Minutes 25 January 2024

Meeting of Abbots Morton Parish Council at 8:00PM on Thursday 25th January 2024 at Abbots Morton Village Hall 

Minutes 01/2024

Present: Martin Willingale (Chair), Martyn Walton, Jacqueline Allum, Nick Humphries & Richard Whitlow.

In attendance: Kerry Williamson (Clerk), Ben Hurdman (District Councillor).

Parishioners: 0

 

  1. Chairman’s welcome and announcements

Cllr Martin Willingale opened the meeting.

 

  1. Apologies for absence

Karen Brighton (Councillor) & Colin Pemberton (Village Hall Committee).

 

  1. Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial Interest
  • Register of Interests

Noted.

  • Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Nil declared.

  • Other Disclosable Interests

Cllr Martin Willingale declared a personal interest in item 6.2 as he lives opposite the application site.

  • Dispensations

It was RESOLVED to grant a dispensation to Cllr Martin Willingale to allow participation, but not voting on item 6.2.

 

  1. Open Session

The meeting was adjourned for the open session.

  • District Councillors

Cllr Ben Hurdman gave the following report:

Cllr Ben Hurdman commented on The Chalet application refusal stating that the refusal was very comprehensive which is good for any future applications. He reminded the Council that the Community Legacy Grant applications are now open. As an example, Cookhill have had a successful application for a CLG for a wild and sensory woodland.

  • County Councillor

No report was available.

  • Village Hall Committee

The following written report had been received:

Abbots Morton Village Hall Committee Report to Parish Council meeting 25th January 2024

 The main news is that a Tai Chi class is beginning at the hall for a six-week trial period from February 21st to March 27th.

The classes will be on Wednesday mornings between 10am and 11am. They’re being run by Andrew Lowe from Inkberrow, a retired nurse who is beginning this new venture. Classes will cost £11 each or £60 for a six-week booking.   If there is a good take-up for the six-week trial, it is likely to become permanent. Andrew will be coming to the February 6th Community Coffee Morning at the hall to talk about his classes and answer any questions. The Coffee Morning, as always, runs from 10-12 noon and is absolutely free.

Events:

  1. Living History Part Two? After the success of the “Evening with Doris Gisbourne and Friends” last summer, the Committee wasn’t sure if there’s an appetite for a follow-on session…but if there is a call for it from the community it can be arranged.
  2. Guest speakers: Would people like to suggest any personalities who we can book to entertain us? 
  3. Quiz night: The committee has also asked if there is anyone in the community who would like to run a Quiz Night. There’s been no response, but again, if anyone comes forward it will be arranged.

 More trustees needed:  Once again, the committee appeals for fresh faces to come onto the Village Hall Management Committee. There are just five at the moment, Lynne and Colin Pemberton, Pat and Martin Willingale and Sarah Dykes. Sarah will soon be leaving the parish although she will continue as our Treasurer electronically. Being a Trustee of this charity is not arduous and it is very rewarding to be part of running and maintaining this fabulous community space. Volunteers step forward please.

Maintenance: We have resolved an electrical issue which knocked out the heating over Christmas…and we are currently looking at whether we need some fresh gravel on the car park.

AGM: The AGM will be held here a week on Thursday Feb 8th at 7pm.  We would love to see a decent proportion of the people who live here and use the hall to come along… and get elected onto the committee!

                       -PRO & Bookings Officer Colin Pemberton

 

  • Footpaths Officer

No report available.

  • Public participation

0 parishioners in attendance.

The meeting resumed following the open session.

 

  1. To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 23rd November 2023

It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record, and they were duly signed by the Chair.

 

  1. Planning: To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Wychavon District Council:
  • W/22/00711/FUL & W/22/00968/LB: To receive an 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.

  • W/23/02210/FUL: To receive any update on The Chalet, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton. Demolition of existing workshop and storage yard and erection of 2 residential dwellings and associated infrastructure.

Application has been refused by Wychavon District Council.

 

  1. Public Rights of Way and Highways
  • PROW maintenance and obstruction issues: To consider and review.

Footpath sign has fallen down at the junction to the village. Clerk to report to Worcestershire County Council.

  • Lengthsman Scheme: To receive an update and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule.

Update from Lengthsman received.

  • Flooding: Update on the flooding issues within the Parish.

Cllr Martin Willingale reported that the break in the underground pipe has been fixed. When speaking to the contractors they said that the pipe is probably not big enough. Now need to wait until the next large amount of rainfall to see what occurs with flooding.

