ANNUAL PARISH MEETING FOR EDLESBOROUGH 20^th May 2004

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT ~ Anne Thompson

My report covers the period May 2003 - April 2004

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all parishioners who have made the effort to attend their parish meeting and for that I thank you.

The new Church notice board has been erected it was made and kindly donated by Stephen Janes comments received have been very complimentary so a big thank you to Mr Janes. Reyvens have taken over the contract for the grass cutting in the church yard and cemetery, they are proving to be very accommodating and helpful and we have had positive feedback from a parishioner. We have been annually setting aside moneys to pursue a vehicle access to the cemetery, a committee will be set up this coming year to investigate all possibilities, it will consist of interested parties from the community. The problem we had last year with the large memorial has been amicably resolved. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jack and Joan Horn for all their efforts in watching over the Church and the surrounding grounds.

We have some half plots vacant on Edlesborough green site and we still have plots available on Cow Lane, Dagnall and Northall. The new Cow Lane gate has been erected. Dagnall gardening Society continues to flourish providing an excellent service to gardeners in and out of the Parish from their hut which is open on Sunday mornings throughout the summer months.

The pavilion continues to be well used by the local sports clubs and we are currently forming a working party overseered by Cllr David Brown to investigate any

improvements needed to fully accommodate all the user groups..

Memorial Hall

Bookings for the hall continue to flourish they range from Brownie packs to W.I. meetings, carpet bowls to children’s and adults parties and 6 under 5’s sessions a week, all making good use of the excellent facilities

We were pleased, once again to host The St Mary’s Church fete on the green, the annual fete continues to grow successful, with many local organisations benefiting from donations, the parish council kindly received £200.00. The green continues to be used throughout the winter months by local football teams ranging from 8 years to adults. Obviously this causes considerable wear to the grass areas but quotes have been received for reseeding works etc. and this will shortly be carried out.

Police Matters

P.C. Nick Cummings is still our beat officer and continues to cover our patch. When our elderly residents in Taskers Row had concerns PC Cummings came out and met them along with the clerk, Julie Morgan and cllr Brown to discuss their worries and what could be done to reassure them, this meeting was so successful it has been made an annual event.

We continue to report areas of concern on our parish roads and footpaths, the annual survey of all roads in the parish has just been completed and copies sent to the relevant authorities we also continue to report danger spots,

Northalls’ Dynamic warning system is now up and running and was well worth waiting for. Northall was chosen for the local safety scheme 2003/2004 which meant 40mph signs and roundels on the road were implemented throughout the village by Buckinghamshire County Council, hedges were also cut back. 30mph Roundels have also been painted on the Eaton Bray Rd as traffic enters from the Eaton Bray direction. Dagnalls’ gates, dragon teeth, and roundels are now in place and traffic speed has dropped significantly as proven by a recent traffic survey but we are still monitoring the situation closely. Residents in general seem to like the gates as it defines quite clearly the curtilage of the village. Dagnall School is pursuing the safer routes to school policy which this council is actively supporting. SID made a popular visit to Northall & Dagnall, for those who are not in the know SID stands for Speed indicating device, he was so successful he is coming again and this time Edlesborough will also have the device for a week

I reported last year the lease was with Aylesbury Vales Solicitors, well it still is except that in the past year it has been agreed by all parties and signed now 4 years on we are just waiting for the return of the sealed lease and the work can commence, this will be a joint venture with the residents local group DROPS and the Parish Council

The Parish council took over a shop for the evening of the Christmas fayre held in the High Street, it proved to be very popular with parishioners who talked to the councillors about what they would like to see happening in their parish in the next 5 years, chocolates and punch were available to all participants compliments of the clerk.

Our County Councillor Mrs Avril Davies continues to work tirelessly on our behalf

District Councillor

Mrs Pauline Hannelly continues to represent us at the District Council. Pauline attends our meetings on a regular basis and is a stalwart within the parish, both these ladies are always ready to help us when we need them, and for that we thank them

We are at the moment developing a 5 year plan for the parish, listing items that you, the parishioners would like to see happening in your villages over the next 5 years. This has gone to the Countryside Agency for consideration for funding.

The first anniversary of our web site has recently passed, it has certainly gone from strength to strength and it is all down to one man Cllr Kevin Cubbage he has worked diligently throughout the past year to make our web site interesting, informative and user friendly, Kevin you have certainly succeeded and on behalf of all our parishioners I thank you.

It is with regret I must report the resignation of our Northall representative cllr John Atherton. John has been a councillor for many years his main roll being overseeing the accounts and planning. The clerk has fond memories of erecting flag poles with John

around a ditch that suddenly appeared on the Northall allotments one wet and cold morning. John we thank you for your contribution over the years and wish you and your family well in your forthcoming move.

Sadly I also have to report that our clerk Maggie Kerr has also resigned. Maggie

has been clerk for the past 18 months and in that time has brought us as a council into the 21^st century Emails are now accepted as the norm, accounts all on spreadsheets, minutes on the web site and so it goes on, not bad for someone who doesn’t even live in the parish! Seriously though Maggie thank you for all your hard work and efforts on our behalf, we are not only losing an excellent clerk we are losing a friend. But the good news is we have received over 80 enquiries for the post and still counting so we should be able to find a suitable person for this very important job.

Finally I would like to thank all the councillors for their contributions and support throughout the past year and last but not least I would like to thank those parishioners who fight tirelessly for their causes whether it be traffic calming , safer routes for schools, or just keeping your villages litter free, you all know who you are, without you our job of running the parish would certainly be much more difficult.

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Anne Thompson

Chairman Edlesborough Parish Council