Misterton PC Minutes 06.05.2021 (APM, AGM and May meeting)
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting, Annual Parish Council Meeting and May monthly meeting held on 6th May 2021, remotely, via Zoom
Present:
Cllr Iain Rowland (Chair) Cllr Viv Rowe Cllr Abbie Rousell
Cllr Graham White Cllr Andrew Callow Cllr Geoff Restorick
Cllr Brian McNeill
In attendance:
Mrs K Sheehan (Clerk), County and District Councillor Mike Best, one member of the public.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
21/037. Welcome and Introduction
Cllr Rowland welcomed everyone to the meeting and outlined procedure for the three meetings which were taking place.
21/038. Chairman’s Annual Report (Parish Council and Recreation Ground Trust)
Cllr Rowland thanked everyone for their time and efforts over the past year, with all the challenges brought by a global pandemic. He noted that:
- Misterton Emergency Response Team (MERT) rapidly organised to support the community and had managed to fulfil every request made of it. The efforts of organiser Phil Clifton had been rightly recognised by the County Council’s Covid Champions awards scheme;
- MERT remains in place to help people should they need assistance;
- The closure of the Middle Street bridge has presented many issues but also a temporary respite for residents from HGVs;
- The first village wide sale was a great success, raising money towards the new Silver Street defibrillator;
- The fingerpost at the crossroads had been refurbished, with the Silver Street post to follow shortly;
- The community had been saddened to learn that the village school had been listed for closure by the County Council;
- The Parish Council had met remotely for a full year, with thanks to all councillors and the clerk for their efforts to keep things running as smoothly as possible.
21/039. Approval of the minutes of the 2019 Annual Parish Meeting (not held in 2020)
Approved without change.
Proposed: Cllr G Restorick Seconded: Cllr G White RESOLVED
21/040. Annual Reports from Parish Groups
The Clerk reported that she had spoken with members of Friends of Misterton Cemetery Chapel (FoMCC) and that they had not been able to meet during the pandemic, but hoped to convene again once restrictions eased.
Tony Foot, from the Owsley and Norris Trusts and Crewkerne Almshouses reported that:
- Planning permission recently granted to Pattemores would effectively remove the right of way to a parcel of land belonging to the Trust;
- SSDC had been approached for advice but no response received yet (Cllr Best offered to chase this up);
- Independent legal advice may be required and this would likely come at a cost to the Parish Council;
- The Almshouses had undergone significant refurbishment and some tenancies had ended resulting in an intake of new residents;
- A sinking fund had been established for the possible acquisition of a new property suitable for housing a couple;
- A new Trustee was expected to join in June when in person meetings would hopefully resume.
Cllr Rowland thanked Mr Foot on behalf of the Parish Council for his ongoing efforts with these organisations.
(Mr Foot left the meeting).
21/041. Public Open Forum
No members of the public present.
ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
21/042. Election of Chairman 2021/22
Cllr Rowland was nominated as Chair for the coming year. No other nominations were received.
Proposed: Cllr B McNeill Seconded: Cllr G Restorick RESOLVED
21/043. Election of Vice Chairman 2021/22
Cllr Restorick was nominated as Vice Chair for the coming year. No other nominations were received.
Proposed: Cllr I Rowland Seconded: Cllr V Rowe RESOLVED
21/044. Membership of working groups/representatives to outside bodies 2021/22
Misterton Emergency Response Team – I Rowland, P Clifton, P Marshall, J Marshall, S Gray
Parking Working Group, other groups and representatives unchanged.
21/045. To Reaffirm Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Code of Conduct
21/046. To confirm that Misterton Parish Council continues to meet the criteria for the General Power of Competence and resolved to continue to exercise the GPC – criteria met
21/047. To review and confirm signatories and bank mandate – no change
Items 045 – 047 above proposed, seconded and resolved en bloc.
Proposed: Cllr A Rousell Seconded: Cllr G White RESOLVED
MAY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
21/045 Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllrs Bacigalupo and Gillard (both away).
21/046. Code of Conduct and Declarations of Interests
None.
21/047. Minutes of the meeting of 16th March 2021
The minutes of the meeting held on 16th March were approved as a true and accurate record of the meetings subject to the amendment of the Mill Lane bridge length to 8 metres, to be signed at the first face to face meeting. No meeting was held in April, due to the period of national mourning.
Proposed: Cllr G White Seconded: Cllr A Rousell RESOLVED
21/048. Matters Arising from Minutes
None raised.
