Draft 1
Minutes of Shalbourne Parish Council Meeting
Tuesday 10th January 2012 at 8.00 p.m. Kingston Room
Present: Peter Blanthorn (Chairman), Stella Zweck, Kester Shelton, Amber Barker, Mike Lockhart, Jeremy Gayer, Lois Philipps
The Chairman welcomed all present.
1. Apologies:
Nigel Titchen, Will Parton
2. Declaration of Interest:
None
3. Wiltshire Council Report:
1) The Head Lawyer at the council has issued a summary of the new Code of Conduct regime with effect from 1st July replacing existing standards board apparatus. Every Parish Council will have to adopt the code of conduct and it is suggested that the Parish Council’s code should be the same as Wiltshire’s. A copy of the summary of the act and any actions to be taken by Parish Councils has been sent to the Chairman [and is attached to these minutes]
2) Wiltshire Council have confirmed the closure of the following buildings as part of their cost cutting initiatives:
a. Devizes (Browfort - The registry office is likely to move into the Devizes Town Hall)
b. Chippenham
c. Trowbridge (Bradley Road office)
d. Salisbury
e. Urchfont Adult Education Centre due to high operational costs and risk of very high repair costs in the future. It will be replaced with a scheme to provide the classes elsewhere – more detail to follow including better provision in the East of the county.
3) Pewsey Campus has been approved will be augmented with a ‘mobile ‘office’ concept to bring offices into the communities in view of the centralisation noted above. It will look a bit like a mobile library and will be deployed as needed on an ad hoc basis to deal for example with consultation of r a major planning application in an area.
4) There has been a major rise in the theft of quad bikes in the area. It is suspected to be linked to scrap metal theft. Two arrests have been made and some bike recovered after tracing of a tracker that was fitted to the bikes. There has also been an increase in targeted stop and search of specific vehicles across Wilts and Berks.
4. Wiltshire Police Report:
Copies of the report have been made available [and are attached to these minutes]. In answer to a query Stuart Wheeler confirmed that the Police response unit covering Shalbourne was based in Devizes but most response vehicles are on the move and the most local vehicle can be directed to Shalbourne in the case of an emergency.
PANG (in the attached report) = Police and Neighbourhood Group
5. Minutes of Previous Meeting:
The minutes of the meeting held on 14th November 2011 were approved and the Chairman was authorised to sign them.
6. Matters Arising:
An Order has been placed for the Jubilee medals; the order has been acknowledged.
A Jubilee fund is available for up to £250 by Wiltshire Council to Parish Councils with a very simple application process. The money could be used for any Jubilee related event/memorial. There is a deadline of 27th January for an application. It was agreed that we will apply for funds for a potential party to celebrate the Jubilee as well as the £90 for the medals. Mike Lockhart proposed Seconded by Lois Philipps. Peter Blanthorn will make the application
7. Finance:
a) Bills for payment
One extra bill received from Village Hall Committee at the meeting.
Bills to be paid:
£60 Hall Hire – Cheque handed over at the meeting
£85 for Christmas Tree
£40.28 for ink cartridges
Stella Zweck proposed payment of all the above Amber Barker seconded
A Transfer of £200 from reserve into current account to cover the above bills was proposed by Peter Blanthorn and Seconded by Lois Philipps
This leaves a balance of £61.56 in the current account and £11180.02 in the reserve account.
b) Budget for 2012/13
All present reviewed a schedule of 2011/12 budget vs. actuals spent including estimates not yet paid) to the end of 2011/12 and estimates for 2012/13.
