Meeting of Abbots Morton Parish Council at 8:00PM on Thursday 23rd May 2024 at Abbots Morton Village Hall
Minutes 05/2024
Present: Martin Willingale (Chair), Nick Humphries, Martyn Walton, Jacqueline Allum, Karen Brighton, Richard Whitlow.
In attendance: Kerry Williamson (Clerk) and Colin Pemberton (Village Hall Committee & PCC).
Parishioners: 1
- Election of a Chairman and signing the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
It was unanimously RESOLVED to elect Martin Willingale as Chairman for the 2024/25 municipal year and the Declaration of Acceptance of Office was duly signed.
- Election of a Vice-Chairman
It was unanimously RESOLVED to elect Richard Whitlow as Vice Chairman for the 2024/25 municipal year.
- Apologies for absence
Ben Hurdman (District Councillor), Lynne Pemberton (Village Hall Committee) and Tim Jones (Footpath Officer)
- Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial Interest
- Register of Interests
Cllr Martin Willingale declared a personal interest in item 7.2 as he lives opposite the application site.
- Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
Nil declared.
- Other Disclosable Interests
Nil declared.
- Dispensations
It was RESOLVED to grant a dispensation to Cllr Martin Willingale to allow participation, but not voting on item 7.2.
- Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session.
- District Councillors
Ben Hurdman provided the following written report to be shared at the meeting:
This month the Wychavon councillors will be looking at the contract for the Home Improvement Agency which is up for renewal in March 2025. We will be scrutinising the performance of the current contractors and reviewing what they do and do not cover in the field. It is vitally important that especially in our rural communities elderly people and people with a special need can remain in their homes with the correct care to maintain a good quality of life.
Wychavon have committed to using HVO fuel where possible in their diesel equipment in parks and gardens. This should reduce Co2 emissions by 90% in comparison to white diesel. We are also using environmentally friendly herbicides rather than pesticides.
Over the past six months everyone is aware of the amount of rain we have had. However, there is a weather station at the Civic Centre which gives us a bit of detail. We’ve had:
61mm in Jan (slightly lower than average)
143mm in Feb (highest ever recorded)
122mm in March (just below highest ever)
Over the last six months we have seen the highest percentage of winter water run-off in the last 39 years.
Planning – There have been 5 planning appeal decisions over the last month with all 5 being dismissed by the government inspector. This is promising and gives me confidence that the planning committee and officers are making the correct decisions where necessary. Applications are currently being processed in 3 days and last month 320 were processed.
Regarding the applications in Abbots Morton, as you’re aware the application at The Chalet has gone to appeal. I have my fingers crossed on this and hopefully the government appointed planning inspector will see sense and be minded to dismiss the appeal. If I hear anything I will be in touch.
I am concerned by the amount of live/work applications that keep popping up. I don’t think this is always of value to the villages and can be used as a back door to gain permission for a property in a desirable location, whereas normally they would be refused. It also concerns me that those people who really need live/work units may miss out. I am going to speak with our new head of planning regarding this matter in the near future.
Finally, I would like to thank you for welcoming me so warmly into the role of councillor. Over my first 12 months as a district councillor I have learned a great deal and have been reassured by the Parish Council’s commitment to preserving Abbots Morton, it is a beautiful village with a real sense of community spirit. You should all be commended for upholding that.
- County Councillor
No report was provided.
- Village Hall Committee
The Village Hall annual report was provided at the Annual Parish Meeting preceding the Parish Council meeting. Updates to this report included that the Tai Chi class has become so successful it is now a permanent feature on Wednesday mornings. The General Election on 4th July has resulted in a booking (35 voters (24%) turned out for the OPCC vote), a cycle event on 26th June has been booked and there is a potential regular booking from a toddlers football club. The Village Hall has received excellent reviews on ‘Halls for Hire’ and has a 5* grading.
- Footpaths Officer
Nothing to report. Clerk provided an update on the fallen footpath sign having contacted the Senior PROW Officer at Worcestershire County Council (WCC). WCC are aware and it is on a job list.
- Public participation
1 parishioner in attendance.
The meeting resumed following the open session.
- To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 14th March 2024
It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record, and they were duly signed by the Chair.
- Planning: To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Wychavon District Council:
- W/22/00711/FUL & W/22/00968/LB: To receive any update on Manor Farm, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton, Worcester, WR7 4NA. Conversion of barn to dwelling and erection of car port, to include raised drive and dropped kerb. Application restarted due to revised information being received.
No updates available, pending decision.
- Appeal lodged W/23/02210/FUL: The Chalet, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton. Demolition of existing workshop and storage yard and erection of 2 residential dwellings and associated infrastructure. To discuss and provide any further representations to the Planning Inspectorate (Ref: APP/H1840/W/24/3339168).
Councillors discussed the appeal information; it was felt that the appeal is full of misinformation. It was AGREED that Cllr Humphries would draft a response and circulate to Councillors for comment.
- Public Rights of Way and Highways
- Lengthsman Scheme: To receive an update and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule.
Cllr Walton confirmed that the new Queen’s Jubilee plaque has been fitted. Clerk will let the Lengthsman know and ask him to add cutting around this to his work schedule.
- PROW maintenance and obstruction issues: To consider and review.
No issues.
- Flooding: To consider issues relating to highway drainage on the C2010, Abbots Morton Village Road.
Cllr Willingale reported that there have still been no flooding issues, everything seems to be coping well when there is a large amount of rainfall.
- Progress reports
- Neighbourhood Watch – to receive an update on recruitment drive.
Total of 22 residents are now signed up for the scheme, only a couple signed up from the latest recruitment drive.
- Parish matters for discussion/decision
- Local Council’s Insurance – to consider insurance quotes and decide policy provider.
