Parish
council meeting
October 29 2009
Northolme Community Centre
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BELMONT
RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
Parish
council meeting |
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109/09 Declarations of Interest Councillor Edwards, as District Councillor, 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. 110/09 Minutes of the previous meeting The Minutes of the meeting held on 17th September 2009 having been previously circulated, were signed by the Chairman as a true record of proceedings at that meeting. (a) Repairs and Maintenance The amended schedule of outstanding items has been returned to Herefordshire Council with a request for a date for items to be dealt with. Despite reminders being sent, no response to date. Members expressed particular concern about the lack of action reference cutting back of trees along Waterfield Road where they are obscuring the view of motorists attempting to exit Yarlington Mill. This item was requested as an urgent matter now some six months ago. The Clerk was advised to use a new contact e-mail address which has been set up for Parish Clerks when matters cannot be resolved using the usual channels. (b) Additional Weed Spray The date for the second weed spray offered by Amey is still awaited. (c) Parish Freighter Members noted following negotiations between Herefordshire Council, the Chairman and Clerk, a final two Parish Freighter bookings will be possible during this financial year. It was agreed that bookings should be made for February and March, preferably on the first or third Saturday of each month for the 2pm – 4pm slot. (d) Abbey View Park Footpaths and Bridges Councillor Powell has advised the Clerk that she has received an anonymous e-mail ) complaining about children riding bikes on the footpath across Abbey View Park,. However, all other comments, including those on the community website, have been very positive. There is some evidence of children using some of the discarded topsoil to make cycle jumps. (e) Dorchester Way Notice Board Still awaiting installation as the Contractor has been unavailable due to other commitments. (f) Parish Plan Update The Parish Plan steering group has met several times over the last few weeks to work on the electronic survey – LocalEyes – project which was launched formally at an event at the Kindle Centre on Monday 26th October. Project Manager, Nick Sherwood, was in attendance at the meeting to explain further about the website and it’s potential uses for the future and with the parish plan process. 112/09 Report from West Mercia Police/Parish Watch West Mercia Police were not in attendance at the meeting due to other commitments. Members expressed concern that there has been no attendance by West Mercia Police for several meetings. The Clerk was instructed to contact West Mecia Police to request attendance at our next meeting. The Chairman presented the report from Parish Watch, highlighting the following incidents: · Fencing belonging
to Macdonalds adjacent to Glastonbury Close has been vandalised During the period set aside for public participation there were no matters raised by members of the public. Other than items of correspondence addressed elsewhere on the agenda, the following items have been received since the last meeting: (a) Information from Twoshare, an organisation in support of car sharing within Herefordshire. A copy is available from the Clerk. (b) Annual Report from Festival Housing Group. (c) Request for funding from St. Francis Mums and Tots Group for help with room hire costs for a three month period at the Belmont Centre starting in January 2010. This will be considered at the next meeting. (a) Payments In addition to agreed payments made by standing order, formal authority required to make the following payments: Dawn ‘til Dusk Printers MA Edwards Northolme Community Centre
Association Society of Local Council Clerks Mazars Cash (b) Receipts Since the last meeting, the sum of £4.94 has been received in bank interest. (c) Balances Current account £500.00 Belmont Pools £7,500.00 (d) Other Financial Matters (i) Bank Mandate Royal Bank of Scotland has indicated that because not all cheque signatories attended the bank to offer evidence of identity within six months from the mandate being deposited, the mandate has been rejected in its entirety and must be resubmitted as a new instruction. The Clerk will circulated the form for signature and once it has been lodged with the bank (the Clerk will notify Members when this has been done), those Members who have not previously been a signatory on the Parish Council account should attend at the RBS with two forms of ID (passport, bank card etc.) as soon as possible. (ii) Annual External Audit The Annual Return for the year to 31st March 2009 has now been returned by the external auditors. Members noted that the auditor has included a comment that the Annual Return was not approved by Members until 2nd July – outside the deadline of 30th June. This was due to changes to the inging forward of the Annual Meeting date in May this year and the change of meeting day to a Thursday. Auditors were informed before the deadline of 30th June by the Clerk. In all other respects, the auditors had no comments, adverse or otherwise, on the accounts or annual return. (a) Applications received since last meeting The following applications were discussed: Ref: DMCW/092474/FH Ref: DMCW/092562/FH The Clerk presented the financial report for the half year to end September, indicating a budgeted overspend to be financed, as planned, from reserves which will reduce reserves to approximately £13,000. Members noted that forecast expenditure included provision of £3,000 for election costs although no election is currently anticipated. Precept requirements for 2010 – 2011 are to be discussed at the December meeting. 118/09 Abbey View Park Footpath Extension The Chairman advised that following completion of the first part of the Abbey View Park footpath project, members of the public had been supportive of the path being extended around the remainder of the park. Amey/Herefordshire Council has indicated that costs the quotation provided at the beginning of the financial year will be held until the end of this financial year (March 2010). After some discussion, it was proposed by Councillor Edwards and seconded by Councillor Myatt that an order be placed for a further section of the path – identified as point C to point D on the original quotation – to be completed at a quoted price of £5,082.00. This work to be completed when conditions permit. The resolution was unanimously agreed. It was further agreed that consideration be given at the next meeting to including funding within the precept to complete further sections during the next financial year.
The Chairman advised that a request has been made by a member of the public for signage to be installed at the entrances to Abbey View Park, naming the park and indicating that the name was chosen by residents of the Parish. Accordingly, the Clerk and Chairman have begun investigating possible signs and the cost thereof. It was agreed that designs and prices be ascertained for consideration at the next meeting and that the clerk seek further guidance from the landowners Herefordshire Council with regard to signage envisaged if/when the public footpath is upgraded to a cycle way.
Members deferred consideration of this item to the next meeting and requested further information from the applicants as to usage of the service by residents within the Parish. Members noted forthcoming training events being offered by HALC. It was agreed that Councillor Loft and Councillor Cook should attend the presentation by Amey scheduled for 24th November. (a) Members noted that despite several requests, the footpath between the medical centre and Yarlington Mill has still not been swept. (b) Blocked drains in Silver Fir Close have now been cleared by Amey/Herefordshire Council (c) The holly bush by Belmont Pools has not been cut back as requested (d) The Chairman presented a brief report on activity within his role as District Councillor, including: · Liaising with Environment Protection Team of Herefordshire Council with reference to fly tipping in St. Becketts Mews, Glaston Bury Close, Flaxley Drive walk way and around Eastholme Court. · Responding to concerns raised by members of the public regarding the thinning of trees on Tesco roundabout and requesting inspection by Herefordshire Council · Responding to issues raised by members of the public regarding Tesco car park car washing and ownership of mini roundabout at Tesco, overgrown trees and repair of Dorchester Way spreed restriction ramp · Liaising with Herefordshire Council and Amey regarding maintenance of mown footpaths across Abbey View Park. (e) Members noted and thanked Councillor Myatt for his generous offer of £100 towards tree planting at Abbey View Park. During the final period of public participation, it was noted that the raised tarmac along footpath CH7 left behind when a bollard was removed has still not been dealt with and represents a considerable hazard in the dark evenings. The next meeting will be held on Thursday 3rd December at Northolme Community Centre, Northolme Road, Belmont, commencing at 7.15pm, and will include consideration of the precept for 2010-2011.
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