ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
Thursday 10th November 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 10th November 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
PRESENT: Cllrs. D Beechey (Chairman), G Beechey, R Blincoe, S Brown, N Hester, P Illes,
D Johnson, P Lusk, J MacLachlan, D Murray, J Nelson, S Pledger.
CLERK: M Ward.
PUBLIC SESSION:
No members of the public were in attendance.
1. APOLOGIES:
Cllrs. M Holden (a pre-booked engagement), M Pate (a prior engagement), S Pate (health reasons).
All of the apologies were accepted by the Council.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
Personal:
None.
Prejudicial:
None.
3. TO CONSIDER BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS AND SPENDING FOR 2009/10, 2010/11 AND 2011/12 AND PROPOSALS FOR A BUDGET FOR 2012/13:
A working party of Cllrs. D Beechey, Lusk and M Pate had met on 4th November 2011 and
considered the papers circulated to all members for their consideration. They recommended acceptance of the draft budget without alteration. Cllr Johnson asked members to consider the allocation to Christmas lights and pointed out that the Council needed to replace the existing cabling and bulbs with LED cabling and lights and the 800 metres required would cost app. £7,000. The expenses could be shared over a number of years if the full cost was not appropriate for a single budget. Cllr. Nelson also reminded members of the commitment to help the cricket club totalling app. £15,000 although no formal request for help had so far been received. If funding was to be found it would have to come from reserves as no allocation was made within the budget. A number of other budget heads were also discussed and Cllr. Pledger asked for clarification over office expenses. Cllr. Pledger proposed that the Council should authorise the funding of the new LED equipment for the Christmas lights in full to be paid from Council reserves and Cllr. Johnson should seek the maximum discount after the Christmas celebrations were over. The motion was seconded by Cllr. Blincoe and agreed by Council. Cllr. Lusk proposed that the draft budget for 2012/13 should be accepted in full which was seconded by Cllr. Blincoe and agreed by Council. The Clerk was thanked for his work in preparing the background papers associated with the budget for 2012/13.
Action: Cllr. Johnson to research the provision of LED lighting systems to replace the present equipment with a view to obtaining the maximum discount and ensuring that the agreed items are ordered in time for Christmas 2012.
4. TO DISCUSS AND AGREE THE PRECEPT ALLOCATION FROM SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL:
Cllr. Nelson argued that the Council could not keep financing new projects from reserves without raising more funding via the precept. The projects that have been discussed in recent meetings together with the provision of a new Flyer would see the level of reserves significantly reduce at the end of the current financial year and at some point the Council would have to increase its income to maintain the present level of support it gives to the community. Cllr. MacLachlan had some sympathy with this argument and felt that the public would support increased expenditure even in the present difficult economic climate. Cllr. Nelson proposed a 5% increase in the precept for 2012/13 but there was no seconder for the motion which was defeated. Cllr. Lusk agreed with many of the sentiments expressed but pointed out that no other public bodies such as the unitary authority and the police and fire services were increasing their bids. He would be more prepared to support an increased precept claim if it was attached to a specific development that had clear public support, rather than a general claim designed to protect the present level of reserves. Cllr. Pledger said that after listening to the arguments she was convinced that the precept should remain unchanged and proposed that the Council should keep its precept demand at the 2011/12 level (£92,500). The motion was seconded by Cllr. Murray and carried by Council with one member voting against the proposal.
5. TO REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR SECTION 137 GRANTS AND AGREE COUNCIL POLICY FOR FUTURE ALLOCATION:
Members discussed the present difficulties which faced the Grants Committee in deciding whether a grant application should be considered under present legislation or whether it qualified for section 137 support. This was not being done in any methodical manner and the wording in agendas and minutes associated with section 137 funding was not being used. Cllr. MacLachlan also felt that the Council had not taken steps to establish priorities for funding each year and consulted the public about them. One way this might be done was via the Annual Parish Council Meeting when the public could be given the chance to comment on suggestions from the Council. She also felt that some notes of guidance or a flow chart could be produced to assist the Grants Committee in deciding the correct status to a grant application. These suggestions were well received by members and Cllrs. D Beechey and MacLachlan, assisted by the Clerk agreed to look into the matter.
Action: Cllrs. D Beechey and MacLachlan plus the Clerk to meet and consider draft Notes of Guidance and/or a flow chart to assist the Grants Committee and the Council in allocating funding via section 137 or existing legislation and using appropriate wording in Council documentation. Draft documentation to be brought to a full Council meeting as soon as possible.
6. TO REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR THE ALLOCATION OF GRANTS OTHER THAN THOSE AWARDED AS PART OF SECTION 137 PROCEDURES:
Members felt that the above discussions had covered this matter and there was nothing further to add to the content of the debate on agenda item 5.
7. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE APC MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 24TH NOVEMBER 2011 AT 7.15 PM IN THE RED HOUSE:
Members agreed that the first discussion on the establishment of funding priorities and consultations with the public should be scheduled for the meeting on 24th November 2011.
8. TIMES AND DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS:
· Albrighton Traders Christmas Extravaganza Thursday 17th November 2011 at 6.30-9.00 in the High Street, Albrighton.
· Albrighton Parish Council meeting Thursday 24th November 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
· Switch on of the Christmas lights Sunday 4th December 2011 at 5.00 pm outside the Red House.
· Civic Service Sunday 11th December 2011 at 6.30 pm in St. Mary’s Church, Albrighton.
· Albrighton Parish Council meeting Thursday 15th December 2011 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
Signed..........................................................................Date........................................................
Chairman