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Parish council meeting - Barry Hope (21st Jan 2009 - 13:53:47) Hi all Just wanted to remind you that there is a parish council meeting on Monday 26th in the parish office at 8pm. I have three motions on the agenda, one of which is to ask for the councils agreement that we attach some financial information to the minutes as well as posting them on the pc website and notice boards. I have asked for this to be agreed so that the pc can demonstrate its commitment to openness and transparency in the reporting of financial affairs. Councillors will also be electing a vice chair to the council following Nikkis resignation You can access a copy of the last minutes and the agenda for Monday night on the parish council web site www.bramshottandliphook-pc.gov.uk Best wishes Barry

Re: Parish council meeting - Dawn Hoskins (23rd Jan 2009 - 09:37:04) Hello Barry Won't local people be electing a replacement for Nikki? How will one be elected if we don't know who may be standing - sorry I am confused. Dawn

Re: Parish council meeting - Barry Hope (23rd Jan 2009 - 14:26:01) Hi Dawn Sorry, should make it clear. Nikkis position as parish councillor will either be elected by the people if there is a by-election called for by parishioners or by co-option process by councillors if there is no by election called. In order for a by-election to be held there must be a request in writing signed by ten parishioners of Bramshott and Liphook Parish which is then submitted to EHDC within 14 working days of the notice of vacancy for a councillor (which was the 12th January). This is different to Chairs and Vice-Chairs (of council or committees) who are not elected by the public but instead chosen (elected) by councillors from within the council. So Nikki's replacement as Vice Chair of the council and Chair of the Liphook Millennium Centre Management Committee will be chosen by the other councillors and if there is more than one nomination for the positions then councillors will choose (elect) the replacement by holding a vote amongst themselves. Hope this makes it clear. If you are still unsure please give me a call and I will explain. Best wishes Barry

Re: Parish council meeting - Dawn Hoskins (24th Jan 2009 - 19:00:15) I think the most democtratic way is to vote. How do I (as a parishoner) know who the current council might choose? Please tell me where to sign.

Re: Parish council meeting - Barry Hope (24th Jan 2009 - 19:30:28) Hi Dawn I agree. It is the democratic right of everyone to call a by-election if they choose to do so, just as it is their right to stand for election as I and others did at the last by-election. I would be more than happy to point yourself and any others in the right direction, either to call a by-election or to put themselves forward for election if that happens. If you or others want to call me please do so and in the meantime I will make some enquiries around the village to see if there is anyone else thinking along the same lines. It would only take ten names. Best wishes Barry

Re: Parish council meeting - Mike Grimes (24th Jan 2009 - 23:37:37) Dawn, If you prepare the letter asking for an election, I'll sign it. I do not think the constituency of the council is such, yet, to trust a co-option. But we can get there. I expect the incumbent councillors will bleat about the cost of such an election and probably threaten to add a few quid to our council tax but democracy is worth that.

Re: Parish council meeting - Phil McNamara (25th Jan 2009 - 12:00:58) If all councillors are to held to their pre-election statements around fairness, democracy and transparency then there is NO other possibility for the Council but to hold an election. The cost is irrelevant. Co-opting an individual of the Council's internal choice would not be acceptable under any circumstances. Happy to co-sign said letter.

Re: Parish council meeting - Eneida (25th Jan 2009 - 15:17:36) Dawn, I agree that it's important to hold an election rather than co-op some faceless person and would like to sign the letter too....how do we go about doing it? Can it be a virtual letter? BTW....if you can spare the time, I think you would make an excellent councillor!!! Eneida

Re: Parish council meeting - Darren Ellis (26th Jan 2009 - 08:53:14) To all, Just a thought, as we've just had (and paid for) a parish election, why don't the council ask/co-opt the third place candidate in the last election? Seems to tick all the boxes to me..... save money and elect a voted for councillor...... or is that too simple? (not that I voted for him either) What's everyones thoughts? Darren

Re: Parish council meeting - bill mouland (26th Jan 2009 - 12:27:15) That's far too logical, Darren. They'll probably try to co-opt the bloke who came last! However, I think your idea should be supported. So let's hear it for Kay Murray, who came third, and if she doesn't want to do it, Nick Wells, who was fourth.

Re: Parish council meeting - Dawn Hoskins (27th Jan 2009 - 10:27:45) I suppose we ought to check to see if they are all still willing to stand before we get excited about it! If you are reading - can you tell us. If you are not - you should be!!

Re: Parish council meeting - Dawn Hoskins (28th Jan 2009 - 13:47:51) Hello councillors, (I know a few of you read this) Can we have an update on this please. Have you had 10 names returned or will there be a co-option. Also, does anyone know how the Liphook Herald got the figure of £9,000 as the cost of the last by-election? thanks Dawn

Re: Parish council meeting - barbara (28th Jan 2009 - 16:13:52) Hi Dawn, the letters requesting the bi election get sent in direct to EHDC so we at the Parish do not know how many they recieved there until afterwards. A communication arrives from EHDC With regard to the cost, that information would also have been sent to the Parish Office from EHDC. I presume that the reporter thought there was a story tp be made. This information on cost was not released to all councillors until mondays monthly parish meeting.

