Misterton PC Minutes 15.12.2020

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 15^th December 2020

Remotely, via Zoom

Present:

Cllr Iain Rowland (Chair)                 Cllr Viv Rowe                                     Cllr Abbie Rousell

Cllr Leo Bacigalupo                          Cllr Graham White                           Cllr Paul Gillard

Cllr Andrew Callow                          Cllr Geoff Restorick

In attendance

Mrs K Sheehan (Clerk), County and District Councillor Mike Best.

 

20/093.                 Public Open Session

No members of the public present.

 

20/094.                 Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllr McNeill (away).

 

20/095.                 Code of Conduct and Declarations of Interests

Cllr White declared an interest in the planning application relating to Sunnyside, Silver Street; being the applicant (and did not participate or vote on this item). Cllr Rowland declared a personal interest in the same item by virtue of being a close neighbour but was able to participate.

 

20/096.                 Minutes of the meetings held on 17^th November, 1^st December and to amend the minutes of 2^nd June 2020

The minutes of the meetings held on 17^th November and 1^st December were approved as a true and accurate record of the meetings, to be signed at the first face to face meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd June were amended to reflect that Cllr Restorick was in attendance.

Proposed: Cllr Rowland                                 Seconded: Cllr Callow                                    RESOLVED

 

20/097.                 Matters Arising from Minutes

None raised.

 

20/098.                 Reports

1. Report from County Councillor & District Councillor

Cllr Best reported that:

• Pavement resurfacing was scheduled for January, with the bridge repairs now delayed until February. Cllr Best agreed to liaise with officers to ensure closures/diversions were kept to a minimum;
• The Covid-19 vaccination programme would shortly start, being administered from the Henhayes Centre. As a result, the Henhayes car park and some other public spaces would be closed off;
• Crewkerne Town Council had recently agreed to again pursue the campaign to downgrade the A356 which would have implications for Misterton. Cllr Best would keep the PC updated;
• Free Christmas parking would start from Thursday.

1. Report from Chairman of the Parish Council & Recreation Field Trust

Cllr Rowland reported that:

• The school consultation had now closed and some feedback should be expected in January;
• The Emergency Team were planning a local mail drop to riparian owners with information about clearance and legal responsibilities;
• Thanks were recorded to Jackie Hewitt for her service on the Emergency Team over a number of years, now stepping down. New volunteers would always be welcome to join the team.

20/099.                 Planning including applications currently in circulation/determinations

1. 20/03044/HOU – Sunnyside, Silver Street

(Cllr White not participating).  No objections raised.

1. Determinations – 19/02416/FUL Land adjacent to Knowle Lane – dismissed at appeal.

Noted.

1. To receive an update on progress with the Neighbourhood Plan

Cllr Bacigalupo reported that he had continued to research Neighbourhood Plans and outlined a number of reasons not to proceed with one.  Members were generally in agreement but a formal decision would need to be taken in January and a letter written to Crewkerne Town Council to advise them accordingly.

 

20/100.                 Highways & Footpaths

1. To consider future works for the Parish Ranger

To sweep up leaves where accumulated to prevent washing into drains.

 

20/101.                 Amenities

1. To receive the cemetery inspection report

Members noted the latest inspection report.   The Clerk confirmed that having spoken to the contractors, the paths had been sprayed and the team would brush off the moss on their next scheduled visit.

1. To approve the draft digital plans for the Cemetery extension

Approved without change.  Numbering to be applied consecutively from the existing cemetery numbering system.

 

20/102.                 Finance and Procedure

1. To agree invoices for payment and to note regular payments

Voucher	Payee	Details	VAT	Total Payment incl VAT
274	Cox & Co	Payroll services	£                                             3.50	£       21.00
275	Vodafone	Telephone TBC
276	Staff	Salary	£                                                –	£     581.10
277	K Sheehan	Expenses/mileage etc	£                                                –	£       74.98
278	K M Dike	Ad hoc clearance/scheduled cut	£                                          118.20	£     709.20
279	SSDC	New dog poo bin	£                                           43.00	£     258.00
		Total VAT to reclaim	£                                          164.70
			TOTAL	£    1,644.28

 

Proposed: Cllr Rowland                                 Seconded: Cllr Rousell                   RESOLVED for payment

Receipts, bank reconciliation and list of reserves held all deferred as bank statements had not been received.

1. To consider budget requirements for 2021/22 financial year and set the precept

A draft budget document had been circulated.  Members noted that the decrease in the parish tax base would impact the precept; even by not increasing the total amount precepted, the net effect would still be a small rise.  Some discussion took place about the rate of inflation and members agreed to finalise the budget in January.

1. To agree meeting dates for 2021

Meeting dates were agreed as follows for 2021:

Tuesday 19^th January

Tuesday 16^th February

Tuesday 16^th March

Tuesday 20^th April

Tuesday 18^th May

Tuesday 15^th June

Tuesday 20^th July

No meeting in August

Tuesday 21^st September

Tuesday 19^th October

Tuesday 16^th November

Tuesday 14^th December

1. To review the Risk and Asset registers for 2020/21

Members noted the addition of the new defibrillator to the asset register.  Members noted that the station defibrillator was a PC asset, but not the WI defibrillator.

1. To appoint an internal auditor for the 2020/21 financial year

Mrs M Harding was appointed as the Council’s internal auditor for the current financial year.

 

20/103.                 Items for the next meeting

To be advised to the Clerk seven days in advance of the meeting.

 

20/104.                 Date and location of next meeting

The next meeting was confirmed for Tuesday 19^th January 2021, 6.30pm, via Zoom.

 

20/105.                 Confidential item – quotes obtained for the cemetery access project

 

After discussion of preliminary prices obtained by the Clerk, members agreed to review the access proposals with a view to a less extensive scheme not requiring planning permission or highways involvement.  Clerk to action in conjunction with Cllrs White and Callow.