Meeting minutes 03.10.2017

Meeting minutes 03.10.2017

ALBURY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
DRAFT Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday 3rd October 2017 19.15 hrs at the Village Hall

Present: Cllr Benton, Cllr Murdoch, Cllr Walne and Cllr Waples.
In attendance: Mrs J Pettitt (parish clerk), and 2 members of the public.

The chairman opened the meeting at 7.20 pm

1. To receive and accept apologies for absence. Apologies from Cllr Clayden-Smith were received and accepted.
2. To receive declarations of interest. None.
3. To confirm the minutes of the Albury Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 12th September 2017. Resolved that these minutes be agreed as a true and accurate record of the proceedings and be duly signed by the chairman Unanimously agreed.
4. To receive reports on actions agreed at the last council meeting. None.
5. To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.
A member of the public raised concerns that the village hall might have to close down due to running costs, and asked the parish council if they would contribute to the costs to prevent this from happening. The chairman and councillors said that the parish council would support the village hall if necessary. A member of the public mentioned this year’s harvest supper will be held on 21st October. Adult tickets are £5.00 and family tickets are £15 (2 adults and up to 3 children). All profits will go to local good causes.
6. To consider planning applications.
3/17/2175/HH Demolition of existing concrete block single-storey garage & living space at the rear of the house. Replace with a brick-built insulated two-storey extension and single storey side extension. Addition of a new brick facade at front of house to
provide additional cavity wall insulation. Addition of two new windows. Changes to existing windows and doors. The Old Vicarage, Parsonage Lane, Albury
3/17/2096/LBC Change the two bedroom windows to existing first floor rear elevation to match those on the ground floor. Thatched Cottage, Patmore Heath, Albury
No comments made.
7. To receive bank statements, bank reconciliation and financial summary
These were received by the Council and found to be satisfactory.
Balance at 12/9/17 £30,381.47
Income: Litter picking grant £1,437.28, Precept (2nd instalment) £3,450.00
Outgoings: As agreed 12/9/17 £796.97
Balance at 2/10/17 £34,471.78
8. To agree payments due
Community taxi September invoice £161, Clerk’s salary £711.36, litter picker 1 £130, litter picker 2 £130, allotment mowing August £65, telephone kiosk paint £44.99 Total £1242.35
Resolved, proposed Cllr Benton, seconded Cllr Waples that these payments be made. Unanimously agreed.
9. To receive the clerk’s report (for information only). None.
10. To discuss the parish councillor vacancy
Keith Wheatley, a resident who has previously served as a parish councillor for Albury, expressed an interest in filling the vacancy. Following a short discussion, the councillors decided he should be co-opted immediately.
Resolved, proposed Cllr Benton, seconded Cllr Waples that Keith Wheatley be co-opted as a parish councillor for Albury. Unanimously agreed.
The clerk will prepare Keith a declaration of acceptance of office to sign at the next meeting.
11. To discuss the repair of the bridge to the north of Patmore Heath and the possibility of having it adopted.
Prior to the meeting, the clerk approached local councillors for advice and emailed Herts County Council to ask why this section was not adopted when other roads around the heath were. The initial response from Highways is the adoption of that section of road may not have been considered beneficial to the public, but they are going to investigate further. The clerk agreed to approach a planning consultant for a quote for advice and production of a letter on behalf of the parish council.
12. To discuss the progress of the traditional village sign project
Designs have been received and the councillors chose a combination of two. The company will now be asked to produce a full quote and the councillors will set the final budget for the project once this has been received.
13. To discuss a defibrillator training date
The second defibrillator is now linked to the ambulance service. We are waiting for CHBT to supply available training dates so can’t advertise a date yet.
14. To discuss the progress of the telephone kiosk library project
Councillors Waples and Walne have cleaned and painted the kiosk and trimmed the hedges surrounding it. Cllr Murdoch is to arrange for shelving to be installed.
15. To discuss the progress of the village hall playground fund raising
Funding is still being applied for.
16. To discuss the village speeding problem
Little Hadham parish council have expressed an interest in running a joint DriveSafe scheme. Cllr Benton is liaising with their chair. It has been noticed that Braughing have 20 MPH zones and other traffic calming measures in place. Cllr Murdoch suggested Albury should have a 20 MPH zone by the school and traffic calming measures at the spots along the Albury Road where drivers regularly break the 30 MPH limit. Cllr Benton agreed to speak to Highways and also to ask the Braughing clerk how they managed to get their traffic calming measures put in place.
17. To discuss UK Power and the spate of unplanned power cuts
Cllr Murdoch spoke to UK Power and was told the long-term problems should have been alleviated by the fact that power is now being brought in from the east of Albury instead of from Cambridge.
18. To discuss buying the chocolate selection boxes for the Albury Father Christmas event and set a budget
Tesco are supplying the chocolates this year but the parish council are happy to supply it if this arrangement should fall through
19. To suggest agenda items for the Parish Council Meeting to be held Tuesday 7th November 2017 at 7.15pm at the Village Hall
Defibrillator training, telephone kiosk library, traditional village sign and budget, resolving the speeding problem in the village, ideas for further talks at the village hall, playground funding, Cllr Murdoch gave apologies for not being able to attend the next meeting.

The chairman closed the meeting at 8.30 pm