Parish Notes April 2008
Summer Fete Bench 2004
Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting was held on the 3rd April 2008, at 7.30 pm, in the Moxon Room, Village Hall. About 30 people attended the meeting. Issues raised, in addition to reports from the Parish Council were:
- Road safety issues regarding problems at the junction of Tivydale and Tivydale Close due to inconsiderate and irresponsible parking by motorists and the poor state of roads throughout the parish, but in particular that of Darton Road, where the edge of the carriageway is disintegrating, in addition to potholes along the length of the road.
- The recent planning approval for the erection of a wooden hut at the Cawthorne Children’s Centre. Strong concerns were raised by parishioners as a whole. The Clerk summarised the position; explained the planning process; gave general legal advice on the situation (in his position as Clerk) ; and agreed to write to the Chairman of the Planning Regulatory Board on behalf of both the Parish Meeting and the Parish Council. Councillor Hand-Davis, BMBC a member of the Planning Regulatory Board confirmed the Clerk’s synopsis, and added to it.
- Concerns about the number of trees in the village which have been either cut down, or lopped back to unacceptable height, in the recent past, in particular the tree works in the church graveyard which would seem to have gone further than agreed planning approval.
Extract from the Finance Report delivered to the Annual Parish Meeting
The Parish Council continues to be on a sound financial footing. The accounts for the year ending 31st March 2007 were audited by external auditors last summer and were found to be in good order. In accordance with legislation the audit report was displayed on the Parish Council Notice Board for 14 days after receipt of it. A full financial report was also published in the Annual Report for the year 2006 – 2007.
Bank balances as at the 31.3.08 were in the region of £24,000, higher than expected due to good fiscal management; unexpected grant aid from BMBC; and lower than anticipated expenditure. Expected general running costs for the year 2008 – 2009 are in the region of £18,500. Grant aid of upto £7500 takes anticipated expenditure to £26,000. The precept will remain at £ 21,000. The shortfall in expenditure will be met from reserves. The accounts for the year under consideration will be audited early this summer. Public notices will be displayed in due course as to when the audit period will be, and the final audit report will be displayed after the audit has been completed.
Parish Council Meetings and Public Question Session
The following procedure to enable parishioners to address the Council came into effect from the July 2007 meeting of the Council. Councillors and the Clerk attend at 7.30 pm as per usual practice; members of the public who are in attendance are allowed to ask questions of the Council, on any matter, from 7.30 pm to 7.40 pm; at 7.40 pm the formal meeting of the Council commences. Members of the public are not permitted to participate in the formal meeting unless they have complied with the requirements previously advertised. This procedure also applies to Council Committee Meetings, although timings will normally be half and hour earlier.
Next Meeting of the Parish Council
The next meeting of the Parish Council, which will be the ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, will be held on Thursday 1st MAY 2008, at 7.40 pm, in the Moxon Room, Village Hall. All parishioners are welcome, and are encouraged to attend at 7.30 pm.
F. Johnston, Clerk to the Council. Telephone: 01226 765569.
Author: Clerk to the Council
