Lydbury North Parish Council

Meeting of the Parish Council

Wednesday 16th May 2007 - At 7.30pm  Lydbury North Village Hall

7.30pm – 7.45pm – Public Open Session – Any members of the public present will be invited to address councillors on any subject.  At the commencement of the meeting itself, 7.45pm, members of the public are free to stay but may not take any further part in the proceedings.

Two members of the public were present; the applicants for the planning application to be discussed at agenda item 14.  They indicated they did not wish to speak at this time but were willing to answer any questions councillors wished to ask.

MINUTES

07.56.          Election of Chairman

Ex Councillor Michael Shoesmith took the chair for the initial agenda item.  The Clerk had received nominations for 2 councillors to be chairman:  Councillor Roger Plowden and Councillor Andy Horrocks.  Mr Shoesmith asked both Councillors if they wanted to be considered for the post of chairman.  Councillor Andy Horrocks indicated that he did not wish to be considered, Councillor Roger Plowden was happy to stand.  Councillor Plowden left the room.

A vote was held and Councillor Roger Plowden unanimously elected to the post of Chairman.

Councillor Plowden returned to the room and took the Chair.  Thanks to Mr Michael Shoesmith.

07.57.          Election of Vice-Chairman

The clerk had received nominations for three councillors for the post of Vice Chairman, one councillor had already indicated he did not wish to be considered.

Councillors Roger Plowden and Andy Horrocks had both been nominated as Vice Chairman.  As Councillor Plowden had already been elected Chairman he asked Councillor Horrocks if he wished to be considered for nomination.  Councillor Horrocks was willing and was elected to the post of Vice Chairman by unanimous vote.

07.58.          Declarations of Interest:

Members are requested to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests they may have in matters to be considered at this meeting in accordance with the terms of the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) (England) Order 2001 issued under Section 51 Local Government Act 2000 as follows:

·                     Declarations of personal interests

·                     Declarations of prejudicial interests

Councillor Horrocks declared a personal interest in agenda item 14 as he was a personal friend of the applicant.

Councillor Parish declared a personal interest in agenda item 14 as he worked for the firm preparing the application.

07.59.          Apologies for absence

None

07.60.          Receive Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting had been circulated and were signed by the chairman as a true record

07.61.          Receive Minutes of previous A.G.M.

The minutes of 2006 AGM had previously been circulated and agreed however they were revisited for the purpose of continuity and progress.

07.62.          Confirm Asset Register

Clerk had mislaid Asset Register between leaving home and arriving at village hall and the asset register would be confirmed at the next full council meeting.

07.63.          Appointment of Councillors onto other bodies

·                     Village Hall Committee

It was agreed Andy Horrocks would continue as the parish council representative on this committee.

·                     Poors Charity

It was agreed Andy Horrocks would continue as the parish council representative on this committee.

·                     Parish Plan Group

It was agreed Andy Horrocks and Roger Plowden would continue as the parish council representatives on this committee.

The progress of the parish plan was discussed at this stage.  Cllr Plowden suggested at this point the questionnaire should be summarised and the findings distributed amongst the parish.

Cllr Horrocks to arrange a meeting of the group as soon as possible.

Cllr Collin raised queries regarding the Kemp Valley Group and the proposed Bishop’s Castle waste unit.  This matter to be an agenda item at the next full council meeting.

07.64.          Election of Councillors onto Committees

Council does not have any committee’s at present.

07.65.          Council vacancies

Clerk outlined the three options available to fill the two vacancies summarised as follows:

·                     Co opt using usual process and continue as a council with 78% elected members (2% short of the quality parish status criteria) and 22% co opted.

·                     Not co opt and force another election (possible cost upwards of £1,000)

·                     Everybody resign and force another election (again, costly).

Councillors discussed vacancies and unanimously decided there really was no option but to co opt and face not meeting the QPS criteria.  QPS did not bring enough rewards to warrant spending large sums of money on elections.

Clerk to start co option process and a meeting would be held on 13^th June 2007 at 7pm to discuss applications.

07.66.          Acceptance of draft accounts in advance of internally audited accounts

Due to clerks illness and the internal auditor being away the accounts have not been audited.  Accounts would be accepted at the next full council meeting.  Councillors perused draft balance sheet.

07.67.          Budget 2007/8

Draft budget circulated for information and clerk answered questions.

07.68.          Insurance

Lycetts had not been able to provide a competitive quotation and clerk to pay the Allianz Cornhill annual renewal sum.

07.69.          Planning applications

Plans and details of planning applications being considered will be available for members of the public to inspect during 20 minutes prior to the meeting, between 7.10pm and 7.30pm.

1/07/19448/F – Use of land for temporary dwelling for a horticultural worker, formation of vehicular access. Acton Nurseries, Acton

Councillors discussed the application at length and also asked questions of the applicants who were in the hall.  It was felt that nobody had enough personal knowledge of the site and a site meeting was therefore arranged to be held at 1pm on 21.5.07.

07.70.          Training

Training at Craven Arms noted.

07.71.          Model Code of Conduct

Copies circulated and acceptance deferred to next full council meeting.

07.72.          Set dates for 2007/8 meetings

Dates agreed as follows:

07.73.          Bills to be paid