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Waltham Parish Council

Ordinary Council Meeting – 3rd October 2023

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  1. Agenda
  2. Minutes

Agenda

 

Waltham Parish Council

EST. 1894

Website: https://walthampc.org.uk

TO: ALL MEMBERS OF WALTHAM PARISH COUNCIL.

Councillors are hereby summoned to attend the Ordinary Meeting of the Council on Tuesday the 3rd of  October 2023 commencing at 7.30 pm at Waltham Village Hall for the transaction of the business described in the following Agenda. Supporting documents can be found in an Agenda Pack on the Parish Councils website. Members of the public may make representations, answer questions and give evidence in respect of the business on the agenda during the Public Session (Standing Order 3e).

AGENDA

 

  1. To receive any apologies for absence.

 

  1. To receive Declarations of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests.

 

  1. To approve the minutes of Motions and Resolutions of the meeting held on the 4th of July 2023.

 

  1. To fill the existing casual vacancy by co-opt ion under LGA 1972 s.89(6)

 

  1. Public Session: To receive representations questions and evidence from the public on agenda items.

 

  1. Chairman’s Report. To receive an update on current issues:
  2. Update on ENF.20/00199 Dene Meadow and the CCC response.
  3. Update on progress of the new Parish Website.

 

  1. To receive reports: from County and City Councillors.

 

  1. Financial Matters:
  2. To receive a Quarterly Finance Report for the period 1st  April  to the 30th of September 2023.
  3. To approve a Payment Schedule.

 

  1. Highways Improvement Plan (HIP): To consider  a report on existing HIP priorities and for  future road safety development.

 

  1. 2024-2025 Budget setting process: To consider an initial draft budget for the next financial year.

 

 

  1. Dates of next meeting:

:  The next Ordinary Meeting will be held on Tuesday the 7th of November 2023.

 

Clerk to the Council

 

Minutes

Waltham Parish Council

EST. 1894

https://waltham-pc.gov.uk                                                                                           https://clerk@waltham-pc.gov.uk

Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council held on the 3rd of October 2023 at Waltham Village Hall

In line with the Transparency Code all public documents relating to the meeting are published in an agenda pack on the parish council website at https://waltham-pc.gov.uk

 

Present: Parish Councillors John Barry (Chair), Ben Grillet, John Hockley and Yolande Barnes

Parish clerk Tony McCord.

 

There was one member of the public in attendance.

The meeting commenced at 7.30pm with a welcome and introductions by the Chairman.

23/24.050 Apologies for Absence:

Apologies were received from Cllr Jane Robinson and were accepted. Ward Councillors Alister Brady and Mike Bland also gave their apologies due to other meetings.

23/24.051 Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests:

There were no declarations pertaining to items on the agenda.

23/24.052 Approval of Minutes:

The Chairman requested comments on pages one to five of the minutes. There being no comments on accuracy it was Resolved to approve and the Chairman signed the document as a correct record.                                                                                                            Action: Clerk

 

23/24.053 Co-Option of Councillor:

Having met the criteria under LGA1972s.89(6) Mrs Yolanda Barnes was unanimously approved and co-opted as a Parish Councillor. Cllr Barnes signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office in the presence of Members. The Proper Officer than signed the Declaration.

23/24.054 Public Session:

A member of the public attended to explain the background relating to planning application CA/23/01705 for a dog exercise area at Waddenhall Farm. As Council had not received a request for comment from CCC a Member logged into the CCC Planning Portal and downloaded the details. Having discussed the application, it was Resolved not to object.

Action: Clerk

 

23/24.055 Chairman’s Report:

  1. Update on ENF 20/00199 Dene Meadows. Members noted that Ward Councillor Mike Bland had raised this issue with CCC Planning but was still awaiting a

 

Waltham parish Council had received a holding letter with no detail of planned investigations, and it was felt that this, and problems associated with CA/23/01705, did not reflect the spirit of the Parish Charter agreement between the two authorities. It was Resolved that this should be raised in the forthcoming Charter Review.                                                                                                 Action: Clerk

  1. Update on the new Parish Website. It was noted that the new website was up and running at https://waltham-pc.gov.uk and it was felt to be a significant improvement. Work in the site will continue the transition and update of documents with a review in February/March 2024. The option of having member and clerk photographs was discussed with a consensus that line drawings or avatars would be preferable. Action: Clerk
  2. Transition to a new email provider. This is proving more problematic, with difficulties in registering Members with CPanel webmail. Discussions continue.

