BARTON-ON-THE-HEATH PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF AN ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL on 27th May 2011 at 7pm
Present:
Councillors: Brigadier J F Rickett (Chairman), Lt Col J B Henderson (Vice- Chairman),
Mrs G Cathie, Mrs L Hayman-Joyce, Mrs D Pelczynski
Clerk: Mrs H Seymour-Smith
Hon. Treasurer: Capt J Castle RN
Public: Mr J Matthias, Mr J Hayman-Joyce, Mr D Poulsom, Mr Carl Morris District Councillor S Gray, County Councillor C Saint
1. Apologies: Mr J Shipton (Internal Auditor)
2. The Minutes of the Ordinary General Meeting on the 18th February 2011 were approved, and the Chairman signed them.
Matters arising:
a) Mr Matthias asked about the planning application for Campden Farmhouse, and the Clerk said it had been withdrawn
b) Village Clean-up – it was agreed that there would be no official village clean-up day this year (although the Vice-Chairman was not happy about this). It was agreed that the Vice-Chairman would clean the notice boards and the BT box, Mr Poulsom would clean the drains, and the Hon. Treasurer would clean the signs. Tall plants in the verges would be left until dead.
c) All agreed that the BT phone box was no longer needed and should be removed. The Clerk to write to BT to request its removal.
d) The Vice-Chairman asked about the new Localism Act. Councillor Saint said it was still a Bill, not an Act, and that he would keep the Parish Council updated on progress. He said it was currently at committee stage. When eventually needed, Neighbourhood Plans could be for one parish or for a group of parishes, and help and advice would be available.
e) Councillor Saint mentioned the Community Forum in Quinton Village Hall at 6.30pm on the 7th June.
f) Congratulations were due to Jeff Morris, and the new “find and fix” gang. They will apparently try to resurface the road into Camden Close by September.
3. Financial matters: The Hon Treasurer reported that the first precept payment of £438 had been received and that there had been no expenditure. He had not felt it necessary to produce an Interim Statement as the finances were in good health. The funds available to the Council at the start of the financial year had been £607.81 and the first precept payment gave a total in hand on the day of the meeting of £1045.81.
He would now proceed to open the Deposit Account with £150 to start creating a strategic reserve for any possible future big ticket expenditure on the Fixed Assets, which had been approved by the Council when the precept for 2011-12 had been set and he would also process a VAT Refund which he would also pay into the Deposit Account.
The Chairman thanked him for his report.
4. Planning matters – nothing to report.
5. Any Other Business:
a) The Vice-Chairman said he was concerned that the number of police in Shipston had been reduced by half, in spite of writing to the MP. Councillor Saint said he too had expressed his concerns, but that the police were independent. A branch of Warwickshire Direct had been set up at the Library, but this can’t be manned by police because the owners are Quakers.
b) Mrs Cathie asked about the money that had been spent on the police station. Councillor Saint said this was out of his control, but agreed that it had been badly handled. Mr Matthias asked if the police station belonged to the police, and Councillor Saint said he thought it did.
c) The Vice Chairman asked about the possible rise in Council Tax next year, and Councillor Saint responded that no decision would be taken until next February.
d) Mr Poulsom had concerns about the danger of cars parked at the northern end of the village, near the bend in the road leading to Long Compton. The Vice Chairman will speak to the police to establish the legal position.
6. Date of next meeting
Ordinary General Meeting: 28th October 2011
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