Meeting commenced at 7.30 p.m.

Present: Messrs. Maclaren, Bayliss and Colston. Mesdames Cooper, Jacobs, Bennett and Roe. District Councillor Laughton. Clerk Mr. B Machin.

Apologies for absence. Apologies were received from Mrs. Armstrong.

A minutes silence was observed in memory of The Queen Mother.

MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS HELD 12^TH MARCH 2002:

It was noted that Mrs. Jacobs had expressed a wish to be involved with any village appraisal, otherwise the minutes, having been circulated prior to the meeting, were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence: The Clerk pointed out that he had received Councillor Laughtons apologies after the meeting by letter.

Poop scoop bins: the Clerk reported a letter from Mr. & Mrs. Borrett of Dumble Cottage Water Lane asking the Council to take some action regarding dog excrement on the Lane. After discussion it was agreed, subject to approval by the Workhouse Close Trustees, to site a poop scoop bin on the road verge alongside the trust field. The Clerk was authorised to seek permission and then obtain a bin from N&SDC including fixing and weekly emptying.

Dog friendly stiles: The clerk confirmed he had ordered the stile from Notts. CC, Mr. Bayliss agreed to take delivery of the stile.

Annual Parish meeting: The Clerk confirmed that PC Nicola Ward would represent the Police at the meeting.

Beanford Bridge: It was reported that the bridge had been replaced but Mrs. Cooper was of the opinion it was not good.

Football field renovation: The Clerk reported he had not yet actioned this item.

Rural funding day: The Clerk reported he had not yet actioned this item.

Annual grass cutting contract: The Clerk reported the contractor should have commenced on the 25^th March but due to some administrative problem on their part they would not commence until this week.

Manor house development – road signs: A response is still awaited.

Charitable status of playing field: In response to Councils letter challenging the status (minute 704) the Charity Commissioners are seeking advise from their legal section.

Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000: A legal update from NALC reminded the Council of its responsibilities under the Act including the production of a policy statement and an action plan. NALC is to produce a standard policy statement for each member Council to adopt, it was agreed to await this statement before considering the matter further.

Police Authority meetings: Notice has been received that the Authority will no longer send agendas and reports to the Council prior to meetings. They will be available in Libraries etc. Or can be purchased at an annual cost of £123.75. It was agreed to take no action.

Policing Plan 2002/3: Following publication of the plan the Authority is willing to send a representative to a Parish Council meeting if requested. It was agreed to take no action.

Best Kept Village Competition: It was agreed to enter the competition again this year, the entry fee of £5 was approved. It was agreed not to exclude any area from inspection and Miss Roe agreed to coordinate the Councils efforts as last year.

Village Venture: It was agreed the Village Hall management Committee would be coordinating this.

Clerks Conditions of Employment: The chairman reported a letter he had received from the Society of Clerks. It was agreed the Council currently met the conditions on salary, hours, pension and training but not on a contract of employment. The Clerk was asked to draft a contract for consideration at a future meeting.

Councillor Laughton left the meeting at this point and Councillor Stewart arrived.

1 Willow Cottages, Main Street – single storey ground floor extension: An application for the ground floor extension was approved without comment.

Eastwood Cottage, 6 Church View – proposed brick garden shed: An application for a brick garden shed was considered. Council had no objection in principal to the extension but were concerned about the consequences if other properties in the courtyard made similar applications as this would ultimately impact on car parking provision.

HIGHWAYS:

Footpaths Main Street: The Clerk was asked to report defective footpaths outside the Manor House development entrance and from Blind Lane to Home Court. The Clerk was also asked to request N&SDC sweep the village streets, the area outside Doughty’s is particularly bad.

Rights of Way – Modification Order: Notice of the Notts. County Council’s proposal to register as the existing track from Greaves Lane via. Combs Wood to Warren Hill as a byway was noted.

Invoices and payments: The following were approved for payment.

B Machin                 Clerks salary March               £118.57

Parkinson Dis. Soc. Fares reimbursement March £42.00

N&SDC                    Emptying poop scoop bin     £61.10

G Baggelley            Repairs to play equipment    £205.63

CPRE                      Best kept village entry         £5.00

Total                         £432.30

Financial report for March: The Clerk reported a current account balance of £2898.44 plus £2930.72 in the sinking fund with receipts of £12.18 and payments of £816.37. With the exception of interest on the Sinking Fund, which still had to be added, these would be the year ending figures.

Poop scoop bins: N&SDC are to increase the cost of emptying from £1.00 to £1.10 per visit from the 1^st April, this was accepted.

Audit arrangements from April 2002: A new ‘lighter touch’ regime is being introduced. Hacker Young of Nottingham have been appointed by the Audit Commission as the Council auditor. In future Council will be required to submit an annual return comprising three elements Statement of Accounts, Statement of Assurance and Report by Internal Auditor. The latter is a new requirement and the Council will have to appoint an Internal Auditor, NALC are to hold a training course on the new regulations and will formulate a list of people willing to act as internal auditor. It was agreed the Clerk attend any training organised and the question of an internal auditor be held until that time.

The basic audit will be randomly checked by a 5% spot check sample by the Auditor.

The costs will be £120 but additional costs will be charged on a hourly rate ranging from £52 to £224, this hourly charged puts a lot of responsibility on the Clerk to get the figures right. The basic charge is a saving over current years but requires more input from the Clerk and any hourly rate charged would nullify any reductions in cost over previous years.

Monthly inspection report: Mrs. Jacobs presented the report, there are no new items.

CODE OF CONDUCT:

The Clerk informed the Council that the law required adoption of a Code of Conduct by the 5^th May. The Local Standards Committee recommends that the Council adopt the Model Code without alteration. Councillors are also required to fill in a declaration of interests form within 28 days and a new Members Undertaking within two months. All documentation having been circulated prior to the meeting.

Council agreed to adopt the Model Code as its Code of Conduct, the Clerk will now publish a notice to this effect in the local press.

PARISH BENCHES: Mrs. Cooper and the Clerk presented the results of a survey they had undertaken and their recommendations. The survey identified 13 seats one requires scrapping, seven required attention the remainder are O.K. It was noted that the Councils insurance only covers 10 benches.

Mr. Bayliss left the meeting at this point.

It was agreed to scrap one bench, repair seven, including the one on the football field, and to amend the insurance cover to include all 12 remaining seats.

Neighbourhood Watch: Mrs.Cooper reported that a re-launch meeting had been arranged for 22nd May in the Village Hall. As the Committee do not have any funds she asked if the Council would meet the cost of hiring the hall. It was agreed to put this on the agenda of the next meeting.

Meeting closed at 21.15

Signed Chairman Dat