Boundary Changes in the offing

There was a little piece in the parish council minutes relating to boundary changes.  Now I know this has been suggested before and from the parish council's view would be in the interest of the village.

I suspect the area in question relates to the Langley Estate that comes under  the Walkeringham Parish and Newells Terrace.  Significantly the Fire Station is also 'based' in Walkeringham.  From a financial point of view it would mean more bums on seats for the village, without it normally coming from new build houses in the village.

If these changes had been in force some years ago, we would have had chance of stopping  the proposal of houses more in keeping with a town than a village.  As it was, the planning application went to Walkeringham for approval.   Since that is now all water under the bridge, it seems silly that these properties still come under the Walkeringham Parish, especially since the Misterton village sign comes well before you pass the  first house on Newells Terrace and their postal address is Misterton.

Whether they would want the boundary change is debatable.  I've not looked at the Council Tax structure recently but last time I did look Walkeringham was lower than that for Misterton and with all the proposals hovering in the air about the parish council wanting to spend more money on yet another vanity project they could rise significantly.  As it is they have all the benefits with none of the disadvantages.  If they want Newsletters they only need to call in at the Misterton Centre and they can get the Parish Magazine at the Co-op; after all most residents in the village have always treated them as Misterton residents.  I say most, because I know there are one or two dissidents in the  village, but then they are like that with West Stockwith residents (who I have found to be charming people). 

Well I suppose it wont happen overnight so there will be plenty of time for them to weigh up the pros and cons of the venture.

  

Come on Mr Chairman, call them to order

Well we know now why there is no For Sale sign at the Victoria Institute.  I understand a rear guard action is being operated by some of the trustees, no idea why really, other than either they are going to find the cash to buy the building themselves or they think they can turn things round and ignore the decision made at the public meeting.  

So what next, more insurance will be due to be paid, more repairs may need doing if we have a bad winter and I suppose worst of all the building will start and look like the old bank, derelict and a blot on the landscape.  How much is in the bank account now?  How much was there when a number of people fended off the sensible decision in 2010?

I will say this, they are only making themselves look idiots if this rear guard action is true and they are not doing themselves any favours.  There was a bit of double dealing going on when they managed to get the Parish Council as a whole removed as trustees from the building and just a few remaining plus a couple of residents with strong views.  You can see why now.  The parish clerk no longer has anything to do with it either, what was the reason for that?

Just in case you are wondering.

Where is the FOR SALE SIGN

Well after all that hullabaloo about having a meeting to obtain the views of the residents, what's happened since.  Nothing.  The meeting was way back in September, I think, so plenty of time to get the old estate agent in to view the premises and price the old girl out.  The chairman appeared to have his hand on the tiller to steer this decision in the right direction so what has happened since?

What really worries me is the fact that the Parish Council are thinking of buying the VI., presumably thinking it might be cheaper than  the old library and as a replacement for the Misterton Centre.   Well I can see a conflict of interest there, especially since the trustees of the VI have to get the best possible price.  Are they hoping nobody will bite.  But what then, how can they make an offer when there is this conflict of interest.  I would think they will have to buy at the offered price or else there would be potential for legal action on the trustees.  Then what, they still have to do it up and at what cost.  Do it on the cheap;  how long would that take and nobody does owt for nowt nowadays, they can't afford to.  Borrow it?  Well what about this scenario.

If the PC borrows say £300k over 40 years, initial interest charges at say 5% will be £15k per annum, with annual repayment instalments of £7,500.  Then there's annual maintenance/heating/lighting/cleaning/insurance, etc. costs of say £5k per annum. Then on top of all that there are salaries for a clerk, gate keeper and a groundsman.  Might get it cheaper, might not.

So, if the PC goes it alone, you're looking at something approaching £30k per annum, plus triple business rates.  Then there's no parking and I doubt the Co-op would be particularly accommodating.   I can see that financial pot that has kept them afloat for these little projects they've had in recent times diminishing rapidly.