Due to the continuing low cost of Zurich Insurance, it was RESOLVED to accept the quote from Zurich with cover starting from 1st June 2024.
- Atlas Tower Group – to discuss the initial contact from Worcestershire County Council (WCC).
Cllr Willingale updated the Councillors on the contact received from WCC. WCC are introducing Atlas Tower Group to local Parishes that have been initially identified as potentially benefitting from improved mobile phone connectivity. A meeting with Atlas is being organised as the next step.
- Annual business as per Standing Orders
- To review the following policies and procedures
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- Balances and Reserves Policy
- Clerk, Parish, Councillor Protocol
- Code of Conduct
- Complaints Procedure
- Disciplinary Procedure
- Equal Opportunities Policy
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It was RESOLVED that no changes were required for the above policies.
- Financial Regulations
It was RESOLVED to adopt the latest NALC Model Financial Regulations (2024).
- GDPR Data Privacy Policy
- GDPR Data Protection Policy
- GDPR Data Security Incident Procedure
- Grievance Procedure
- Press and Media Policy
- Protocol for Planning Site Visits
- Publication Scheme
- Retention Policy
- Risk Management Policy and Risk Register
- Standing Orders
- Training and Development Policy
It was RESOLVED that no changes were required for the above policies.
Clerk suggested that AMPC consider creating a Grants policy. Clerk will produce a draft policy for consideration.
- To review insurance, risk and assets
- Risk Management Policy and Risk Register
- Insurance cover
- Inventory of Assets
It was RESOLVED that no changes were required to the above documents.
- To review appointment to committees, working groups and external bodies
- Village Hall Committee
It was RESOLVED to appoint Cllr Allum as the Parish Council representative to the Village Hall Committee.
- To review the meeting schedule for the year ahead
It was RESOLVED to hold six scheduled meetings per year starting at 8:00PM on the fourth Thursday of alternate months.
- Finance
- 2023-24 Accounts: To consider and approve the end of year accounts.
It was RESOLVED to approve the 2023/24 end of year accounts and bank reconciliation.
- Certificate of Exemption: To self-certify exemption from external audit.
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council had met the requirements to certify itself exempt from external audit and the certificate was duly signed.
- Annual Internal Audit Report: To consider and approve.
The internal auditor’s report for 2023/24 was considered and it was noted that there were no recommendations requiring attention.
- Annual Governance Statement: To consider and approve.
The Annual Governance Statement for 2023/24 was considered and it was RESOLVED that each statement had been achieved and it was duly signed.
- Accounting Statements: To consider and approve.
The Accounting Statements for 2023/24 were considered and it was RESOLVED to approve, and it was duly signed.
- Bank mandate: To review bank signatory arrangements.
It was RESOLVED that the current bank signatory arrangements were satisfactory.
- 2024-25 Budget expenditure: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.
- 2024-25 Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
- Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
- Kerry Williamson (salary and expenses): £599.49
- Carl Brassington (Lengthsman): £340.00
- Local Council’s Insurance: £214.00
- Iain Selkirk (internal audit): £120.00
- Worcestershire CALC (annual subscription): £112.77
- Abbots Morton Village Hall booking: £33.75
- Graham Hobbs (Village planters): £125.00
Cllr Willingale proposed that an additional payment was made to Graham Hobbs to cover his petrol costs for the work he regularly does on the Village planters and purchasing plants. It was AGREED to increase his payment to £125. It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices via internet banking.
- Clerk’s Delegation: To note the following payments made between meetings:
- 15/03/2024 – Martyn Walton (Food expenses from Christmas Tree Lighting event): £66.50
- 25/03/2024 – Martin Willingale (Replacement Queen’s Jubilee plaque): £98.25
- 02/05/2024 – Defibs.co.uk (Replacement pads for the defibrillator): £209.95
The above payments, made between scheduled meetings, were noted.
- Correspondence
- Worcestershire CALC: Minutes of the Quarterly Meeting of the Wychavon Area.
The above minutes from CALC were noted.
- Worcestershire CALC: CALC invoice.
The above invoice from CALC was noted.
- Worcestershire CALC: New Model Financial Regulations.
The above updated Financial Regulations from CALC were noted and adopted under agenda item 11.1.8.
- Wychavon District Council: Community Ownership Fund
The above communication from Wychavon District Council was noted.
- Worcestershire County Council: Digitalisation of the Parish Lengthsman Dashboard.
The above communication from Worcestershire County Council was noted.
- Worcestershire County Council: Atlas Tower Group.
The above communication from Worcestershire County Council was noted and discussed under agenda item 10.2.
- Worcestershire County Council: Fallen Footpath Sign.
The above communication from Worcestershire County Council was noted and discussed under agenda item 8.2.
- West Mercia Police: Parish Priorities Charter Q2.
The above communication was noted.
- Zurich Insurance: Policy renewal.
The above communication was noted and discussed under agenda item 10.1.
- PKF Littlejohn: 2023/23 AGAR External Auditor Instructions.
The above communication from PKF Littlejohn was noted.
- Age UK: Evesham Computer Café.
The above communication from Age UK was noted. The Clerk had forwarded this to the Village Coffee morning organisers.
- Abbots Morton Resident: Co-option Enquiry.
The above communication from an Abbots Morton resident was noted.
- Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda: To provide an opportunity for councillors to report minor matters of information not included elsewhere on the agenda and to raise items for future meetings. Councillors are respectfully reminded that this is not an opportunity for debate or decision making.
Cllr Walton suggested a mid-year Village event on the Green. Cllr Walton will purchase and plant some bulbs on the Village Green (receipt to be sent to Clerk for reimbursement).
- Date of the next meeting.
The next scheduled meeting is at 8:00PM on Thursday 25th July 2024.
Meeting closed at 9:13pm