Stoke Poges Parish Council

Full Parish Council - Meeting Minutes

Monday 14th November 2022

Introduction

MINUTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE STOKE POGES PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2022 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 Cox, Cllr Crocker, Cllr Egleton, Cllr Finan, Cllr Flower, Cllr Moore & Cllr Pritchard.

In Attendance:- Mrs J Simmonds (Clerk)

Also present:- Cllr Hogg & five members of public

Agenda Items

119/PC/22 – 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.

RECEIVED a quick presentation from the Citizens Advice Bureau as agreed some months ago.

One member of the public was present to listen to item number 133/PC/22.

120/PC/22 – Apologies for Absence

APOLOGIES were received from Cllr Knox-Scott.

121/PC/22 – 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

122/PC/22 – Minutes

RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 October 2022 which were signed by the Chairman.

123/PC/22 – Beeches Community Board

Cllr Egleton had nothing to update.

NOTED & RECEIVED that the update from the Team Leader of Design Services for Transport for Buck is that they are now proceeding to statutory consultation process, after consultation with residents, which will shortly start for the Rogers Lane & Broom Hill/Sefton Paddock/Hollybush Hill proposals.

124/PC/22 – Buckinghamshire Council Report  

Cllr Egleton is heavily involved in Planning at the Council and there are a large number of applications for in area strategic sites at the moment.  The biggest issue is the Motorway Service Station application for Iver.  Planners are saying the Bucks have to provide one, but Cllr Egleton is not sure why, especially as it is in the Green Belt. There are applications in for several Data Centres in the Iver area and the one for Wexham Springs has been withdrawn. Cllr Bassi declared an interest in the Wexham Springs application.

Cllr Bagge reported that he is involved in the budget setting at County and the changes around central government has caused a backlog of information coming through to the Council, so budgets are still up in the air.  Cllr Bagge is Vice Chairman of the Buckinghamshire Council pension committee, which is resulting in high volumes of correspondence about investment policy at present.

125/PC/22 – Chairman’s Update from last meeting.

Cllr Bagge said that the Stoke Poges News has gone to print and Cllr Cox confirmed that it is being delivered on the 15 November for distribution.

The 11/11 service at the Flag Pole was well attended and Cllr Bagge thanked everyone involved.

Cllr Bagge also gave his and the council’s condolences to Julie Simmonds the Clerk, the Clerk whose mother suddenly passed away two weeks ago, and thanked Julie for continuing to keep everything running smoothly at this difficult time.  Cllr Carter said that Julie continued to work throughout and that the Council were lucky to have her. 

126/PC/22 – Neighbourhood Plan

Cllr Carter gave a full update on the current status of the Neighbourhood Plan after meetings held with the working party. The policies have to go to Buckinghamshire Council to decide if they need to be tested by a third party. They have decided that they do need to be tested and therefore it goes back to central government who select the third party.  There is one more policy to submit. The whole working party team are due to meet with the consultants soon.  The Parish Council will be invited to a face-to-face meeting with Buckinghamshire Council and face-to-face meetings with any landowners before closure and public consultation takes place.  The consultants will be present at the public consultation. For information Iver are at the consultation stage and Farnhams are at a standstill with theirs.

127/PC/22 – Pond   

NOTED residents have responded outlining a few points which the Clerk is checking with the pond company, to bring back to November for full discussion and decision.  Cllr Carter spoke to the pond expert who has confirmed that if the willow trees are left in situ then they will eventually break up the drains completely.  Removing them would not erode the bank any further than it is already.  Their recommendation is to remove the willows as the roots break the drains and the leaves from the tree block up the drains. 

The Parish Council realise that they cannot please everyone and to be as neighbourly as possible agreed that the Clerk sets up a face-to-face meeting with the other pond owners to discuss removing the Willow Trees and why.  The Clerk will be clear about the purpose of the meeting, possible options and the consequences and all agreed for there to be a deadline in the early new year for the meeting to take place.

