Cllr E Tucker advised that she had given the paper from the new Public Transport Group to the scrutiny team and she understood it would be considered by them in due course. 015. World War One Commemmoration a. Cllr Rowley reminded members of the agreement to put £5,000 p.a. in to a reserve for a celebration of the end of War One in 2018. It was agreed the permanent memorial was the proposed stained glass window in the cemetery chapel and that the celebration take the form of a concert on Abbey Park in September 2018. As Cllr Parsons had been largely responsible for the Millennium and Jubilee concerts members agreed he be to start preparations for the event and report back to council in due course. 016. Co-option Members there was currently one vacancy on the Town Council and agreed to authorize the Clerk to advertise the vacancy for co-option. 017. Quality Gold Status The Clerk outlined various criteria that had to be met to enable the Council to achieve Quality Gold Status and members agreed:- a. to provide the Clerk with a short profile for the web site. b. to fund training for the 4 new councilors through CALC to a maximum of £200 from funds in reserves. c. To attend planning training as provided by the District Council for all 3 towns. d. to authorize the Clerk to ascertain the cost of ask providing training for all councilors at the Town Hall. In addition the Clerk advised that she would need to attend various conferences and training to achieve 12 continuous professional development points as required. 018. Reports from representatives of outside bodies/portfolio holders Cllr Wood advised that due to her additional responsibilities at the District Council she would prefer to relinquish her position as representative for the Citizens Advice Bureau. Cllr Speight volunteered to take on this role and then Clerk will advise the organization accordingly. There were no other reports. 019. County Council Services Cllr E Tucker advised that it was hoped there may be some improvements to the Plumline service with possible additional lunchtime and Saturday services. She also advised that the County Council had agreed to talk to Warwickshire County Council about the feasibility of extending the Sunday bus from Pershore to Stratford but officers did want some assurance that this was a priority for Pershore residents. Cllr Tucker also advised that any spare funds were being used by officers to help make routes more commercial rather than adding new routes to the service. Any new routes would need to be funded by local residents and parishes.
The Northern Link road was now being seen as a priority by the County Council and members expressed their appreciation for this understanding. The day care centre relocation was generally supported and it was anticipated the move would take place in Spring 2016. 020. District Council Services a. The Clerk was authorized to complete the Street Trading Consultation on line by answering “no” to all the questions. b. The advised that a teleconference had taken place with all parties concerning the railway station car park and all issues resolved although the timescale had now extended somewhat. c. The Clerk advised that the District Council had drafted a Street Collection Licence policy based upon the Town Council’s and this would be consulted upon once it had been approved by the District Council. d. Cllr Tucker advised members that changes at the District Council meant that Cllr Wood was now Chairman and he congratulated her. Cllr Mrs Linda Robinson was the new Leader with Cllr Lyn Duffy Deputy Leader. Committees and portfolios had been changed somewhat and were now three panels for Localism. One would deal with S106/NHB/CIL The second would deal with the Town Economy and Cllrs Tucker and Wood would serve on this The third would deal with the Rural Economy 021. Items for information a. The Clerk distributed an open letter from NALC to all members. b. The Clerk advised that various thank you letters had been received from organisations who had recently received grants from the Town Council. c. The Clerk advised that a street collection licence and been issued to Pershore Volunteer Centre for 6th June. 022. Items for future agenda were none. Exclusion of the Public and Press Owing to the confidential nature of the following agenda items it was proposed by Cllr Watt seconded by Cllr Gillmor and RESOLVED “that in accordance with the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act, 1960, as amended by the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting owing to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted” ie: agenda item 26 Cremation Facility 023. Cremation Facility