Whixall Parish Council

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on Wednesday 11th January 2012 at

Present:
Chairman:     D Edgerton
Councillors:    S Beer, D Evans, J Demet, J Jarrett, D Astbury, J Spenser, C Mellings
Clerk:              K Hatton

Public:            Guest- Lois Dale (Shropshire Council), Mr Stafford- Whixall resident.

01/12    Apologies for absence
P Dee - work commitments, G Murphy- health reasons.

02/12    Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests
None

03/12   Guest
Cllr Edgerton welcomed Lois Dale from Shropshire council to the meeting- She attended as requested by Cllrs to answer questions regarding the Rural toolkit event that will take place in February.
Lois brought photographs and examples of paperwork from a recent toolkit event in Bomere Heath. She showed Cllrs the agenda from the event to illustrate the timings and activities involved. In response to Cllrs questions Lois went through the subject headings and stated that £25 was paid as a donation to whoever provided the cakes. Cllr Astbury asked what will happen to the information that is obtained from the event; Lois responded by saying that the information will link in with the Parish Plan and cited examples of things that had happened as a result of other events – particularly through the work of the ‘Community Action Officer’.

 

04/12  Public Session- This item was no. 6 on the published agenda but was brought forward .
Cllr Edgerton welcomed Mr Stafford to the meeting.
Mr Stafford introduced himself and asked if there was a decent map available of Whixall,  as he does not know the names of lanes or where the boundaries lie. He would like to buy one that is about 3 inches to the mile. Cllr Spenser showed Mr Stafford a map that she had in her possession, Cllr Mellings agreed to provide Mr Stafford with one.
Mr Stafford also commented that the advert in the Community News for North Salop Wheelers was difficult to read due to the quality of the print and he said that he did not understand the advert fully re: the services that they provide. Mr Stafford was advised to telephone NSW as they would be able to explain it to him.
Mr Stafford thanked the Council for their time before leaving the meeting.

05/12     Minutes of the meeting of 9th November  2011
It was proposed by Cllr Spenser that the minutes were an accurate record of the meeting. Seconded by Cllr Beer and agreed by all present.

It was resolved that the minutes be signed by the Chairman as an accurate record of the meeting.

06/12    Matters arising from the Minutes not otherwise featured on the Agenda
The Clerk stated that she has emailed all Cllrs copies of the 3rd quarterly expenditure report but the item was not included on the agenda.

The Clerk had made some enquiries regarding local sign writers so that the Chairman’s board could be updated. She has not yet had any success. The Clerk asked if any of the Cllrs knew who had done the Chairman’s board previously. Cllr Mellings advised that the Clerk contact Jane Drummond regarding this. 

07/12   Financial Matters

• North Salop Wheelers Monthly Report

The Clerk displayed a copy of the NSW report for November / December. The report was read and discussed.
It was resolved that the Clerk would offer to put an advert for the NSW in the next Whixall Parish Newsletter and advise them that their current advert in the Community News has a poor print quality (as pointed out by Whixall resident).
The Yellow Bus Agreement was discussed- it appears that the contract for the minibus ended in October 2010 therefore it was agreed that, in principle, the Council can sign over the documents to NSW.
It was resolved that Cllr Edgerton would telephone Brian Hughes to discuss the signing over of documents and that the Clerk would email Phoebe Ashton to make her aware of this.

 

• Balances

DATE	ACCOUNT NAME	AMOUNT
29.09.11	Community Account	£1,548.84
29.09.11	Business Saver Account	£5,913.89
TOTAL		£7,462.73

• A Balance Sheet for  December  2011 was provided in paper format for Cllrs. The Clerk explained that she was unable to provide a balance sheet for November as she had not received a bank statement for November: Barlclays have agreed to send a copy statement.

