Agenda for Tuesday 19th January 2016 & Minutes for 15th December 2015
These are the minutes from the Parish Council meeting held on 15 December 2015, and the agenda for the next meeting due to be held on Tuesday 19 January 2016.
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, JANUARY 19th, 2016 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 DECEMBER 15th, 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 DECEMBER 15th, 2015 MINUTES
9. POINTS RAISED from NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 CORRESPONDENCE
10. DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
11. ACCOUNTS a) Cheques for signature
12. TO DISCUSS PROGRESS ON TEBWORTH POND
13. COMMITTEE REPORTS
14. HIGHWAYS ISSUES
15. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE NEXT AGENDA
16. TIME AND DATE OF NEXT MEETING
MINUTES of the Meeting of Chalgrave Parish Council held on Tuesday, December 15th, 2015 at Chalgrave Memorial Hall, Tebworth at 7.30pm.
Present: Cllr. Ken Green; Cllr. Debbie Hampson; Cllr. Barbara Jackson; Cllr. Daniel Osborn; Cllr. Phil Parry (Chairman); Cllr. Mike Wells; Cllr Paul Whitton; Ward Cllr Mark Versallion; PCSO Hannah Retallack; PCSO David Dodkins; Reverend Anne Crawford; Lesley Smith-Clerk.
Public present: 0
Committees
Planning CllrHampson-Chair 877149 Cllr Osborn 07768621850
Footpaths Cllr Green-Chair 874107 Cllr Jackson 877617
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
Cllr Jackson Tebworth Pond Defibrillator 877617
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mr. S. Calder-All Saints Church.
2. SPECIFIC DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllrs Parry and Wells declared a prejudicial interest regarding Chalgrave Sports Club
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the November 17th, 2015 meeting were approved and signed as correct by the chairman.
4. REPORT FROM ALL SAINTS CHURCH-Reverend Crawford
a) All Saints Church Roof. Reverend Crawford reported that lead had been stolen from the south isle of the church roof on Friday December 4th, 2015. The thieves were discovered by a neighbour who called the police who arrived quickly. The lead is Smart Watered so it will be difficult to dispose of. Reverend Crawford said the mess left was the biggest problem. There is a temporary cover on the roof at the moment and the electrician is yet to come to make the supply safe. She is most concerned about whether the wall paintings in the church will be damaged. She thanked the people who helped immediately after the event and who took away the lead left on the ground to store safely.
b) Fund Raising for Repair of the Roof. A lady due to be married in the church next year has set up a Just Giving site. She has raised £800 so far. The proceeds, amounting to £780, from the Quiz Nights held at The Plough, Wingfield have also been donated. Reverend Crawford said there had been amazing support from local people and non-parishioners alike.
c) Cost of Repair. Insurance will cover £7,500 of the cost. The architect estimates the repairs will cost £10,000 approximately. Reverend Crawford will let the PC know the exact cost of the repair once established.
d) Services. Carols by Candlelight, December 19th, will probably be held at Saint George’s Church, Toddington. Hopefully Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve will be held in the church if the electrician secures the electricity.
e) Houghton Regis News Desk. The News Desk has informed the PC that it has published the news that the roof of Chalgrave Church has been stripped of lead.
f) Rural Services Network. Article on whether rural churches can be saved from closure. In correspondence.
5. REPORT from WARD COUNCILLOR MARK VERSALLION
a) Surgery. Cllr Versallion held a surgery at The Plough, Wingfield recently but nobody turned up. Cllr Parry suggested more advertising was necessary e.g. on the website. Cllr Wells offered PC assistance delivering leaflets if Cllr Versallion’s office would print them.
b) Central Bedfordshire Council Budget. The budget fr 2016 will be released on Thursday December 18th, 2015. A 2% rise for Social Care has been debated but this may not happen as CBC is committed to a 0% Council Tax rise.
