LINTON PARISH COUNCIL

Bromsash Gorsley and Linton

 

Minutes Of The Meeting Held On February 10th 2003

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

 

Present:

Cllr Richard Smith , Chairman

Cllr Jean Foley, Vice Chairman

Cllr John Foley

Cllr Phil Page

Cllr Jim Stewart

 

Brian Atherton (Clerk)

 

3 Parishioners attended.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                 

Minute Item

 

Action

 

 

 

 

1

 

Apologies

 

 

1.1

Cllrs Ken Downham, Audrey Duke and Geoff Reeve-Black.

 

 

2

 

Declarations of Interest

 

 

2.1

None

 

 

3

 

Minutes of the Meeting Held on 13th January 2003

 

 

3.1

Cllr Phil Page requested an amendment to Item 4.8. Councillors were of the opinion that the minute was accurate without amendment. Cllr Page then handed the Chairman his written resignation and left the meeting. There being no further amendments, the minutes were duly signed by the Chairman.

 

 

4

 

Matters Arising Not Covered in the Agenda

 

 

4.1

Item 4.3 Dog Fouling.

The Clerk reported that CHDC will send a map on which he will mark the areas concerned. CHDC will then post a public notice at each site and, if there are no objections, incorporate those sites into the Dog Fouling By-Law.

The Clerk

 

4.2

Item 4.4 Bromsash Speed Survey Report.

Despite repeated requests to and promises from CHDC, this had still not been received. (Clerks Note: It was received later the same evening by email and has been distributed to Cllr Jean Foley and to PC Peter Beasley, as previously requested).

 

 

4.3

Item 4.6 Speed Limit Extension at Bromsash.

The support letter has been sent.

 

 

4.4

Item 9.2 Cllr Jim Stewart’s email re the Accounts.

The Clerk had replied as agreed at the last meeting. Cllr Jim Stewart had responded in turn and his email is attached to these minutes. The Councillor did not require further discussion, merely that it be noted that he disagrees with Council’s earlier decisions.

The Clerk

 

4.5

Item 9.1 Risk Assessment.

HALC is preparing an advisory paper.

The Clerk

 

4.6

Items 10.3.1 Footpaths and 12.3.2 Return of the Keypoint CDROM.

The Clerk reported that both items have been done.

 

 

5

 
Roadmaker Inn

 

 

5.1

Nothing to report.

 

 

6

 

Community Speed Watch

 

 

6.1

The Chairman summarised his note. (A full copy is attached to these minutes). He drew Council’s attention to the police advice that, without full community support, the activity could lead to disagreements. Cllr Jim Stewart asked if we have that full support; the Chairman responded that the Council’s parish plan consultation had already revealed serious and widespread concerns over road safety in general and speeding in particular relating to all 3 villages.  Proposed by Cllr Jim Stewart, seconded by Cllr Jean Foley and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to proceed to the next stage. It was decided that Cllr Richard Smith should raise the topic with Gorsley Neighbourhood Watch and inform the police of these decisions.

Cllr Richard Smith

 

7

 

Jubilee Oak Tree

 

 

7.1

Held over to the next meeting in Cllr Ken Downham’s absence.

 

 

8

 

Accounts, Treasurer’s Report and Authorisation of Payment of Accounts

 

 

8.1

The Clerk tabled the accounts to date and Cllr Jim Stewart recommended that, in future, VAT should be shown on the balance sheet, in a separate control account. The Clerk agreed and Council approved this change.

The Clerk

 

8.2

Proposed by Cllr John Foley, seconded by Cllr Jean Foley and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to pay the following invoices and the cheques were duly signed.

 

 

AP83

Allotment Work by Chris Thomas

18-Nov-02

100.00

AP84

Allotment Work by Chris Thomas

18-Nov-02

55.00

AP85

Photocopying for the Parish Plan

29-Jan-03

24.75

AP86

Clerk's Salary for January 2003

10-Feb-03

180.00

 

 

 

Cllr Jean Foley noted that Council had not formally approved the expenditures AP83 and AP84 prior to commitment, a procedural error which should not be repeated.

The Clerk

 

9

 

Working Party Reports

 

 

9.1

Planning

 

 

9.1.1

P65. SE2002/3147/F. Demolition of existing double storey extensions. Erection of two storey side extensions and detached double garage at Cothers Farm, Gorsley, HR9 7SE. Council unanimously supported but permission was refused on 16/12/02.

 

 

 

P66. SE2002/3220/F. Single storey rear porch extension at 8 Ivy House Estate, Gorsley, HR9 7SN. Council supported on 11/11/02. Permission granted on 05/12/02.

 

 

 

P70. SE2002/3775/F. Single storey extension with garage & conservatory at the Bungalow, Burrups Lane, Gorsley, HR9 7SP. Council supported.

 

 

 

P71. SE2002/3779/F. First floor extension at Newark Cottage, Gorsley, HR9 7SF. Council supported.

