17.07.2014
PERSHORE TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
17th July 2014
Minutes of the meeting of Pershore Town Council, held at the Town Hall, 34 High Street, Pershore, Commencing at 7.30pm.
Present:- Cllr A Rowley (Mayor)
Cllr D Annis
Cllr P Colloby
Cllr R Gillmor
Cllr R Grantham
Cllr C Parsons MBE
Cllr R Speight
Cllr C Tucker
Cllr D Watt
Cllr M Winfield
Cllr V Wood
965. Apologies
Cllr J Grantham’s apologies were accepted as he was unwell, Cllr Amphlett Hawkins’ apologies were accepted as she had a family commitment and Cllr Palfrey’s apologies were accepted as he was working.
966. Declarations of Interest
Cllrs Gillmor, Tucker and Wood declared other Disclosable Interests in agenda item 9, Items from the Amenities and Environment Committee which related to Avon Meadows.
967. Mayor’s Announcements
Cllr Rowley reminded members of various events taking place in August including a coffee morning on 2nd August, the World War 1 commemorations on 3rd and 4th August, a pig roast in aid of the Mayor’s Charities on 10th August as well as the forthcoming Jazz Festival and Plum Fair.
968. Items brought to members attention by the Town Clerk
The Clerk advised members of the Civic Reception for our guests from Bad Neustadt on Saturday 22nd August at 7.30pm in the conference suite at the library. All were welcome to attend.
969. Minutes
It was proposed by Cllr Watt seconded by Cllr Gillmor and RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held 19th June 2014 be signed as true and accurate records of the proceedings.
970. Matters of Report from the minutes
a. The Clerk advised that the District Council Remuneration Panel would be meeting in the next few months.
b. The Clerk advised that the submitted the land management plan for the Holloway Land required amending to enable the condition on the planning approval to be discharged and Cllr Gillmor had this in hand.
c. The Clerk advised that she had renewed the insurance agreement for a further 3 years as agreed.
d. The Clerk advised that the forms for additional bank signatories had been received and were in the process of being completed.
e. The Clerk advised that the second hand ride on mower had been purchased as agreed
f. The Clerk advised that £150 had been offered towards the cost of the additional Christmas Lights and a further £400 was being actively sought. The Mayor agreed to write further letters asking for sponsorship and various names were suggested.
g. The Clerk advised members that following a meeting with the Deputy Managing Director of the District Council and First Great Western, First Great Western had stated that they were committed to providing approximately 50 additional spaces at the Railway Station car park which they believed was viable once the land swap had been achieved.
h. The Clerk advised she had obtained quotations for a new Internal Auditor which would be debated at the meeting of the Finance and Property Committee.
971. Finance
a. It was proposed by Cllr Watt, seconded by Cllr Tucker and RESOLVED that the budget comparison to the end of June be accepted.
b. The valuation of the Council’s investments to 5th July 2014 was accepted and the Clerk advised that £45,000 had been realized as per the Council’s budget.
c. It was proposed by Cllr Gillmor, seconded by Cllr Watt and RESOLVED that the payment list for the month of July be accepted.
Vchr. / Cheque / Cde. / Name / Description / Amount222 / 219 / 80 / Wychavon D C / Rates 500152996 / 495.00
223 / 219 / 83 / Wychavon D C / Rates 500007544 / 59.00
224 / 219 / 83 / Wychavon D C / Rates 32869448 / 132.00
225 / 219 / 294 / Wychavon D C / Rates 500244199 / 1,771.00
Subtotal Cheque No. / 219 / 2,457.00
226 / 220 / 89 / Mr G Ludlow / Allotment Rent Refund / 5.00
227 / 221 / 89 / Mr Arnold / Allotment Rent Refund / 5.00
228 / 222 / 89 / Mrs Simmons / Allotment Rent Refund / 5.00
229 / 223 / 287 / A E Probert / Cemetery Chapel / 1,915.88
230 / 224 / 63 / Sage UK Limited / Software licence / 696.00
231 / 225 / 99 / Star sign / Bands in the Park / 93.60
232 / 226 / 284 / Wychavon D C / Election Costs / 25.00
233 / 227 / 88 / Central Garage / Vehicle Service / 255.07
234 / 228 / 40 / Pershore Abbey PCC / Civic Service / 50.00
235 / 229 / 40 / Sue Dunne / Civic Service / 380.00
