LINTON PARISH COUNCIL

Bromsash Gorsley and Linton

Minutes Of The Meeting Held On March 11^th 2002

In Linton Village Hall At 7:30 p.m.

Present:

Cllr Richard Smith , Chairman

Cllr Jean Foley, Vice Chairman

Cllr Ken Downham

Cllr Audrey Duke

Cllr John Foley

Cllr Gordon Martin

Cllr Phil Page

Brian Atherton (Clerk)

Brian Evans (Tree Warden)

6 Parishioners attended.

Minute Item			Action
1		Apologies
	1.1	Cllrs Geoff Reeve-Black and Jim Stewart

2		Declarations of Interest
	2.1	None

3		Minutes of the Meeting held On February 11^th 2002
	3.1	These were agreed to be correct and were duly signed by the Chairman.

4		Matters Arising Not Covered in the Agenda
	4.1	Item 5.1.3 – Lengthsman project. The Clerk reported that a meeting set for February had to be aborted. A new date has been set for Thursday, March 14^th when Linton, Lea, Weston and Upton are expected to attend. Aston Ingham will be invited but have indicated a lack of interest.
	4.2	Item 10.2.7. The Clerk confirmed that the Council’s insurance cover complies with Standing Orders.
	4.3	Item 25.1. – Proposed 3G Telecomms Mast By the Gorsley Telephone Exchange. The Clerk reported that he had written to Gorsley & Kilcot PC as required and to CHDC but events had overtaken as the application has been withdrawn.

5		Highways Repair Schedule
	5.1	Cllr John Foley reported that, arising from the site visit with CHDC’s Highway Engineer, a written statement of intent covering all issues raised had been received and some remedial work already started, as projected in that statement.

6		Roadmaker Inn
	6.1	The Clerk confirmed that Council now has a copy of the three alternate proposal drawings but he has heard nothing further from CHDC. Parishioner Sue Matthews said that Louise Hill, the enforcement officer has received a letter from Mr Leaker, raising a concern about fire risk if the flue is cladded. Ms Hill is checking that possibility with the relevant authorities.

7		Tree Warden Brian Evans
	7.1	Council welcomed Mr Evans to the meeting and thanked him for his agreement to act as Tree Warden. The Chairman summarised the tasks, stressing that Council remains responsible; the Warden simply reports.
	7.2	Mr Evans asked about Jubilee tree planting and the Chairman explained about the oak on Gorsley Common.
	7.3	Cllr John Foley asked about responsibilities for tree preservation orders. The answer is that this is the Council’s responsibility but there is no requirement to be pro-active.

8		Accounts, Treasurer’s Report and Authorisation of Payment of Accounts
	8.1	District Auditor’s Recommendations – Audit of Accounts for Year 2000/2001
		The Chairman read out each of the recommendations. Most had already been adopted but the following resolutions and decisions were made:
	8.1.1	Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Phil Page and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to increase the fidelity insurance to year end balances plus half precept.	The Clerk
	8.1.2	Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Phil page and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to note assets with the accounts.	The Clerk
	8.1.3	The Clerk will check with the Public Works Loan Board that the accounts show the true balance outstanding.	The Clerk
	8.2	Quotations for Grass Cutting.
	8.2.1	Quotations had been received from Living Landscapes, Winston Gooch and Jack Taylor of £630.00, £415 and £384 respectively.
	8.2.2	However, Winston Gooch prefers to cut only Ivy House Lane and Gorsley Common whereas Jack Taylor does not have suitable equipment for Gorsley Common.
	8.2.3	Therefore, bearing in mind the satisfactory arrangements for last year, proposed by Cllr Phil Page, seconded by Cllr Audrey Duke and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to let the contract for Ivy House Lane, Talbot’s Well and Sugar Tump to Jack Taylor and the contract for Gorsley Common to Winston Gooch. In response to a question from the floor, the Chairman confirmed that the contracts specify that cuttings shall be collected and taken away.	The Clerk
	8.3	Review of Insurance Policies
	8.3.1	The Clerk read out the existing coverage which was noted and explained that land was valued at £1 on the advice of the District Auditor but that none of the assets has cover, whereas the District Auditor recommends that each be valued at its insured value. The list was agreed as:
	8.3.2	Property Talbot's Well Pump Linton Litter Bin Bromsash Seat & Litter Bin Gorsley Seat The Clark Seat Linton Seat 3 Notice Boards Land Sugar Tump Gorsley Common Parish Allotments, Gorsley Talbot's Well Parish Pound Linton Quarry Land Between Sunny Acre and Trelights, Quarry Lane Gorsley. Brook Farm has a right of access across the Sunny Acre/Trelights plot.
	8.3.3	The Clerk will draft a list of proposed insured values for the property, for consideration by Council at its ordinary meeting in April.	The Clerk
	8.4	The following invoices were presented for payment:

AP38	Jubilee Oak Tree on Gorsley Common	65.00
AP39	Clerk's Salary for February 2002	159.50

Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Phil Page and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED that these be paid. The cheques were then duly signed.

