Full Parish Council - Meeting Minutes
Monday 9th September 2024
Introduction
MINUTES OF THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 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 Flower, Cllr Moore, Cllr Pritchard & Cllr Webster.
In Attendance: Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)
Agenda Items
074/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
075/PC/24 - Apologies for Absence
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr Crocker, Cllr Finan and Cllr Knox-Scott.
076/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
077/PC/24 - Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 8 July 2024 which were signed by the Chairman.
078/PC/24 – Beeches Community Board
Update given by Cllr Bassi. Burnham parking being looked into, a Youth Round Table being looked into as well as Health and Wellbeing. There is also a very good app available to advertise events locally.
Further update given regarding the Simply Walking initiative and contact made with Buckinghamshire Council relevant officer, who has agreed to look into the possibility of having a Simply Walk in Stoke Poges.
Cllr. Bassi to follow up
079/PC/24 - Buckinghamshire Council Report
Cllr Bagge said due to the summer recess there was nothing to report.
080/PC/24 – Chairman’s/Councilor’s Update from last meeting.
Cllr Bassi chased up the response to a resident in Fir Tree Avenue requesting a road at the back of their gardens. Clerk to respond.
Cllr Carter updated us about a meeting held with the Beeches and Ivers Community Board Officers about both of our jogging paths. They asked for advice on the projects so they could share this information for future projects. They also advised on how Sunshine Corner can apply for grant funding. It was a very productive meeting
081/PC/24 – Neighbourhood Plan
NOTED from Buckinghamshire Council regarding any possible Government changes. Buckinghamshire Council say they have no feedback at present.
Update on awaiting examination, there was a list of examiners supplied and one has now been selected and the process is underway.
Sefton Business Park proposals and NP Policy SP3 and any decisions to be made. The original brochure quoted the Parish Council and used their logo without permission. The Clerk wrote to them, and they apologised and immediately removed the quotes and logo and circulated a new brochure, which had different content to the first. To monitor.
082/PC/24 – Plough Lane Jogging Path
NOTED that the path has been completed and there has been positive feedback about the path and the contractors used.
NOTED positive comments have been passed onto the contractor.
NOTED meeting was requested by 2 local community boards to discuss in detail the jogging path, it merits etc.
083/PC/24 – Pavilion Solar Panels
NOTED that the new technology panels have been fitted over the summer and are generating power. The Clerk is looking for a cheaper supplier and will report back
084/PC/24 – Artisan Market
Update given by Cllr Carter on the market held on 7 September 2024. Emails of thanks and congratulations have been received by the Clerk to be circulated. Several stalls sold out quickly, there was excellent feedback from vendors and from attendees all asking if it could be a regular event. Noted that the use of the Social Club as a social space contributed to the market being a village event where villagers could meet and catch up. Noted that there was no negativity at all about the event.
AGREED that the Village Centre Trustees will meet with Cllr. Carter to discuss the planning of further Markets and to bring back to October meeting the confirmed dates for next year, along with figures from this event.
085/PC/24 – Litter Picks 2024
NOTED litter pick on 14 September 2024, Cllr Bagge and Cllr Webster to be present.
086/PC/24 – 11/11 Posies
NOTED that the posies have not been ordered because they are no longer available.
Cllr Carter updated that the church does not really have anywhere inside for the posies to go but will be looking for a space to be used in future. It was discussed that there could maybe be somewhere on the Green or elsewhere in the village and that the event at the flagpole should be more secular. It was agreed to do some research and bring back to the October meeting for final decision on the event.
087/PC/24 – Play Equipment Inspection Training
NOTED that the play equipment inspector has been booked onto the three yearly course in November 2024.
088/PC/24 – Tennis Club
Cllr Bagge proposed to ratify that the club can dig in the recreation ground to inspect their drains as agreed at the last meeting and agreed on email by all councillors after that meeting, this was seconded by Cllr Pritchard, RESOLVED to agree all in favour. NOTED that the dig had taken place, and the fault of the blocked drains found, waiting for more evidence. Bring back to October meeting.
089PC/24 – Enforcement/Yellow Line/School Parking Problems
Update on current enforcement for yellow line in Stoke Poges, and to decide whether to follow up after the update given at the July meeting. Update is still no enforcement and Cllr Egleton has also chased and complained but had no reply.
