Agenda for February 2021 meeting
Shobrooke Parish Council
Notice of Meeting of Parish Council
Dear Councillors
I hereby give notice that the meeting of the above-named Parish Council will be held on Wednesday 17 February 2021 at 7.30pm via Zoom
All members of the Council are hereby summoned to attend for the purpose of considering and resolving upon the Business to be transacted at the meeting set out hereunder.
Dated this 11 February 2021
Signed Jane Hole
Clerk to the Parish Council shobrookepc@outlook.com 01392 851148
Public Participation – members of public can join the zoom meeting with the following details: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87908456841?pwd=NWg3VTBXOFgzRER3cXJFaFR2Yi90QT09
Meeting ID: 879 0845 6841 Passcode: 410331
Public Participation
Members of the public are invited to give their views and ask questions on issues on this agenda or to raise issues for future consideration by the Parish Council. Limited to 15 minutes.
Formal Business
(Members of the public may not take part in the formal business of the Parish Council except under special circumstances)
07/02/21 Apologies
To receive apologies
08/02/21 Declaration of Interest
8.1 Register of Interests (ROI). Councillors to update as required
8.2 Personal Interests (PI). Councillors must declare any personal interest in items on the agenda and their nature.
8.3 Disclosable Pecuniary interest (DPI). Councillors must declare any pecuniary interest in items on the agenda and their nature and they must leave the meeting for that agenda item.
09/02/21 Minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 3 February 2021 (previously circulated)
To be agreed and signed as a true record
10/02/21 Mid Devon District Council
10.1 Planning Applications: None
10.2 Planning Decisions: None
10.3 To note MDDC launch of a Call for Sites process to inform a new Local Plan for Mid Devon.
10.4 Report from MDDC Councillor, Cllr Graeme Barnell on MDDC business relevant to the parish.
11/02/21 Finance
11.1 Parish Council receipts Current Account: None
11.2 Parish Council payments current account:
|
Item |
Payee |
Purpose |
Amount £ |
|---|---|---|---|
|
11.2.1 |
Mid Devon Mobility |
Grant |
100.00 |
|
11.2.2 |
J Hole |
Salary and expenses |
241.79 |
|
11.2.3 |
HMRC |
PAYE |
13.20 |
11.3 To approve signatures for this month’s cheques
11.4 Balances:
11.4.1 Parish Council Current Account balance: £2,214.42
11.4.2 Parish Council Footpath balance (in above current account figure): £311.74
11.4.3 Parish Council Reserve Account balance: £7,798.20 (£3,250.00 ringfenced for play equipment)
11.5 Financial Statement and Budget Monitor - attached
12/02/21 Road and Footpaths
12.1 Outstanding Road and Footpath issues
Salt for new Salt bins and steps opposite Village Hall
12.2 New issues identified
13/02/21 Parish Council
13.1 To note Councillor resignations and to consider recruitment of new Councillors
13.2 Update on specification for cordless mower
14/02/21 Councillor’s Reports
14.1 To consider any Councillor reports for areas of responsibility
14.2 Coronavirus support – any issues to consider?
14.3 Playing Fields
14.3.1 To note response from insurance company regarding requirements for persons carrying out inspections and to record that we comply with the requirements – see below
14.3.2 To note advice received from BHIB Insurance, DLAC and SLCC that the Parish Council and not individual Councillors would be liable for any claims that the insurance company did not meet – see below
14.3.3 To note survey of local play parks – see below
14.3.4 To note list of insurance companies contacted for quotes – see below.
14.3.5 To consider training courses available for those carrying out play park inspections – see below
14.3.6 To note any progress with volunteers to carry out inspections.
14.3.7 Update on quotes for installation of play equipment
15/02/21 Clerk’s Report
15.1 To note 5 extra hours worked on play park information and to request payment
15/02/21 Devon County Council
15.1 Report from DCC Councillor, Cllr M Squires on DCC business relevant to the parish
16/02/21 Miscellaneous Correspondence
A list of any other correspondence will be available at the meeting
17/02/21 Minor Matters and Items for Future Agenda
Each Councillor is requested to use this opportunity to report minor matters of information not included elsewhere on the agenda and to raise items for future agendas. Councillors are respectfully reminded that this is not an opportunity for debate or decision making.