Where they are now they have two other partners, Bassetlaw and the Police to share the rent and all associated costs.  They might come on an ad hoc basis to the VI but I doubt they would want to make this permanent, apart from the fact that the VI is no Tardis.  So you could say goodbye to shared costs and probably a policeman in the village on a regular basis. 

Is this really worth it or are they thinking of hanging a financial noose round our necks that will cost us dearly in future.

Hope it doesn't come to something like this.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2513218/Parish-council-quits-en-masse-villager-performed-Nazi-salutes-revolt-Christmas-lights-grass-cutting.html

They are still dithering on the restoration of the War Memorial.  At this rate come 28th July 2014 they will still be holding Working Group Meetings instead of getting  the job done. I would imagine that this is a skilled job and when you think about it, how many other villages will be looking to do the same or similar job 

A Perfect Storm?

Well it is so flaming quiet at the moment, with absolutely nothing happening of interest anywhere, you get the distinct feeling that something is going to happen to shatter this bliss.

So far the 'Welcome' signs have not gone up, or if they have I need some new glasses.  Some villages have 'Drive Carefully' signs, which would be much more appropriate given that speeding through the village seems to be the norm.

If you go through Mattersey be mindful of the fact that they have put two ginormous humps at either end in, that are the biggest I have seen yet and  designed to peel the underneath of your car off like a tin of sardines.  Not so bad in daytime if you can see them but hardly seen at night.  It would be interesting to see if they have had many complaints  yet.  Not that I am advocating them for Misterton, more trouble than they are worth and only hack people off.

I suppose the next big thing will be the Neighbourhood Plan.  Not read much about it other than there is money involved and more money if you have one.  I harvested these bits from the Government website:

Neighbourhood development plans

A neighbourhood development plan establishes general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood, like:

• where new homes and offices should be built
• what they should look like

The plan can be detailed or general, depending what local people want.
Neighbourhood plans allow local people to get the right type of development for their community, but the plans must still meet the needs of the wider area. In most cases we expect this will mean that neighbourhood plans will have to take into account the local council’s assessment of housing and other development needs in the area.
More and more communities are taking up the right to produce a neighbourhood plan. At August 2013, 3 plans have successfully been through a community referendum and have been brought into force by the local planning authority.

Community Infrastructure Levy

Parishes with a neighbourhood plan will receive 25% of any Community Infrastructure Levy arising from developments in their area compared to parishes without a neighbourhood plan who will receive 15%.

Role of the local planning authority

The local planning authority has a duty to support communities making their neighbourhood plan. For example, it will organise the independent examination of the neighbourhood development plan, neighbourhood development order or Community Right to Build order. This is to check that the plan or order meets certain minimum conditions.
The local planning authority is responsible for organising the neighbourhood planning referendum. The referendum ensures that the local community has the final say on whether a neighbourhood development plan, neighbourhood development order or a Community Right to Build order comes into force in their area.


At the moment we have the Newells site with around 70 houses not built and bits of infilling here and there.  Our infrastructure is struggling to cope with what we have already.  Some places can stand more houses being built in large numbers, can we without changes.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  Still at least  we are having say in that.

Yet Another Public Consultation

Well although I haven't actually received my parish council newsletter yet I have been able to look at one.  So why devote 12 paragraphs of space to tell us what is going to happen to the War Memorial and then in the penultimate one start asking for our views.  They ask us to fill in a poll on their website.  Just what for I don't know, all cut and dried so why try and chivy us into taking an interest now.  Now they have made the decision are they uncertain of what they are doing and just want us to say yay so they can confirm that they have obtained the views of all residents of the parish.

Quite frankly I suspect that most of us aren't that bothered and those that are probably don't have an Internet connection (or want one), to fill in the magic poll that absolves them of all responsibility of spending any money on it.  It doesn't really say much for their decision making skills when they make one and then start dithering.  Still at least it filled in a vast space on the newsletter, so they didn't have to think of anything else, other than dog crap, litter and depriving elderly residents of a little Christmas bonus.

There was not even an update on the Victoria Institute current status, or the behind the scenes activity regarding the old library.  Things we want to know about they keep us in the dark, especially since that will be one enormous money pit and any lack of information on that subject will make us all extremely suspicious.

