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Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 11th December 2007
In the Belle Friday Centre, London Road, Lynsted
Present:
Councillors: Baxter, Broughton, Darling (part), Champion, Dawes, Disney, English, Jones
In attendance: Liz Attwood (minute taker)
1 Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Bowling.
2 Declarations of Interest
The Chairman asked if any Councillors wished to declare an interest in any items on the Agenda. No one wished to declare an interest.
3 Time Set Aside for Members of the Public to Address Council
There were no members of the public present.
4 Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 30th October 2007
It was agreed that the minutes could be endorsed by the Chairman. This was proposed by Cllr Jones and seconded by Cllr Disney and unanimously agreed.
5 Matters Arising from the Previous Meeting
The action list from the previous meeting was used as a basis for matters arising and the revised list forms part of these minutes. It was agreed that actions list from future meeting should only be items requiring something to be reported back and not items for general agreement.
It was agreed that the action recorded under 14.9 of the previous minutes was not practicable. It was agreed that the Properties Inspection conducted in September should be accompanied by an estimate produced by the Properties Committee, if a contractor cost estimate was not available to allow appropriate budgeting provision to be made.
There were no other matters arising.
6 Finance
Cllr Champion advised that the Finance Committee had met the previous week and further work had been done to formulate the precept submission. A proposed precept was circulated to the members for discussion at the meeting. It was noted that a contribution from Cllr Jones, received following the Finance Committee, had been received too late for inclusion in the paper submitted for the meeting. Cllr Jones to be offered to explain his reservations at the figure proposed.
In the paper submitted, the precept proposed is £10,162 compared to £7,500 the previous year. This is based on the projected year end outgoings with modest % uplift, plus a 12 month estimate of Clerks salary and expenses. The proposed figure includes no additional % allowance based on the value of the asset register.
Cllr Disney requested a projected end of year balance for April 2008 be included with the proposal.
Cllr Disney clarified the following principles with regards to the Orchard account :
- By year end, balance of Orchard account expected to be in the region of £3,000, assuming outstanding grant payment and VAT reclaim. This £3,000 would be ring fenced for Orchard purposes (barring emergencies); thereafter Orchard events would be self financing overall.
- Insurance and Maintenance activities for the Orchard project would be met from the Parish Council precept
- No budget provision would be made for the purchase of any additional assets during 2008.
It was noted that the value of the asset register had increased by approximately 50 % to £32,156, (previously £22,198) and the view was expressed that this would also affect insurance costs. There was a counter view that as the changes to the register were largely as a result of new items purchased, so a claim on insurance was unlikely and in any case the reserve could be used for this purpose.
There was disquiet that the proposed increase in precept was so much greater than inflation but it was noted that the overall amount requested was small given the size of the LwK parish compared to others in Kent.
Cllr Disney confirmed that the Greenstreet project should represent no risk to next years expenditure as the 3% increase in contract price was being absorbed by Swale Forward.
Precept for joint playing fields was the largest single component. It was agreed that spend on the budgeted items were unavoidable. Use of subsidiary for playing fields to be investigated with Laurence Young.
Cllr Jones proposed that the playing field precept for 2008/9 as proposed be agreed on the provision that the Finance Committee would consider the option of use of subsidiary for the joint playing fields. This was seconded by Cllr Disney and unanimously agreed.
Cllr Jones proposed that a precept of £10,500 be requested, as per paper circulated with an additional £339 allowance for increased insurance costs. This was seconded by Cllr Darling, and agreed by the majority.
Cllr Disney proposed a vote of thanks for the work done on the budget by Cllr Champion and other members of the Finance Committee. This was seconded by Cllr English and unanimously agreed.
6.2 Payments Approved
- Cheque no. 625 – Cllr Baxter, reimbursement for Clerk newspaper advert
As agreed at previous meeting, cheque number confirmed.
- Cheque no. 626 EDF £96.83 for light bulb at school entrance
Proposed Cllr Champion, seconded Cllr English and unanimously agreed.
6.3 Jubilee Pump Insurance Premium
Cllr Darling confirmed that alternative insurance quote still awaited.
7 Clerk Vacancy Update
Cllr Baxter advised that interviews for the above position would be held on 12th December.
8 Planning Update
A Planning Committee meeting had immediately preceded this meeting. There was no other planning business to report.
