The things I wish to highlight are the Planning Application on Bartons Corner which I discussed in an earlier post HERE then there's the item about sticky speed labels for everyones' wheelie bins and finally the Resolution to adopt a General Power of Competence. It's not possible for me to comment on the other matters where the background information has only been circulated to Councillors though I think that a revision of Financial Regulations for the Parish Council and the Financial Accounts are very much a matter of public interest and the information should be in the public domain.
42/15-16 Wheelie Bin Stickers For the benefit of those who haven't attended previous PC meetings, NANSAG (Ningwood and Newbridge (road) Safety Action Group), a group headed by Cllr Helena Hewson and Mrs Shirley Stables, have proposed that residents put 30 MPH stickers on their wheelie bins so when they are put out every fortnight it reminds car drivers that there is a speed limit. It was pointed out that the bins only go out once a fortnight and then only for a few hours but NANSAG say that this adds to the impact of the campaign. I don't know whether there is any evidence for this. You will see from the agenda that they have found three prices and they say 500 labels are required for the almost 500 residents in 30 MPH areas. The cheapest price is £333 for 500 labels and the most expensive is £1600. Doesn't state whether this is including VAT which can be reclaimed and the agenda gives no idea of size, quality, UV and weather stability, compatibility with the bin plastic and how you remove them when they get very tatty (which presumably they will).
Are these to be mandatory? Will residents be required to buy them? At cost price? One or two per bin? Is 500 enough? If voluntary have we carried out any survey about how many families would put one/two on their bins? In our home the bin must be on the splay. Signs would be pointless; no driver would ever see them and if we turned the bin so they could, it could trundle down the slope into the road. I think the same is true for many. Others might simply be against the idea.
Is this really the best use of around 1% of our whole annual precept especially so early in the financial year? We, and those we've spoken to, would very much like to have speed reduced in the 30 MPH areas but is this proposal worthwhile?
45/15-16 To Adopt the General
Power of Competence: This is a very concerning proposal. It would give the Parish Council the authority to enter into agreements with third parties (contracts) over many years very possibly on complex financial terms. Despite the claim on the agenda (above) that we qualify I don't believe we have anything like the skills, resources and competence to enter into such agreements. I urge our Parish Council to simply acknowledge the future possibility and defer any future adoption of a GPC until some scheme is actually on the table and needs the power of a GPC which can then be discussed in public after appropriate public consultation.
The research that I have done (below) suggests that this scheme, which came in with the Localism Act, was really intended for County and Unitary Councils and maybe larger Town Councils (Ryde or Newport, for example). Shalfleet Parish Council has a precept of just £30,000, just one part-time qualified employee (our present Clerk is qualified but not all Clerks are) and not one single Parish Councillor with the declared appropriate qualifications. I remind those who were present just what a huge issue they made out of giving Holy Bibles to the school (last meeting, video and report HERE). The idea of granting these powers not just to the present SPC but also to all future SPCs with who-knows-whom will be the Clerk or the Councillors is very concerning.
Please read the documents below carefully -- or if you haven't got the time, even skim-read them and make your views clear to the SPC. At least please read the first one below and if in doubt watch the video of the last meeting HERE.
GPC Essay 2012 - FINAL VERSION - 'Power to Make a Difference' by david5174
The General Power of Competence - Empowering Councils to Make a Difference by david5174
Empowering Councils to Make a Difference - Annex Case Studies - Councils Using the General Power of Compete... by david5174
