Minutes of the Meeting held on 12th May 2009
Minutes remain in draft until ratified at the next Council meeting
* SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION
AT MEETING ON May 12th 2009 *
Minutes remain in draft until ratified at the next Council meeting
PRESENT:
Cllrs J. Ford (Chairman), K. Lewis (Vice-Chairman), B. Usborne, P. Hammond,
E. Stacey, M. Patte, S. Carleton-Smith; Viv Robins (Clerk).
09/40 Election of Chairman: Cllr Lewis took the chair as Vice-Chairman. Cllr Ford was nominated by Cllr Usborne, seconded by Cllr Stacey, and re-elected as Chairman nem con. Cllr Ford resumed the chair.
09/41 Election of Vice-Chairman: Cllr Lewis was nominated by Cllr Carleton-Smith, seconded by Cllr Hammond, and re-elected as Vice-Chairman nem con.
09/42 Apologies for absence: District Cllr Nick Rose.
09/43 Allocation of footpath responsibilities: responsibilities were re-confirmed as follows:
09/44 Representation on Committees: Cllrs Carleton-Smith and Ford were re-confirmed as Trustees of the Old Church. Cllr Ford was to be the P.C. representative on the new Local Area Forum. Cllr Lewis would attend meetings of the Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) on an ad hoc basis.
09/45 Standing orders of May 12th 2005 (including financial procedures) were re-confirmed.
09/46 Risk assessment plan of November 8th 2005 was re-confirmed.
09/47 Minutes of meeting March 10th 2009 were approved and signed.
09/48 Matters arising from Minutes not elsewhere on the Agenda:
09/50 Declarations of interest on forthcoming business: As a member of the CDC Planning Committee Cllr Stacey would take no part in discussion of planning applications.
09/51 Planning applications: The Council agreed to return no objection to planning applications:
The Clerk reported that the appeal APP/XO415/A/08/2088643 by the owners of Elmwood Kennels, Swan Bottom, against a condition of planning permission had been successful, and they had thanked the Parish Council for its support.
09/52 Post-box for Shop: The Clerk reported that the Humphreys family which now owned the old Post Office would have no objection to a new pedestal box being sited there, while the original pillar box was transferred to the Shop. Chris Messam at Royal Mail was happy to go ahead on this understanding and was asking for a site meeting. Cllr Usborne said the Shop Committee would discuss the preferred location for the postbox at its meeting on May 27th and report back.
09/53 Footpaths: Cllr Ford said the occupants of Kiln Cottage had re-applied to get footpath 16 diverted away from their back garden. It was agreed that the Parish Council would support their application and Cllr Usborne would encourage the Ramblers’ Association to come out and have a look at what was a very anomalous situation.
09/54 Council property: Cllr Hammond said he had talked to All Seasons about cutting the grass on part of the allotment once a week to allow a pair of goal-posts to be placed there: the extra cost would be £400-500 p.a. A set of five- or six-a-side goalposts for 14-16-year-olds would cost up to £400: he would try and refine the quotes.
Cllr Usborne said the Shop had considered extending the car park tarmacadam to the area where the bins were stored to create some extra parking: at the Committee meeting on 27th May he would raise the possibility of it being used as a basketball/netball pitch when not needed for cars, with costs to be split with the Parish Council. Cllr Patte would check whether area would be big enough for basketball court, plus likely costs.
The Clerk reported that the manufacturer of the climbing frame on the playground was not legally obliged to rectify the defects identified by PlaySafety: she had asked them to recommend remedial action when they conducted their next annual survey some time this month. A quote had been received from a company called Digley Associates offering a cheaper inspection service: she would investigate in time for next year’s inspection.
The Parish Council agreed that the three-monthly allotment inspections would be discontinued: instead Cllr Lewis would report any problems spotted while working her own allotment, and the setting up of a Tenants’ Association would be encouraged so they could channel any concerns back to the Parish Council.
