Meeting minutes 12.01.2016
ALBURY PARISH COUNCIL (APC) MEETING
Minutes of a meeting held Tuesday 12th January 2016 19.15 hrs at the Village Hall
Present: Cllr Benton (vice-chairman), Cllr Clayden-Smith, Cllr Murdoch, Cllr Walne and Cllr Waples.
In attendance: Mrs J Pettitt (parish clerk), and 1 member of the public (MOP).
The vice-chairman opened the meeting at 7.15 pm
1. To receive and accept apologies for absence. Cllr Muller sent apologies.
2. To receive declarations of interest. None.
3. To confirm the minutes of Albury Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 3rd November 2015. Resolved that these minutes be agreed as a true and accurate record of the proceedings and be duly signed by the vice-chairman. Unanimously agreed.
4. To receive reports on actions agreed at the last council meeting
The clerk has been liaising with the 60 Plus group to set a date for the buffet lunch. They will confirm a date after their meeting on 18th January.
The clerk emailed Martin Render and left a voicemail after a missed call but is yet to speak to him regarding the installation of a defibrillator. Cllr Murdoch agreed to follow up on this.
The clerk applied for transparency funding and APC have now received £662.45
Other actions to be discussed in specific agenda points.
5. To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public
See item 11.
6. To consider planning applications below and any received between 7th and 12th January 2016
3/15/2519/HH. 7 Parsonage Lane, Albury. Widening of existing crossover and realignment of retaining wall. No Comment.
7. To agree to the planning consultant fee of £360 for the APC formal response to the A120 Little Hadham bypass planning application
A planning consultant prepared a formal response for Albury which was submitted before the deadline of 7th January 2016.
Resolved, proposed by Cllr Benton, seconded by Cllr Walne, that the fee of £360 be made. Unanimously agreed.
8. To receive bank statements, bank reconciliation and financial summary
These were received by the Council and found to be satisfactory.
Balance at 31/10/15: £32031.21
Income: Art club donation, £750.00; Transparency funding, £662.45; Interest, £3.15
Outgoings: those agreed 3/11/15, £1484.00; poppy wreath, £20.00; Christmas walks food £124.05; Pre- agreed allotment maintenance, £70.00
Balance at 5/1/16: £31748.76
9. To agree payments due
Clerks salary £704.36, Litter picking £104, Planning consultant fee £360, Total: £1362.41
Resolved, proposed by Cllr Benton, seconded by Cllr Clayden-Smith, that these payment be made. Unanimously agreed.
10. To receive the clerk’s report (for information only)
We received an offer of a defibrillator from the local fire brigade with possible funding from Cllr Graham McAndrew.
HAPTC notification of annual subscription fee for April 2016 – £319.66
Precept forms received for completion by 15th January.
11. To discuss a resident’s queries regarding the parish council’s finances and spending
In answer to a residents queries, the clerk confirmed that with regards to the Local Government Act 1972 section S137, APC may make spend a £3341 for purposes for which they have no specific statutory expenditure. This is calculated at £7.36 per elector of which Albury has 454. So far in this financial year APC has spent £1305 under S137.
12. To discuss and agree this year’s budget and precept
The clerk estimated the budget required for the next financial year to be £7,980. The council examined the budget sheet and it was agreed that the precept should be set at the same amount as for the last year.
Resolved, proposed by Cllr Benton, seconded by Cllr Waples, that the precept be set at £6,900. Unanimously agreed. The clerk filled in the precept form which was duly signed.
13. To discuss Grasscutters proposed allotment maintenance costs for this year of 6 cuts at £65/cut, totalling £390 for the year
All agreed that Grasscutters and Co are doing a splendid job and that the quote for the next year is reasonable. Resolved, proposed by Cllr Benton, seconded by Cllr Waples, that Grasscutters continue to mow the allotments at the price quoted. Unanimously agreed.
14. To discuss the quote for essential playground maintenance of £2000
The councillors discussed the quote and agreed that rather than spend this money on maintenance, it would be better to get some quotes for a full refurbishment. Cllr Benton agreed to look at some options.
15. To suggest agenda items for the next Parish Council Meeting to be held Tuesday 2nd February 2016 at 7.15pm at the Village Hall
Defibrillator purchase, maintenance, further defibrillators
Playground refurbishment
60 Plus buffet lunch
Local bus survey
Update on the Christmas Walk
Easter Egg Hunt
Update on the bus stop green
The vice-chairman closed the meeting at 8:25 pm