MINUTES of the MEETING of WIGGINGTON and HOPWAS PARISH COUNCIL HELD on 2Nd FEBRUARY 2012

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WIGGINGTON AND HOPWAS PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 2nd FEBRUARY 2012 AT THOMAS BARNES SCHOOL, HOPWAS

Present: Cllr. Mrs. Marshall, Cllr. Mrs. Ward, Cllr. Mrs. Whitehead, Cllr. Stevens and Cllr. Watson (Chairman).

In attendance: Mrs. M. Jones (Clerk), J. Blount (Assistant Clerk), Cllr. Mrs. S Arnold, Mr Robey, Mr Vanstone, Ms C Hines, PCSO Costas Karpi, Mrs Swift.

Presentation by Claire Hines, Conservation Officer, Lichfield District Council on the draft Hopwas Conservation Area Appraisal.

Claire Hines described the programme of conservation area appraisals, and how this meeting was a part of the consultation procedure. Once consultation had been done the changes would be considered by committees and changes to the conservation area, such as adding additional buildings, would be introduced by the summer. She explained that comments on the plans could be made on Lichfield District Council’s Planning Department’s website.

Open Forum.

The question of the pig farm near the canal was raised, as even in the winter some residents were concerned about the smell. District Cllr. Arnold said that Lichfield Council’s Environmental Health Department had received comments about this last year and the situation was being monitored.

To receive and approve apologies. None received.

To receive Declarations of Interest. None received.

To approve the Minutes of 31st January 2012. Deferred.

Date of next and future Meetings:

1st March, St. Leonards School, Wigginton.

5th April, Thomas Barnes School, Hopwas.

3rd May, 7pm. Annual Parish Meeting followed by Parish Council meeting. St. Leonards School, Wigginton.

7th June, Thomas Barnes School, Hopwas.

5th July, Comberford Church.

No August meeting.

To consider arrangements for filling the casual vacancies on the Council.

The Clerk reported that there had been no enquiries to date, although the vacancy had been advertised in the local paper and on the notice boards.

The Elections Department at Lichfield District Council would be contacted.

To receive updates from:

(a) District Cllrs. Cllr Arnold advised that it was important to consider developing a parish plan. She also advocated parishes in the area collaborating with regards to plans for windfarms locally.

(b) County Cllrs. None present

(c) Police. PCSO Costas Karpi attended so that Cllrs and residents would know him as a point of contact in addition to PC Allsopp in case of problems.

(d) Highways. None present

To receive Clerk's reports.

a Grit bins near schools. Staffordshire County Council Highways have been asked to supply grit bins near to Thomas Barnes and St Leonards Schools.

b Nursery Lane roadworks. This had been reported to Staffordshire County Council Highways, who had previously made the hole in the road safe and were waiting for Severn Trent Water to complete the work.

c Hints Road name plate. This had been reported and reinstated.

d Hopwas zebra crossing. This had been reported to Highways as it needed repainting to improve visibility.

e Smartwater campaign. Cllr Arnold and PCSO Karpi stressed the effect of this on reducing crime in areas which used it. It was hoped Neighbourhood Watch volunteers would promote it.

f Speed statistics. Regarding the location of the readings it was thought that the measurements had probably been taken near to Syerscote Lane.

g Transfer of Samuel Parkes VC War Memorial to Parish Council care. An email had been received from the Highway Liaison Manager, confirming details of services and conditions. RESOLVED to request this information in writing before the transfer of the memorial to the Parish Council.

h Archive Service and historical information on the web site. The Assistant Clerk had set up a web page for historical information about the parish, to be added to in due course. The Archive Service was asked to provide a link.

8.Planning

aPlanning Matters for Decision – to consider any Planning Applications.

11/01366/COU. Manor Farm, Manor Lane, Comberford. New access track and conversion of barn to 2 bedroom dwelling.

RESOLVED not to raise any objections.

11/01428/FUL. 22, Nursery Lane, Hopwas. Increase width of two storey extension by 1200mm.

RESOLVED not to raise any objections.

12/00043/FUL. St. Leonard's School. Wigginton. Erection of single storey building to house 3 classrooms, staffroom and associated facilities.

Councillors had not yet seen the plans, these were available on the planning website. Comments would be sent in due course.

bPlanning Matters for Information – to note planning decisions to date.

11/01249. Hopwas House Farm. Solar panel installation. Granted.

cRequest for support from Clifton Campville with Thorpe Constantine Parish Council against wind farm plans.

