Full Parish Council - Meeting Minutes
Monday 4th December 2023
Introduction
MINUTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 4 DECEMBER 2023 AT 7.30 P.M. IN THE LIONEL RIGBY ROOM AT THE VILLAGE CENTRE, ROGERS LANE, STOKE POGES BUCKS, SL2 4LP.
Present: - Cllr Bagge (Chair), Cllr Bassi, Cllr Carter, Cllr Cox, Cllr Crocker, Cllr Finan, Cllr Flower, Cllr Knox-Scott, Cllr Moore, Cllr Prichard & Cllr Webster.
In Attendance: - Mrs. J Simmonds (Clerk)
Also Present: - One member of public.
Agenda Items
146/PC/23 - Public Session Time (7.30 pm-7.45 pm)
The meeting is open to the public and press and 15 minutes will be reserved, if required, for public comment on items on the agenda.
One member of the public was present to listen to item 154.
147/PC/23 - Apologies for Absence
None
148/PC/23 - Declarations of interest
Members to declare any personal interest in any item of business as defined in the Code of Conduct adopted 2021. If that interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest as defined in the Code; the member should withdraw from the meeting for that item.
None.
149/PC/23 - Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 13 November 2023 which were signed by the Chairman.
150/PC/23 – Beeches Community Board
Update from Cllr Bassi, next meeting is in February 2024.
NOTED The clerk is still in discussions with the Local Area Technician about a suitable site for a static sign before proceeding with the application to the Beeches, deferred.
NOTED that an application for funding towards the Plough Lane jogging trail has been submitted.
NOTED that the chair of the community board had resigned, and a new chair was appointed.
151/PC/23 - Buckinghamshire Council Report
Cllr Bagge reported that a ‘no idling of vehicles outside schools’ motion’ is being voted on at the next Council meeting.
The budgets for next year are proving to be the tightest and most difficult ever.
152/PC/23 – Chairman’s/Councillors' Update from last meeting.
Cllr Bagge thanked everyone who was involved in the Carols on the Green.
Stoke Park has been assessed by Historic England and the planning proposals are deemed to cause ‘less than serious harm’ and therefore a consultation and planning application will be submitted soon.
Residents have asked about the planting of Lavenders on a verge in Sefton Close. Cllr. Carter investigated; the land belongs to L&Q housing association.
61Vine Road has been visited by Cllr Egleton after liaising with him, building control and Planning have now visited the site. We await their reports.
Yellow lines in Sefton Close have been partly replaced but not all of them, investigation to see who did them and why?
Cllr Bassi asked when the yellow line scheme in Rogers Lane would take place, it is in the system, but no date has been scheduled.
Cllr Moore attended a Heritage Walk meeting, new signs will be put up and a new lifebuoy at the lake in Stoke Park.
153/PC/23 – Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr Carter updated on the regulation 14 consultation period and next steps. The statutory bodies’ replies are being worked on by the consultants. The Working Party are liaising with our consultants regarding villagers’ comments, replies are in draft form. Once finalised they will be replied to. The meeting with the consultants to finalise the replies will take place on 5 December at 6pm via Zoom.
Dark skies and a complaint about Stoke Park has been lodged with Enforcement to investigate.
Sefton Business Park have responded to some basic changes that Buckinghamshire Council asked for and the consultant is dealing with Bucks about this.
Even though the plan is still in draft form and Regulation 14 is completed, legislation allows the Parish Council to use the Plan as a planning tool when commenting on planning applications.
Cllr Carter reported that Thames House was granted planning permission for a three-story building although it shows as undecided on the portal. The Working Party are working with our consultants on possibly amending the options for possible development that may come forward in the future.
154/PC/23 – Pond
NOTED letter received from a resident part pond owner about trespass.
The council discussed this letter and agreed that there appeared to be some contradictions between two paragraphs. AGREED that the council agreed that the Clerk had not accused anyone of anything and had acted correctly.
NOTED letter received from a resident part pond owner about works to take place and asking for Parish Council comments.
The council agreed that this was a very courteous letter and thanked the resident. 8.02pm the meeting was adjourned to discuss the works with the member of public who was in attendance and asked questions, it was re-convened at 8.05pm.
NOTED email from a resident asking for a date for drainage works.
155/PC/23 – Bus Shelter Hastings Meadow
AGREED to defer whilst still obtaining quotes.
156/PC/23 – Carols on the Green
Debrief from event held on 25/11/23.
NOTED thank you letters had gone out.
NOTED One stall mislead our contractor regarding required electrics, agreed not to invite that stall holder next year over safety concerns.
NOTED that the MC and singers were hard to hear and for them to be re-positioned next time.
NOTED that there were no strong men to help clear up at the end of the event. Only one or two who had helped all day.
NOTED that a 3 x 3 red gazebo was required for next year’s grotto.
NOTED that the procession had issues keeping the public on the pavement, more Marshalls required next year.
NOTED that a ticket system would work better for the Grotto to prevent queues.
157/PC/23 – D-Day 6 June 2024 – 80th Anniversary
NOTED that the Clerk has arranged with the Social Club to hold a sing-along in the club after the beacon has been lit on 6 June 2024.
NOTED that Terrafirma Sound has agreed to provide a PA system for the beacon lighting.
158/PC/23 – Music Event
AGREED to defer it as a meeting was due to take place about logistics for an event.
159/PC/23 – Pennylets Green Junction
AGREED to defer until a licence has been granted from County to install planters on the verge near this junction.
160/PC/23 – Quarterly Surgeries
Cllr Bassi proposed to hold quarterly surgeries in 2024, no seconder and therefore no vote, motion lost.
161/PC/23 – Highways Devolution 2024/25Cllr Finan proposed not to have any devolved services, this was seconded by Cllr Crocker RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
162/PC/23 – Grass Cutting Contract/Bells Hill Green Contract
The clerk updated that both contracts were going well, and the Grass cutting contract 6 monthly review was a complete success and that the contractor is not increasing prices next year. Cllr Finan proposed to resolve to agree to continue with both yearly rolling contracts for 2024/2025, this was seconded by Cllr Pritchard, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
163/PC/23 – Cllr Knox-Scott proposed to Ratify decisions made by Finance & General Purposes on 29 November 2023, this was seconded by Cllr Moore, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
018/F/23 Budget 2024/2025
CONSIDERED amounts to be included in the budgets for 2024/2025. Cllr Knox-Scott proposed to put forward a recommendation for the Parish Council Meeting to be held on 4 December 2023 to agree to accept the budgets as discussed, this was seconded by Cllr Bagge, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
019/F/23 Precept
Cllr Carter proposed that the recommend Precept requirement for 2024/25 be reduced from last year’s figure by 10% to £182102.89 for approval by the Parish Council Meeting to be held on 4 December 2023, this was seconded by Cllr Bagge. RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
164/PC/23 – RECEIVED and ADOPTED minutes from previous meetings of sub committees and working parties:
Planning Committee Minutes 16 October 2023 – Agreed/Signed 20 November 2023
165/PC/23 – Finance
RECEIVED & NOTED Financial Summary & Statement Cashbook –November 2023
RESOLVED to approve list of cheques/Bacs for signature November 2023
RECEIVED & NOTED Bank reconciliations – November 2023
(4) NOTED Income & Expenditure Heading Detail/Budget Monitoring - November 2023
166/PC/23 – 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.
NOTED Email of thanks from resident regarding new paths in Bells Hill Rec.
167/PC/23 – NOTED Dates of Future Meetings
Planning Committee Meeting – 11 December 2023
Full Parish Council Meeting – 8 January 2024
The meeting ended at 8.46pm.