Agenda for Tuesday 22 September 2015 & Minutes for 21st July 2015
These are the approved minutes from the Parish Council meeting held on 21 July 2015, and the agenda for the next meeting due to be held on Tuesday 22 September 2015. There was no Parish Council meeting held in August.
CHALGRAVE PARISH COUNCIL
MRS. L. J. SMITH
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL
4 HOME FARM, TEBWORTH, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BEDFORDSHIRE LU7 9QD
Tel: 01525 874716. email: chalgravepc@btinternet.com
THE NEXT MEETING OF CHALGRAVE PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th, 2015 at 7.30pm AT CHALGRAVE MEMORIAL HALL.
Lesley Smith, Clerk to the Council
AGENDA
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
2. OPEN FORUM
3. TO AMEND AND SIGN MINUTES OF JULY 21st, 2015 MEETING
4. SPECIFIC DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
5. POLICE MATTERS
6. REPORT from WARD COUNCILLOR MARK VERSALLION
7. REPORT FROM ALL SAINTS CHURCH, CHALGRAVE
8. MATTERS ARISING FROM MAY JULY 21st, 2015 MINUTES
9. POINTS RAISED from JUNE/JULY 2015 CORRESPONDENCE
10. JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
11. TO DISCUSS the GRASS VERGE ON WINGFIELD ROAD NEXT TO WOODLANDS
12. COMMITTEE REPORTS
13. HIGHWAYS ISSUES
14. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE NEXT AGENDA
15. TIME AND DATE OF NEXT MEETING
MINUTES of the Meeting of Chalgrave Parish Council held on Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 at Chalgrave Memorial Hall, Tebworth at 7.30pm.
Present: Cllr. D. Hampson;Cllr D Osborn; Cllr Parry (Chairman); Cllr. M. Wells; Cllr P Whitton; Ward Cllr. M. Versallion; Mr S Calder; Clerk.
Public present: 1
Committees
Planning Cllr Hampson-Chair 877149 Cllr Osborn 07768621850
Footpaths Cllr Green-Chair 874107
Website Cllr Green 874107 Cllr Wells 877098 Mr S Gatward
Traffic Calming Cllr Wells-Chair 877098
Responsibilities
Cllr Osborn Highways liaison Grass cutting Police Liaison 07768621850
Cllr Parry Highways liaison 07831605600
Cllr Whitton Fly tipping Buses 07808174843
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr. K. Green; PCSO H Retallack
2. SPECIFIC DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None.
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the June 16th, 2015 meeting were approved and signed as correct by the chairman.
4. POLICE MATTERS
a) Crime Figures: June 1st-June 30th, 2015.
Crime Type No: Location Details
Burglary Other 1 Farm in Wingfield Offenders entered farm land and broke into three buildings. It is unknown what has been taken. Offenders left in unknown direction by unknown means.
Cllr Whitton pointed out that a recent car theft was recorded as a break in.
b) Anti-social Behaviour. No reported incidents during May 2015.
c) Changes to Bedfordshire Police. PCC Olly Martins cannot attend a PC meeting this year due to prior engagements. Future dates for a meeting will be sent out by his office.
5. REPORT from WARD COUNCILLOR MARK VERSALLION
a) Thorn Turn. The planning application for Thorn Turn has been withdrawn. However it will probably be resubmitted.
b) CBC Development Strategy. This is currently unadopted. Another 6,000 houses need to be built for Luton. Cllr Versallion imagines that there will be another call for sites to provide 500. Cllr Green wants to challenge the ‘very special circumstances’ for building on Green Belt land. Cllr Versallion explained that CBC has to provide 28,000 houses over the next 25 years. Landowners have not come forward with sites so the only land available is Green Belt. Cllr Parry commented that the government is encouraging local authorities to use brown field sites. However this does not change the law so landowners of brownfield sites still need to come forward. Cllr Versallion pointed out that brown field sites are more expensive to develop. He encouraged the PC to apply pressure on Parliament to change the planning laws to make it easier for local authorities to acquire brownfield sites. Then CBC can accept the number of houses the government stipulate but will be able to dictate where they go. The PC agreed to do this. Cllr Parry will draft a letter to the Secretary of State and Andrew Selous MP. PP
Cllr Hampson asked, that given the number of houses CBC was required to build, when this requirement started and how many had already been constructed. Cllr Versallion replied that the programme began in 2011 and CBC aims for 1,500 a year. 6,000 had already been built and the target was 28,000 over 25 years. He will send the PC some more comprehensive figures. He added that there is no Green Belt in North Bedfordshire whereas South Bedfordshire is offered some protection because of its large area of Green Belt.