 

• Recently issued cheques

DATE	CHEQUE NO.	DETAILS	AMOUNT
12.10.11	100890	Cllr J Jarrett- Paint for cenotaph railings	£22.20
12.10.11	100891	J & E Ford- Grass Cutting @ Social Centre and Playing Field	£336.00
26.10.11	100892	Elementary Signs- 2 x noticeboards	£1,333.20
09.11.11	100893	K Hatton- Clerk’s pay (October 2011)	£166.88
21.11.11	100894	Royal British Legion- Remembrance Day wreath	£35.00
02.12.11	100895	K Hatton- Clerk’s pay (November 2011)	£166.88
02.12.11	100896	J Allmark- Cake for Sen.Cit. Party	£40.00
02.12.11	100897	D Morris- Entertainment for Sen. Cit. Party	£200.00
02.12.11	100898	Cllr S Beer- Sen. Cit. Party provisions	£263.71
02.12.11	100899	Cllr D Astbury- Sen. Cit. Party drink	£109.04
TOTAL			£2,672.71

 

• Outstanding Accounts

 

DATE	CHEQUE NO.	DETAILS	AMOUNT
11.01.12	100900	K Hatton- Clerk’s pay (December 2011)	£208.60
TOTAL			£208.60

• Orders for the payment of money as per the financial report of the Responsible Financial Officer were not paid as there were not two authorised signatories present.

 

• Barclays Mandate Change forms

The Clerk explained that Mandate forms had been received and processed by Barclays but that she had not received written confirmation of this despite having contacted them about this. Therefore Cllr Beer is not yet officially authorised to sign cheques.

• Draft Budget/ Precept

There was discussion about the budget and 2012/13 precept request after viewing last year’s and this year’s budget– A full house resolved that the precept request for 2012/13 should be the same as 2011/12. 
The Clerk completed the request form and the Chairman signed it.

 

08/12  Planning Issues
The following applications were viewed and discussed:

• Ref: 11/05465/FUL – Proposed conversion of redundant agricultural building to create a single 4 bedroom dwelling at Holly Farm, Whixall, SY13 2PT.

It was resolved that the Clerk submit ‘approve- no comment’ on the public access website.

• Ref: 11/05430/FUL – Erection of a two storey extension to rear and erection of detached double garage following removal of existing timber sheds at Ingleside, Waterloo, SY13 2PX.

It was resolved that the Clerk submit ‘approve- no comment’ on the public access website.

• Ref: 11/05507/FUL – Proposed conversion of redundant agricultural building to create 2 no.3 bedroom dwellings at Holly Farm, Whixall, SY13 2PT.

It was resolved that the Clerk submit ‘approve- no comment’ on the public access website.

• Ref: 11/05569/FUL – Erection of a replacement detached house following demolition of existing house and outbuildings; formation of vehicular access at 4 Maltkiln Lane, Whixall, Shropshire, SY13 2QH.

Cllr Evans believes that the applicants will be living in the “garage” which was the subject of a ‘FOR INFORMATION ONLY – Application for a Lawful Development Certificate’ submitted in July. It was resolved that the Clerk submit ‘object’ and give the reason that ‘ Whixall Parish Council feel that the proposal is not in keeping with neighbouring properties and that the character of the property needs to be retained. The Council also believes that the reasons given for demolition is not sufficient to warrant it and that the property could be sympathetically extended. 

Planning Decisions:

• Ref:11/03335/FUL- Erection of a replacement dwelling following demolition of existing dwelling at Maenoldy Roundthorn, Canal Side, Whixall, Shropshire, SY13 2PH- Status:

Decision still pending

• Ref: 11/03675/FUL- Application for section 73a of the Town and Country Planning Act for the erection of two residential units to be used for holiday let properties; installation of septic tank drainage system (Amendment to previously refused Planning application ref: 10/02181/FUL). At Holly House, Fenns Lane, Whixall, SY13 2PB.  Permission granted.
• Ref:  11/04137/FUL – Erection of agricultural building for feed storage at Rose Farm, Ossage Lane, Whixall, Shropshire, SY13 2QB. Permission granted.
• Ref: 11/04711/FUL – Erection of extension to existing agricultural building for livestock and erection of new agricultural building for storage of machinery and fodder at New House Farm, Chapel Lane, Whixall, Shropshire, SY13 2QG. Permission granted.
• Ref: 11/02507/FUL – Erection of a single storey extension to rear, conservatory to side and first floor extension to side; internal alterations at Damson Cottage, 9 Rack Lane, Whixall, Shropshire, SY13 2RN. Permission granted.
• Ref: 11/05084/FUL – Erection of steel portal frame building at Whixall Hall, Whixall, SY13 2PY. Permission granted.

