Minutes from the March 14th 2013 Meeting

Meeting 13 of 2012/2013

Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Stutton cum Hazlewood Parish Council held at

1930 hrs on Thursday, 14^th March 2013 at Stutton Village Hall

Present:-  Cllr Aarons, Cllr Fawcett (Chair), Cllr Wrigglesworth, Clerk

Also Present:  County Cllr Metcalfe, Mr C Heard

Chairman asked Mr Heard if he wished to address the council.  Mr Heard said that he had heard about the resignation of Cllr Back and was potentially interested in becoming a councilor.  Mr Heard gave a brief biography to the council.  Chairman thanked Mr Heard for his interest.

Part I began at 1935 hrs.

12143 APOLOGIES – Cllr Birchall.

12144 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None.

12145 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING – The minutes of the meetings held on 7^th February 2013 having been read were signed as a true record.

12146 PROGRESS REPORTS –

• Youth Club/Lewis Gentle – no reply received.  Resolved: No further action required.
• Letter to NYCC Highways – signs for flooding.  No reply.  Resolved: No further action required at present.
• Letter to Dept of Communities and Local Government – reply received from Baroness Hanham.  Resolved:To be discussed under item 6.3
• Clerk reported that she had received complaint about land by windmill on Stutton Road re litter/tins/tyre marks and this had been reported to Mark Butler at Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery.  Resolved:  Complaintant informed and no further action required.
• Underpass footpath linking Stutton to Stutton Road – Work commenced on this on 11^th March for 3 weeks to upgrade to cycle path and resurface.  Resolved:Cllr Metcalfe thanked for his direct involvement in helping secure this project with NYCC Highways.

12147 VILLAGE HALL AND GROUNDS – No reports.

12148 FINANCE

12148.1 Parish Council Account

The following cheques written in wrong cheque book and cancelled 676, 677 and 678.

Receipts

Payments

12148.2 Village Hall Account Receipts

Payments

      12148.3 Changes to Council Tax Base & Parish Precepts 2013/2014.  – Clerk reported that council tax bills showed an increase of 10.7% for parish charge.  Cllr Metcalfe confirmed this was due mainly to the changes in way Council Tax Support had changed to the Council Tax Base resulting in 37 less Band D properties.  Parish Council had requested increase of 1.9% to precept in light of Government changes.  Reply received from Baroness Hanham to parish council’s letter of complaint via Nigel Adams, MP.  Resolved:Cllr Fawcett and Cllr Aarons signed amended precept request form of £7,642.50.

12148.4 Appointment of new Internal Auditor – Clerk confirmed that Mrs Mary Farnam would be the new Internal Auditor.

12148.5 Grass Cutting – Request from Mr Leverton to have grass cut along road edgeways by Stutton Grange/Garnet Lane.  Resolved: Clerk to ring Living Landscapes and arrange to meet with Cllr Wrigglesworth and Mr Leverton to look at area.  To discuss at April’s meeting.

12149 PLANNING – The following planning enforcement matters discussed (2):-

• Stables at Wingate Hill Farm – enforcement officer checked size of building and no breach.  Discussion regarding roof lights being more than 3 stated on plans.  Resolved:  Cllr Fawcett to verify whether large fixture is window and inform Clerk.  If so, Clerk to contact Selby Planning re breach in planning.
• Absence of owl at “Marybern” – no breach of planning.  Resolved: No further action. 

12150 PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE – Clerk and Cllr Birchall spent evening with Nikki Readman and website virtually ready to go live.  Discussion about councillors details.  Resolved: Only put on website councillors’ telephone numbers.  Clerk to inform Nikki Readman.

12151 CLERK’S RESIGNATION – Resignation of Clerk after nearly 16 years with effect 23^rd May.  Clerk informed Richard Besley (Electoral Services Officer) and YLCA.  Clerk had chat with Clerk at Saxton Parish who confirmed she would help out if the parish council did not find an immediate replacement.  Discussion about job advert and it was resolved that Clerk to compile an advert for a replacement Clerk and to put it in prominent places.

12152 CASUAL VACANCY ON COUNCIL – Cllr Back resigned from the council with effect 3^rd March.  The Notice of Vacancy was displayed on noticeboard and would remain until 26^th March.  If no election called, Clerk would advise Richard Besley that the Parish Council intends to co-opt to fill the vacancy.  Resolved: Clerk to put in place necessary procedures.  Cllr Wrigglesworth asked that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Back and Clerk would do this.

12153  NEWSLETTER – Discussion that a newsletter should go out to every household as soon as possible.  Cllr Wrigglesworth said he would be have this printed.  It was resolved that Clerk would start prepping a newsletter.

12154 NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLANNING  – Clerk informed council that David Gluck would be attending the April meeting.  Resolved: To discuss at April’s meeting.

12155 CORRESPONDENCE – The following item of correspondence were noted for action:-

• Selby Area Committee – Vacancies for co-opted members.  Resolved: No further action.

The following items of correspondence were noted for interest:-

• Police and Crime Plan Consultation – notice for noticeboard.
• Tadcaster Town Council Newsletter – Cllr Wrigglesworth taken.
• Citizenlink
• Clerks and Councils Direct
• The Clerk

The following item of correspondence was received after preparation of the agenda:-

• AON UK Ltd – Employers Liability cover.  Cllr Aarons read this and it was resolved to pass to Mr Back for his attention.

12156 COUNCILLORS’ REPORT AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA:-

• Cllr Aarons asked that PAYE be on April’s agenda.

12157 The next ordinary meeting of the Parish Council confirmed as Thursday, 11^th April 2013 at 7.30 pm. 

There was no further business and the meeting closed at 2100 hrs.