WHITCHURCH RURAL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting held at Tilstock Village Hall on Monday 1st December 2014 at 7:15pm
Chair:
Councillors Present:
Clerk:
Cllr S Martinson
Cllr J Dodd, Cllr L Chesters, Cllr R Butler, Cllr W Allen, Cllr A Allen, Cllr P Thompson,
Cllr T Hunter
Mrs M Joyce
1463 Welcome & Public Session
The Chair welcomed the Councillors and member of the public to the December Meeting of Whitchurch Rural Parish
Council, and opened proceedings at 7:15pm. There was one member of the public present, Mr Ellison who raised various
village maintenance matters, particularly in connection with the car park, with the Members. Councillors also discussed
parking restriction terms for the car park along with car parking provision arrangements for the nearby properties.
1464
Present, Apologies & Absences
Present as listed above. Cllr Martinson informed the Council that Nina Main has regrettably resigned from the Council
and that the Vacancy has been advertised. Cllr Garner conveyed apologies. Cllr Dakin was also present.
1465 Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests – Cllrs Dodd and Hunter declared possible
bias/predetermination in planning application 14/03484/OUT Ash Hall; Cllr Martinson requested that application
14/04912 Stallion AI Service Twemlows Hall be heard at this meeting (application notification arrived post agenda
display). Councillors all agreed to consider the application at this Meeting. Application 14/05017/OUT also arrived too
late for inclusion on the agenda and Councillors agreed to the Clerk requesting an extension for comments.
1466
Dispensations: None
1467 Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on 3rd November 2014
Councillors confirmed that they had received and read the Minutes of the last Meeting. They were proposed as a true and
accurate copy by Cllr Thompson seconded by Cllr Butler, all agreed. Duly signed by the Chair.
1468 Matters arising from the Minutes (not otherwise included on the Agenda): It was noted that the planning
application for Shropshire Lane Farm considered at a previous meeting has been withdrawn. Clerk confirmed registration
in the Community Speed Watch scheme. Landowner to be asked to attend to the overhanging branches over the
playground zip wire.
1469 Unitary Councillor’s Report – Cllr Dakin confimed that he had attended a Meeting with Severn Trent with the
Chair, Cllr Butler and Mr Ellison representing the village. Cllr Martinson to give a full report. Foul smell reported
outside the school which is being investigated by Public Protection Dept. It may be due to storm water being linked
inadvertently to foul. Application for an anaerobic digester in Whitchurch will be going to Committee either in December
or January. Councillors expressed their concerns over a significant increase of traffic being generated through local lanes
which will be ill equip
ed to support it.
1470
Community Policing Report – None.
1471 Street Lights, Maintenance & Repairs
Playgrounds: Cllr Martinson reported that the remedial maintenance matters undertaken as per Annual Play Inspection
report have been completed. A further recommendation would be to case the equipment supports with plastic piping to
strengthen and protect. Quote received from David Gresty was presented including 18 hours of labour (@£12ph) , for
£317. Cllr Martinson proposed accepting the quote. All agreed. Cllr Martinson further proposed the removal of the goal
posts as the multi-sports court has 5 aside provision. All agreed. (Posts to be removed below ground level.)
Tilstock Bus Shelter: Clerk reported that Arriva have accepted responsibility for the damage caused to the bus shelter
and have approved a quote for repairs obtained from Hopwoods. Arriva will settle this invoice direct. …/2
Minutes of the Meeting of Whitchurch Rural PC held on 01/12/14 cont pg 2
1472 Street Lights, Maintenance & Repairs cont:
Street Lights: Clerk reported that Eon have attended to the lights as reported (Ash Magna dayburning issues – report of
issues required; outside 8 Hollins Lane, Tilstock).The main power cable to the light in Tilstock had been cut and this had
necessitated Eon calling out Scottish Power to make safe. Resident has reported that this power failure occurred as a
result of the cable being cut through whilst hedge cutting was taking place. Councillors considered futher the long term
aim to convert lights to LED; Chair suggested further investigations into funding routes should be explored. All agreed.
