Parish Council 2 January 2024

For complete minutes please download the pdf.

BERKSWICH PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Berkswich Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 2 January 2024

at 7.30 pm at Walton Village Hall

Present:   Cllr Alan Taylor (Chair), Cllr Caroline Pearson (Vice Chair), Cllr Sue Francis, Cllr Tim Luker, Cllr Bob Gilson, Cllr Malcolm Millichap, Cllr Ann Millichap, Cllr Beverley Hughes, and Cllr Michael Norris.

In attendance: Mrs Sue Fullwood as Clerk.

Cllr Taylor welcomed everyone to the meeting and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

1              Public session

No members of the public attended the meeting.

24/1           Apologies – received from Cllr Vicky Campbell.  Resolved: apologies were noted.

24/2           To record Declarations of Interest regarding items on the agenda.  None.

24/3           Minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 October 2023 – Resolved: It was agreed that the minutes were accurate and the Chairman thanked the Clerk.

24/4           80^th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings on 6 June 2024

Cllr M Millichap had been in touch with Berkswich Primary School by email, but they had not responded so it was assumed that they were not interested.  Cllr M Millichap suggested a joint event with another group e.g. the WI or the Phoenix Club.  Resolved:  Cllr M Millichap to contact the WI Secretary and Cllr Pearson to speak to the person who runs the Phoenix Club. Action: Cllr M Millichap/Cllr Pearson  An article to be put into the next newsletter and on social media asking for anything that could be put on display.  A poster competition was suggested for children.  Resolved: Village Hall to be booked for the afternoon of Saturday 8 June.  Action: Clerk

24/5           Brocton Road Weight Restriction

The Clerk had shared the response received from Cllr Williams.  The response was felt to be dismissive and disappointing.  No further action to be taken.

24/6          Grounds Maintenance Contractor for 2024

The Clerk had asked four companies to tender for the contract for 2024, but only two had responded.  Resolved: it was agreed to continue working with TGM on the basis that their quote was the lowest and that Council were happy with their work.  Action: Clerk  A leaning fence near the Chicken Run was discussed.  Resolved: Cllr Taylor to contact a Congreve Close resident to discuss the situation.  Action: Cllr Taylor

24/7          Financial Matters:

1. Budget for 2024/25 – Cllr M Millichap confirmed that the proposal from the Finance Committee was to go for option 3 which was an increase of 50% to cover depreciation of assets and rebuild earmarked reserves. Resolved: Option 3 was unanimously agreed.  Cllr M Millichap thanked the Clerk for her presentation of the figures.

17. Precept Demand for 2024/25 – Resolved: It was unanimously agreed to increase the precept by 50% an increase of £17.44 per Band D household. Action: Clerk

• Bank Reconciliation and Expenditure for November and December 2023 – Resolved: unanimously approved.

iv      Budget Report for November and December 2023.  Resolved: unanimously approved.

The Clerk reported that VAT on the previous FiPL Grant had been reclaimed from HMRC mistakenly and she would look into returning the incorrectly claimed money to HMRC.

24/8          Reports from other Meetings

9192. Environment Group – Cllr Luker reported that the application for a FiPL grant for further work at Walton Coppice had been successful and the Council had been awarded £9192.02. Larger scale work including thinning larger trees would be completed by Treeworks.  Burton Conservation Volunteers were scheduled to attend on 4 February and 3 March to train volunteers including Scouts in how to undertake smaller tasks so that ongoing management can be undertaken by volunteers.  Residents of Bluebell Hollow would also be invited to attend the training.

A second application was being worked on by Cllr Taylor, Cllr Luker and the Clerk for work at Hollybush Coppice with plans to move the fencing over to allow direct access for Berkswich Primary School.  The Clerk had written to residents of Holly Drive who back onto the Coppice and the single response received had been positive.

1. Village Hall Council of Management – Cllr Pearson had nothing to report. Cllr Taylor asked if there was a pricing structure as he knew that some groups paid less than the Parish Council.  Resolved: Cllr Pearson to raise with VHCM at the next meeting.  Action: Cllr Pearson

24/9          Agenda Items for the Next Meeting scheduled for Tuesday 6 February 2024 at 7.30 pm in the Main Hall, Walton Village Hall

Agenda items agreed were: Graffiti at the garage on The Rise/Milford Road; Interest in Best Kept Village competition.

The meeting closed at 8:40 pm.