ANNUAL MEETING
IN WALTON VILLAGE HALL
Present:
Cllr R Bennett (Chairman)
Cllr I Bearne
Cllr (Mrs) S Francis
Cllr (Mrs) B Holt
Cllr R Jenkins
Cllr R Morton
Cllr J Remon
In Attendance: Mrs L Harrington-Jones (Clerk)
PC S Thornton
Cllr Trevor Reeves (Stafford Borough Council)
Mr C H Kelly (Legal Advisor)
Mr K C Kelly (Legal Advisor)
And 2 members of the public
Apologies were received from:
Cllr J Francis
Cllr (Mrs) M Grayson
Cllr B Martin
Cllr Len Bloomer (Staffordshire County Council)
Cllr F Finlay , Stafford Borough Council
Mr C Kelly took the chair. Cllr Bearne proposed and Cllr S Francis seconded that Cllr Bennett continue to serve as Chairman of Berkswich Parish Council and this was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Bennett took the chair, thanked Councillors for their continued confidence in him, and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
AM120 Election of Vice Chairman of Berkswich Parish Council for 2010/2011
Cllr Bearne proposed and Cllr S Francis seconded that Cllr Remon continue to serve as Vice Chairman of Berkswich Parish Council and this was unanimously agreed.
AM121 Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Berkswich Parish Council held on 5 May 2009
The minutes of the Annual Meeting of Berkswich Parish Council held on 5 May 2009 had been accepted as a true and accurate record at the meeting of the Parish Council held on 2 June 2009.
AM122 Election/Co-option of the Legal Affairs Working Group
Mr C H Kelly and Mr K C Kelly confirmed that they were happy to continue as Legal Affairs Advisors and it was agreed unanimously that they should do so. Cllr Bennett thanked Messrs C and K Kelly for all the work they had done to assist the Parish Council in the past and stated on behalf of the Council how much their efforts were appreciated.
AM123 Election of Finance Working Group
Cllrs Morton and Holt confirmed they were happy to continue as members of the Finance Working Group, and after discussion Councillors agreed that the Group should function with two members for the time being.
AM124 Election of Planning Sub Committee
It was agreed that Cllrs Bearne, J Francis, Grayson and Jenkins should continue as the Planning Working Group.
AM125 Election/Co-option of Footpaths and Hedges Working Group
It was agreed unanimously that Cllrs Holt and Martin, together with a co-opted volunteer, Mrs D Johnson, should continue as the Footpaths and Hedges Working Group.
AM126 Election of Parish Plan Working Group
The Parish Plan Working Group was currently dormant. After discussion Councillors agreed to reconsider the situation when the Parish Council was closer to achieving Quality Parish status.
AM127 Election of Parish Maintenance Working Group
Cllr Holt no longer wished to continue as a member of the Working Group. After discussion it was agreed that Cllrs Bennett, J Francis and Remon should continue as the Maintenance Working Group.
AM128 Election of Quality Parish Working Group
After discussion it was agreed that Cllrs Bearne, Bennett, J Francis, Jenkins and the Clerk should continue as the Quality Parish Working Group.
AM129 Election of 4 Councillors to sign cheques and Bank documents
It was agreed that Cllrs Bearne, Remon, Martin and S Francis should continue to be eligible to sign cheques and Bank documents. Councillors discussed the implications of proposals to implement electronic banking and agreed to monitor the situation.
AM130 Election of Trustee to serve on the Village Hall Management Committee
Cllr Holt confirmed that she was happy to continue as Trustee to the Village Hall Management Committee, and Councillors agreed that she should do so.
AM131 Election of Governor of Berkswich Primary School
Cllr Remon confirmed that he was happy to continue as Governor of Berkswich Primary School and Councillors agreed that he should do so.
There being no other business, the Chairman closed the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.
Annual Parish Meeting
Those present as above
APM095 Welcome and introduction
Cllr Bennett welcomed everyone to the meeting.
The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting of Berkswich Parish Council held on 5 May 2009 had been accepted as a true and accurate record at the Parish Council meeting held on 2 June 2009.
Cllr Bennett read the Chairman’s Annual Report, copy attached.
Copies of reports by the Legal Affairs Group, Finance Working Group, Quality Working Group, Footpaths and Hedges Working Group, Parish Maintenance Working Group, Trustee on the Village Hall Management Committee, Governor of Berkswich Primary School and Chairman of Best Kept Village Committee had been distributed and were taken as read. Further copies were available for members of the public.
APM099 Financial Statement.
A copy of the unaudited Financial Statement showing a balance of funds received and funds paid out had been discussed and approved at the meeting of Berkswich Parish Council held on 13 April 2010. Further copies were available for parishioners.
There were no questions from any members of the public. Cllr S Francis commented on the recent work to reduce the height of the sycamore trees at the top of School Lane, and Councillors agreed the contractors had carried out the work very well.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending. There being no other business, the Chairman closed the Annual Parish Meeting.
