Action

1.

Welcome

Chair Cllr James welcomed those present and thanked them for coming.   Apologies were received from Cllr Green.

2.

Declarations of Interest

None reported.

3.

Minutes

A copy of the minutes for the last meeting on 10^th May 2007 were submitted, approved and duly signed by Cllr James. 

4.

Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting

Bus shelter repair – The Clerk reported that measurements had been submitted to the company chosen to supply and repair the missing pane in one of the bus shelters in Firs Road.  Following the collection of three quotations a quotation of £160.50 was agreed and the Clerk was asked to organise with the company for this work to be carried out.

Firsdown Music Fayre – it was agreed that the Parish Council should help with the distribution of leaflets advertising the July Music Fayre with a copy of the yet to be produced Parish Council newsletter.  Councillor James agreed to draft a copy of the newsletter and forward to the Clerk for comment.

In light of the requirements that are needed in the Parish for hedge and grass cutting it was decided to have a Parish Council stand at the forthcoming Music Fayre informing residents of the work the Parish Council undertakes on their behalf with regard to this item.  Cllr Tier agreed to organise this task and Cllr James to supply the photographs.  It was further agreed that the entertainment item of “stocks” be added to the Parish Council stall with Parish Councillors acting as volunteers.

Clerk

Councillor James, Clerk

5.

Re-assignment of Councillor responsibilities

A discussion took place as to what responsibilities should be allocated to the remaining Councillors following the departure of two Councillors.  The responsibilities were allocated as follows:

Parish Steward liaison: Cllr Richards, Emergency Planning co-ordinator: Cllr Tier, Planning application contact/reference: Cllr James, Neighbourhood Watch link person: Cllr Tier, Accounts co-ordination: Clerk and Cllr Tier, Water analysis: Cllr Simcock, Rights of Way liaison: vacant, Police liaison Councillor: vacant. 

It was decided that the Parish Councillor Portfolio list would remain for one year and would be reviewed each May.  As Cllr Green was unable to attend the meeting, the Clerk agreed to forward the list to him and ask whether he would be willing to undertake either or both of the two remaining areas of responsibility.

All Councillors

Clerk

6.

Finance

The Clerk distributed the Parish Council’s spreadsheet to the Council members with details of the Council’s financial accounts and transactions for the last month.   The current balance in hand is

£6,641.91. 

A cheque for £43.84 was issued for Clerk expenses.

7.

Steering Group

It was noted that the Steering Group had partially completed distribution of a leaflet informing residents of the conclusions of the earlier survey. 

8.

Highways and Speeding

None reported.

9.

Planning

The Clerk distributed the quarterly spreadsheet showing all planning applications from 2005 to present day.  It was suggested that in future the Clerk forwards the spreadsheet to Cllr Richards before distribution in order that it be enlarged to A3 print to aid visibility.

S/2007/796 – 25 Juniper Road – Full application – single storey PVCU conservatory to rear.  This application was approved by the Parish Council.

A proposed development by a resident was briefly discussed and it was agreed and stated that the Parish Council cannot support or comment on, any planning application before it is submitted to the appropriate bodies.

Information detailed by the Environment Agency indicating certain properties within Firsdown allocated as being in Flood Zone 3 was discussed.  Cllr James agreed to draft a letter to bring this information to those properties affected.

Cllr James

10.

Correspondence

Following on from the last minutes, the Clerk reported that a local resident who had kindly agreed to cut the hedge on the permissive path from number 99 Firs Road to the back of the woods had submitted a quote for the cost of the hire of a hedge cutter.  The quote was agreed as a two day hire and the Clerk was asked to contact the resident concerned in order that this voluntary work be carried out.

Clerk

11.

Any other business

A Councillor asked that the Clerk formally asks both Cllr’s Devine and Moss to attend the July meeting of the Parish Council as there are several outstanding issues in need of discussion.

It was noted that the play area grass was in need of immediate need of cutting and it was agreed that two quotations be sought for the cutting of the grass on a four times a year basis.  A local resident agreed to cut the strip of grass on the Roman Road in its entirety, once up and once down, close to the hedge in September.   At other times, a walker’s strip will be mown on the Roman Road and it was agreed to pursue quotations for this work to be carried out as required or alternatively four times a year.

The Clerk reported that the deadline for applications for the election of an outstanding vacancy for a Parish Councillor had now passed and that since no applications had been received, the Parish Council was now able to co-opt a Councillor.

Due to the discussions taking place as to the future of the current play area, Cllr Tier agreed to draw up some ideas for further discussion at the Parish Council stall at the forthcoming Music Fayre.

The Clerk confirmed that following a lengthy wait for a third quotation from a fencing contractor, she would now seek to find an alternative quote for the extra line of fencing in the new play area.

Clerk

Clerk

Cllr Tier

Clerk

12.

Questions or points from the floor

A resident noted that a street lamp in Firs Road was constantly alight – the resident was asked to contact Clarence to report the concern.