Minutes of a Meeting held by
between 7.30pm
and 9.45pm in the Village Hall
Present: Cllrs.
Burns (Chairman), Handley,
Hird, Mason, and Salrein, and Whitworth; District Cllr. Camacho; one member of
public.
In attendance: The Clerk.
Apologies: Cllr. Salrein (late), County
Cllr. Ireton, District Cllr. Barrington, P.C. McClurg.
1.
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.
2.
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of 30th July
2009
The Minutes for the meetings above mentioned were circulated to all councillors prior to this meeting and taken as read.
The Minutes for
the above meetings 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.
3.
Public Questions or Statements: There were none.
4.
Matters Arising from the Minutes of 30th July
2009, if not on this Agenda
Item
4 Matters Arising: Insurance and risk assessment.
Cllr Whitworth has made a review of the
council’s insurance cover, observations of which are:
i)
The
insurance terms need to be carefully read by all councillors as we are all
accountable and may have claims made against us regarding our activities (eg
corporate manslaughter issues)
ii)
The
maximum insurance which can be claimed in any one year is £5,000,000 certain
things (equipment, slander etc) have their own maximum limits.
iii)
Play
equipment terms have been changed this year to make inspections a condition of
insurance. Inspections should be carried
out “by persons competent to do so and
unless agreed otherwise by the Insurer any repairs or other work identified completed
within 60 days of the date of inspection or within any alternative timescale
proposed by the inspecting authority, or the items must be removed.”
iv)
Property
damage does not cover natural sports ground surfaces.
v)
Other
property damage items not covered in the schedule are:
vi)
Gates
and fences
vii)
War
Memorials
viii)
Mowers
and similar machinery
ix)
Sports
equipment
x)
Other
property
xi)
Public
liability is only for those events organised by the Parish Council. (The Clerk clarified
some of these details following the July meeting; people who use the Recreation
field need to be made aware of the lack of insurance here).
xii)
Fidelity
insurance is limited to £2000 only.
xiii)
There
is no mention of the VOSCY in the schedule.
xiv)
Insurance
states that receipts etc must be checked quarterly and be independent of any
employee.
After discussion it was
Resolved
1. To have a regular agenda item for
Finance including Receipts.
2. To clarify Very Old and Separate
Churchyard insurance cover.
3. To clarify insurance cover for the War
Memorial.
4. To further review the Financial Standing
Orders to reflect correctly the Clerk’s and Responsible Financial Officer’s
status relative to each other and the Council.
Item
8b) Recreation Field charges for use: Craven Wanderers
Resolved
To confirm with Craven Wanderers if the
team has a portacabin key, and whether or not it uses the portacabin when
playing at
Item
8c) (Minutes of 2nd July 2009) Hot Air balloon Flight Vouchers
The vouchers were advertised for sale in a
sealed bid auction; no bids were received.
Resolved
To offer the vouchers to Ingleton AFC to
auction at its forthcoming Annual Dinner, on the basis of splitting any
proceeds 50/50 to donate to village organisations.
5.
Police matters
PC McClurg sent his apologies, reporting
that matters were ‘quiet’ in the
6.
Finance Matters
a) Bank balances as at 19th
September 2009
The Clerk
presented the bank balances as at 19th September 2009 with a
schedule of commitments and payments. (Appendix 1).
b) Payments of budgeted and non budgeted items
Resolved
To authorise
payments on behalf of the Parish Council as per Appendix 1
c) Annual Return: small amendment suggested by
external auditor.
The external auditor proposes to write off
an amount of £7.23 relating to an unpresented cheque from the year 2005-6, and
amend the Annual Statement accordingly.
Resolved
The councillors agree to the proposal.
7.
Reports
County, District and Parish Councillors
Cllr. Camocho reported
·
The
proposed revised waste collections schedule will commence January 2010. Craven District Council representatives will
be visiting as many parishes as possible to explain the new arrangements.
·
Applications
from parishioners are encouraged for the place on the NYCC North Craven Area
Committee as it is a good way to get to know council activities.
·
Planning
applications: 3a Manor Close has been rejected, and may be re-submitted.
·
The
CDC Chief Financial Officer reports that measures taken to alleviate the recent
financial problems are beginning to take effect.
·
New
primary school, Bentham. NYCC has
decided to go down the compulsory purchase route regarding acquisition of land.
·
Proposed
parking charges, Bentham, have been rejected as both NYCC and the police
objected on safety grounds (parking elsewhere to avoid paying)
8.30pm Cllr Camacho left the meeting.
There were no parish councillor reports.
Clerk (AGM of SLCC 24/10/09 Daventry)
AGM noted, but will not be attended.
YLCA next meeting on Saturday 10th October 2pm,
Settle Town Hall
No councillors available to attended
meeting, as Clerk otherwise engaged. Clerk to send apologies.
