From: Subject: Minutes of a meeting of Gt Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:07:03 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.greatchishill.org.uk/pCouncil/minutes/archive/april09.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 Minutes of a meeting of Gt

Minutes of a meeting of Gt. & Lt. Chishill = Parish Council=20 held on Wednesday, 22nd April 2009 in the village hall at = 7.30=20 p.m.

 

Present: Cllrs. Gardiner (in the Chair) Brearley, = Dibblee,=20 Murgatroyd and Scott.

Dist. Cllr. Guest, The Clerk and the Financial = Officer.

 

1.Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. = Cartwright=20 and Erskine and County Cllr.McCraith.

 

2. Confirmation of Minutes.   Minutes of = the=20 meeting held on 9th March last were taken as read, confirmed = and=20 signed subject to the following amendment:- Item 2 =96 Parish Clerk = Recruitment=20 4th line down should read who had submitted an excellent CV, = be=20 recommended for the post of Clerk without conditions.

 

3. Matters arising

 

The Clerk had written to Mr. Cooper regarding the = footway=20 along Hall Lane and he has arranged for it to be =93sided out=94 during = the next 2 =96=20 3 weeks.

 

Missing roof tile on bus shelter had been = replaced.

 

Re =93Works to the village lock-up=94.  Cllr. = Murgatroyd had=20 nothing to report.

 

Removal of road signs (Plaistow Way and May = Street).=20  The Clerk had been in touch with Diane Duncan (South Cambs. D.C.) = who is=20 dealing with the matter and advises that she will get in touch = with =20 Messrs. Dibblee and Brearley.

 

Re Horse Warning signs on the B.1039.  Reply = received=20 from Steven Thullborn and circulated to the Parish Council and also to = Mr. &=20 Mrs. Brand to the effect that he does not feel the =93site meets the = policy for=20 such signs to be installed=94.

 

4. Status of Planning Applications

 

Two applications were received and considered at = the meeting:=20 -

Mr. & Mrs. A. Bowyer, 36 Barley Road for = replacement of=20 roof structure and internal alterations.   Their neighbours = have no=20 objections subject to the raising or frosting of 3 windows which = overlook the=20 bedrooms of their bungalow.   Returned =93Approve=94.

 

Mr. S. Akhtar =96 3 & 4 Hall Farm =96change of = use from=20 offices to holiday homes.  The Parish Council has no objection as = long as=20 the planning policy conditions, which apply, are strongly enforced.

 

5. Financial Matters

a}. The Financial Officer presented the Annual = Accounts for=20 2008/9 and asked if the Parish Council had any questions regarding the = Accounts=20 but there were none.  Section 4 of the Annual Return had been = signed and=20 approved by the Internal Auditor.   The Clerk then read = Section 1 of=20 the Annual Accounts and Section2 (Annual Governance Statement) was = completed and=20 approved as required by Messrs. Moore Stephens.   The Chairman = and=20 Clerk then signed and dated the Annual Return for the Year ended = 31st=20 March 2009.   The Financial Officer asked for formal approval = of the=20

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Accounts and on a proposal by Cllr. Dibblee, = seconded by the=20 Chairman, the Annual Accounts were unanimously approved.

 

The Chairman expressed his appreciation for the = work carried=20 out by Reg on the Parish Council accounts.

 

(b). To confirm Conditions of Employment for new = Clerk.

(c). To consider gratuity for retiring Clerk.

 

The Clerk and F.O. were then asked to leave the = room while=20 these matters were discussed.

 

(b) The Chairman formally proposed that Mrs. Sarah = A Scott,=20 having accepted the post of Parish Clerk, be paid at a rate of  = =A34347 per=20 annum, with a formal time commitment of 8.5 hours per week.  This = was=20 seconded by Cllr. Brearley and agreed unanimously.   The = Chairman will=20 agree a draft Contract of Employment with Mrs.
Scott for the = agreement of=20 the Council over the next few weeks.   Action A.G.

 

Cllr. Scott took no part in these discussions.

 

(c) .To consider gratuity for retiring Clerk. The = Chairman=20 explained that the Parish Council may confer a discretionary gratuity to = a=20 retiring clerk, and outlined the statutory rules governing such a = payment. =20 It was agreed to consider the matter=20 further.           = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;=20           Action = Parish=20 Council.

 

(d). Skateboard (see ROSPA recommendation.

Much discussion took place as to what exactly  = =93Playsafety=94 (ROSPA) meant by =93the conflict between the basket = ball and=20 skateboard activities=94 After discussion when various opinions were = expressed,=20 the F.O. again drew attention to the fact that no one was responsible = for these=20 activities and it would fall to the Parish Council if the area was not = properly=20 insured.  It was agreed that the Clerk get in touch with = =93Playsafety=94 and=20 request a meeting with their inspector when he visits the playground in = May, so=20 that he can be asked to explain the =93high=94 risk=20 etc.           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;  =20 Action: Clerk

 

(e). Allianz Insurance =96 Renewal papers due = 1st=20 June.

 The Financial Officer advised the meeting = that the=20 renewal premium had risen to =A31245.96 i.e. an increase of = =A397.04.  After a=20 short discussion, it was agreed that Mr. Buckland should make enquiries = of other=20 insurance companies in an effort to get a better deal. This he would=20 do        =20             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;Action:=20 F.O.

 

6.Up-date on Chalky Walk. 

 

Mr. & Mrs. Brand have already made some = enquiries about=20 improving the surface of Chalky Walk.  Cllr. Brearley circulated an = illustration of a special surface designed for cycling, horse riding and = pedestrians and he would investigate further.

 

 

 

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7.Correspondence

 

A letter from Mr. Simon Oughton, owner of The = Pheasant Inn,=20 Great Chishill regarding the constant increase in business rates and the = viability of the business, was reported to the meeting.  However = Cllr.=20 Brearley was now pleased to say that Mr. Oughton had had a meeting with = the=20 Valuation Officer and he seems very pleased with the result.

 

8.Any Other Business

 

Cllr. Brearley proposed that, whilst the retiring = and new=20 Clerk were meeting regularly, the focus of communications should be = switched=20 earlier rather than later, so that the new Clerk is clearly identified = when she=20 assumes full responsibility.

 

This was generally agreed by Councillors, and it = was=20 anticipated that the details would be resolved between the Clerk and = Mrs.=20 Scott.  (Cllr. Scott took no part in these discussions.)

 

9. To confirm date of next Annual Parish Council = Meeting,=20 i.e. Wednesday, 20th May and the Annual Parish Village = Meeting in=20 June, i.e. Friday, 19th June.  Both dates were = confirmed.

 

There being no further business, the Chairman = declared the=20 meeting closed.

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