Come to think of it, not even a Merry Christmas either!


 

The Packet Inn and other stuff

Well they are putting the old sign back  for the Packet Inn.  At least I think they are, the item was so poorly worded in the parish council minutes for October,it could have related to something entirely different.  Bit funny really, can you imagine, some wag knocking on your door asking for a pint of bitter or whatever.  Tempting providence there I think.

As far as the Christmas charity money is concerned, I suspect that the money is going to sit in the vaults for years doing nothing.  Who the heck do they think is going to fill in a form and admit to the parish council they are brassic.  Beggar confidentiality, it gets out sooner or later, either big mouths or pillow talk.  Not made themselves any friends with that decision. 

Hillysyde want their street lighting on again and sending in a petition.  Will that create more petitions from other street residents?  Can you really create a precedent?  I suppose they are hinging on the fact that it includes Swallow Court, and I suspect that the hours there are no lights  wont bother Swallow Court residents too much.

Victoria Institute:  "It was noted that any potential purchase of the building for use by the Parish Council would be considered by the Future Office Working Group."

Like a dog with a  bone on that one and whatever happens you can bet your bottom dollar it will cost residents in the end with these mad money spending ideas.

New signs going up soon. don't exactly say which, again poor reporting, but I assume the ones that are supposed to say "Welcome to our Village" or similar, we will have to wait and see.  Whatever they say they will have been a waste of money and totally unnecessary in these austere times.

Well all the activity down by Station Road was for the canal lock gates, leaking.  Lots of activity, standing looking, standing observing, standing watching and even some working.  Then you wonder why things cost a lot to get done.

Bit too much information

I've seen the Parish Magazine and while it is full of useful information there is one bit that could have done with a pencil through.  While I appreciate that dog  crap in the village is a problem, was there any need for the parish council to devote a whole fat paragraph to it, and describing in graphic detail what we already know.  We're not that stupid.  Talk about rubbing our noses in it, especially if we don't have a dog.

In fact there was little else really of any interest to your average resident in the Misterton parish council news, which makes you wonder what they do talk about,  given that they are intent on spending our saved cash in the bank on a  vanity project or maybe two, depending on who you talk to.  I suppose the little nuggets from those discussion will be kept well and truly hidden in case anybody starts complaining.

Oh and another thing, I've heard complaints about this new system for dishing the charity cash at Christmas.  Enough to know the parish council has dumped themselves in the dog crap with that decision, so if I were them I'd think again and stop blaming the Charity Commission, because they don't care a brass farthing when peanuts are involved. 

One Down (possibly), Two to go

Well a planning application has been submitted to replace a flat roof to pitched on the Old School House, so looks like somebody might be buying it.  Apart from the fact it doesn't appear to have any parking it looks a sizable house.  Which leaves the other two properties, the Library and Victorian Institute to be sold, when that will be remains to be seen.

Trouble with planning applications, it can sometimes get planning officers away from their desks, which means they sometimes come across things they aren't meant to see or find out about, as somebody in Misterton has recently discovered.  Tucked out of the way down lanes, it's amazing what you can do without planning permission, even to the point in one case (very old) that when they eventually notice, there is little they can do about it, apart from issue a council tax bill.   Bad job really, you mind your own business on your own property and somebody comes poking their nose in.

The application for Fox Covert is still pending and might have been passed if somebody hadn't poked their nose in, again where it wasn't wanted and totally uncalled for given the circumstances. 

Little going on really, still no actual movement on the railway bridges although one  road is being closed early November so they must be making a start soon. I understand the old canal bridge on Station Road has cracks in it, which is no wonder when you consider what goes over it, when they can't get under the railway bridge.  Some turn round, some can't be bothered and given the narrow road down there it would be easier to turn round.

Please - Don't be ill

I think we ought to start a petition up and get some changes made at the surgery.  Have you recently called them to arrange an appointment.  Well if you have you know exactly what I mean.  It was bad enough but not too bad  with the prescription line, although you can do this online (as long as you get a password and produce your passport) but now it's all numbers, lots of them and even when you think you have finished you are probably way out in the ether.  All this is probably when you don't feel too good either so you just get more and more frustrated.  Worse still is if you are not good on the telephone and hard of hearing.  The only way out of the roundabout, is, a visit to the surgery.