Cllr Thompson reported that he has set up a meeting with Barlows to look into the possibility of them undertaking street
lighting maintenance.
1473 Highways & Environmental Health
i)
Bollards have been installed at Badgers pit, Brown Moss; Cllr Hunter reported sign down on Ash Road near
Brown Moss turning. Clerk has previously reported this item. Cllr Martinson reported that a remedial list was sent to the
Highway’s engineers who attended the site visit. All items agreed.
ii)
Request to establish riparian landowners received. Clerk to respond.
iii)
Cllr Martinson reported that the issue of maintenance of the footway between Whitchurch and Ash will now be
included on the Highways jobs list on an annual basis: to be done earlier in the year than currently undertaken. Job still
outstanding for this year with Ringway.
1474
a)
Housekeeping
Reports from representatives on external bodies to include:
LJC: Reported that Centre NE will be closing. LJC will be undertaking ‘youth commissioning’ going forward
with a fund pot currently standing at £15,580. Youth workers currently employed will be made redundant.
Questionnaire being circulated to establish local needs.
ii)
NSAC: No meeting.
iii)
Village Hall Committees: No reports. Need new Tilstock rep.
iv)
Charities: Cllr Butler reported brief meeting of Higginson Trust Charities (Elizabeth Langford) to discuss use of
gas meters. Rent increases of £2pm.Whitchurch Relief in need are circulating Christmas presents to the needy.
v)
Emergency planning: Meeting scheduled for 8th December.
b)
Clerk’s annual review/appraisal: Chair reported very positive meeting. Recommended salary scale increase of
one spinal point to sp22. NALC have reviewed salary scales and have made recommendation of one-of f payment of
£100 to be made in December to reflect the increases. This will be split between all Councils therefore Whitchurch
Rural’s contribution will be £16.66. Salary increase to start in new financial year at Clerk’s request. Cllr Martinson
proposed increase and one off payment. All agreed. Councillors further agreed to paying 1/6 share of costs for Clerk to
register for CiLCA qualification.
c)
Housing needs questionnaire: No more returns.
d)
Casual Vacancy: Clerk reported that this has been registered with Shropshire Council and duly advertised.
e)
Courses/Meetings: Meeting dates for following year distributed. Clerk reported that dates for Tilstock have been
booked but awaiting availability from Ash to establish feasibility of alternating meeting locations.
i)
1475
Finance
i)
Cash book/Bank Reconciliation: Bank reconciliation, cash book and bank statements circulated for
information and inspection. Bank statements presented for information also.
Invoices for payment – Salary payments proposed by Cllr Martinson, seconded by Cllr Hunter, all
agreed. All other invoices proposed by Cllr W Allen, seconded by Cllr A Allen. All agreed. ../3
ii)
Minutes of the Meeting of Whitchurch Rural PC held on 01/12/14 cont pg 3
1475
iii)
Finance cont
Budget/precept review to include quotes for grounds maintenance works ; proposal of notice board for
Prees Heath bus shelter: Councillors discussed the budget forecast and identified spend. Cllr Martinson
proposed purchasing a notice board for the bus shelter in Prees Heath. Councillors agreed that the Clerk
should arrange with a spend budget not exceeding £300.00. Tender received from Mrs Hackett, Internal
Auditor for audit services: Cllr W Allen proposed accepting the tender for services at a cost c£160.00,
seconded by Cllr Dodd, all agreed. Councillors considered the grounds maintenance contract for 2015.
Quotes received at £98.85 per cut plus additional weed spraying costs x2 per year, and £85.00 per cut to
include weed spraying and additional fee for weed spraying in Tilstock of £55 x2 per year. Cllr Butler
proposed accepting the lower quotation from K&S Plantscapes, all agreed (1 abstained). Clerk to write to
both parties and invite unsuccessful company to re-tender for 2016.
The Council Members discussed the precept requirement going forward and agreed to request the same
amount as the previous year in order to reflect 0% increase.
