Given below are the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the above parish council held at Cherry Tree Communal Room, Allington on 12 May 2015. The meeting commenced at 7.34pm.
PRESENT: Cllrs Lathey, Bowditch, Wrighton, Gay and Beer, 3 members of the public. Mrs A Stephenson recorded the minutes.
1. APOLOGIES
Don McAllister
2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The current Chairman stood down whilst the read out the below:
a) CHAIRMAN – As there had been no applications received for Chairman, Mr. Lathey was asked to be re-elected for another term of office. Cllr. Bowditch proposed Cllr. Lathey be re-elected as Chairman, Cllr. Wrighton seconded the proposal. ALL AGREED. Cllr. Lathey agreed he would be happy to stand and therefore duly signed the Declaration of Office notice.
b) VICE CHAIRMAN – As no-one had come forward to be Vice Chairman for the following year, Cllr. Wrighton said she would be happy to stand for another year. Cllr. Lathey proposed Mrs Wrighton be elected as Vice Chairman. Cllr. Bowditch seconded. Cllr. Wrighton duly signed the Declaration of Office notice.
c) Councillors in other roles agreed to carry these on for another year (Ancient Monuments Officer – Cllr. Lathey, Trees & Footpaths Officer &Woodland Trust Play Area Rep – Cllr. Bowdtich). Don McAllister was happy to carry on with his role as Cherry Tree Play Area Supervisor although not present.
d) CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLOR
Ian Gay was proposed by Cllr Bowditch and Seconded by Cllr Beer.
All Councillors present signed the Declaration Of Office notice.
3. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS INTERESTS
Cllr Bowditch in item 9
4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The Chairman asked if everyone had both received and read the minutes of last years annual meeting, if so, were they a true record. ALL AGREED. The minutes were duly signed and dated.
5. MATTERS ARISING
None
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
7. FINANCE REPORT
The account balance was read out to Councillors and as usual all books were on the table for any member of the public to read.
a) 0.25p in Interest had been received on the Current account, the balance of ordinary account now stands at £7,676.45 as the first half of the Precept had also been received at £5,500. The savings at £20,574.12 with interest of £7.69
b) Review of Clerk’s salary – Proposed by Cllr Bowditch to put it up one scale point to point 24 which would mean an increase of £8 a month to 3268, Seconded by Cllr Gay
c) The following S137 payment was authorised by the council: Allington Hillbillies £1,000 This was proposed by Cllr Lathey and seconded by Cllr Gay .
Donation to PCC Dotter for £320 Proposed by Cllr Lathey and Seconded by Cllr Bowditch
The following S142 payment was authorised by the council: Citizens Advice Bureau £1,250. This was proposed by Cllr. Lathey and seconded by Cllr. Gay
d) Cheques for approval and signing were for £258.80 for Clerks wage, HMRC £9.20, Leigh Hansford for internal audit £10, and cheques as above.
f) Internal Audit had been undertaken. All was found to be present and correct. It was proposed to accept this by Cllr Lathey and seconded by Cllr Bowditch.
g) The External Audit has been completed by the Clerk and was handed to all Councillors to view. It was proposed by Cllr. Lathey and seconded by Cllr. Bowditch to approve Section 1 – Statement of Accounts, Section 2 – Annual Governance Statement. It was noted that all the answers to Section 2 were Yes other than where they were not applicable. This was agreed and accepted by all.
8. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
None
9. COOPERS WOOD
The Volunteer Group have replaced chippings where needed around the play equipment. With a local farmers help they have also placed chippings along the top of Coopers Field.
It was asked if storage issues could again be looked at. Clerk suggested a pre-planning meeting with the planning department
Parish Council confirmed that we cannot stop people cycling on the hill. Grass cutting for the summer – could the parish council in theory supply funding so the group can manage the cutting of the hill more effectively. In theory this would be ok as long as it wasnt going to cost any more than how much it cost to cut the grass last year.
Various events being held soon.
10. CHERRY TREE PLAY AREA REPORT
All fine – no Don present
11. WOODLAND TRUST PLAY AREA
All fine. Cllr Bowditch has repaired some of the wooden slats. Would like to explore the option of a new sit on mower as current small mower needs replacing. Cllr Bowditch to bring prices to future meeting.
12. CORRESONDENCE
Various correspondence which were all available to read.
13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date of the next meeting will be 9 June 2015
Meeting closed at 8.17pm.