236 / 230 / 94 / Mill Lane Nursery / Christmas trees / 60.00
237 / 231 / 93 / Mill Lane Nurseries / Floral Displays / 6,859.59
238 / 232 / 60 / Veldonn Printers Ltd / Newsletter Printing / 736.00
239 / 233 / 60 / Paperstation Limited / Stationery / 69.58
240 / 234 / 294 / Best Vending Ltd / Vending machine at Library / 75.20
241 / 235 / 89 / OHMS Ltd / Snapper ride on mower / 600.00
242 / 235 / 83 / OHMS Ltd / Machinery repair / 9.53
243 / 235 / 83 / OHMS Ltd / Snapper ride on mower / 600.00
Subtotal Cheque No. / 235 / 1,209.53
244 / 236 / 80 / EcW Ltd / Town Hall Cleaning / 335.88
245 / 236 / 294 / EcW Ltd / Library cleaning / 462.14
Subtotal Cheque No. / 236 / 798.02
246 / 237 / 89 / Mr Moss / Allotment Rent Refund / 27.00
247 / 238 / 84 / County Security Ltd / Town Hall Locking Up / 112.80
248 / 238 / 83 / County Security Ltd / Cemetery Locking Up / 336.00
249 / 238 / 89 / County Security Ltd / Allotment Locking Up / 72.00
Subtotal Cheque No. / 238 / 520.80
250 / 239 / 60 / Newsquest Ltd / Newsletter Delivery / 80.30
251 / 240 / 89 / Mrs Atkinson / Allotment Rent Refund / 12.50
252 / 241 / 88 / Cox's Cars Ltd / Fuel / 62.00
253 / 241 / 86 / Cox's Cars Ltd / Fuel / 29.67
Subtotal Cheque No. / 241 / 91.67
254 / 242 / 80 / Severn Trent / Town Hall water / 449.74
255 / 242 / 294 / Severn Trent / Library water bill / 207.83
Subtotal Cheque No. / 242 / 657.57
256 / 243 / 83 / Continental Landscapes Ltd / Mowing Contract / 2,880.00
257 / 243 / 86 / Continental Landscapes Ltd / Mowing Contract / 201.60
258 / 243 / 87 / Continental Landscapes Ltd / Mowing Contract / 228.00
Subtotal Cheque No. / 243 / 3,309.60
259 / 244 / 60 / Paperstation Limited / Stationery / 62.16
260 / 245 / 85 / W L Brown / Town Hall Maintenance / 33.28
270 / 246 / 1 / HMRC / Tax and NIC / 848.69
271 / 246 / 2 / HMRC / Tax and NIC / 10.08
272 / 246 / 3 / HMRC / Tax and NIC / 172.60
273 / 246 / 4 / HMRC / Tax and NIC / 16.40
274 / 246 / 6 / HMRC / Tax and NIC / 48.75
275 / 246 / 7 / HMRC / Tax and NIC / 164.76
276 / 246 / 9 / HMRC / Tax and NIC / 490.33
Subtotal Cheque No. / 246 / 1,751.61
277 / 247 / 6 / Worcestershire County Council / Superannuation / 54.97
278 / 247 / 10 / Worcestershire County Council / Employers Pension Conts / 215.13
Subtotal Cheque No. / 247 / 270.10
248 / Mrs T Gresham - replacement cheque / 25.33
279 / 249 / 97 / WPS Insurance Brokers / Insurance / 6,766.46
280 / 249 / 83 / WPS Insurance Brokers / Insurance / 980.05
281 / 249 / 294 / WPS Insurance Brokers / Insurance / 225.05
282 / 249 / 88 / WPS Insurance Brokers / Insurance / 393.34
Subtotal Cheque No. / 249 / 8,364.90
283 / 250 / 294 / West Mercia Energy / Library electricity and gas / 597.59
284 / 251 / 89 / Severn Trent / Allotment Water Bill / 574.91
285 / 252 / 80 / Rob Dob's Cleaning Services / Town Hall window cleaning / 247.00
286 / 252 / 294 / Rob Dob's Cleaning Services / Library window cleaning / 378.50
Subtotal Cheque No. / 252 / 625.50
287 / 253 / 40 / Mr M Pegg / Civic Service / 80.00
288 / 254 / 60 / Post Office Ltd / Postages / 137.00
289 / 255 / 62 / Petty Cash / Petty Cash / 50.00
290 / 256 / 44 / Mr C Parsons / Mileage / 18.90
293 / 256 / 83 / Mr C Parsons / Ladder for cemetery / 77.98
294 / 256 / 85 / Mr C Parsons / spoons for Town Hall / 4.74
Subtotal Cheque No. / 101.62
291 / 257 / 83 / Budget Skips / Skip Hire / 235.00
292 / 258 / 40 / Mrs A Dobbins / Civic Service / 117.36
259 / Dorma UK - replacement cheque / 884.59
261 / DD / 1 / Salary 1 / Salary / 2,546.39
262 / DD / 2 / Salary 2 / Salary / 736.47
263 / DD / 3 / Salary 3 / Salary / 689.90
264 / DD / 4 / Salary 4 / Salary / 599.20
265 / DD / 5 / Salary 5 / Salary / 561.60
266 / DD / 6 / Salary 6 / Salary / 843.98
267 / DD / 7 / Salary 7 / Salary / 400.00
268 / DD / 82 / Salary 8 / Salary / 374.40
269 / DD / 82 / Salary 7 / Salary / 465.82
Subtotal Cheque No. / DD / 7,217.76
TOTAL / 40,617.54
d. The Clerk advised members that the Annual Return and Accounts had now been returned by the External Auditor and an unqualified opinion given. A large amount of additional paperwork had been required to demonstrate good practice with the purchase of the library but no additional questions had been asked. The notice of completion of audit had been posted in the noticeboard. Members thanked the Clerk for her work in this regard.
