Stoke Poges Parish Council has been informed that the hearing against the Secretary of State’s decision to grant prior approval to the Khalsa Secondary Academy in Stoke Poges will be heard in the High Court in London on 12th and 13th July. The Parish Council will be represented by Guy Williams from Landmark Chambers.

Vice-Chair of the Parish Council, Saera Carter, commented: “We are delighted that we finally have a date in the High Court for the village of Stoke Poges to have its voice heard. The Government have completely ignored the perfectly fair and reasonable arguments against siting a Secondary School in this beautiful Green Belt Buckinghamshire village. We look forward to being able to present our case to a Judge – whom we trust will agree with the District Council and the Planning Inspector to refuse prior approval for this school.”

The Parish Council will make a further statement following the outcome of the hearing in the High Court in July.

Virgin Broadband has advised the Parish Council that it is planning to make ultrafast broadband (up to 200 Mbps) available to homes and small businesses in Stoke Poges. Installation is demand-led and Virgin is inviting people interested in their fast fibre optic connections to register their interest on their ‘Cable My Street’ website: https://cablemystreet.virginmedia.com/#!/cablemystreet

These application may be inspected at www.southbucks.gov.uk/viewplanning

Any person wishing to make representations should do so in writing to Development Management by 19 May 2016 either by email to planning [Email address: planning #AT# southbucks.gov.uk - replace #AT# with @ ], by letter or via PublicAccess. Details such as target dates and the Planning Officer dealing with each application can be viewed on PublicAccess.

There has been a great deal of talk in the village about the Local Plan over the past week or so.  Sadly not all of the information being passed around is correct.  I would like to try to put that right here. 

The Local Plan is being updated as a requirement from central government. Government statistics forecast and increase in the number of households across Chiltern and South Bucks districts that will create a demand for around 7,800 new homes between now and 2036.  We are in a consultation period which ends 14 March at 5pm. 

In line with several other parishes Stoke Poges Parish Council (PC) organised a public meeting held on Monday 29 February. There was a presentation from South Bucks District Council (SBDC) on the proposed new Local Plan.  After this the PC explained their understanding of the situation and presented a possible way forward.  A handout had been prepared with details of where to look for all the information and how to make your views heard before the end of the consultation period.

I have been part of the PC Planning Committee Working Party that has been looking at the proposed Local Plan in great detail.  We are all villagers and I can assure you that none of us on the Committee want to see hundreds of houses being built in the Village. 

In conjunction with the Local Plan we looked at a report prepared by ARUP (consultants appointed by all the councils in Bucks) used to identify sites which would be looked at (tested) to see if they could be taken out of the Green Belt and used for housing in the future.

It was our view that ARUP had been extremely thorough in their report.  In their findings the only area that did not perform strongly against the policy was the small triangle of land shown at the public meeting – this area encompasses part of Grays Park Road, part of Church Road down to Duffield Park.  We looked at this in detail and their argument for choosing this site seemed appropriate.

We then turned our attention to the area identified by SBDC which was a much larger area across green fields encompassing part of each of the following – Grays Park Road, Rogers Lane, Elizabeth Way, West End Lane and Park Road.  We agreed with ARUP that it performed strongly against the Green Belt policy criteria (these were listed on the handout).  So we will be challenging SBDC on the use of this area for testing.

We had been told that if we, as a Parish, that if we object to some parcels of land being developed it would be helpful to put forward alternative areas for testing so we reluctantly came up with two further areas.

The first area is the already developed parts of Bayer Court which consists of the main house and the car park.  It does not include the fields behind Duffield Lane which extend to Rickmans Lane. This was identified by ARUP as an area that performs strongly against the Green Belt policy and prevents the sprawl between Stoke Poges and Farnham Common.

Secondly, the recreation ground in Plough Lane which is owned by the Parish Council. I would like to make it clear at this point that the Parish Council is not considering selling off this or any other piece of Parish land.  Also, we will not, under any circumstances be removing the playground and its equipment.  Should this piece of land go forward for release from the Green Belt then, as owners , we, the Parish, will decide what happens to it.  We could decide to do nothing. 

One thing is for sure it will not be a Parish Council decision it will be in consultation with villagers.

We encourage everyone to make their views heard.  There is a form on the SBDC website.  Here is the link:

www.southbucks.gov.uk/planning/localplan2014-2036/responseform

Remember you must respond by 5pm on Monday 14^th March 2016.

Cllr Mary Crocker

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2016 AT 7.30 P.M. IN THE LIONEL RIGBY ROOM AT THE VILLAGE CENTRE, ROGERS LANE, STOKE POGES.

Present:-  Cllr Bagge (Chair), Cllr Carter), Cllr Cox, Cllr Crocker, Cllr Finan, Cllr Fox, Cllr Huntley & Cllr Lynch.

In Attendance:-  Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)

Also Present:-  PCSO Roy Fisher and two members of public.

___________________________________________________________________________

MINUTES

Cllr Carter chaired the meeting up to item 229 not including items 224 & 225 which were taken after Cllr Bagge arrived at 7.55pm and took over as Chairman.

218/PC/16 – Police

PCSO Fisher read out the latest crime report, and reported back that the junction of Bunby Road and Pennyletts

Green was being monitored and tickets issued for dangerous parking.

219/PC/16 – 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.

None

220/PC/16 – Apologies for Absence

APOLOGIES were received from Cllr Hoskins and Cllr Taylor.

221/PC/16- 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.

None.

222/PC/16 – Minutes

RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 11 January 2016 which were signed by the Chairman.

