Minutes of Burton-in-Lonsdale Parish Council Meeting

held on Thursday 23rd April 2009, immediately following the Annual Parish Meeting, in the Village Hall

Present: Cllrs. Burns (Chairman), Hird, Mason, Salrein and Whitworth; District Cllr Barrington.

In attendance: The Clerk.

Apologies: Cllr. Handley, Dist. Cllr. Camacho.

 

1.          Co-option of Parish Councillor; declaration of acceptance of office.

There were no nominations. Agreed to defer to May meeting, following re-advertising in the Burtonian and on notice board

 

2.          Declarations of interest (if any) re this meeting; signing of Declarations Book; changes to be updated on Register of Members’ Interests

There were no declarations of interest.

 

3.          Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of 26th March 2009

The Minutes for the above meeting were circulated to all councillors prior to this meeting and taken as read.

Resolved

The Minutes for the meeting of 26th March 2009 were accepted as a fair record.  The Chairman signed and dated the Minutes. Copies of the Minutes were made available for the Village Hall Notice Board.

 

4.          Public Questions or Statements: see attached conditions

There were no questions or statements.

 

5.          Matters Arising from the Minutes of 26th March 2009, if not on this Agenda

Item 8, page 124) Woodland Trust: enquiry as to policy of cut wood disposal: Clerk reported there had been no response to her enquiry. Agreed to follow up.

 

6.          Finance Matters

a)    Bank balances as at 19th April 2009

The Clerk presented the bank balances as at 19th April 2009 with a schedule of commitments and payments. (Appendix 1).  The Clerk indicated this was not a complete statement as the previous year’s over- and under-spends had not been incorporated. A more complete picture will be available in May.

 

b)    Payments of budgeted and non budgeted items

Resolved

To authorise payments on behalf of the Parish Council as per Appendix 1

 

c) Annual accounts, internal audit

The Clerk will prepare the annual accounts for internal audit on Monday 11th May, after which a Finance Committee meeting will be called to review the internal auditor’s report.

 

Cllr Whitworth indicated she would be able to attend a financial training seminar, if it was within a reasonable distance from Burton.

 

Resolved

To make an allowance of up to £100 plus travel available for financial training.

 

 

7.          Reports

Clerk (incl. Employment Act 2008 re grievance procedures), YLCA

The Clerk reported the new procedures regarding settlement of grievances; YLCA: nothing to report.

 

Woodland Trust: see Matters Arising

Bentham Common Lands Charity: After a short discussion, during which it was established no confirmation has been received from BCLC Secretary as to the official appointment of Cllr mason as a Trustee, representing Burton in Lonsdale parish Council interests it was

Resolved

Following Cllr Mason’s consultation with Mr. B Wills, a fellow trustee, the parish council is to write to the BCLC Chairman requesting sight of the BCLC Minutes from 1985 onward; to seek confirmation of Cllr Mason’s appointment as the Parish Council’s representative to and as Trustee of the Charity.

 

8.          Recreation Field

a) Play Area Maintenance: safety matting prices, funding sources

Following the Recreation Committee’s meeting on 15th April, where two suppliers’ safety matting prices of between £3,000 and £5,000 were discussed, it was agreed to begin a grant funding application process.

The re-painting of the slide and main gates has been completed.

Resolved

Clerk to arrange for annual inspection, to be accompanied by Recreation committee.

 

Following receipt of an unusually high electricity supply bill for the portacabin, the Clerk attempted to establish reasons for the heavy usage for the period 1st January to 31st March. Following the ceiling collapse in the kitchen area, a dehumidifier was used to assist drying out; this together with a heavy duty hot water heater (for showers) is most likely to have increased the charges significantly.  It was agreed the IAFC action was done with its own and other portacabin users in mind, and therefore the cost would be spread across the users as per the agreed proportions set out in September 2008 (Minutes, page 82).

 

Resolved

To send bills for utilities usage to portacabin users, covering costs from September 2008 to March 2009.

 

b) Hot Air Balloon Flight Vouchers

Clerk to confirm with Virgin Balloons use of vouchers.

 

9.          Craven District Council

a) Planning Matters

Application 15/2009/9399: 12 Low St: to construct an 80 cm high stone wall to the front boundary of the property to provide a small front garden area with a small painted wooden gate.

Resolved

The councillors had no objections to the plans as presented.

 

b) Consultation: draft supplementary planning guidance on rural live/work units: responses by 1st May 2009.

 

 

Councillors agreed to review the document and submit any comments to the Clerk for forwarding to Craven District Council.

 

c) Planning Training: Town/Parish Councillors & Clerks: proposed seminars

Councillors expressed an interest; however, time and place may limit the attendance, as councillors have work commitments, etc.

 

10.     North Yorkshire County Council

North Yorkshire Local Involvement Network (LINk) becomes active.

This was noted by councillors.

 

11.     Correspondence

The Village Shop Association (VSA) has written requesting a funding contribution toward the proposed shop front canopy; the parish council’s support is necessary as it will demonstrate support for the project and enable further funding applications to be made to other sources.

 

A lengthy discussion ensued, during which various points concerning the shop’s layout, viability, product range, village support etc., were raised. It was noted grants and donations for the current financial year (2009-10) have already been decided.

 

Resolved

To write a letter of support to the VSA, highlighting previous financial support, and suggesting a formal application be made during the October/November period, during which all village organisations’ funding applications are considered for inclusion in the annual budget making process.

 

12. Items to be included by Clerk in press release re the meeting

Resolved

To report the Annual parish meeting and the monthly meeting items of interest.

 

13.      Date, time and venue of next monthly Parish Council Meeting

The next meeting to be held on Thursday 28th May, 2009, following the Annual Parish Council Meeting, in the Village Hall.

 

The meeting closed at 9.42pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed……………………………..                              Date………………….

 

 


 

Appendix 1

 

Bank Balances, Commitments and Payments for April 2009

 

 

 

 

NatWest Current Account at 31.03.09

435.00

NatWest Business Reserve Account at 31.03.09

6,758.82

NatWest Bonus Saver Account at 31.03.09

7,150.72

 

 

 

14,344.54

Less

Unpresented cheques

25.00

 

 

 

14,319.54

Commitments at 19th April 2009

 

Play Equipment (from 2006/7 budget / precept)

900.00

Street Lighting replacements (from 2006/7 budget / precept)

1,000.00

Contingency Fund

2,000.00

c/f from 2007-8 budget / precept                   Firework Event

100.00

c/f from 2007-8 budget                                  Travel

50.00

Burton Regeneration Group set aside in 2005/6, 2006/7

3,334.00

Very Old & Separate Churchyard Lych Gate Restoration (200 +500)

700.00

VOSCY Safety Notice

150.00

VOSCY memorial safety inspections

600.00

Clerk's Retirement Gratuity & pension provision starting 2007/8

418.00

Village Transport Needs Survey grant money

202.00

Budget remaining  at 23.04.09: approx. inc unspent items

11,000.00

 

20,454.00

 

 

 

 

Cash at Bank 31.03.10

-6,134.46

 

 

 

 

Add:

First tranche annual precept

5,250.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-884.46

 

 

 

 

Parish Council - Payments April 2009

 

1443

23.04.09

J Pearson (re Rec Field bin rota)

40.00

1444

23.04.09

E.On (street lighting 1st Jan to 31 March 2009)

159.55

1445

23.04.09

E.On (portacabin utilities actual to 25.03.09)

249.35

1446

23.04.09

S Gregory (clerks salary @ £8.436/hr, April 2009)

169.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

618.10

NB

Commitments for 2009-10 not yet updated to take account of

 

 

over/under spends during 2008-2009.