Minutes December 2013

MINUTES OF ELTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE HIGHGATE HALL
ON TUESDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2013 AT 8.00 P.M.

Present: Cllrs R Donoyou, M Porter, R Todd, R Shrive – Cllrs Kirk and Truman arrived after start of meeting.

In Attendance: Mrs W Gray (Parish Clerk), County Cllr M McGuire, District Cllr N Guyatt and Mr O Nicholson representing Elton Society

1. Apologies for Absence:
None

2. Declaration of Interest: Cllr Donoyou on item 8.

Matters Arising:

3. Highways:
Street Lighting – email received from Balfour Beatty – Parish Clerk to contact re deadline and advise will not be discussed until next Parish Council meeting on 21st January 2014. Cllr McGuire will assist with survey.

Local Highway Improvement Grant – Cllr McGuire recommended we amend application for one item i.e. maintaining Grass verges. Parish Clerk to amend application and re send.

Stocks Green – The CC believes land is highway verge. Because verge is highway DC believe planning should have been applied for and have asked Elton Estates to submit plans for the car parking spaces. At this point Cllr Donoyou introduced Mr Nicholson who has a resident in the village for over 25 years had come along to meeting on behalf of Elton Society whose members are deeply concerned about lack of planning applications etc. Additional concern about drainage culvert that runs down Middle Street, highways to be advised.

Cllr Donoyou asked all Cllrs for their views on where we have got so far and what actions the Parish Council should be taken, if any. To try to pull everything together the Parish need to make resolution i.e.

Resolution:
• The Parish Council are supporting HDC request for planning application to be submitted and in the event that planning application is not received enforcement action would be taken.

• The Parish Council are supporting CCC assumption that the land in question is part of the highway and permission should have been sought from HDC and CCC.

• The Parish Council are opposed to any change of ownership.

• The Parish Council will work with CCC to clarify this and other ambiguous land ownerships.

The above resolutions were proposed by Cllr Truman, seconded Cllr Doughty, and all Cllrs in agreement.

Cllr Truman proposed that there was a mechanism in place for information (emails arising from the Parish Council) to be cascaded back to Elton Society. Discussions ensued; it was considered that if it is for this issue then it would be for every issue, how many people would be kept in the loop! Cllr Truman disagreed with this. This was discussed amongst all Cllrs, the proposal was not seconded and therefore the matter was not taken forward.

Cllr Truman then tendered his resignation and then left the meeting.

Cllr Donoyou – regarding openness, we have a second proposition that the website is deficient, being looking at it for several months, looking to post information on website, where we are getting to as a point in principle that correspondence emanating from the Parish Council Clerk (not as individuals) is posted on website. Cllr Shrive proposed that we get website up and running asap, seconded Cllr Kirk, all in agreement.

The parish council is aware that the Wansford and Stibbington PC websites are user friendly for the public and members of the parish council.

Mr Nicholson was asked he felt comfortable about referring to the website to get up to date information and perhaps attending parish meetings. Mr Nicholson was happy with this solution, thanked the Parish Council and then left the meeting.

4. Minutes of 19th November 2013:
Subject to making following amendment on item 13 “mast on Church Steeple” to read “mast inside Church Steeple”, Cllr Shrive proposed minutes of 19th November are signed as a true and accurate record, seconded Cllr Todd, all Cllrs in agreement.

5. Matters arising from the above minutes:
Website – discussions took place on arranging for new website to be built which is more user friendly. Current website is not user friendly and has not been updated for a number of years. Quotation obtained March 2013 for £600 plus VAT (no further quotations requested as had been recommended by Wansford and Stibbington Parish Councils who have used same IT expert and the rates quoted can be seen as competitive). Agreement given for Parish Clerk to authorise up to £650.00 if required. Parish Clerk to set in motion with a view to having new website set up before our next meeting in January and a demonstration to be made at Parish Council Meeting. Cllr Doughty proposed above actions, seconded by Cllr Porter all in favour.

6. Authorisation of Payments:
Wendy Gray – Salary December 2013 £240.00
Wendy Gray – Expenses £82.44
K & M Lighting Services – December 2013 £61.15
Open Spaces Society – Subscription Renewal £45.00

Cllr Shrive proposed above invoices approved for payment, seconded Cllr Donoyou, all Cllrs in agreement.

7. Precept 2014/2015:
A budget had been prepared for the above financial year and circulated to all Cllrs for their perusal. It was agreed that the proposed budget be signed off and a request for a precept of £13,000 to be requested (no increase on last year) for this next financial year. Cllr Donoyou proposed above, seconded Cllr Porter, all Cllrs in favour.

8. Planning:
1301769FUL – Alterations to flat roof extensions and addition of pitch roof with attic accommodation at 13 Chapel Lane, Elton PE8 6RE

1301771FUL – Remodel existing flat roof extension including addition of pitched roof with attic at 15 Chapel Lane, Elton PE8 6RE

The Parish Council reviewed both applications, there were no further comments to make on applications, and no objections were raised. Cllr Shrive proposed that we report this back to HDC, seconded Cllr Porter, all in favour. Parish Clerk to advise HDC.

9. Trees:
Survey around village to look at overgrown areas/dead trees – Cllr Donoyou proposed that two trees near the School which are in urgent need of attention are felled asap (before 6th January 2014) at an agreed cost with contractor of £100, seconded by Cllr Todd, all Cllrs in agreement.

Cllr Donoyou proposed that for the rest of the works at least two more tenders were obtained, seconded Cllr Shrive, all in favour. Cllrs Shrive and Donoyou will forward contractor details to the Parish Clerk.

Tree planting – Cllr Donoyou will report at next meeting.

10. Correspondence:
None received.

11. Reports from Councillors:
Footpath from Back Lane to Brawn Way – highways had been out and filled in some holes on entrance via Back Lane but not on actual footpath. Parish Clerk to report again to highways.

Bridge at Willow Brook – in potentially dangerous state on both sides. Is there any way that we can release funds for contractor to repair on our behalf. Cllr Porter proposed we obtain quotes to get bridge repaired, Cllr Todd seconded, all in agreement. Parish Clerk to contact Fotheringhay Parish Council to ask if they would contribute. Clerk to contact CCC Footpath Warden for list of possible contractors.

Vacancy for Councillor – Cllr Porter gave Parish Clerk email address of possible applicant who had expressed interest. The Parish Clerk will contact applicant.

Meeting closed at 9.50 p.m.

12. Date of Next Meeting:
Tuesday 21st January 2014
Signed: ……………………………… Date: ……………………..