Draft Minutes 7.11.24
NOTES of the Hougham Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 7th November 2024 at 7.30 pm in Hougham and Marston Village Hall.
Present: Cllr John Wright (in the Chair), Cllrs P Baker, P McAllister and Jo Wright. There were no members of the public present.
29/24. Apologies had been received from Cllr Forbes.
30/24. There were no declarations of interest.
31/24. The Minutes of the meeting held on 11th September 2024 had been read and approved and it
was unanimously agreed that the Chair should sign them.
32/24. Planning matters: S24/1186 – Annexe at Keepers Cottage, Westborough Road – withdrawn. S24/1707 – Change of use of The Lodge to childrens’ home – our objections have been submitted. It was agreed Cllr McAllister will speak at the Committee Meeting unless she is away, then the Clerk will speak.
33/24. The legislative adverts for reduction of speed on the C001, Bridge Street Marston and Main Street Hougham will be put out soon. Cllr McAllister will arrange for the information to be put on HAMES and she suggested that it may be a good idea to use our SID on a section of the roads, when the speed limits are introduced.
34/24 – Tree survey, The Green – this item to be agenda’d for the February meeting when Councillors have had an opportunity to read through the report. It was suggested that the village green be tidied up at the same time (bench painted, path cleared etc). All works to be done in 2025.
35/24. Financial matters –
Resolved to sign bank reconciliations at 30.9.24 and 31.10.24. The balance at 31.10.24 was £7,248.14.
The internal audit report was considered and it was agreed that asset checks will be noted in the Minutes.
The Clerk’s appraisal was carried out and both Councillors and clerk are happy – it was agreed she will receive a 10% pay rise forthwith.
It was resolved to pay £70 for the internal audit report to V Clark, and £420 to Paul Bavin for the tree survey.
The budget projections were then considered and one or two alterations made. It was resolved that the precept for 2025-2026 should be increased by 10% on the current year, to £4,510.
36/24. Councillors’ issues raised:
Village Hall Car Park – Clerk had asked Marston for a copy of the specification and costings before a resolution could be made for any contribution. This was still not forthcoming.
Our meetings scheduled for 14th May (APM and AMPC) coincide with the Chair being away. He goes on 2nd May so 1st May is the preferred date but the mayoral elections are on 1st May. It was agreed that Cllr Jo Wright will check whether it is alright for us to use the committee room section of the hall, whilst the elections are being held in the main hall. Alternatively, we will have to use The Thorold.
37/24: Meeting dates 2025 were handed to all Councillors and the May change mentioned above was noted.
38/24. Next meeting – 5th February 2025. Meeting closed at 8.05 pm