Parish
council meeting
December 3 2007
Belmont Community Centre
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BELMONT
RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
Parish
council meeting |
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Present: Mr P Edwards
Chairman In attendance: Mrs.
E. Kelso Clerk Apologies: Mr. J. Newman 146/07 Declarations of Interest District Councillors, Councillor Phil Edwards and Councillor Glenda Powell declared a personal interest in all matters relating to planning applications and noted that comments expressed are preliminary views taking account of information currently available to BRPC whilst reserving final views for decision taking by District Council Planning Committee where all relevant and final facts can be available prior to making a decision. Councillor Andy Myatt declared an interest in agenda item 7 (Minute 153/07) and agenda item 10 (Minute 156/07). 148/07 Parish Councillor Vacancy The Chairman reported that Councillor Veronica Gummer has resigned for health reasons and therefore now exists a vacancy. The clerk advised that the procedure for filling a casual vacancy has started and statutory notices have been placed on notice boards inviting members of the public to request an election. If ten or more electors request an election, this will need to be arranged at a possible cost of approximately £6,000. If, however, no election is requested within the statutory period, the Parish Council will be able to co-opt to fill the vacancy. Members thanked Mrs. Gummer for her invaluable contribution as a Parish Councillor and wished her well for the future. 149/07 Minutes of the previous meeting Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 15th October had been previously circulated. The Clerk reported that the draft as circulated contained an error in that Councillor John Newman had been omitted from the list of attendees. A corrected draft was presented at the meeting and it was unanimously agreed that the amended draft as tabled at the meeting be signed by the Chairman as a true record of proceedings at that meeting. (a) Litter bins The final litter bin installation in the project commenced some months ago should have been fitted earlier this week but it was reported that the contractor did not attend as agreed. As a result the project has still not been completed and the Clerk will follow this up. The Clerk also reported that she has been holding cheque number 416 payable to Herefordshire Jarvis Services, for the total cost of the litter bin project since June. Not only is that cheque now out of date but the name of the company has changed so authorisation was given to reissue a cheque in favour of Amey, to be held by the Clerk until the work is completed. (b) Parish Talk Grant Application Notification has been received that the £300 Parish Talk Grant has been approved. It can be claimed when the next newsletter is published as the funding will cover printing and distribution charges. (c) Repairs Notified to Herefordshire Council as instructed. Repair work has not yet taken place. 151/07 Report from West Mercia Police/Parish Watch PC Paul Greenwood presented a report on activity within the Parish since the last meeting, including: · Damage to
cars in Westholme Road, Oulton Avenue and Glastonbury Close On behalf of Parish Watch, Councillor Edwards further noted that broken glass from smashed alcohol bottles in the vicinity of the Northolme Centre, litter bin covers have been removed and thrown over nearby hedges, litter bin destroyed by fire and fires started on public open space. When the meeting was opened up for public comment, Councillor David Cook reported that he had recently had a liquid similar to cherryade thrown at his front door. PC Greenwood reminded those present to report even minor incidents as these help to build up a pattern so that police efforts can be targeted where needed. Upon request from a member of the public in attendance, it was agreed that this item be taken during Agenda item 10 (Minute 157/07). Other than routine items of correspondence previously circulated to Members or dealt with elsewhere on the agenda, the following items of correspondence were noted: (a) Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Acton of 30 Dorchester Way regarding their belief that play area development is proposed for land immediately behind their home. This was addressed further under agenda item 10, Minute 156/07. (b) Copy of a petition signed by residents in Dorchester Way similarly concerned at proposals for Abbey View Park. As above, this was addressed further under agenda item 10, Minute reference 156/07. (c) Letter from Herefordshire Council regarding the naming of a street off Kilvert Road (neighbouring Parish), to be called Newman Close. Members raised no objections to this proposal. (d) Letter from Hereford City Council regarding the sharing of HALC training costs. It was agreed that training costs should be met where prior authorisation by the Parish Council has been given. (e) A request for funding has been received from Belmont Kidz Club in the amount of £1,638 to fund room hire and equipment for the Kidz Club for one year. This request was received too late to be included on the agenda for this meeting so will be considered at the next meeting. (a) Payments Authority was given to make the following payments: South Wye Community
Association MA Edwards EA Kelso Inland Revenue Amey Wye Valley
Limited Cash (b) Receipts (c) Balances Current account:
£500.00 (a) Applications received since the last meeting The following applications have been received since the last meeting: Ref: DCCW2007/3447/f Ref: DCCW2007/3458/F Ref: DCCW2007/3481/F Ref: DCCW2007/3545/O Ref: DCCW2007/3588/F (b) Observations passed to Herefordshire Council since last meeting Application ref. DCCW2007/2834/F was discussed at the last meeting. A copy of the letter sent to Herefordshire Council on behalf of the Parish Council was provided to Members.
