£62

EVERDON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Full Council held on

Thursday 11 October 2007

Present

Chairman

Vice-Chairman

Councillor

Clerk to the Council

Mr. P Neville

Mr K A Nichols

Mrs JL Clark

Mrs B Dugdale

Mrs J Pratt

Mrs E Fothergill

(KN)

(PN)

(JC)

(BD)

(JP)

(EF)

Apologies for Absence

District Councillor

County Councillor

Councillor

Mr. D Jeyes

Mrs G Ogden

Mr R Graves

Mr. MF Pell

Mr TC Beer

(DJ)

(GO)

(RG)

(MP)

(TB)

Declarations of Interest

No prejudicial or personal interests were declared.

Minutes

The minutes for 3 and 27 September 2007 were signed as a true record of the meetings.

3.1

3.2

Matters Arising

Access to Mrs Balderston’s Property – PN advised that Atkins were not interested in adopting the above road. It was resolved to write to Mrs Balderson and her immediate neighbours to advise them that the access road will have to be resurfaced as a private venture between them.

Proposed Changes to the Postal Service

We have not had feedback from Rhona about the proposed changes. It was decided that any committee member should ask Rhona for an update when they see her.

PN/

ALL

3.3

Funding for Community Projects - 2008

A grant of approximately £1000 will be made available by the County Councillor Mrs Gina Ogden during 2008. Residents to be requested in the next newsletter to submit their proposals for project/s to benefit.

Highway Matters

4.1

4.2

Stagecoach

EF to contact Mark Butler, Operations Manager of Stagecoach Northampton to find out whether he had heard anything from Northamptonshire County Council about our request for an early morning service from Everdon to Daventry to connect with the Northampton services. EF also to mention that there was also a requirement for a late afternoon service to connect with the bus returning to Daventry from Moulton College as students presently have to find their own way.

Grass Verge Outside Manor House

We have photographic evidence of the vehicles responsible for causing the damage to the grass verge outside the Manor House. Once it has been digitally enhanced so that the registration number can be read, culprits will be approached.

4.3

4.4

Kerbing the Green

It was decided that the cost of kerbing the green should be provided for in the budget.

State of Steps

PN to liaise with Atkins to find out when the steps will be repaired.

4.5

Pigeon Gap

The Chairman reported that, upon investigation, it was found that the drains seemed to have either been broken and thereby didn't comprise a properly connected system, or that they were so old that they had been merely connected to separate soakaways. We were advised that there were no funds to sort it out this financial year but that it would be budgeted for 2008. It was resolved to ask our District Councillor to apply pressure to ensure this is done.

4.6

Fawsley Road

It was reported that signs had been erected to deter trucks from using this road. This will be investigated and their effectiveness monitored.

ALL

4.7

ABB – Repair of Lamp Posts

The Clerk reported that she approached our insurers Allianz. They will cover the cost of repair subject to an excess payment of £125.

Correspondence

5.1

Town & Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 – “Request for a Scoping Opinion in respect of a Windfarm on Land East of Charwelton”

It was decided that the Chairman and Clerk would respond saying that although we recognise and support the need for alternative methods of power generation, the proposed windfarm should not be built in special landscape areas, nor should lattice towers and overhead lines blot the landscape.

PN /EF

5.2

Northamptonshire Association of Local Councils – Nomination and Annual Meeting

The Clerk tabled letters from Northamptonshire Association of Local Councils inviting nominations and attendance at the annual meeting to be held on 17 October 2007.

5.3

Christmas Tree Recycling

Daventry District Council requested that we arrange a community collection point for Xmas trees. The committee decided to nominate the village green.

5.4

West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy – key issues and options for Northants area.

The Chairman attended a workshop on the above. Although initial indications were that 8000 extra houses were planned for Daventry and surrounding areas, this includes houses built since 2001 and will continue until 2026. As a conservation village it is unlikely to have much impact on Everdon, apart from limited infill. More information and questionnaires are available on the website http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk.

All

5.5

Daventry District Council (DDC) – New Education and Enforcement Officer

Mr. Hugh Bunker wrote to the Council to say he had been appointed to the above position. He stated that he and his colleague Emma Yoxen would like to visit the parish to meet with local residents and council representative to discuss to discuss their strategy.

5.6

Daventry District Council wrote to advise that they would be hosting a Climate Friendly Workshop at the East Midlands EXPO on 16 October between 10:00 and 12:00.

Planning

Reference No.

Address

Description

Comments

DA/2007/1046

Club Cottage, High St, Everdon NN11 3BL

Consent for replacement of front gates with picket style gates and post

Supported

DA/2007/1063

St Mary’s Church, High St, Everdon NN11 3BL

Work to trees within a conservation area

Supported

Clerk’s Report

7.1

BDO External Audit

The Clerk tabled a letter from our external auditors, BDO. Their only recommendation was that we review our risk assessment which will be done in February 2008. Audited accounts are now available for viewing.

7.2

Membership of the Society of Local Council Clerks

The Council approved the Clerk’s membership to the above society. It will be beneficial as it will provide the clerk with access to an advisory service and network to consult about day-to-day problems encountered as well as legal matters.

Councillors’ Reports

8.1

Winter Newsletter

The Clerk was requested to write to contributors requesting that articles for the newsletter by submitted by end November.

EF/

8.2

Everdon Village Hall

A statement of accounts for the year ending 19 June 2007 showing a balance of £9,422.48 was tabled.

Finance

9.1

Approval of Payments

Cheque No	Payee	Amount	Description
883	Cancelled
884	Powergen	£83.25	Electricity
885	ABB	£69.48	Public lighting maintenance
886	British Legion	£16.50	Poppy Appeal - wreath
887	BDO	£164.50	Annual external audit
888	Soc. Local Council Clerks	£61.00	Annual membership

10.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting is to be held at 7.00pm on Tuesday 6th November 2007 in the Village Hall.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.00pm