Before the meeting Mr. John Cave, project manager for the Whittington Village Hall refurbishment, gave a short presentation. He gave a brief explanation of the planned project and the costs and offered written details of the funding required, bodies to whom application for grants towards the funding have been made and the scheme of work. He then answered questions.

770. PRESENT: Cllr. S. Close
     Cllr. G. Hodgson
     Cllr. J.E. Lawson
     Cllr. R Mackereth
     Cllr. E. Pelter
     PC. P. Winder
     
     APOLOGIES: : City Cllr. J. Airey CSO.D. Gwilliam

771. . MINUTES of the last meeting were agreed and signed.

772. POLICE REPORT: PC. Winder was pleased to report no crimes in the parish since the last meeting.

773. MATTERS ARISING: Despite Cllr. Close reporting te problem to Highways Dept., the hole in the road at Docker remains. Further representation to be made to the council.

774. CORRESPONDENCE: Various items had been received and were noted.

775. FINANCES: Current Acc. £1552.41; Bonus Savings Acc. £2240.61+ interest(£17 approx) Ch. No.000289 for £250 (Clerk's salary) was authorised and signed at the meeting.
     A request from the PCC for financial assistance with cleaning the cenotaph was considered. Councillors requested more information about the cost and will consider the matter again when this is to hand.
     Councillors resolved to request a precept of £2750, the same as last year.
     The Clerk was asked to enquire whether Whittington Hall Estates wish to take the shooting rights on the Town Quarry for a further period on the same terms.
     A request for funding towards the proposed refurbishment of Whittington Village Hall was raised by Cllr. Close who is the Parish Council's representative on that committee. Cllrs. Mackereth and Pelter, being officers on the Village Hall Committee, declared their interest and chose to withdraw.
     After discussion the remaining councillors resolved unanimously to offer £2000 towards the funding of the project when it goes ahead. The money to be paid from the Maintenance Fund(Bonus Savings Acc.)

776. PLANNING: Permission received for:
     Application No. 05/01163/FUL
     For; Erection of extension to form ground floor garage and workroom with first floor studio.
     For: Mr. L. Searby
     At: 1 Crosslands, Whittington.
     And:
     Application no. 05/01348/FUL
     For: Erection of two storey extension to provide garage, utility room, kitchen, bedroom with en-suite and loft room.
     For: Mr and Mrs Penfold
     At: 1, Docker Lane, Newton.
     
     

777. OTHER MATTERS: Cllr Hodgson reported on the Local Development Framework seminar. Cllrs. studied old council documents recently found by Mr and Mrs John Pinch and decided to store them with other similar papers.
     Cllr. Hodgson requested that he be allowed to lay a membrane covered with bark chippings beneath the public seats . The Council was in agreement.
     Cllrs. Hodgson and Pelter had both heard the Whittington Village website praised highly at meetings and wished to record the parish council's appreciation of John Keegan's work on the village's behalf.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.30pm.
The next meeting is on Tuesday March 7th at 8pm