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EVERTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Council held in the
Methodist Church Schoolroom on Monday 10th January, 2005
Present:- Councillor E. M. Jefferies, Chairman. Councillors Bacon, Bardsley, de Bel, Dunn, Maclagan, Marsh and Troop
04/05/247 APOLOGIES
An apology for absence was submitted from District Councillor Martin.
An apology for absence was received after the meeting from Councillor Woods (illness).
04/05/248 DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Councillor Troop declared a prejudicial interest at agenda item 29 (Rent of Parish Lands), being the tenant, and left the meeting during consideration of that item.
04/05/249 MINUTES OF THE LAST ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, HELD ON 6TH DECEMBER, 2004
The Minutes of the last ordinary meeting of the Council, held on 6th December, 2004, were approved as a correct record.
04/05/250 MATTERS ARISING
(a) Pursuant to Minute No. 04/05/210 of December, 2004, a letter was submitted from A1 Housing Bassetlaw Ltd., confirming that a lamp post was to be erected to the rear of Carr View early in the new year.
Resolved:- That a letter of appreciation be sent to A1 Housing Bassetlaw Ltd.
(b) Pursuant to Minute No. 04/05/217 of December, 2004, the Clerk submitted a report on his research into the possible provision of mains gas into Everton. The results were very discouraging - so much so that a formal estimate of costs had not been requested. Discussions with Transco indicated that, very approximately, the situation was as follows:
A service could be brought in from Sutton cum Lound, but would only extend to the main village area
190 householders would first have to confirm in writing that they would each be prepared to pay £6,000 for a service to be connected as far as their meter
In order to activate the scheme, 77 of the 190 householders would each have to pay their £6,000 in advance. The scheme would not be activated until all that money was paid
Once the 77 householders had paid, they would be connected
Each of the remaining 113 households would then have 20 years in which to pay and be connected. The scheme would close as soon as the 113 were connected, and there would be no further connections.
Members expressed the opinion that the costs were prohibitive, and that there was little point in pursuing the matter.
Resolved:- That the Clerk write a note for HEDS Together summarising the position, and enquiring as to any possible interest from residents.
04/05/251 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Mr. H. Choppin, of Eastville, Mattersey Road, attended the meeting to discuss issues relating to his boundary with the Cemetery. Problems had arisen owing to the fact that Mr. Choppin had removed yew trees from the Cemetery without authority and had laid the foundations for his new boundary wall several inches inside the Cemetery boundary.
Mr. Choppin had also submitted a letter to the Joint Burial Committee in which he gave an assurance that the trees removed would be replaced.
During the discussion it became apparent that Mr. Choppin’s proposed boundary wall would be one metre high, but with pillars and railings taking the height to two metres, as was the case with his new roadside wall. Mr. Choppin assured Members that the new wall would not encroach into the Cemetery at all, leaving only an underground encroachment of the foundations.
Mr. Choppin had attended a site meeting with Councillor Dunn and the Clerk the previous week, at which Mr. Choppin had expressed concerns over trees in the boundary hedge at the bottom of his garden encroaching into his garden. He had said at the site meeting that he required the Joint Burial Committee to remove them. However, he now gave an assurance that, if the abovementioned boundary problem could be mutually resolved, he would not press the issue.
After some discussion Mr. Choppin was thanked for his attendance and informed that the matter would be discussed by the Joint Burial Committee later in the evening.
04/05/252 ACCOUNTS
Resolved:- That the January Accounts be approved for payment.
04/05/253 BANK RECONCILIATION
Members received the bank reconciliation statement to 30th November, 2004.
04/05/254 BUDGET MONITORING
There were no changes which needed reporting.
04/05/255 RISK
There were no changes to the Parish Council's risk profile since the last meeting. Members were satisfied that internal controls, financial systems and Financial Regulations were all satisfactory.
The Clerk reported that he had started work on the Parish Council's risk assessment policy.
04/05/256 QUALITY PARISH COUNCIL ACCREDITATION
The Clerk reported that the January newsletter would shortly be available for distribution.