6. REPORT FROM ALL SAINTS CHURCH: Mr Steve Calder.
a) Chalgrave Games. Mr Calder apologised that no one from the church could attend the Chalgrave Games as it was held on the same day as Toddington Fete and Rev. Crawford conducted two wedding services at S. Georges, Toddington. He said that, in future, both Chalgrave and Toddington need to make sure that the Games and the fete do not clash. Cllr Parry said that the church was welcome to attend any of the Chalgrave events.
b) Ampthill and Woburn District Scout Council have procured a mobile climbing wall for the Milton Bryan campsite, which may be of interest for next year’s Chalgrave Games.
c) Open Day. The church held an Open Day, which included a barbeque, on July 12th, 2015 to celebrate 25 years of Derek Bird’s voluntary service to the church as organist. Mr Bird has now retired. There was a good response despite the rain showers. The aim is to improve attendances at church by reaching out to the community. Average attendance is currently 16. Mr Calder asked for ideas such as Quiz Nights, cheese and wine evenings etc. The church raised £224 at the Open Day. Mr Calder thanked the Plough Inn for donating a £25 meal voucher.
d) PCC Meetings. One meeting had to be cancelled due to lack of attendance. The next one had the dates changed twice. Mr Calder apologised to Cllr Wells who was unable to attend because the date was changed at very short notice. The next PCC meetings are September 14th or 16th and November 2nd. Cllr Osborn will attend the September meeting and Cllr Wells will attend the November meeting. DO; MW
e) Bequest. Albert Bird has left his estate, amounting to £260,000, to the church. Mr Calder described this bequest as ‘life saving’.
f) All Saints Church will be 800 years old in 2019. Celebrations will be planned.
7. MATTERS ARISING FROM JUNE 16th, 2015 MINUTES
a. Thorn Turn Development. The overview of the development plan is in correspondence.
b) 20mph Speed Limit. A response has been received from the Traffic Management Officer Bedfordshire Police, which Cllr Parry described as ‘positive’. It was agreed to invite Paul Salmon, the Senior Transport and Traffic Manager to meet with the PC and also to discuss the possibility of 40mph buffer zones either side of Tebworth. Clerk
c) Boundary Gates. The PC has accepted a quote for £375 to paint the boundary gates and repair the bus shelters. The PC has asked for a quote to refurbish the noticeboards. Ongoing.
PP; Clerk
d) Revised bus timetables. Cllr Whitton has spoken again to the residents who use the buses and contacted Paul Dodge, Public Transport Manager CBC. The residents have agreed they do not need two buses a day, preferring buses that run at more convenient times. Cllr Whitton explained that the current timetable does not make economic sense for CBC. He will contact Harlington Helping Hands to find out more about its voluntary transport service. PW
e) Sunken Drain opposite The Meadows, Wingfield. HW have said that the drain does not warrant repair at this time but it will continue to monitor. Contact HW again. Clerk
f) Grass Verge near The Grand Chapel, Toddington Road. The grass has been cut but the large bush containing brambles remains. HW will take no action at the moment. Cllrs Osborn and Whitton have volunteered to cut it down. The PC agreed to this DO; PW
g) Memorial Hall Grants. The Memorial Hall Committee has asked the PC to retain the 2014 £500 grant because a large bill is due for replacing wiring for the fire lights.
h) McDonalds; Parish Litter. Cllr Whitton has spoken to the manager and was informed that they carried out a litter collection last month. He was also told that they and Hockliffe residents get together and carry out a litter collection in Hockliffe.
i) Chalgrave Memorial Hall; Asbestos. The landowner has removed the roofing, some of which had fallen into the space between the play area and the landowner’s buildings.
8. POINTS RAISED on MAY/JUNE 2015 CORRESPONDENCE
a) Local Council Review. Superfast broadband for all is due to be introduced by 2018 not 2017 as before.
b) Defibrillator. Cllr Wells suggested setting up a Village Response Team which the PC agreed was a good idea. The Clerk will ask Mr Roger Mence if he would co-ordinate a team. Publicise in the Chalgrave News. Clerk
c) London Green Belt Council. Cllr Green commented that the legal advice on ‘exceptional circumstances’ for building on Green Belt is complicated. Cllr Green asked the PC to follow up its request to call in the application for Houghton Regis North 2 using some of the wording from that legal advice. Clerk
9. JUNE/JULY 2015 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
a) CBC Consultation: Planning Strategy Charging Schedule. Consultation runs from July 13th-August 24th, 2015. In correspondence.
