Minutes of the Meeting of the Helmdon Parish Council
held on
Wednesday, 22nd January 2003
in the Reading Room, Helmdon at 7:30 p.m..
Apology for late attendance was received from Cllr Ayres
1. Present:
Cllrs Burns, Brookhouse, Bearman, Earl, England Gittens, Glassett
and Spendlove.
There were 3 members of the public present.
2. Minutes:
Minutes of the Parish Council meetings held on 27th November 2002
and 6th January 2003, having been circulated, were approved and
signed as a true record.
3. Matters Arising:
i) Village of the Year: Councillor Glassett reported on the Village
of the Year regional competition and after discussion it was agreed
that if Helmdon is to enter the regional competition it will require
the wholehearted support of all the village organisations. It
was agreed that the Clerk writes to all the organisations asking
them to send representatives to a meeting in the Reading Room
on Friday 21st February at 7.30 pm to view a video of the type
of submission that will be required and to recruit adequate support
if Helmdon is to enter the regional competition.
ii) Village Action Plan: Councillor Glassett reported that the
Parish Council had held a meeting with the Acre representative
and had deferred any further decisions to this meeting of the
Council. After discussion it was agreed that it is essential that
a steering group of 8 - 10 people is formed and it was agreed
that Councillors Earl, Spendlove, Brookhouse, Gittens and Glassett
represent the Parish Council on this steering committee and that
Councillor Glassett writes to all organisations to arrange a meeting
in the Reading Room to take the matter further.
4. School Action Plan:
The Chairman had announced at the beginning of the meeting that
this item would be discussed as a matter of urgency after the
matters arising.
Councillor Brookhouse submitted a paper (attached to these minutes)
and explained the need for the urgency. After discussion it was
agreed the Clerk write to the Chairman of the School Governors
asking her to call a meeting of the Governors to be held in the
Reading Room on March 7th at 7.30 pm and that the members of the
Parish Council be invited to attend, so that the School Travel
Plan can be discussed and the support of the Parish Council be
given.
5. Open Forum:
i) Mr Moody asked if Mr Strickland is a governor of the school
and Councillor Brookhouse said he is not now a governor and is
shortly being replaced.
ii) Mr Moody suggested that there is a lot of overlap between
the Village of the Year and Village Action Plan and that it may
be possible to combine the two requirements in part.
ii) Mr Short asked if all the school governors are residents in
the village and what percentage of children attending the school
live outside the village. Councillor Brookhouse said he is investigating
this point, and that not all the governors are Helmdon residents.
iv) Mrs Forgham said that the WEA will contribute fully towards
the Village of the Year Plan. She mentioned that the Village of
the Year Sign is in a poor condition and suggested that ACRE should
be asked if it can be renovated. Councillor Burns said that he
will take this up with ACRE.
6. Finance:
i) The Financial position as at 22nd January 2003 was:
| |
Current account balance |
£3313.36
|
| |
Savings account balance |
£8184.83
|
| |
Nottingham Bond |
£500.00
|
| |
Interest from bond to be paid in |
£22.50
|
ii) Bills for payment
|
Cheque No. |
Name |
Amount
|
| |
362 |
ABB |
£99.69
|
| |
363 |
Powergen |
£99.51
|
| |
364 |
Helmdon web site (per D Moody) |
£50.00
|
| |
365 |
Reading Room |
£140.00
|
| |
366 |
W Forgham - salary |
£208.33
|
| |
367 |
W Forgham - office |
£82.58
|
| |
368 |
District Auditor |
£526.64
|
|
|
Total Payments |
£1206.75
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Summary of office expenses |
|
| |
|
photocopying |
£48.56
|
| |
|
postage |
£17.03
|
| |
|
Ink cartridge refill |
£16.99
|
| |
|
Total |
£82.58
|
Councillor Brookhouse proposed and Councillor Earl seconded that
the bills be paid and this was agreed. Councillor Bearman declared
an interest as he is a signatory to the Web Site accounts.
iii) Budget for 2003/2004
The Chairman presented the draft budget and explained the various
items in detail. Councillor Glassett proposed, Councillor Gittens
seconded that the draft budget be approved and it was agreed unanimously.
Councillor Brookhouse declared an interest in the Brackley Cottage
Hospital.
A copy of the budget is set out below :
|
Budget for 2003 - 2004
|
|
|
EXPENDITURE 2003 - 2004 |
Budget
|
Total
|
Capital
|
| |
Expenditure |
|
1050
|
Seat....... £2000
|
|
1.
|
Street Lighting |
900
|
|
|
|
|
Electricity Repairs |
150
|
|
|
|
2.
|
Parks & Open Spaces |
|
3100
|
|
|
|
Grass Cutting |
950
|
|
|
|
|
School: field rent |
200
|
|
|
|
|
War Memorial |
0.00
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation (value £15000) |
|
|
|
|
|
- Playground equipment.. 1100) |
|
|
|
|
|
- Notice boards............. 200) |
|
|
|
|
|
- Computer.................. 200)
|
1500
|
|
|
|
|
Bulbs |
250
|
|
|
|
|
General Maintenance |
200
|
|
|
|
3.
|
General Admin |
|
3820
|
|
|
|
Audit charge |
600
|
|
|
|
|
Clerk's salary |
1300
|
|
|
|
|
Clerk's expenses |
250
|
|
|
|
|
Election expenses |
50
|
|
|
|
|
Insurances |
1000
|
|
|
|
|
NALC & ACRE membership |
150
|
|
|
|
|
Reading Room rent |
70
|
|
|
|
|
Newsletter (Talkabout) |
300
|
|
|
|
|
Web Site |
100
|
|
|
|
4.