Re: Parish council meeting - Barry Hope (28th Jan 2009 - 17:16:19) Dawn Barbara is right, the form or letters from parishioners requesting a by-election go direct to democratic services in EHDC. They then respond by announcing this publicly and informing the Parish Council that this is the case. The Parish Council have no say in the process and are entirely in the hands of the public and the EHDC process. The deadline for submission of any request is this Thursday the 29th Jan so we will have to wait for a little while before we know the outcome. Once the election is called (if indeed that is to be the case) then the costs are also out of the PC's hands even though they have to pay the final bill. The figure of >£9,000 mentioned in the press recently was confirmed at last Mondays meeting as being the case and questions were raised by council as to why such a steep increase over the usual £4-5,000. The answer seems to be due to EHDC deciding to outsource the printing of the postal ballots and other election material required for the by-election to take place. The PC had only originally budgeted circa £5k as this is the usual amount they would expect in a year which would have equated to one by-election per year. It seems that the PC will now have to budget for a higher cost in future years. Mind you, it may be that in some years there are no by-elections and therefore no associated costs so, over time, it may even out. Hope this helps. Barry

Re: Parish council meeting - Barry Hope (29th Jan 2009 - 09:18:30) Hi I also wanted to let you know that I had three motions on the agenda for last Monday nights full council meeting. They were: 1. To ask the council to write to Chief Inspector Kedge giving their moral support to the Streetwatch scheme. This was agreed. 2. In order to demonstrate and improve the council’s commitment to openness, communication and transparency, I asked the council to attach a copy of the receipts, payments and balance sheet with every copy of the minutes published on the web site and issued to the public. They cannot be added to the minutes that are on the notice boards because there is not enough room but anyone who is interested can ask for a copy in the parish office. This will enable anyone who wants to attend a meeting and ask relevant questions to have the information at hand when they do so. This was agreed so you should be able to access them with greater ease shortly. 3. To ask the council to agree to the formation of a Disability Access Monitoring Forum. The purpose of this forum would be to seek involvement by representatives of local disability related groups, organisations and individuals with a related interest to ensure that any access or other issues in Bramshott and Liphook parish are addressed. This forum would report to full council with any recommendations for action. This was also agreed by council. If anyone out there has any sensible suggestions about what they would like to see improved or introduced please let me know and I will always be happy to consider putting them to council if appropriate and relevant to Liphook. Best wishes Barry

Re: Parish council meeting - Dawn Hoskins (29th Jan 2009 - 09:58:45) Hi Barry Could you give us an insight as to how these things work? So, you put forward a motion - then what? Does it get agreed to at the meeting, or is it considered and addressed at the next meeting? I am interested as to how the cogs turn. Dawn

Re: Parish council meeting - Barry Hope (29th Jan 2009 - 15:50:04) Dawn in answer to your question the following is an extract from the PC Standing Orders 7. MOTIONS 7.1 Scope of Motions. Every motion shall be relevant to some matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Parish. 7.2 Notices. Notice of every motion, other than a motion which under SO 7.4 may be moved without notice, shall be given in writing, signed by the member or members of the Council giving the notice, and delivered to the Clerk at the Parish Office, by 9.00 am on the sixth clear day prior to the day of the meeting (normally Tuesday). The notice of motion will be duly signed and dated by the Clerk, and entered in a book in the order it was received. The book shall be open for inspection by every member of the Council during Parish Office opening hours. The name of the member proposing the motion, if possible, will be included on the agenda. Standing orders are a set of rules by which the council is governed and has to operate under to comply with legislation. They follow a basic principle but can be altered or amended by council following a motion brought by a councillor or councillors. When the motion on the agenda of a meeting is reached it is proposed by the councillor originating it. It then needs someone to second it. Once this has happened it can be debated and discussed. Amendments and alterations to the wording can be made by agreement and voting. It then has to be voted on by council. If it receives a majority vote in favour then it is passed and can be actioned. If the vote is a majority against it then it is lost and cannot be auctioned and is effectively binned. If you fancy a little light bedtime relief you can see a full copy of the Standing Orders and other such interesting bits on the PC website the link to which is on the left of this page. Hope this is useful. Next question please ;) Kind regards Barry

Re: Parish council meeting - Barry Hope (29th Jan 2009 - 21:02:53) By the way Dawn, I didn't mean that a lost motion cannot then be "AUCTIONED". This was a typo due to an overzealous spell checker, it should have been "Actioned". Mind you there may be some merit in auctioning off lost motions (No....lets not go down that route...) Barry

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