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- Councillor Mrs M. Gilbert (Chair)
- Councillor Ms L. Hopkin
- Councillor Mrs S. Wheatley
- Councillor J. Wilton
- Councillor K. Rigby
- Councillor K. Harrison
- Councillor Mrs E. Harrison
- Councillor S. Pepper
- Councillor J. Kiernan
- Councillor Mrs L. Ball (Broxtowe Borough Council)
- Councillor D. Pringle (Broxtowe Borough Council)
- Mrs Sarah Nixon (Member of the Public)
Clerk
Mrs S.M. Bircumshaw
40/25 Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D. Keating, Councillor Mrs S. Keating, Councillor J. McGrath (Nottinghamshire County Council), PC Harry Brown (Police) and PCSO Peter Keeley (Police).
41/25 Declaration of Interest
Councillor Rigby declared a non-pecuniary interest in any matters relating to The Gardeners Inn, Awsworth Lane, Cossall.
42/25 Minutes of the last meeting
The Minutes of the meeting held on 18th March 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
43/25 Public participation
Mrs Nixon informed the meeting that when her family moved into their property on Church Lane a few years ago, they renovated it so that they could have a view onto the paddock at the rear of the property. The previous owner of property 49 Church Lane had built a stable, which does not detract from the view, as it is at the side of the paddock. The new owner has dug out a piece of the paddock and is apparently planning on putting a large greenhouse there – does he require planning permission to do this? Councillor Pringle confirmed that planning permission is needed for such a structure and he will contact the planning department at Broxtowe Borough Council tomorrow. It was pointed out that, although planning permission is required, there is no right in English Law to a view and so that objection will not actually affect the decision for a planning application. The question was raised as to whether there is slight protection on such applications due to the Neighbourhood Plan. Councillor Pringle will look into this matter and Councillor Mrs Ball will arrange for someone to come and look at the site.
Cllr Pringle will contact planning department
Cllr Mrs Ball will arrange a site meeting
44/25 Police report
No report.
45/25 County Councillor’s report
No report.
46/25 Borough Councillor’s report
Councillor Mrs Ball reported that there is a large amount of traffic coming through Awsworth and Cossall due to the work being carried out by Avant on the construction of the new entrance from the bypass onto the building site.
The next Planning meeting at Broxtowe Borough Council is not until June.
Councillor Mrs Ball reported that following her enquiries regarding the ski slope site, it is thought that there will eventually be a further application.
There is no further information regarding the allotments.
The question was raised as to whether there is anything that can be done about the weight limit through the village often being ignored. This would take a lot of hard work to prove that the vehicles have not gone up Robinettes Lane to the businesses there. People need to report the problem of large lorries and there is an officer at Nottinghamshire County Council who will follow up on any reports. Councillors Pringle and Mrs Ball will follow through on this.
Cllrs Pringle and Mrs Ball will follow this up
Councillor Pringle reported that he had received an email from a photographer regarding the standard of workmanship at the Almshouses. Councillor Pringle told the meeting that Christine Danby from the planning department has been checking up on a regular basis and everything is being done as in the application. It was reported that a front door is open or missing and that you can see straight through to the back. Apparently some workers are living on site at the moment.
Standing Orders commenced at 8.00pm
47/25 Items for discussion
a) Church matters
Councillor Keirnan was thanked for sorting out the sample light for floodlights. John Wheatley has rigged this up and it will be looked at later, when it is dark.
It was reported that the pipe for the drinking fountain has burst over the winter. This needs repairing and insulating, all were in agreement for Councillor Mrs Gilbert to obtain a quote.
Cllr Mrs Gilbert to obtain quote
It was reported that the spiky bits in the hedge round the hall car park need cutting back. Councillor Wilton will sort this out.
Cllr Wilton to sort out
b) Footpaths and pavements
Councillor Mrs Gilbert confirmed that she had reported the hole in the verge on Awsworth Lane opposite Trinity Farm; this has now been filled in.
Councillor Mrs Wheatley reported that she has tried to clean the plaque on the bench outside the church and doesn’t think it is actually brass. John Wheatley is going to take it off and try to buff it but it may need replacing with a proper brass one.
Councillor Mrs Gilbert will chase up Jamie regarding the painting of the telephone box.
Cllr Mrs Gilbert to contact the painter
It was reported that due to vehicles being parked on the area outside the church, some of the cobbles are coming loose. Nottinghamshire County Council own the grass verges and if reported will charge residents for damage to the verges when parking on them. Photos of the damaged verges outside numbers 69 and 71 Church Lane need to be sent in to the County Council; also photos of vehicles parked on the verges, giving registration number, would be useful.
The damaged verge to be reported
c) Roads/Traffic/Bikers
There is a pothole at the bottom of Church Lane, in front of the flats on the left hand side after turning in from Coronation Road. There is a pot hole starting to appear just above where Mill Lane comes out onto Church Lane, this will get worse. Need what3words/house no./ lamp post no. so these can be reported.
