Full Parish Council - Meeting Minutes
Monday 14th October 2024
Introduction
MINUTES OF THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 14 OCTOBER 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 Bassi, Cllr Crocker, Cllr Finan, Cllr Knox-Scott, Cllr Moore, Cllr Pritchard and Cllr Webster.
In Attendance: Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)
Agenda Items
104/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
105/PC/24 - Apologies for Absence
APOLOGIES were received from Cllr Bagge, Cllr Cox and Cllr Flower.
106/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.
Cllr Crocker declared an interest in item 113 regarding the first aid part.
107/PC/24 - Minutes
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 9 September 2024 which were signed by the Chairman.
108/PC/24 – Beeches Community Board
Cllr Bassi has had 2 conversations with Buckinghamshire Council and the relevant officer regarding the Simply Walking initiative. They would support us if we were to get everything in place, i.e. volunteers for a level 1 walk and the Manager of the Community Board is also happy to help support this.
The Manager has suggested an Eco Audit of Stoke Poges which would be free of charge and any suggestions would be covered financially by the board. Cllr Bassi was asked to find out more and bring back to the November meeting.
109/PC/24 - Buckinghamshire Council Report
Cllr Bagge left a report which was read out by the Chairman, he spoke at a recent hearing on the Home Barn application.
110/PC/24 – Chairman’s/Councilor’s Update from last meeting.
Cllr Knox-Scott said she has reported some overgrown trees and bushes covering the pavements in Vine Road and also some potholes which resulted in poor repairs.
Cllr Carter updated that after many weeks of communication with several departments at BC a permit was granted to build the bus shelter, but it was granted incorrectly for three days instead of three weeks. They then stated that we would need to wait until next year. The Parish Council and Cllr. Egleton complained to several senior officers who have now granted a two-week permit in November to be extended by the LAT to three weeks if required. Work should start on 11 November.
111/PC/24 – Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr Finan proposed to agree costs for our consultant to work with examiner, up to 4 x £665 per day to be taken from the Neighbourhood Plan budget, this was seconded by Cllr Knox-Scott, RESOLVED to agree, unanimously.
NOTED there is a delay with BC with engaging the examiner.
112/PC/24 – Pavilion Solar Panels
NOTED that clerk is still researching suppliers, bring back to November meeting.
113/PC/24 – Artisan Market
NOTED markets to be held next year on 5 April 2025 and 6 September 2025.
DISCUSSED and DECIDED to see if Thames Valley Heartbeat would like a stall at the markets and cover the first aid the same as they do at the Carols, if not then we will re-discuss.
NOTED the final figures for the Village Hall Charity. Cllr Knox-Scott queried the figures which after further explanation by the clerk it was agreed were correct.
114/PC/24 – Litter Picks 2025
Cllr Finan proposed that due to lack of interest and support from Parish Councillors and residents that the council will no longer set up community litter picks for the coming new year. This was agreed by all. Litter picks and bags will be available if people would like to borrow them. Cllr Finan agreed to write an article for the Stoke Poges Newsletter.
115/PC/24 – 11/11 Posies
NOTED that the posies are no longer available to purchase. The church has nowhere to place anything at the moment but might make space for next year.
RESOLVED to agree by all that an agenda will be put together for the event itself which will be secular as per the Royal British Legion and the church will be invited to do a small blessing at the end if they wish.
116/PC/24 – Tennis Club
NOTED that there had been no update from the club since the last meeting nothing to report.
117/PC/24 – Enforcement/Yellow Line/School Parking Problems
Nothing to update on current enforcement for yellow line in Stoke Poges. Bring it back.
118/PC/24 – Carols on the Green
Update and to make any decisions for the event.
Cllr Carter updated that there were 31 stalls, the floorplan had been done.
Cllr Bassi updated that Superspeed would pay for the grotto gifts and The Rose & Crown would pay for the mulled wine.
Cllr Finan was on top of sorting the sleigh and the music.
Cllr Moore confirmed 8 marshals, a few more are required, he will source them and communicate with Cllr. Carter and Crocker to keep them updated.
Set up from 4pm to be done by eight confirmed volunteers.
119/PC/24 – Stoke Poges Newsletter
Brought back from last meeting to discuss Councillors additions to the magazine, what articles are useful. Suggestions for future topics?
Cllr Finan suggested a picture section of then and now which he will organise.
Cllr Crocker doing an article on a charity bike ride for defibrillators and a list of where they are located.
A resident is doing a regular slot on footpaths in the area.
120/PC/24 – Friday Club
NOTED Stoke Poges Friday Club now has a constitution that states:
'The committee should endeavour where possible to have at least one representative from The Parish Council, St Giles & St Andrews Church and the Good Neighbour Scheme to ensure a fair and balanced approach that supports the aims of the group and its members.’
NOTED the bank account is being opened.
121/PC/24 – Football Club
NOTED that the football club has folded and therefore their lease has terminated.
NOTED that notice has been given to remove equipment including the goals.
AGREED by all that the facilities should be advertised in the Stoke Poges News to start with.
122/PC/24 – Grass Cutting Contract/Bells Hill Green Contract
Cllr Knox-Scott proposed to resolve to agree to continue with both yearly rolling contracts for 2025/2026, to include any increases, this was seconded by Cllr Webster, RESOLVED to agree, all in favour.
123/PC/24 - Draft Buckinghamshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)
Consultation ended 13 October 2024, but we can still submit, to decide if the Council wants to respond.
RESOLVED to agree not to comment.
124/PC/24 - Save the Date, 28th Oct - Buckinghamshire Highways Stakeholder Conference
RESOLVED to agree that no members will be attending this event.
125/PC/24 – RECEIVED and ADOPTED minutes from previous meetings of sub committees and working parties:
Planning Committee Meeting 17 June 2024 – Signed 16 September 2024
Planning Committee Meeting 19 August 2024 – Signed 16 September 2024
126/PC/24 – Finance
RECEIVED Financial Summary & Statement Cashbook –September 2024.
RESOLVED to approve list of cheques/Bacs for signature September 2024 - £23770.30
RECEIVED Bank reconciliations – September 2024
RECEIVED Income & Expenditure Heading Detail/Budget Monitoring – September 2024
127/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 Letter from resident to the Junior school about the parking issues and rats. Circulated.
NOTED Letter from resident to the Pioneer School about parking issues. Circulated,
128/PC/24 – NOTED Dates of Future Meetings
Planning Committee Meeting – 21 October 2024
Recreation & Environment Meeting – 28 October 2024
Full Parish Council Meeting – 11 November 2024
129/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.
130/PC/24 – Grays Field
Cllr Knox-Scott proposed that we gain advice from our solicitor and bring back to the next meeting, this was seconded by Cllr Bassi, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
131/PC/24 – Furze Field
RESOLVED to agree all in favour to bring back once the NPPF has been agreed.
132/PC/24 - Neighbourhood Plan
A prepared statement was read out to be agreed by all councillors on email and ratified at the next meeting.
Cllr Finan proposed that £5k be transferred from the general fund into a reserve for planning matters to be looked at by consultants if required, and to be decided on case by case by the planning committee, this was seconded by Cllr Crocker, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.
Meeting ended at 10.02pm.