972. Items from the Cemetery Committee
a. Cllr Parsons advised members that the level of the ground around the chapel had now been reduced and the soil replaced with gravel. This had now solved the ongoing damp problem and the area looked much tidier.
b. Cllr Parsons advised members of the wish of Bloor Homes to transfer ownership of Cemetery Lane to the Town Council on completion of the development off Dowling Drive. The Cemetery Committee had agreed to recommend to Council that this offer be accepted subject to the lane being resurfaced to a satisfactory standard and agreements for ongoing maintenance being entered into with other users. It was proposed by Cllr Parsons, seconded by Cllr Rowley and RESOLVED that this recommendation be ratified. The Clerk will advise Bloor Homes according.
973. Items from the Amenities and Environment Committee
Members noted the contents of the report presented to the committee by Ms Etheridge regarding the next steps with improving access to Avon Meadows. Cllr Gillmor explained the implications for the Town Council’s land and members agreed to approve the proposals.
974. Mayoral Regalia
The Clerk advised that the Youth Council had expressed a wish to have a chain of some description for the Youth Mayor and It was proposed by Cllr Parsons, seconded by Cllr Annis and RESOLVED that the Town Council would provide the same medal as used for the past mayor with a bar reading Youth Mayor.
Members considered the quotation received for new past mayor and mayoress badges which for 10 would cost £185 each and for 5, £215 each. It was agreed the proposed design was acceptable but members preferred their original black outline rather than blue. Members agreed the next step was for the Clerk to obtain additional quotations and members to reconsider the issue at the
September meeting.
975. Northern Link
Members noted the contents of the email from the Managing Director of the District Council outlining the results of the bid for funds through the Strategic Economic Plan. Cllr Liz Tucker suggested a meeting of the Northern Link Working Group would now be appropriate and the Clerk will arrange this.
Cllr Parsons reminded members of the importance of preserving a route through the Station Road development and the Clerk advised that she anticipated knowing who the developer was to be in the next 6 weeks when they could be contacted to discuss the possibility.
976. Town Council Priorities
Members agreed they should meet again informally to consider progress with the existing priorities and bring possible new ones forward. The Clerk will arrange such a meeting in early September.
977. Tour of Britain
Members noted the report of the Tour of Britain working group and Cllr Wood updated members on what was proposed for the morning. Chapman Court had been booked for various activities and a willow bike was to be created as a sculpture. It was hoped to have as many people in town as possible to welcome the event.
978. Library Canvasses
In the absence of any further information this item was deferred to the September meeting.
979. Provision of Litter Bin
Members considered the request from a local resident for the provision of a litter bin by the bus shelter in Defford Road. Following debate members agreed to ask the Town Council groundsmen to undertake regular litter picks of the area to monitor the scale of the problem and reconsider the request at a future date should it appear a bin is required.
980. Local Government Transparency Code
The Clerk presented a document as required to be available on the Town Council’s web site under the above code. It was agreed this be made available with the addition of a heading for grants.
981. Police and Crime Commissioner Survey
It was agreed members complete the survey individually and hand to the Clerk by Friday 24th July and the Clerk will compile a summary response.
982. Membership of Committees
Members agreed that Cllr Winfield be elected to the Amenities and Environment Committee
983. Reports from representatives of outside bodies
Cllr Wood reported that the AGM of the South Worcestershire CAB had taken place the
previous evening and the Town Council was thanked for its continuing support. During the year to March 2014 they had dealt with over 7,000 clients who had contacted the CAB over 18,000 times with the majority aged between 35 and 64.
Uncertainty about future funding was an ongoing problem and the CABs continuing success was in the main thanks to the dedication of the staff and volunteers.
Cllr Watt reported on the recent meeting of the County Association of Local Councils encouraging people to join safer neighbourhood teams.