Minutes of the Meeting held on 10th January
2012
Minutes remain in draft until ratified at the next Council meeting
PRESENT: Cllrs J. Ford (Chairman); D. Chinnery, P Hammond, F. Nichols, E Stacey, M. Patte,
Apologies: S. Carleton-Smith, Christine Thomas (Clerk).
12/01 Minutes : The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November (previously circulated) were approved and signed as a true record.
12/02 Matters Arising from Previous Minutes: The donation of £504 towards Parish funds relating to the lifting of the caution on Nanton had been received (Minute 10/103).
12/03 Report from County/District Councillor:
Cllr Birchley reported that the announcement concerning HS2 had been made and that she had recently attended meetings where there was a concern on the outcome for the AONB. The County Council will continue to oppose and are keeping up communications with the press. Judicial reviews are likely including Compensation Scheme and Environmental Assessment issues. The cost of these is significant. Any action on the basis of the status of the AONB is challenging because it depends on interpretation of the “national interest.”
It was noted that a CRAG meeting will be held in the Parish Hall at 7.45 p.m. on 19th January 2012.
The details of the revised scheme are on the Department for Transport website. The Chairman will circulate ACTION: JF
With regard to the playground, Amersham Town Council and Cholesbury Parish Council have recently carried out schemes and would be useful reference for suggestions for contractors.
Cllr Rose reported that he had just been at a meeting to discuss the HS2 decision. The District Council will continue to oppose the scheme and a judicial review is being considered. There is a 4 week window to action. There is a need to consider the cost. It appears that the report that the AONB is being protected is incorrect as the mitigation plans are arguably worse than before. The Planning process for the scheme is the Hybrid Bill in Parliament. The building at Timberly Lane was given permitted development. The Chiltern District Council Enforcement Officer has reviewed as it appeared not to be built as specified. It now appears that the building may not be too high as it is intended to backfill around it. It will be continually monitored. It was noted that the building was of a much higher specification than normally expected.
Regarding the playground improvements in Lee Common, Cllr Rose said that if the playground is owned and managed by the Parish Council it is most likely to be deemed a permitted development.
12/03 Adjournment for comments or questions from the general public: None
12/04 Declarations of Interest on forthcoming business: None
12/05 Planning Applications: Since the last meeting, the Council had lodged a No Further Comment to application CH/11/1703 Rodwells, Oxford Street, Lee Common. The Council discussed applications CH/11/2092 and 2093 Kings Ash Farm, Chesham Lane, Kings Ash and it was agreed that Cllr Stacey would review the applications. Agricultural applications – the Council will be advised of these in future. The building at Timberly Lane – if the building does not meet planning requirements the developer will need to apply for retrospective approval (see Cllr Rose’s report in Minute 12/02)
12/06 Footpaths: Cllr Chinnery produced a list of footpaths which needed attention – TLE/8, TLE/9, TLE/10, TLE/11 and TLE/12. He has also noticed that the section of TLE/7 between TLE/16 and the Swan Bottom Road is not shown on the footpath map as a public footpath where it been shown previously. The Clerk will investigate ACTION: CT
12/07 Council Property: Playground – Cllr Hammond reported that the latest version of the Deed of Dedication is to be sent to the solicitor. It is now okay subject to the solicitor’s response. This must be agreed by end January. Land Registry action is required. ACTION: CT
Fundraising cheques are to be made payable to The Lee Parish Council with “playground” on the reverse. Donors have the option for the return of their donation if the grant is not successful. It was agreed to approach the Flower Show Committee for a donation.
Letters of Support had been obtained from Mrs E Stewart-Liberty, The Playgroup and the District Council and these will be used to support the application.
A Survey of use and requirements on the playground is being actioned for end January.
Maintenance costs are to be determined for the budget.
The Fort needs more consideration at the slide and tunnel end. The tunnel needs padding. More discussion is needed on the Main Fort. Councillors are to look at the fort and consider possibilities and feed back within a week. ACTION: ALL
It was noted that it was desirable to keep the Fort as a place for children to use their imagination in play.
