk

The meeting closed at 9.55pm
………………………………………………… …………………………..
Chairman DateClerk to the Council
Mrs C. Morris

NOTES FROM THE PUBLIC SESSION

Mr Bryan McGinity spoke to the council on behalf of the Wychavon Citizens’ Advice Bureau which was requesting grants from parish councils. He also thanked Cllr Liz Tucker for her efforts to reverse the Wychavon decision to cut the CAB’s grant.

Mr Gordon Kingston, Parish Paths Warden, gave the council an update on plans for improvements to the footpath network. See item 19.

Mr Eddie Morris attended to talk to the council about his concerns as a resident of the flat above the shop.
He said he was surprised there was no mention of his situation in the council minutes and asked the council to inform him of any proposals for the flat if the purchase of the shop building went ahead.
The chairman informed him that, while there had been acknowledgement of the flat tenancy situation, there had been no discussion about the flat and no decisions made – the council was merely concerned with the process of the purchase of the building at present.
Mr Morris was assured that the council’s working party had been considering the position of the flat as part of its considerations of options for the future but no firm ideas had come forward to the council as yet.
Mr Morris asked for information in writing as soon as there was anything to report.
He also asked whether there was going to be a consultation/questionnaire about the future of the building and the chairman replied that no decisions would be made until an offer was accepted.
Mr Morris asked whether all council members were in agreement with the plans and he was informed that all members at meetings were unanimous in pursuing the purchase at this stage.