Another gripe is the entry system now, easy peasy when you are shown how but and a big but, fingers on a screen, fingers that have probably just wiped their nose, fingers of someone who is full of  germs and a screen that someone has probably been coughed on, sneezed on, well you get the picture.  Hardly a  healthy system of entry.

There seem to be loads of staff about, but service sometimes seems very slow in the back office and no welcoming receptionist on the front desk.  People complain about poor service, which is not good, especially considering we have such good doctors.  You can bet if the surgery advertised for someone just to take phone calls to make appointments, they would be inundated with applications. 


New technology is fabulous, in the right place, but this new telephone support/filtration system stinks and can creates even more stress for patients.  So, let's have a petition and let our doctors know that the new system is not working. 

Poor but Proud

I see in the parish magazine there is a note about a trust administered by the parish council, the one where there is a distribution at Christmas to the aged of this village.  Not a lot, up to £10 in the past, so enough to put a smile on your face.

The trustees, the parish council, have decided, that because of advice from the Charity Commission, probably global advice, that in future these distributions will no longer take place and instead they will have  to submit an application form to beg for money.  I say beg because that's what it amounts to.  I suspect that the cash will sit there for years because those who badly need the odd shilling over Christmas will probably think it is not worth advertising to the parish council that they are short of money.  It's bad enough filling forms in for claiming benefit and as you know, and while most of us have no trouble filling in forms and claiming the cash we are entitled to, the elderly don't usually get their full whack, because they have different values, especially about asking for money.

They suggest friends and relatives nominate them, even worse in my view, whole can of  worms opened when outside interference is involved.  Best to leave things as they are and stick with an annual distribution, then everyone has a smile on their face at Christmas.  They have managed to ignore the Charity Commission in the past without getting their wrists slapped so why change old habits now.

Movement on the bridge improvements at last, as a road closure starts again early November. There is one thing, all this delay must be putting a few pounds in certain pockets, unfortunately not mine. 

More Expense

Things are looking up, we have September minutes up on the Parish Council website, and at a respectable size.

What a pity they are not published how they used to be when you could scrutinise to your hearts content in the library, now from what I've seen so far you don't even get them on the notice boards.

Money being spent on welcome to the village signs, what for, the ones we have are perfectly alright.  What are they going to do, tack them on or put them separately?  At least the  wall money has been paid.

Then there is the little item on stuff for future meetings:

Victoria Institute- consider purchase by Parish Council

How barmy can you get.  It's been decided we have no use for it and they still want to put their necks in the noose and considering most of them are friends of the VI,  I do hope they will declare an interest.  Then there is the other little nugget:

It was noted that the Trustees have now successfully obtained the residents’ support for a sale of the Victoria Institute having addressed and taken all steps to look into the restoration of the building. It was noted to be an example of how to successfully engage with the public on such matters.

What a laugh, more like an exercise in how to waste money trying to achieve the answer you want regardless of how much it was going to cost.  So now they are going, well trying, to buy by the back door.  Will we have a public meeting for that, I don't think so.  Mind you, I did warn you, persistent buggers.  Might be a bit of a conflict of interest all round when it comes to the price. If they don't get the library sewn up you can see where their sights will fall next. Good to see it's not their own money they are contemplating spending. 

Bit ironic really, they are starting to think of that little cash pot as their own private piggy bank and the only reason they (or should I say we) have  the cash is because of the expertise of the ex clerk, David Wright, he who got regular stick from certain quarters, and who are  now in office.  Without that cash they wouldn't have a pot to pee in.   All fur coat and no knickers springs to mind.

We have Lift OFF

Well somebody did tell them that the July 30th minutes of the parish council were lacking in content and we now have the complete document mysteriously worded of course to keep us in the dark as to the actual conversations.  We also don't have to use our zoom button to read, which makes a pleasant change.

