Council Meeting, 23 March 2022

HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES
of the meeting of Helmdon Parish Council, held in the Reading Room, Church
Street, Helmdon on 23 March 2022 at 7:30pm.
Present: Cllrs Bearman, Garner (Vice-Chair), Gray, Harris, Marchant, Moody
(Chair), Plunkett, Wheeler and Charmaine Jay (Clerk)
In attendance: 3 members of the public
1.
To receive and approve apologies for absence
No apologies received
2.
Declarations of Interest
Cllr Bearman expressed an interest in item 8b
3.
To approve for signature the minutes of the council meeting held on
23 February 2022
RESOLVED: That the minutes be signed without amendment.
4.
Matters arising
None.
5.
Open forum
•
•
Interest was expressed in Item 9 that the tree chosen for the
Queen’s Green Canopy is suitable for the location.
It was voiced that due to energy prices inflating- would Helmdon
Parish Council be able to support residents of Helmdon. This will be on the agenda for the next meeting.
6. To receive an update on the proposed development on Priory Field and agree next steps
Helmdon Parish Council cannot support the development on Priory Field as proposed.
RESOLVED: To delegate authority to the clerk to respond to any further communications regarding Priory Field having consulted the Priory Farm
Working Group.
7. To receive an update from HS2 liaison officer from recent meetings
Cllr Marchant expressed concern that Acorn’s pre-school and Helmdon Primary
School may be adversely impacted due to the closure of Radstone Road.
Cllr Marchant is awaiting dates for future meetings.
8. Finance a. To receive the financial report and consider invoices to be paid
RESOLVED: That the following bills be approved for payment:
Payee
Northants CALC
Invoice number
1851
Pathfinder Legal
239195
Purpose
Charmaine Jay’s
New Clerks Course
Correspondence and Land Registry
Total
Amount
£185.00
£81.40
£266.40
b. To receive the recommendations of the Finance Committee in respect of grants to be awarded to village groups and organisations
RESOLVED: All recommendations of the Finance Committee for all small grant scheme applications were approved.
Organisation
Purpose of Grant
Amount
Helmdon Fellowship
Assist with the cost of a meal for the Queens
Jubilee
£250
Helmdon Guides
To take the girls on a camp and a fun day out for the Queens Jubilee
£250
Helmdon Rainbows
To renew equipment and an ice skating trip
£250
Helmdon Bridge Players
To invest in new equipment for performances
£250
Helmdon Brownies
Towards a camping trip
£250
Helmdon Local Studies
Group
Towards a exhibition in
November
£250
TOTAL
£1500.00
c. To consider purchasing accounting software to manage the council’s accounts
RESOLVED: To purchase the Scribe Accounts package and to start using it from 1 April 2022.
d. To approve Charmaine Jay to attend Year-end accounts & audit course for the cost of £30.00
RESOLVED: For Charmaine Jay to attend Year-end accounts & audit course for the cost of £30.00.
9.
To consider a specimen tree for Queens Green Canopy
The site visit by Cllrs Moody and Wheeler was carried out. Cllr Moody is gathering more information regarding a suitable tree for the location agreed.
RESOLVED: To note progress and to receive final recommendations at the
April or May meetings.
10.
To receive and update with events around Helmdon for Queens
Platinum Jubilee
A few activities are being looked at by groups in the village, including a street party on Friday 3 June 2022, and the potential illumination of the viaduct.
RESOLVED: To receive an update April meeting
11.To update council with progress of the Asset Mapping Project (AMP)
The Asset Mapping Project working group have met on Zoom to discuss location of assets in Helmdon.
RESOLVED: The Asset Mapping Project working group is meeting on
Wednesday 30 March 2022 to finalise assets.
12.To approve the proposal received from Zeta Lighting for the replacement of all streetlights in Helmdon
Cllr Moody explained the payment options for replacing the streetlights.
RESOLVED: To accept the quote from Zeta Lighting to replace all streetlights, and to pay for the works from general reserves (to be replenished over the next few years from the precept). Clerk to instruct
Zeta Lighting to carry out the work as soon as possible.
13. To receive an update on Station Road working group
The Station Road working group reported on the discussions held so far.
RESOLVED: Station Road working group to get in touch with Helen Howard at Northamptonshire Highways to discuss options.
14. To set a date for village litter pick
RESOLVED: That the date of the litter pick would be Sunday 3 April 2022 at
10am. Clerk to organise equipment.
15. To agree expenditure on bulbs for 2022
RESOLVED: That expenditure on bulbs for 2022 would be up to £50.
16. To consider Annual Parish Meeting and Council Meeting in April 2022
RESOLVED: To have presentations at the Annual Parish Meeting on HS2
and on the creation of an environmental group.
17. Close
RESOLVED: To close the meeting (21.20)