Grant Applications have to be made by end of February and therefore the scope to be concluded by beginning of February.
Volunteers for renovating the willow tunnel were available.
Tree planting - it was agreed to look into obtaining 6 elms for planting in an area in the playground. ACTION: PH
Grass cutting quote – it was agreed that All Seasons would be used for 2012.
12/08 Reports from organisations where Council is represented: Local Area Forum – No action
12/09 HS2 Campaign: Nothing further to report, other than earlier reports from Cllr Birchley and Cllr Rose
12/10 The-Lee Way: Nothing to report
12/11 Road Maintenance: Transport for Bucks have agreed that the work can now be funded through TfB budget. They anticipate that the repainting and renovation will take place in Summer 2012.
Litter – it was noted that the next planned litter clear up was being arranged for 4 March 2012. An article was being placed in the Newsletter by Pat Chinnery. Volunteers are needed. The Chairman asked to be advised on volunteer status. It was suggested to consider notice on notice boards and the shop etc. Future considerations could be to carry out clearance twice per year if volunteers were available and/or seek to get volunteers to take ownership of clearing an allocated section of the village. The Chairman is to send a note to Aylesbury Vale District Council regarding litter on the approach to the village i.e Rocky Lane ACTION: JF
12/12 Affordable Housing – it was agreed to defer pending further information from the District Council
12/13 Finance: Councillors approved the Financial Report and Budget Review (previously circulated). The drawing of the following cheques was approved:
Minutes remain in draft until ratified at the next Council meeting
PRESENT: Cllrs J. Ford (Chairman); D. Chinnery, P Hammond, F. Nichols, E Stacey, M. Patte,
Apologies: S. Carleton-Smith, Christine Thomas (Clerk).
12/01 Minutes : The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November (previously circulated) were approved and signed as a true record.
12/02 Matters Arising from Previous Minutes: The donation of £504 towards Parish funds relating to the lifting of the caution on Nanton had been received (Minute 10/103).
12/03 Report from County/District Councillor:
Cllr Birchley reported that the announcement concerning HS2 had been made and that she had recently attended meetings where there was a concern on the outcome for the AONB. The County Council will continue to oppose and are keeping up communications with the press. Judicial reviews are likely including Compensation Scheme and Environmental Assessment issues. The cost of these is significant. Any action on the basis of the status of the AONB is challenging because it depends on interpretation of the “national interest.”
It was noted that a CRAG meeting will be held in the Parish Hall at 7.45 p.m. on 19th January 2012.
The details of the revised scheme are on the Department for Transport website. The Chairman will circulate ACTION: JF
With regard to the playground, Amersham Town Council and Cholesbury Parish Council have recently carried out schemes and would be useful reference for suggestions for contractors.
Cllr Rose reported that he had just been at a meeting to discuss the HS2 decision. The District Council will continue to oppose the scheme and a judicial review is being considered. There is a 4 week window to action. There is a need to consider the cost. It appears that the report that the AONB is being protected is incorrect as the mitigation plans are arguably worse than before. The Planning process for the scheme is the Hybrid Bill in Parliament. The building at Timberly Lane was given permitted development. The Chiltern District Council Enforcement Officer has reviewed as it appeared not to be built as specified. It now appears that the building may not be too high as it is intended to backfill around it. It will be continually monitored. It was noted that the building was of a much higher specification than normally expected.
Regarding the playground improvements in Lee Common, Cllr Rose said that if the playground is owned and managed by the Parish Council it is most likely to be deemed a permitted development.