We still don't know when Network Rail are coming back to complete the bodged first attempt of the railway bridges.  Mind you an improvement to the railway crossings will be welcome, for those of us stuck at Haxey Gate for hours (feels like) when the train must surely be still somewhere near Gainsborough.

The wriggling starts around the Misterton Centre, half of them don't want it I understand, because it was linked to previous parish council members.  What they really want to do is duck out at the first opportunity and spend on the old library.  At least some members have budgetary concerns, but not enough it would seem since they are to make an offer for the site and the field at the rear in line with the valuation.  However you have to remember that this was July and things have moved on a bit since then, namely interest from other parties, hence the lot going up for auction.

While I've no objection to land purchase, if only to stop further building, buying the old library site is fraught with trouble and expense, more than we can afford, not to mention the additional costs of  demolition and removal of asbestos.  Then what, a full rebuild and at what cost to current and future Misterton residents. West Stockwith has a small village hall, but then it has nothing else, similar to other villages which have nothing but their village hall.  Misterton has an abundance of buildings that can be used and that's the problem.  Mind you if only 40 odd people turn up for an important meeting you could stuff them into the Church Hall.

Well we could rabbit about this for ever, but lets wait for more up to date developments.

Somebody tries to make a shilling with a business in Misterton, which is an agricultural area and they stab them in the back.  Planning permission wanted on the ground behind the Social Club agreed, then some bugger throws his oar in.  What is wrong with them.  They object to one caravan, needed to be on site to tend animals, and a lot of them.  Something wrong there, very wrong. 

Still not GOOD ENOUGH

Well we have a correct set of minutes on the parish council website for the 30th July, only thing is there is only one page, and it's a blow up job to get them to a decent size to read, so somebody is not checking what they are doing or what they have done.  Very poor show.

Network Rail were at the meeting but what was said and done is not shown.  Problems with the parking on the Pudge, don't think the police will be really interested in that.  Damage to the wall of of the fabulous garden still not been settled, being pursued, well it is October now and when was it done, beginning of the year?

Anyway the bits what we really wanted to know are missing, or maybe it's deliberate to put us of the scent and keep us in the dark, especially when they are plotting to spend our money and hang a mortgage round our necks.  Let's hope somebody complains.

Accounts for 2012/2013

Well since there is nothing of real interest to tell you, and although the the latest minutes are on the parish council website but not on!  Two copies of the same set of minutes instead of the correct ones, so somebody wants a bollocking, I've decided to show the accounts, which although published on the website are not distributed around the village in hard copy like they used to be.  Since nobody usually looks on the website this seems a tad nontransparent, especially since how they spend our money is something we are all interested in.  I hope you can read them.

            

Keep an eye on your dog

Just when I thought nothing was happening of interest I heard this.

Lady taking the dog for walk (on a lead), stops to take stone out of her shoe, still holding lead, and some bugger stops his car and nips out and pinches the dog.  Fortunately it was found days later tied up outside the vets, so either too old to breed or neutered, for a good job.   Not the first time this has happened recently, by all accounts.  The buggers want catching and  soon, because if they get caught on the job there could be a few sore heads.  What with attempted burglaries, burglaries, laser lights through windows and other skulduggery, they must think we are a soft touch.

New business opening I hear, a new cycle store in Misterton, which is very brave.. The grand opening of Cycle Barn, takes place on Saturday 28th September, from 9.30 until 6.  Cycle servicing, repair, and sales unit above the Dovecote Café, Grovewood Road.  On the opening day, there will be drinks and nibbles, and anyone making a purchase will be entered into a prize draw. Owners, Nikki and Ben Jaggard-Smith, are selling bikes and accessories, and doing cycle repairs and servicing, and are looking at expanding into cycle hire.  They are  also going to start a cycling club with evening and weekend rides.  Just what you want to get the fat off your backside and belly.

Nothing further on the library auction yet, but I'm keeping an eye out for it.