The following budget was agreed:
Agreed at Parish Council Meeting 10th January / NotesClerks Salary / £0.00 / not required
Hall Hire / £150.00
Office Equipment / £0.00 / not required
Telephone/Postage / £10.00
Insurance / £390.00
Audit Fees / £350.00
Queens Diamond Jubilee / £300.00
Election Costs / £0.00 / not required (next election May 2013)
Chairman’s Expenses / £100.00
Training / £100.00 / Stuart Wheeler will check on any training for the revised Code of Conduct
CPRE / £30.00
WALC/NALC / £180.00
Community First / £40.00
Society of Local Clerks / £0.00
Grass Cutting / £1,500.00
Skip Hire / £200.00 / enough for 2 skips as Wiltshire are not keen on supplying the skips any longer
Christmas Tree / £85.00
Good Companions / £280.00
Play Area / £578.00 / Money left over from donations received
Churchyard / £0.00
Village Website / £0.00
Shalbourne Club / £0.00
Village Hall / £0.00
Misc Small Grants / £500.00
Community Fund / £0.00 / we are waiting for the second defribulator to be fitted and a wheelchair was purchased
School / £0.00
Total / £4,793.00
Shalbourne Parish Council Precept Requirements / 2012/13
Estimated Expenditure / £4,793.00
Contingencies or
Working Balance / £5,000.00
Total / £9,793.00
Less Expected Balance
in hand at 31 March 2012 / £11,000.00
Precept Required / -£1,207.00
2012/13 Precept agreed / £0.00
The above budget and precept requirement was proposed by Mike Lockhart and seconded by Kester Shelton
The process for tendering grass cutting on an annual basis was discussed; Lois Philipps suggested that we advertise the tender in the Parish Magazine. Amber Barker agreed to pull together a tender document with deadline for 15th Feb. Mike Lockhart will post the tender document on the village website, Peter Blanthorn will post a note in the next magazine. Decision needs to be made by end February by email between Parish Council members if possible or special meeting if required.
2010 – paid £120 per cut
2011 – paid £80 per cut
2012 – we have two quotes for 2012: £100 and £90 per cut
It was proposed by Lois Philipps that in November 2012 we will place a note in the Parish Magazine and Website requesting applications for grants for the 2013/14 precept.
We will ask Wiltshire Council for white ‘gates’ to be erected next to the speed limit signs at the entrances to the village similar to those in Bedwyn
8. 106 Agreement Cash:
Peter Blanthorn will email Area Board describing how we intend to use the Section 106 Agreement funds (as agreed at the Parish Council on 14th November 2011) to further enhance the Play Area and investigate if we can get a grant to complete the funding.
The Shalbourne Club will not be funding any further repairs to the tennis court beyond that provided by the Section 106 agreement. Will Parton to invite the members of the Shalbourne Club to the next Parish Council Meeting to discuss the potential demand for a refurbished tennis court and the gap in funding together with other matters of interest to the Parish including progress in the pavilion replacement.
9. Committee Reports:
9.1. Planning.
No applications lately.
Nothing has come into Wiltshire Council for Planning regarding [Peter Lewis and the access to the land behind the school]. Peter Blanthorn has tried to contact Peter Lewis for an update on his intentions via email with no response.
9.2. Rights of Way.
2 broken stiles were reported
Corner of the field by the big oak tree on the footpath towards Ham
Top of Rivar Hill just before the chalk pit – footpath stile in need fixing
Esther Daily to be chased by Jeremy Gayer
9.3. Highways and Surface Water.
The Highways road sweeper was commissioned before Christmas to clean up debris. The Vac Machine has not yet been deployed to clear some of the blocked grids. Stella Zweck has been chasing Paul Bolland on this – he will do his best to get it deployed.
There has finally been a reply from Thames Water regarding the leak on the Ham Rd. junction and the leak lower down by the Mill. Thames Water have now admitted that there is a leak but have taken no action as yet. Stella Zweck will continue to progress. There is also a sinking manhole on Rivar Road where the connection to Ropewind has been made. Stella Zweck will follow up this with Thames Water.
[The private water supply at the top of Rivar Road has been put on emergency measures]. It is thought that this is also affecting Oxenwood and Henley residents.
9.4. Local Transport.
Peter Blanthorn has heard from Network Rail that the bit of land at the end of the existing car park at Bedwyn Station will be converted into additional parking once the verge is lowered and the grass verge hard cored
9.5. Neighbourhood Watch.
New contacts at Wiltshire Police will be introduced shortly. There is a red VW Polo that will be in and around the village doing a MORI poll.
9.6. Environmental Matters
Nothing to report
9.7. Education.
Nothing to report
9.8. Shalbourne Club.
WP not present
10. Correspondence
Code of Conduct has been circulated by Peter Blanthorn
11. Any Other Business:
None
12. Next Meeting :
Some future meeting dates clash with the Pewsey Area Board and the Parish meeting clashes with some other commitments. It was therefore agreed to reschedule meetings as follows:
- Next PC meeting - Tuesday 13th March 8pm.