NOTED a letter from a resident about parking issues.
NOTED a letter from Cllr Egleton to Enforcement.
090/PC/24 – Footpath Repairs Bells Hill Rec and Fence replacement – Rogers Lane
Cllr Bagge proposed to accept option 1 and option 3 on the quotation received to repair two of the original footpaths for £7150 to come out of repairs and maintenance, this was seconded by Cllr Webster,
RESOLVED to agree 7 for and 1 abstained.
9.00pm Cllr Bagge left the meeting.
Cllr Webster proposed to accept the quote for £1650.00 to update the piece of fence near Aldridge Place to come from repairs and maintenance, this was seconded by Cllr Pritchard, RESOLVED to agree 5 for and 2 against.
091/PC/24 – Bells Hill/Plough Lane Recreation Ground Play Equipment.
Cllr Bassi proposed to accept the quote received for new pieces of equipment, 2 pieces of equipment for Plough Lane and one piece for Bells Hill, £19434.00 to be taken from the new playground reserve, this was seconded by Cllr Webster, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
092/PC/24 – Carols on the Green
Update and to make any decisions for the event. Everything going to plan.
DISCUSSED Cllr. Websters concerns that the procession was outdated. Cllr. Carter had done some research with residents that reported that it was a village tradition for all ages and was very popular. It was agreed that the road closures were now applied for and too late to change for this year and that the grotto ran fine last time, to leave as planned. Cllr Carter said she would source marshals for the procession and share with Cllr. Moore.
Cllr Moore proposed to accept the request from the family that supply the little houses on the green and to allow a spend of up to and no more than £1000 towards materials for them to build more and add to the collection. Clerk to order any materials they require and to open a new budget line for next year, this was seconded by Cllr Flower, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
093/PC/24 – Insurance Renewal
Cllr Cox proposed that we stay with the same company as there are possible claims in place and renew and accept the quote for the 3-year deal £3817.85 this year, this was seconded by Cllr Bassi, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
094/PC/24 – Stoke Poges Newsletter
NOTED there has been lots of positive feedback from residents about the recent magazines.
DISCUSSED Councillors additions to the magazine, what articles are useful. Suggestions for future topics? AGREED all councillors to think about it and bring back suggestions to the October meeting.
095/PC/24 – RECEIVE and ADOPT minutes from previous meetings of sub committees and working parties:
None
096/PC/24 – Finance
RECEIVED Financial Summary & Statement Cashbook –July & August 2024.
RESOLVED to approve list of cheques/Bacs for signature total £109111.07 - July & August 2024
RECEIVED Bank reconciliations – July & August 2024
RECEIVED Income & Expenditure Heading Detail/Budget Monitoring – July & August 2024
097/PC/24 – External Audit
NOTED that the external audit has been signed off and returned with no matters arising, thanks were given to the Clerk.
098/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.
NOTED Email received from Sunshine Corner thanking the council for the grant.
NOTED Kidd Rapinet – Completion of Land Registry for Plough Lane Recreation Ground full registered.
NOTED The Farnhams Neighbourhood Plan Publication of Plan Proposal Regulation 16.
NOTED Thank you from a resident to the Planning Committee
099/PC/24 – NOTED Dates of Future Meetings
Planning Committee Meeting – 16 September 2024
Full Parish Annual Council Meeting – 14 October 2024
100/PC/24 - Exclusion of the Press & Public
Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 RESOLVED 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.
Cllr Bassi proposed to continue with the meeting due to the time going over the two hours, this was seconded by Cllr Webster, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
101/PC/24 – Commercial Business requests for stalls at Carols on Green
Cllr Bassi proposed that historically large commercial businesses had donated to the event without expecting anything back other than a mention of thanks in the PR before and after the event and that the event should continue with that ethos, this was seconded by Cllr Webster RESOLVED to agree 5 for, 1 against and 1 abstained.
102/PC/24 – Friday Club
Update given on the proceeding constitution.
103/PC/24 – Grays Field
AGREED by all to defer this item to October 2024 due to the time and length of the meeting so far.
Meeting ended at 10.05pm