Minutes of the Meeting of Wadsworth Parish Council held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 30th June 2020 – meeting held remotely
26 MEMBERS PRESENT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllrs Kimber (Chair), Bell, Bradshaw, Davis, Drury, Fowler, Rivero and Warren.
Apologies for Absence None
27 MEMBERS INTERESTS
Cllr Bell declared an other interest in relation to agenda item 10 i) Galstones Farm, as the Cllr knows the house owner.
Cllr Drury declared an other interest in relation to agenda item 11 a) Lumb Falls and Haworth Old Road, as the Cllr was related to one of the land owners at Lumb Falls.
Cllr Rivero declared a pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 12 a) Draft Garage, Parking Space and Allotment Allocation Policy.
28 RESOLUTION TO RE-ORDER THE AGENDA
Resolved that:
i) agenda item 10 3) a) Hazelbrook Cottage Planning ref.19/00119/CON be moved to the beginning of the agenda.
ii) agenda item 13 b) Old Town Green be moved to the beginning of the agenda.
iii) agenda item 12 a) Draft Garage, Parking Space and Allotment Allocation Policy be moved to the end of the agenda.
29 PUBLIC DISCUSSION TIME
Two members of the public attended the meeting.
Resident 1 raised concerns over planning application19/00119/CON Hazelbrook Cottage.
Resident 2 discussed the possibility of Old Town Green being levelled, in part, in order to create a nine-a-side football pitch.
30 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL HELD ON:
a) Parish Council meeting 26th May 2020
b) Staffing Committee meeting 6th June 2020
Resolved: that the above minutes be approved as a true and accurate record.
31 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE ABOVE MINUTES:
It was noted that the letter to BT had been sent and an initial response received.
It was noted that Old Town Primary School were delighted to receive the card and flowers thanking them for all their hard work during lockdown.
32 LOCAL PLANS:
a) Local Plan – Nothing to report.
b) Neighborhood Plan – Nothing to report.
33 CLERK’S REPORT
It was noted that the Council’s insurance policy had been updated to reflect the Council’s current assets and finances.
A discussion also took place in relation to the telephone box at Pecket Well Memorial Garden.
34 FINANCIAL MATTERS
1) Items for payment:
a) Salaries/PAYE £516.10
b) Allowance and reimbursement:
– computer allowance £20.00
– home working allowance April, May, June £51.99
– Paper – 2 x reams £9.98
– Travel – noticeboards and Todmorden to
meet Internal Auditor (at 45p per mile) £7.20
Total £101.16
c) Pennine Playgrounds maintenance works
and 2020-21 playground inspections £4410.00
d) Internal Auditor 20219-20 Fee £75.00
e) Annual insurance £436.12
Additional payments (received after agenda issue):
f) SLCC membership £126.00
g) YLCA membership £439.00
Resolved that:
i) the above items be approved for payment.
ii) the budget be reviewed twice yearly.
iii) That monthly PAYE information be provided to the Chair of Staffing.
2) Grants:
None received.
3) 2019/20 Financial Year end
a) To certify Wadsworth Parish Council as exempt form external audit for fiscal year 2019/20.
Resolved: to certify Wadsworth Parish Council as exempt form external audit for fiscal year 2019/20.
b) To note the Annual Internal Audit Report for 2019/20 included at page 4 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2019/20.
Resolved: to note the Annual Internal Audit Report for 2019/20 included at page 4 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2019/20.
c) To approve Section 1 – Annual Governance Statement 2019/20 for Wadsworth Parish Council on page 5 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2019/20.
Resolved: to approve Section 1 – Annual Governance Statement 2019/20 for Wadsworth Parish Council on page 5 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2019/20.
d) To approve Section 2 – Accounting Statements 2019/20 for Wadsworth Parish Council on page 6 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2019/2020.
Resolved: to approve Section 2 – Accounting Statements 2019/20 for Wadsworth Parish Council on page 6 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2019/2020.
e) To approve the publication of documents required by Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Local Audit (Smaller Authorities) Regulations 2015, SI 2020/404 The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 and the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities.
Resolved: to approve the publication of documents required by Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Local Audit (Smaller Authorities) Regulations 2015, SI 2020/404 The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 and the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities.