128/PC/22 – School Traffic/Traffic Watch Update

Cllr Carter updated on School/Traffic Watch/Enforcement and marshalling. Morale is low for the volunteers who have been abused, sworn at, shouted at, and on some occasions driven at and there is a lack of support from the School, so therefore they are now losing interest in what was supposed to be a joint venture.

The Council discussed the drive-in drive out option which the school is against, however the highways team have confirmed that this is a good option and is safe, and is what they would recommend.  This used to be used years ago and worked well.  The Council agreed that a request for a meeting with the Head Teacher should be made to discuss further.

129/PC/22 – Kings Coronation 6 May 2023

After discussion Cllr Crocker proposed that the Council do not hold an event and allow residents to arrange their own celebrations, however a budget of £3k should be set aside for bunting and flags etc. in case needed, this was seconded by Cllr Egleton, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.

130/PC/22 – Pioneer Secondary Academy

Cllr Carter updated from meetings with Sikh Academies Trust. A meeting with Rev Brady and Cllr Carter took place about attendance to the 11/11 event at the flagpole.  A residents meeting is still to be arranged about the impact that the school has on its neighbours.  After the council being told that 6th form would not be allowed out during the school day, this has been overturned, and they are now back out and about.  There are parking issues to deal with and acoustic fencing issues.

131/PC/22 – Carols on the Green 26 November 2022

An update from the working party is that everything is in place, there are around 20 stalls and the Rock Choir will be in attendance.

NOTED the little houses on the green should be up in time for the event.

132/PC/22 – Horticultural Society Request

Cllr Moore proposed that the Parish pay for the plaque for the tree planted on Bells Hill Green for the Queen’s Jubilee, but only on the condition that the Stoke Poges Parish Council is added to the wording and that the extra lettering costs are covered by the society, this was seconded by Cllr Flower,  RESOLVED to agree all in favour.

133/PC/22 – Bells Hill Recreation Ground

Cllr Crocker proposed to reject the request from a resident to re-name the recreation ground ‘King Charles III Recreation Ground’ it is known as Bells Hill Recreation Ground and has been since it was donated to the Parish, if a name change was to take place it would require a referendum which would cost the parish thousands of pounds, this was seconded by Cllr Egleton, RESOLVED to agree all in favour.

134/PC/22 – BMKALC

Cllr Finan proposed that the Council do not to join for 2023/24, this was seconded by Cllr Egleton, RESOLVED to agree, 9 for and 1 against.

135/PC/22 – MVAS Ground screw    

Cllr Cox reported that the new ground screws had been fitted and were working well.

136/PC/22 – Self-Defence Classes

Cllr Finan proposed that the request to use the Pavilion for six weeks for self-defence classes goes ahead as we had also said yes previously before Covid-19 hit, this was seconded by Cllr Crocker.  RESOLVED to agree all in favour.

137/PC/22 – RECEIVED and ADOPTED minutes from previous meetings of sub committees and working parties:

  1. Planning Committee Minutes  19 September 2022 – Agreed/Signed 17 October 2022

138/PC/22 – Finance

  1. RECEIVED Financial Summary & Statement Cashbook – October 2022
  2. RESOLVED to approve list of cheques/Bacs for signature October 2022 – £13814.74
  3. RECEIVED Bank reconciliations – October 2022.
  4. RECEIVED Income & Expenditure Heading Detail/Budget Monitoring – October 2022
  5. NOTED that the SLCC/NALC cost of living increase has been agreed on the salary scales to be backdated to April 2022.

139/PC/22 – 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.

  1. NOTED Thank you letter from Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice for donation from Jubilee event
  2. NOTED Thank you letter from Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association for donation from Jubilee event.
  3. NOTED Thank you letter from Jean Pierre Coquette, Etricourt Manancourt – For the Poppy Wreath

140/PC/22 – NOTED Dates of Future Meetings

  • Planning Meeting – 21 November 2022
  • Finance & General Purposes Meeting – 28 November 2022
  • Full Parish Council Meeting – 5 December 2022

141/PC/22 – 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.

142/PC/22 – Pond

Agreement made by all councillors for Clerk to respond to the resident.

Meeting ended at 9.39pm