Minutes of a meeting of STANTON ON THE WOLDS Parish Council

held on January 14, 2009, at 7.30pm, at the Parish Church, Stanton on the Wolds

Couns.  Mrs Margaret Healy (Chairman)      Jim Goodman (Vice chairman)

Roy H Butler       Bryan Baines     Mike Sheriston      Alex McKee       Mrs Angela Benney

      Also in attendance: The clerk Mike Elliott and Coun. Mrs Fiona Mason (Rushcliffe Borough Council). 

334/9] APOLOGIES There were no apologies. 

335/9] DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were none. 

336/9] MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 12, 2008, were accepted as circulated and signed by the chairman. 

337/9] CLERK’S REPORT FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

      Mrs Janet Baines, Stanton Parochial Church Council Secretary, had advised the clerk that they had agreed to let the parish council use the church for Planning Committee meetings. Dates would be arranged as required and the price of hire would be £7.50 per hour.

      The clerk said he had attended the Nottinghamshire Association of Local Council budget and finance training seminar at Epperstone. It had in parts been helpful and certainly the networking with other clerks had been useful as always. The seminar had been run by Kate Needham, former full time clerk to Calverton Parish Council and her knowledge had been useful to tap into.

      The work on completion of the Freedom of Information form from the Information Commissioner’s Office had been completed and submitted. The council confirmed its acceptance of the new regulations.  

338/9] CORRESPONDENCE

      Nottinghamshire Association of Local Councils asked for comments on training requirements in the coming year. There was interest for training for new members and the clerk was asked to pass this view on to NALC.

      Rushcliffe Borough Council advised that the Council Tax Base 2009/2010 for Stanton on the Wolds was 202, this being the amount in cash that would be raised by £1 of council tax on a Band D property. Rushcliffe Borough Council asked the council to return its council tax precept requirement for 2009/2010 by the end of January.

      Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire advised of a Funding and More 2009 seminar at the Rushcliffe Borough Council Civic Centre in March. Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire and Rushcliffe Borough Council advised of a Parish Council Forum event on development control and associated issues, to be held on February 11 at the Civic Centre, West Bridgford. The chairman said she would attend and the clerk was asked to seek further two places, for Couns. Jim Goodman and Mrs Angela Benney. The clerk was given a letter by the chairman in which she outlined the proposed work of planting around the area of the village sign and which was to be forwarded on to Rushcliffe Borough Council in connection with the funding offered for the scheme. 

339/9] PLANNING MATTERS

      Planning Applications

      08/02225/FUL   Mrs Spillane;  Construct menage (40m x 20m); 136 Browns Lane. No objection 

      Rushcliffe Borough Council Decisions

      08/01698/FUL   Mr Scattergood; Two storey front and rear extensions, increase roof height over property to facilitate first floor accommodation; 52 Stanton Lane. Grant Permission  

340/9] VILLAGE AMENITIES / ENVIRONMENT / DAFFODIL & OTHER PLANTING / VANDALISM

      The meeting was told of a dispute involving the mis-use of the roadside verge in front of the properties 144, 146 and 148 Melton Road. Notts County Council had twice refurbished the area and while they had written to residents warning of action against them if the mis-use continued, they had now said they would take no further action. The clerk was asked to write to the County Council to urge them to take the necessary action against those responsible for continuing to damage the verge in question.

      The clerk was asked to write to Jane Baines of Notts County Council and thank her for her efforts and work in connection with footpaths in the parish.

      The chairman said the planting of daffodils had gone ahead in various parts of the village and she thanked those involved. It was hoped next year it might be possible to get local residents involved in a project to widen the area where the bulbs were being planted.

      Incidents of minor vandalism had occurred at properties between 114 and 122 Melton Road. Coun. Baines said the damage seemed to had been caused by youngsters and had included damage to a caravan window and to several locks on garden sheds etc. He expressed concern at the attitude of the police in regard to the incidents. The chairman said damage had been caused to the telephone kiosk at Willowbrook and this time the telephone and cash box had been ripped out and there had been a graffiti incident involving the council notice board near the golf course entrance.  

341/9] FINANCIAL MATTERS Members authorised payment of accounts as per the schedule presented. 

      The council considered a report from the clerk giving details of estimated expenditure in the 12-month period of the next financial year. After a discussion members agreed there should be no increase in the amount of the precept they would seek, and agreed on the Council Tax precept requirement for 2009/2010 at £4,632. 

342/9] SPEED WATCH GROUP  

      Coun. Goodman said there had been major progress since the last meeting and he would be contacting the police again shortly. 

343/9] STANDING ORDERS

      The chairman said she had circulated to all members the proposed revised Standing Orders. Some comments had been made by members which she had now integrated into the proposals which had been forwarded to the clerk for his comments. 

344/9] AFFORDABLE HOUSING

      After further discussion on the approach to the council by the Trent Valley Partnership the council agreed they did not feel there was any call for provision of affordable housing in the village and therefore would call not to have a survey undertaken. 

345/9] WEBSITE UPDATE AND PARISH NEWSLETTER

      Coun. Sheriston presented a report on behalf of Mr Alan Hunt in which he said he was planning new features for the site. Members were appreciative of the work continuing to be carried out in respect of the site and agreed that Mr Hunt should be asked to give a 10-minute presentation on the website at the Annual Parish Meeting. 

346/9] PUBLIC SESSION Nothing was raised. 

347/9] AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING AND PLANS FOR ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

      Members were invited to suggest further items for discussion at the next parish council meeting, to take place on March 11, but nothing was put forward.

      The council agreed that it would continue the practise of not publishing its annual report prior to the Annual Parish Meeting but to make it available then and to include it in its entirety in the next issue of the newsletter. It was also agreed that Borough Councillor Mrs Mason be asked to give a 10-minute presentation on planning at the meeting.

      

      There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.59pm.