Pot holes to be reported
It was reported that opposite 6 Robinettes Lane (No. 5 owns the land) there has been a bonfire with very dark smoke. If this persists it has got to be proved that it is a nuisance. If tyres are being burnt photographic evidence is useful.
Councillor Keirnan reported that he had sent a video to PC Harry Brown of some off road bikers who have been seen quite regularly in the area. Councillor Mrs Gilbert also reported that she had spoken to Harry after the Beat Surgery regarding hearing bikers.
d) RCAN
Councillor Harrison reported that an application has been sent off applying for funding to refurbish the church hall car park. Marilyn Reed received an email back straight away and has had a telephone conversation about this. The application has now been taken to the next stage. This is very encouraging and three quotes are to be requested for the work.
e) CPRE
Nothing to report.
f) Commemoration for the end of WW2
The posters have been put up on the notice boards and Alyson will put on the Facebook page again. Councillor Mrs Gilbert will collect the flowers on 7th May and John Wheatley and Cllr Mrs Harrison are going to help to put them up at 2pm the same day. The buffet has been confirmed with Sarah. The church service is at 10.30am on Sunday 11th May followed by the buffet in the church hall.
g) Newsletter
This is ready to be delivered. Volunteers were handed their specific packs.
Councillor Rigby told the meeting that Councillor Mrs Gilbert had done all the work on the newsletter – he just read it through and agreed it, so thanks were given to her.
h) AGAR 2024/25 – Exemption Certificate
The annual gross income for the Parish Council in 2024/25 was £16,428.00 and the annual gross expenditure for the Parish Council in 2024/25 was £13,131.00. As both the income and expenditure totals are less than £25,000.00 the Parish Council is deemed exempt from external audit.
The Exemption Certificate was duly signed and dated by the Chair and the Clerk and once the Minute reference has been inserted will be sent to the external auditors.
48/25 Correspondence
There was no correspondence.
49/25 Planning applications
Broxtowe Borough Council planning department have heard/seen nothing regarding what is happening with the allotments.
The next Liaison meeting with Avant, regarding the building site next to Newtons Lane, is due to be held on 30th April.
Not really anything can be said about The Gardeners (at this point Councillor Rigby, having declared an interest, left the room) other than that it seems unlikely that it will become a pub again. The application is for 5 houses but there doesn’t seem enough room to fit that many on the land and tall thin houses are not in keeping with Cossall, they will stand out like a sore thumb.
50/25 Finance
Date for next Finance meeting will be discussed in due course, aiming for June. Councillor Rigby will let the Clerk have his dates of availability to circulate to the Finance Committee members, so a date which is convenient for everyone can be confirmed.
Cllr Rigby will let the Clerk have some dates
51/25 Accounts for payment
Councillor Mrs Wheatley provided an invoice for the expenses from the Cossall sale event, which was organised by John Wheatley and herself. The invoice total is £332.72; this will be added to the accounts for payment tonight.
Sarah Nixon is preparing the buffet for the VE Day celebration – Buffet for 20 people 120.00. Once Sarah has confirmed her bank details, this payment will be made, so is being recorded as paid tonight.
| The following accounts were approved for payment | ||
| Mrs S. Bircumshaw – Clerk’s Salary (pay rise)/Printer paper | £512.08 | (£503.58/£8.50) |
| Cossall PCC – Room Hire – 15/4/25 | £35.00 | |
| Mr R Heard – Website Administration | £70.00 | |
| Mrs T. Wilson – Hall Cleaning | £20.00 | |
| Mrs M. Gilbert – Printing of VE Day posters | £18.00 | |
| Bluebell Floristry – VE Day flowers | £100.00 | |
| RCAN – Annual Subs | £114.00 | |
| Mrs M. Gilbert – Printing of Newsletter | £89.10 | |
| Mrs S. Wheatley – Expenses for Cossall Sale event | £332.70 | |
| Mrs S. Nixon – Buffet for VE Day celebration | £120.00 | |
| Bank Charges and Fees | £8.00 | |
| TOTAL | £1,418.88 | |
| Income since 18/03/25 | ||
| Bank Interest | £15.22 | |
| TOTAL | £15.22 | |
| Deposit Account | ||
| Reserve | £7,000.00 | |
| MTFS | £750.00 | |
| TOTAL | £7,750.00 | |
| Balances @ Bank – March 2025 | ||
| Deposit A/C | £3,031.10 | (-Res/MTFS) |
| Current A/C | £271.54 | |
| TOTAL | £3,302.64 | (Available) |
| Balances @ Bank – April 2025 | ||
| Deposit A/C | £1,546.32 | (Reserve/MTFS deducted) |
| Current A/C | £492.66 | |
| TOTAL | £2,038.98 | (Available to spend) |
52/25 Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 20th May 2025, commencing at 7.30pm in the Church Hall.
This meeting will be the Annual General Meeting. The meeting closed at 8.40pm.