ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
Thursday 17th December 2009 at 7.15 pm in the Red House
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17th December 2009 at 7.15 pm in the Red House.
PRESENT: Cllrs. P Lusk (Chair), D Beechey (Vice Chair), R Balkwill, G Beechey,
N Hester, M Holden, P Illes, R Kidson, J MacLachlan, D Murray, J Nelson, M Pate,
S Pledger.
PUBLIC SESSION:
No members of the public were in attendance. The Chair thanked Ms M Medlyn and Cllr. Pledger for the refreshments prior to the meeting.
The Chair welcomed Cllr. J MacLachlan to her first meeting and wished her every success during her time of service on the council. Cllr. MacLachlan had been given a Welcome File by the clerk prior to the meeting.
Cllrs. D Johnson, S Pate.
Personal:
None.
Prejudicial:
Cllr. Balkwill declared a prejudicial interest in item 17.
Cllr. Nelson declared a prejudicial interest in item 17.
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting 19th November 2009:
Cllr. D Beechey proposed that the minutes were a true and accurate record which was seconded by Cllr. Murray and unanimously approved.
Minutes of the Parish Council Planning meeting 3rd December 2009
The sentence on page 4:
“Cllr. Hester gave a brief update on the proposals to develop a new medical centre in the south of the village and the Chair agreed with members that the Christmas dinner should be arranged for 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm start”
was amended to:
“Cllr. Hester gave a brief update on the proposals to develop a new medical centre in the south of the village. The Chair agreed with members that the Christmas dinner should be arranged for 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm start”.
With this amendment Cllr. D Beechey proposed that the minutes were a true and accurate record which was seconded by Cllr. Holden and unanimously approved.
Cllr. Nelson thanked the clerk for the high standard of the council minutes.
The clerk reported that the seat that had been missing from Kingswood Road as reported by Cllr. Hester had been removed by Gas Alliance in order to complete their work on the new gas main and had been placed in storage. The seat would be replaced once the work was completed in 2010.
Cllr. D Beechey reported back on the Rural Community Engagement document from Shropshire Council that he had agreed to follow up on behalf of the council. Albrighton was classified as a key centre which he felt merited support although Cllr. Pate was concerned about the status of Donington. Cllr. Beechey had produced a draft reply to the county initiative and a number of amendments were suggested including the removal of the reference to the German geographer, the inclusion of an item on the lack of parking and open space, the addition of Cosford and Birchfield School to the list in paragraph 2 and the addition of non sporting organisations to the list of activities. Cllr. D Beechey agreed to amend his draft reply to take account of these suggestions and forward it to the clerk who would send it to Lois Dale on behalf of the council.
Planning applications:
09/03263/FUL Erection of a single storey extension to dwelling Meere Barn, Newhouse Lane. Albrighton
The council gave its support to this application subject to green belt policy.
09/0381/TPO Remove one sycamore tree for safety reasons. Decay in main trunk which could cause failure 15 Redford Drive, Albrighton.
No objections.
09/03644/FUL Change of use from Hotel, including part demolition to provide two residential properties Lea Manor Hotel, Holyhead Road, Albrighton.
Cllr. Nelson suggested that as this was a significant application which needed careful attention the county should be asked for an extension to the consultation period so that it could be properly considered at the planning meeting on 7th January 2010. The proposal was seconded by Cllr. Murray.
Cllr. D Beechey moved an amendment that the application should be refused on the grounds that it was a development in green belt land. The amendment was seconded by Cllr. Pate but defeated by a vote of 8 - 4. The original proposal was then agreed by the council and the clerk was asked to write to the county asking for the extended consultation period.
09/03696/FUL Erection of a dwelling and associated access The Hollies, 18 Cross Road, Albrighton.
Cllr. Nelson proposed that this application should also be deferred to January 7th in order to provide sufficient time for council consideration. The proposal was seconded by Cllr. Kidson and agreed by members. The clerk was asked to write to the county asking for an extended consultation period.
No representative of DCAE Cosford was available and there was no report to present to Councillors.