18/02/21 Date of next meeting: Wednesday 17 March 2021, at 7.30 pm, via zoom
End of formal business
Agenda Item 11.5
Agenda Item 14.3.1
Response from BHIB Insurance on requirements for person carrying out inspections:
“Please note that an annual inspection should be carried out on the Playground Equipment, by ROSPA. However, in respect of weekly checks these can be done by a volunteer or a parish councillor. This then needs be logged on your minutes that this has been carried out”
Agenda Item 14.3.2
Response from BHIB Insurance on question of Parish Councillor Liability:
“Please note that providing the councillor/volunteer are working on the sole instructions of the Parish Council, to carry out this specific duty the legal liabilities will lie with Parish Council”
Response from DALC:
“Since the council owns the play park, it will be the council as a corporate body that would be liable, individual councillors would not be liable”
SLCC Advice note;
“Section 265 of the Public Health Act 1875 exempts members (and officers) from personal liability for bona fide actions carried out in the name of the council and for a lawful purpose. This does not obviate the need to ensure that the council (as a statutory corporation) always has a legal power to take whatever action it wishes to take. This requirement is much easier (in England) for councils able to use the general power of competence in the Localism Act 2011 and (in Wales) for “eligible councils” with the 2000 Act “wellbeing” power.”
Agenda item 14.3.3
Parish Councils who own their play parks
Summary of Inspections and checks
|
Name |
Annual inspection? |
Checks? |
Training course attended? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Play park A |
Annual inspection |
Checked weekly by PC employed handyman |
Yes |
|
B |
Inspection every 2 years |
Checked by 2 councillors on a regular basis |
|
|
C |
Inspections by MDDC during year |
Weekly inspections by PC contractor |
|
|
D |
Annual inspections |
Not regularly inspected |
|
|
E |
Annual inspection |
Checked by Councillor
|
Yes |
Reply from MDDC regarding inspections of their play parks
Mid Devon inspects its play areas on the basis of risk assessment. This can be ‘daily’/ weekly or monthly and varies in some cases summer to winter.
As I understand it (and it’s the case with our insurer) that provided you have a policy for inspection and adhere to that then they will support you. I can’t speak for your insurer or the specifics of your play area.
Mid Devon can provide an inspection service for a fee. Other Parishes engage services on a monthly or quarterly basis – that may be risk based or to support the inspections of their own Cllrs.
Agenda Item 11.5
Insurance quotes are valid for 90 days so quotes will not be given until the start of March
|
Name of company contacted |
Response |
|---|---|
|
Came & Company |
No reply to date |
|
Zurich |
Waiting for a quote – need to agree valuation for war memorial and BT Kiosk |
|
Norris and Fisher |
No reply to date |
|
Parish Protect Insurance |
No reply to date |
|
Community Action Suffolk |
See below guidance for park inspections |
From Community Action Suffolk
PLAYGROUND INSPECTIONS – PARISH COUNCILS
British Standard BS EN 1176-7 recommends that playground equipment be inspected regularly. To be more specific the recommendations are to employ a three-tier system of inspection as follows: -
- Daily Inspections A visual inspection carried out by a nominated person to spot 'superficial' faults or defects.
- 1-3 Monthly A visual inspection also carried out by a nominated person looking for defects, faults, corrosion, or wear. The findings must be recorded in a log book together with details of the remedial action taken. NB Even if no defects are found, it is important to record this as “none found”.
- Certified Inspections At periods not exceeding 12 months a fully certified inspection carried out by a 'competent person' (i.e., a professional engineer surveyor). Inspection reports must be retained permanently.
In addition, the standard strongly recommends that the surfacing be of an impact absorbing type. Inspections should therefore go beyond reporting on the condition of the playground equipment, but should also report possible hazards to safety surfacing which immediately surrounds equipment. Similarly, if hazards to safety exist in the playground generally (e.g., broken bench seats, broken fences, glass or dog excrement) then these should be reported too.
Whilst playground inspections are not a legal requirement, we do strongly recommend that you follow the British Standard guidelines. Failure to do so can increase the likelihood of a claim against you. This in turn could lead to an increase in Public Liability premiums.
Whether inspections take place or not, if damage is reported immediate action is essential to render the equipment safe. Failure to do so will make defending an action for subsequent injury virtually impossible.
Agenda item 14.3.5
Training Courses – one day courses for those carrying out inspections
|
Name of Company |
Location of course |
Cost |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ROSPA |
Exeter |
£260.00 |
Not running at present due to Covid-19 |
|
Skills Training Centre |
|
|
No reply to date |
|
Play Inspections Company |
Devon |
Depends on no. of delegates |
Not running at present due to Covid-19 but will let us know if they have any course in this area in future – may be able to join another organisations training |