223/PC/16 – County Councillor’s Report

Councillor Egleton was not present.

224/PC/16 – District Councillor’s Report

Cllr Bagge reported that the budget would be going to cabinet the next day and revenue and outgoings are in balance over the next four years, with a surplus going to reserves in 2016/17.  The Local Plan consultation is ongoing.  The South Buckinghamshire Golf Club and Academy performance are under review.

225/PC/16 – Chairman’s Update from last meeting.

Cllr Bagge asked for opinions on the Carols event and whether or not it was felt to continue with this year’s event at St. Andrews or back at the Village Centre.  It was agreed that the preference would be for the Village Centre and the date was agreed 10 December 2016.

226/PC/16 – Khalsa School

Nothing to update.

227/PC/16 – Bells Hill Green

Any update from SBDC after Parish proposal to remove footpath and railings.  To make any decision on response.

Officers at SBDC have not responded yet, defer to March 2016.

228/PC/16 – Bells Hill Recreation Ground

DISCUSSED Tarmac quotes for the driveway, previous ones and one tabled.  After much discussion and comparison Cllr Crocker proposed to accept the quote from SSC to be funded from the pavilion/MUGA budget and any excess to be vired from reserves, this was seconded by Cllr Cox, RESOLVED to agree, all in favour.

229/PC/15 – Dangerous corner on Rogers Lane

DISCUSSED residents request for support for measures to be considered to warn or calm traffic on the tight bend on Rogers Lane in light of a car causing extensive damage to a house.

NOTED that Cllr Carter confirmed that she and the clerk had met with highways and they have agreed to install chevrons onto the wall as soon as possible.  That is all that can feasibly be done in that area, every other traffic calming measure is already in place.

7.55pm Cllr Bagge arrived and continued to Chair the meeting including item 224 & 225

230/PC/16 – The Queens 90 Birthday

Cllr Carter tabled rough costings for this event.  DISCUSSED and Cllr Carter proposed that we agree to use up to £4200 from reserves with a view to only spending the rough costings if possible of around £3500, this was seconded by Cllr Fox, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.  Event being held on 12 June 2016, in Bells Hill Recreation Ground. 

231/PC/16 – Beacon Lighting 21 April 2016

Agreed to bring back for further discussion from last meeting, falls on same evening as the APM.

No times been given yet, defer until March meeting.

232/PC/16 – Clean for the Queen

RESOLVED to agree all in favour not to hold the event on 6 March 2016, due to it being Mother’s Day and DECIDED that due to the safety rules and regulations for this event not to hold it at all.  It was agreed to support the Stoke Common clean up instead, all in favour.

233/PC/16 – Chiltern & South Bucks Joint Local Plan

Cllr Bagge and Cllr Carter updated the members from the meeting held on 18 January.  It was agreed by all that a working party consisting of Cllr Hoskins, Cllr Crocker, Mr Harris, Cllr Egleton and Cllr Carter be set up and that a public meeting should be held so that all residents are made aware of this important issue.  RESOLVED to agree by all present that the working party has delegated authority and are to submit their comments in time for the deadline of the consultation without bringing this back to Full Council due to the time constraints.

234/PC/16 – Parish Reception

DISCUSSED reception details to be held on 18 March 2016, invites to go out soon.  Cllr Carter proposed that the individual cup winner should be Mr Lee Duncombe for his services to the Parish and the Parish Council and the group cup to go to The Community First Responders, this was seconded by Cllr Huntley, RESOLVED to agree, 7 for 1 abstention.

235/PC/16 – Agenda Paper Copies

DISCUSSED and Cllr Cox proposed that the agenda should still be sent out for the time being and a trial electronic agenda should be sent to Cllr Crocker to assess how practical and efficient it is for the clerk and recipients and all Minutes will be sent out electronically from now on, this was seconded by Cllr Carter, RESOLVED to agree, all in favour.  Bring back in June to see how trial has gone.

236/PC/16 – Local Plan Consultation/Parish Plan

This was discussed under item 233.

237/PC/16 – Parking Pennylets Green/Bunby Road

Cllr Carter and the clerk met with the police and they are currently monitoring the situation.  A letter has been agreed between the clerk and the police to be sent to anyone in the village parking dangerously from both the Parish Council and the Police.

238/PC/16 – RECEIVED and ADOPTED minutes from previous meetings of sub committees and working parties:

1. Planning Minutes – 14 December  2015 – Signed 19 January 2015

239/PC/16 – Finance

(1) NOTED Statement of Accounts – January 2016

(2) RESOLVED To approve list of bacs & cheques for signature January 2016 (subject to additions)

(3) RECEIVED Bank reconciliations, January 2016

(4) RECEIVED Budget monitoring, January 2016

(5) NOTED Fighting Fund. Circulated.

240/PC/16 – NOTED 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. None.

Correspondence:

241/PC/16 – NOTED Dates of Future Meetings

Planning Committee – 15 February 2016

R & E Committee – 22 February 2016

Full Parish Council – 14 March 2016

242/PC/16 – Exclusion of the Press & Public

Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960

Cllr Bagge proposed to Resolve to exclude the press and public from the following business because publicity would prejudice the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business., this was seconded by Cllr Crocker, RESOLVED to agree, all in favour.

242/PC/16 – Workplace Pension

To discuss/decide on employers obligation regarding the new workplace pension as outlined in document circulated. 1^st staging date for Stoke Poges Parish Council is 1 March 2016.

The council agreed to meet its statutory duty by offering a workplace pension to the clerk.

Meeting ended:-  9.35pm.

Signed/Chairman Dated