Minutes October 2013

MINUTES OF ELTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE HIGHGATE HALL
ON TUESDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2013 AT 8.00 P.M.

Present: Cllrs B Doughty, I Kirk, R Donoyou, R Todd and R Shrive

In Attendance: Mrs W Gray (Parish Clerk)

The meeting was chaired by Cllr Kirk – Vice Chairman.

1. Apologies for Absence:
Cllr Burgess
Cllr Porter
County Cllr M MacGuire and District Cllr N Guyatt

2. Declaration of Interest: None

Matters Arising:

3. Minutes of 17th September 2013:
Subject to change re item 8 under trees which should read “CCC did not take any action, but the owners of the properties can trim branches subject to CCC approval”, Cllr Doughty proposed minutes accepted as a true and accurate record, seconded Cllr Donoyou, all councillors in favour of minutes to be signed.

4. Matters arising from the above minutes:
Website

5. Authorisation of Payments:
Wendy Gray – Salary October 2013 £240.00
Wendy Gray – Expenses £54.69
K & M Lighting Services – October 2013 £61.15
A Flatters – Grasscutting October 2013 £340.00
PKF Littlejohn – Annual Audit £120.00

Cllr Kirk proposed payments approved, seconded Cllr Doughty, all in favour.

Parish Clerk read out comments from external auditors PKF Littlejohn “On the basis of our review, in our opinion the information in the annual return is in accordance with proper practices and no matters have come to our attention giving cause for concern that relevant legislation and regulatory requirements have not been met.” Cllr Donoyou requested a copy of accounts to be given to each Cllr at next meeting.

6. Planning:
1301437FUL – Demolition of garage block. Construction of new house within existing garden on
Land at Beulah House, Back Lane, Elton. Response to HDC “our previous comments regarding traditional materials being used equally apply to this application.

1300509FUL and 1300510FUL – Tookey Lodge, Haddon Road, Elton – re application, response to HDC “no further comments to make”.

7. Trees:
Trees at top of Back Lane – no further progress, Cllr Donoyou will write to CCC (can see peoples point of view).

Vinco Terrace – Cllr Donoyou has taken photographs and contacted CCC as they own the land. Resident proposes to plant up the bank and fell oversized tree at their cost. Cllr Donoyou will carry on and see what CCC say.

Letter from WI re trees planted by them that will be cut back/felled. Cllr Donoyou/Parish Clerk replied to letter – no response received.

The Parish Council need to establish where sewers are before commencing next stage of tree planting.

Overgrown Trees/Vegetation: Cllrs Burgess, Kirk and Porter carried out a survey on part of the village where overgrown vegetation needs pruning back.

• School Lane – elm saplings dead
• School Lane – opposite coppice
• Rowan Tree near Vinco Terrace
• Tree opposite Chapel
• Red Bridge Corner
• Red Bridge (vegetation overgrown signs)
• Pages Passage – Buddleia
• Potters Cottage – overhanging tree
• Ailington Rise – overgrown blackthorn

As not all areas in the village were covered the Parish Clerk will arrange further walk round village with all available Cllrs. Initial dates to be obtained from Cllr Donoyou on his availability.

8. Parish Council Open Evening: to be discussed at next meeting.

9. Special Projects: see above.

10. Correspondence:
Letter from Cllr Burgess resigning as Chairman with immediate effect.

In view of the above Cllr Shrive made proposal that Cllr Kirk take over as Chairman, this was seconded by Cllr Todd, all other Cllrs in agreement. Cllr Kirk agreed to take on the duties as Chairman until May next year.

Cllr Doughty then made proposal that Cllr Donoyou take on role as Vice Chairman until May next year, this was seconded by Cllr Shrive, all other Cllrs in favour. Cllr Donoyou agreed to take on the duties as Vice Chairman.

Letter from Resident to Cllr Burgess – contents of letter was relayed to all Cllrs present. It was agreed that the Parish Clerk would respond to the letter along the following lines “I am writing to advise you that with effect from the 15th October 2013 Mr Burgess resigned as Chairman. You will note that in our letter of (date to be inserted) the Parish Council as a whole resolved not to enter into further correspondence on previously attended to matters”. The Parish Clerk to sign the letter on behalf of the whole of the Parish Council.

Cllr Shrive proposed that the council stop talking about correspondence from this individual as it was taking up too much of the Parish Council’s time, seconded Cllr Todd, all in favour.

Brochure from Environment Agency (copy to all Cllrs) email details to be forwarded to Cllr Donoyou who will respond.

11. Reports from Councillors:
Parish Clerk to obtain update from Cllr MacGuire on walk round village with Cllrs.

It was reported that the (dogs at the Old Rectory) were frightening people as they walked by.

Cllr Kirk produced list of 5 street light outages. Parish Clerk will advise contractor to repair/change bulbs.

The meeting closed at 9.15 p.m.

12. Date of Next Meeting:
Tuesday 19th November 2013
Signed: ……………………………… Date: ……………………..