 

 

 

P72. SE2003/0078/F. Proposed single storey extension at 4 Gorsley Gardens, Gorsley, HR9 7SJ. Council supported.

 

 

9.2

Finance

 

 

 

Nothing to report.

 

 

9.3

Footpaths

 

 

 

Nothing to report.

 

 

9.4

Parish Roads in Need of Repair

 

 

 

Nothing to report.

 

 

10

 

Parish Projects for 2002/2003

 

 

10.1

Stabilisation and Recovery of the Linton Pound

 

 

 

Cllr John Foley reported that he expects to have a proposal ready for the next meeting.

Cllr John Foley

 

10.2

Reordering of Talbot’s Well

 

 

 

Nothing to report.

 

 

10.3

Reordering of the Allotments

 

 

 

The Clerk tabled quotations passed to him by Cllr Phil Page at the start of the meeting. He was asked to contact the suppliers, obtain clarifications of the proposed work associated with each quote and report back with his recommendations.

The Clerk

 

10.4

The Council’s Web Site

 

 

 

The Clerk reported that Gorsley Gardening Club and Gorsley Neighbourhood Watch had asked for their own sections on the site and that has now been done. Cllr John Foley said that he has had a commendation of the site from an early visitor.

 

 

10.5

Parish Photographic Survey

 

 

 

Nothing to report.

 

 

11

 

Future Parish Projects

 

 

11.1

Item held over in Cllr Geoff Reeve-Black’s absence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

Quality Council & Parish Plan

 

 

12.1

Factual Introduction to the Parish Plan

 

 

 

Nothing to report.

 

 

12.2

Public Planning Days

 

 

 

The Chairman said that the first meeting of the working group was held on January 28th and was very positive. The next meeting is on February 20th. Materials are being procured and the map should be complete within two months.

Cllr Richard Smith

 

12.3

Questionnaire Compilation (Keypoint)

 

 

 

The Clerk’s suggestion that he produce several dummy questionnaires in various formats, in time for the next meeting, was welcomed.

The Clerk

 

13

 

Standing Orders v New Guidelines Comparison

 

 

13.1

Cllr Jean Foley has done a great deal of work on this and the Chairman has completed a proof reading. A proposed schedule of amendments is attached to these minutes, for consideration by Council at the next regular meeting.

All Cllrs

The Clerk

 

14

 

Lengthsman Project

 

 

14.1

Draft proposals and contracts had been circulated prior to the meeting. Various questions and issues need to be addressed but, proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Jim Stewart and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED that, in principle, Council will sign the contracts, appointing Wayne and Roger Reed as the Lengthsman and Brian Atherton as the Administrator.

 

 

14.2

The Clerk will seek answers to the issues raised and redraft the documents as appropriate.  Council agreed to hold an extraordinary meeting on Saturday February 22nd at 2 p.m, venue to be advised. (Clerk’s Note: The venue will be Gorsley Village Hall).

The Clerk

 

15

 

Letter re Community Policing Information

 

 

15.1

A letter drafted by the Chairman had been circulated with the Agenda. Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Jim Stewart and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED that this should be sent, unchanged.

The Clerk

 

16

 

Awards For All – Consultation Over Future Priorities

 

 

16.1

A letter expressing displeasure at the impossible timescales for consultation had been drafted by the Chairman and circulated with the Agenda. Proposed by Cllr Jim Stewart, seconded by Cllr Jean Foley and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED that this letter be sent unchanged.

The Clerk

 

17

 

Chairman’s Announcements

 

 

17.1

Ross Regeneration Partnership. The Chairman had been unable to attend the third meeting but will be present at the next, scheduled for March 4th.

Cllr Richard Smith

 

17.2

Transport Forum. The Chairman and the Clerk will be attending the next meeting, scheduled for March 3rd.

Cllr Richard Smith/The Clerk

 

17.3

The Countryside Agency is mapping the area as required in the Right to Roam legislation. A consultation document should result during the summer of 2003. The Clerk to ensure that Council receives a copy.

The Clerk

 

17.4

The Borderlines Film Festival includes three films to be shown at Gorsley Village Hall. Details were available on the Parish Council website.

 

 

17.5

The Ross International Festival management is seeking ways of increasing involvement throughout the HR9 area and suggest that Parish Councils could consider organising Rural Transport to coincide with certain events. Council decided that the Village Hall Committees should be informed.

The Clerk

 

17.6

The Chairman read out Cllr Phil Page’s letter of resignation, adding his regret for the circumstances in which Cllr Page felt obliged to resign. Council expressed the view

a)      That there was no lack of care by Council in achieving maximum economy in discharging its duties.

b)      Cllr Page’s perceived slight was certainly entirely unintentional, for which a written apology had been made but which Cllr Page did not accept.

The Chairman expressed his own and the Council's gratitude for Cllr Page’s years of service to the Council and the community and the Parish.

The Chairman will draft a suitable letter of acknowledgment, regret and thanks. This will be circulated to members of the Council for comment and endorsement.

Cllr Richard Smith

 

18

 

Correspondence