- Parish Assembly is Tuesday 17th April 7.30pm
- May PC Meeting Tuesday 15th May 8pm
Meeting Closed 9.20pm
ATTACHMENT 1
POLICE REPORT
Shalbourne Parish Council Meeting
Monday 14th November 2011
Firstly I would like to apologise for not being able to attend the meeting in person.
I would also like to inform you that a new Beat Manager has been appointed for Pewsey East. We have not been given the details of when the new Officer will take up the post but I believe it should be fairly imminent.
During the last month
We have had a couple of logs recorded for the area
1 x Criminal Damage involving damage a car
2x sighting of a ‘big’ cat. Rural crime team were notified
1x ASB - Resolved.
I x attempted Burglary- Nothing taken however damage caused to external property
In the Pewsey East and West area as a whole we have seen a rise in non dwelling burglaries. This does give us a cause for concern. As a result we have placed Non dwelling burglaries as a priority throughout our rural area. This is a challenging priority in such a rural area but I can assure you we will do our best to combat these offences.
To combat these night time offences relating to non dwelling burglaries if we feel it is necessary we may look at changing our duties to cover the night time spectrum which is when these offences primarily take place. Unfortunately if we do change our duties this will take us away from our normal patrol strategy but I hope you agree that this will be a worthy reason for the changes.
The last PANG meeting was held on the 26 Oct 2011. As a result of the meeting the following priorities have been put in place for the next 3 months:
1. Non dwelling burglaries as discussed above
2. Scramblers at Great Bedwyn. This priority has been rolled over as we have been making progress and have gained a lot of intelligence which includes names of some of the offenders.
3. ASB in Rawlins Road Pewsey- Youths have been acting in an anti social manner causing upset to residents. This has included throwing water bombs and eggs at people and general behaviour that is very intimidating to local residents. We aim to tackle this by identifying the youths and if appropriate using restorative justice on those that are caught. On a positive note, so far we have 3 youths who are going through this process now.
September saw the start of the new Police non emergency number 101 and October saw the start of the new policing hubs. I am pleased to report that all appears to be working well on both counts.
As a policing team we welcome you to contact us by email, our email address is by phone 101 or dropping into the Police Station in Pewsey.
Where we can we do try to open the enquiry office at the Police Station between 10am and midday on a Tuesday. These openings and other consultations and community events which we attend, are advertised on the Wiltshire Police website: www.wiltshire.police .uk
Regards
Helen
6290 PCSO Ringstead
Pewsey NPT
ATTACHMENT 2
Estimated expenditure 2012/13Budget / Actual / Estimate / Budget
2011/12 / 2011/12 / 2012/13 / 2012/13
Clerks Salary / 0 / 0 / 0
Hall Hire / 150 / 150 / 150
Office Equipment / 0 / 0 / 0
Telephone/Postage / 10 / 12 / 10
Insurance / 350 / 374 / 390
Audit Fees / 370 / 342 / 350
Queens Diamond Jubilee / 0 / 0 / 100
Election Costs / 0 / 0 / 0
Chairman’s Expenses / 100 / 0 / 100
Training / 0 / 0 / 0
CPRE / 30 / 29 / 30
WALC/NALC / 180 / 177 / 180
Community First / 40 / 36 / 40
Society of Local Clerks / 0 / 0 / 0
Grass Cutting / 1200 / 1220 / 1500
Skip Hire / 300 / 0 / 0
Christmas Tree / 85 / 85 / 85
Good Companions / 450 / 276 / 280
Play Area / 470 / 0 / 578
Churchyard / 0 / 0 / 0
Village Website / 0 / 0 / 0
Shalbourne Club / 2843 / 0 / 0
Village Hall / 1500 / 0 / 0
Misc Small Grants / 500 / 0 / 500
Community Fund / 1743 / 0 / 0
School / 623 / 0 / 0
Total / 10944 / 2701 / 4293
Shalbourne Parish Council Precept Requirements / 2012/13
Estimated Expenditure / 4,293
Contingencies or
Working Balance / 5,000
Total / 9,293
Less Expected Balance
in hand at 31 March 2012 / 11,000
Precept Required / -1,707
2012/13 Precept required / NIL