Present:- M/s Hooper, Messrs Fowler, Holt, Hounsell and Parsons.

Apologies:- Messrs Downie and Graham. Mr Williams (TDBC).

In Attendance:- Mr Crossley (Clerk), Mr Clark (SCC)

Mr Hounsell in the chair

RESOLVED that Mr P Hounsell be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year

Mr Hounsell signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Chairman and took the chair

RESOLVED that the absence of Messrs Downie and Graham due to both being abroad be recognised as an approved absence for the purposes of S185 Local Government Act 1972

There were no declarations of interest

RESOLVED that Mr R Fowler be appointed Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year

RESOLVED that the following appointments be made

a) West Area Committee of SALC – Chairman and Mr Holt

b) Village Hall Committee – Mr Holt

c) SALC (annual meeting)- Chairman and Clerk

d) Footpath Liaison – Mr Parsons

RESOLVED that 1) the Chairman and M/s Hooper, Messrs Downie, Holt and Parsons be appointed to the Planning Committee, that the membership be revised to 5, and that the quorum remain at 3

2) copies of agendas continue to be sent to all Council members

RESOLVED that the annual subscriptions to SALC (£114.24) and SPFA (£10) be renewed

The minutes of the meetings held on 9 and 29 March 2005 (amended by deleting the words "on convalescence" in Minute No 1157) were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

There were no questions from Members

It now appeared from comments made at the Parish Meeting at which representatives of the Police were present that there was little prospect of this initiative being taken further

RESOLVED that the issue be left with the Hall Management Committee

A letter had been received from TDBC advising that the request for a dog waste bin in Village Road had been unsuccessful but that a further bid could be made should additional funding become available

A draft of the model contract incorporating amendments proposed by the Chairman after discussions with the Clerk had been circulated prior to the meeting. The draft incorporated a note of the cost of adopting the recommendations.

RESOLVED that

1) with effect from May the pay scale for the Clerk be set at Points 18 –22 (which following the approved benchmarking exercise is the banding recommended by the Association) and the Clerk progress from point 21 to 22, and that the number of hours per week be increased to 4 (which is the minimum number established by NALC)

2) a contract in its final form incorporating all the proposed changes be circulated prior to the next meeting for further consideration

Members gave further consideration to the pro-forma guide for responses to the consultation being undertaken by the Standards Board. Suggested comments had been circulated prior to the meeting

RESOLVED that in the response to the consultation it be made clear that the Council believes that

The Highway Authority had advised that in 2003 it had undertaken a review of the precautionary salting network based on a national criteria and Hatch Beauchamp was not included in the programme as it did not meet the criteria. It appeared likely that funding for the programme would be reduced and this would result in the network being further curtailed

RESOLVED that the position be noted

Copies of the minutes had been circulated with the Agenda

RESOLVED that the minutes be noted

RESOLVED that the contents of the letter from TDBC be drawn to the attention of the Village Hall Management Committee

RESOLVED that the invitation from Allianz Cornhill to renew the Council’s insurance policies at a premium of £418.46 be approved

RESOLVED that this request be declined

RESOLVED that no action be taken on this invitation

The Clerk reported the Primary School were proposing using a small legacy to replace the bench formerly sited outside the school with a new bench with a commemorative plaque, and were seeking advise from the Council. He advised that he was seeking any necessary approvals from the Highway Authority

RESOLVED that the proposal be supported and the Council accept future responsibility for the bench

New regulations required the Village Hall Management Committee to replace the Hall’s oil tank and a request had been made for financial support

RESOLVED that the principal of a grant be approved, but the amount await the outcome of the Committee’s application to TDBC

RESOLVED that the letter from DEFRA giving support and financial support to these initiatives be noted

RESOLVED that the Clerk be authorised to attend this programme

RESOLVED that the invitation to this conference on 19 May 2005 be noted

The Electoral Commission were undertaking a further review of Borough wards as a result of some perceived inequality of representation, and were holding a briefing for parishes on 17 May. It had been emphasised that the review would not be altering the boundaries of any parish or looking at electoral arrangements within Parish Councils

RESOLVED that the invitation be noted

RESOLVED that the Annual Statement submitted by the Clerk (amended to increase the number of notice boards in the list of assets to 2) together with a Bank Reconciliation Statement as at 31 March 2005 showing a credit balance at the end of the year of £2635.47 be approved

The Council’s external auditor (Moore Stephens) has confirmed that 30 June 2005 has been appointed as the date for electors to question the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2005.

The regulations required the Council to complete a Form of Return that incorporated a Statement of Accounts and a Statement of Assurance. A copy of the proposed Return was available for inspection by members at the meeting

RESOLVED that the Annual Return which incorporates a Statement of Account and a Statement of Assurance as submitted to the Council be approved and that the Chairman be authorised to sign it on behalf of the Council.

The Clerk submitted a Statement of Account and Bank Reconciliation Statement showing a balance of £2853.45 in the Current A/c and £2282.02 in the Business Reserve A/c.

RESOLVED that payment of the following accounts be approved –

a) letter from TDBC re Code of Conduct

b) letter from TDBC re Rights of Way maintenance

c) Circulation sheet – 6 May 2005

d) continuing discussions on Station Rd improvement

e) concerns over parked caravan at junction of Bickenhall Lane which the Chairman would pursue

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.10pm

P Hounsell

Chairman