Minutes of meeting 1.5.24
NOTES of the Hougham Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 1st May 2024 at 7.12 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.
01/24. There were no apologies.
02/24. There were no declarations of interest.
03/24. The Minutes of the meeting held on 7th February 2024 had been read and approved and it
was unanimously agreed that the Chair should sign them.
04/24. Planning matters: S23/2302 – Cornfield, Main Street – extensions – approved. S24/0147 – Plan amendments at Chapel Farm Barns – amended plans submitted and pending consideration.
05/24. Highways – No update on C001 speed reduction to 40 mph but Clerk advised that Highways had been reviewing speed limits in the County as a whole and that there is a consultation out at the present time regarding views on speed limits. Property at Coach Lane had removed its obstacles from the highway.
06/24. Defibrillator training – this had been very successful. A suggestion had been made that a new Defibrillator WhatsApp Group be formed in case of an emergency. This was thought to be a good idea and Cllr McAllister will put an invitation on HAMES and on the Village WhatsApp group to ask for people to come forward to join the Defib WhatsApp group. Clerk advised that the PC had made a donation to LIVES of £50 and Cllr McAllister had also sent in the donations made at the training.
07/24. Financial matters -
(A) Resolved to sign bank reconciliations at 29.2.24 and 31.3.24. The balance at 31.3,24 was £5,755.14.
(B) Clerk advised that the electricity prices for the phone box had risen considerably but despite trying to get further quotes, as the supply is non-metered, there were no other suppliers found. The supply is essential for the defibrillator and the phone box light.
(C) Clerk offered a calculation as to her expenses and it was resolved to accept these at £20 per month, to be paid quarterly.
(D) Resolved unanimously to sign the AGAR Certificate of Exemption.
(E) Resolved unanimously to sign the AGAR Section 1 Annual Governance Statement.
(F) Resolved unanimously to sign the AGAR Section 2 Accounting Statements.
08/24. Chair suggested we purchase an additional SID – solar type as Marston has. Clerk to see if there is any funding available (SK Prosperity Fund?). The chevrons on the bend at Hougham (C001) needs re-setting as does the one at the Dry Doddington/Westborough/Hougham junction. Clerk to report on Fix My Street.
09/24. Next meeting – 10th July 2024.
Meeting closed at 7.35 pm