Councillors discussed previous part payment of last invoice submitted by CDMi (Factor 21) formerly
V&W Electrics and agreed to pay the residual amount of £261.41.
Invoices for payment:
Date
Recipient
Purpose
Amount
30/11/14
M Joyce
Clerk’s Salary
14/10/14
C Mountford
25/06/14
Power of
Exp
£321.28
Cheque
No:
SO
Grounds Maintenance inv 043
£98.85
100199
Open
Spaces Act
1906 s10
SALC
Financial Regs Training x 2
£60.00
100200
09/ 14
Ash Parish Rooms
Room Hire
£80.00
100201
01/12/14
M Joyce
One off payment (salary)
£16.67
100202
01/12/14
CDMi (Factor 21)
Lighting Maintenance
£261.41
100203
LGA 1972
s111
LGA 1972
s111
LGA 1972
s112
Parish
Councils Act
1957s3
LGA 1972
s112
Planning (Cllrs Hunter and Dodd withdrew from the Meeting.)
i) Applications: 14/03484/OUT Ash Hall – amendments to the scheme were considered by the Councillors.
Cllr Martinson reminded Councillors of local opposition to the proposal. Highways amendments and
stipulation that the Old Smithy were noted and approved. Councillors expressed a wish to see the building
restored. In light of the amendments all agreed to support. (Cllrs Dodd & Hunter returned to the Meeting.)
14/04526/FUL: Land to rear of Russell House: 12 dwellings proposed which were identified as a preferred site
for SAMDev. Councillors were keen to ensure the hedge on the west side is kept/retained as a complete entity.
Members were pleased to note mix of houses to include 2 bed properties. All agreed to support this application.
14/04912/FUL: Stallion AI Service Twemlows Hall: Councillors considered the development of the brownfield
site and agreed to support the application, agreeing that the change of access should be decided and approved
by the Highways Department.
14/04941/FUL: The Coach House, Alkington Hall Barns, Alkington, Whitchurch Proposal:Erection of single
storey rear extension: Councillors considered the p lans and agreed to support with the proviso that no listed
building consents (if any) would be affected.
14/05017/OUT: Development Land South Of Magna Dene, Ash Magna: Due to this application arriving on the
day of the Meeting, Councillors agreed to ask for an extension for comments to allow for public representations
and due Council consideration of plans. Clerk to request.
…4
1476
Minutes of the Meeting of Whitchurch Rural PC held on 01/12/14 cont pg 4
ii) Decisions: None to report.
(9:25pm Cllr Dodd left the Meeting.)
iii) Place Plans: Cllr Martinson reported that Councillors responses to the proposed changes to the plan have
been received and will be co-ordinated and presented for final approval in January.
iv) Cllr Martinson reported that the scheduled meeting with Severn Trent and Michael Watney had taken place.
Some possible solutions to ongoing issues were discussed including adjusting the gradient of piping. It was
established that any new problems need to be reported by residents immediately to Severn Trent. Formal letter
from the Parish Council was decided upon in order to encourage issue reporting. Cllr Butler to draft.
1477
Correspondence:
i) SALC Information Bulletins/Legal Topic Notes etc: distributed by email
ii) Other information received by email: Clerk reported an issue with access to footpath 233/67/1 Villa Farm:
This situation has been ongoing for in excess of 2 years and is being handled by the Footpaths Department for
resolution. Situation update report received and communicated to Councillors by the Clerk.
iii) Notice received that the Government are implementing changes to the requirement to provide affordable
housing on new developments. It is likely that this requirement will be removed for developments of less than
10 houses. This will impact on anticipated CiL contributions as a result. Cllr Dakin to investigate further.
1478 Other Parish Council Matters/Items for inclusion on next agenda –Place plan.
There being no other business the Chair thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9:45pm.
Whitchurch Rural Parish Council
Approval of the Minutes
The Minutes of the Meeting held on 3rd November 2014 were accepted and approved by
Whitchurch Rural Parish Council at a Meeting held on: 1st December 2014
Signed by the Chair:
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