Croft Parish Council Page 1282
Minutes of the Council Meetingheld in the Pavilion on 8th June 2017 at 7.00 pm
Present:
Councillors C Mawby (Chair), P Smith, S Amey, C Holmes, R Howard, C King and M Ratcliffe (7.30pm).
In attendance:
Mr S C Blackburn (Clerk), District Councillor Maggie Wright and one member of the public.
17-106 / Acceptance of Office
Cllr Smith signed his Acceptance of Office as Vice Chairman of the Council.
17-107 / Apologies for absence: Cllr A Spence
RESOLVED: that the apologies be accepted.
17-108 / Declarations of Interest and requests for dispensations: None.
17-109 / To sign as an accurate record the minutes of the previous meeting
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2017 be signed as a correct record.
17-110 / Public Participation
A complaint was made about the overgrown garden at 13 Bala Road which is now encroaching on the public pathway. Enforcement are aware of the issue but a letter to Leicestershire CC about the pathways would be advisable.
On the public footpath at the sports fields near to the bridge, several branches have fallen. Members agreed to clear these.
17-111
17-112 / Future of Winston Avenue Car Park – update
Cllr Maggie Wright attended and update the members after the request to take over the car park was agreed by the Parish Council. However, the issue of whether BDC will sell 50% of the site before the disposal has not been finally agreed.
Cllr Wright advised it was ‘highly likely’ that the car park as a whole would be gifted to the Parish Council following considerable evidence of community involvement, it is clearly a community asset and she felt it was in the best interest of the village. The decision will go to Cabinet and then Full Council on the evening of 26rd July 2017.
To receive a report from the Clerk
In addition to the printed report.
*The sign in The Bridle has not been relocated so maybe send Leics CC a reminder to chase up.
*To ask BDC to remember to empty the dog bins on the sports fields, dog waste is being put into the waste bins.
*The clerk to prepare prices for a large wheeled bin which can be attached to the pavilion to aid litter on the park.
RESOLVED: that the report be noted.
17-113 / Reports:
County Councillor: No report.
District Councillor: No report.
Police: Members noted the figures produced by he Clerk and issued prior to the meeting.
17-114 / To receive report from the Internal Auditor
Members were given a copy of the letter from the Council’s auditor confirming the Council has passed its internal audit. Members decided that the cheque signatories should also sign the bank statement.
RESOLVED: that the Internal Auditor’s report be noted.
17-115 / To approve the allocation of the Council’s earmarked reserves
It was proposed that:
Village Hall fund be increased from £5000 to £10,000
Play Equipment sinking fund be increased from £1000 to £5000
Croft Hill Fund to remain at £1113.35
RESEOLVED: Members agreed to these increases in reserves
17-116
17-117 / To consider and sign the Annual Governance Statement
The clerk read the statements to members.
RESOLVED: Members agreed the statement and the Chairman signed it accordingly.
To consider and approve the accounting statements for 2016/2017
RESOLVED: Members agreed the accounting statements
17-118 / To authorise the signing of the Annual Return for 2016/2017 and submission to the external auditors
RESOLVED: Members agreed and the chairman signed the Annual Return which will now be sent to the external auditors.
17-119 / Planning Applications and Decisions for consideration:
(a) 17/0596/FUL – 7 Winston Avenue – 3 dwellings
RESOLVED: No objection but wants the vehicle displacements noted.
(b) 17/0613/DOC – Land adj 8 Bridle Close – Discharge of conditions imposed by 15/0578/FUL
RESOLVED: No objection
Approvals:
17/0300/CC- 2017/NMA/0061/LCC – Quarry, additional stocking area
17/0394/HH – 47 Broughton Road, front and rear extensions
17/0430/FUL – Riverside court, DOC fencing and lighting (with conditions)
17/0493/HH – 19 Arbor Road, single storey rear extension
17/0498/HH – 24 Arbor Road, single storey rear extension
17-120 / New Sports Pavilion and Village Hall
(a) Progress report on the submission of the application for planning permission
The application has been submitted and the fee paid. No acknowledgment or query has been received so far.
(b) The Council’s VAT position in the context of the proposed sports pavilion and village hall
The Clerk attended a SLCC Finance course on 25 May hosted by Steve Parkinson who is the advisor to the SLCC on Finance and VAT matters and the question about the status of the building for VAT was covered in the course and during a specific question afterwards.
There are two options:
(i) to continue being an unregistered body for VAT and bear the cost of VAT on the building works
(ii) to ‘Opt to Tax’ in relation to the building. Opting to Tax would avoid the tax on building works but would require registration for VAT and to charge ‘taxable supplies’. Cemetery fees and Allotment rents are exempt from VAT anyway but use of sports pitches may be taxable in certain circumstances. In general, booking the grounds for a full season of football or cricket may not attract VAT but this would need further advice. If it was decided to be taxable, the Council has the option, of course, to bear the VAT and/or gradually increase pitch fees to the required level.