Cllr. Murray reported that the Civic Society wished to improve each of the access points to the village by suitable planting and maintenance and it had been agreed that they should write to the Air Commodore and ask for assistance with this project. Cllr Murray also suggested that the council should write to the Secretary of State suggesting that the proposed transfer of the college to St. Athan should be deferred because of the economic situation. The council agreed this suggestion and the clerk was asked to write as outlined.
PC Salt was not available but a report on crime figures with an explanatory sheet was distributed to Councillors. PC Salt drew attention to an increase in burglaries, some of which were from garages with an integral door to the house. Violent crime was also on the increase but this covered a wide range of offences such as harassment.
Cllr. Pate reported that there would be a 3.5% increase in Council tax in the Albrighton area in order to rationalise the rates across the whole county. The Deputy Leader of the cabinet had been removed from the cabinet. There had also been discussion on the housing stock inherited from Bridgnorth District Council
There had been further discussion on the parking problems in Newhouse Lane and the Head Teacher of the Newhouse Lane Primary School had made it clear that she did not want the school bus on the school premises. A parking place on Cross Road was being investigated and the zigzags were to be extended. Cllr. Kidson had made two further suggestions to try and produce a solution to the problem which would be followed up a further meeting. The council agreed that this matter should now be left to the school to try and resolve with the county.
3rd quarter bank reconciliation:
The chair reported that this had been discussed at the Finance Committee meeting earlier in the day and agreed. Cllr. Pate proposed that it should be accepted as a true reflection of the council’s finances which was seconded by Cllr. Murray and agreed by members.
Cheques for approval:
A list of 18 cheques for payment was presented for approval. Cllr. Pate proposed that they should be approved which was seconded by Cllr. D Beechey and unanimously approved by council.
|
Date |
Cheque Number |
Payee |
Amount |
|
03.12.09 |
2559 |
Taylor York, carol service invitations |
£97.75 |
|
03.12.09 |
2560 |
Cash, petty cash |
£100.00 |
|
01.12.09 |
2561 |
JC & SC Nelson, office rent |
£583.34 |
|
07.12.09 |
2562 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
£223.00 |
|
14.12.09 |
2563 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
£323.00 |
|
21.12.09 |
2564 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
£203.00 |
|
28.12.09 |
2565 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
£166.00 |
|
04.01.10 |
2566 |
Flyer contractor, bus pass refund |
£83.00 |
|
17.12.09 |
2567 |
BT Internet payment services |
£120.68 |
|
17.12.09 |
2568 |
Albright Electrical, Christmas lights |
£3950.00 |
|
17.12.09 |
2569 |
Keith Gibson, Flyer fuel and service |
£646.61 |
|
17.12.09 |
2570 |
Clerk, December salary |
£1036.99 |
|
17.12.09 |
2571 |
Village Warden, December salary |
£135.16 |
|
17.12.09 |
2572 |
Litter Warden, December salary |
£64.00 |
|
17.12.09 |
2573 |
D Beechey, travel expenses |
£14.68 |
|
17.12.09 |
2574 |
BT, office telephone bill |
£135.43 |
|
17.12.09 |
2575 |
Nationwide Platforms, Christmas lights |
£603.89 |
|
17.12.09 |
2576 |
Balti Bazaar, guest Christmas dinners |
£60.00 |
The Chair presented a draft budget for the 2010/11 financial year. He pointed out that the reserves of £140,000 at the start of the present financial year were likely to decline to app. £70,000 by the end of March and further decline to app. £50,000 by the end of the 2010/11 year. The council would not be able to be as generous as in the past although the draft budget did include sums for the cricket club changing rooms and the draining of Donington pool and included a rise of 3.55% in the precept. Cllr Pledger asked about two codes, numbers 4007 and 4012 and Cllr. Kidson reported that the leisure items in the budget depended upon future cooperation with Donington who still had some reservations about future joint ventures although they have paid their agreed contribution for the current year.
