Parish Council Minutes 11th October 2005
Littlethorpe Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 11th October 2005
in the Village Hall at 8.00pm.
Present: Mrs. W. W. Orme (Chair)
Mr. J Wardle
Mr. C. Laker
Cllr Mr. D. O Connell
Mrs.Cllr J. Jowitt
County Cllr. H. Garnett
District Cllr. I. Galloway (District Councillor)
Mr. W Lupton (Clerk)
1 Apologies
None received
2 Declaration of interest
None received
3 Adoption of minutes Tuesday 26th July 2005
The minutes having previously been circulated were approved as a correct record apart from alterations to item 17 requested by Cllr. O Connell and the removal of item 23 requested by Cllr. Laker. It was agreed that in future all Minutes should follow the numbering sequence of the agenda.
The corrected minutes will be adopted at the next Parish Council meeting.
4 Statement by the Chairman regarding format for drawing up and presenting Minutes
The Chair reported that the production of the Minutes was causing some problems and referred to the Local Council Administration book. Minutes of the proceedings of a council and of of its committees must be kept. They are intended to be a formal record of official acts and decisions, not reports, still less verbatim reports, of the speeches made by councilors. Minutes should, therefore, be as short as is consistent with clarity and accuracy, and the arguments used in the discussion need be recorded only if the decision cannot be clearly expressed in any other way.
She also referred to the signing of Minutes of the Parish Meeting. After discussion it was agreed that the procedure for the adoption of minutes should be as follows if not signed on the same day, minutes of the Parish Meeting may be discussed at the next appropriate Parish Council Meeting, but final approval must be reserved for the next Parish Meeting.
She asked that Councillors send any particular views they want entering in the minutes to the Clerk prior to the writing of the draft.
5 Chairman s Progress Report
The Chair reported on the success of the Council in having the planning application for Mankin Lane rejected. Cllr. O Connell Jowitt wished it to be minuted that the Chair had written and excellent and detailed report and Cllr. Jowitt reiterated this..
The Henry Boot development is still being considered and a new application on the traffic implications is due.
North Yorkshire County Council has received the letter from Littlethorpe regarding road safety aspects at Quarry Moor and the matter is due for discussion in the near future.
The Chair bought up that the concerns raised by a number of letters from residents regarding the reporting of Mr. Edmonstone to the Standards Board of England and stated that I have been asked by my fellow Councillors to make a statement about the current Standards Board for England investigation. My Solicitor has advised me and it is inappropriate to comment further. To do so could be prejudicial to the case. It is subjudice.
The Chair also confirmed that there would be no financial cost to the Parish Council.
Cllr. Wardle requested the Clerk to write to the Standards Board for England to clarify procedure to be adopted by the Standards Board with regard to the conduct of their inquiry.inquiry.
. the procedure to be adopted by the Standards Board with regard to the conduct of their Inquiry.
6 County Councillor s Report
Cllr. Garnett was welcomed to her first meeting at Littlethorpe.
She informed the meeting that she still had some funds available for Community Projects and suggested that the Village Hall Committee could approach her for funds towards new curtains, kitchen equipment and work on the car park. Funds could also be available to produce a village web site.
7 District Councillor s Report
Cllr. Galloway reported that he had no further information on the railway project. Cllr Wardle suggested that the Parish Councillors should be free from any personal constraints when the subject arose and the Clerk was requested to write to the legal department of H.B.C. on behalf of all the councillors to seek exemption in this case.
Cllr. Galloway hoped that residents would express their views on the Local Development Framework proposals in the news sheet made available at the meeting.
He confirmed that the Cycle Plan for Ripon was a County issue.
8 Treasurer s Report. Representation of Accounts 2004/2005. Statement regarding Clerk s Honorarium payment format. Audit timescale. Internal Auditor.
The Clerk presented the final accounts for 2004/04, which were approved by Cllr. Wardle and seconded by Cllr. Laker. These will now go forward to the auditor and Mazars. He confirmed that the second half of the Precept had been received. He requested that the first payment for his 2005/06 honorarium be paid by cheque as the standing order does not come into operation in November ? this was agreed. It was agreed that the Council should join the Local Councils Association at a half-year cost of £68.25.
.
9 Precept Increase
It was agreed that a request for a Precept increase of 2.5% should be passed to H.B.C. for the years 2006/07. Proposed by Cllr Wardle, seconded by Cllr. O Connell.
10 Parish Councils Financial Regulations
Cllr. Laker proposed that the Council should adopt the Parish Council Financial Regulation as suggested on page 31 of the Good Councillors Guide and this was agreed. Cllr. Laker will draw up proposals for the next meeting for discussion. It was agreed that it would be good practice for a Councillor, other than the two signatories, to monitor the Parish Council financial activities. This was proposed by Cllr. O Connell and seconded by Cllr. Wardle and Cllr. Laker agreed to perform this role.