21/049. Reports
- Report from County Councillor & District Councillor
Cllr Best reported that:
- A list of road lining jobs had been published by the County Council;
- He had recently met with the Old Mills Management Committee (OMMC) – roads remain unadopted and the ditch at the northern side is a possible issue. Betterment properties had agreed a sum of money to be held by OMMC in respect of issues previously identified with the tank. Parish Councillors raised concerns about whether this was enough to help those with affected properties;
- He was due to meet with Network Rail and would raise the issue of the surfacing of footpaths near to the pedestrian rail crossing;
- Crewkerne Town Council were continuing to investigate the possibility of downgrading the A356 and would continue to update MPC.
- Report from Chairman of the Parish Council & Recreation Field Trust
Cllr Rowland reported that litter was starting to accumulate in hedgerows and hoped to organised a community tidy up once restrictions are eased further.
21/050. Planning including applications currently in circulation/determinations
- Applications: 21/00857/HOU – Catra, 8 Broughtons Drive – no objections raised.
21/051. Highways & Footpaths
- To consider future works for the Parish Ranger
As per specification.
- To consider an application received for the Parish Paths Liaison post
Mr Durrant had expressed interest in undertaking this role, this was agreed.
Proposed: Cllr I Rowland Seconded: Cllr A Callow RESOLVED
21/052. Amenities
- To receive the cemetery inspection report
Clerk had removed the broken terrarium as previously agreed.
- To consider a quotation for replacing bed edging/proposal to remove bed and return to grass
Clerk reported that FoMCC had no strong preference for either keeping the bed or returning to grass. However, it was decided not to use the contractor for the latter on grounds of high cost. Clerk was asked to contact community gardening groups to see if they would be willing to take on the project.
- To receive an update on the gateposts project
Clerk reported that the revised plans were currently with the District Council for pre-planning advice.
21/053. Finance and Procedure
- To consider the report of the Internal Auditor 20/21
- To approve the Annual Governance Statements 20/21
- To approve the Accounts and End of Year Bank Reconciliation 20/21
- To approve the Accounting Statements 20/21
Items a.-d. above taken and agreed en bloc. No queries raised.
Proposed: Cllr I Rowland Seconded: Cllr G White RESOLVED
- To agree invoices for payment
| Voucher | Payee | Details | VAT | Total Payment incl VAT |
| 304 | Cox & Co | Payroll services | £ 3.50 | £ 21.00 |
| 305 | Tesco Mobile | Parish phone | £ – | £ 13.97 |
| 306 | Staff | April salary/ies | £ – | £ 581.10 |
| 307 | ICO | ICO renewal | £ – | £ 35.00 |
| 308 | K M Dike | Cemetery grass | £ 42.50 | £ 255.00 |
| 309 | Greenslade Taylor Hunt | Grasskeep agreement | £ 20.00 | £ 120.00 |
| 310 | M Harding | Internal audit | £ – | £ 75.00 |
| 311 | Cox & Co | Payroll services | £ 3.50 | £ 21.00 |
| 312 | Tesco Mobile | Parish phone | £ – | £ 17.99 |
| 313 | Staff | May salary/ies | £ – | £ 581.10 |
| 314 | K Sheehan | Pay difference/expenses | £ – | £ 111.05 |
| 315 | Misterton Rec Ground Trust | Annual Grant | £ – | £ 3,000.00 |
| 316 | Came and Co | Insurance renewal | £ – | |
| TOTAL | £ 4,832.21 |
Proposed: Cllr G Restorick Seconded: Cllr I Rowland RESOLVED for payment
(NB; the insurance quotation had not been received at the time of the meeting so it was agreed that this payment would be made under delegated powers (see below)).
- To note payments received/monthly bank reconciliation/statement of reserves held
Receipts, bank reconciliation and list of reserves all noted, no questions raised.
- To resolve to move the reserve held for the Neighbourhood Plan back to the General Reserve
Proposed: Cllr G White Seconded: Cllr I Rowland RESOLVED
- To approve the annual grant to Misterton Recreation Ground Trust for 2021/22
As listed above.
Proposed: Cllr G White Seconded: Cllr I Rowland RESOLVED
- To adopt a scheme of delegation and agree informal meeting dates to be held remotely during summer months
Agreed to adopt the scheme of delegation and meet informally on Zoom in June and July. No Parish Council meeting would usually be held in August and face to face meetings would hopefully resume in September. The first informal remote meeting would take place on Tuesday June 15th, in keeping with usual PC meeting timetable.
Proposed: Cllr I Rowland Seconded: Cllr G Restorick RESOLVED
21/054. Items for the next meeting
To be advised to the Clerk seven days in advance of the meeting.
21/055. Date and time of next meeting
Tuesday 15th June, 6.30pm, via Zoom – an informal meeting of the Parish Councillors.