ALBRIGHTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
Thursday 21st May 2009 at 7.00 pm in the Red House
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 21st May 2009 at 7.00 pm in the Red House.
PRESENT:Cllrs. P Lusk (Chair), D Beechey (Vice Chair), G Beechey, R Blincoe,
M Holden, P Illes, R Kidson, D Johnson, D Murray, J Nelson, M Pate, S Pate,
S Pledger.
Cllrs. R Balkwill, N Hester.
Cllr. M Pate proposed that Cllr P Lusk should be elected to the Chair, seconded by Cllr. D Beechey. There being no other candidates Cllr. P Lusk was elected unopposed.
Cllr Lusk signed the acceptance of office form.
Cllr. M Holden proposed that Cllr. S Pledger should be elected as Vice Chairman seconded by Cllr. S Pate.
Cllr. R Blincoe proposed that Cllr. D Beechey should be elected as Vice Chairman seconded by Cllr. D Murray.
After a secret ballot Cllr. D Beechey was elected Vice Chairman by a majority of 8 – 4 (one member arriving late for the election).
Cllr. D Beechey signed the acceptance of office form
Cllr M Pate moved that the Council should accept the block appointment to committees currently in place seconded by Cllr. D Beechey. With the agreement that Cllr. Blincoe should serve on the Southern Area Forum this was agreed by the meeting. The Joint Leisure Partnership should continue as at present and the Clerk was asked to circulate a full list of committee appointments at the next meeting.
The Chair presented the Statement of Accounts presented to the Internal Auditor which showed a balance of £145,843 for total cash and investments. Cllr. M Pate moved that the Statement of Accounts be accepted which was seconded by Cllr. S Pate and agreed by the meeting.
The regulations concerning deeds and valuables of the Parish Council were noted.
No members of the public were in attendance.
Personal:
None.
Prejudicial:
Cllr. G Beechey declared a prejudicial interest in item 14
Cllr M Pate declared a prejudicial interest in item 14
Cllr S Pate declared a prejudicial interest in item 14
Minutes of 16th April 2009:
The sentence in the item on the Parish Flyer which read “The council had been offered a £5,000 p.a. grant to provide free travel for holders of bus passes and the disabled which would be a great majority of the Flyer’s customers” was amended to read “The Council had been offered a £5,000 p.a. grant for running the Flyer plus a grant for free travel with an initial payment of £2,000 for holders of bus passes and the disabled which would be the great majority of the Flyer’s customers.”
The reference to the Crime Prevention Panel in the section on the Shropshire Partnership Southern Area Forum was amended to the Crime and Disorder Task Group.
With these two amendments Cllr. M Pate proposed that the minutes were a true and accurate record which was seconded by Cllr. Blincoe and unanimously approved by the Council.
Minutes of 7th May 2009:
Cllr. D Beechey proposed that the minutes were a true and accurate record which was seconded by Cllr. M Pate and unanimously approved.
Cllr. Pledger asked about the payments to the drivers of the Parish Flyer. The Chair explained that the Transport Group had agreed that the drivers should be paid in cash weekly, that users of the Flyers should be registered as members and those travelling with a bus pass must sign a ticket. Early use of the new system indicated increased use of the Flyer and the situation would need to be kept under careful review.
Cllr. M Pate informed members of parking problems in Wolverley Court and the fact that the tarmac was prone to melting in hot weather. The meeting agreed that the road would need attention in the near future and to order two new signs saying residents parking only
RESOLVED: The clerk to liaise with Cllr M Pate and order appropriate signs from Enterprise and oversee their installation.
Permission granted:
FUL/09/0083 Conversion of existing building into a dwelling including the erection of a single storey extension Cosford Grange, Holyhead Road, Shifnal.
Received and noted.
FUL/09/0095 Erection of a first floor side extension 7 Old Hall Close, Albrighton.
Received and noted.
FUL/09.0059 Erection of a stable block at Beamish Lane, Albrighton.
Received and noted.
FUL/09/0107 Erection of a single storey extension 37 Lyncroft, Albrighton.
Received and noted.
Cllr. M Pate raised the matter of a building being erected near the Horns of Boningale which appeared to be a much more substantial building than a stable which had been originally proposed. Cllr. Murray informed the Council that the enforcement officer was already aware of the concern and members should monitor this development and liaise as appropriate. It was noted that the building concerned is in Boningale Parish.
Cllr. Nelson also raised the matter of the upstairs accommodation over the former building society in the High Street, Albrighton which now appeared to be a flat for residential use which was not part of the original planning application.
Resolved: The Clerk to contact the enforcement officer and ask for an investigation into this matter.
DCAE COSFORD REPORT:
Mo Asham was not present at the meeting but a report was circulated on latest developments at Cosford which was duly noted. Cllr. Johnson informed the meeting that the Vulcan was supposed to be coming to the air show on 14th June and Cllr Kidson described Sqn. Ldr. Lee’s involvement with Patshull Green which included the use of cadets doing a survey and providing labour. A contractor had agreed to do work on the green to a value of £400 and a painting had been completed showing the area as it should look when the work was finished.
It was agreed to put this item on the next agenda.
.
P.C. Salt was not present and no report was available due to technical problems with the police computer. Cllr. Pledger recorded her disappointment at the absence and the Clerk agreed to write a short note hoping he would be able to attend at the next meeting. The Council was informed that the Youth Drop-in Centre was due to open on 22nd May and Councillors were invited to attend the inaugural session.