Action: Clerk

23/24.056 Reports from County and City Councillors.

County Councillor Mike Sole had posted a report in Waltham Facebook for September 2023, describing his activities as Ward Councillor for Nailbourne Ward and his County Councillor responsibilities. In summary the report covered capacity issues in local bus services; success in installing a 30mph speed limit at Woolage village; aspirations for a similar scheme at Woolage Green; and discussions with the A257 Traffic Group on road safety. Mike’s KCC involvement included support for the Prostate Cancer UK campaign highlighting incontinence, and questioning delays in providing improvements at bus stops for wheelchair users.

 

23/24.057 Financial Matters:

  1. Quarterly Finance Report. Members were presented with a receipts and payments report for the period 1st of April to 30th of September 2023. The Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) indicated that the budget, receipts and payments were as expected halfway through the financial year, with an estimated £6,000 carry forward balance at the 31st of March 2024. A Member pointed out a discrepancy in the 2023/24 budget column (now corrected). Action: RFO
  2. Receipts, Payments and Payments Schedule. A copy of the schedule had been circulated with the agenda pack:
  3. Finance Report 1st of April to 30th of September

 

Balance brought forward 01:04:2023 £9,346.94
Total receipts (including B/F) £19,801.76
Total payments £9,030.01
Cashbook Balance £10,101.75
Unity Trust balance £10,101.75

 

  1. Payment Schedule 1st to 31st of September 2023 Members were advised that invoice no: 365500 had not been processed due to an account number error, hence the

 

Transaction Invoice Invoice Payee Payment Summary Net VAT Gross

 

Number Date Number     Amount   Amount  
23/24.17 18:08:2023 365500 CCC Election Recharge £56.70 – £56.70  
23/24.23 26:09:2023 06 A.S.McCord Salary & Expenses £267.10 – £267.10  
23/24.24 08:07:2023 22-0002 Parish Online Digital Mapping £45.00 £9.00 £54.00  
Total £368.80 £9.00 £377.80  

 

After noting the reports Members Resolved to approve payments, countersigned by the Chairman.                                                            Action: Clerk/RFO

23/24.058 Budget Setting Process 2024/25

Members discussed in detail the first draft of a budget for the next financial year. This assumes a carry forward balance of circa £6,000, a successful capital grant application of

£1,650, and a small precept increase of circa £340 if WPC is to meet any development aspirations in Sustainable Transport, identified as a priority by parishioners in the Parish Plan.

It was Resolved that a second draft be produced for the November meeting., providing receipts and payment inflationary trends over the last three or four years.

NB: Following the meeting CCC has advised that Precept demands should be submitted in late December. This enables WPC to make a final decision at its meeting on the 5th of December.                                                                                                                   Action: Clerk/RFO

23/24.059 Highways Improvement Plan (HIP) priorities

A report to Council had been included in the Agenda Pack. The report summarised the three Parish Plan priorities identified by parishioners in the development of Sustainable Transport:

  • Options for speed
  • Reduction of hazards for horse riders and
  • Road treatment during adverse

It was noted that the costs of developing these services would not be possible at the current level of precept, and a development plan covering three to five years would be necessary, taking advantage of any Capital Grants that may be available.

In the meantime, it was Resolved to press ahead with discussions with KCC on the provision of a gate sign; on a revised Adverse Weather Policy; and a repeat of the road traffic survey conducted in 2021.                                                                                                               Action: Clerk

In recognition that Petham Parish Council is likely to be experiencing similar issues it was suggested that informal discussions could take place on the potential for collaboration.

Action: Members/Clerk

Date of Next Meeting: Business having been concluded the Chairman thanked attendees for their contributions and closed the meeting at 9.30 pm. The next Ordinary Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday the 5th of November commencing at7.30pm in Waltham Village Hall.

 

Chairman’s Signature:                                                                     5th of November 2023

Documents

Committees

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