 09/12   Parish Matters

• Place Plan Annual Review

This review was completed – responses recorded – it was agreed the Clerk would send to Hayley Deighton by email.

• Communication consultation

This consultation was completed – responses recorded – it was agreed the Clerk would send to Gwilym Butler by email.

• Councillor Vacancy

Cllr Jarrett informed the Council of a person interested in the current vacancy.
Cllr Edgerton informed the Council of Cllr Murphy’s resignation.
It was resolved that the Clerk send Cllr Murphy a ‘get well soon card’ and Cllr Spenser agreed to contact the Community News regarding an advert for the new Councillor vacancy.

• Rural Toolkit Event

Cllrs Demet, Beer and Astbury agreed to be the three nominated Cllrs in attendance at the event plus Cllr Edgerton as Chairman. Cllr Edgerton volunteered Belinda Edgerton to make the cakes for the event in the school cookery club.

• Notice Boards

The erection of the notice boards was discussed and agreed that Cllrs Edgerton and Evans would agree a date and time to carry out this work.

• Local Works

This was an agenda item requested by Cllr Spenser who was unable to attend the meeting due to illness, it was agreed the item would be moved to the next meeting on 11th January 2012.
Cllr Spenser brought the issue to the Council’s attention and asked Cllr Mellings if Shropshire Council were intending to sign up to it- Cllr Mellings said he would check up on this. Cllr Spenser asked if Whixall Parish Council would be interested in signing up; It would then ensure that applicants of large scale planning proposals would have to ask local residents before submitting applications. It was proposed by Cllr Astbury and seconded by Cllr Evans that more information should be gathered before making a decision on this.

• Bowling Club Lease Agreement

The Clerk stated that Mr Michael Beckett had sent her a copy of the Bowling Club Lease Agreement. Cllr Astbury volunteered to look at the agreement in more detail to help establish what the Council need to do next to reinstate the nominal ground rent fee.

• Grit Bins

This was requested to be included on the agenda following an email from a Whixall resident – whose family member had had an accident on Post Office Lane in the icy weather conditions. Discussion ensued regarding grit bins and whether the Whixall would be included on the primary route for the gritter.
It was resolved that the Clerk would contact Shropshire Highways Dept. and raise concerns and ask if they would consider  providing grit bins. 

10/12   Highways  
Two issues were raised: A pot hole outside Braynes Hall- just past the entrance.
The finger post to Whixall Marina has fallen (end of Alders Lane).
It was resolved that the Clerk would contact Highways about these issues.

11/12  Correspondence
A list of all correspondence was sent to Cllrs prior to the meeting: all noted. The list will be filed with the minutes; additional correspondence had been forwarded to Cllrs and is as follows:
Letter from Citizen’s advice bureau asking for donation.
Letter from Marie Curie Cancer Research asking for donation.
It was resolved that the Clerk respond to these requests saying that they are unable to help them this time.

Cllr Murphy’s resignation letter: The Clerk was asked to respond and acknowledge.

12/12   Councillors Reports
Cllr Spenser
Cllr Spenser informed the Council about a meeting at the Marlot, Whixall at 10:30am on Friday 13th January re: Natural Biodiversity. Two Shropshire Cllrs and Joan Daniels are expected to attend.

Cllr Jarrett
Cllr Jarrett raised the issue of the Ambulance service not knowing where they are going in Whixall and that a local resident had had to wait at least 30 mins for an ambulance.
Cllr Mellings agreed to ask a senior ambulance service contact how the service locates properties.

 

The meeting closed at 10:45pm      

DATE OF NEXT MEETING:     Wednesday 8th February at  7.30 pm

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