Minutes of the Meeting of Asfordby Parish Council

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF ASFORDBY PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE PARISH HALL, ASFORDBY ON THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2008 AT 7.15 PM

PRESENT

Councillors: D. Tempest (Chairman), R. Cates, M. Hollingworth, J. North, M. Pappoo, C. Sheldon, M. Sheldon, F. Williamson

PSO L Haynes

Parish Clerk

1/4/08 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. Ainge, D. Bailey and G. Leak. County Councillor J. Orson also apologised for his absence.

2/4/08 DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

There were none.

3/4/07 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2008 were confirmed and authorised to be signed by the Chairman.

4/4/08 PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Clerk submitted, for information, the Minutes of the Meetings of the Council’s Planning Committee held on 14th February 2008 and 3 March 2008 (copies of which had previously been circulated to Members).

RESOLVED that the Minutes be received and noted.

5/4/08 ACCOUNTS – INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

The Clerk reported

(a) that the following cheques had been drawn in payment of the accounts during the period14 to 31 March 2008:

Vou Cheq Code Name Description Amount 682 DD 17 British Gas Businesscare Boiler Contract £47.00 701 100372 101 ESPO Stationery £8.17 702 100373 14 Business Gas Gas Charges £906.50 703 100375 17 Kingsway Paint Supplies Paint Supplies £101.10 704 100376 87 SLCC Training Fees £70.00

67 710 BACS 105 Caretaker Salary £475.55 711 BACS 105 Clerk Salary £1717.19 712 BACS 105 Handyman Salary £307.08 713 BACS 105 Street Cleaning Operative Salary £358.29 714 100377 401 John Rudkin Professional Fees £188.00 715 100378 18 Melton Borough Council Licence Fees £70.00 716 100379 86 Oldham Marsh Page Flavell Professional Fees £369.54 717 DD 100 XLN Telecom Telephone Charges £32.77 723 100380 65 Garden Crafts & Services Cemetery Maintenance £240.00 724 100381 101 Photostatic Digital Stationery £81.70 725 100382 115 HM Revenue & Customs N.I. & Tax £2643.69

(b) that receipts totalling £340.41 had been received for the period 14th to 31 March 2008.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and that the actions taken and expenditure made be approved and that the effect of balances and reserves be noted.

6/04/08 BANK RECONCILIATION – QUARTER TO 31 MARCH 2008

The Clerk submitted, for information, the Bank Reconciliation statement for the quarter ending 31 March 2008 (copies of which had previously been circulated to Members).

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

7/04/08 GRANT REQUEST W.R.V.S.

The Clerk submitted, for consideration, the request by the WRVS for grant aid towards their continued work within the Parish (copies of which had previously been circulated to Members)

RESOLVED that the sum of £25.00 be given to the WRVS and that the Clerk advise them to consider approaching the Co-operative Community Fund for funding.

8/04/08 PARTNERSHIP FUNDING FOR RURAL BUS SHELTERS 2008/9 PROGRAMME

The Clerk

(a) requested the Council to consider whether to submit a bid for County Council funding towards the cost of providing a new bus shelter on Station Lane, Asfordby and the repair of the bus shelter located on Main Street at its junction with Bradgate Lane.

(b) reported that it had been confirmed that it was impossible to replace the Perspex units of the bus shelter located on Main Street/Bardgate Lane following discussions with a local fabrication firm.

68 RESOLVED that

(1) an application for funding be made to Leicestershire County Council to replace the existing bus shelter located on Main Street, Asfordby at its junction with Bradgate Lane.

(2) any decision regarding the provision of a bus shelter on Station Lane be deferred and that its consideration be made as part of the Council’s budget considerations for 2009/10.

9/04/08 PARISH HALL

The Clerk

(a) submitted, for consideration, the Fire Risk Assessment report and its recommendations (copies of which had previously been circulated to Members)

(b) reported that a preliminary estimate had been received to undertake the work recommended in the sum of £5,500 but this estimate did not include the installation of the recommended 6 fire doors or the necessary electrical cabling works.

RESOLVED that the Clerk obtain three quotations for the required work plus the installation of six fire doors and a report be prepared for consideration by the Council at the earliest opportunity.

10/04/08 GREEN MACHINE

Further to Minute 9/10/07(1), (a) and in light of the current spate of increases in the cost of living, the Council re-considered its decision to purchase a new green machine in 2008/9 and (b) considered whether to invest the finance raised for the purchase for an appropriate period.

RESOLVED that the purchase of a new green machine be deferred until 2009/10 and that the finance raised for its provision be invested in an appropriate high interest savings account for a period of one year.

11/04/08 MATTERS OF REPORT

The Clerk reported that the following documents had been received and were available for Members’ inspection:-

(a) Leicestershire Footpath Assn – Newsletter – Spring 2008 (b) Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service Strategic Plan 2008-2011 (c) Leicestershire Rural Partnership – Rural Strategy 2007-2014 (d) EMDA News – Spring 2008 (e) Gridline Magazine – Spring 2008

69 RESOLVED that the report be noted.

RESOLVED that the Public be excluded during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) under paragraphs 1 and 12

12/04/08 PAYSCALES 2008

The Clerk submitted a report on the current pay scales for all the Council’s employees, apart from that of the Clerk (copies of which had previously been circulated to Members).

RESOLVED that

(1) the salary of the Street Cleaning Operative be frozen until such time as the salaries of the Premises Officer and the Handyman achieve parity.

(2) the salary of the Handyman continue to receive pay awards until parity is achieved with the salary of the Street Cleaning Operative and once this has been achieved the salary be frozen until such time as the salary of the Premises Officer achieves parity

(3) the salary of the Premises Officer be immediately raised to achieve parity with the Handyman and to continue to attract pay awards until parity is achieved with the Street Cleaning Operative.

(4) once equal pay scales have been achieved for all post holders, except the Clerk, all pay scales be subject to an annual review.

(5) a working party be established to review the job descriptions of both the handyman and the street cleaning operative with a view to making recommendations to the Council. The Working Party to consist of Councillors M. Hollingworth, J. North, C. Sheldon and M. Sheldon.

13/04/08 HOBY ROAD CEMETERY

Further to Minute 13/02/08, the Clerk reported on the current situation and confirmed that regular reports on progress would be submitted to the Council.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The meeting closed at 8.55 pm

Chairman.