The Council asked Cllr. M Pate to give a report from Shropshire Council. He reported that the transition from District Councils to the unitary Shropshire Council on 1st April had generally gone well although there had been some problems with planning which have now been overcome. Extra resources had been provided to man the call centre which had been very heavily used and the Clerk would shortly be getting an internal directory which should speed up communication between the Councils. Cllr.Illes reported that he had met with the Clerk and the first stage of producing a leaflet for residents with key contact details had been completed. Cllr. Kidson expressed his anxiety about the maintenance costs of the nature reserve.
It was agreed that future agendas would have a regular Unitary Authority Report.
The Council received and noted the end of year finance statement which had now gone to the Internal Auditor. Members went through the Annual Governance Statement section by section and Cllr. M Pate moved that all of the sections applied to the Council’s finance procedures in full and “yes” reply could be given for submission to the external auditors. The motion was seconded by Cllr. S Pate and unanimously approved. Cllr. D Beechey proposed that the sum of £5,460 be granted to the Scouts and Guides for the refurbishment of the Den which was seconded by Cllr. M Pate and agreed by the Council. Cllr. Murray proposed that the Council should continue its insurance with Allianz Insurance have investigations had produced no better offer with two other insurance companies. The motion was seconded by Cllr. Nelson and unanimously agreed.
Cheques for approval:
The Chair went over the procedures for the Flyer again and explained the need for four post dated cheques to meet the drivers’ wages. Discussion took place with regard to the possibility of paying the drivers by cheque and Cllr. Murray suggested that an account be opened so that the wages could be paid direct into it. It was agreed to keep the matter under close scrutiny and place the item on the next agenda.
The cheque for the PAYE/NI was explained to the Council. It covered the employer’s National Insurance payment which had been omitted from the revenue payments during the last financial year. This late payment could mean that the budget for PAYE/NI could be exceeded at the end of the 2009/10 financial year.
After these explanations Cllr. Blincoe proposed that the cheques should be paid in full and the motion was seconded by Cllr. Murray and unanimously agreed by the Council.
Cllr. G Beechey asked about the furniture belonging to the Council and housed in the Red House. The Clerk reported his conversation with a member of the Management Committee that the furniture was upstairs in the Red House but was falling into disrepair and if it was to be kept it would need some repair. It would need to be moved when the refurbishment of the Red House began. Cllr. Blincoe said he knew a local resident who would be able to inspect the furniture and undertake any repairs where needed. The Council agreed that Cllr. Blincoe should take the necessary steps regarding an inspection and estimate of repairs to the furniture.
Members agreed that the meeting to consider the traffic problems at Newhouse Lane and Cross Road at the beginning and end of the school day needed to be organised by the police. Cllr. Blincoe reported that the Social Club had not changed its position and still refused to allow any use of its car park and Cllr. Holden supported the use of the lay-by in front of the bungalows in Cross Road.
Resolved: The Clerk to contact the police with the name of the Council representatives willing to take part in a discussion on traffic congestion at Newhouse Lane and Cross Road to be organised by the police.
The Chair informed members again about the NALC annual conference in September 2009. No Councillor wished to attend.
Councillors reported that there some evidence of refurbishment taking place at the cottage on the bend in Newhouse Lane although the property had been uninhabited for several years. Cllr. M Pate agreed to look further into the matter to see if more information could be made available regarding ownership and future use.
Cllr D Beechey reported that the summer playscheme planning was proceeding satisfactorily and interviews were shortly to be held for the last member of staff. Consideration was being given to maximum numbers and the future fees which would need to be considered for 2010.
Cllr. Nelson reported that the Council offer of funding up to £10,000 and a further offer of up to £20,000 for the lift, subject to the surrender of the Old School lease, had become an expectation. The Red House committee was still short of £11.000 although Donington Parish Council had agreed to pay £2,420 of this sum as its 22% share of the shortfall. Grant applications had failed to produce additional funding and the other source of income, the sale of the Old School, was a declining asset in the present economic climate. Cllr. Nelson suggested that the best way forward was a meeting with members of the Management Committee with both Parish Councils so that a full update could be provided regarding the funding of the refurbishment and the sale of the Old School. Cllr. Pledger seconded this proposal and the Council agreed to set up a meeting on 1st June at 7.30 pm in the Red House. Cllr. Nelson agreed to make the arrangements.
Cllr. Nelson also reported that the revised deed of surrender for the Old School was unconditional and he had forwarded it to a solicitor for advice.
Cllr. Nelson informed members that they would be receiving a request for a grant from Albrighton Cricket Club to improve the shower and changing room facilities. It was agreed that the matter would be discussed by the Joint Leisure Partnership when the application was received.
War Memorial:
Cllr. Johnson reported that all of the paperwork relating to the war memorial was now with Land Registry. It was necessary for a representative of Land Registry to make a site visit which would require a fee of £30.00.
Football Club:
Cllr. Lusk reported that no funding had been given to help the Football Club with drainage works and there had been no response from the YOF. The Council had agreed to meet any shortfall in funding. Cllr. M Pate said that the application to the YOF needed checking and the Council should not make a grant until the status of the application was known. The Council agreed to release a grant to cover any shortfall once Cllr. M Pate had investigated the status of the YOF grant.
The Chair reported that the accounts from the Footpath Group had been received.
Skip in Abney Avenue:
The Chair restated the position of the Council regarding the plastics skip in Abney Avenue and suggested that it could be moved to the land occupied by Barhale at the end of Worthington Drive. Concern was expressed over a resident’s complaint about damage to his fence in Abney Avenue and nuisance caused by impromptu football games using the skip as a goal and the Chair agreed to contact the person concerned and explain the situation. It was likely that the skip would only be temporary and the situation would need to be reviewed once Veolia began a plastics collection as part of their routine schedule of waste disposal. The Chair agreed to work with the Clerk to investigate the removal of the skip to Worthington Drive.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.10 pm.
Signed………………………………………Date……………………………………….
Chairman