RESOLVED to write in support and request details of any meetings.

9To consider Hopwas Playing Field issues:

aSafety reports. The Council considered the reports from the Playing Field Coordinator and noted action required.

bUpdate on safety surfacing. NOTED that the installers had agreed to do work required to level the matting.

cTree on Nursery Lane boundary. NOTED that the energy company had not yet arranged a date to trim the vegetation from the pole.

10To receive progress report on Olympic Torch Working Group.

NOTED that the initial meeting had been well attended by most groups in Hopwas. Groups would organise events for children prior to the arrival of the runners, to make the occasion memorable. Parking and sponsorship had also been discussed. RESOLVED that the working group consult possible owners of sites to be used for parking. It was suggested that Wigginton groups also be invited to attend.

11To consider request with regard to the National Memorial Arboretum. RESOLVED that the Clerk write to request that the correct name of Wigginton and Hopwas be displayed there.

12 To consider request from Lichfield Library to use Council notice boards.

RESOLVED that the Clerk would liaise with the Library service to use the notice boards to inform residents of the times of mobile library visits.

13To respond to LDC request for feedback about communication and outcomes of the Seasonal Waste Collection and Recycling over Christmas. RESOLVED that the clerk submit feedback.

14To consider invitation to tour Staffordshire Place, Stafford. (new Staffs. County Council Building). RESOLVED against attending.

15To consider invitation to Annual Dinner from LDC Chairman. (£38). RESOLVED that the Chairman would not attend.

16Correspondence List:

a Rural Services Network: Weekly Digests.

b Advice of conference on the Future Of Cyber Security Conference. London.

c LDC. Torch Route map. Use of Olympic logo. Parish Forum agenda (19 Jan). Calendar of meetings. Licensing list. Planning list.

d Advice of Public Sector Efficiency Expo, London.

e Sustainable Gov. Training and Education newsletter.

f SPCA. Repeal of Local Gov. (Discretionary Payments) Regs. NALC conference. Audits. Play Area Survey. PAYE arrangements for clerks and RFOs.

g Parish Mag printers. promotional material.

h Staffs County Council. Information about Families First Service.

i Came & Co. Insurance Guide for Parish Councillors.

j Dept. of Transport. Letter and booklet about HS2.

RESOLVED that the correspondence be noted.

17To adopt Standing Orders. RESOLVED that the Standing Orders be adopted.

18To review laptop issue. DEFERRED.

19To consider HMRC appeal. NOTED that the Council had lost the appeal regarding PAYE. RESOLVED to appeal again.

20Finance.

aTo consider the payment of cheques on the Cheques for Payments List. RESOLVED to approve these.

bTo receive bank reconciliation. NOTED.

cTo receive RFO's report on bank mandates. NOTED that these are up to date but the Clerk will need to be added on.

dTo note the budget update for the year. NOTED.

eTo consider production of Risk Assessment. DEFERRED.

fTo consider submission of Annual Return, audit report and variance report. RESOLVED to submit these as soon as remaining bank statements were available.

21To consider appointment of Finance Member. PROPOSED by Cllr Whitehouse that Cllr Ward be appointed. AGREED unanimously.

22Items for Future Meetings: 1st March - Parish Plan, quotation for maintenance, signage at Tame Otter.

23To agree and sign clerk's contract of employment. RESOLVED agreed and signed.

24To consider post of Assistant Clerk. RESOLVED that the Assistant Clerk complete various financial issues but would not need to attend meetings. Thanks were expressed for all Mr Blount’s hard work for the Council.

The meeting on the advertised agenda ended at 21.15.

25 Deferred matters

To review 2012/2012 budget

(from agenda of Parish Council meeting of 31st January)

The Council considered the figures put forward for spending over the next financial year and amended these, following discussion of how to maintain spending on services while avoiding too large a rise in the precept. It was noted that sufficient reserves needed to be in place as per Audit Commission guidelines, and for replacing equipment in the future.

RESOLVED to agree the budget.

To decide the precept for 2012/13

RESOLVED to submit a precept request of £19,000.

To consider budget for 2012/13

(from agenda of Comberford Millenium Green Trust Meeting of 31st January)

RESOLVED to agree the budget.

To consider budget for 2012/13

(from agenda of Wigginton Village Hall Trust Meeting of 31st January)

RESOLVED to agree the budget.

RESOLVED to defer the remainder of the agenda of Wigginton Village Hall Trust Meeting of 31st January until bank statements were available.

Meeting closed 10.20

SIGNED as a true record …………………………………………….