Minutes 16th December 2014

MINUTES OF ELTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE HIGHGATE HALL

ON TUESDAY 16^TH DECEMBER 2014 AT 7.30 P.M.

 

Present:   Cllrs J Burgess, R Donoyou, M Holman, I Kirk, M Porter, R Rankmore, R Smith

 

In Attendance:   Mrs W Gray (Parish Clerk), District Cllr Rita Mathews, Mrs L Jepson, Mr B Doughty, Mr B Shrive, Mr R Shrive, Mr and Mrs Peacock

 

1. Apologies for Absence: Cllrs Cummins and Strowbridge, County Cllr M McGuire

 

1. Declaration of Interest: Cllr Holman item 9 (4 Chapel Lane)

 

Matters Arising:

1. Minutes of 18^th November 2014:

Cllr Porter proposed minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record, seconded Cllr Kirk, all in agreement.

 

1. Matters arising from the above minutes:

Stocks Green – Cllr McGuire had telephoned the clerk earlier in the evening firstly to pass on his apologies for not being at the meeting and secondly to update on situation concerning Stocks Green.  Following receipt of further clarification from the Land Registry CCC legal department had written to Elton Estates requesting that the posts are removed and the driveways reinstated to how they were (grass) by the 5^th January 2015.  If the reinstatement is not done by this date CCC highways are ready to carry out the reinstatement with a bill for the works being sent to Elton Estates for payment.  Cllr Donoyou proposed, seconded by Cllr Smith that a note of thanks is sent to Emma Murden and Mac McGuire for sticking with this for over twelve months.

 

Access to Mill – Natural England have now spoken to the agreement holder.  The access notice boards should be up by the end of the week (Christmas).

 

Elton School – response received to our letter of 9^th December re parking issues.

 

1. YTD/monthly accounts v budget:

Precept – It was agreed that the precept would remain the same as last year £13,000.  Cllr Rankmore proposed, seconded Cllr Donoyou.  The Parish Clerk will complete the necessary paperwork and submit to HDC by the due date.

 

Budget – Cllr Rankmore produced a final budget.  There is no figure for repairs to the Wooden Bridge, this will be discussed again when all quotations received.  An additional £1000 had been included for verge maintenance.   Members of Elton Church Yard Maint Committee had requested help in annual servicing of all machinery that they use this year – Cllr Rankmore had built into budget for 2015/2016.  It was proposed by Cllr Donoyou, seconded Cllr Holman that £500 is allocated to cover all servicing costs and petrol include in total package for grasscutting (this would not include the sit on mower).  It was agreed that members of the Parish Council would meet with the Church Yard Maint Committee sometime in the New Year.

 

1. Authorisation of Payments:

K & M Lighting Services – Maint December 2014	£61.15
Wendy Gray – Salary December 2014	£240.00
Wendy Gray – Tax December 2014	£60.00
Wendy Gray – Expenses	£99.62
Highgate Hall – Hire of Annexe 21/27 October and 18/24 November	£68.00

 

Cllrs Donoyou, Porter and Smith signed off authorisation for above payments to be made, all in agreement. 

 

1. Street Lighting:

Cllr Donoyou will carry out a survey of what needs to be done together with costings as soon as he can and report back to the Parish Council.  Parish Clerk to provide a copy of street light list to Cllr Donoyou.

 

1. A605 Junction:

Meeting between Councillors and Emma Murden from highways held on Monday 24^th November.  Cllr Donoyou reported time not wasted, if we can think of ways and not letting disappear for another !!! years.  Cllrs Donoyou and Smith requested a letter of thanks is sent to Emma Murden for her help and advise that the Parish Council would be happy to assist highways with any traffic census and await to hear from them when that would be.

 

1. Planning:

Mr and Mrs Peacock of 4 Chapel Lane came along to introduce themselves and put draft plans before the Parish Council prior to official copy being sent from Planning Department.  All Cllrs agreed that the plans looked good and made an improvement to the property.  We await official plans from HDC.

 

1. Trees/Verges:

Trees on order should arrive in February – evergreens (shallow rooters) planting behind pumping station at River Lane, Bus shelter this side of Overend on verge that is not near anyone’s house.  Remove tree within Carrysfort replace with similar, hawthorn replacement ordered for Stocks Green.

 

1. Correspondence:

Email re Little Green erosion – (Cllr Rankmore declared an interest).  Several options – plant a tree with fence around it, discuss with CCC as traffic calming, if reinstated could be more abused, ask CCC what is possible, tarmac it.

 

1. Reports from Councillors:

War Memorial – Cllr Smith reported all invoices received and paid.  Looking at quotes for refurbishing wooden screen inside the church where the name of every person listed living in Elton who was conscripted or volunteered to join up and go to war.  Cllrs agreed to review any further application for help with the screen at a later date.

 

Questions for Cllr Mathews:

 

Grit Bins – Cllr Mathews confirmed that HDC would continue to grit and refill the grit bins this winter.  A request was made “could HDC grit the two hills into the village”.  Cllr Holman will check the grit bins to ascertain state of grit if any in bins.

 

Cllr Mathews reported as follows:

 

Reference the queries at the last meeting she attended:

 

Boundary Changes –     The District Review of the Parish Boundaries will not commence until

October 2015 and will not be completed until May 2018

 

Beulah House & Development re: garage – Has expressed concern that the letter from the Parish Council

about the building materials etc seems to have been ignored.  Awaiting a reply.

 

CIL – Awaiting a reply reference query about usage for Cast iron Light or other.  This is being

looked into by HDC so will let us know as soon as she can.

 

Stocks Green – HDC accept they are aware of the problem but do not know anything about an ‘enforcement order’ and have passed it to the County Council for comment.  Has asked for an urgent reply but has not yet received it.

 

Cllr Mathews will continue to keep us advised.

 

1. Election of Chairman:

Cllr Burgess had advised Cllrs previously that he would be standing down as Chairman of the Parish Council at the end of this meeting but would continue as a Parish Councillor.  Cllrs Donoyou and Holman put their names forward – a ballot was taken, Cllr Holman was duly elected as Chairman.

 

1. Date of Next Meeting:

Tuesday 20^th January 2015 commencing at 7.30 p.m.

 

Meeting closed at 9.15 p.m.