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Minutes of Parish Meeting 12th November 2020

Minutes Uploaded on February 12, 2021

STONE RURAL PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 12 November 2020

via Zoom

 

Present: Councillors    Cllr A McCulloch

Cllr B Fletcher

Cllr T D Scrivens

Cllr S Haine

Cllr M Tyler

Cllr G Jones

Cllr T Mardling

 

 

Borough Councillors Roy James

Andrew Harp

 

County Councillor Ian Parry

 

Parish Clerk L Davies

 

 

  • QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

No members of the public joined the meeting. No questions from the public had been received.

 

  • APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Cllr B Price and Cllr W Woolliscroft.

 

 

 

  • DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None

 

 

 

  • MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS HELD ON 10 SEPTEMBER 2020

The minutes of Parish Meeting held on 10 September 2020 were considered, approved and duly signed as a correct record of the meeting.

 

  • MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES NOT ON AGENDA

The County Council Tree Officer has inspected the trees along Kibblestone Road and confirmed that no further action needs to be taken. Landowners along the road will be contacted in order to request that hedges be cut back. Kibblestone Scout Camp has already done this.

 

  • REPORTS FROM BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS
    • County Councillors:
      • Cllr Parry provided an update of the County’s Covid-19 response. The County Council are working towards localised rapid testing for more local intervention.
      • The highways team has reduced capacity due to redeployment of staff to area of need. Therefore response times on highway matters are likely to be extended.
      • The County Council’s reponse to localised flooding was discussed.
      • Issues surrounding the canal bridge on Rockery Lane were discussed e.g. damage sustained by large vehicles crossing the bridge. The County Council (responsible for the road) are trying to arrange a meeting with the Canal and River Trust (owners of the bridge) to discuss what actions could be taken.
      • Cllr Parry informed the meeting that there was funding available for interactive traffic awareness signs to be installed in areas where speeding is a problem. Cllr Parry suggested that Oulton would be good candidate for this funding. Clerk to obtain further information
    • Borough Councillors
      • Footpath 36 connecting Aston-By-Stone to Burton has been improved. The boardwalks over the SSI site will also be repaired in the coming months.
      • The Borough Council has further funding available for businesses affected by the Covid-19 restrictions.
      • It was highlighted that planning applications were taking longer due to the Covid-19 restrictions and enforcement was being prioritised to deal with more serious cases.

 

  • MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMITTEE

The details of the planning applications discussed in September, October and the start of November were duly considered and noted.

 

  • CHAIRMANS ANNOUNCEMENTS

New plans for the area surrounding the memorial tree in Aston-By-Stone are being discussed with the residents living close by. The Clerk provided an update of progress on the licence to plant. Cllr Fletcher informed the meeting that funding for this project could be available from the HS2 community funding initiatives.

  • HS2
    • The date for the virtual HS2 annual meeting with District & Parish Councils will be held on 26th November. Cllr Fletcher to attend on behalf of the Parish Council.
    • Cllr Fletcher also provided an update on the HS2 community funding webinar and progress on the archeology works being undertaken.

 

  • CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLOR
    • The Meeting discussed the 4 parishioners who had expressed interest in the position of Parish Councillor.
    • It was PROPOSED, SECONDED and unanimously AGREED that Cllr P Timberline be co-opted onto the Parish Council.

 

  • GRASS CUTTING AND ROAD SWEEPING
    • Additional grass cutting funded by the Parish Council was discussed and the possibility of appointing a contractor to undertake a limited amount of grass cutting across the Parish.
    • The need for additional road sweeping in each ward was also discussed.
    • Councillors agreed to put forward areas in their wards where additional grass cutting and road sweeping is required.
    • Cllr Haine raised a request from the Oulton Community Group for a grant to purchase gardening equipment to help maintain green spaces in the village. It was suggested that, in the first instance, the Borough and County council be approached to determine whether any funding was available. Clerk to action

 

  • PROPOSED PARISH MEETING DATES 2021/22

The Council considered and AGREED the proposed meeting dates for 2021/22.

 

  • BUDGET
    • The report of the Clerk was considered.
    • The reserves position, including the remaining balance of the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant, was discussed. It was noted that, where possible, suitable projects should be undertaken in the coming financial year to utilise some of the surplus reserves.
    • The Clerk stated that a CiLCA course was being run by the SPCA in 2021 and requested whether the Parish Council would make contribution towards this course (total cost £250) so that the Clerk could attend. It was AGREED that a provision would be made in the budget for the Clerk to attend this course.

 

  • CLERK’S REPORT

The Clerk’s report was considered and duly noted.

 

  • PAYMENTS AUTHORISATIONS AND FINANCIAL REPORTING
    • The Payments Authorisations Report, together with the income received in the last   period (September and October) were reviewed and signed by the Chairman.
    • The Clerk provided an update on the current year financials to date against budget and due to the impact of COVID-19 an expected outcome for the year.

 

  • PARISH COUNCIL 5 YEAR FINANCE PLAN MONITORING
    • The Five Year Plan for the period 2018/19 to 2023/24 was reviewed.
    • An update on the Moddershall Interpretation sign was provided and quotes discussed. Due to further feedback on the position of the panel, the Clerk is to apply for installation of the panel next to the postbox on the land next to the village hall. Clerk to action.
    • The limitations of the Parish Council’s website, in particular in relation to the website accessibility regulations, was discussed. The potential set up costs and ongoing costs of running the website was discussed. It was proposed, seconded and AGREED that the Clerk should pursue commissioning a new website. Clerk to action.
    • It was AGREED that a plaque (“Stone Rural Parish Council”) should be placed on the Aston-By-Stone noticeboard so that the ownership of the board could be more easily seen. Clerk to action.

 

  • DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

The next Parish Meeting is scheduled for 14th January 2021 at 7.30pm. Venue to be confirmed

 

 

                     Signed ……………………………………………     Dated………………………..

                                             Chairman

 

Lucy Davies

Parish Clerk

November 2020