c) Bedfordshire Police. The Inspectorate of Constabularies has described Bedfordshire Police as ‘inadequate’. CBC has concerns about child protection and the ability of the police to respond to these kinds of issues. Cllr Versallion said there was a need to write to the Secretary of State to suggest a structural change of the force. He added that Bedfordshire communities need to be more vocal. He commented that there have been 3 Chief Constables in the past three years.
d) PCC Olly Martins has brought in some changes to rural policing. However his request to increase the Police Precept by 15.8% earlier this year failed because the case for doing so was not made adequately. Consequently people did not vote for the increase. Luton has policing issues like a London borough but it is funded as a rural town. Cllr Osborn proposed, seconded by Cllr Green, that the PC writes to Andrew Selous MP requesting that he asks the Home Secretary to mandate a change to Bedfordshire Police as the current funding formula is not fit for purpose. As a result Bedfordshire Police is not a big enough force to deal with the county’s issues. The vote for the proposal was unanimous. Clerk
6. POLICE MATTERS
a) Crime Figures: November 1st-November 30th, 2015
One report of anti-social behaviour reported in November. This was a case of a domestic animal in the road and classed as ‘animal mistreatment’.
b) All Saints Church. The police are investigating whether any information is available from CCTV at the church.
c) New Recruits. 30 new recruits are just completing their training. Approximately 30 more begin training in March 2016.
d) PCSOs. Numbers will be reduced by half but more PCSOs are being or have trained as police officers. PCSOs will be kept in the areas they already work in.
e) Ringmaster. Beds Police are in the process of changing their service provider and the new system may give PCs the option of receiving information which is more relevant to them. Ongoing.
7. MATTERS ARISING FROM NOVEMBER 17th, 2015 MINUTES
a) Defibrillator-Village Response Team. There are eight volunteers so far. If interested please contact Cllr Jackson 877617. Clerk to ask Community Heartbeat for another training session plus the list of people who expressed interest at the first training session. Ongoing. BJ; Clerk
b) 20mph Speed Limit.
CBC’s Senior Traffic and Transport Manager has confirmed that CBC has briefing notes on white lines. Clerk to ask for a copy of the briefing notes. Clerk
c) Noticeboards. Refurbishment of the noticeboards is ongoing.
d) Dog Bins. CBC has responded to the PC’s request for a dog bin close to the farm gate on Chalgrave Road, stressing possible parking difficulties for the contractors when emptying the bin. The clerk will inform CBC that there is space to pull off the road by the gate. Ongoing. Clerk
e) Grass Verge Next To Woodlands.
The trees and bushes have become overgrown on the bend between Woodlands and 51 Wingfield Road, Tebworth. HW has agreed to cut them back. Clerk to follow up again. Clerk
f) New Councillor Induction Training. Cllrs Jackson and Whitton attended the training on December 3rd, 2015.
g) CBC: Salt Bag Scheme. CBC has offered deliveries of 0.5 and 1 tonne bags of salt in December 2015, January and February 2016. The PC agreed to order a one tonne bag for December to be delivered to Cllr Osborn. Ongoing. DO
h) CBC: Community Safety Engagement. The PC has received more information on the scheme. Clerk to enquire what the Community Engagement Officer wants to discuss with the PC. Clerk
8. POINTS RAISED on OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 CORRESPONDENCE
a) Flawed Housing Targets. Cllr Green proposed, seconded by Cllr Hampson, that the PC writes to CPRE supporting its stance that an overall of the way local authorities set their housing targets is needed to stop the unnecessary release of countryside for development. The vote for the proposal was unanimous. Clerk
b) CBC: Local Transport Plan Rural Match Fund & Bidding Guidelines. Cllr Green proposed, seconded by Cllr Wells, that the PC writes to CBC stating that the scheme is unfair to small PCs as they would have to contribute 50% of the costs, which would represent a large proportion of their small precepts. The vote for the proposal was unanimous. Clerk
c) BATPC: Bedfordshire Bugle. Information on a petition about housing is back in correspondence.