A bit of this and a bit of that

Well the railway people look like they have run the job and supposedly not back until the end of the year although of course this is only gossip.  Cranes have been and cranes have gone, Soss Lane being the straw that broke the camel's back, no room to manoeuvre.  So they have left mighty big piles of this and that and left a bit of a trail of destruction.  No wonder the railways are in trouble if they carry on like this; doesn't anybody do a proper surveys now?  Concrete is coming from Ireland now, to do the bridge on Soss, again bits of gossip, so that should be interesting, assuming of course any of the stuff they have left is still here when they come back.

Article in Gainsborough Standard about that historic landmark, the Victoria Institute!  I shall wait with baited breath for the for sale sign going up.

According to the parish council agenda, they are considering a property strategy.  Don't like the sound of that, especially since the old library site is an item in the confidential session.  I have heard that they intend to put a bid in for library site, which given the potential for that site, will have to involve borrowing a lot of money. Knock it down and rebuild, a village hall?  Do we want one?  What ever happens some people appear to have grandiose ideas the cost of which residents are going to have to pay for years.  Bet we don't have a public meeting for that.  It is to be hoped that we have a few level headed members on the parish council to burst that balloon before it gets over inflated.  Try to borrow money on our behalf and you might find that whilst there was apathy on the Victoria Institute there is a completely different attitude on borrowing money, particularly when many of us already have mortgages to pay off and children to raise (and boy do they cost you money).  A substantial  rise in our council tax to pay for this, I don't think so.

A Result - SELL

Well I have to admit I didn't attend THE meeting, got a call out.  But, I have been able to fish around since and got a nice picture of the proceedings and a nice little nugget that has been passed to me for which I am truly grateful. 

Fewer residents than last time attended, which gives you an idea of the interest in this derelict building.  Despite the agenda being nice and simple, apparently some wanted to extend proceedings to argue the lost cause, which was expected.  In particular some trustees of the trust were spouting to the bitter end, unable to face facts.

In particular, one resident /trustee babbled about costs of insurance etc and how these had come down in recent years.  Not sure how she arrives at that considering this:

£10,000 on a feasibility study that might have been a grant but still came out of the pockets of Nottinghamshire residents.  Repairs costs in the intervening years since 2010, insurance premiums.  A tidy sum, to come to a conclusion that was arrived at in March 2010.  Well what happened, well bit of a long story but read this:
                                           _______________________________________

MISTERTON COMMUNITY TRUST

PUBLIC MEETING

SATURDAY 6^TH MARCH, 2010

CHURCH ROOM, MISTERTON

1.         ATTENDANCE

            Councillor H. M. Brand, Chairman of Misterton Parish Council, chaired the meeting.  Also in attendance were 43 inhabitants of the Parish of Misterton, aged eighteen and over, together with the Clerk to the Parish Council, Mr. D. Wright.  Councillor C. Burton (Misterton Parish Council – Walkeringham resident) and District Councillor R. A. Simpson were present as observers.

2.         INTRODUCTION

            Councillor Brand welcomed everyone to the meeting, and began by referring to the agenda, which invited the meeting to consider the following resolution:

            ‘We, inhabitants of the area of benefit of 18 years and upward, agree to the sale of the land and premises known as Misterton Victoria Institute.’

            Councillor Brand explained that, although the published notice of meeting also referred to the possibility of the building being demolished and the site being redeveloped as a sensory garden, advice received from the Charity Commission the previous day indicated that that was not a legal possibility.

            Councillor Brand then read out the relevant advice from the Charity Commission, which was:

            “Having checked the governing document of the charity, a Scheme dated 1 March 2006; the object of the charity is, ‘the provision and maintenance of a village hall for use by the inhabitants of the area of benefit’.

            “Clause (2) refers; ‘The land identified must be retained by the trustee for use for the object of the charity’.  If this cannot be done, then the objects of the charity have failed.

            “In these circumstances, it is not acceptable to keep the land for different purposes other than a village hall.  It would be in the best interests of the charity to sell the village hall on the open market, and obtain the best possible price, applying the income from the proceeds of sale for the benefit of the inhabitants, as determined in the Scheme.”

