Annual Parish Meeting – 13th May 2015
GREAT LONGSTONE
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2015
Present: Cllr Wendy Long, Cllr Phil Barrett, Cllr Caroline Briggs, Cllr James Cox, Cllr Peter Thompson and Sarah Stokes (Clerk). 5 parishioners and UTE.
The Chair opened the meeting at 7.05 pm.
1. Apologies for absence.
There were no apologies for absence.
2. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting Wednesday 14th May 2014.
The minutes were proposed by Cllr Thompson and seconded by Cllr Briggs.
3. Chairs report. The Chairs report highlighted the tennis court up date; land registration of village greens; progress towards digital broadband and defibrillator machine in the phone box; issuing of a TRO to Leas Lane/Cherpit and a thank you to those paid and unpaid for their contribution to the running of the village.
4. Matters raised by persons on the electoral roll.
4.1 Land registration of village greens. Residents enquired into the land registration of the village greens and the area in front of the White Lion with regards to being part of that, which had been registered. This area which has White Lion benches, being part of the highway, a right of way. Robinsons wouldn’t have to cross the corner in front of Harrow House, if traffic could pass through and park there. It was stated that the said area was part of the highway in the mid 70’s.Cars parking on the village green and the amount of traffic in the village parking everywhere was highlighted.
The PC confirmed that the area in front of the White Lion is not one of the ‘six pieces of land’ registered as village greens.
4.2 Litter. Residents showed concern over the amount of litter in grass verges, for example Moor Rd and in particular on the play area, within the pirate ship and jumbolander. (photos were shown to the PC). Parents not picking up litter. Residents stated that the PC should pay someone to pick up the litter.
4.3 Salting of pavements A resident stated how horrendous the state of the footways were in the snow/ice. The PC must care for the old people and should pay for this to be salted.
The PC confirmed that the footways are ‘highways’ not PC.
4.4 Councillor Twigg. A resident enquired if the Councillor had been sent agendas/minutes as they can be useful in getting jobs done.
The PC confirmed that the former Cllr had been sent the above, but had retired from their position in May. No further information had been given on a replacement. A Cllr stated that contacts have been formed with DDDC/DCC and the Clerk with regards to getting jobs done.
4.5 Finances. Residents asked for the new accounts to go on the website and concern over the precept figures going up by a different % each year, with the average for other villages being 1.5%. Resident 2 asked why more detailed financial information isn’t listed in the website, as it was in 2011. Money should be spent on litter picking. The question of why there is so much money in ‘reserves’ was asked.
The PC confirmed that the 2% increase equates to 92p per household per year. The PC have not gone through the list of items guessing how much things will go up. The PC went for a 2% increase, allowing for growing costs. A grant is accepted from DDDC to keep costs down, by other Councils. The Clerk confirmed that the accounts have only just been produced and that all the financial information that is required to be on the website is on the website. It was also confirmed that at each meeting the incomes/expenditures are detailed for all to see. Reserves are kept for unforeseen circumstances such as the village hall.
The Chair stated that the points have been noted and will act upon if action can be taken.
The meeting was closed at 7.32pm
Sarah Stokes, Clerk to Great Longstone Parish Council, Longstone Byre, Little Longstone, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1NN. Tel: 01629 640851 Email:parishcouncil@greatlongstone.net