As well as serving the SLCC and some County Associations, Mr Parkinson runs his own VAT and Tax consultancy, The Parkinson Partnership LLP. His charge for providing this advice was estimated at £500-600 and would provide a professional opinion which could be relied on in any discussion with HMRC. The Clerk made some similar enquiries in 2015 and the following verbal quotes were obtained from other providers; LAVAT £540, Elysian £800- £1200
In view of the lack of taxable supplies offered by the Council, the Clerk considered that the amount of extra work in completing a quarterly VAT return would be relatively small.
The Clerk recommends that the Council takes professional advice in writing from The Parkinson Partnership LLP.
RESOLVED: to accept the recommendation to obtain professional advise.
17-121 / To consider the lease at the land at Winston Avenue Sports Ground
Members discussed the options available and decided a long term agreement would be best.
RESOLVED: Members agreed that the Chairman would contact the quarry liaison and estates land office to discuss the options, in the first instance, and will report back.
Contact to be made with Blaby DC regarding the poor grass cutting service.
17-122 / Fosse Village Neighbourhood Plan - Update
The chairman advised that the survey results are in and a copy of the full report will be available at the end of June.
17-123
17-124
17-125
17-126
17-127
17-128
17-129
17-130 / Proposed changes at Coventry Airport
RESOLVED: Chairman requires clarification on the exact position of the proposed holding pattern.
Arrangements for the 2017 Fun Day (Saturday 17th June 2017)
Cllr Ratcliffe advised everything is in place but sadly the climbing wall has cancelled.
Flyers have been issued and posters were handed out.
Weather is expected to be good.
Agreed to meet at 8am to organise the marquees which have been funded by the quarry.
The clerk will be located at the gate to hand out the burger vouchers.
Provisional Arrangements for Christmas Lights event
Members agreed a better budget should be considered and Cllr Howard to advise a cost by next meeting for the installation of cable lines to the trees with white and blue lights.
The clerk to confirm that Croft Band will be in attendance.
RESOLVED: The lights switch on will take place on Saturday 9th December 2017 at 7pm.
Proposed purchase of an additional defibrillator
RESOLVED: Members decided that a new defibrillator will be suggested as part of the new pavilion plans to be located at the playing fields, so the item has been deferred to a later date.
Cemetery
(a) To consider the extensions to the pathway and quotations received
Members agreed to keep the 1.5m width to prevent drivers using the access and £60 was agreed for the transport of materials from Aggregate.
RESOLVED: To accept the quote from Brookside Construction of £3556.
(b) To consider the use of the fallow land
RESOLVED: To accept the quote of £120 for the first cut of the fallow land by Cllr Spence.
(c) Use of cemetery for car parking
RESOLVED: To write to the church asking that they explain to the users that the car park is for Cemetery users only and that at weekends the Greystone Car Park can be used with a copy to the residents of Beech Cottage.
Allotments
Members agreed to meet on Monday 19th June – time to be confirmed.
Speeding Traffic
Members agreed that that the Vehicle Activates Sign it should be relocated and to purchase a new lead to be able download the data.
Parking Arrangements on Brookes Avenue
Members discussed options at the site and agreed to invite Stuart Bullen from Leics CC to attend the next meeting.
17-131 / Finance and Accounts:
(a) To note the financial situation as at 31 May 2017
RESOLVED: that the situation be noted.
(b) To approve accounts for payment
RESOLVED: that the schedule of accounts attached to these minutes be approved for payment
(c) To note the price increase proposed by the Council’s electricity supplier
Deferred until July
17-132 / Other reports and items for discussion at the next meeting
To consider the fun day debrief
Clerks appraisal
To consider adding a covered/shaded area at the park
17-133 / Date of next meeting: Thursday 13th July 2017 at 7.00 pm.
The meeting closed at 9.10 pm.
Appendix – Payments Authorised
Date / Chq No / To / For / Net / VAT / Gross22.05.17 / 39699264 / Design 2 Print / Newsletter / 205.00 / 0.00 / 205.00
22.05.17 / 39699264 / Design 2 Print / Fun Day Flyer / 99.00 / 0.00 / 99.00
08.06.17 / ib / Davina Meade / Cleaning April /May / 97.50 / 0.00 / 97.50
08.06-17 / ib / S C Blackburn / Expenses – May / 127.35 / 0.00 / 127.35
08.06-17 / ib / S C Blackburn / Salary – June / 649.36 / 0.00 / 649.36
08.06-17 / ib / HMRC / Tax & NI Apr-Jun 2017 / 530.71 / 0.00 / 530.71
08.06.17 / ib / R Snowdin / Internal Audit / 298.75 / 0.00 / 298.75
08.06-17 / ib / ROSPA / Annual Inspection / 80.50 / 16.10 / 96.60
08.06.17 / ib / Croft CofE Primary School / Hire of room for First Aid / 25.00 / 0.00 / 25.00
08.06.17 / ib / Water Plus / Water at Pavilion & Field / 100.24 / 0.00 / 100.24
______Chairman
______Date
Page 1282