12/03 Adjournment for comments or questions from the general public: None
12/04 Declarations of Interest on forthcoming business: None
12/05 Planning Applications: Since the last meeting, the Council had lodged a No Further Comment to application CH/11/1703 Rodwells, Oxford Street, Lee Common. The Council discussed applications CH/11/2092 and 2093 Kings Ash Farm, Chesham Lane, Kings Ash and it was agreed that Cllr Stacey would review the applications. Agricultural applications – the Council will be advised of these in future. The building at Timberly Lane – if the building does not meet planning requirements the developer will need to apply for retrospective approval (see Cllr Rose’s report in Minute 12/02)
12/06 Footpaths: Cllr Chinnery produced a list of footpaths which needed attention – TLE/8, TLE/9, TLE/10, TLE/11 and TLE/12. He has also noticed that the section of TLE/7 between TLE/16 and the Swan Bottom Road is not shown on the footpath map as a public footpath where it been shown previously. The Clerk will investigate ACTION: CT
12/07 Council Property: Playground – Cllr Hammond reported that the latest version of the Deed of Dedication is to be sent to the solicitor. It is now okay subject to the solicitor’s response. This must be agreed by end January. Land Registry action is required. ACTION: CT
Fundraising cheques are to be made payable to The Lee Parish Council with “playground” on the reverse. Donors have the option for the return of their donation if the grant is not successful. It was agreed to approach the Flower Show Committee for a donation.
Letters of Support had been obtained from Mrs E Stewart-Liberty, The Playgroup and the District Council and these will be used to support the application.
A Survey of use and requirements on the playground is being actioned for end January.
Maintenance costs are to be determined for the budget.
The Fort needs more consideration at the slide and tunnel end. The tunnel needs padding. More discussion is needed on the Main Fort. Councillors are to look at the fort and consider possibilities and feed back within a week. ACTION: ALL
It was noted that it was desirable to keep the Fort as a place for children to use their imagination in play.
Grant Applications have to be made by end of February and therefore the scope to be concluded by beginning of February.
Volunteers for renovating the willow tunnel were available.
Tree planting - it was agreed to look into obtaining 6 elms for planting in an area in the playground. ACTION: PH
Grass cutting quote – it was agreed that All Seasons would be used for 2012.
12/08 Reports from organisations where Council is represented: Local Area Forum – No action
12/09 HS2 Campaign: Nothing further to report, other than earlier reports from Cllr Birchley and Cllr Rose
12/10 The-Lee Way: Nothing to report
12/11 Road Maintenance: Transport for Bucks have agreed that the work can now be funded through TfB budget. They anticipate that the repainting and renovation will take place in Summer 2012.
Litter – it was noted that the next planned litter clear up was being arranged for 4 March 2012. An article was being placed in the Newsletter by Pat Chinnery. Volunteers are needed. The Chairman asked to be advised on volunteer status. It was suggested to consider notice on notice boards and the shop etc. Future considerations could be to carry out clearance twice per year if volunteers were available and/or seek to get volunteers to take ownership of clearing an allocated section of the village. The Chairman is to send a note to Aylesbury Vale District Council regarding litter on the approach to the village i.e Rocky Lane ACTION: JF
12/12 Affordable Housing – it was agreed to defer pending further information from the District Council
12/13 Finance: Councillors approved the Financial Report and Budget Review (previously circulated). The drawing of the following cheques was approved:
12/14 Any Other Business: Have a Field Day - to be considered. Clerks Contract – to be reviewed. Newsletter – it was suggested that an article be put in the Newsletter on which council (e.g. Parish, District, County) does what.
- C.V Thomas x 3 – invoice no. 14 - £24.28 (cheque no. 100662), invoice no. 15 - £187.28 (cheque no. 100663), invoice no. 16 - £62.50 (cheque no. 100664),
- HMRC - £136 (cheque no. 100665),
- HASE Accounting Services – invoice no. LPC104 - £56.25 (cheque no. 100666),
- The Lee Parish Hall - £90 (cheque no. 100667)
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 9.30 P.M.
SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION AT MEETING ON 13 MARCH 2012
Minuted by Cllr Chinnery in The Clerk’s absence
SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION AT MEETING ON 13 MARCH 2012
Minuted by Cllr Chinnery in The Clerk’s absence