Councillor Brand then gave a brief presentation of the history of the building and its recent demise.  The building fell on hard times in 2002, when it was abandoned by its trustees.  It was then badly vandalised, and the interior was rendered derelict.  Over the next four years, the Parish Council voluntarily carried out repair and safety works, and eventually assumed trusteeship in 2006, together with responsibility for the Village Hall (former Temperance Hall).  The new charity was named ‘Misterton Community Trust’.

The Parish Council decided that the building had no future as a village hall in 2006, and called a public meeting, as required by the Scheme, on 10^th June, 2006.  At that meeting it was unanimously agreed to begin talks with the County Council about the possibility of incorporating the building into a rationalisation programme involving all the public buildings at School Corner.  Unfortunately, those discussions ground to a halt in July, 2009, when the County Council made it clear that the Victoria Institute no longer figured in its plans.

The Parish Council then formed a working group, comprising parish councillors and residents, to look at possible uses for the building.  Unfortunately, no viable and sustainable use had been identified.

In the circumstances, the Parish Council had recently decided that the building should be either sold on the open market (she gave details of expressions of interest already received) or, if legally possible, demolished and the site redeveloped as a sensory garden.

Maintaining the building in its present boarded-up state was a drain on the finances of Misterton Community Trust, which largely represented the balance of the capital receipt of the sale of the Village Hall.  If these funds were eventually used up, financial responsibility would then fall on the Misterton council taxpayers.  Insurance was the main expense, although the Parish Council’s insurers had indicated that the premium would reduce in 2010/11. 

The building continued to deteriorate, and the Parish Council, as trustee, was under a legal duty to act in the best interests of the trust.

At the conclusion of Councillor Brand’s presentation, the Clerk explained that it was now the responsibility of the meeting, as required by the Scheme, to decide whether the building should be sold on the open market.

The Clerk also explained that, at a meeting with the Charity Commission in 2005, senior Charity Commission officers had advised caution over attempting to revive failed charitable buildings, as, although done with the best of intentions, such initiatives were often unsuccessful, leading to a loss of public money.      

3.         DISCUSSION

A discussion then followed, at which the following main views emerged:

·         The Victoria Institute was an important Misterton feature, with considerable history, and every effort should be made to retain it as a charitably-owned amenity.

·         The Parish Council had not done enough to find a sustainable charitable use for the building – disputed by Councillor Brand.

·         The Parish Council was accused of acting too hastily, in an effort to market the building before the forthcoming Parish Council elections.  The matter should be left to the newly elected Parish Council.

·         The Misterton Centre should be relocated into the Victoria Institute – the Clerk explained why this suggestion was not viable.

·         Retention of the Victoria Institute as a village hall was a more viable proposition than creating a community centre at Millennium House.

·         A resident who had discussed the matter with the Charity Commission indicated that it was legally possible for Misterton Community Trust to gift the building to another charity – this was not an option given in the legal advice received from the Charity Commission.

·         With a question mark over the future of the Methodist Hall, it made sense to retain the Victoria Institute as a charitable building for a little longer, as further deterioration would be limited in the short term.

·         Although the Clerk assured the meeting that the grassed area to the rear of the building was not owned by Misterton Community Trust, Councillor Trossell and Mr. Stead argued that it was.

4.         CONCLUSION

Councillor Trossell moved, and Mr. Stead seconded, the following motion:

‘That consideration of the future of the Victoria Institute be deferred for a year, on the basis that the 2010/11 insurance premium would be met by Councillor Trossell and other friends of the Victoria Institute’.

The Clerk suggested that the resolution proposed by the Parish Council should first be disposed of, but Mr. Stead protested that, as Councillor Trossell’s motion was an amendment, it should be taken first.  The Clerk said that he didn’t mind which way it was done, as the object of the exercise was to ascertain the views of those present.

Councillor Brand then put Councillor Trossell’s motion to the vote, when there were 32 residents in favour and 7 against, and the motion was carried.

The resolution proposed by the Parish Council was not, in the circumstances, put to the vote.   

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Interesting and very embarrassing for certain people especially considering it is now September 2013. Mind you, they've only just decided to sell and if they drag their feet!  Well you know what they say, it's not over until the fat lady sings.