Woodland Trust: No report.
Village Hall Committee
Committee Member Kit Dodson reported a
successful bid for £10,000 from Awards for All is being used to provide ceiling
and wall insulation, additional radiators and a new cooker. The Village Hall Committee is providing an
additional £7,000 for the work, totalling £17,000 for the project. Work begins
on 5th October and may take a little longer than one week to
complete.
Joint Access and Rights of Way Committee: no report.
Bentham Common Lands Charity
During a short discussion, it emerged the
BCLC secretary instructed the Woodland Trust to claim for BT way leave payments
relating to the land at Mill Hill, although the land is only leased and not
owned by the Woodland Trust. Further
questions as to BCLC finances were asked, as there appears to be no money for
maintenance of the pieces of its land not leased to a third party. Trees on BCLC land by the River Greta are
overhanging the road.
Resolved
To ask NYCC to look at the trees, to
confirm NYCC can cut back due to obstruction of the road.
8.
Recreation Field
a) Play Area Maintenance: quotes for safety
matting; grant applications
Quotes have been received; it was
Resolved
·
To ask
Wicksteed for clarification of what work is expected to be done following an
inspection, as the definitions of low, medium, medium high and high priority were
thought to need further detail.
·
To
discuss in more detail at the October meeting three options: new matting, new
equipment and matting, and taking equipment away.
·
Cllr.
Whitworth to draw up a plan and financial projection for the Play Area
maintenance for the next three to five years.
·
Clerk
to ask Ingleton and Bentham councils which company they use for such matters.
b)
The general upkeep of the site was
discussed, concern being expressed that no maintenance work appeared to be
done.
Parishioner Kit Dodson (a member of Burton
Community Sports) indicated it was very difficult to get volunteers to do such
work. The very small team is very
restricted for time to do work.
Resolved
·
To
write to BCS, recognising it is a small group with a modest income; to offer
guidance as regards contractors and grants.
·
To
request football teams and other field users to clean up after matches, using
bin bags which can be left in the green wheeled bin at the main gate.
9.
Village Green
Re-consideration of ‘No Parking’ signs;
path on east side of village green
Following a short discussion, it was
Resolved
Two of the three ‘No Parking’ signs be
re-instated, one at either end of the roadway that goes diagonally across the
Green.
It was noted that new gravel has been put
along the entire length of the path on the east side of the Village Green. Although the path does not belong to either
Harris Garth nor Stone Bower, it was unclear if the path was a part of the
Village Green, or belonged to the Church; it was
Resolved
To confirm ownership of the path, and
report to the next meeting.
10.
Parish Council Noticeboard
Maintenance / refurbishment of Notice Board
Resolved
To get quotes for work covering just re-varnishing,
or re-varnishing and replacement back board, with associated making good.
11.
Craven District Council
a) Planning Matters
Applications
15/2009/9853: 3a Manor Close: single story rear extension. It was
noted this application has since been refused at committee on 21st
October 2009.
15/2009/9851:
It was noted Cllr Camacho reported this
application may be withdrawn on technical grounds.
15/2009/9864 retrospective application for amendments to design of
roof for rear extension permitted by planning ref 15/2008/8642. Change from
flat roof to dual pitch and increase ground levels.
After discussion, it was
Resolved
To forward comment that raised ground
levels would impinge on neighbours’ amenity of their own gardens.
b) Allowances for Councillors
Consultation
Councillors agreed the proposal was
reasonable, in principle, but felt in the current financial climate, it was
unlikely to gain acceptance outside council.
c) Fortnightly general waste collections:
CDC councillor Mark Wheeler survey
Cllr. Camacho advised Cllr Wheeler was an
active councillor in his area; councillors should only answer in their own
right and not on behalf of the parish council.
d) Parish Clerks’ Forum 30th
September, Settle Town Hall.
The Clerk advised it was not possible to
attend due to prior commitments, and would be sending an apology.
12.
a) Highways: A65 junction with Ireby:
responses from Ireby with Leck parish council and Lancashire County Council
Highways department.
The Clerk had previously circulated correspondence
to councillors regarding the Lancashire Police and County Council responses to
Councillors felt there was nothing further
to be done for the time being.
b) Craven Area Committee:
nominations invited for co-opted member to sit on NYCC Craven Area Committee.
See Cllr Camacho’s report above.
13.
Correspondence
There were no urgent items of
correspondence.
14.
Items to be included by Clerk in press
release re the meeting
Clerk
to send report on items.
15.
Date, time and venue of next monthly Parish
Council Meeting
Resolved
To
hold meeting on Thursday 29th October 2009 (one week later to
accommodate a councillor’s holiday absence).