The Clerk had written to Eric Coles saying that sadly the Parish Council was unable to proceed with his quote for restoring the War Memorial but thanking him for drawing its attention to the crack at the base of the cross. Cllr Usborne had had some discussion with Nick Humphreys about doing the work and the Clerk had subsequently written to ask him for a formal quote. A conference entitled “Looking After War Memorials” was being held on 15th July and it was agreed the Clerk would attend if possible.
09/55 Reports from organisations where Council is represented: None.
09/56 Traffic Management: Nothing to report.
09/57 Road maintenance: The Clerk said she had had a reply from the Area Technician Mike Barber to her letter of April 2nd listing the pot-holes she and Cllr Usborne had identified on a tour of the Parish. It was agreed that Cllr Ford would scan both letters and circulate them to Councillors so they could decide on the next step in getting these problems rectified.
09/58 Reports of crime and disorder: Nothing to report.
09/59 2008/9 Accounts: these had been previously circulated and were approved (prop. Cllr Lewis, sec. Cllr Carleton-Smith).
09/60 Annual governance statement: this was also approved (prop. Cllr Usborne, sec. Cllr Patte).
09/61 Finance: Cllrs approved the Financial Report and Budget Review (previously circulated), plus the drawing of the following cheques:
The meeting closed at 10.45 pm.
09/40 Election of Chairman: Cllr Lewis took the chair as Vice-Chairman. Cllr Ford was nominated by Cllr Usborne, seconded by Cllr Stacey, and re-elected as Chairman nem con. Cllr Ford resumed the chair.
09/41 Election of Vice-Chairman: Cllr Lewis was nominated by Cllr Carleton-Smith, seconded by Cllr Hammond, and re-elected as Vice-Chairman nem con.
09/42 Apologies for absence: District Cllr Nick Rose.
09/43 Allocation of footpath responsibilities: responsibilities were re-confirmed as follows:
Area I: Pat Chinnery;
Area II: Cllr Patte;
Area III: Cllr Ford;
Area IV: Cllr Lewis;
Area V: Cllr Carleton-Smith;
Area VI: Cllr Hammond;
Area VII: Cllr Usborne.
09/44 Representation on Committees: Cllrs Carleton-Smith and Ford were re-confirmed as Trustees of the Old Church. Cllr Ford was to be the P.C. representative on the new Local Area Forum. Cllr Lewis would attend meetings of the Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) on an ad hoc basis.
09/45 Standing orders of May 12th 2005 (including financial procedures) were re-confirmed.
09/46 Risk assessment plan of November 8th 2005 was re-confirmed.
09/47 Minutes of meeting March 10th 2009 were approved and signed.
09/48 Matters arising from Minutes not elsewhere on the Agenda:
Minute 09/23: farm complained about by Nick Rose was a chicken not a turkey farm;09/49 Report from County Cllr: Cllr Birchley reported that she had been out with the Chairman of Bucks CC David Shakespeare to look at the state of the roads. A new contractor had started work in April and there was more money for repairs in the Budget, so she was hopeful some improvements would soon be seen.
Minute 09/22: Clerk reported that Bucks County Council Transportation Dept. was refusing to install a sign to the Parish Shop at junction of Red Lion Hill and Lee Clump Rd. despite further representations.
09/50 Declarations of interest on forthcoming business: As a member of the CDC Planning Committee Cllr Stacey would take no part in discussion of planning applications.
09/51 Planning applications: The Council agreed to return no objection to planning applications:
- CH/09/0494 Juniper Cottage, Oxford St., Lee Common,
- CH/09/0294 Errewig View, Lee Common,
- CH/09/0400 Pipers, The Lee, or
- CH/09/0507BCC Land at Arrewig Lane, The Lee (loam extraction).
The Clerk reported that the appeal APP/XO415/A/08/2088643 by the owners of Elmwood Kennels, Swan Bottom, against a condition of planning permission had been successful, and they had thanked the Parish Council for its support.