Parish Council Meeting
Those attending as above
2316 Public Question Time
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. A member of the public raised the condition of the grass bank at the bottom of Kitlings Lane, including its reduction in height following recent work by Severn Trent Water Authority (STWA) and the quantity of stones left in the grass. The Clerk reported that she had a site meeting with representatives from STWA the following morning.
Action: Clerk
There were no further matters raised by members of the public.
2317 Crime Report for April 2010
PC Thornton reported that items had been stolen from a shed at Oldfields House, School Lane, Walton on the Hill, during the May Bank Holiday weekend. One volunteer from the Parish had received training as part of the Community Speedwatch programme. It was hoped that other volunteers would be trained in the future.
Cllr Bennett thanked PC Thornton for presenting the crime report.
2318 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 13 April 2010
Page 5, 2309, paragraph 3, line 5 ends ‘. . . and there were two absentions.’
Councillors agreed that subject to the above amendment the minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2010 were a true and accurate record, and they were signed by the Chairman.
2319 Clerk’s Progress Report , Items not on Agenda
The Clerk had been advised by Staffordshire Parish Councils Association that ‘Matters Arising’ should not be included as an agenda item. Any matters arising from the minutes should be covered during the Clerk’s report.
2290, SBC had confirmed that a Planning Enforcement Officer had visited the site and the construction was in accordance with approved plans.
2235, Mr K Kelly would contact Cllr J Francis after 6 May 2010. The Clerk would prepare a bundle of documents as evidence and deliver it to Messrs Kelly. Action: Clerk
2265, Penkridge Arboriculture had completed the work in School Lane. Residents had requested that three trees at the top of the Lane should also be reduced in height (see minute 2324).
2281, The Clerk had prepared a letter to SBC Planning department regarding signs and banners at The Barley Mow, Milford.
2285, TGM had not yet reinstated the grass verge opposite the entrance to 184 Main Road, Milford.
2301, Details of the security arrangements had been confirmed with Mayflower Security and the situation had improved.
2306, The insurers had confirmed that the policy covers replacement costs.
2308, Draft agendas had not been circulated due to time pressures.
2310, The Parish Council could no longer take part in the Parish Fete (see minute 2322).
2311, Community Gang had been asked to work on three particular areas in the parish.
2320 Financial Matters and Financial Statement
Councillors discussed the invoice received from TGM. Cllr Jenkins reported that flowerbeds along Milford Road, Walton on the Hill, were in a poor condition with weeds and dead heather plants. After discussion Councillors agreed that the Clerk should contact TGM for their comments. Action: Clerk
It was proposed by Cllr S Francis and seconded by Cllr Remon that the accounts for April 2010 should be approved, and this was agreed with Cllr Jenkins abstaining.
It was proposed by Cllr Holt and seconded by Cllr S Francis and agreed, that the Council should apply to SBC for details of free trees, which were on offer to organisations, with a view to further planting in Walton Coppice. Action: Clerk
2321 Planning Matters
10/13163/FUL 7 Honeysuckle Rise, Walton on the Hill, Stafford
Conservatory Councillors had no comments to make on the above Planning Application..
09/12558/FUL (Amended Plans) Oldfields House, School Lane, Walton on the Hill, Stafford
Conversion of building into house Councillors discussed the above application and agreed that the Clerk should write to SBC Planning Services repeating previous objections to the over development of the site in view of its proximity to the conservation area. Action: Clerk
2322 Berkswich Parish Fete, Saturday 19 June 2010 at 1.30 pm
The Clerk had advised Mr B Moore that Cllrs Holt and Morton were no longer able to provide a display of History Society books at the Parish Fete.
“Resolved that the Council in accordance with its powers under section 137 and 139 of the Local Government Act 1972, should incur the following expenditure, which in the opinion of the Council, is in the interest of the area or its inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure:- To contribute £100.00 to Berkswich Parish Fete.”
After discussion it was proposed by Cllr Bearne and seconded by Cllr S Francis that the above Resolution be carried, and this was unanimously agreed.
2323 Correspondence and circulars received by the Clerk
A list of correspondence received to 28 April 2010 had been circulated to Councillors, and the Clerk listed recently received items of correspondence.
2324 Matters for the next meeting
Risk Assessment – Best Kept Village Competition
Risk Assessment – Friends of Walton Coppice
School Lane, work to be done on the bank (removal of ivy, further tidying up)
Cllr Holt gave her apologies, as she would be unable to attend due to holiday commitments.
2325 Crime and Disorder Implications
Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1988 places a duty on local authorities to consider crime and disorder implications and to exercise various functions on and to do all it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in its area. Minute No 2317 had a positive impact on crime and disorder and that all matters have been considered thereto.
The next meeting of Berkswich Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 1 June 2010 at 7.30 pm in Walton Village Hall
The Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance. There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.45 pm.