MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ALSTONEFIELD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2007 AT THE VILLAGE HALL, ALSTONEFIELD

 

Present:  Cllr Lake (in the Chair), Cllr N Beloe, Cllr B Hammond, Cllr S Fowler

Also Present:  Mr F Lipp, Mr N Peat, Mrs Binfield (Clerk)

Unless otherwise stated, all actions resulting from the meeting and minuted below, were proposed, seconded and  then agreed by all councillors present. 

Correspondence In – Action Required

1.                  Annual Audit – the acting clerk, having resigned and with no evidence of an audit extension having been agreed, Cllr Lake and Mrs Binfield to liaise with the Audit Commission and Shenstone’s (a best practice Parish) Clerk, to progress the audit with all speed. Also to investigate the Shenstone administrative systems.

 

2.                  Parish Vacancies – Mr F. Lipp, Mr N. Peat and Mrs C. Reavy (in her absence) all formally co-opted to serve as councillors with immediate effect.

 

3.                  Freedom of Information Correspondence – the Clerk to investigate the David Knox letter of 24th April 2007 to ascertain where the problem (if any) still lies and follow-up as necessary.

 

4.                  Village Greens Status –  ratification of report recommendations by Staffordshire C.C. imminent, up-date to next meeting.

 

Financial Matters – Action Required

5.                  Cheques – all cheque signing suspended until the necessary bank signatory changes are in place.

 

6.                  Invoice – 27/07/2007-31/08/2007 – £189.39 – from Mr B Ross, Lengthman, approved for payment.

 

7.                  Invoice – 01/07/2007-31/08/2007 – £135.00 – from Mrs Binfield, Clerk, approved for payment.

 

8.                  Precept – Clerk to clarify the Precept payment situation and, when paid, to pay the next instalment against the Pitts-Tucker payment schedule.

 

9.                  Playing Field Committee Financial Accountability – the Clerk to seek advice from Shenstone.

 

10.              Invoice – Village Hall hire – January-August - £87.50 – approved for payment. Clerk to investigate a negotiated annual rate. 

 

11.              Old School Garden – Cllr Hammond to contact Mr G. Colclough to clarify our tenancy status.

 

Administrative Matters

12.              Draft Minutes – agreed to produce and circulate draft minutes by the fourth day following the meeting. Any comments, matters of fact only, back to the Clerk by five days thereafter.

 

13.              Web Site – the Clerk to liaise with Mr G. Cohen to ensure more effective use, publicising Council policies as these are developed.

 

14.              Financial Governance – the Clerk to ensure all necessary paperwork ready for presentation to the Annual Parish Meeting and the AGM of the Parish Council each year.

 

15.              Open Records Day – Cllr Lake to liaise with County Archivist, PCC and villagers to create an Alstonefield specific exhibition in Spring 2008.

 

16.              Constituency Surgeries – matters for attention: concern re flouting of 30mph speed limit. The Clerk to contact local constabulary, Staffordshire C. C. and Highways to address, variously, lack of dragon’s teeth on the Ashbourne access and to assess the viability of introducing a 30 mph limit to include Hope Dale, Milldale and Stanshope. Village verges and greens maintenance – see item 18.

 

17.              Parish News Letter – Clerk to write letter of appreciation to the organisers.

 

18.              Improving Rural Access to information on district council services – project welcomed – Moorlands Connect Project advised to publicise their plans in the next edition of the newsletter.

 

19.              Lengthman’s Contract – to be reviewed to ensure all district and county duties being properly fulfilled, including outlying areas. All other discretionary work (verges and greens maintenance) to be reviewed – issue to be publicised via newsletter to encourage debate. Mr B Ross, being unable to fulfil his duties temporarily due to illness, a replacement to be advertised for, meanwhile the Parish to be urged to volunteer to maintain verges and greens.

 

20.              Green Well Damage – Cllr Lipp to assess and seek estimate for repair.

 

21.              Lengthman Equipment Service – £80.00 estimate from Mr I. Redfern approved – start Oct/Nov.

 

22.              Homestead Garden – Cllr Beloe to investigate potential as Jolly Green Giant activity area.

 

23.              Play Area Safety Checklist – Playgroup representative check recorded 05/09/2007.

 

24.              Playing Field Committee Status – matter still under review – up-date expected post PFC meeting 03/10/2007. £24,000 of funding available for young people’s development – forms available.

 

Planning Matters – Response Required

25.              Planning Application – NP/SM/0707/0630 – demolition and rebuilding of Lea Green, Lode Lane, Alstonefield.  Council voted to reject application. Letter to Peak Park Authority and SMDC also to address timing issues re receipt of paperwork within the statutory consultation period.

 

Correspondence In – Response Required

26.              Peak Park Parishes Forum Planning Seminar – 10/12/2007 – Cllrs Lipp and Beloe to attend.

 

27.              Letter to Mr A Benton re Lord of the Manor issues thanking him for his interest.

 

28.              Letter to Julie Ford acknowledging submission in support of planning application for Lea Green.

 

29.              Letter to Staffordshire Moorlands Community and Voluntary Services re Wheels to Work Project providing newsletter contact information.

 

Other Matters

30.              Hopedale Replacement Bench – agenda item for next meeting.

 

31.              Date of Next Meeting – 1st November 2007, 7.00pm, Village Hall (committee room).