Notes 17th December 2020
Minutes Parish Council 24th September 2020
Please note that these minutes do not become an official record of the meeting until they have been approved and signed at the next Council meeting.
Chair: Cllr Simpson (DS)
Present: Councillors: Duncumb (JD), Gleeson (RG), Hunt (SH), Turbin (WT); Michelle Moss, Clerk (MM).
Apologies: Councillor Myers (PM)
Public Forum: 0 members of the public present. No comments made
35. Chairman’s remarks - None
36. Apologies for absence and reasons given - Apologies received from PM for technical reasons. RESOLVED to accept the reason for absence.
37. Declaration of interests and requests for dispensations - To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider granting dispensation(s), as per written requests received by the proper officer, to councillors under section 22 of the Act – WT declared a pecuniary interest in 12c regarding the field rent and stated that he would abstain from this part of the discussion.
38. To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24th September 2020 - Proposed; Seconded; RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 24th September 2020 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.
39. To receive reports from District and County Councillors (if available) – None present and no reports received.
40. To receive reports from the Clerk and Councillors on matters outstanding – No matters outstanding.
41. To consider correspondence received since the last Council meeting:
From Overview Action
LCC To advise that our website switchover has now been completed To note - Noted
GW Shelter Solutions Queensbury Shelter ceased trading in March 2019. The MD has acquired the intellectual property rights and set up this new company. Our bus shelter was from Queensbury. To note - Noted
42. Planning
a) Application received: None
b) Withdrawal notice: None
c) Planning permission Granted (to note):
- N/149/01398/20 | Planning Permission - Erection of a detached building to provide a triple garage with first floor storage over on the site of the existing agricultural building which is to be demolished. | THE GRANARY, INGS LANE - Noted
- N/149/01552/20 | Planning Permission - Alterations to existing dwelling to include the conversion of an attached garage to provide a home studio and utility room and the erection of a detached garage and potting shed. Existing sheds on site to be removed. | CAVENDISH, MILL LANE - Noted
- N/149/01672/20 | Planning Permission - Change of use, conversion of, extensions and alterations to former Post Office to provide a residential dwelling and the erection of a dwelling each with detached garages. LOCATION: SCAMBLESBY POST OFFICE, SOUTH STREET, SCAMBLESBY, LOUTH, LN11 9XF - Noted
d) Planning applications responded using delegated powers:
- N/149/01672/20 | Planning Permission - Change of use, conversion of, extensions and alterations to former Post Office to provide a residential dwelling and the erection of a dwelling each with detached garages. | SCAMBLESBY POST OFFICE, SOUTH STREET – Objection submitted 19.10.2020 – Included to record the action agreed.
43. To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed in relation to the next agenda item – Proposed; seconded; RESOLVED to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed.
44. To discuss the appointment of the new Clerk, agree employment terms, start date and starting salary – It was proposed; seconded; RESOLVED (by a vote of 3 for and 2 against) to appoint Simon Baxter as the new Parish Clerk and that DS would contact him to offer the role and agree the employment terms.
45. To resolve to move back into open session for the remainder of the meeting - Proposed; seconded; RESOLVED to move into open session for the remainder of the meeting.
46. Financial matters:
a) To review any applications for donations – It was noted that the only application received was a request from St Martins Church to contribute towards their project to provide toilet facilities for users. Proposed; seconded; RESOLVED to donate £300 to St Martins. RESOLVED that the underspend of £100 be earmarked for donations in 2021/22.
b) To receive an updated bank reconciliation and projected vs actual spend from RFO – It was noted that the cheque for room hire for 2019/20 was still outstanding and had not yet been cashed by the Village Hall committee. It was noted that there had been £0 unplanned expenditure this year, and with the underspend on donations, the current underspend is £273 for the year to date. Proposed; seconded; RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation (APPENDIX 1) and accept the projected spend.
c) To review field rent, agree the budget and precept for 2020/2021.
WT left the meeting at 20:32.
It was noted that the field rent had been unchanged for 5 years, and that the rental value of agricultural/pasture lands was largely unchanged. Proposed; seconded; RESOLVED to keep the rent at £180pa.
WT returned to the meeting 20:38.
It was noted that the total projected underspend for the year would be in the region of £370; that the general reserves at the year end would amount to approx. £3200 which is getting towards the top end of recommended reserves; and that the proposed budget is based on face to face meetings resuming from May 2021. It was also noted that the tax base used to calculate the figures was based on 20/21 as 21/22 has not yet been published, and that this may affect the % increase. Proposed; Seconded; RESOLVED that:
i. £400 be earmarked for donations for 21/22 and remove the line in the budget for this, in order to keep the precept increase as low as possible and to counter some of the increase required for the new Clerk.
ii. that any unplanned expenditure would be taken from general reserves for 2021/22.
iii. the precept be set at £2100 for the year 21/22.
d) To consider and approve payments due including: Salaries 1.1.21 - £286; WMC hall hire £15; Postage £2.59. Proposed; seconded; RESOLVED to approve all payments.
47. To agree date and agenda items for the next meeting – Next meeting to be scheduled for Thursday 18th March at 8pm.
Meeting closed at 21:58pm
Appendix 1 Bank Reconciliation: