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