Stanhoe Parish Council

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting

Held on Thursday, 9th July 2015 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room

Clerk to the Council – , tel 01485 518409

Present:

Mr. T. Austin (TA)
Mrs. R. Brown (RB)
Mr. M. Roche (MR)

Absent:

Mr. D. Bridge (DB)
Mr. D. Lord (DL)
Mrs. J. Lord (JL)
Mr. A. Upton (AU)

Four members of the public were present.

1. To consider apologies for absence

Apologies were received and accepted from all absentees. Absence was due to illness or pre-arranged holiday commitments.

2. To consider approval of Minutes from meetings held on 30th April and 19th May

These were all passed and signed by the chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed

No declarations made.

4. To adjourn the meeting to allow public participation

Two items were raised by those present; a) overgrown hedges on Station Road and b) the grass around Cross Lane pond. Item a) would be dealt with under Item 11 on the Agenda. Item b) It was agreed that the parish council would undertake responsibility for the cutting of the grass around Cross Lane pond. This had previously been done voluntarily by a resident who had now moved from Cross Lane.

5. SNAP Report

TA had no report for councillors as the latest scheduled SNAP meeting had been postponed due to local and parliamentary elections.

6. Standing Orders

Standing Orders for the running of parish council business would be distributed to all new members of the council. Re-elected members already had a copy of this document to which no recent amendments has been made.

7. Emergency Plan

TA distributed an update giving contact details for all new members who would receive a full copy of the plan.

8. Village Pond, geese etc.

The area at the rear of the pond had been tidied. Geese had been aggressive recently, partly due to the ganders protecting nesting areas. A local resident had agreed to take one gander and one silver white female leaving only two females on the pond.

9. Cross Lane pond & willow tree

Three quotations had been obtained for the pruning of the large willow tree and removal of dead wood around the pond area. Prices ranged from £360 to £690 including VAT and were all from fully qualified and insured tree surgeons. It was agreed that, with so few members present, a decision should be postponed until the next meeting in September. The companies concerned would be notified and asked to hold their prices until that time.

10. Traffic & speed signs

This item had been tabled by AU who was absent due to illness so would be tabled again at the next meeting.

11. Trees & hedges

This item was also tabled by AU and like Item 10 would be tabled again at the next meeting, however, it was agreed to discuss item a) raised by a member of the public present. Overgrown hedges from properties on one side of Station Road were causing problems for some residents when exiting their driveways in cars. It was difficult to see if any other vehicles were approaching from the Docking Road end. The council agreed to contact those concerned and ask for hedges to be trimmed although this could not be done until after the end of July when there was no risk of damaging nesting birds.

12. Dogs on the playing field

There was an ongoing problem of dogs being exercised on the playing field and owners not picking up dog mess. MR agreed that the MEHM Trust would look again at existing signs prohibiting dogs and consider erecting more or different signs. It was pointed out that the rough area along the edge of the field, adjacent to Cross Lane, was available for dog walkers provided they removed dog mess. The possibility of an additional dog waste bin would be considered at the next meeting.

13. Repairs to the shed beside the village hall

This work was being undertaken by the MEHM Trust. MR agreed to chase up the carpenter who was due to carry out the repairs.

14. Financial Report & approvals of payments

The clerk distributed reports on Income & Expenditure, Budget to date and Bank statements for consideration by members. No queries were raised. Approval was given for the payment of the following:

  • Repairs to playground equipment
  • Training course for new councillors
  • Clerk’s salary
  • Payment of PAYE tax deducted from clerk’s salary to HMRC

15. To receive items for the next Agenda – meeting of 10th September 2015

The following items were agreed:

  • Churchyard maintenance
  • Cross Lane pond & willow tree
  • Traffic & speed signs (AU- postponed)
  • Trees & hedges (AU- postponed)
  • Dogs on playing field
  • Post box on Bircham Road
  • Standing Orders & review of Financial Regulations
  • Emergency Plan
  • Dates & times of meetings for 2016

No other matters were discussed and the meeting closed at 8.05pm.