Minutes of Cherry Willingham Parish Council’s Autumn Parish Meeting held on Monday 19thOctober 2015 in the Community School hall.

Present: Cllr Trevor (Chairman), Mrs M Vail (clerk), Mr MJ Tomlinson (Responsible Finance Officer), Mrs Evans (head of primary school), and 50 members of the public.

Apologies: Mrs Stiles (head of Community School)

Meeting started at 7.03pm

  1. Welcomes, introductions and explanation of purpose of meeting:

All were welcomed, and the format and purpose of the meeting were explained.

  1. To receive the notes of the last Autumn Parish Meeting and sign as a true record

It was RESOLVED to accept the notes as a true record; and they were duly signed.

  1. Welcome and updates on Community School (Mrs Stiles) and Primary School (Mrs Evans)

Due to Mrs Stiles being unable to attend the meeting, there was no Community School update. Mrs Evans provided a brief overview of primary school activities over recent months.

  1. Land purchase:
  1. For information: Update on land purchase:

Cllr Anne Welburn gave an update on the land purchase, including to note that £205,000 was the agreed price and that the parish council was currently in negotiations with the solicitors. She outlined potential opportunities for the short term usage of the land, including noting that interest had been shown from both a farmer and the Journeyman Project to rent some of the land. She noted both that a £1000 grant had been awarded to the parish council by Ramblers Holidays towards a bridge across a dyke, and that LCC would assist with a bridge over the Delph. It was anticipated that two paths would cross the land: one which would be wooded and the other hardstanding.

  1. To receive ideas from residents on land usage

Residents were asked for their ideas for the long term usage of the land: no new ideas were forthcoming beyond those already suggested. The Chairman then read out a resident’s e-mail which expressed concerns about 1) the land purchase process; 2) an apparent lack of any plans for the use of the land or an income stream; and 3) a confidential Land Purchase reportwhich, in his opinion, contained no information which was confidential. Cllr Trevor then explained that the resident’s e-mail was factually incorrect; and that the resident had been invited to attend this meeting but was not present. He then noted that the parish council was an open and transparent organisation: residents could attend meetings; minutes and the Land Purchase report were both available on the website. Feedback from the floor indicated that many residents approved of the process which had been followed, and that the village should embrace the opportunities the land purchase would bring to the village.

(Clerk’s Note: the Land Purchase report was circulated to councillors on 14th March 2015. It was kept confidential until the full council meeting held on 16th March 2015 as it contained information of a sensitive nature and required council approval before it could be made public. Following council approval, this report was subsequently published on the council’s website and copies were available to residents at the Annual Parish Meeting in April 2015.

The council has extensively consulted with the village over the land purchase through its website, Facebook page, and face to face at its APMs and at village events held at the library and Cherry Tree Pub; as well as the Gala, all of which residents were invited to attend to find out more about the land purchase and to give their views. It has also undertaken a formal survey though Cherry News and returned slips were independently counted. Advice was taken from LALC and WLDC throughout the consultation process to ensure that correct procedures were followed at all times. All residents have been given the opportunity to have their say over the land purchase: Cherry News is delivered to every household; and parish council APMs are advertised through Cherry News and a leaflet drop to every home.)

The RFO then noted that he had, over the last 2 years, made the facts very clear at parish meetings in respect of the financing of the land purchase, and that the cost to the parish would be a 3.5 % fixed interest rate for a 50-year term (Note: this was the interest rate available at the time of this meeting, the rate might have changed by the time of completion.) The council would need in the region of £9000 per annum to repay a 3.5 % fixed interest rate for a 50-year term which equated to 10p per week for a Band A property, 15p per week for a Band D property, and 30p per week for the top band.

  1. Youth Club:
  1. For information: To note a grant application request from the youth club for long term funding support from the Parish Council for 2016/17:

A resident spoke about the youth clubincluding explaining 1) the journey to date; 2) attendance figures; and3) factors which were putting the continued existence of the youth club at risk (ie a need for volunteers for both the management committee and to assist on clubnights; and a need for funding to pay the employed staff as grants were not available for salaries.) He noted that the parish council had earmarked £5500 for the youth club; but new additional costs for a paid female worker and a cleaner meant that the youth club were now asking the parish council for £8700.

Questions and comments were then taken from the floor.Another resident explained that the youth club was a different entity to other village clubs and attracted a different group of children; it required qualified staff; and if the youth club closed then the building would become redundant as it belonged to LCC and not the community school.

The RFO then explained what S.137 funding entailed, noting that the parish council was not empowered by any power or duty to run or fund youth clubs, but thatS.137 allowed a way to fund things. He noted that the council could spend up to £26,000under S.137; but that the expenditure must be commensurate with the benefit to the community. He continued by noting that the youth club were asking for 10% of the precept; that the council had helped the youth club in the previous year,and residents should consider if they wished to continue to help them.

The first resident then asked the meeting if those present were in favour of the parish council awarding the youth club £8700 and there were 31 votes in favour, 8 votes against, and 5 abstentions. It was noted that the matter would be formally voted on at the next full council meeting in November 2015.

  1. To receive feedback from residents on providing long term financial support for the youth club:

Item considered under item 5i above.

There then followed a comfort break.

  1. Future projects
  1. For information: Events planned for 2016:

Cllr Anne Welburn reported that a grant had been received from the Big Lottery’s Awards for Allfor a memorial on the Parade, which had evolved from an initial idea by Cllr Cutler, and which would encompass the Christmas tree electricity box. Both of the village schools and the history club had been involved in the project.

She then noted receipt from the War Memorials Trust of a grant for 75% of the cost to restore the church war memorial gates; and that a lych gate was being considered (to be funded from theBig Lottery’s Awards for All grant) to help protect the gates from the elements and reduce future deterioration.

Cllr Robinson then explained that an application had been submitted to WREN to fund a rumble path to improve access to the play equipment at St Pauls Play Area; whilst being a play experience in its own right, and that WREN’s decision would be made in January 2016. She then noted that a memorial wall or corner was being explored in an area of the burial ground which was unsuitable for burials.

  1. Neighbourhood Plan:
  1. For information: To receive a report on progress to date:

Cllr Booth provided an update on progress to date and on work still to be completed. He noted that there would be a final consultation which, if supported, would enable the parish council to use the Neighbourhood Plan to help influence planning decisions made by WLDC and thus help to shape the future development of the village.

  1. Draft Local Plan:
  1. For information: To receive brief explanation and to note consultation period:

Cllr Booth provided an explanation of the Draft Local Plan; and he highlighted the public consultation period noting both the importance of residents having their say and that a consultation event would take place in Cherry Willingham.

  1. Bypass:
  1. For information: To receive an update on the bypass inquiry:

Cllr Moore gave a summary of the public inquiry held in August 2015, noting that the parish council’s interest lay with the possible closure of Hawthorn Road and that it was not opposing the whole bypass. He noted that there had been 550 formal objectors, many from Cherry Willingham, and thankedthe supporters. The outcome of the Inquiry was expected to be published by mid-November. There was a June 2016 deadline to start work otherwise the permissions would lapse.

  1. Vote of thanks and close:

Cllr Trevor introduced new Member Cllr Sarah Alcock who thanked all for attending. A resident then thanked the parish council.

Meeting ended at 8.55pm

Signed:

Cllr Welburn (Chair of Cherry Willingham Parish Council)

CWPC Autumn Parish Meeting 19/10/15 Signed Minutes Page 1 of 2