May 2021 Notes Annual Parish Meeting
Hagworthingham Annual Parish Meeting
Notes of the Annual Parish Meeting held remotely via Zoom video conferencing on Tuesday 4th May 2021 commencing at 7.00 p.m.
Attendance:
With Cllr Mr Richard Hammond in the Chair there were present, three Parish Councillors, Clerk, Mrs Susan Archibald and 1 member of the public
The Chairman declared the meeting opened at 7.00 p.m.
1. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 4 March 2019
It was proposed, seconded and:-
RESOLVED – That the notes of Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 4 March 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman at a later date
2. Reports of the Chairman and the Clerk and RFO covering the activities of the Parish Council
The Chairman firstly wished to pay his respects and tributes to John Redman, long serving Councillor and local resident who had died in 2020, and to HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh who had died only recently.
He then went on to present his report of the Parish Council’s activities over the last year, a quiet year in these challenging and uncertain times and thanked Jan Morris-Holmes for the Village Voice and her hard work and effort in making it happen. He also thanked Edmund Done for his work in keeping the Church running smoothly.
The meeting received a report of other Parish Council activities and Parish Council finances from Clerk and RFO Mrs Susan Archibald, as follows:-
The Clerk reported that the Parish Council met 5 times in the 2020/21 municipal year, fewer than usual meetings due to COVID restrictions. The issue of potholes was once again high on the agenda this year and the Council continues to lobby the County Council for some urgent action to be taken in Deep Lane and Church Lane, although it is understood that there has been some progress in both locations and, in particular, with planned extensive drainage works on Church Lane.
The Council’s finances continue to be healthy with current earmarked and general reserves standing at £10,377. The Clerk’s salary and expenses came in at slightly less than budgeted and the Amenity grass cutting allowance was rather more than expected, which gave an overall surplus on budget of £874 at the 2021 year end.
The precept remains the same as the previous year at £5824.15. There are budgeted increases this year on grass cutting and on the grant to the Church for grass cutting. There is also a planned scheme of refurbishment of street furniture including the gates, the phone box and the bus shelter, with some work already having been done on the noticeboards and removal of some damaged benches. There are proposals for kissing gates and a renewal of the village signs, both of these items are work in progress. Grit bins were requested from LCC to be sited in Bond Hays Lane and Mount Pleasant and these were approved. Litter pickers have been requested of ELDC and it is anticipated that some sets will be forthcoming shortly.
The current casual vacancy remains and interested parties are asked to contact me.
The next Parish Council meeting will be held in person, probably in July, with zoom meetings no longer being allowed for parishes. Hopefully things will be safer for all as restrictions ease in the coming months.
Due to purdah reporting restrictions there were no reports of District, County Councillors or the Police
3. Village Signs
The meeting considered the refurbishment/replacement of the village signs and a public consultation exercise to be carried out to gauge local opinion. This matter would be revisited shortly by the Parish Council.
Reports of local charities and community groups
4. THE DALES CHARITY
This long standing village charity is there to help people in need, men, women, or children. The three Trustees remain as Rev. Canon Peter Coates, Cllr Jan Morris-Holmes and Cllr Edmund Done.
All enquiries and payments made are strictly confidential and Cllr Done reported that 10 Christmas hampers had been distributed last year. The Charity also provided ink cartridges to Tetford Primary School. Full contact details are in the Village Voice and it was once again reiterated that all enquiries were absolutely confidential.
5.Open Forum
Concern was once again raised over dog fouling; and the article in the recent edition of the Village Voice by the Chairman was mentioned. Residents were urged to report dog fouling and loose dogs to the ELDC dog warden.
The meeting closed at 7.14 p.m.