Full Parish Council - Meeting Minutes
Monday 8th July 2024
Introduction
MINUTES OF THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 8 JULY 2024 AT 7.30PM IN THE LIONEL RIGBY ROOM AT THE VILLAGE CENTRE, ROGERS LANE, STOKE POGES BUCKS, SL2 4LP.
Present: - Cllr Carter (Chair), Cllr Bagge, Cllr Bassi, Cllr Cox, Cllr Crocker, Cllr Finan, Cllr Knox-Scott, Cllr Moore & Cllr Webster.
In Attendance: Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)
Absent: Cllr Flower & Cllr Pritchard.
Agenda Items
050/PC/24 - 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.
None
051/PC/24 - Apologies for Absence
None
052/PC/24 - 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
053/PC/24 - Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 June 2024 which were signed by the Chairman.
054/PC/24 – Beeches Community Board
Cllr Bassi said that the next meeting is on 25 July 2024.
Cllr Bassi updated regarding the Simply Walking initiative saying that she had recently emailed them to find out more about why there was not an initiative in Stoke Poges, she will follow this up and report back.
055/PC/24 - Buckinghamshire Council Report
Cllr Bagge said that due to the elections all meetings had been postponed so there was nothing to report.
Cllr Carter explained that the Vine Road re-surfacing had been problematic as there was no sub structure, so it was being reassessed and will cost a lot more than expected to re-surface.
056/PC/24 – Chairman’s/Councilor’s Update from last meeting.
Cllr Moore reported that as the representative for the Heritage Walk, he attended a Covid Walk opening at the Memorial Gardens which went very well.
Cllr Carter reported that the Post Office owners were retiring and should the Parish Council do anything for them like a private collection. It was agreed to write something for the Stoke Poges News and organise something once a date for retirement is known.
Cllr Carter updated everyone on the Rogers Lane school parking which has escalated and reported to TVP and Fix My Street. It was noted that afternoons are worse.
The Clerk has emailed enforcement twice asking for support. TVP are working collaboratively with the Parish Council and have now started discussions with Parking Enforcement, they are having a telephone meeting with them this week.
The police team have contacted the school and had a meeting set up with them today which was cancelled at the last minute by the school and cannot be re-arranged by the school until September. The police have sent a strong response to the Head stressing the importance of the school’s responsibility.
Cllr Carter updated the committee about the Tennis Club and their ongoing drainage issue, explaining that a lease was allowed and granted by the Charity Commission for the Council to lease the land to them. There was planning permission sought by the tennis club in 1978 but it appears for a much smaller building with no toilets. The tennis club have asked the Clerk for permission for their insurers to arrange to dig up the St Andrews Church Car Park and a small area in the recreation ground outside of their fencing. The Clerk has informed them that permission for St Andrews will need to be given by them. It was agreed by all to allow them to dig in the recreation ground as there is no cost to the council and it is a health and safety issue. The Tennis Club have provided details of their insurers and the recommended contractors. The Tennis Club will be required to supply risk assessments etc. and communicate start dates. Councillors will agree via email which will be ratified at the September meeting where a further update will also be given.
Cllr Carter reported that a planning application in Clevehurst Close to turn a house into a block of flats is to be refused and the call-in is withdrawn. Also, Top Cottage is becoming very complicated and a three-member call-in has been requested.
057/PC/24 – Neighbourhood Plan
No update at present.
058/PC/24 – Plough Lane Jogging Path
NOTED that a Certificate of Lawfulness was granted by Planning and works commenced on 1 July 2024.
NOTED that excess spoil was being taken to Bells Hill Recreation Ground to level out uneven areas that are liable to flooding and create a bund to protect the jogging path, however the standard of the soil might not be suitable for this after all.
059/PC/24 – Pavilion Solar Panels
AGREED last month to go with Solarbility once questions had been answered as circulated, to agree to go with the quotation as circulated last month. Cllr Bagge proposed that as the answers were satisfactory that the council go ahead and accept the quote for £19181.00 from Solarbility to be taken from the Covid-19 Funds under item 063, this was seconded by Cllr Cox, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
060/PC/24 – Litter Pick s 2024
NOTED again, litter pick this weekend 13 July. Cllr Webster and Cllr Carter to lead.
RESOLVED to agree by all to set a new date for the September litter pick of 14 September 2024.
061/PC/24 – 11/11 Posies
AGREED by all to defer until the September meeting.
062/PC/24 – Pavilion
Cllr Bagge proposed to purchase 15 more chairs for the pavilion to accommodate all their elderly guests when holding afternoon teas there for a sum of £400, to be taken from the Covid-19 funds reserve this was seconded by Cllr Knox-Scott, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
063/PC/24 – Covid-19 Funds
Cllr Finan proposed that the request from the Finance Committee to use the Covid-19 grant funds obtained during the pandemic on the Solar Panels for the Pavilion, and the chairs for the pavilion, this was seconded by Cllr Webster, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
064/PC/24 – Artisan Market
Cllr Carter updated the committee and said that around 24 stalls had agreed to attend so far. There was a
discussion around who is heading the event and it was clarified that the Parish Council are heading the event under their umbrella and for insurance purposes, and in collaboration with the Village Centre.
065/PC/24 – Carols on the Green
Cllr Carter updated that lots of things had been organised already:
Tree, Lights, Marquees, Reindeer. Stall holders are being contacted and some have booked.
It was agreed that instead of having a working part, teams would be set up for certain things such as the grotto, sleigh etc. Cllr Carter and Cllr Crocker to sit down together and work out the plan.
066/PC/24 – Enforcement/Yellow Lines
This was already updated under item 56 on the current enforcement for yellow line in Stoke Poges.
067/PC/24 – Bug Hotels
DISCUSSED about purchasing one large or a couple of smaller of these for the Green and both recreation grounds. Cllr Carter proposed that we purchase three small bug hotels for £399.00 each plus installation of up to £220.00 each, to be placed one on the Green and one in each Recreation Ground and to be paid for out of the CIL funds received, this was seconded by Cllr Knox-Scott, RESOLVED to agree seven for and 2 against.
068/PC/24 – Sunshine Corner
Cllr Finan proposed that the balance of funds left in the Covid-19 funds after the solar panels and chairs have been paid for is given as a grant towards works to their garden, this was seconded by Cllr Webster,
RESOLVED to agree seven for and two abstained. Cllr Knox-Scott then proposed that the proceeds from the Carols on the Green go to Sunshine this year, this was seconded by Cllr Bassi, RESOLVED to agree eight for and one against.
069/PC/24 – Pond
Cllr Bagge proposed to accept the quote for £2350.00 to remove self-seeded willow trees from middle of the pond, this was seconded by Cllr Knox-Scott, RESOLVED to agree all in favour, to be taken from the pond maintenance reserve.
070/PC/24 – RECEIVED and ADOPTED minutes from previous meetings of sub committees and working parties:
Planning Committee Minutes 20 May 2024 – Agreed/Signed 17 June 2024.
Finance Committee Minutes 8 January 2024 - Agreed/Signed 24 June 2024
071/PC/24 – Finance
RECEIVED Financial Summary & Statement Cashbook –June 2024.
RESOLVED to approve list of cheques/Bacs for signature - June 2024 - £18700.74
RECEIVED Bank reconciliations – June 2024
RECEIVED Income & Expenditure Heading Detail/Budget Monitoring – June 2024
072/PC/24 – 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
073/PC/24 -NOTED Dates of Future Meetings
Planning Committee Meeting – 15 July 2024
Planning Committee Meeting – 19 August 2024
Full Parish Council Meeting – 9 September 2024
The meeting ended at 9.00pm.