The Minutes of the previous meeting (November 2013)

MINUTES OF MEETING OF HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 11th DECEMBER 2013 AT 7.00pm
IN THE VILLAGE HALL

Members were reminded that the Council has a general duty to consider the following matters in the exercise of any of its functions - Equal Opportunities (race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status & any disability); Crime & Disorder, Health & Safety and Human Rights.
Nancy Chapman, Parish Clerk

PRESENT

Robin Carpenter (Chairman), Peter Bysouth, Bill Turner, Vanessa May and Paul Vallis.

IN ATTENDANCE

Nancy Chapman (Parish Clerk) and 5 members of the public.

Before the meeting there was an opportunity for the public to speak.

A member of the public and Village Hall Committee (VHC) stated that as a consequence of two Parish Councillors' involvement in a meeting held regarding the electrical dispute, three very valuable, hardworking members of the Village Hall Committee had resigned.

Two other members of the VHC read statements also detailing their disappointment with the Parish Council and defending the VHC actions in the dispute. They felt the Parish Council’s involvement had only made the situation worse.

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE .
    Apologies were received from Malcolm White. Keith Blackwell was also absent.
  2. PROPOSED RESOLUTION
    The following resolution was proposed on the agenda:

    “The Parish Council does not support the views expressed by two council members who were present at a meeting held on 28th November, 2013. This meeting was held subsequent to the Parish Council meeting of 19th November to try to clarify the issues in dispute regarding electrical work carried out at the Hall. The majority of councillors present at the Parish Council meeting supported the Village Hall Committee’s decision, and took it that a compromise would be sought. The Council believes that, as Custodian Trustee, its position is solely to hold the Village Hall property, and that it has no power to make decisions or to instruct the Village Hall Committee to make such decisions. The Clerk is instructed to send a letter to the Village Hall Committee confirming this information, and expressing the Council’s support for that Committee and for the action that it has taken.”

    A resolution was passed to amend this resolution as the first two sentences were merely background information. With the exception of the Chairman who abstained from the vote, the following resolution was unanimously passed:

    “The Council believes that, as Custodian Trustee, its position is solely to hold the Village Hall property, and that it has no power to make decisions or to instruct the Village Hall Committee to make such decisions. The Clerk is instructed to send a letter to the Village Hall Committee confirming this information, and expressing the Council’s support for that Committee and for the action that it has taken.”

    Vanessa Mae stated that this should just be the start of rebuilding a relationship with the Village Hall Committee and that if anything else could be done to improve the situation the Parish Council would like to hear about it.
  3. CLOSURE
    The meeting closed at 7.13 pm.