04/05/257 PARISH PATHS PARTNERSHIP
(a) Councillor Dunn reported that the new P3 leaflet would shortly be available.
(b) The Clerk reported that the Parish Council's request for a public path creation order in respect of the old Mattersey Road had been submitted to Nottinghamshire County Council.
(c) Consideration was given to the desirability of establishing a formal public footpath along Nutcroft Way and into Harwell Woods. Councillor Dunn agreed to furnish the Clerk with a map showing the proposed route, to enable the Clerk to discuss the matter with Thornely Taylor Estates.
For the purpose of record, Nottinghamshire County Council had recently informed the Parish Council (see Minute No. 04/05/229 of December, 2004) that Nutcroft Way was an ancient highway that had been in existence since 1761 at the latest (the date of the Everton Inclosure Award). On both the Everton Tithe Award map of 1848 and the relevant Finance Act map produced after 1910, the whole of the lane was shown as public highway in exactly the same manner as the public road running through Harwell. There was no evidence that highway rights had ever been stopped up by legal procedure.
(d) Councillor Troop asked the Clerk to contact Nottinghamshire County Council regarding an item of P3 furniture which still required installation at Hall Farm
04/05/258 A631 AND HIGH STREET
(a) Letter was submitted from Nottinghamshire County Council, confirming that sub-standard cats eyes on the A631 at Scaftworth were to be replaced.
(b) The Clerk reported that he had been assured by Nottinghamshire County Council that the beacon would be fitted to the new pedestrian refuge within the next two weeks.
(c) Because of continuing concerns about road safety on High Street, near its junction with the A631 (see Minute No. 04/05/222 of December, 2004), the Clerk agreed to discuss the matter with P.c. Gregson.
04/05/259 TUNNEL TECH NORTH LTD.
The minutes of the Tunnel Tech Local Liaison Committee meeting, held on 9th December, 2004, were submitted for the information of Members.
Councillor Marsh reported that, whilst appalling smells were periodically experienced, she felt that the situation at Tunnel Tech was gradually improving.
04/05/260 METCALFE RECREATION COMMITTEE
The Chairman reported that she would shortly be in a position to sign the hire booking agreement with the Metcalfe Recreation Committee.
04/05/261 CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ENGLAND (CPRE) NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BRANCH
Letter was submitted from the above, inviting the Parish Council to take up membership, at a cost of £25 per annum.
Resolved:- That an application for membership be made.
04/05/262 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS AREA COMMITTEE ARRANGEMENTS
Letter was submitted from Councillor Hugh Burton, Chairman of North and South Wheatley Parish Council, enquiring as to interest in establishing a new area committee to take over from the Northern and North Eastern Area Committees. The proposal had the support of Bassetlaw District Council, who would provide a venue and service meetings. There would ordinarily be two meetings per annum, with the main aim being to co-ordinate matters for discussion at the Bassetlaw Parish Liaison Committee.
Resolved:- That Councillor Burton be informed that the Parish Council supported the proposal.
04/05/263 DOG WASTE BIN AT PINFOLD LANE, HARWELL
Letter was submitted from Mr. C. Chadburn, indicating that Mr. A. Berry, Mr. J. Ray and himself were prepared to empty a dog waste bin on a regular basis.
Consideration was given to various products on offer from Glasdon UK Ltd., and Councillor Troop kindly undertook to install the bin when provided.
Resolved:-
(a) That a Fido 25 dog waste bin be purchased from Glasdon UK Ltd.
(b) That a letter of appreciation be sent, thanking Messrs. Chadburn, Berry and Ray for their public-spirited gesture.
04/05/264 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS - SEMINAR AT COTGRAVE - 'COUNCILORS BEHAVING BADLY’ - 23RD FEBRUARY, 2005
Members noted the above seminar, and asked the Clerk to request that it be repeated in the Bassetlaw area.
04/05/265 CRIME
(a) There was no reported crime in December.
