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Minutes of East and West Beckham Parish Council
Meeting Held on Thursday 8th November 2018

Present.
Cllrs. R. McNeil Wilson (chairman) G. Place, D. Barrass, R. Batt, J. Dovey,
J.Stibbons (clerk)
The chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm,

Apologies Cllr. K. Lord, County Cllr. S. Butikofer Dist. Cllr. M Knowles

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 13th September 2018, having been previously circulated, it was proposed by Cllr. Dovey that they should be confirmed as correct. This was seconded by Cllr. Batt and carried. The chairman then signed the minutes.

Matters arising from the Minutes.
It was agreed that a revised letter should be sent to the Felbeck Trust omitting the wording “ Any capital expenditure would need to have the prior agreement with the Parish Council”

Reports from County, District or Parish Councillors.
Dist. Cllr. M. Knowles ( a written report was read to the meeting):-
The Splash project was granted planning consent and a number of other projects are progressing well.
The new local plan is in progress, albeit a little behind schedule, and should be out for general consultations in the new year. It includes a requirement for more than 10,000 new homes by 2036; most of this allocation will go to the larger towns, and as is the trend in our district, it is anticipated that the expected increase in population will be accounted for almost entirely by inward migration.
Procurement of the new waste contract is taking shape with a view to commencement in 2020. Budget setting for next year will be interesting, given the anticipated shortfall in Government assistance going forward.

Cllr. J. Dovey reported that there was a consultation being undertaken to consider widening the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (A.O.N.B.) At present it finishes at the A148 which only includes about twenty percent of East Beckham. More information should be available for the next meeting.

Solar Community Fund Committee.

The West Beckham allotment site is being overgrown by Docks. It was agreed to have the site cut again.
The water catchment scheme at the E. Beckham allotments is under way. This scheme could be extended if it is successful.
Budgeting for future expenditure is being updated.

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Allotment Track Repairs To be discussed at the January meeting

Playing Field The inspection rota was agreed. Each inspection period to be two months and the “Tick-box” template will be reviewed at each Parish Council meeting. Inspectors were agreed in the following order.
Cllrs. R. Wilson,(already completed),G. Place, D. Barrass, R. Batt, K. Lord, J. Dovey.
The entrance gates of the Playing Field are in poor repair. It was agreed to obtain quotations for their replacement.
A quotation for the replacement of the climbing frame were presented to the meeting.
It was agreed that there was no immediate necessity to replace the frame as it was not considered a safety issue at the last RoSPA inspection. A close watch will be kept on the condition of the apparatus with a view to replacement in the future.
Any new play equipment should be made of either metal or plastic.

Village Sign It was agreed that the final draft design of the village sign should show two Pylons.

Financial Matters.

Bank Balances at 8/11//2018 Current a/c £ 13624.30 Savings a/c £6461.53

The budget for 2019-2020 was discussed and reviewed. The parish council then approved the
budget.

It was proposed by Cllr. Place that the precept for 2019-2020 should be set at £3350. This was
seconded by Cllr.Dovey and approved. The precept application was then completed and signed.

The following invoices were approved and cheques issued,
PKF Littlejohn External auditors £240
NALC Training £54
Bodham Village Hall Meeting room £66
J. Stibbons Salary/expenses £597.90
HMRC PAYE £122.80

Correspondence Scam Mail.
Centenary of WW1 Armistice – commemorative gift of Flanders poppy seeds.

Matters for information
It was agreed that future meetings of E&W Beckham Parish Council would start at 7.00pm

The next meeting is on Thursday 10th January 2019