MINUTES

STOUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 12 May 2015 at STOUGHTON VILLAGE HALL, 7.30 PM

Councillors (Cllrs) present: Mr Bob Battey (BB) - Chair; Mr Paul Creswell – Vice Chair; Mrs June Sparrow (JS); Mrs Tracy Mee (TM), Mr Tom Richardson (TR)

Also in attendance: MrTom Grozdoski (TG)

  1. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

The Meeting proceeded to elect a Chair and a Vice Chair for the Parish Council. Cllr BB was proposed as Chair by Cllr TM and seconded by Cllr PC. Cllr PC was proposed as Vice Chair by Cllr JS and seconded by Cllr TM . Cllrs BB and PC accepted the posts.

16.Chairman’s Opening Remarks

The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed all those present. He also stressed that planning is a big issue for the village and sustainability must be interpreted and applied in any planning applications that relate to Stoughton.

17. Apologies for Absence

There were no apologies.

18. Declaration of Interests

There was no declaration of interest.

19. Minutes of Meeting held on 7 April 2015

The minutes were approved as a true record and signed.

20. Matters Arising

  1. Recreation Project

Cllr TR reported that the grass had been cut by the grass contractor satisfactory and also the un-grassed area had now been grassed over. Cllr TR also advised that the wild flower area was in need of some attention.

Quotations for benches were presented for the recreation area. After alengthy discussion it was agreed to purchase the benches from RutlandCountyGardens.

21. Review of Policies

TG presented all the relevant policies to the Council and recommended that they were approved accordingly.

22.Parishioners Time

No parishioners were at present

23.Flower bed in the village

Cllr TR reported that Brian Mee would be attending another site meeting to explore the possibility of having the flower bed at the entrance opposite the Byway. Cllr TR would report on the progress to the Parish Council.

24. Planning Applications

A lengthily discussion took place about the recent Co-op planning application and it was agreed that the Parish Council would issue a letter of objection to the planning inspectorate.

There were no other planning applications to discuss.

25. Report from meetings

Cllr BB reported that he had a positive meeting with Alan Duncan about the Co-op planning application. There were no other meetings to repost on.

26. Accounts

That the following invoices were processed:

Invoice / Description / Amount / Cheque No
MHDC / Emptying of bins / £218.72 / 594
Brian Mee / Grass Cutting Service / £318 / 595
Turney Landscapes / Grass verges cutting / £103.80 / 596
AVON / Insurance / £414.97 / 597

27. Internal Audit

TG presented a reported from the internal auditor for the conclusion of the 2014/15 internal audit.

RESOLUTION:

That the Statement of Account be signed by the Chair and the Clerk and that the required documents be sent to the External Auditors

That thanks be expressed to Mr B Richmond for his help in completing the internal audit and a cheque be issued to him for honorarium payment of £100

28. Any other business

  • Wooden gateway – the Clerk would contact Kibworth Gates if they could provide a quote.
  • Three quotations to be obtained for 5 gates and 11 posts to be coated in brown shed sadolin
  • Cllr JS reported that she had compiled a letter to be issued to Strutt and Parkerwith a copy to HDC about the lease for Stretton 2000 which is due to expire in December 2015 and the ongoing concerns about the site
  • The road signs at the end of the church line are dangerous and invisible and NCC would need to be notified
  • It was suggested a trees to be planted for he commemoration of the200thanniversary of the Battle ofWaterloo.

CHAIRMAN