Full Parish Council - Meeting Minutes
Monday 10th February 2025
Introduction
MINUTES OF THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2025 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 Moore, Cllr Pritchard & Cllr Webster
In Attendance: Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)
Also Present: One member of the public.
Agenda Items
193/PC/25 - 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 came to listen to item 201 and gave an insight into the Conservation Areas and what might be required. The Council thanked the resident for their input in the Neighbourhood Plan and for compiling an NDHA list.
194/PC/25 - Apologies and Acceptance for Absence.
APOLOGIES were RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED for Cllr Flower and Cllr Knox-Scott.
195/PC/25 - 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.
Cllr Carter declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 209 as a committee member. Mrs Simmonds also declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 209 as a committee member even though as Clerk it is not necessary not being an elected member of the council.
196/PC/25 - Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 13 January 2025 with one addition made to the Buckinghamshire Councillor name, adding the first name so as not to confuse with a Parish Councillor of the same surname. The minutes were hand amended and initialed by the Clerk and signed by the Chair.
201/PC/25 - Proposal to extend the Conservation Area in Stoke Poges
Following on from the resident’s comments in public session it was NOTED that in 2010 the Council asked for the areas to be reviewed, and it was refused due to lack of resources. It was asked again in 2014 and again it was refused because even though the Parish were offering to pay the costs the consultants would still need to be managed by County and that would incur staff costs for them, and they again did not have the resources or the staff to carry out the work.
The Clerk had recently contacted the department again and was given the same answer. If the Parish Council can find good justification for a review Buckinghamshire Council may consider this but would need to use a consultant to undertake the work, managed by officers at the expense of the Parish Council.
It was AGREED by all that the Clerk should write back and ask if the two areas discussed were worthy of the merits discussed to be included in the areas and if so, what the process would entail before agreeing any further costs.
It was clarified that the initial request to review Conservation areas did not come from the resident as first suggested.
197/PC/25 – Beeches Community Board
Cllr Bassi reported that there was still no date for the next meeting.
NOTED that the written update/notes from Cllr Bassi on the Beeches youth round table event on 14 November 2024 to have still not been circulated as agreed at the last two meetings. Cllr Bassi said she had sent them that evening.
NOTED no further report from Cllr Bassi has been sent on the Eco Audit report as discussed at the last meeting and no reply had been received to emails about their legal stance. Cllr Bassi was advised to ring and ask.
Cllr Carter and Cllr Crocker updated regarding the Simply Walking initiative meeting which they had with the Simply Walk Officer. Simply Walk have been running for 24 years and have 74 established walks throughout the County. It was agreed that a meeting/consultation would be held on 1 April 2025 at 10.30am at the Village Centre to discuss further and that volunteers and walkers are invited to attend.
198/PC/25 - Buckinghamshire Council Report
Cllr Bagge had nothing to report.
199/PC/25 – Chairman’s/Councilor’s Update from last meeting.
There were no updates from Councillors. Cllr Carter showed everyone the newly bound minutes which had been worked on by the Clerk.
200/PC/25– Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr Carter proposed that this item is moved into Confidential on advice from the consultant, this was seconded by Cllr Finan. RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
202/PC/25 – MVAS Signs
DISCUSSED about recruiting someone to take over the MVAS sign moves and battery re-charges from May 2025. NOTED The Speed watch group have declined to take it on. Cllr Finan said that if he is re-elected in May then he will consider taking this on until we can recruit someone else. Cllr Cox agreed to continue for the time being or until another person is found.
203/PC/25 – Village Halls Week
DISCUSSED and RESOLVED to agree on a request from The Village Centre Trustees to be involved in the Village Hall open day on Saturday 22 March 2025. 1pm – 4pm.
204/PC/25 - VE Day (80 Years) 8 May 2025 – VJ Day (80 Years) 15 August 2025
In November 2024 the council DISCUSSED and decided to bring this back to the February 2025 meeting to discuss the events to be held around the beacon and maybe some singing back at the social club. NOTED
Beacon lighting will be requested and Cllr Finan agreed to be the Beacon Lighting Representative going forward.
NOTED both dates and agreed that Cllr Bassi will speak to the Stoke Poges Singers initially to see if they are interested in doing a singalong at both events. Clerk to inform the Social Club and the Fire Brigade of both.
205/PC/25 – Reception/Cups 2025
RESOLVED to agree with a majority vote the recipients of the cups for awarding at the reception on 21 March 2025.
Jubilee Cup for groups to be awarded to the non-Councillor members of the Neighbourhood Plan, working party who have all worked tirelessly over the past few years to get the plan to its current stage. Professor Bob Crocker, Professor Sally Mackey, Mr Lee Duncombe, Mr Harvey Whittam, Mr Rich Huckle.
Caledcourt Cup for an individual to be awarded to Mr Andrew Booth for his services to the village and events.
206/PC/25 – Electronic Notice Board
To discuss having an electronic notice board which runs alongside the Parish Website and Facebook page.
Cllr Moore proposed that this item due to financial sensitivity be moved to the Confidential section, this was seconded by Cllr Crocker, RESOLVED to agree by a majority vote.
207/PC/25 – Pinewood Press Release – Public Consultation on Expansion
NOTED notice of consultation to take place 25-27 February 2025. Circulated.
208/PC/25 – Taxi Licensing Service – Buckinghamshire Council
NOTED further consultation on the service – Circulated.
209/PC/25 – The Friday Club
Request for a grant/donation. Cllr Finan proposed that the Council donate up to £715.00 depending on the number of first aid trainees and to cover the insurance for the year, this was seconded by Cllr Webster. RESOLVED to agree by a majority vote.
210/PC/25 – RECEIVED and ADOPTED minutes from previous meetings of sub committees and working parties:
Planning Committee Meeting 9 December 2024 – Signed 9 December 2024
211/PC/25 – Finance
RECEIVED & NOTED Financial Summary & Statement Cashbook –January 2025.
RESOLVED to approve list of cheques/Bacs for signature - January 2025
RECEIVED & NOTED Bank reconciliations – January 2025
RECEIVED Income & Expenditure Heading Detail/Budget Monitoring – January 2025
212/PC/25 – 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 Thank you from Sunshine Corner Playgroup for donation of funds raised at Carols Event.
213/PC/25 – NOTED Dates of Future Meetings
Planning Committee Meeting – 17 February 2025
Recreation & Environment Meeting – 24 February 2025
Full Parish Council Meeting – 10 March 2025
214/PC/25 - 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.
200/PC/25– Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr Carter proposed that this item is moved into Confidential on advice from the consultant, this was seconded by Cllr Finan. RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
The examiner has completed his report which is confidential for now and not in the public domain. Agreed to wait for Buckinghamshire Council response and then bring back.
206/PC/25 – Electronic Notice Board
To discuss having an electronic notice board which runs alongside the Parish Website and Facebook page.
Cllr Moore proposed that this item due to financial sensitivity be moved to the Confidential section, this was seconded by Cllr Crocker, RESOLVED to agree by a majority vote.
It was discussed and there was an appetite around the table for this. It was agreed to draw up a questionnaire and ask people what they want, at the Village Hall open day, in the Stoke Poges News, on the Website and on the Facebook page. Bring back to March meeting.
215/PC/25 – Gray’s Field
Still no update from last meeting AGREED to remove until an update received.
Meeting ended at 9.55pm