THOSE PRESENT:- The Chairman, Cllrs. Cope, Foster, Hulme and Williams. Also present were 5 parishioners.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 8th December 2008 were approved and signed by the Chairman.
The Clerk reported that she was now in receipt of invoices for the laptop computer, projector and screen. However, the Grant received from Awards for All was for £1227. 00. which was for the purchase of the items without v.a.t. The Clerk requested permission to purchase the items for the total sum of £1429. 44 including v.a.t. plus carriage of £15.99 and to then claim the v.a.t. back.
It was agreed that the Clerk should now proceed with the purchase.
The Chairman reported that the Parish Council had been successful in applying for two grants under Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council's Capital Grants Scheme for two village improvement projects.
The first project for improvements to the Chapel Schoolroom facilities and Chapel exterior had been granted £4.500. and the second project for Improvements to the Pond and Green had been granted £4,000.
The total fund available from Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council's Capital Grants Scheme had been £400,000. which attracted 46 applications covering a wide variety of projects with a total of 21 projects being awarded a grant.
The Chairman also reported however that there was a shortfall of £535.35. on the amount requested for the Chapel Schoolroom project and a shortfall of £585.00 on the amount requested for the pond project as the Parish Council had not been granted the whole of the amount requested. The sum of £5,636. 90 inc. v.a.t. had been requested for the Schoolroom Project and £5,175.00 inc. v.a.t. had been requested for the Pond and Green Project. However the Chairman suggested that £500. 00. could be saved if the existing fence around the pond was removed by volunteers.
The Council is required to return a formal acceptance form to the Borough Council and the Borough Council will require photographic evidence that the improvements have taken place.
The Chairman reported that he would be attending a Cluster Meeting arranged by Inspector Robert Hassall of Nantwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit at Hankelow on 27th January, 2009.
The villages of Audlem, Hankelow, Buerton, Dodcott-cun-Wilkesley, Newhall and Sound and District would be represented.
The Chairman reported that he had received a letter from the Highways Authority in reply to a letter he had sent on 17th December, 2008 concerning the condition of road surfaces and gullies in Hall Lane, Hankelow.
The Chairman said that the condition of Hall lane was deteriorating as the road was sinking in some areas and there were deep potholes.
However, the letter from the Highways Authority stated that the request for work in Hall Lane was in direct competition with other schemes already submitted which had been earmarked for 2009/2010. However, the letter did say that work on the road in Hall Lane may be included in work listed for 2010/2011.
Cllr. Williams was of the opinion that Hall Lane will always be low on the list as there are A and B roads with serious damage which have yet to be dealt with.
The Clerk was requested to write to the Highways Authority Road Maintenance Engineer and invite him to address the Parish Council.
Mrs D. Mounteney of Ball Farm, Hall Lane, complained that there was a great deal of profligate spending taking place during the change over to the new the unitary authority with expensive dinners being hosted by various Committees, when there did not appear to be enough money available to repair the roads.
The Chairman reported that he had received a great deal of correspondence relating to Cheshire East, which will be the new unitary Authority replacing Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council and Cheshire County Council from 1st April, 2009.
It was agreed that Cllr. Foster should attend a Cheshire East Workshop at Reaseheath College on 27th January, 2009.
Correspondence had been received requesting Councils to log any service which is particular to their parish which would need to be continued when the new Authority comes into force. The Clerk was instructed to log the following entries:-
The Clerk reported that she had received a letter from Debbie Ruscoe-Icke who is the Administrator for Audlem Community First Responder Group, requesting funds from the Parish Council towards the cost of running the Group whose members attend sick and injured people in the Audlem area, including Hankelow, before an Ambulance arrives.
It was agreed that the Clerk should send a cheque for £50.00 to the Audlem First Responders.
The Clerk reported that she had sent a letter to Cheshire East Council on 7th January, 2009 requesting £2,200. Precept for 2009, which is the same as last year.
The Clerk reported a balance of £5166.70
| Details | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total | £88.75 |
| Cheshire Association of Local Councils payment of fees for Clerk's Basic Training | £30.00 |
| Audit Commission Fees for 2008 Accounts | £58.75 |
The Chairman reported that he had received correspondence concerning the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) which provides rights of public access to information held by public authorities. A model publication scheme was introduced on 1st January, 2009.
The Chairman reported that Hankelow publishes information on the village website and on the village Notice Board and that he was currently checking compliance. Charlie Foster agreed to look at the template
The Chairman reported that the Council had received a letter from the Mayor's Secretary informing the Council that Sue Walley and Ann Wright, who had both been nominated by the Parish Council for a Mayor's Oscar were now through to the last three in the Environmental Initiative Category and had been invited to attend the Mayor's Oscars Ceremony on 20th February, 2009. The winner of each category will be announced on the night.
The Mayor's Secretary had requested that photographs or background information be sent by return of post. The clerk was requested to send photographs.
It was agreed that Hankelow should enter the Community Pride and Community Spirit Competitions, organised by Cheshire Community Action, again this year.
Cllr. Foster confirmed that she had attended a meeting of Audlem Burial Board and the Clerk confirmed that she had received a letter giving details of the Audlem Burial Board precept for 2009/10 which had been agreed at £170 effective from April, 2009.
Cllr. Hulme suggested that a map of the village should be placed on the Notice Board. It was confirmed by Cllr. Foster that Gary Thompson was preparing a map for the Notice Board.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting with the date of the next meeting set for 2nd March 2009.