WHITTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL 16.01 Minutes of the meeting of Whittington Parish Council held on Tuesday, 26th January, 2016 at 7.30 p.m. in The Senior Citizen s Hall at Whittington. COUNCILLORS PRESENT: Councillor: Councillor Gregg Hickman (Chairman) Mr Frank Davis Mr Rupert Harvey Mr Romer Hoseason Mr Paul Jones Mrs Pat Raine Mrs Jenny Pritchard Mr Paul Thompson-Lawrence Mrs J Whitby IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs A Cowley (Clerk) 1 member of public 1.16 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew Cawthray, parents evening and Steve Charmley, conflicting meeting at Ludlow. 2.16 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES It was proposed by Councillor Paul Jones, seconded by Councillor Frank Davis, all agreed, that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 22 December, 2015 at 7.30 p.m. at The Senior Citizen s Hall be approved, the Chairman signed these as a true record. 3.16 DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS Declaration of any disclosable pecuniary interest in a matter to be discussed at the meeting and which is not included in the register of interests. [Members are reminded that they are required to leave the room during the discussion and voting on matters in which they have a disclosable interest, whether or not the interest is entered in the register of members interest maintained by the Monitoring Officer] There were none recorded 4.16 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION To allow public participation in accordance with the Council s Standing Order procedure Mr Ian Johnson, Parish Plan Steering group was in attendance and informed members that he would be applying for a grant to help towards the administration of the newly formed Community Together volunteer group.
16.02 5.16 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES Min. 242/15 refers - The Clerk had asked Councillor Steve Charmley if he could obtain further information on this from Shropshire Council before a decision can be made by this Council relating to parking restrictions on the land. 6.16 COMMUNITY POLICEMAN PC Katie Le Clere was in attendance at this meeting and gave a report of crimes within the area, up to 31/12/15. She told members that there had been a spate of burglaries in Gobowen, along the main routes, and people should be made aware. Councillor Frank Davis also gave some information regarding Rural Watch and crimes reported in the rural areas. The Chairman thanked PC Katie Le Clere for attendance at this meeting. 7.16 CORRESPONDENCE Received via e-mails or post hard copies from 18/12/15 until date of this agenda 1. Advertising literature on Play equipment, street furniture and plants 2. Rural Services network newsletters e-mails 3. Public Sector email news 4. Clerk & Councils Direct January 2016 Issue 103 (hard copy) 5. Register of Electors Monthly updates 6. NALC Bulletins 7. HMRC Business Employer bulletins 8. The Clerk Magazine January 2016 9. Email from parishioner relating to green area opposite The Donnett leading to privately owned land 10. SALC notification of a Website Training event on Tuesday, 23 rd February 10.00am to 4.00pm at Craven Arms Community Centre 11. Helicopter Noise Liaison Group Draft notes of last meeting and notification of meeting to be held on Tuesday, 1 st March 2016 (copy sent to Councillor Rupert Harvey) 12. The Big Conversation Workshop Event Monday, 18 th January 2015 at Shropshire Council - Shirehall 13. NHS 111 and GP Out of Hours Services forwarded from SALC The Clerk was asked to write expressing this Councils concerns relating to ending Shrop Doc services. 14. Buckingham Palace Garden Party Thursday, 19 TH May 2015 ** nomination of Chairman will be forwarded ** 15. Road closure B5069 from 5 Crosses roundabout to Trewern Avenue, Gobowen Shropshire 008 th February 2016 for 14 days, footpath widening scheme 16. New Hotline launches for pregnant women (forwarded from SALC) 17. SALC Information bulletin with associated emails and legal notices 18. HM Queens 90 th Birthday Celebrations Beacon Braziers - ** hard copy of letter 19. Connecting Shropshire broadband update Whittington Parish ** hard copy of letter Add on after distribution of agenda 20. Notification of Five Perry Parishes LJC meeting at Baschurch Village Hall on Thursday, 18 th February at 7.00pm this was noted by those who may be able to attend as Councillor Gregg Hickman will not be available for this meeting. 21. Notification of a meeting on Wednesday, 10 th February from 9.00 am 11.00 am at Shirehall How we can work together through financial difficulties Malcolm Pate Leader of the Council ** Invitation to Town & Parish Clerks and Chairs the Clerk offered to attend this meeting 08.16 PLANNING 15/05479/OHL Installation of 2 No separate underground supplies Great Fernhill, Gobowen, Shropshire
16.03 16/00065/FUL Construction of single storey extension to create a Utility Room and WC Swansong, 3 Top Street, Whittington 16/00071/TCA Gablecroft, Church Street Whittington To fell Cupressocyparis Leylandii and crown reduce by 15% 1 Betula Pendula There were no observations on the above applications PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED 14/01702/FUL A-Z Engineering, Station Road, Whittington Demolition of existing workshop buildings Residential development of 7 no. dwellings including revised access proposals and associated drainage work 15/02467/FUL Former Antique site, Castle Street, Whittington Erection of 2 dwellings following demolition of existing dwelling and former antique shop, formation of vehicular access. Rose Croft, Lower Frankton Replace and erect a single storey extension and demolition of stable 15/03975/FUL Land at Rhosygadfa, Gobowen Construction of a solar farm to include solar panel arrays, substation inverters, a primary substation and perimeter stock fencing PLANNING PERMISSION REFUSED 15/05106/FUL 36 Penybryn Avenue Erection of a Conservatory to side elevation decision out of context with the original layout of the residential development, the elevated position of the conservatory would affect the amenity of its neighbours. 