Full Parish Council - Meeting Minutes
Monday 13th March 2023
Introduction
MINUTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 13 MARCH 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 Crocker, Cllr Finan, Cllr Knox-Scott, Cllr Moore & Cllr Pritchard.
Absent:- Cllr Egleton
In Attendance:- Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)
Agenda Items
205/PC/23 – Public Session Time (7.30 pm-7.45 pm)
The meeting is open to the public and press and fifteen minutes will be reserved, if required, for public comment on items on the agenda.
None
206/PC/23 – Apologies for Absence
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr Cox & Cllr Flower.
207/PC/23 – Declarations of interest
Members 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
208/PC/23 – Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 13 February 2023 which were signed by the Chairman.
209/PC/23 – Beeches Community Board
No update from Cllr Egleton sent.
210/PC/23 – Buckinghamshire Council Report
Cllr Bagge reported that more funding was being put into road repairs. Transport for Bucks new contractors take over on 1 April 2023. Cllr Knox-Scott asked Cllr Bagge to obtain a list of road works for Stoke Poges which he said he would get. Comments were made on the state of the roads around the Wexham Park Golf Club works.
211/PC/23 – Chairman’s/Councillors’ Update from last meeting.
Cllr Bagge reported attending a tree planting ceremony at the Memorial Gardens for the Platinum Jubilee which was conducted by the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Howe.
Cllr Carter reported that the Friday Club are looking into funding. The idea of the club is working well.
Cllr Carter reported that the R & E committee had agreed to purchase bunting for the King’s Coronation but only if members agreed to help put it up and take it down again. RESOLVED to agree unanimously that all members present would help do both.
212/PC/23 – Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr Carter updated on Neighbourhood Plan and meetings held with working party. Zoom meetings are being held tomorrow with consultants regarding Green Infrastructure/ Sustainability and Heritage. NDHA listings have been submitted to Buckinghamshire Council for approval. So far grant funding has covered all costs. We are waiting to see if central government will be extending further grants from 1 April 2023 onwards. There is a line in our budget to cover any potential further costs if required.
213/PC/23 – Pond
NOTED letter received from an officer at County about Riparian Landowner Responsibilities, sent to all owners of the pond after a member of public contacted them to ask if they will contribute towards maintenance costs.
NOTED that a local surveyor had been very helpful in advising the PC on how to get accurate percentages of owners of the pond using the GIS officer at Buckinghamshire Council. This has now been done and will be shared with the other pond owners once an additional quote for works has been received after an on-site meeting with another company and the local surveyor which took place last week. Once the additional quote is received another meeting will be set up with the owners of the pond to discuss it further. It was NOTED that this company have said that the pond is what is known as a balancing pond, so surface water comes in and excess water flows out, but it is not working correctly at present.
214/PC/23 – School Traffic/Traffic Watch Update
Update given from Cllr Carter about County on camera options. The camera option we required as per the one used by Derby is not the same as the one being trialed by Buckinghamshire Council, which would only cover the zig zag lines so not appropriate for Rogers Lane. Cllr Bagge is requesting information regarding the Derby scheme from officers and is waiting for a response.
The police have agreed to schedule in attending the school every few weeks where possible.
Cllr. Carter spoke with an officer regarding parking enforcement who recommended that regular photos be sent which would help prioritise Stoke Poges for a Parking Enforcement Officer. It was suggested that all Councillors sent photos to the Clerk who will forward them on.
215/PC/23 – Pioneer Secondary Academy
Update given from meeting with Sikh Academies Trust and residents which took place a week ago.
NOTED Response received from the Deputy Head to the Clerks email from last month which was circulated.
The Parish Council AGREED unanimously that any Councillors entering into conversations as a Councillor with the School should have reported back to the Clerk, Councillors should only enter into discussions with the School as residents unless it was previously agreed by full council to do otherwise, doing so has proved nonproductive. It is nine years since the school has been in situ and this council have mediated and opened the door between the residents and the school therefore and it was AGREED unanimously to step back and only get involved further if requested, and to take this item off of the agenda ongoing.
216/PC/23 – Reception/Cups 2023
NOTED reminder about event being held on 31 March 2023, invitations have been sent, social club on board to open bar for the evening, microphone to be loaned by Terrafirma Sound and cup recipients attending.
217/PC/23 – Litter Picking
Update given on first litter pick on 4 March 2023, 11 adults and 5 children attended, lots of rubbish cleared.
especially around the shops. RESOLVED to agree unanimously to purchase a couple of brooms and large dust pans and brushes and 20 hoops to hold the bags open.
218/PC/23 – Horticultural Show/Village Fete
NOTED request from Chairman of the Horticultural Society and Trustee of the Fete Committee to use the recreation ground for parking at this year’s events on 10 June 2023 and 29 July 2023.
RESOLVED to agreed unanimously provided that the gate is not left open or unlocked at any time during the day, that it is manned and the parking properly organised by marshals especially when driving onto the recreation ground which will be being used by residents as usual with children and dogs, and that it will be locked up at the end of the day. If the weather is particularly wet, then cars must not be allowed to drive onto the recreation ground at all and only the immediate car parking area is to be used.
219/PC/23 – HM Lord-Lieutenant’s Garden Party
NOTED garden party being held for “unsung heroes”, Invitation to nominate someone. RESOLVED to agree unanimously to nominate four individuals.
220/PC/23 – Website
NOTED that the new website should be up and running by 1 May 2023 to coincide with the new council year start.
221/PC/23 – Friday club
Cllr Carter proposed to purchase 100 coronation pins for members and helpers, funds taken from the Coronation budget, this was seconded by Cllr Pritchard, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
222/PC/23 – RECEIVED and ADOPTED minutes from previous meetings of sub committees and working parties:
- Planning Committee Minutes 16 January 2023 – Agreed/Signed 20 February 2023
- Recreation & Environmental 6 July 2022 – Agreed/Signed 27 February 2023
- Recreation & Environmental 24 October 2022 – Agreed/Signed 24 October 2023
223/PC/23 – Finance
- RECEIVED & NOTED Financial Summary & Statement Cashbook – February 2023
- RESOLVED to approve list of cheques/Bacs for signature February 2023 – £9150.84
- RECEIVED & NOTED Bank reconciliations – February 2023
- NOTED Income & Expenditure Heading Detail/Budget Monitoring – February 2023
- RECEIVED & NOTED and AGREED Financial Risk Assessment for audit purposes.
224/PC/23 – Bank Accounts
NOTED that bank accounts are still being sought.
225/PC/23 – Accounts Package
Cllr Finan proposed to accept and renew the contract for a further 5 years, this was seconded by Cllr Moore, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
226/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.
None
227/PC/23 – NOTED Dates of Future Meetings
Planning Meeting – 20 March 2023
Parish Reception – 31 March 2023
Full Parish Council Meeting – 3 April 2023 Followed by
Annual Parish Meeting at 8.30pm
228/PC/23 – 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.
229/PC/23 – Neighbourhood Plan
DISCUSSED and made decisions on some of the policies including Green Belt. Discussed smaller stock housing. Looked at budgets for ongoing work.
Meeting ended at 9.25pm