Parish Council
Parish Council minutes Dec 2008
KING’S SOMBORNE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meetingheld in the Epworth Hall
commencing at 7.00pm on Monday 1 December 2008
Present: Cllr R Dyke (Chairman) Cllr D Bidwell Cllr R Harwood Cllr R LaneCllr G Pearson Cllr R PidgeonCllr D Room Cllr J Werrett
In Attendance: Mr P J Storey (Clerk to King’s Somborne Parish Council)
Public Session
Borough Councillor Ward, the Tree Warden and one member of the public were present for part of the meeting.
The Tree Warden gave a short update on the general state of trees in the Parish and highlighted the spread of disease among Horse Chestnut, Silver Birch and Oak, in particular. He asked to be informed of any trees seen to be in distress so that he could inform the Tree Council and Borough Council and suitable action could then be initiated. He would submit an article for The Gauntlet to enlist public support in this. He also volunteered his support in the establishment of a bio-diversity area.
Cllr Ward confirmed that no plans existed in the Borough’s 20 year plan to develop Top Field; that a planned and costed project was necessary before any developers’ contributions would be made available to the Parish and that a decision on the Capital Grants award for the Village Hall, which in turn would require a contribution from the Parish, was imminent. Cllr Harwood reflected public concern at the number and locations of new travellers’ sites to be established in Hampshire and Cllr Ward responded that none were planned at present in the vicinity of the Parish.
Mr Brock voiced his concern at the number of rats and rabbits in the allotments and the Clerk was instructed to write to the managing agents reflecting this. Mr Brock also expressed concern at the impact of the ‘credit crunch’ on peoples’ ability to meet increases in council tax and asked that Councillors bore this in mind when discussing next year’s Precept.
Action: Clerk
1. Apologies for Absence
1.1 Apologies were received from Cllrs Bevan and Fahy and the Village Correspondent.
2. Announcements by the Chairman
2.1 None made.
3. To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 3 November 2008
3.1 Proposed Cllr Pidgeon, Seconded Cllr Bidwell, RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2008 be accepted as a true record.
4. To consider any Matters Arising from those Minutes
4.1 Minute 5.1 The response to the consultation on bye-laws had reflected concern at the cost and implementation of bye-laws at parish level. Whilst the principle of delegated authority was to be supported, there were no plans at present to seek authority for the Parish to have the power to implement.
4.2 Minute 5.4 The Chairman would continue to liaise with the School over representation on the School Governing Body.
Action: Chairman
5. Declarations of Interest
5.1 None made.
6. To consider Correspondence Received and determine any action required
6.1 Details of correspondence received since the last meeting had been circulated with the agenda papers. It was agreed that a Grant Aid application form be sent to the Hampshire County Youth Band Association. No further action was thought necessary on the Andover Town Access Plan consultation document.
7. To consider and, if appropriate, adopt the Expenditure Budget and Precept proposals for 2009/10
7.1 Proposals for the 2009/10 Expenditure Budget and Precept had been circulated with the agenda papers, together with comprehensive amplifying notes. In the following discussion, it was agreed not to renew the subscription to the Association of Burial Authorities, saving £86; to delete the proposed provision for election expenses, saving £1500; to reduce the budget for support for the Village Hall, saving £2250; and to add a new heading for bio-diversity with a budgeted spend of £336. It was also agreed to amend the heading ‘Vandalism’ to ‘Miscellaneous repairs’. The net result was to produce an expenditure budget for 2009/10 of £41400.
7.2 The impact of the proposed expenditure on the Precept and Council’s reserves was then considered. No increase in the Precept would require a contribution from reserves estimated at £6900 whereas a 3% increase in Precept to £30900 would produce an increase in income of £900 resulting in a corresponding reduction in the contribution from reserves. At the start of the current financial year, the Council’s reserves stood at £32053 from which the first of the three planned new bus shelters would be funded at £6000, reducing this figure to £26053. Reserves would then be enhanced by any underspend from the current financial year but then reduced by the contribution necessary to meet the proposed expenditure shortfall next year. In any event, there would be a continuing reduction in the Council’s reserves which was of concern to the Clerk and would need to be addressed at some time in the future.
