MINUTES OF THE ONLINE MEETING OF MATFEN PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 28 JULY 2020 AT 7.00PM (Draft Minutes Subject to Council Approval)
PRESENT: Cllr Stuart Mills, Chairman of the Council together with Mrs Ann Gregory Smith, Chris Austin, Keith Mavin.
In attendance: Mrs M Senior, Clerk to the Council County Councillor Veronica Jones
720.01 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. None.
720.02 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Cllrs C Austin, F Robson and K Irving
720.03 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None
720.04 COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT – Cllr Mrs Jones gave her verbal update on matters relating to NCC and Matfen Parish.
· NCC’s Covid 19 Response. Cllr Jones gave an update on NCC’s response to the Covid 19 crisis. Although shielding had ended NCC is still helping people who are nervous about going out. NCC had reopened their public toilets and some play areas and libraries and day services are starting to reopen. It was noted that the number of cases in Northumberland remains very low with no deaths in hospitals for 24 days.
· Roads/Local Services. The Local Transport Plan had started up again and the £60,000 project in Matfen will be carried out however there is no date for the work to start as yet.
· Street Lighting. Cllr Mrs Jones is to fund a streetlight in Ingoe from her members allowance. She is waiting for Cllr C Austin to liaise with the residents.
· Mootlaw Quarry. There had been reports of bikers meeting in the quarry. The police and NCC officers had been involved and they had contacted the site owners who had secured the site and installed CCTV.
720.05 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19 MAY 2020 and 2 JUNE 2020. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs A Gregory Smith, seconded by Cllr K Mavin and AGREED that the minutes of the meeting held on 19th May 2020 and 2nd June 2020 be signed as an accurate record.
720.06 ACTIONS ARISING FROM THE MEETING HELD ON 19th MAY 2020 AND 2ND JUNE 2020.
a) Benches/Notice Boards. Minute 520.06b refers. The benches and notice board are still to be installed. No update was available as Cllr C Austin was unable to attend the meeting. Action: Mrs Senior to contact Cllr C Austin for an update.
b) Street Lighting. Minute 520.11a refers. Options had been received to replace the 4 columns in Matfen. It was AGREED to proceed with the like for like replacements (Cast Iron Column with lantern) at a cost of £500 per column (total £2000). County Councillor Mrs V Jones AGREED to pay for this from her members allowance.
c) Overgrown Lane. Minute 520.11a refers. Matfen Estates advised that he lane behind the shop to the allotments is a short cut and not a footpath and therefore did not feel it necessary for them to improve it. Matfen Estates offered to provide gravel and a group of volunteers carried out the work to improve the surface. It was noted that this is a temporary fix however it has improved the area.
d) Telephone Box. Minute 520.11b refers. It was AGREED that no further work is required.
720.07 FINANCE
a) ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT. It was proposed by Cllr S Mills, seconded by Cllr Mrs A Gregory Smith and AGREED to approve the expenditure on the list circulated.
PAYEE | DESCRIPTION | NET OF VAT | VAT | CHEQUE AMOUNT | CHEQUE NO |
Mrs L Paterson | Public toilet cleaning – March 2020 | 37.50 | 37.50 | 101126 | |
Northumbria Pest Control Ltd | Mole treatment – village green | 144.00 | 24.00 | 120.00 | 101127 |
Matfen & Ryal PCC | Replacement cheque 101093 – Lost | 450.00 | 450.00 | 101128 | |
Playsafety Ltd | Annual play area inspection report | 118.20 | 19.70 | 98.50 | 101129 |
Mrs A Senior | Clerical services | 455.60 | 455.60 | 101130 | |
H M Revenue and Customs | PAYE | 113.80 | 113.80 | 101131 | |
Mrs A Senior | Expenses – postages/travel/toilet supplies | 114.75 | 5.67 | 109.08 | 101132 |
J C Accountants | Internal audit fee | 37.20 | 6.20 | 31.00 | 101133 |
Income | |||||
Barclays Bank Plc | Bank Account Interest | 2.08 | 2.08 | 08.06.20 |