35 CORRESPONDENCE:
a) Senior Parliamentary Assistant: Fibre broadband roll-out
Resolved: to receive the correspondence.
b) YLCA: New Model Code of Conduct Consultation
Resolved that Wadsworth Parish Council approve the consultation documents.
36 PLANNING:
1) New Applications:
None received at time of agenda issue.
Additional applications (received after agenda issue):
a) 20/00609/FUL Demolition of existing fire damaged dwelling and construction of new dwelling – Galstones Farm Akroyd Lane Pecket Well Hebden Bridge West Yorkshire HX7 8SZ
Resolved: that the application be supported.
2) Other Items:
a) 20/00464/LBC Re-instatement of storm damaged wall (Listed Building Consent) Pecket Well Mill Keighley Road Hebden Bridge Calderdale PENDING (agenda item 10 2) e))
Resolved: to query the delay in relation to this application.
b) 19/00119/CON Hazelbrook Cottage Planning ref. 19/00119/CON Residents letter (agenda item 10 3) a))
Resolved to:
i) contact Calderdale Council requesting the building exterior be painted as per planning application conditions.
ii) To request a site visit in order to discuss the above and other planning issues.
37 ROAD AND FOOTPATH MATTERS:
a) Lumb Falls and Howarth Old Road.
A lengthy discussion took place in relation to this item. Outrage was expressed at the number and disregard of visitors to this local beauty spot.
Resolved: to contact Calderdale Council thanking them for their work so far, requesting that Wadsworth Council be kept in formed in relation to ways to resolve this issue and to offer assistance as appropriate.
b) Road closures on Keighley Road (A6033) near Pecket Well.
A discussion took place in relation to this item. It was acknowledged that a reduction in the time length of the road closure was appreciated but that a lot of residents and the council were still concerned about the impact and inconvenience that this would cause.
c) Campervans and Caravans on un-adopted highway.
Resolved: to write to Calderdale asking for guidance and action in relation to this issue.
38 ALLOTMENTS, PARKING SPACES AND GARAGES:
a) Draft Garage, Parking Space and Allotments Allocation Policy
Cllr Rivero declared a pecuniary interest and left the meeting for the duration of this item.
Resolved to:
i) make minor amendments to the draft policy.
ii) arrange a site visit later in the year when Covid 19 restrictions had been further lifted.
iii) that the parking space pricing anomalies be resolved in order that all parking spaces are invoiced at the standard parking space lease rate, currently £78.00 per annum including VAT.
iv) that the inspection of the Council’s physical assets takes place at least once a year and be reported to an appropriate meeting of the Council.
v) that a resident’s request for a 99-year lease be turned down.
vi) that letters be sent to residents as appropriate.
b) Allotment rent increases and invoicing – legal note
The Parish Clerk provided an update on allotment legislation.
39 PLAYGROUNDS:
a) Maintenance works – letter from local resident.
Resolved: that the clerk clarify the response so far with the Chair and agree a further response if appropriate.
b) Old Town Green – Hebden Bridge Saints Junior Football Club.
Resolved: that in principle the Council approves of the idea to level part of the green in order to create a 9-a-side football pitch.
c) Covid 19 Playgrounds reopening.
It was noted that the maintenance work had been completed on both of the playgrounds and that the playgrounds had been inspected.
Resolved: that in line with government advice the Council’s two playgrounds could re-open from the 4th July 2020 with appropriate signage in place.
40 OXENHOPE CHARABANC DISASTER CENTENARY OCTOBER 2020
Motion moved on notice by Cllr Fowler.
Resolved: that the Cllr bring a proposal back to the next Council meeting.
41 TO CONSIDER “THE WAY WE WORK” AS A PARISH COUNCIL
Motion moved on notice by Cllr Drury.
Resolved: that this be added to the next Council meeting agenda in order to discuss further.
42 REPORTS FROM CLLRS AND OUTSIDE MEETINGS
None reported.
43 STAFFING MATTERS:
a) To review the Staffing Committee Terms of Reference.
Resolved: that the Staffing Committee Terms of Reference be approved for the coming year with one minor amendment.
b) To consider that draft Staff Appraisal Policy document.
Resolved: that the Staff Appraisal Policy document be approved.
44 DATE OF NEXT MEETING & APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE.
Parish Council 28th July 2020 . The meeting closed at 10.30 pm