The
meeting finished at 10.10pm
Signed…………………………………… Dated……………
Appendix 1
|
Bank Balances,
Commitments and Payments September 2009 |
|
|
NatWest Current Account at
19.09.09 |
300.00 |
|
NatWest Business Reserve
Account at 19.09.09 |
9,034.49 |
|
NatWest Bonus Saver Account
at 07.09.09 |
7,165.69 |
|
|
16,500.18 |
|
Less: Unpresented cheques |
382.24 |
|
|
16,117.94 |
|
Commitments at 19th
September 2009 |
|
|
Contingency Fund |
2,000.00 |
|
Very Old & Separate
Churchyard Lych Gate Restoration (200+500) |
700.00 |
|
VOSCY Safety Notice |
150.00 |
|
VOSCY memorial safety
inspections |
600.00 |
|
Burton Regeneration Group
set aside in 2005/6, 2006/7 |
3,334.00 |
|
Carried Forward from 2006/7
budget/precept: |
|
|
Play Equipment |
900.00 |
|
Street Lighting renewals |
1,000.00 |
|
Carried Forward from 2007/8
budget/precept |
|
|
Firework Event |
100.00 |
|
Travel |
50.00 |
|
Carried Forward from 2008/9
budget/precept: |
|
|
Street Light Maintenance re-sched for 2009-10 |
580.00 |
|
Street Light renewals |
1,000.00 |
|
Minute Book Binding |
50.00 |
|
Parish Plan Expenses |
100.00 |
|
Clerk's Retirement Gratuity
& pension provision starting 2007/8 |
836.00 |
|
Village Transport Needs
Survey grant money |
202.00 |
|
2009-10 Budget remaining at
19.09.09: approx. inc unspent items |
6,962.00 |
|
|
18,564.00 |
|
|
|
|
Cash at Bank 31.03.10 |
-2,446.06 |
|
Add: 2nd tranche precept |
5,250.00 |
|
|
|
|
Cash at Bank 31.03.10 |
2,803.94 |
|
|
|
|
Parish Council - Payments
September 2009 |
|
|
1469 Yorkshire Water 2nd
quarter 2009 |
15.65 |
|
1470 E.On (portacabin
Electrcity supply August 2009) |
16.82 |
|
1471 S. Gregory (Clerk's
salary & expenses Aug/Sep 09) |
358.96 |
|
1472 Gregory & Co
(computer services Sep qtr 2009) |
132.25 |
|
|
523.68 |
|
Budget vs Actual
1.4.09 - 31.3.10 |
|
Exp to |
|
|
2009-10 |
date |
|
Precept 2009 - 20 = £10,500 |
Budget |
Total |
|
Utilities:electricity for
street lights |
700 |
320 |
|
Maintenance |
|
|
|
Street Lights |
400 |
135 |
|
Seats |
230 |
210 |
|
|
540 |
228 |
|
Xmas Tree for Village Green |
210 |
0 |
|
Maint. VOSCY(280) incl memorials (250) |
324 |
88 |
|
Renewals: Street Lights |
1,000 |
0 |
|
Subscriptions |
230 |
48 |
|
Insurance (excl. portacabin) |
685 |
690 |
|
Hire of Village Hall |
140 |
0 |
|
Elections |
0 |
0 |
|
Sundries (incl. war memorial
maint £50) |
200 |
57 |
|
Additional items: |
0 |
0 |
|
Annual Audit (external &
internal) |
320 |
200 |
|
S/137 (max £5.64/elector:
500 electors = £2,820) |
500 |
0 |
|
donations to village
organisations, inc Shop |
|
95 |
|
Donations other than s137 |
|
|
|
2006/7 set aside for
Regeneration Group s19 LGA1976 |
|
|
|
Recreation Field |
|
|
|
portacabin water, electric |
230 |
389 |
|
portacabin insurance |
0 |
0 |
|
Play Area Equipment
inspection, maint. |
1,000 |
92 |
|
Grass Cuts on play area,
verge, portacabin, rubbish, |
405 |
184 |
|
Summer Grass Cutting |
150 |
0 |
|
Firework event |
0 |
0 |
|
Administration |
|
|
|
Petty Cash |
50 |
25 |
|
Training fees |
|
|
|
Travel |
|
|
|
Telephone |
50 |
36 |
|
Print |
280 |
0 |
|
Computer Services @£115/qrtr
net |
460 |
132 |
|
Clerk's Salary 220hrs x
£8.436/hr + ann. leave) |
1,892 |
1,092 |
|
Clerks Use of home, heat,
light @ £3.00/week |
156 |
81 |
|
Clerk's use of home: file
storage @ £ 4/week |
208 |
108 |
|
Clerk's Gratuity part, total
payable after 9.11.2012 |
813 |
0 |
|
Minutes Binding |
0 |
0 |
|
Parish Plan Expenses |
0 |
0 |
|
|
11,173 |
4,211 |