Minutes of the meeting of the Edlesborough Parish Council held on Thursday 17th May 2012 at Edlesborough Memorial Hall commencing at 8.00pm.
Present: Cllr Cubbage, Cllr Wilkinson, Cllr Williams, Cllr Wilson. Cllr Holt, Cllr Nevard, Cllr Mrs Prys-Jones, Cllr Mrs Ratheram, Clerk-Lin Sargeant, District Cllr Chris Poll and 2 parishioners.
Apologies:
County Cllr Avril Davies, Assistant Clerk Bev Sage, Manager Beverley Douglas
Declarations of Interest – None declared
Minutes of Meeting held on 19th April 2012
3 minor amendments made to the draft minutes prior to the meeting were approved and the minutes signed.
Matters Arising from the previous Minutes
No matters arising
Finance Reports:
Accounts for the month ended 30th April 2012 were presented and a continuing small variance was explained. Cllr Cubbage went through the Special Projects page of the accounts and explained the revised distribution of monies for various projects which Councillors approved.
Authorisation of cheques (May including VAT)
The following cheques had been authorised for payment:
Administration & Office expenses (incl: telephone, quantity of stamps) 537.63
Memorial Hall/Pavilion expenses (including electricity) 295.20
Salaries (including PAYE/NIC) 1,420.28
Cemetery expenses 285.00
Churchyard expenses 420.00
Children’s play area 30.00
The Green expenses (including grass cutting, verti-draining football pitches, fertilising,
top dressing and re-seeding) 2,096.20
Dagnall Recreation Field grass cutting 200.00
War Memorial ground maintenance 75.00
EDaN expense (including plaques & signs, Insurance, Cups, Hire of Marquee) 271.96
Streetlight repairs 1,089.55
£ 6,720.82
District Councillor’s Report
My report this month starts with District Council office and political matters.
I attended the official opening of the new office development. Some 300 guests were there to witness the Lord Lieutenant unveil the plaque to commemorate the successful delivery of this fine facility. There has been some criticism of the £9.5m development but from my own perspective this building is long overdue as it brings most of the council staff under one roof. Only the customer services and benefits and housing departments remain in the High Street. I am very pleased to say that the villages mentioned on the engraved plaque include Edlesborough, Dagnall and Northall. The "one council, one staff" project includes a transformation of how employees work within the new building and the desk to staff ratio is now set at 80%. The move is now complete and has in my experience been completely seamless.
The annual meeting of the council was soon after and elections to various positions were made. There is no change other than that the cabinet member for resources and corporate performance was removed.
I attended the Speeding sub group of the LAF where priorities were decided for request of funding. These were ratified at the LAF on Tuesday and amount to £13k. Further work will be done by the sub group in due course before coming back to the LAF. At the same meeting I was appointed to work within a sub group on a response to the LLA planning application and will advise you as to the progress of this if it is to be submitted prior to the next LAF meeting. On the same evening the AVDC cabinet met to decide on housing numbers to replace the old South East plan. The consultation process came up with figures between approximately 3,000 and 15,000 homes. Cabinet decided on a medium figure of 9,000 dwellings. This decision replaces the old plan numbers of nearly 27,000 dwellings. The breakdown of that figure for example in Aylesbury itself is for 6,000 homes and 4,500 jobs. The following day Strategic Development Control postponed their decision on the Fleet Marston development of 3,200 new homes due to highway concerns and this application will be reconsidered once the highways report has been scrutinised further.
Planning
The following applications had been received, were discussed by the meeting and the following responses were agreed to be submitted to AVDC
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12/00756/ACL 2nd April 2012 |
Willow Farm Tring Road Edlesborough |
Continued for use of barn as dwelling |
No Objections |
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12/00805/APP 5th April 2012 |
The Golden Rule Ph Main Road South Dagnall |
Change of use from Public House and flat to two dwellings and first floor rear extension |
Parish Council recommend that it requests AVDC to insist on the provision of additional off-street parking provision, in excess of the minimum, because of the close proximity of the A4146 making on-street parking in the immediate vicinity of the dwellings extremely hazardous. |
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12/00911/ALB 23rd April 2012 |
1 Good Intent Edlesborough |
Replacement and alterations to windows on side and rear elevations |
No Objections |
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The following decisions had been received from AVDC
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12/00313/APP 9th February 2012 |
The Bell Ph Church End Edlesborough |
Change of use of restaurant to single dwelling (C3), alterations to listed building and demolition of single storey extensions (resubmission ref 11/01707/APP) |
The Parish Council remains strongly opposed to this application on the grounds that it represents the loss of the last public house within the village of Edlesborough. The issue is clearly whether or not the various actions taken by the Applicant to remove the pub from the protection normally afforded by GP32 and PPS4 are legally valid. The Council requests that in addition to the advice already received from AVDC Legal Department the planning officers seek confirmation (or otherwise) of that interpretation from DCLG or Planning Inspectorate as appropriate and to be considered alongside the previous advice when reviewed by the Development Control Committee |
Permitted |
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12/00317/ALB 9th February 2012 |
The Bell Ph Church End Edlesborough |
Change of use of restaurant to single dwelling (C3) and alterations to listed building (Resubmission ref 11/01708/ALB |
The Parish Council remains strongly opposed to this application on the grounds that it represents the loss of the last public house within the village of Edlesborough. The issue is clearly whether or not the various actions taken by the Applicant to remove the pub from the protection normally afforded by GP32 and PPS4 are legally valid. The Council requests that in addition to the advice already received from AVDC Legal Department the planning officers seek confirmation (or otherwise) of that interpretation from DCLG or Planning Inspectorate as appropriate and to be considered alongside the previous advice when reviewed by the Development Control Committee |
Permitted |
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12/00397/APP 21st February 2012 |
Wildfire Leighton Road Northall |
Single storey front extension |
No Objections |
Permitted |
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12/00389/APP 17th February 2012 |
24 Deans Meadow Dagnall |
Replace flat roof of garage at front and side with pitched roof, single storey rear extension |
No Objections |
Permitted |
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The Parish Council were very disappointed at the final outcome of The Bell planning applications and would wish to place on record it’s appreciation of all the time and effort put in by Mr. Ken Holloway and the Save the Bell Group.