 

  1. Progress reports
  • Councillor vacancies

It was noted that there is one vacancy on the Parish Council and enquiries from parishioners were welcomed.

  • Neighbourhood Watch

Cllr Karen Brighton was unable to attend the meeting, so no update was available.

  • Lighting of the Christmas Tree

Cllr Martin Willingale reported that the event was brilliant, and the Christmas Tree looked great. Councillors thanked Cllr Martyn Walton for his efforts in organising the successful event. £255 of donations was collected to put towards the cost of the Christmas Tree – this has been paid into the Parish Council account by Cllr Martin Willingale. Councillors expressed their thanks to Sarah Dykes for her great effort in collecting donations on the night.

 

  1. Parish matters for discussion/decision
  • Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Tree Plaque

It was RESOLVED that the Council will purchase a replacement plaque. Cllr Martin Willingale suggested a stainless-steel alternative which was AGREED on. It was AGREED that the Lengthsman should be asked to cut around the replacement plaque, so it is not damaged again. Clerk to ask Lengthsman to add this to his work schedule.

  • Biodiversity Policy Requirement

It was RESOLVED to adopt the model NALC Biodiversity policy.

  • Design Code Consultation

Design code consultation document discussed and no feedback to be provided.

  • Local Government Boundary Commission Draft Report

Draft recommendations discussed and no feedback to be provided.

  • Parish Policing Priorities

It was RESOLVED to keep the policing priorities the same for Q1 – flytipping, wildlife crime and police response.

 

  1. Finance
  • Budget and Precept 2024/25: Update to be provided.

Clerk reported that the precept request had been submitted.

  • Business savings account: Update to be provided.

Clerk reported that the business savings account had been opened.

  • Internal Auditor: To consider the appointment of an Internal Auditor to review the 2023/24 accounts.

It was RESOLVED to appoint Iain Selkirk as the internal auditor to review the 2023/24 accounts.

  • Budget expenditure: To consider and approve.

It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.

  • Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve.

It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.

  • Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
    • Kerry Williamson (December and January salary and expenses): £585.09
    • Carl Brassington (Lengthsman): £280
    • Abbots Morton Village Hall booking: £27
    • Wychavon District Council (Dog foul bin annual charge): £110.24
    • Society for Local Council Clerks (SLCC) (Clerk’s annual membership): £72

It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices. Clerk to set up the payments to then be authorised by Cllr Willingale.

  • Clerk’s Delegation: To note the following payments made between meetings:
    • Leigh Sinton Farm & Nurseries Ltd (Christmas Tree): £360

The above payment was NOTED.

 

  1. Correspondence
  • Worcestershire CALC: Agenda for the Quarterly Meeting of the Wychavon Area of CALC.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire CALC: County Council.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire CALC: CALC Update 23-12.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire CALC: Natural Networks Funding for your Project.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Wychavon District Council: Parish and Town Council News – December 2023.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Wychavon District Council: Project Funding – Wychavon Rural Fund Now Open.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Wychavon District Council: Merry Christmas from the Chairman

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Wychavon District Council: Save the Date – Wychavon District Council Civic Service.

The above correspondence was NOTED and sent to Cllr Martin Willingale.

  • Wychavon District Council: 2024/25 Tax Base.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Wychavon District Council: Latest News

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Wychavon District Council: Design Code Consultation

The above correspondence was NOTED and covered in item 9.3.

  • Wychavon District Council: 2024 Wychavon Community Legacy Grants – Expression of Interests Open

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire County Council: Drainage Works Update.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire County Council: Other Road or Pavement Report (38052).

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire County Council: Parish Council Concerns.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire County Council: 5 Day Notice – Road Closure – Abbots Morton.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): Updated Information Confirmation.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Evesham Volunteer Centre: Community Car Scheme.

The above correspondence was NOTED. Clerk forwarded to Colin Pemberton for the Community coffee mornings.

  • Local Government Boundary Commission: Worcestershire – DR – Stakeholders.

The above correspondence was NOTED and covered in item 9.4.

 

  1. Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda

None.

 

  1. Date of the next meeting

The next scheduled meeting was changed to 8:00PM on Thursday 14th March 2024 due to a number of Councillors being unavailable on 21st March 2024, and the possibility of not being quorate.

 

The meeting closed at 8.44PM.

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