All the above in green should be moved to item 11
11 Parish Council Statement of Internal Control
Cllr. Laker proposed that the Council should adopt the Parish Council Statement of Internal Control as suggested on page 31 of the Good Councillors Guide. It was agreed that it would be good practice for a Councillor, other than the two signatories, to monitor the Parish Council financial activities. This was proposed by Cllr. O Connell and seconded by Cllr. Wardle and Cllr. Laker agreed to perform this role. and this was agreed. Cllr. Laker will draw up proposals for the next meeting for discussion
12 Planning Applications received for consultation:
a) Henry Boot
b) Summer Farm
13 Planning Permission Decisions
a) Dorvyn Maur - granted
b) Hollin Hall - granted
c) Little Crossing TPO - granted subject to conditions
d) Builders Yard Mankin Lane - rejected
14 Appeals - none received
15 Parish Plan
After some discussion it was agreed that the Chair would arrange a meeting for the village with Jo Buffery (Development Officer of the Yorkshire Rural Development Council) in November. Date to be put into Roundabout by the Chair.
16 Local Government Initiatives
a) Rolling Development Framework
Cllr. Galloway informed the meeting that further information could be found on the H.B.C. website
b) Seminars - Meet the Funder - Harrogate District - 26th October 12 noon - 6pm - to VHC
c) Awards for all (Grants Roadshow) - 15th November - to VHC
d) Harrogate District in 2021 16th-28th September
e) Members Code of Conduct ? 20th October
17 Memberships
a) CPRE
Renew membership.
b) Yorkshire Local Councils Association
Agreed to join at a cost of £68.25 for half year.
c) Yorkshire Local Clerks Association
Clerk to chase for costs and benefits
18 Local Authority Resolution - Support for Sustainable Communities Bill.
Clerk to write for more information
19. Roads and Footpaths
Nothing new to report.
20 Quarry Moor - NYCC Letter
Clerk to write to N.Y.C.C. for more information and action being taken
21. Village Hall update
Cllr. Jowitt reported on recent successful events held by Village Hall Committee. Date of next meeting 8th November.
The new village notice board is to be officially unveiled on 22nd October at 1.00pm
22. Railway update
Clerk to write to H.B.C. requesting exemption for Councillors to be able to discuss opinions on railway, which could not be considered to be of a personal interest in their role as Councillors.
Arup report due in two weeks.
23. Local Policing update
Clerk to arrange for representative from Police to attend next meeting to discuss Neighbourhood Watch.
24. Roundabout
Next date for entries 19th October.
Plea for help in producing village web site
25. Public Question Time - proposed format, subject to legal clearance.
It was agreed that a Public Question Time would be included on the agenda for
the next meeting. Cllr O Connell will investigate and report on other options for
public participation at Parish meetings which, if agreed, would necessitate
amendments to Standing Orders.
It was agreed that Cllr. O Connell would look into aspects of public Question Time and Standing Orders are affected and the possible options to further include the residents in the Parish meetings.
26. Pinfold - Councillor Laker s Report
Cllr. Laker reported on the research he had done on the proposed renovation of the Pinfold. At present the existing quote is for £1500.00 and there is a current shortfall in funds of £737.00 including agreed grants. After discussion it was agreed that the further cost was prohibitive and that the full renovation should be abandoned. Cllr. Laker was asked to look into the cost of undertaking a part renovation of the Pinfold and, if possible, trace the official ownership of the site. It was proposed and seconded that full restoration of the Pinfold be abandoned.
27 Correspondence
The Chair repeated her opening statement regarding the Standards Board of England investigation and that as the correspondence referred to this matter, which could not be discussed at present. The Chair will respond to all correspondence received and provide a report at the next Parish Council meeting.
28. Old Minute Books 1978-1988
The Clerk confirmed he had the previous Minute book that would shortly be deposited at the Bank, as a new book is required. Permission to buy book was sought and agreed. The whereabouts of the older books no one at the meeting could shed any light on the situation.
29. Chairman s Summing-up
The Chair summed up the actions agreed at the meeting as follows:
Arrange meeting for Parish Plan
Precept request 2.5%
Approved accounts 2004/05 for audit.
Join Y. L. C. A.
Retain membership of C.P.R.E.
Obtain update on Quarry Moor
Clear Pinfold and obtain new quote
Write to Standards Board regarding investigation
Investigate changing Standing Orders
Hold private meeting to discuss P.Q.T. and Parish Information card.
Public question Time session to take place at next Parish Council meeting.
30. Future Diary
Dates of next meetings:
Jan 24th 2006
March 28th 2006
May 23rd 2006 (incl. AGM /APM)
July 18th 2006
October 10th 2006
To start at 7.30 pm.
Meeting closed at 10.00 pm. Back to top