MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 10 APRIL 2017 AT 7.30 P.M. IN THE LIONEL RIGBY ROOM AT THE VILLAGE CENTRE, ROGERS LANE, STOKE POGES, SL2 4LP
Present:- Cllr Bagge (Chair), Cllr Carter, Cllr Cox, Cllr Finan, Cllr Fox (arrived at 8.10pm) & Cllr Taylor.
In Attendance:- Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)
Also Present:- 3 Members of public.
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MINUTES
240/PC/17 – Police
RECEIVED a report from the police which was tabled.
241/PC/17 – Public Session Time (7.30 pm-7.45 pm)
The meeting is open to the public and press and fifteen minutes will be reserved, if required, for public comment.
2 Members of public spoke about item 252/PC/17 and wanted to listen to the Parish Council discussion. Both requested that the pond be opened up to the residents. Cllr Bagge agreed to bring the item forward.
242/PC/17 – Apologies for Absence
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr Lynch, Cllr Hoskins, Cllr Crocker, Cllr Egleton and the Police.
243/PC/17 – Declarations of interest
Members to declare any personal interest in any item of business as defined in the Code of Conduct 2012. If that interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest as defined in the Code; the member should withdraw from the meeting for that item.
Cllr Taylor declared an interest in item 257/PC/17 and left the room during the discussion.
244/PC/17 – Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 13 March 2017 which were signed by the Chairman.
252/PC/17 – Village Pond
DISCUSSED the possibility of opening up the village pond as requested by several residents. It was AGREED to carry out a consultation with the village, announced in the next Stoke Poges News edition which is delivered to every home in the parish. Residents of Willow Park will be written to, to inform them of the consultation which will take place between June and mid-July for approximately six weeks. The Chairman and the Clerk will carry out background work on the legal status of the pond. Bring back to the September meeting with results and to make any decisions.
245/PC/17 – County Councillor’s Report
Councillor Egleton was not present and had not sent a report.
246/PC/17 – District Councillors’ Report
Cllr Bagge reported that the District Council had completed on the purchase of Gerrards Cross police station and the surrounding houses. They hope to demolish and re-build some new homes for rent, including affordable housing.
There was no decision as yet from the Secretary of State on the Unitary proposals for Bucks.
247/PC/17 – Chairman’s Update from last meeting.
Cllr Bagge reported that Cllr Carter had received notification that Bucks County Council were going to trial re-routing the school buses away from the residential roads, Vine Road, Hazell Way and Rogers Lane, parents have been written to and this will start after the Easter holidays.
248/PC/17 – WW1 Memorial
Cllr Carter proposed to agree a quotation for the sculpture of a soldier at two metre high, standing with the hands on the gun pointied down with a dog totalling £11350.00 plus £345 delivery be accepted, and the difference of £1695 be taken from reserves this was seconded by Cllr Taylor, RESOLVED to agree, 2 for, 1 against and 1 abstained.
249/PC/17 – Jogging Path
Councillor Carter reported that the third quote was proving difficult to obtain and suggested that we bring back the remaining two quotes once we have all grant funding secured and in place for final decision, AGREED all in favour.
250/PC/17 – Beeches LAF/Bollards
NOTED information from the LAF for works which we asked to be carried out on roads within the village, AGREED to wait for the specification and formal quotes to arrive from County to decide.
DISCUSSED and decided to wait for above before making decision on any additional bollards to be installed by the Parish Council
Cllr Fox arrived at 8.10pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8.10pm to discuss and get views from members of public about item 251, meeting re-convened at 8.15pm.
251/PC/17 – Outdoor Cinema
Cllr Carter tabled a quote and the total cost will be £2031. Cllr Carter proposed to go ahead with the event to be held on 8 September 2017 in Bells Hill Rec., film starting at 8pm subject to feasibility and that the costs be paid for from General Fund Reserves, this was seconded by Cllr Fox, RESOLVED to agree all in favour. To be publicised in the next Stoke Poges News.
253/PC/17 – Pavilion
NOTED that most of the snagging has been carried out and an inspection will take place by the Parish Council and Heighway Associates before signing off the builders from the job.
Cllr Carter proposed to accept the additional works which we required to be carried out by Basil Wyatt at an extra cost of £1789 as per quote, this was seconded by Cllr Finan, RESOLVED to agree, all in favour.
254/PC/17 – BCC Highways Contact Details
NOTED that highways have removed any direct contact with them for all Parish Clerks. Clerks now have to use the online form to report everything in the same way as anyone else, which is too time consuming for most. Update from Clerks meeting held on 5 April where Mark Averill from highways met with all South Bucks Clerks. Mr Averill apologised to all Clerks especially about the way this was communicated with them, a system is being put in place to make reporting easier, he also offered his direct email address for any queries.
255/PC/17- Bells Hill Green
Request from doctors surgery to have a volunteer from the Bells Hill Green working party to monitor their car park as part of the Green maintenance, and ask anyone not using the surgery to move on. AGREED by all that the Clerk should write back to say that Parish Councillors are volunteers and that they cannot commit to policing a privately owned car park! Suggest that they put something in their submission for the next Stoke Poges News requesting a volunteer to work for them directly as it is their facility.
NOTED volunteers have come forward for the working party and Saera is liaising with Franzi Cheeseman to get it up and running.
NOTED Window Flowers have been instructed to install brackets ready for the baskets and troughs.
256/PC/17 – Litter Picking
NOTED that the litter picking session has been advertised for 6pm on 26 April 2017.
257/PC/17 – Stoke Poges United Charity
Two trustees of the charity nominated by the parish Council terms are ending in May 17 and October 17. Request for nominations, both existing trustees are happy to continue. Cllr Taylor left the room.
Cllr Bagge proposed that both current trustees Cllr Taylor and Mr Dier be re-elected for a four year period on behalf of the Parish Council, this was seconded by Cllr Finan, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
258/PC/17 – RECEIVED and ADOPTED minutes from previous meetings of sub committees and working parties:
(1) Planning Minutes – 20 February 2017 – Signed 20 March 201
259/PC/17 – Finance
(1) NOTED Statement of Accounts – March 2017
(2) RESOLVED to approve list of cheques/Bacs for signature March 2017 (subject to additions).
(3) RECEIVED & NOTED Bank reconciliations, March 2017
(4) NOTED Budget monitoring, March 2017
260/PC/17 – Circulars List/Correspondence and Items received by clerk but not on agenda.
List appended to the agenda of all circulars received in the office and available to view for one month after this meeting.
Correspondence:-
(1) NOTED Houses of Parliament – Letter regarding Annual Festival
261/PC/17 – NOTED Dates of Future Meetings
Annual Parish Meeting– 20 April 2017
Planning Meeting – 24 April 2017
Litter Picking Evening – 26 April 2017
Full Parish Council – 8 May 2017
Meeting ended at 8.36pm.