Parish
council meeting
January 7 2010
Northolme Community Centre
|
BELMONT
RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
Parish
council meeting |
|
001/10 Declarations of Interest There were no Declarations of Interest. The Chairman explained that due to a change in procedures for dealing with planning applications within Herefordshire Council, District Council Ward Councillors were no longer able to vote on planning applications arising within their Ward and as such a Declaration of Interest for Parish Council meetings was no longer required.
Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd December have been circulated. It was agreed to authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes as a true record of proceedings at that meeting. (a) Repairs and Maintenance Due to other commitments, the schedule for repairs and maintenance was not circulated prior to Christmas. It was agreed that this be circulated before the next meeting. (b) Parish Plan Update Nick Sherwood from Localeyes has noted that response to the Localeyes training sessions was not well attended although there continues to be positive comment on the website which will be useful. A draft paper based questionnaire is being prepared and will be circulated amongst members for comment prior to the next meeting. (c) Playbuilder Proposals for Northolme Play Area Details of the actual plan for the area was passed to Members before Christmas. Work has now commenced. (d) Banking Arrangements Further details on proposed changes to banking arrangements will be available at the next meeting. (e) 2010-2011 Precept The precept request, as agreed at the last meeting, as been passed to Herefordshire Council. It was reiterated that estimated element within householders Council Tax pertaining to the parish precept within Belmont is in the region of £32.46 for the year for a Band D property for 2010-2011 (subject to final confirmation by Herefordshire Council) which is below the county average of £34.10 for a band D property for 2009-10. 004/10 Report from West Mercia Police/Parish Watch No representative from West Mercia Police was in attendance at the meeting but the Chairman, on behalf of Parish Watch, noted that there were few matters to be reported since the last meeting. A trials-type motorbike had been apparently dumped in undergrowth by the entrance to Abbey View Park at the Northolme Road end although there was no reports of it being stolen. It was noted that the next PACT meeting will be held on Tuesday 2nd February at 7pm at Belmont Community Centre. A copy of the West Mercia Police newsletter is to be circulated to Members. There were no members of the public in attendance so no matters raised under this agenda item. In addition to routine items of correspondence circulated to Members, the following items of correspondence have been received since the last meeting: · Letter from Herefordshire Council regarding the “Place Shaping” consultation which is an opportunity to contribute to the development of planning policies for the county. A launch event is planned at the Kindle Centre on 18th January with other sessions scheduled for later in the month and in February. Members were invited to notify the clerk if they wished to attend It was agreed that the Chief Forward Planning Officer be invited to briefly attend our next meeting in February to outline the impact of any proposals on the parish of Belmont Rural. · Letter advising that the public rights of way officer within Amey Herefordshire is Chris Gardiner. It was agreed that the Public Rights of Way Officer be invited to attend the Parish Council meeting to be held on 1st April in particular to discuss proposals to upgrade footpath CH7 to a cycleway where it crosses the Parish. (a) Payments Authority was given to make the following payments: Northolme Community
Centre Association Mr. N. Sherwood Cash (b) Receipts None since the last meeting. (c) Balances – after above transactions and agreed commitments Current account
£500.00 (a) Applications received since the last meeting The following application was received since the last meeting: Ref: DMCW092894/F (b) Notification of planning decisions received since last meeting Ref: DMCW091612/F Ref: DMCW092562/FH Ref: DMCW092474/FH The Clerk presented a revised expenditure forecast for this finance year 2009-2010, including an agreed expenditure of £5082 for the additional section of the footpath , as agreed at the last meeting. Estimates suggest a budget of approximately £30 - £35,000 for currently unidentified projects, i.e. items not identified in budget projection, for 2010 – 2011. It was agreed to consider allocating these funds to specific projects at the next meeting and in particular to consider whether to continue with the Parish Freighter and Newsletter in the forthcoming financial year. Members discussed in some detail a proposal to place an order to continue with the footpath project on Abbey View Park. Prior to the meeting, one section has been completed (referred to as section B – C in the original quotation), one section has been agreed and an order placed (section C – D) at a cost of some £5,032, although work is not expected to commence until March or April, when ground conditions improve. Discussion centred around section A – B at a cost of some £10,379. Members noted that contractors Amey has indicated that the quoted price will be held until 31st March of this year. Taking into account projected expenditure for this financial year, the Clerk noted that estimated reserves taken forward to 2010-2011 would be insufficient to meet the cost of this commitment; the shortfall being covered by the agreed precept for 2010-2011, half of which will be received in mid April 2010. Once an order for the work is placed, a note of this commitment must be added to the parish council accounts as at 31st March 2010. Noting the Clerk’s concerns and further concern from some Members that all reserves are to be committed to one project in one area of the Parish, it was proposed that the Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Clerk, be authorised to place an order for the footpath section A – B, subject to prior confirmation that the Parish Council has power to enter into a transaction prior to funds being received to cover the commitment. The Chairman declared the resolution to be unanimously agreed. (a) Rats have been reported in some areas. Householders need to arrange for exterminators with Herefordshire Council. There is a charge for this service. (b) Following recent icy weather, a request for grit bins, particularly on roads where there is a hill such as Dorchester Way and Silver Fir Close. Grit bins were provided in two locations by Herefordshire Council last year but were quickly vandalised and removed by Herefordshire Council. It was suggested that perhaps they could be placed in locations where they might serve a dual purpose of deterring parking on grass verges. It was agreed that this be an agenda item for the next meeting. The next meeting will be held on Thursday 18th February at Northolme Community Centre, Northolme Road, Belmont, commencing at 7.15pm.
|