9		Working party reports
	9.1	None

10		Annual Report 2001/2002
	10.1	The draft report had been circulated with the agenda. Several amendments were proposed, principally by Cllr Jean Foley and Council decided that these were to be incorporated. Council was content that there was no need for a further draft prior to presentation at the Annual Parish Meeting.	The Clerk

11		Parish Projects
	11.1	Following advice from Linton Village Hall, the Clerk had located their provider of plaques, John Verity, now living and working in Leominster. His quote, for a brass plate mounted on an oak backing, with black infill, in A5 size to accommodate the wording agreed at the previous meeting, was £45, bringing the total for the Gorsley Jubilee Tree to £110. Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Phil Page and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to order from Mr Verity.	The Clerk
	11.2	Following the decision at the previous meeting, it was decided to make a similar sum of £110 available to Linton Village Hall for their suggested Jubilee Bench, should they make a formal request. Cllr Ken Downham will consult with the LVH committee.	Cllr Ken Downham

12		Quality Council – Parish Plan
	12.1	Council noted that central government has deferred decisions on this issue until Spring 2003, to allow time for further consultation.

13		Standing Orders v New Guidelines Comparison
	13.1	The new guidelines are on order and this item is to be held over pending their arrival.	The Clerk

14		New Model Code of Conduct
	14.1	Cllr Ken Downham reported that at the HALC meeting he had attended there was considerable criticism of the new Declarations of Interest but for no apparent good reason. Councillors generally agreed that there were no good reasons for objecting and so, proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Jean Foley and approved by majority, IT WAS AGREED to adopt the Model Code of Conduct and for the Clerk to inform CHDC appropriately. Cllr Gordon Martin abstained.
	14.2	The Clerk circulated Declarations of Acceptance and Interest, the former being signed as appropriate at the meeting, the latter for return no later than the regular April meeting. Copies will be circulated to absent Councillors.	All Councillors/The Clerk

15		Council Casual Vacancy
	15.1	The Notice of Vacancy has been displayed for the required time and no parishioner has requested an election. Council will, therefore, proceed to Co-Option and will display notices to that effect for 14 days, with a view to selection at the April meeting.	The Clerk

16		Chairman’s Announcements
	16.1	The Chairman reminded Councillors of the exchange of letters in the Ross Gazette on the subject of the B4221 and that this had reached a conclusion.

17		Correspondence
	17.1	A partial list having been circulated with the Agenda, the complete list of items received since the last meeting is:

D466	12-Feb-02	Planning Bulletin	CHDC
D467	13-Feb-02	Highways Report arising from site meeting	CHDC
D468	14-Feb-02	Minutes of Meetings	G&K PC
D469	16-Feb-02	Papers for Casual Vacancy	CHDC
D470	16-Feb-02	Drawings of Proposed Alternatives for the Roadmaker Chimney	CHDC
D471	19-Feb-02	A Guide To Parish Plans Seminar on 23/02/02	HALC
D472	21-Feb-02	Notification of Payment of Parish Plan Grant	Countryside Agency
D473	22-Feb-02	Trustees of Linton Poors Piece Charity	Trustees of Poors Piece
D474	26-Feb-02	ComDev Agenda and Minutes	ComDev
D475	26-Feb-02	Grass Cutting Quote	A W Taylor
D476	27-Feb-02	Cannot Attend Lengthsman Meeting	Weston PC
D477	27-Feb-02	Application for Casual Vacancy	Marlene Hartell
D478	27-Feb-02	Herefordshire Village of the year Competition	Calor Gas
D479	1-Mar-02	Grass Cutting Quote	Living Landscapes
D480	1-Mar-02	South Herefordshire Local Area Forum	CHDC
D481	1-Mar-02	Council Forward Plan 1st March to 30th June	CHDC
D482	1-Mar-02	Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations	Lord lieutenant
D483	2-Mar-02	Worked Example of Parish Plan Volunteer Times Costing	Countryside Agency
D484	5-Mar-02	Draft Letter Inviting Comment	B4221 Action Group
D485	6-Mar-02	Quarterly Economic Report	CHDC
D486	7-Mar-02	New Code of Conduct Pack	HALC
D487