(b) Discussion took place about a recent burglary at farm buildings in Harwell. Great concern was expressed over the Police response to this incident. Whilst discussing the matter, details were given of three incidents of vehicle theft/criminal damage in recent days.
The Clerk had written to the Chief Constable about the burglary at Harwell, and had since been contacted by Inspector France, who wished to discuss the matter with the Clerk. A meeting had been arranged to take place on 13th January, 2005. Members welcomed this development and asked the Clerk to also discuss the recent spate of vehicle crime. They also asked the Clerk to endeavour to obtain details of the percentage of local crimes which were solved.
(c) An E-mail was submitted from a member of Gringley On The Hill Parish Council, who was a regular walker in Harwell Woods, setting out the following concerns about the Woods:
cross country motorcyclists causing considerable damage to the walkways
evidence of a wood fire used for rudimentary cooking, a shelter of branches, litter and jerrycans, all making the area look dreadful
concern over lighting fires in such an area
the lack of respect paid by bikers to wood walkers
Resolved:- That the Clerk discuss these matters with Inspector France, and endeavour to arrange a meeting with P.c. Gregson and a representative of Thornely Taylor Estates to further draw the attention of the Estates to the problem.
04/05/266 EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI APPEAL
Members were delighted to hear that the previous Saturday’s fund-raising event at the Village Hall had raised over £3,000 towards aid work necessary following the devastating earthquake and tsunami which had caused massive loss of life in certain Indian Ocean countries on 26th December, 2004. Thanks were due to everyone involved.
04/05/267 DEMOLITION OF GRADE II LISTED PIGEONCOTE AND UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENT AT MANOR FARM, HARWELL
An E-mail was submitted from Bassetlaw District Council, stating that a planning application had been received to rebuild the pigeoncote and extension that had previously been granted planning permission. The Parish Council’s observations would be sought in the usual way.
Resolved:- That the Clerk enquire as to when Bassetlaw District Council would be in a position to respond to the letter from English Heritage of 25th August, 2004.
04/05/268 PLANNING APPLICATION
1/19/04/30
Mr. & Mrs. G. Fairclough
Retain alterations and extension to dwelling (amendment to P.A. 1/19/03/27) and regrading of garden area at Barrow Cragg, Nutcroft Way, Harwell
The Chairman reported that this application was heard by Bassetlaw Planning Committee on 5th January, 2005, after it had been earlier deferred to enable a site meeting to take place. The Chairman and a representative of the Harwell objectors had spoken against the application at the meeting. The application was refused planning permission by seventeen votes to two.
04/05/269 PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960
Resolved:- That, in view of the confidential nature of the next item of business to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the public be excluded, and they are requested to withdraw.
04/05/270 CLERK’S CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Members had each been furnished with a copy of the new National Agreement on Salaries and Conditions of Service for Clerks of Local Councils in England and Wales, issued jointly by the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks. The Agreement came into effect on 1st January, 2005, with the new pay scales being applicable on 1st April, 2005.
Members had also been furnished with a report by the Clerk, and, after giving a brief résumé, he left the meeting to enable Members to consider the matter in private.
Resolved:-
(a) That the Clerk be paid a spot salary at spinal point 25 with effect from 1st April, 2005.
(b) That the Clerk’s paid hours be increased to 32 per month with effect from 1st April, 2005 to reflect extra work arising from the Parish Council's Quality initiative.
04/05/271 BUDGET 2005-06
The Clerk furnished Members with a set of Budget proposals.
Resolved:-
(a) That the Budget be approved in accordance with the statement to be
circulated.
(b) That the precept be set at £8,440, with the intention of achieving a working balance of £4,000 by 31st March, 2006.
04/05/272 PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960
Resolved:- That, in view of the confidential nature of the next item of business to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the public be excluded, and they are requested to withdraw.
04/05/273 RENT OF PARISH LANDS
Letter was submitted from Councillor Troop relating to his tenancy of Parish lands.
Resolved:- That the rent payable for the three tax years commencing 6th April, 2006 be fixed at £1,633 per annum.
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