MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HULLAVINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

HELD AT: The Pratten Building, Hullavington School

DATE: Wednesday 8^th December 2004, 7.30pm

PRESENT: Cllr. Gough (Chairman) in the Chair

Cllrs. Bawden, Fenner, Greenman, Haffenden, Harmer, Redman, Stokes.

4 members of the public attended

District Councillor Henderson was also in attendance.

1. APOLOGIES

· The Council allowed the apologies of Cllr. Hadley due to other commitments. Apologies were also sent by County Councillor Thomson and P.C Humphries of Malmesbury Police.

2. MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF 20^th OCTOBER AND 10^th NOVEMBER 2004.

· The minutes of 20^th October and 10^th November were approved by the Council for signing by the Chairman.

3. MATTERS ARISING

· There were no matters arising from the meeting of 20^th October.

· The cemetery notice board has been fitted.

· The tree surgeons have not yet been asked to start work.

· The Chairman reported that he had carried out the necessary repairs to the play area.

4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

· There were no declarations of interest regarding items on the agenda.

5. REPORTS

· Cllr. Bawden gave a short report from the Area 1 Committee meeting on 17^th November. The meeting involved a consultation on the future spending priorities of the District Council.

6. PLANNING

· There were no planning applications to discuss.

· Cllr. Bawden noted that the application by Orange for a new mast near Brookside had been withdrawn and an application submitted to extend the existing site.

· Cllr. Bawden has tendered apologies to the Development Control meeting on 15^th December.

7. FINANCIAL MATTERS

(a) Schedule of Payments

· The Clerk presented the Schedule of Payments and the cheques were signed.

· Cheque number 671 to Sodexho Land Technology (presented at the November 04 meeting) is to be cancelled and a new cheque presented with an appropriate reduction due to the omission of one contracted cut of the grass in the Village.

CHEQUE NUMBER	DATE	PAYEE	AMOUNT	ITEM PURCHASED
674	11.11.04	The Star Inn	£10.00	hire of room
675	18.11.04	The Star Inn	£10.00	hire of room
701	08.12.04	CANCELLED		CANCELLED
702	08.12.04	Mr G. Stokes	£7.50	copying expenses
703	08.12.04	Mrs. A. Clothier	£29.77	expenses

IT WAS RESOLVED THAT ITEM 7E BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO PRECEDE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET. The Clerk had recommended that this item be discussed in closed session, but as only 1 quotation had been received the Council was satisfied to proceed in public.

(e) Consideration of grass cutting quotations

It was resolved that the quotation from Sodexho Land Technology be accepted. All were in favour.

(b) Adoption of budget 2005/06

The Council deferred the formal adoption of the budget until the January meeting.

(c|) Submission of precept estimate

Clerk to send an estimate of £15,000 to the District Council

(d) Proposal to offer Mrs. Sue Webb the position of Clerk to the Parish Council at a rate of £/hr.

The Council resolved to discuss this item in closed session at the end of the meeting. All were in favour.

8. AGENDA ITEMS

(a) New Village Hall Update

· Cllr. Fenner had provided a memo detailing the problems of obtaining a new lease on the old village hall site (attached).

· The Clerk informed that Council that its dispensation to discuss matters pertaining to the village hall and cemetery had expired, and that should any decisions need to be taken before 24^th January a special meeting of the local standards committee would have to be arranged. The Council agreed that it should not be necessary to do this.

(b) New Bus Shelter

· More stone has been delivered and the contractors are now awaiting ashlar coping and for the wood to be cut.

(c) Village Maintenance

· Cllr. Bawden offered to speak to the Highways Department and the local Special Constable about the most suitable place to mount a new neighbourhood watch sign.

· Sodexho’s repair of the damaged tarmac in the cemetery is ongoing do to unsuitable weather conditions

· The broken bus stop sign at Cemetery Corner was replaced and the grit bin was moved, but an additional grit bin has not yet been supplied.

· Clerk to write a letter to Highways asking for surface dressing of the Village roads to be prioritised next year.

· Clerk to write to the Mr Butler to thank him for cutting the roadside hedges.

· Clerk to write to Mr. Sneyd to thank him for giving his time to make a notice board for the cemetery.

(d) Parish Action Plan

· At the next meeting the Council will agree its spending priorities based on a report which will be produced and circulated by Cllr. Fenner, and the membership of a Working Party will be determined. A series of “smart” objectives will be produced to tie into the Community Area plan.

(e) Approval of additional wording to a tombstone – Hubert James Greenman

· The Burial Authority approved the proposed inscription.

(f) Review of the unlocking of the cemetery gates

· The Council will allow the current situation to continue for a further six months (June agenda).

9. CORRESPONDENCE

· Clerk to write a letter of acknowledgement to Mrs. Croft and circulate her letter

· The Clerk had received a letter from Highways suggesting that all planned surface dressing of roads had been carried out.

10. MATTERS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA

· Matters for discussion from Mrs Croft’s letter, meeting dates 05/06, Parish Plan: priorities/working group, adoption of budget 2005/06, Village Maintenance, Village Hall, Bus shelter

· Cemetery gates (June)

11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Wednesday 12^th January 2004.

The Chairman thanked everybody for attending and closed the meeting at 9.08pm.

ITEM DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION

7d) The Council resolved to employ Mrs. Sue Webb on a six month trial basis on NALC salary scale spinal point 21. All were in favour.

Signed:………………………………………… Date:……