09/52 Post-box for Shop: The Clerk reported that the Humphreys family which now owned the old Post Office would have no objection to a new pedestal box being sited there, while the original pillar box was transferred to the Shop. Chris Messam at Royal Mail was happy to go ahead on this understanding and was asking for a site meeting. Cllr Usborne said the Shop Committee would discuss the preferred location for the postbox at its meeting on May 27th and report back.
09/53 Footpaths: Cllr Ford said the occupants of Kiln Cottage had re-applied to get footpath 16 diverted away from their back garden. It was agreed that the Parish Council would support their application and Cllr Usborne would encourage the Ramblers’ Association to come out and have a look at what was a very anomalous situation.
09/54 Council property: Cllr Hammond said he had talked to All Seasons about cutting the grass on part of the allotment once a week to allow a pair of goal-posts to be placed there: the extra cost would be £400-500 p.a. A set of five- or six-a-side goalposts for 14-16-year-olds would cost up to £400: he would try and refine the quotes.
Cllr Usborne said the Shop had considered extending the car park tarmacadam to the area where the bins were stored to create some extra parking: at the Committee meeting on 27th May he would raise the possibility of it being used as a basketball/netball pitch when not needed for cars, with costs to be split with the Parish Council. Cllr Patte would check whether area would be big enough for basketball court, plus likely costs.
The Clerk reported that the manufacturer of the climbing frame on the playground was not legally obliged to rectify the defects identified by PlaySafety: she had asked them to recommend remedial action when they conducted their next annual survey some time this month. A quote had been received from a company called Digley Associates offering a cheaper inspection service: she would investigate in time for next year’s inspection.
The Parish Council agreed that the three-monthly allotment inspections would be discontinued: instead Cllr Lewis would report any problems spotted while working her own allotment, and the setting up of a Tenants’ Association would be encouraged so they could channel any concerns back to the Parish Council.
The Clerk had written to Eric Coles saying that sadly the Parish Council was unable to proceed with his quote for restoring the War Memorial but thanking him for drawing its attention to the crack at the base of the cross. Cllr Usborne had had some discussion with Nick Humphreys about doing the work and the Clerk had subsequently written to ask him for a formal quote. A conference entitled “Looking After War Memorials” was being held on 15th July and it was agreed the Clerk would attend if possible.
09/55 Reports from organisations where Council is represented: None.
09/56 Traffic Management: Nothing to report.
09/57 Road maintenance: The Clerk said she had had a reply from the Area Technician Mike Barber to her letter of April 2nd listing the pot-holes she and Cllr Usborne had identified on a tour of the Parish. It was agreed that Cllr Ford would scan both letters and circulate them to Councillors so they could decide on the next step in getting these problems rectified.
09/58 Reports of crime and disorder: Nothing to report.
09/59 2008/9 Accounts: these had been previously circulated and were approved (prop. Cllr Lewis, sec. Cllr Carleton-Smith).
09/60 Annual governance statement: this was also approved (prop. Cllr Usborne, sec. Cllr Patte).
09/61 Finance: Cllrs approved the Financial Report and Budget Review (previously circulated), plus the drawing of the following cheques:
- V. Robins x 3 (invoice no. 56: £238.62/cheque no. 100518; invoice no. 57: £27.17/cheque no. 100519; invoice no. 58: 250.00/cheque no. 100520);
- The Chiltern Society (ref. 706: £25.00/cheque no. 100521);
- All Seasons x 2 (invoice no. ASL080163: £60.00/cheque no. 100522; invoice no. ASL080178: £130/cheque no. 100523);
- B.N.L. Insurance (policy no. 24414511 CHC: £670.89/cheque no. 100524).
- The transfer of £1500 from the Community Account to the Business Money Manager Account was approved.
The meeting closed at 10.45 pm.
Viv Robins (Clerk)