Minutes of Meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday, 27 February 2023 at 7.30pm at Old Council Offices, Selston.
Present:
Cllr C Chapman
Cllr D Deaves
Cllr P Easom
Cllr J Gregory
Cllr D Hodgman
Cllr B Jackson
Cllr S Jackson
Cllr A Justice
Cllr D Justice (Chair)
Cllr J O’Byrne
Cllr D Wilson
Cllr M Wright
Apologies:
Cllr S Fletcher – family
Cllr A Hankin – personal
Cllr B Hankin – personal/work
Cllr R Hughes – work
Cllr D Martin – personal
Cllr P Pilgrim – personal
Also present: –
Lisa Simpson (Clerk) and Tracey Kirkland-Walker (Assistant Clerk) and 1 member of the public from 8pm
- To accept apologies for absence
RESOLVED: Apologies were received as above and accepted by the Council
- To receive declarations of interest from Councillors
Cllr D Hodgman – items 10 and 11 non pecuniary (Trustee)
Cllr S Jackson – items 10 and 11 non pecuniary (Trustee) and items 20 and 21 non pecuniary
Cllr A Justice – item 24 non pecuniary
Cllr D Justice – item 24 non pecuniary
- To determine which items of the agenda, if any, should be taken with the public excluded
RESOLVED: To move item 25 to ‘Confidential’
- Police report
There was no police representative present and no report received.
It was agreed for the Clerk to reiterate that a report from the police was really useful when there isn’t going to be a police representative present at the meeting.
- Members of the public are invited to address the Council on agenda items – 15 minutes is designated for public participation. Members of the public will need to start by stating which item they are addressing the Council on – No members of the public present
- To approve the minutes of Selston Parish Council meeting held on 30 January 2023
RESOLVED: To accept the minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2023 as a true record
- To consider correspondence received and required actions – No action required
- To consider renewal quote for van insurance
RESOLVED: To approve the renewal quote from MS Amlin at a cost of £772.19
- To consider response from Police & Crime Commissions Office in relation to request for community engagement meeting
RESOLVED: To accept the offer from the Police & Crime Commissioner of a walkabout in Selston on Wednesday, 24 May 2023 at 4pm. This will be an informal visit for the PCC to speak with Councillors.
The Parish Council were very disappointed that the invite didn’t extend to members of the public, albeit it was noted that the community were able to submit questions to the council, for these to be raised on their behalf. The Parish Council were keen to stress that the idea of the public not being specifically invited, was not a direction of the Parish Council, but from the office of the PCC.
It was agreed to include Neighbourhood Watch in the walkabout, as a key group within the community.
It was also agreed to add a post on the Parish Council website and notices on the noticeboards, inviting the public to raise any questions to be put forward. It was further suggested that Neighbourhood Watch could add something to their Facebook page.
Cllr Deaves and the Clerk expressed an interest in being involved on the online event on the 22 March 2023.
- To note the improvement works of the car park at Selston Parish Hall – as recommended by Selston Parish Village Halls Charity and approved by the Finance Committee – noted
No questions were raised
- To note the sound absorption at Underwood Community Centre as recommended by Selston Parish Village Halls Charity and approved by the Finance Committee – noted
The Clerk informed that in addition to the £4212 plus VAT that had been approved for the sound insulation panels, there is an addition cost of £950 for the blinds.
- To consider and approve the January accounts as attached
No questions were raised
RESOLVED: To accept the accounts as circulated
- To note the draft Finance minutes of 14 February 2023 as circulated – noted
No questions were raised
- To note the appropriate sum for the purpose of S.137 of the LGA 1972 for Local and Parish Town Councils in England for 2023/24 is £9.93 – noted
- To approve draft budget for 2023/24
RESOLVED: To approve the budget for 2023/24 as circulated with the agenda.
- To consider and approve the precept for 2023/24
A Medium-Term Financial Plan had been emailed out to all Councillors prior to the meeting.
The Chair of Finance informed the meeting that based on the recommended raise of 10%, this equates to an increase of £6.93 per year (or 13p per week) for a band D property. However, 73% of the properties in the parish are either band A or B and for those properties, it equates to around £5 for the year.
RESOLVED: To approve the precept for 2023/24 with a 10% increase
- To set up a Grants Committee
It had been agreed at the recent Finance meeting for a Grants Committee to be set up, from May of this year and Cllrs S Jackson, M Wright and J O’Byrne expressed an interest in being on that committee.
Cllr Hodgman was thanked for her efforts in applying for a number of grants in the past, which had been successful.
- Consider proposals for Jacksdale skate park replacement
This item was deferred until the March meeting.
The Parish Council requested that it would be very useful to see any proposals ahead of the March meeting, to allow more time to fully consider them and move the matter on.
- Consider renewal of Grazing Agreement at Station Road
RESOLVED: To continue with the grazing agreement at the already agreed cost, without any increase.
- To consider the information obtained by the Clerk regarding possible funding from Ashfield War Memorial Maintenance
A brief summary was provided of the action already taken by the Clerk. It has been clarified with Ashfield District Council that the slabs are not part of the War Memorial so it is part of the highway and having approached Nottinghamshire County Council for advice on how best to proceed to ensure that the area is level, no response has been received.
It was agreed for Clerk to continue to chase this up.
- To consider options for replacement changing rooms on Westwood Recreation Ground
An initial drawing had previously been emailed out, however it has now been confirmed that a mess room was not required. Therefore, a site visit is going to be undertaken with a view to obtaining drawings for a unit which would fit on the original footprint.
It was agreed to defer this item to the next meeting.
- To consider arrangements for allotment inspections to be done prior to the renewal of new agreements from April
Cllrs Easom and Wright are the allotment representatives and they agreed to undertake allotment inspections prior to the renewal of the agreements, due in April.
- To consider pending Planning Applications
V/2023/0092 – The following concerns were raised
- Does the application conform to the requirements of the Neighbourhood Plan.
- There is no mention of the type of properties, Houses or Bungalows.
- 8 Properties on Church Lane in this location with proposed parking and garaging for up to 4 cars per property will add to the already congested road, which is also one of the fastest roads in the village.
- Another erosion of the Green Belt not to mention that such a development would add nothing to the already eroded facilities within the parish.
RESOLVED: To submit a letter of objection in relation to planning application V/2023/0092 – land between 124 and 142 Church Lane, Selston, based on the points discussed
Cllrs A and D Justice left the meeting whilst item 24 was discussed
- Parish Hall – To consider donation of Electric Piano which would be stored on the stage
RESOLVED: To accept the donation of an electric piano.
It was suggested that a cover perhaps ought to be purchased, to keep it in good condition.
Cllr A and D Justice returned to the meeting
- Old Council Offices – Update on office space rental and consider potential tenants
This item was moved to ‘Confidential’
- Date, time and venue of next meeting – Monday, 27 March 2023 at 7.30pm at Old Council Offices – Noted
Confidential items:
Minute No. 862 – Old Council Offices – Update on office space rental and consider potential tenants
RESOLVED: To offer the office let to a company that provides Care in the Community within the Parish in the first instance following credit checking.
Meeting closed at 8.22 pm