CHACOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council held on
Monday, 9th May 2005 at 7.15pm in the Village Hall.
Present: Cllrs. Harper, Coates, Offers, White, Wyatt and Clerk.
Apologies: Cllr. Jenkins, Jones, Reid and Woolley.
Public Time.
Election of Chairman. Cllr. Harper was re-elected having been proposed by Cllr. White and seconded by Cllr. Offers.
Cllr. Harper signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
Election of Vice-chairman
As only five members were present it was agreed that the election of Vice-chairman would be postponed until the next meeting.
Reports from Councillors as representatives on other organisations.
Chacombe School. Cllr. Harper reported that the Board of Governors had met four times during the year. The governing body is made up of Rev. David Randell, one parent, two teachers, one local authority representative and nine foundation governors. Sub-committees have been established to cover Safety and Site, Finance, Staffing and Resources and Curriculum. * Mrs Kathleen Flower had produced a comprehensive report for the Annual Parish Meeting on 26th April and the Council agreed to adopt this report for the year. (* See APM minutes)
Allotments. Cllr. Harper reported that the Association rents the site from the Parish Council and this year all plots were let: eleven full size 90ı x 30ı and eight half plots. The maintenance of the site entails weed killing the track and car park, mowing grass paths and trimming the laid hedge. We are fortunate in having farmyard manure delivered as required from Wardington, in consequence, the fertility of the site must be improving.
Village Hall. As Cllr. Woolley could not be present it was proposed that the Council accept the report given by Mr Chris Bleach at the APM.
Progress (or lack of) regarding disabled toilets because of no funding being available from the lottery has meant that the committee is thinking of scaling down the project. It is hoped that a local builder may be helpful. It is anticipated that residents will be kept informed through the Chimes of any news.
Sponsorship of individuals on the Village Hall Walk helps to raise money and it is hoped that extra funds can be raised from some quiz nights planned for later in the year.
The heaters have been replaced and now operate on a 7 day timer so it is possible for the timer to be set in advance to ensure that the hall is warm.
Playing Fields. The Council agreed to accept the report presented by Cllr. Jones at the APM.It has been a quiet year with a small income. Routine maintenance has been carried out but it is now necessary to re-pay the £3000 loaned to the Committee by a benefactor which enabled earlier completion of the Skateboard Ramp. As is the case with many volunteer groups, the committee is desperate for a few more members.
Chacombe School: Cllr. Harper
Allotments: Cllr. Harper
Adoption of Standing Orders
Cllr. White proposed that the Orders be adopted, was seconded by Cllr. Offers and agreed by the Council.
Financial statement: Year ending 31st March 2005
The Council agreed to accept the report given by the Clerk to the Annual Parish Meeting on 26th April. The Council had not received an invoice from Powergen since July 2004 and the Clerk agreed to make enquiries.
Expenditure Income
101162 VOY Competition £15.00
101163 ACRE Membership £31.00
101164 ABB £126.22
101165 David Grainger £146.88
101166 Jeffs Coaches (March) £120
101167 D Cochrane £180.03
101168 Clerkıs expenses £20.09
Direct Debit CPRE £25 paid on 21st April)
Authorise: Allianz Cornhill £659.45, Chacombe Church £250 and Jeffs Coaches (April) £80.00
Northampton & County Age Concern Village Contact Scheme
NACRE Village Survey 2005 questionnaire to be filled in
NCC/Atkins Repıs Review April 2005
East Midlands Regional Assembly Consultation: Proposals for a review of the East Midlands Regional Plan
HLB AV Audit Auditor Briefing and Survey response required
ODPM West Northamptonshire Urban Development Corporation Consultation paper - reply by 27th June
Clerks & Councils Direct Issue 39 May 2005
BTCV Offer of services to the community e.g. Public Rights of Way management and ³Wellyboot² publication
NALC i) Regional Conference for Clerks and Councillors on Friday 17th June 10.30 3.30pm at Loughborough organised by NALC/SLCC
ii) ³ The Playing Field²
iii) Skate nı Play Conference Saturday 11th June
iv) ³Update² April - May. Copy will be included in monthly reading folder
Chris White In response to a complaint about noisy cockerels the number of birds had been reduced and the remainder had been re-located further away.
Cllr. Chris Reid Letter of resignation
Mr P Whitehead request to site a bench at the bottom of Thornhill in memory of his daughter
Fiona. The Parish Council approved the request and Mr Whitehead would be asked to contact Highways for permission.