Council had received concerns from residents of Studham Lane, Dagnall regarding work being carried out to barns at Highbury Farm. The Parish recommendation is that if the residents of Studham Lane are aware of any development activities at Highbury Farm that are contrary to planning legislation they need to bring it to the attention of the
Planning Department at AVDC. The Parish Council could make a complaint on behalf of the residents but would need to involve the residents who are the only ones familiar with the details.
Disused Poultry Farm, South End Lane, Northall
Clerk to re-circulate Cllr Wilkinson’s draft response to all Councillors before officially responding to Mr. Screech.
EDaN Report
Traffic Management
The Speedwatch team are currently endeavouring to establish a 20mph speed limit outside Edlesborough and Dagnall schools and to commence fund raising and loan out Speedwatch equipment to other parishes to enable Sentinel equipment to be purchased.
Due to the cancellation of the May Day Jubilympics event this will now be held on 27th May on the Green,
Two benches are to be placed by the Village sign in Northall,
Friends of the Church on the Hill, Edlesborough
A meeting had been held where it had been agreed to make contact with people and other bodies to raise funds and to share information and ideas with other Friends, i.e. Pitstone. The main body of the Church will be cleaned on 26th May between 10am and 1.30pm. 2 choirs will be visiting on 30th June.
Leaflets are being produced for distribution at the May Day Jubilympics and the Carnival.
An increasing number of key holders are required to have access to the Church.
The Parish Council agreed to put a page on the website.
A meeting has been held with the Regional Manager and Regional Operations Manager of The Churches Conservation Trust.
The Villages
Northall: Cllr Cubbage obtained the Parish Council’s approval for the Clerk to sign a letter extending the Licence between the Parish Council and AVDC dated 21st September 2011 to permit the installation of two wooden bench seats at Knolls View.
Edlesborough: Cllr Mrs Prys-Jones was concerned that a Police vehicle had been seen parking in the bus stop cage at the top of the High Street. Clerk to take this matter up with TVP.
Traffic Calming
Now that the Speed Limit Review has been completed the remaining 30mph and 40mph dustbin stickers would be distributed to various properties throughout the parish. Councillor Mrs Prys-Jones volunteered to distribute the relevant stickers in Edlesborough (including the Travellers Rest area) and Cllrs Cubbage and Wilson would cover Northall.
Although VAS signs have been installed in Dunstable Road, Dagnall they are not yet commissioned. Clerk to ascertain when these will be operational.
Discussion took place regarding the footpath leading from Dunstable Recreation Field to Dunstable Road and Cllr Holt informed the meeting that Dagnall Village Hall Management Committee were considering the installation of kissing gates at both ends of the footpath.
Correspondence:
What have been considered to be important press releases from Bucks CC have been e-mailed to Councillors
AVDC – Council Plan 2011 to 2015
London Midland Stakeholders' event report from last Autumn’s LM Stakeholder Conference.
Bucks CC – HS2 Summit Video Report available online at
http://tinyurl.com/czkn6hqBALC – Local Area Forum review – sent to Councillors to give their own personal responses to the survey.
Bucks CC – New online directory for care and community services launched.
www.bucksconnect.org.uk is an online database designed to make life easier for residents to find essential information on a range of organisations from the private, public, community and voluntary sectors.Invitation Tithe Meadow, Tingewick Bucks – 22nd June 12 noon -2.30pm 8 affordable village homes
Items put on Councillors Table)
CPRE – Fieldwork Spring 2012
Buckinghamshire Playing Fields Association Magazine
SLCC – The Clerk magazine.
The Chiltern Society Chalk & Trees magazine
General Purpose Committee Meeting report
Draft minutes had been circulated to Councillors and Cllr Wilkinson referred to an error which would be amended before being signed at the next GPC meeting.
Cllr Nevard queried the contributions by the Tennis Club towards the Pavilion. This would be discussed and explained at the next GPC meeting.
Local Area Forum
A request has been received from the LAF to endeavour to obtain a PA system for when the meetings take place at Edlesborough Memorial Hall. Cllr Holt informed Council that Dagnall Village Hall were now the owners of a PA system which could be borrowed.
Affordable Housing
The Parish Council have enquired of the Bucks CC Rural Housing Enabler as to how the S106 agreements could be more acceptable to parishes.
Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr Wilkinson produced a newsletter to be circulated by e-mail to parishioners and be placed on the website.
Items for the Agenda for the Parish Council meeting to be held on 21st June 2012
None specified
Council were informed of the resignation of the Assistant Clerk, Beverly Sage, and of the departure, due to a house move, of the Cleaner, Yvonne Howard. The Manager of the Hall, Pavilion and Green, Beverley Douglas, would be taking over as Assistant Clerk. The Clerk, Lin Sargeant, was thanked by the Chairman and Cllr Wilkinson for having ‘stepped into the breach’ by agreeing to take back some of the work which had already been passed over until such time as the new Assistant Clerk was in a position to take on more work.
The meeting closed at 9.58pm
NEXT MEETING THURSDAY 21st June 2012 commencing 7.30pm at Edlesborough Memorial Hall