Heversham Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting to be held in the Athenaeum, on Monday, 26th September 2005, which started at 7.30.p.m.

 

Present: Councillors T Parker, P Shaw, A Lucas, G Capstick and A Shepherd, District Councillor B Woof, County Councillor R Bingham, the Clerk and one member of the public.

 

 283  Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. A Hulme.  

 

284  The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 22nd August 2005, were approved and signed as a true record.

 

285  Matters arising from the Minutes.

§         The Clerk has replied to D Storr of SLDC regarding the Electoral review as instructed at the last Parish Council Meeting. There has been further communication, which informs of the intention to put Helsington with Levens, and Heversham.  The Council does not wish to add anything to their previous comments.

§         The St Peter’s Church has refused permission to place a notice board on the churchyard wall edging Woodhouse Lane.  Cllr. Parker will approach Martin Tyson to ask if one could be put in front of his hedge, low down. If not the village will have to continue to use the one at the right side of the Parish Council’s board. Cllr. Shepherd is willing to remove unwanted notices to keep it tidy.  She asked for reassurance that the notice board could be removed from her house if required, so the Clerk is to write a letter assuring her that this would be the case, on receipt of a months notice from her.

§         The Clerks Contract was passed to the Chairman for his approval.  The Clerk is to have an annual appraisal from the Chairman, and will arrange a date with him.   Cllr. Shaw pointed out that a special fund would need to be set up, to receive annually, the gratuity, which will commence on 1/4/06.  It was agreed to allow the Clerk £25 per quarter to cover all office materials, including photocopies and use of her computer. Other expenses, such as postage and mileage will be claimed as before.

§         The playground inspection book has been passed to Cllr. Parker and he will ensure that the wobbly ‘Burma Bridge’ is attended to.  The delivery of bark seems to be acceptable and will now be spread, as soon as time permits. 

 

286  Leasgill Quarry Grant recommendations and Investments.

The Clerk read out the applications for funds and the Committee’s recommendations, as follows: -

Total Available for Distribution

 

 

 

 

 £3,754.17

 

 

 

 

Requests for Funds 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applicant

Purpose

 

Requested

 

Recom'ded

 

 

 

 

The Athenaum – Leasgill

Decoration of hall, kitchen etc

        800.00

 

800.00

 

 

 

 

The Athenaum – Leasgill

New cooker

 

     1,100.00

 

0.00

 

 

 

 

Charlotte Horn, Milnthorpe

Support in Tanzania - charity work

     1,660.00

 

0.00

 

 

 

 

Heversham Playground.

Phase 3, cushionfloor, etc

     2,000.00

 

1,100.00

 

 

 

 

Minthorpe Parish Council

Heritage Plaques

 

     1,155.00

 

800.00

 

 

 

 

Milnthorpe Parish Council

Playground improvements

     1,500.00

 

1,000.00

 

 

 

 

Brest Cancer Campaign

Research for cure, I in 9 affected

 donation

 

0.00

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

     8,215.00

 

 £3,700.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Parish Council agreed all recommendations.  The remaining £54.17 will be carried forward.

Cllr. Shaw gave a financial report, which stated that the total value of the funds has risen by £11,981.  The income for the year represents a yield slightly over 4.1%, but is expected to fall slightly, by about £300, as the Fixed Interest Fund continues to adjust to lower interest rates.  He recommended that no action should be taken to move funds.

The Clerk advised the Council of a new websit ‘Guidestar.org.uk which will list all the UK charities. There is currently an opportunity to check and change the entry if required.  The Councillors informed the Clerk of the changes to be made.

 

287  The following payments were authorised:

 Clerks expenses and salary - £468.43 cheque 100016.

       Audit Commission - £141.00, cheque 100017.

 

288  Projected Accounts to 31/03/06.

The Clerk estimated that there should be £2075 in the Parish Council fund and £840.77 in the Playground Fund, assuming the Leasgill Quarry Grant of £1,100 was to be paid to the Parish Council shortly.  However, the Councillors preferred that only the  £259.23 overspend from the previous project, be claimed initially and the remaining be left in the Leasgill Quarry Trust Fund until required.

The projected final balance of £2075 will represent a reduction of £200 over the final balance for 2004/05.

 

289  Planning Applications and correspondence received:

Mr &Mrs Maudsley, 39 Dugg Hill – Permit granted.

B Parratt and J Mohammed, 1&2 Plumtree Bank – Permits granted.

 

290  The Athenaeum Financial report.

§         The Athenaeum seeks guidance from the Parish Council as to their policy in relation to examination of the accounts. -  The Clerk is to write to request that there be an external audit done on the Athenaeum Accounts.

§         Advice of increase of charges for use of Athenaeum – these were though to be reasonable.

§         The Council would like to discuss the Athenaeums proposals to update the servery, and prefer to have the Chairman, Mr R Sisson join them to participate.  The Clerk is to write to invite him to the next meeting and make it an Agenda item.

 

291  Plans for celebrating the Trafalgar Weekend.  Due to the lack of a suitable site and time constraints, the Council have decided to cancel their plans to hold an event.

 

292  Remembrance Day Arrangements.

The Chairman will lay a wreath at the foot of the War Memorial on the 11th November at 11.00 a.m. and hopes that he will be joined by others.  The Clerk is to order the wreath and pay a £25 donation under section 137.

 

293  Correspondence – filed for reference.

§         Wicksteed leisure brochure.

§         Calc Circular and Training Programme.

§         Local Works – Campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill – News.

§         Cumbria County Playing Fields Association Annual Report.

§         Clerk and Councils Direct magazine.

§         SLDC Standards Committee Agenda September and Minutes June 2005.

§         Planning Cumbria Joint Structure Plan 2001 – 2016.

 

294  Items for information.

§         Policing concerns were expressed and the Clerk is to make it an Agenda item for next time and request that the police send a representative to address the issues of concern.

§         The Clerk advised that the Heversham website is currently being updated.

§         It has been noted that there is a need for a litter bin in the playground.  The Clerk will give appropriate brochures to Cllr. Parker and make the consideration to purchase one an Agenda item for October.

§         The Toddler group has offer to plant some daffodils in the children’s playground and the Councillors have been pleased to accept providing the mowing of the grass was considered, when choosing a suitable area.

 

295  The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on Monday, October 31st 2005 at 7.30.p.m.

 

Denise Challenor (Mrs)

Clerk to the Council

Tel: 01524 761824