SNC i) Notes of the Parish & Town Councilıs Planning Forum held on 16 March. Next meeting at SNC Wednesday 15 June. 6.00pm for 6.15pm
ii) Notification of Parliamentary Election Daventry Constituency on 5 May poster
iii) Draft Housing Market Study and Needs Assessment 2005
iv) Chillout Scheme availability of grants towards the cost of loft and cavity wall insulation now funded by British Gas
v) Local Development Framework (2001- 2021): Submission Consultation on the Statement of Community Involvement
vi) Environmental Protection Team Update including quarterly report on the work of the Animal Welfare Officer for Jan March, Micro-chipping events, Poop Scoop bins, Litter posters and bookmarks re: Pest Control Service
vii) Guidance on Lobby and Campaign Groups and Dual Hatted Members pocket guide distributed
viii) Notification of County Council Election for Middleton Cheney Electoral Division poster
ix) Trafalgar Weekend 21 23 October guide to taking part
x) ³Housing 4 U² publication
Brochures: Nomow - synthetic surface for recreation and play, Wicksteed Leisure - play equipment and Glasdon - litter bins etc
SNC Planning applications week ending: 6/04/05, 13/04/05, 20/04/05, 27/04/05 and 4/05/05 e-mailed
Insurance
The Council agreed to pay the Allianz Cornhill annual premium of £659.45 after it was proposed by Cllr. White and seconded by Cllr. Wyatt.
Risk Assessment
The Clerk had drafted a proposal for discussion. Did the insurance policy cover volunteers on parish duties? Further discussion would take place at the next meeting. Update: Volunteers were only covered if asked by the Parish Council and provided with equipment by the Parish Council to carry out specific tasks.
Clerkıs Salary and Contract of Employment
The Clerkıs salary has been set at £1500 since March 2003 and she is contracted to work 150 hours per year. (2.88 hours per week)
In the light of a more professional approach to the setting of the Clerkıs salary and appropriate remuneration for the work undertaken, the following is proposed:
The following is an estimate of the minimum hours per month spent on Parish Council duties.
|
|
Population |
Servicing Meetings |
Financial Management |
Admin Work |
Other Work |
Total |
|
A |
251 500 |
6 |
4 |
4.25 |
4 |
18.25 |
|
B |
501 - 800 |
7.25 |
4.50 |
4.50 |
7.25 |
23.50 |
LC1 SCP 24 £9.903 per hour
A) 219 hours per year Annual pay £2168.75 4.21 hours per week
B) 282 hours per year Annual pay £2792.64 5.42 hours per week
Chacombe has 525 on the electoral register taking it just into the second band. An average of the two bands would be 250.5 hours per year producing an annual salary of £2480.70. The Clerk would be contracted to work 4.82 hours per week
Although the job description for the majority of Clerks to small Parish Councils would fit into Profile 1, Chacombe holds 11-12 meetings per year which takes it into Profile 3, therefore Profile 2 should be considered as a more appropriate level.
The Council agreed to increase the Clerkıs salary to £2480 per year to be paid in four quarterly instalments at the end of June, September, December and March after it was proposed by Cllr. White and seconded by Cllr. Wyatt.
Although working hours and salary were agreed the new contract of employment could not be signed until further discussion had taken place as to whether the Clerk should be reimbursed for use of home as an office, provision of computer etc. These proposals were set out in the new contract which would be circulated again to councillors before the next meeting.
SNC Planning Applications
S/2005/0413/LB Repositioning of internal wall and formation of new doorway to form new bathroom and the opening of attic space to form galleried bedroom at Vine Cottage. The Council had no objections.
S/2005/0430/P Change of use from workshop to office and the addition of one window at 2 Wesley Place. The Council had no objections.
S/2004/1524/P Amended plans at 20 Bennett Close. The Council had no objections.
S/2005/0532/P Change of use from agricultural land to garden (retrospective) at 58 Thornhill This application had been received too late to be included on the agenda but the Chairman considered it to be relatively straight forward and as the Council would not meet again until after the deadline for a response, it was agreed to discuss the matter at this time.
The Council had no objections.
Village of the Year Competition
The fact that the village had been informed via The Chimes about entering this competition it was suggested that posters displayed in the village would help to remind residents. Cllr. Coates volunteered to produce seven posters for the notice-boards and the George & Dragon. Cllr. Harper, Cllr. Woolley and the Clerk will meet the judges, Nelleke Wouters and Brenda Shaw and give a short presentation and a guided tour of the village on 27th May from 10.00am - 12.00noon. Cllrs. White and Wyatt could also be available if required
AOB
1. Dates of meetings for 2005 - 2006 were distributed.
2. Cllr Coates commented that as a result of Operation Springclean it was evident that much of the litter in Middleton Road was concentrated around the Golf Course. The Golf Course would be asked if they could do something to help reduce the problem.
Meeting closed at 9.25 pm.
The next meeting will be held on 6th June 2005 at 7.15pm.
pcmn093AGM/ss 31/5/05