DRAFT MINUTES
CHEARSLEY PARISH COUNCIL
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2017 IN THE CRICKET
CLUB AT 7.30PM
PRESENT
Councillors: Nic
Brown (NB), John Lewis (JL), Martin Hearmon (MH), Julia Witcher (JW), Michael Hawkett
Parish Clerk: Helen
Spurgeon
Responsible
Finance Officer: Robert Parkes (RP)
Parishioners: There were
3 Parishioners
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no interests declared.
PARISHIONERS QUESTION TIME
A
Parishioner enquired as to who is responsible for the hedges behind the
Stockwell on Church Lane. This is the responsibility of the Parish Council. NB explained that there is a proposal
on the Stockwell to clean and maintain the pond and carry out a proper survey
to assess the repair work needed for its future preservation. ACTION: Clerk to investigate what grants are available to fund this project.
A
Parishioner requested an update on the planning application for 2-4 Winchendon
Road. The PC objected to this application and are awaiting next steps from
AVDC.
1.
APOLOGIES
Michael Edmonds (ME), Paul
Bown (PAB), John Howard (JH)
2.
APPROVAL
OF SEPTEMBER 2017 MINUTES
Minutes were agreed as a
true record and signed by Chairman, Nic Brown.
3.
MATTERS
ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
•
Hedge by the Cricket Club needs cutting back. ACTION: JH to ensure this is done by the
Cricket Club.
•
Trees in
Village. ACTION:
ME to identify
on a map trees the Parish Council are responsible for. ACTION: Clerk to request again that ME sends out map ASAP. Trees requiring work:
crown lift to the walnut tree on Dark Lane by Fenella’s house, pruning of
hedges by Village Hall, hedges on left of School Lane, plum tree overhanding
the Stockwell. ACTION: JL to obtain quote for the work.
•
Insurance policy
review. A new insurance policy is now in place.
•
BCC grass
cuts. These have now been done. ACTION: PAB to obtain dates for 2018 cuts.
•
Mike
Heybrook’s footpath report. ACTION:
JH to email Mike Heybrook to see
if it is possible to get the work done.
•
Chearsley flag
and PC logo. ACTION: NB to circulate final draft of the
logo. A decision needs to be made on the winner of the flag competition
at Long Crendon School. All of the designs could be displayed in the bus
shelter.
•
New dog bin at
Stoney Furlong. ACTION: NB to check if dog bin has been installed.
•
Grit bins. These are to
be repaired by Bucks Landscapes and a new one to be located by Stoney Furlong.
•
Bus shelter
works. The new litter bins are in and the works are almost complete, just
the windows to go in which are on order.
•
Grove Farm. The Clerk has
contacted Environmental Health at AVDC regarding complaints of a bad smell. Further
information sent to AVDC. ACTION: Clerk to chase AVDC for a response.
•
Defibrillator.
We
are currently awaiting a quote for the defibrillator. ACTION: JL to check which supplier
Cuddington used.
•
War Memorial repair
and conservation. Ownership of the war memorial is still
unknown. ACTION: JL
to check ownership with the Church. JL
to produce requirement statement for contractors to quote against.
Remembrance Sunday - ACTION: Clerk to fill out online form to
request road closure. ACTION: MH to check procedure for the flag.
•
Training. BALC run a
training course called ‘Demystifying Planning’ for any Councillors wishing to
attend. The next course is on 6th March.
4.
PLANNING
No new planning applications received.
5.
CORRESPONDENCE
There was no correspondence outside the Agenda items.
6.
CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM AVDC AND BCC COUNCILLORS
Nothing new to report.
7.
FINANCE
·
The annual audit is now
complete.
·
The monthly finance report has been
circulated to Councillors. Year to date expenditure is £12,700, against the
full year precept of £32,000. Cash in the bank at the end of September was
£41,000.
·
Orders for Payment
·
For bus shelter works, bins and
railings: NGW £2051, Helpful Hirings £63, Kings Langley Building Supplies £790
·
BALC training course £63.11
·
Noticeboard varnishing £25
·
The annual grant payments to the
Village Hall and Church were agreed. £300 each as budgeted. To be reviewed for
next year’s budget.
·
A budget setting meeting for
2018/19 needs to be arranged. ACTION: RP to arrange meeting.
8.
REPORTS
FROM COUNCILLORS ATTENDING MEETINGS AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS
Councillors JW and ME attended
the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan – Parishes Seminar on 04/10/17. It
concentrated on the sustainability of housing development. Chearsley is not
allocated any new homes as it is a small village. The draft plan should be in
by March with the plan being adopted by the end of 2018. There is a meeting of
the district council on 18th October to discuss the VALP. ACTION: Cllr Michael Hawkett to provide feedback on this meeting to the PC at the November
meeting.
9.
TfB
FEASIBILITY STUDY
The study proposed 8 options for traffic calming:
1. Enhanced
gateway features
2. Road
markings
3. New
traffic signs
4. New
footway by bus shelter
5. Extend
footway western end of village
6. New
footway at top of School Lane
7. Mitigate
verge damage by HGV’s
8. Vertical
traffic calming (not recommended)
To do everything would cost £85k + VAT. The PC recommends doing the
first three options this year at a cost of £20k + VAT. There is a meeting with
Trevor Bonsor on 27th October to progress matters. Councillors
agreed to obtain quotes for the next meeting in the hope of starting work in
the new year.
10.
APPLICATION
FOR LAF FUNDING
The PC will put in an application for 2018/19 funding towards the
later phase of traffic calming.
11.
NEW
PC WEBSITE
Work on the new PC website is well underway and looking good. The rate
of pay for the contractor was agreed at £150 per day. It is likely to be 8 days
work but will be capped at 10 days. There will be a presentation to the
Councillors of the new website once it is complete. Reminder to Councillors to
send in their biographical notes.
12.
2018
MEETING DATES
It was agreed to continue to hold meetings on the 3rd
Monday of the month. ACTION: Clerk to circulate 2018 meeting dates
and book CCC through to March.
13.
PC
GOVERNANCE
ACTION: RP to produce Financial Regulations and Risk Assessment
documents for the PC.
14.
TO
ASSIGN A PARISH COUNCILLOR RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING THE INSURANCE POLICY
NB
agreed to do this.
15.
PARISHIONERS
QUESTION TIME
A Parishioner enquired what the timescale was for the Church Lane
parking bays. ACTION: PC to confirm.
16.
ITEMS
FOR INFORMATION
·
Horse
chestnut tree. The work is now complete.
·
Updating
of Chearsley map. Two members of the WI have
updated all of the house names. An IT professional is now needed to update the
map. ACTION: NB to ask Leif Hytten if he can help.
·
Xmas
tree lights. It was agreed to purchase new lights.
·
Poppy
wreath. ACTION: Clerk to order.
17.
DATE
AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING in Chearsley Cricket Club
·
Monday 20th November
2017 at 7.30pm