d) Permissive Footpaths. Cllr Osborn suggested that Cllr Green stresses the safety issue in more detail in his draft letter to the relevant landowner. Cllr Green will speak to the landowner first before sending the letter. KG
9. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
a) CBC: Draft Advice Strategy Consultation. The Strategy aims to provide quality information and advice to residents. Online questionnaire to be submitted by February 2016. In correspondence.
b) CBC: Development Strategy. CBC has withdrawn the Development Strategy and has started work on a new Local Plan. Letter in correspondence.
c) NALC: Community Infrastructure Levy Review (CIL). DCLG is carrying out a review of the CIL. Responses by January 13th, 2016. Information in correspondence.
d) NALC: Local Council Tax Support Schemes Review (LCTS). DCLG is carrying out a review of the LCTS. Cllr Parry will respond by January 8th, 2016. Information in correspondence. PP
e) Local Council Review. Winter magazine 2015 in correspondence.
f) CPRE: Field Work. Winter 2015 in correspondence.
g) CPRE: Countryside Voice. Winter 2015 in correspondence.
10. ACCOUNTS
a) Cheques for Signature. The following cheques have been approved and signed:
Chq No: Payee Description Amount £
959 Chalgrave Memorial Hall PC’s Remembrance Day wreath 17.00
960 Mike Finch Painting boundary gates 375.00
961 Barbara Jackson Cllr Induction Training: Cllrs Jackson and Whitton 40.00
Total 432.00
11. 2016/2017 PRECEPT
i. After discussion Cllr Osborn proposed, seconded by Cllr Hampson that the PC requests a precept of £7,020. This represents a 0% increase from the 2015/2016 precept. The vote for the proposal was unanimous. Clerk
ii. Cllr Parry suggested that any grants awarded in any one year should be spent within that financial year. No vote was taken.
12. TEBWORTH POND
i. An article about the pond restoration has been included in the December 2015 edition of the Chalgrave News.
ii. The couple living next door to the pond are keen to join the working party. Volunteers have come forward. The PC hopes that more will do so. Ongoing.
iii. Cllr Jackson will arrange a meeting for volunteers, to be held in January 2016. BJ
iv. The brambles are growing back. Clerk to make arrangements for cutting them back. Clerk
13. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a) Planning.
Cllr Green questioned whether planning permission had been sought for the work being carried out at Chalgrave Cottage and Church Cottage, Church Lane. Clerk to investigate. Clerk
b) Speedwatch
i. Speed Watches. Cllr Wells will suggest dates for late December. Cllr Parry will price up Hi Viz jackets. PP
ii. Vehicle Activated Sign. An engineer is coming to examine the sign on Toddington Road as it appears not to be working properly. Cllr Whitton said there may be a cost involved if it needs repairing. The PC agreed a £250 limit for Cllr Whitton to go ahead. The PC would need to agree a higher cost. PW
iii. Parked Vehicle. A Land Rover Discovery regularly parks on the grass verge right on the junction of Chalgrave Road and Toddington Road thereby reducing visibility and churning up the grass. Cllr Parry will write a letter asking the owner of the vehicle to park somewhere more convenient. PP
c) Footpaths
i. A Way Mark post has been put up just off Hockliffe Road.
ii. Stile Repair. A stile will be repaired. The landowner has been informed.
d) Website
i. Revised Website. Cllr Green commented that Mr. Simon Gatward has done a great deal of work on the website.
ii. PC Members’ Information. Information from some members of their roles within the PC is still required. Ongoing. All
14. HIGHWAYS ISSUES
i. Luton Road, Toddington will be closed between December 16-18, 2015.
ii. HW Salting Routes Map is in correspondence.
15. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON NEXT AGENDA
None.
16. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 at 7.30pm.
Meeting closed at 21.45