At the last meeting it was agreed that public consultation would be sought on any firm proposals regarding the use of Abbey View Park, particularly in the light of some members of the public’s belief that insufficient consultation has taken place. Herefordshire Parks and Countryside Department has now drafted a survey plan for the land, taking into account views expressed at former meetings and from the Parish Plan and Parish Plan revisit exercise, and it was proposed that the views of all residents be sought on these suggestions. Opening up the meeting for discussion, Councillor Myatt expressed concern at the multiple choice format of the survey and how responses would be collated. The Clerk explained that the format adhered to accepted methodology for community consultation and had been drafted with guidance from the Herefordshire Partnership, the Parish Council Liaison Officer and others. Councillor Myatt noted that he felt the questionnaire did address all the issues relating to the Parish and he was broadly in favour of the questionnaire being sent. After some discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council would support and fund the distribution of the survey to all households within the Parish. The Chairman then invited Members of the public to raise questions or comments at this point, noting in response to two items of correspondence received in connection with the Abbey View Park proposals that at no stage has there ever been any suggestion, by the Parish Council or Herefordshire Council officers, of a “skate park” as indicated within a recent petition from residents to Herefordshire Council. However, the survey plan does take into account a specific request by a group of young people (and their parents) who attended meetings last year requesting a BMX track. It also considers options for wetlands, footpaths and bridges, all of which had been requested over time by local residents. Mr. Brian Hubbard, in attendance, raised the following items: · He was unhappy
that public participation had been taken after Parish Council debate on
this subject. The Chairman responded to Mr. Hubbard by stating that: · The meeting
agenda items had been rearranged at the request of public attending Parish Councillors in attendance who do not live in the immediate vicinity of Dorchester Way expressed the view that they do use and value Abbey View Park and would wish to be consulted on any proposals for that area. Mrs. Robinson in attendance asked whether the results of the survey would adhered to and the results made public. The Chairman stated that this was noted on the survey and that he wished to reassure all members of the public that previous comments had been taken into consideration by The Herefordshire Partnership. There would now be an opportunity for everyone to comment on the plans through the survey. Clerk reported that she had only received one response to the open tender for the shrub planting on the junction of Northolme Road. The sealed envelope bid was opened during the meeting, indicating a cost well above the original budgeted sum. It was agreed that the Clerk seek further quotes and that this item be deferred to the next meeting. Councillor Butler agreed to approach a volunteer with regard to this project. It was reported that a working party has now been formed to progress the project to install speed indicator devices on three Parish roads. Risk assessments have to be produced to accompany the application forms and a progress report will be made to the next meeting. In accordance with Clerk’s contract of employment and standing orders, this item was considered without members of the public present. The Clerk reported that national pay scale rates for local council clerks have now been agreed for 2007/8 following extensive national discussion and new scales, effective from 1st April 2007 have now been published. After providing information on national guidance regarding the role of the Clerk to support and guide the Parish Council, the Clerk left the room for the remainder of this agenda item. After some discussion, it was agreed that the Clerk’s salary scale be raised from point 17 to point 23 with effect from 1st October 2007 and that hours of work to remain at 15 per week. Councillor Cook noted that although there had been discussion some months ago about the Clerk’s use of her own computer and other equipment and a budget set to provide this equipment, no formal agreement had been made to purchase anything. He therefore proposed that a laptop computer, with appropriate software and maintenance support be purchased for use by the Clerk up to a budget figure of £2,000.00. The resolution was unanimously agreed. The Clerk presented a draft budget for 2008/9 based upon actual expenditure for 2007/8 plus an allowance for additional projects based upon indications from the two Community Centres and others on potential requests for funding in the forthcoming financial year. It was noted that inclusion in the budget at this stage does not guarantee any organisation any funding or signify agreement to any proposal as the figure is merely used as a guide for precept setting purposes and any project or request to fund any project must be considered at a properly constituted meeting as and when requested. Members considered the impact of different levels of precept on the overall budget and took into account current Audit Commission recommendations with regard to reserves held by Parish Councils. Councillor Edwards proposition (seconded by Councillor Powell) to keep the precept equal to that for 2006/7 failed and after some discussion, it was agreed with five votes for and two against that the precept for 2008/9 be set at £30,000.00. The Clerk was instructed to notify Herefordshire Council accordingly. (a) It was noted that last year’s kerb weed spray had taken place very late in the season and weeds are growing again as a result of the mild weather. The Clerk was instructed to request an early weed spray next year, preferably after Easter. (b) It was not clear whether no smoking signs were in place at the Tesco Hopper Bus station in Hereford. The Clerk was instructed to follow this up with Mr. Jim Davies at Herefordshire Council. (c) Councillor Powell reported that she had raised the matter of an overgrown hedge in Southholme Road since the last meeting and that this has now been resolved. (d) Councillor Loft reported on a recent meeting of the PCG he had attended. (e) Councillor Edwards reported on activities as a District Councillor, including: · Requesting
hedges to be cut back During the final period for public participation, two matters were raised which relate to outside the Parish and were therefore taken up by District Councillors in attendance. There was also request for paint spilled on the Belmont Community Centre car park to be removed. Councillor Edwards noted that this is private property but he would request assistance from Herefordshire Council Streetscene. The next meeting will be held on Monday 14th January 2008 at the usual time of 7pm at Belmont Community Centre, Eastholme Avenue, Belmont.
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