Heversham
Parish Council
Minutes of
Meeting of
1. Present. E P Johnson, R A Parker, G Capstick, R Messenger, A Shepherd, G Handley
Councillor Bingham, Councillor Woof, and the Clerk.
2. Apologies for Absence. A Rimmer.
3. Signing of Minutes of Meeting of
4. Matters Arising from the Minutes. None
5. Playground.
(i) No progress has been made in clearing the faults reported in the first inspection. A copy of
the second monthly report will be sent to Playdale and pursued vigorously.
(ii) The rebuilding of the stonework for the gates is progressing, but the building of the gates
themselves is progressing more slowly. It was agreed that the official opening should be put off until
the Spring of 2003.
(iii) A short presentation will be made to Neighbourhood Forum on 7th November which will
include thanks for the grant.
(iv) Removal of the trees on the east side was discussed. A decision was deferred to the next
meeting. There is plenty of room for planting new trees in other parts of the playground, and the
space could be made available for swings.
6. Finance.
(a) Payments Approved:
Martin Tyson (Grass Cutting etc) £ 750.00
Audit Commission (Fee for 2000/01 Audit) £ 253.80
(b) Audit of 2001/02 Accounts.
The internal auditor has completed his work and it only remains for the official return to be
completed.
(c) Clerk’s Salary for 2003/2004.
It was agreed that the salary should be in accordance with the recommendations of the
National Association of Local Councils. This assumes that in a Parish the size of Heversham, the
Clerk works 18 hours per month and starts at scale point 15.
(d) Projected Accounts for the Year to
Copies are attached to these minutes. Assuming that expenses for the rest of the year are as
expected, all VAT is refunded, and that £150 is spent on recruitment of the new Clerk, a deficit for
the year of £430.33 is expected compared with a budgeted deficit of £170.
The projected accounts show a balance available to the playground in excess of £2,100, and a reserve in excess of £2,300 available to the Parish Council at the year end.
(e) A possible budget for 2003/2004.
A possible balanced budget based on an increased precept of £4,250 (up from £3,500) was
discussed. A copy is also attached to these minutes. The main changes are an increase in insurance
costs for the playground and the new salary agreed under item 6(c) for the new Clerk. A final budget
will be approved at the next meeting, but it was agreed that funds for a new seat on Heversham Head
should be sought outside the budget.
7. Advertisement to Recruit New Clerk.
A draft based on a previous advertisement was agreed. It will be placed in the Westmorland Gazette
during November and on the notice board at the Post Office.
8. Planning.
(a) New Applications.
(i) Plumtree Hall - application to carry out
internal alterations to listed building supported.
(ii)
(b) Applications considered previously.
(i) Spout House, Prince’s Way - application to build conservatory
approved by SLDC.
Page 2
9. Correspondence
(a) CALC: NALC Development Strategy - noted.
The CALC AGM will take place on
Invitation to attend
meeting on 26th November about Transport Grant Initiatives.
Action : Clerk to
intimate that no one will attend.
(b) SLDC: Local
Plan 2006 - Statement of Decisions and Proposed Modifications - noted.
Transfer of Management
of
management of
listed, but investigation is
required to establish how many of these still belong to the
Parish.
(c)
Cumbria CC: Transport Plan
2001/02, Progress Report Summary - noted.
Neighbourhood
Forum - Next Meeting on 7th November at
10. Any Other Business.
(a) The possibility of using the plot next to the playground for short-term parking was discussed.
(b) The Chairman agreed to approach
(i) Pupils smoking and leaving litter at the bottom of Dugg Hill.
(ii) Pupils who are over age or trespassing on the playground.
(iii) Which Trust owns the plot next to the playground.
(c) No one knew what contingencies were in place if there was a fireman’s strike. It was thought that
part-time fireman would not strike.
11. Next Meeting.