7.3 Proposed Cllr Pearson, Seconded Cllr Room, that the Precept for 2009/10 be set at £30900; three votes in favour and five against thus the proposal was LOST.
7.4 Proposed Cllr Harwood, Seconded Cllr Bidwell, that the Precept remain at £30000; five votes in favour with three against; this proposal was RESOLVED.
8. To determine the Recreation Ground hire charges for 2009/10
8.1 Proposed Cllr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that the charge for casual hire of the recreation grounds at King’s Somborne and Up Somborne be increased from £10 plus VAT to £12 plus VAT, that the Football Club seasonal hire charge be increased from £105 or £95 if paid before 31 December the year before to £110 with no early discount; that the Cricket Club seasonal hire charge be increased from £63 to £65, all with effect from 1 April 2009.
9. To determine the Burial Board charges for 2009/10
9.1 Members thought a modest increase in charges appropriate to meet ever increasing costs and to ensure the Burial Board remained self-financing.
9.2 Proposed Cllr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that the following charged be levied by the Burial Board with effect from 1 April 2009:
Interments Child under 12 years of age No charge (No charge) Body of person 12 years or over £175 (£165) Cremated remains £120 (£110) Purchased grave £125 (£110) Exclusive Right of Burial Adult grave £125 (£110) (or double for double grave) Headstones, monuments, tablets and memorial inscriptions Headstone, monument or flat stone inset in the ground £125 (£110) Inscription after the first £60 (£55) Flat cremation tablet £75 (£65) Note: all fees are double for non-parish residents 2008/9 charges in parenthesis
10. To receive the RFO’s Report and Budget Monitoring
10.1 The budget monitoring report showing income and expenditure to date had been circulated with the agenda. All noted that the Council’s bank balances stood at £51818.35.
11. To approve Payments of Accounts
11.1 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that a grant of £150 be made to the Methodist Church for hire of the Epworth Hall during 2009.
11.2 Proposed Cllr Lane, Seconded Cllr Pidgeon, RESOLVED unanimously that the following accounts be approved for payment:
To For Net VAT Gross Chq
BPC Shared costs 15.00 15.00 1477
Mr P Storey Salary and expenses 692.87 692.87 1478
HMRC Tax/NIC 66.28 66.28 1479
Mr M Rebbeck Grounds maint 147.50 147.50 1480
Methodist Church Hall hire 150.00 150.00 1481
Totals 1071.65 1071.65
12. To determine meeting dates for 2009
12.1 A schedule of proposed meeting dates for 2009 had been circulated with the agenda papers.
12.2. Proposed Cllr Bidwell, Seconded Cllr Harwood, RESOLVED unanimously that the meeting dates for 2009, as tabled, be adopted.
13. To receive the Clerk’s monthly report
13.1 Hampshire Playbuilder application. The bid for funding new play equipment from the Hampshire Playbuilder scheme had been unsuccessful.
13.2 Lottery Arts Project. An approach had been made by a lottery funded arts project based in Southampton to work with communities in Test Valley by organising a series of art and craft workshops to benefit local people and give them new skills and improved confidence. Members considered that a better contact might be the Village Hall Management Committee or seeking a volunteer organiser/point of contact in the Village through The Gauntlet; the Clerk would reply accordingly.
Action: Clerk
13.3 Community service work. The Clerk reported he had contacted the Probation Service who had agreed that remedial work on footpaths in the local area could be undertaken by persons on community service and arrangements would be finalised in the near future.
14. Date, time and place of next meeting
14.1 The next meeting which be held on Monday 5 January 2009 at 7.00pm in the Epworth Hall, King’s Somborne.
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.50pm