Cllr Kidson said that he felt that a precept bid of 3.55% was too small and he quoted band D income for councils of a similar size in the county. He suggested that a 9.4% increase would be entirely justifiable and would not impose a burden on local taxpayers. Cllr Nelson agreed and pointed out that the reserves that the council had built up over the years had allowed them to fund a variety of significant projects. The reserves were now significantly declining and would decline further and a precept if 3.55% would be backward step. Cllr. Pate was totally opposed to such a large increase and felt it was inappropriate to build up reserves at a time of economic stringency and could not be justified to residents. Cllr. D Beechey agreed and said that were often good reasons why different councils had different level of precept. If an urgent need arose the council could borrow money if it was necessary but should not increase the precept simply to add to reserves. Cllr. Murray suggested that it was precisely because of national cutbacks that the council’s reserves needed to be substantiated but Cllr. Hester was concerned that large reserves could lead to profligacy. Cllr. Balkwill suggested that residents will increasingly feel the squeeze from cuts at national level and localism meant that local organisations needed to look after themselves. Cllr. Pledger stressed that the council needed to keep money for small, local organisations and help them in their work when needed.
At the end of the discussion Cllr. Kidson proposed that the precept be increased by 9.4% which was seconded by Cllr. Nelson. Cllr. Pate proposed an amendment to the motion that the precept be increased by 3.55% which was seconded by Cllr. Illes. The amendment was defeated by 7 votes to 5. Cllr. Pate asked that the voting on the substantive resolution be recorded which resulted in Cllrs. Balkwill, Hester, Kidson, Lusk, MacLachlan, Murray, Nelson and Pledger voting for a 9.4% increase in the precept and Cllrs. D Beechey, G Beechey, Holden, Illes and Pate voting against (8 – 5 in favour).
The 2010/11 budget with the amendment of a 9.4% increase in the precept was agreed.
The list of items still outstanding from earlier agendas still requiring resolution which had been previously circulated was tabled. Members felt it was a useful addition and helped to prevent unresolved issues being forgotten. Two additional items were added – dog fouling and the pedestrian refuge at the junction of Shaw Lane and High Street. The Clerk would keep the list up-to-date and circulate it to Councillors for regular review.
Members noted that the Albrighton Traders Association had written to Barclays Bank expressing alarm at the proposed closure of its branch in Station Road, Albrighton in March 2010. Councillors also felt that the closure was a retrograde step, particularly now that the village centre was clear of works, when more housing in the village was proposed and it would leave the community with only one bank and one cash machine. Cllr, Pate proposed that the council write to Barclays expressing its deep concern and the proposal was seconded by Cllr Beechey and unanimously agreed. The clerk was asked to produce a letter on behalf of the council at the earliest opportunity expressing the disappontment of members.
A letter from Shropshire Council reminding members of the need to register their interest in line with the Code of Conduct had been previously circulated. The contents of the letter were noted.
Cllr. Kidson briefed members with regard to Mr Chris Edward’s letter on behalf of Shropshire Council. He is coordinating the agreement with regard to the licence to plant and he had enclosed an application form for a grant of up to £3,000 p.a. for maintenance. The council approved Cllr. Kidson’s continuing negotiations over the planting licence and maintenance grant.
Cllr. D Beechey reminded members that former District Council officers would walk around the council estates with appropriate Councillors in order to review the environment and receive feedback from residents. The unitary council intended to continue this practice and Cllr. D Beechey encouraged colleagues to accompany officers when visits were made to Albrighton. Councillors agreed this practice and the clerk was asked to write to the county asking that the parish council be informed of any proposed visits so that members could be involved providing this was agreeable to tenants.
Cllrs. Balkwill and Nelson left the meeting for this item. The chair informed members that the council had originally proposed that items of equipment for the nursery should be paid for through the parish office so that VAT could be avoided on purchases. However, educational items were exempt from VAT and so the suggested advantage would not apply. It had been suggested by the nursery that it would be more appropriate to hand over a grant and leave the nursery to complete its own purchasing without involving the parish office. Cllr. Pledger felt, however, that it was useful to keep a “hands on” involvement and she proposed that the present system should be retained. Cllr. Pate seconded the proposal which was agreed by the council.
There were no reports from Councillors;
The chair went through the items of correspondence which were received and noted. The council was informed that the Southern Area Partnership had given a £7,000 grant to the Live at Home scheme.
Cllr Pledger thanked the chair for organising the Christmas dinner for members of the council. There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.50 pm.
Signed……………………………………………..Date…………………………………
Chairman