9 Parish Plan / Design Study for Improvements to Greenstreet
Study due to commence in December. Separate bank account still to be set up.
10 Phase 2 Footway
Cllr Disney advised that Mike Knowles had produced a design showing location of footpath and extent of retaining wall. Cllrs English and Disney would arrange meetings with the 3 residents/landowners affected. If the residents agreed to the proposal, Mr Haratbar would let a contract for a feasibility study from April 2008 onwards.
It was noted that currently the scheme in Kent Highways plan for execution in 2011. Kent Highways had advised that, if residents could be persuaded to agree to the scheme, work could be brought forward into 2008. It was suggested that subsidiary could be used to construct new fences and cover any incidental infrastructure costs.
11 Reports
11.1 Kent Association of Parish Councils (KAPC) – Cllr Dawes
Report on last meeting being written.
11.2 Playing Fields – Cllr Champion
Cllr Champion confirmed that the children’s play area had been cleared and had to have topsoil and be re-seeded and brought back into the main area of the filed. It was planned to reinstate pedestrian access and clear nettles from the lower bank.
It was agreed that early in the new Year discussion would be held with Teynham Parish Council to look again at purchasing the land. The Planning Inquiry only listed 2 exclusion sites which strengthened the case for purchase. Sources of funding money to be investigated, Cllr Disney suggested Bill Ronan may have suitable grants.
11.3 Lighting – Cllr Champion
Light on corner of Cambridge Lane/ Lynsted Lane permanently on.
Light out on Clear Hill.
11.4 Footpaths - Cllr Dawes
A report prepared by Cllr Dawes had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting. It was noted that stiles on Park Farm needed attention. Cllr Baxter to raise with landowner.
11.5 Tree Warden – Cllr Baxter - Nothing to report.
11.6 Transport & Highways - Cllr Baxter - Nothing to report,
11.7 Police liaison – Cllr Baxter
Cllr Disney to arrange for joint PACT (Police and Communities Together) meeting with Teynham PC.
11.8 Standards Committee - Cllr Darling
Nothing to report as the Standards Committee had not met since the previous Parish Council meeting.
11.9 Properties Committee – Cllr English - Nothing to report,
11.10 Orchard Committee – Cllr Baxter - A report had been circulated.
11.11 Website – Cllr Jones - Nothing to report.
12 Future Meeting Dates
A list was circulated.
13 Parish Council Records
It was noted that records were currently held at Cllr Baxter’s house. Alternative permanent options were being sought. Possibilities to be investigated included Belle Friday Centre, Greenstreet Methodist Church and the Archives Office.
14 Clerk’s Correspondence
- Action with Communities in Rural Kent: Newsletter and Annual Report, 2006/7.
- 10/10. Annual report, English Rural Housing Assoc.
- 29/10. KAPC agenda of Swale Area meeting of 3/12.
- 2/11 From Postwatch , thanking us for copying to them our letter of concern about loss of POs.
- 2/11. KCC Highway Services. From K Ferrin explaining the PIPKIN transportation prioritisation scheme. Conference on subject 10th Jan. 2008.
- 31/10 Letter from Clerk to Chair of Lynsted Parochial Church Council, informing him that LKPC archives have been removed from the church vestry, and registering disappointment at the ‘eviction’.
- 6/11. Letter from Clerk to D Wood regretting that we could not recommend a Parish Grant for the churchyard path extension.
- 6/11 Letter from Clerk to R Gosling, of Rose House, Lynsted Lane, offering sympathy and moral support in his attempt to have Kent Highway Services control HGV use of the Lane.
- South East Plan. Newsletter 12. Inspector’s Report summary
- Register of Electors 2008. For use by Clerk/councillors for certain Parish Council purposes only. Severe fines for abuse.
- 16/11. Letter from KCC: Modifications to footpaths. Not in our Parish.
- CPRE Countryside Voice magazine.
- 3/12. Note from Kent Highways. Carriageway outside Bratten, Bogle will have to be excavated to mend a drain blockage.
- Minutes of Teynham PC meetings for 11th Sept and 30th Oct2007.
- Any Other Business – For Information Only
None of the members had any other business.
The meeting closed at 9.05pm
16 Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting
The next full Parish Council meeting will be held on the 22nd Jan at the Belle Friday Centre.
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