Meeting 4th March 2019

MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Meeting of the Parish Council
held on Monday 4th March 2019
at 7.30 pm at Edingale Village Hall.

Members present:
Cllr Startin (Chair)
Cllr Cliffe
Cllr Dhillon
Cllr Lacey
Cllr Mason
Cllr Meikle
Cllr Wesley

Mrs M Jones, Clerk, and 4 members of the public.

1. To receive apologies
None

2. To receive any Declarations of Interest None received.

3. To approve the Minutes of the meeting of 4th February 2019
The minutes were approved and signed by the Chair.

4. To adjourn the meeting, to hold the Public Session and to reconvene the meeting.
The Chair of the Village Hall reported on various grant applications which had been made and the progress on these. Priorities included new chairs, a PA system, air source heating, toilet refurbishment, youth summer club, and the car park. A further section of the car park would be surfaced during the week, and the remainder could be completed if the Parish Council were able to contribute. This would be discussed later in the meeting. She was asked whether additional drainage was required and had been advised that the car park surface would be porous enough. Cllr Mason asked whether the Parish Council would be asked for a contribution towards the insurance as last year, this had not yet been decided. Ten events were planned for the year, beginning with Bingo and Murder Mystery events taking place this month.
Cllr Meikle asked about the Committee’s views on the proposal to hold a Scarecrow event in the village; they would allow the Village Hall to be used.

A resident asked about the problem of dog fouling again in Rowley Close. Cards had recently been delivered to all households explaining how to contact the District Council to report incidents of dog fouling, giving times and locations, and if residents did this action could be taken.

5. To receive the Clerk’s Report
Community Speed Watch – the volunteer training session had taken place on Saturday 23rd February with three local people taking part. More volunteers would be welcome; anyone else wishing to be trained should get in touch and further training could be held. The 30 mph reminder bin stickers had not yet been received. Parking – The Police had written to school parents and spoken to other residents about parking considerately. Some vehicles were still being left on verges and spoiling the surface. Best Kept Village – the competition entry was being organised. Mowing – references, insurance and risk assessment had been received, ready for the work to commence in mid March. Cllr Meikle pointed out that the insurance did not include tree surgery. Parish Forum – this meeting for Councillors would take place in Lichfield on 2nd April – Cllr Meikle would attend.
RESOLVED to approve the Clerk’s report.

6. To receive correspondence
Lichfield District Council; news items, election information
SPCA bulletins
Friends of Mary Howard, Scarecrow event and duck race

7. To receive Councillor’s Reports
Cllr Cliffe asked for two potholes in Pessall Lane to be chased up. Cllr Lacey asked why there had been traffic lights near Mill Lane, this had been to repair a water leak. The Clerk was asked to enquire of Bromford why a disabled user’s vehicle had been left on a verge outside one of their properties.
Cllr Startin said that work had now taken place to resurface the Black Horse car park.

8. To consider any planning matters
19/00268/FULH Glebefields, side extension to cottage to provide ground floor bedroom and shower room. There would be no impact on neighbouring properties. RESOLVED no objection. Local Plan Review; consultation on this would last until March 18th. The Parish Council was in general agreement with the proposed policies and options.

9. To review bus and taxi transport The bus hire had ended after 22nd February as Elford Parish Council had ended their subsidy of the service. A taxi had been organised to run every Tuesday and was well supported and largely organised by users. They had asked for a Friday taxi as well and it was RESOLVED that this would be affordable with a voluntary donation of £4 per return trip per user. The Clerk would arrange this with the taxi company and inform the users. This arrangement would be monitored.

10. To receive election information Councillors were reminded of the candidates briefing on 6th March at Lichfield, and of information available online. Copies of nomination forms were distributed to those who would stand again. Cllr Wesley would leave the Council in May. It was agreed to encourage local people via Facebook and the Mease News to join the Parish Council. The Annual Meeting of the Council would take place on 13th May.

11. To consider FOMH proposal to run a scarecrow event in June
The Parish Council were please to have been informed about the proposal to run a fundraising Scarecrow event and Duck Race by the Friends of Mary Howard; they had no objection but would advise the organisers to seek the appropriate permissions and to arrange sufficient parking. It was hoped that there would be plenty of support from residents for this.

12. To consider funding for Village Hall projects Councillors agreed to support the Village Hall Committee with their planned improvements to the car park. They asked for an assurance that the drainage of the car park would be adequate. Councillors were in favour in principle of donating a sum from the capital fund; the Clerk would check that the fund could be used for this. When the Village Hall Committee made an application for a grant towards this it was likely to be considered favourably.

13. To receive the Financial Report. The bank reconciliation was given, there was £5961 in the current account prior to the March payments and expected donations towards churchyard maintenance and the Village Hall. The Clerk would shortly be preparing the end of year accounts for the visit of the Auditor in April, along with the end of year reporting to HMRC.
RESOLVED to approve the Financial Report.

14. To approve the payments on the payment schedule Mrs M Jones, salary and expenses, £309.60; HMRC PAYE £4.80 Elford Parish Council, share of bus hire less donations £145; Acorn Taxis, February £154.96 Receipts for bus £30, taxi £40 RESOLVED to approve the payments.

15. Date of next meeting; Monday 1st April 2019.
The meeting closed at 8.25 p.m.