b) CBC Consultation: Mobile Library Service. CBC is planning to stop the Mobile Library service and replace it with a Library Link Vehicle Service. Consultation runs from July 17th-September 18th, 2015. In correspondence.
c) CBC Consultation: Gambling Act. The current policy is due for renewal in 2016. Consultation runs from July 20th-October 9th, 2015. In correspondence.
d) Local Government Transparency Code 2015. This requires PCs to publish certain information such as agendas, minutes and end of year accounts on a website, either its own or the local authority’s. In correspondence.
e) Code of Conduct Seminar. To be held at CBC offices, Chicksands. July 22nd, 2015 at 6.30pm.
f) London Green Belt Council. July 1st minutes in correspondence.
g) Clerks and Councils Direct. July edition in correspondence.
h) CPRE Bedfordshire Matters. Summer 2015 magazine in correspondence.
i) ‘Hedged In’. Article on high hedges in correspondence.
j) Bedfordshire Bugle. July newsletter in correspondence.
10. ACCOUNTS
a) Cheques for Signature. The following cheques have been approved and signed:
Chq No: Payee Description Amount £
946 Chalgrave Memorial Hall 2014 grant (to be retained for time being) 500.00
947 John Wojdyla Memorial Hall fire extinguisher 51.16
948 Chalgrave Memorial Hall Hall hire: defibrillator + speed awareness training evenings 20.40
949 Phil Parry Community Award: shield + engraving 22.98
950 Lesley Smith Clerk’s salary +expenses. June/July 2015 434.80
Total 1029.34
11. WHITE LINES on ROADS
Cllr Green has queried why HW considers it safer not to paint white lines on the roads. He also asked where the evidence was to support this. He is concerned that the white lines and double white lines on Hockliffe Road are faint although still visible. He asks whether HW will leave them to fade completely. He points out that the white lines by the Queens Head, Tebworth have almost disappeared.
12. GIVE WAY SIGN at JUNCTION of CHALGRAVE ROAD and TODDINGTON ROAD
Cllr Osborn asked if the sign was visible enough when approaching the junction. It was agreed to discuss with the Senior Transport and Safety Engineer along with the discussion about the 40mph buffer zones. Clerk to arrange a meeting. Clerk
13. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a) Planning.
i. Planning Applications. No applications this month.
ii. Tebworth Pond. Cllr Hampson suggested a site meeting once the pond has been cleared out, which will be the end of August/early September. The PC will ask for volunteers to help tidy up the site. Cllr Osborn will liaise with the neighbouring resident before the work is carried out. DH; DO
b) Traffic Calming.
i. Three SpeedWatches were carried out this month, two on Toddington Road and one at The Plough, Wingfield. Cllr Wells has received a letter of thanks from Chief Constable Colette Paul for carrying out SpeedWatch.
ii. Training. There will be more training in two months’ time.
iii. VAS Signs. Cllr Whitton said the sign on Toddington Road is very sensitive and the one on Hockliffe Road senses approaching cars from the boundary gates. He wondered whether it could be tilted down a bit. Cllr Wells will contact Swarco accordingly. MW
c) Footpaths
i. Rights of Way. Cllr Green has put up Dog Control orders on every finger post in the parish.
ii. Survey. Cllr Green has completed his part of the survey of the footpaths and sent the information to the Rights of Way Officer at CBC
iii. Dog Bin. The clerk will contact CBC to ask for another dog bin to be installed further down The Lane, Tebworth.
d) Website
i. New Website for CBC. Cllr Green has volunteered to be part of a group invited by CBC to assist in creating a new website and attended a meeting on July 16th relating to that. He will keep the PC informed about the progress. KG
ii. PC Members’ Information. Members were asked to submit a brief summary of their roles within the PC. Ongoing. All
14. HIGHWAYS ISSUES
a) Footway opposite Woodlands is becoming overgrown with brambles and overhanging tree branches which are growing on private land. Cllr Osborn will speak to the landowner. DO
b) Grass Verge-Wingfield Road. The Verge on the corner between Woodlands and 51 Wingfield Road is very overgrown which has reduced visibility. Clerk to contact HW. Clerk
15. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON NEXT AGENDA
Grass verge on Wingfield Road next to Woodlands.
16. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, September 15th, 2015 at 7.30pm.
Meeting closed at 21.11
Signed by Chairman……………………….. Dated……………….