Annual Parish Meeting of the Electorate - Meeting Minutes
Monday 8th April 2024
Introduction
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL BE HELD AT 7.00PM ON MONDAY 8 APRIL 2023 IN THE MAIN HALL AT THE VILLAGE CENTRE, ROGERS LANE, STOKE POGES, BUCKS, SL2 4LP.
A Parish Meeting is an assembly in which all electors have a right to take part and its resolutions are an expression of the views of the community. Only persons listed in the current Register of Electors are allowed to participate or vote at a Parish Meeting.
Present: Cllr Bagge (Chair), Cllr Bassi, Cllr Carter, Cllr Cox, Cllr Crocker, Cllr Flower, Cllr Moore & Cllr Webster.
Cllr Finan & Cllr Pritchard arrived at 7.20pm.
In Attendance: Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)
Also Present: 5 members of public
Agenda Items
1. Apologies for absence
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr Knox-Scott and Cllr Egleton.
2. MINUTES
RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2023 which were signed by the Chairman.
3 Chairman’s Annual Report.
Cllr Bagge welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Due to a resignation early in the council year a vacancy arose when Cllr Egleton resigned, and this was filled by Cllr Webster in September 2023 who was welcomed to his first Annual Parish Meeting.
Over the past year the council had continued to work on the Neighbourhood Plan which went to consultation in 2023 and then onto regulation 14.
There was a refresh of amenities in Plough Lane recreation ground.
A new Jogging Trail was approved for Plough Lane recreation ground subject to planning permission.
Stoke Poges News continues to thrive under new editorship.
Carols on the Green was another huge success, and the Christmas lighting was upgraded, which residents loved. The procession proved a little difficult keeping people out of the road which will be re-addressed this year.
Our Public Works Loan ended two years ago which paid for the Pavilion and therefore last year the precept was reduced by 5% and this year 24/25 is has been reduced by 10%.
The Parish Council is in good shape financially.
The Pavilion which is now 8 years old is due a refresh and will cost approximately £15k to be decided at the Full Parish Council meeting later this evening.
Cllr Bagge thanked all of the councillors for their work over the past year in working conscientiously and being focused on delivering value for money, and he reminded everyone that they are all volunteers who are generous with their time commitment.
4. General Discussion and Question Time.
One member of public thanked the councillors for their hard work and commented that the flower baskets look amazing all year round and that the Christmas lights and Carols on the Green were brilliant. Also thanked those members of the neighbourhood Plan working party.
They asked whose responsibility it was for grass verges to be maintained including litter.
They were advised that this would be Buckinghamshire Council and was guided to the ‘fix my street’ application.
Two trees which were planted on Bells Hill to replace fallen trees had both died and could we put pressure on County to replace, again they were guided to the ‘fix my street’ application.
School Lane has signs on the listed brick wall saying unsafe, who would deal with this, they were guided to the Planning Department.
The staircase in the under croft at the Co-op is in an appalling state, who’s responsible for this, they were guided to the Management Company and advised that the Clerk has reported this several times. The Clerk will report again.
Another member of public asked if there would be a maintenance schedule for the pond going forward.
No Maintenance schedule going forward, the recent works were all carried out at a cost to the Parish. A grill was placed in the pond to ensure that water flows freely and does not block the replacement drains and pipes. This is a balancing pond and rainwater from culverts flow into it naturally from up the hill. A camera was put into the pipes three years ago and there was not damage, it was done again last year and clearly the pipes were broken and damaged and blocked from the trees which have now been removed. This caused the pond to flood into the recreation ground and highway causing flooding and ice issues. It was a health and safety issue and experts from a Pond Company, Highways and arboriculturists all agreed the trees should be removed and replacement pipes put in.
The undergrowth around the pond will grow back in time causing a natural hedgerow.
Meeting ended at 7.22pm