UPPER BROUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Meeting of the parish council held in the Village Hall on July 9, 2008, at 7.30pm
Councillors: Mrs Janine Hopper (Chairman), Alan Bailey (A), Michael Copley, Dick Barrett, Mrs Anne Copley, lan Lacey (A), Alan Parkinson
1. Apologies were received from Coun K Keyworth, Coun. Alan Bailey, Coun. Ian Lacey and Parish Clerk Mike Elliott.
2. Minutes of previous meeting held on May 29, 2008, were accepted as presented and signed by the chairman.
3. Declarations of Interest
There were none.
4. Clerk’s Report
Coun. Lacey is to attend the Notts County Council Civic Service on Sunday.
Insurance claim has been accepted but action to be discussed under correspondence.
5. Open Session for the Public limited to 15 minutes
There were no matters raised.
6. Correspondence
A letter had been received from Jane Fraser regarding a grant application for funding from the Council re the Youth Club which has been set up in Hickling to cater for 10 – 18 year olds in Hickling, Kinoulton and Upper Broughton. The request was for help towards the cost hiring Hickling Village Hall during the coming Autumn Term. Coun. Barrett asked if we knew how many children benefitted from the club in this village. The chairman replied that at present 3 out of 10 eligible were attending, but in the near future a further 7 children would be eligible to attend. It was agreed to reply to the letter requesting more information on what their costs were going to be for the next term, and then discuss again at our meeting in August.
Allianz Insurance had replied to our enquiry about damage to the forecourt of Rose Cottage, and stated that it would be covered by our policy. There would be an excess of £125. Discussion took place, and, in view of the fact that we hope to be proceeding with work at the rear of Rose Cottage, it was felt that if the repairs were carried out to the manhole cover now, it could be damaged again during the course of the work on Rose Cottage. In fact, the forecourt may have to be dug up with regards to the supply of water/drainage to the rear of the building. It was decided to write to the Insurance company appropriately explaining that we will not claim at present as the work may be negated.
Rushcliffe Borough Council Small Environmental Improvement Scheme 2008/2009. It was felt that we could not take advantage of this scheme as no suitable area was available for planting additional trees/shrubs.
Rushcliffe Borough Council Small Environmental Improvement Scheme 2008/2009 Future Rolling Programme. Unable to complete questionnaire as no schemes had been submitted by the village.
Nottinghamshire County Council Letter dated 4th June 2008 from Coun John Cottee re Heavy Goods Vehicle Situation (HGVs). He stated that although the Council had carried out a further review of Environmental Weight Restrictions (EWRs), the conclusion had resulted in no change in their policy, They proposed to produce a leaflet that would indicate advisory routes for HGVs in the county area and a couple of EWRs in the west of the county. Coun Cottee considered this totally unsatisfactory and would continue to revisit the issue at every opportunity on behalf of both Hickling and Upper Broughton in particular.
Village Hall
Coun. Mrs Janine Hopper reported to members that no news had been received from Biffa regarding the application for funding made by the Village Hall Committee. This was now quite worrying because if this funding was not forthcoming, a review of the alterations would have to be carried out to decide whether to split the project in to two, and proceed with the building of the new toilet block only, providing that WREN would agree. The VHC will be holding their meeting on 15th July and this subject would be discussed.
8. Highways
The streetlight outside Sulney West, Station Road was not working. No number on lamp post.
Coun. Copley reported that dog fouling was becoming a big problem again in the village. Well Lane was particularly bad and also the verges along Bottom Green and Station Road. New signs need to be provided in the relevant areas and it was agreed that an article on the subject would be put in the next edition of the village magazine.
Notts CC Highways had be contacted about the cutting of grass around the village pump outside Yew Tree House. This area has now been cut.
Notts CC Highways have also been contacted about a drain cover, on the A606 outside Yew Tree House, which lifted in the rain on 6th July. The department have visited the site and re-marked the area for repair.
A copy of a letter sent by Nottinghamshire County Council to Well House regarding the obstruction in Well Lane had been received. Discussion took place and it was agreed to progress the situation in the New Year.
An e-mail had been received by Coun. Hopper regarding the state of vegetation on the footpath outside Sunny Cottage, Main Road. Coun. Hopper had contacted the letting agents, and the grass and shrubs have since been cut back.
9. Planning Matters
Planning Applicatiors
08/00963/FUL Mt Thompson Construct Bay window to front elevation The Old Saddlery Bottom Green. No objection
08/01143/FUL Mr Spreckley Single story rear extension Middle Cottage Top Green. No objection.
Rushcliffe Borough Council Decisions
08/00700/FUL Mr Spreckley Two storey and single storey rear extension Middle Cottage Top Green. Refuse Permission.
08/00847/CMA John Brooke Sawmills Ltd Use of composting facility to receive snd process fuel Grant with conditions.
10. Cross Green
Nothing to report other than Coun. Parkinson stated that he would try to paint some of the seats on the green during August.
11. Parish Noticeboard
Work is continuing and should be completed by the end of the month.
12. Finance
The meeting approved payment of the accounts as presented:
Chq 314 Cancelled
Chq 315 M D Elliott (Postage, Phone, Photocopying, April/July 2008) - £44.78 (no VAT)
Chq 310 Elliott News Service (Clerk’s Salary June 2008; part charge, Update on Accounts System) £86.61 + £15.16 VAT = £101.77
Total expenditure for meeting: £131.39 + £15.16 VAT = £146.55
Total expenditure to date in the current financial year: £1,520.92 + £15.16 VAT = £1536.08
13. Items from members for the next agenda No items were raised.
14. Chairman’s matters
None.
15. Appointment of Clerk
The chairman stated that Mr Ken Brockway had been interviewed by four members of the council on 1st July 2008. Mr Brockway is an experienced parish clerk and already works for three other small councils. As a result of the interview and after discussion with the other councillors who attended the interview, it was agreed to recommend to the Parish Council that we offer Mr Brockway the job.
Coun. Parkinson had also managed to find another possible candidate, but although the person had admin experience and knowledge of accounts, it was felt they did not have any experience of local government procedures, which was an important requirement for the position.
There was discussion on the amount of hours we would need to offer the new incumbent and it was agreed that as a Council we need to ensure we keep a tight rein on expenditure.
A vote was finally taken to offer Mr Brockway the position wef 1 August 2008, and the Chairman agreed to send out a letter to him with two copies of the contract of employment drawn up which she copied to all the Councillors.
The date of the next meeting was agreed for August 20th.
The meeting closed at 10.25pm.