09.16 PAYMENTS (i) It was proposed by Councillor Jill Whitby, seconded by Councillor Pat Raine, all agreed, that the following accounts be approved for payment: Cheque No. Sundry Creditor & Details Amount 2686 Mrs A S Cowley Salary, and expenses as of 1 st January 2016- to 31 st January 2016 less Income Tax and NI - Min 210/14 refers 773.22 2687 HM Revenue (payable to The Post Office) Income Tax Min. 210/14 (Month 10 - January) 2015/16 Financial year 154.40 2688 Highline Electrical Services Ltd Street Lighting Repairs for January 2016 as instructed by the Clerk Min.77/14 refers 2689 Bibby Factors Northwest Ltd Grounds Maintenance Jan. 2016 Maintenance Contractors (Oswestry) Ltd Min.61/14 and Min. 222/15 refers 2690 Mr Mark Evans Window Cleaner - Cleaning of 4 bus shelters (Perspex) as agreed Min. 184/14 refers 2691 Whittington Senior Citizen s Hall Hire of Room for Parish Council meetings/parish meeting Annual 2016/17 (Admin) 111.60 579.60 88.00 350.00 (ii) The bank reconciliation up to and including 30 th November, 2015 as presented - 2015/16 financial year was checked and approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman as a true record of the Council s finances
16.04 10.16 2016/17 FINANCIAL BUDGET AND BUSINESS PLAN COUNCIL TAX PRECEPT REQUIREMENT (Appendix A to agenda) Each member had received a copy of a letter from Shropshire Council in which the tax base figure for Whittington is 815.73 (Band D equivalent). The implication of Shropshire Council not distributing Council Tax Support Grant (CTSG) to parish and town Councils, in the future, was discussed. In order to show a 0% increase in the Band D Council Tax charge on the 2016/17 Council Tax Demand Notices this Council s precept requirement for 2016/17 would need to be 37,663 and the Clerk produced a budget showing this as the requirement. After detailed consideration it was proposed by Councillor Pat Raine, seconded by Councillor Frank Davis, that the Precept request for 2016/17 be 36,630 + 3.5% increase on last year s request of = 1282 = total precept request = 37,912. All agreed to the proposal apart from 1 abstention. The Clerk will adjust the budget accordingly and give each member an amended copy of both the budget and 2016/17 Business Plan and these documents, together with Shropshire Council s letter, will form part of the Council s financial statements for 2016/17. The Chairman thanked the Clerk for her hard work in producing the budget and business plan. 11.16 SHROP NET USER The Clerk read out a letter from Shropshire Council on the decommissioning of the Shrop.NET service. Councillor Andrew Cawthray, though not present at this meeting, indicated through the Clerk that as the Council s Webmaster he would be happy to set up a new Web site for the Council. Grant funding will be pursued for this purpose. 12.16 WHITTINGTON PARISH PLAN STEERING GROUP The steering group met on Tuesday, 19 th January and discussed the draft plan that had been produced, amendments were made and these will be incorporated into the plan ready for discussion at the next meeting to be held on Tuesday, 16 th February 2016. The group explained the importance of not rushing the final part and once the group are happy with the result this will be passed on to an independent person experienced in proof reading. Ian Johnson was in attendance and told members that he had his first meeting with the Parish Organisations to discuss working together and the overwhelming agreement was to form a community group that will be known as Whittington Together. 13.16 FOOTWAY LIGHTING Details of lights not working were received by the Clerk who will report these to the Contractor accordingly. Councillor Frank Davis spoke about a conversation that he had with Mr Phil Jones regarding removal and re-siting of the street light No. 123 in Castle Street opposite the Castle. Work on the new houses were due to commence soon and to enable the Contractors to enter the site freely the column would have to be removed and, eventually, re-sited, the cost of which would be borne by Mr Phil Jones. The Clerk will
16.05 contact Highline Electrical Ltd to ask them to speak to Mr Jones on the procedure as Scottish Power will have to be involved. 14.16 WHITTINGTON PLAY AREA AT FITZGWARINE There were no issues to report. 15.16 WHITTINGTON CEMETERY The Clerk was instructed to forward the original letter regarding grounds maintenance contribution at the Cemetery to Rev. Sarah Burton and the Church Wardens as the 1 st instalment (10% contribution) is due and the PCC need to budget for the future maintenance. 16.16 GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE There were no issues to report. 17.16 AREAS OF CONCERN/PARISH MATTERS Concern was expressed regarding recent car parking on the grassed area in front of the White Lion, this coincided with access to the Castle car park being blocked and it being school drop off/pick up time of pupils. The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr Sibley to ask if reference to this Council s concerns could be placed in their weekly school newsletter. 18.16 WHITTINGTON CASTLE Councillor Paul Jones informed members that the Preservation Trust were working on a project to convert an under-used space off the gift shop for a permanent display of armour that had been found in the moat some years ago. The cost of this will be in the region of 9,000 and the Trust will be applying to large funding bodies for the bulk of the money, support in terms of a grant will also be made to the Parish Council to be considered at the meeting in February. 19.16 WHITTINGTON ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 2016 (LGA 1972 Part 111) The date for the 2016 Annual Parish meeting was set as Tuesday, 10 th May, 2016 commencing at 6.30 pm. It was agreed that the Parish Plan be the major topic for that evening, plus the usual invitation to the various other groups/organisations to present a report. The Clerk will also contact the Men in Sheds organisers to give a presentation of their successful project within the community. 20.16 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING The date and time of the next Parish Council meeting was confirmed as Tuesday, 23 rd February, 2016 commencing at 7.30 pm in the Senior Citizen s Hall. The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.50 pm; he thanked everyone for their attendance, SIGNED CHAIRMAN 23rd February 2016