|
S137 |
|
1050
|
|
|
|
Brackley Cottage Hospital |
1000
|
|
|
|
|
Village of the Year National Competition |
50
|
|
|
|
5.
|
Burial Ground |
|
200
|
|
|
|
Donation |
200
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL EXPENDITURE |
|
9220
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME |
|
9075.00
|
|
|
|
Precept |
9000.00 |
|
|
|
|
Interest |
25.00 |
|
|
|
|
Allotments |
50.00 |
|
|
|
|
Newsletter |
|
|
|
|
|
Grants |
|
|
|
|
|
Donations |
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends |
|
|
|
|
|
Village Hall - Reading Room |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL INCOME |
|
9075.00
|
|
|
|
VAT ADJUSTMENT |
|
250.00
|
|
|
|
WORKING INCOME |
|
9325.00
|
|
|
|
BALANCE |
|
250.00
|
|
iv) Precept for 2003/2004
It was unanimously agreed that the Precept for 2003/2004 should
be £9000.
The Clerk reported on the time programme for the 2001/2002 audit
and he was asked to enquire from ACRE who can carry out the Audit.
The Finance Committee will meet early in March to approve the
accounts and the full council will be asked to approve them on
the 26th March.
7. NCC Matters:
i) There was a discussion on the paper concerning the draft budget
proposal and the highways budget proposals but as the documents
lacked detail it was not possible to go into any worthwhile analysis.
The Clerk was instructed to write to the Chairman of the County
Council with a copy to our County Councillor deploring the proposed
county increase in the council tax and particularly the reduction
of £400,000 in the highway maintenance budget.
ii) Due to the lack of funds a letter from Bob Austin, WS Atkins
Area Maintenance Engineer, was read out and it was noticed that
little can be done to the maintenance of the roads in Helmdon
other than carrying out urgent maintenance. However, the Clerk
will continue reporting works that are necessary.
iii) B4525 : a letter from Susan Mills, the NCC Highways Engineer,
was read out. It was reported that since the new A43 bypass has
been opened the traffic through Silverstone and Syresham on the
old A43 has decreased by 25% and 90% respectively and that there
has been a 30+% increase on the B4525.
8. SNC Matters:
i) SNC Local Strategic Partnership: the details will be circulated
to all Councillors and anyone wishing to attend the meeting at
SNC should inform the Clerk.
ii) Regional Assemblies: the document setting out the report of
the Chief Executive to the SNC Cabinet will be circulated to all
Councillors and any opinions or reactions should be given to the
Clerk before 15th February to enable a reply to be sent to SNC
with a copy to our District Councillor.
9. Correspondence:
i) The following correspondence was received during the period
28/11/02 to 22/1/03:
East Midlands Supplies Certificate
Shaws list of forms and records
List of planning applications dated from 28/11 to 4/12/02, 5/12
to 11/12, 12/12 to 18/12, 19/12 to 31/12, 01/10 to 08/01, 8/01
to 15/01.
SNC: application for Planning permission - Jacksons Barn
SNC: ditto Cross Cottage (2)
NCC: Area Committee
NCC: Budget Proposals - highways
NCC: South N'hants Area Committee
Towcester Area Door to Door news letter
SNC: Planning appeal - Fountain House
SNC : Concessionary Travel Tokens order form
Running Imp Sports Catalogue
SNC : Planning refusal - Weston House
NCC: Public Partnership Meeting December
ACRE: Village Viewpoint
Northants CVS Funding Conference
East Midlands Development Agency Conference
SNC: Telecommunications planning guide
Lepra message for village magazines
NCC : Road Closure Abthorpe
NCC : School Safer Route meeting minutes
NCC : B4525 Holistic Route Study
NALC Update charges
Local Network Fund
Adventure Playground catalogue
BRTA Northampton to Bedford rail link study
NALC Legal updates
Parish Lengthsman scheme survey results
NALC Update
NCC re Helmdon roads
ii) The Chairman reported having received an e-mail from Mr
Moody suggesting that Agendas in the future should contain more
detailed information in an attempt to interest the public in attending
meetings of the Parish Council. It was agreed that Councillors
should inform the Clerk of any matters they wish to introduce
at Parish Council Meetings at least seven days before a meeting.
10. Reading Room:
Councillor England reported on the current financial position
of the Reading Room and explained the cost of recent improvements.
He said that the lowest quotations for work involving the toilets
and roof have been accepted. Mention was made of a crack that
has appeared in the rear extension and this is being investigated,
as is the leaking above the porch.
The Village of the Year certificates and photograph of the Cup
will be placed in the main hall.
The insurance policy is being renewed before the 31st January
2003 and then the new policy together with the latest valuation
of the Reading Room will be considered and updated where necessary.
11. Any Other Business:
i) Councillor Spendlove enquired about the position of the wastepaper
bin in The Square and the Clerk reported that it is subject to
a right of way issue which is being resolved.
ii) Councillor Spendlove reported that the Notice Board in the
Square is leaking badly and Councillor Bearman agreed to repair
it.
iii) Councillor Ayres raised the condition of the gravel path
and it was agreed that the Clerk should write to NCC (Susan Mills)
reporting the bad condition of the path and the Parish Council's
concern that it may lead to litigation if any of the public is
injured.
iv) Councillor Earl asked about Parish Councillor training and
the Clerk will send him details of any courses that are being
arranged by ACRE. or NALC.
v) Councillor Glassett enquired about the position of the stream
cleaning and agreed to investigate the position with a view to
the work that is necessary being carried out voluntarily.
The meeting closed at 9:58 p.m.