Council Meeting, 27 May 2015

HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES
Of a meeting of the Council held in the Reading Room, Helmdon, at 7.30pm on Wednesday 27 May 2015.
PRESENT: Cllrs Coatsworth, Adhemar, Duncombe, Garner, Hart, Moody, Vicars, Wheeler.
IN ATTENDANCE: Simon Loake (Clerk)
1) APOLOGIES There were none
2) DECLARATIONS of INTEREST: There were none.
3) MINUTES It was proposed by Cllr Adhemar, 2nd Cllr Duncombe, and agreed, that the minutes of the meetings held on 25 March and 31 March be accepted as true records of the meetings. The minutes were signed by the chairman
4) MATTERS ARISING
a) Further to the quotation received for plans to improve the access to the pump garden, the clerk was instructed to obtain full plans for this.
b) The clerk stated that he had included comments on the prevention of rats in with the invoices to allotment holders, suggesting that the removal of the food source is the best way to remove the problem It was reported that a resident’s cat had died after eating a poisoned rat.
c) Flooding: Cllr Coatsworth explained the background of this matter for the benefit of new councillors. The current situation is that Bulkhead Properties, Anglian Water and the Timms family have agreed that the situation can be improved by extending the ditch and going under the road.
Bulkhead and the Timms family are to be invited to meet to resolve the situation d) Posts in Wappenham Road: The Clerk has invited Western Power to meet Councillors on 3 June to examine the relevant posts. Cllrs Duncombe, Vicars and Hart all agreed to attend e) Transfer of land in Station Road There has been no further progress, but the Clerk reported that he had been approached by SNH concerning a small piece of land at The Green, which SNH would also like to transfer to the Parish Council
5) SCHOOL DRAINAGE PROJECT: Cllr Hart gave an update of the situation, and explained the background for the benefit of new councillors. It was proposed by Cllr Garner, 2nd by Cllr Duncombe, and agreed, that there should be a meeting between Councillors and Clare Hedley to clarify the terms of the contract and the title to the project. This will be attended by Cllrs Moody, Vicars and Hart.
6) FINANCE REPORT: The Clerk presented the Finance Report for the month of April, a copy of which is attached to the file copy of these minutes.
b) It was noted that the first tranche of the precept has been received.
c) The Clerk reported that, although there had been publicity on the website, in the Voice, and he had emailed organisations that had applied in previous years, there had been very little response to the offer of grants to village organisations. It was proposed by Cllr Moody, 2nd Cllr Hart, that the application deadline should be extended, and if there were still few responses, those that were received should be approved, and the unclaimed balance be rolled over to next year. It was suggested that the footpath warden be approached to apply for funding for improvements.
d) The payments listed by the Clerk were noted. It was agreed that payment should not be made until the new bank account is operative. The form to transfer funds from the Cooperative Ban to Unity
Trust has been submitted.
e) It has previously been agreed that all members of the finance committee should be cheque signatories. The Clerk was authorised to obtain the forms for new members of the Finance
Committee.
7) CORRESPONDENCE: The correspondence was reviewed. A list of the correspondence is attached to the file copy of these minutes

8) OPEN FORUM
a) A member of the public commented that flooding was problematic in other areas, and he was nervous about the efficacy of the current project.
b) There was an enquiry about placing items on the village noticeboard. Mr England had previously done this, but now that he has retired, it was agreed that Cllr Wheeler should have a key to the noticeboards. Cllr Coatsworth also has a key.
9) COUNCILLOR QUESTIONS:
a) In answer to a question from Cllr Moody, the Clerk reported that the Internal Audit would take place on 16 June.
b) Cllr Garner enquired about the empty house in Church Street which belongs to South Northants
Homes. The Clerk is to contact SNH concerning this.
c) It was noted that there is still a vacancy for a Councillor. The Clerk is to publicise the vacancy
There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.10pm