CARLTON WITH CHELLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD AT THE CHELLINGTON CENTRE

ON MONDAY 14TH JUNE 2010

Present:            Chair D Jenkins, Vice Chair J Tusting, Parish Councillors T Coles, L Dempsey, E Devine, A Geerts, D Neil, S Owen, Borough Cllr. J Brandon, RFO I Allsop, Clerk L Jeffs

Also Present:    1 member of public

Actions   APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 10TH MAY 2010

With amendments to some receipts, it was RESOLVED that the minutes were an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Helen Allan presented the Council with a report from Emmaus.  The organisation currently has 25 companions, with a further 1 expected later in the week.  They have had 4 recent success: 1 companion has moved into their own flat, 1 has secured employment and 2 have returned to their families.  It was decided that running both the Family Day and Music Festival would be impractical and therefore just the Family Day (24th July) is to go ahead this year, with each event running on alternate years thereafter.  The group are tentatively looking at providing a further 6 bedrooms, taking their capacity to 35.  Helen explained that staffing levels have increased, as has experience, and this increase in numbers would therefore be manageable.  The Market Garden is working well and generating an income of around £50 per week.  The Waste Area is now complete and the benefits are already noticeable.  Recycling has also increased.

FINANCIAL REPORT

It was RESOLVED by full council to authorise the following accounts for payment and two authorised signatories were instructed to sign the below cheques:

£220.50 Mrs I Allsop                  RFO duties May 2010

£30.00              Reach Out                     Hire of Chellington Centre June meeting

£124.17 Mr Sinclair                     Maintenance materials

£250.28 Mrs Delia Shephard       Reimbursement for 2 no. bins purchased from AEL

£129.26 Warners                        Grass cut to playing field

£211.50 Warners                        Grass cut to village communal areas

£3,000.00 had been received from the Borough Council which was believed to be the grant for the war memorial.

Cashbook balances were as follows:

Current account             £16,351.61

Capital deposit account £18,191.74

IA         Two cheques, totalling £250.00, had been raised for Harrold Parish Council in 2009 but never cashed.  RFO to cancel these from the accounts.

IA         The RFO had received a letter from BDO Stoy Hayward, seeking clarification that their comments for the 2007/08 and 2008/09 audits had been noted.  RFO to clarify that they have been.

CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS

SO       The Chairman informed the meeting that it had been a quiet month with few issues to deal with.  He welcomed new Clerk, L Jeffs and formally thanked Acting Clerk, D Shephard for her assistance.  A thank you card is to be purchased for her.

FREIGHT WORKSHOP

The Clerk circulated details of the forthcoming Freight Workshop to be held at Borough Hall on the 17th June.

Clerk    It was RESOLVED not to attend on this occasion.  Clerk to convey apologies.

WORKSHOP SESSION

Acting Clerk, D Shephard had offered to run a two hour workshop session for Councillors at her normal hourly rate.

Clerk    It was RESOLVED to accept her offer and the Clerk was asked to arrange for the 28th June if possible at Carlton Village Hall.

            CRASH BARRIER

            The possibility of planting a hedge to conceal the appearance of the crash barrier on The Causeway / High Street was discussed.  It was suggested that green beech, as opposed to copper beech, would be preferable to match the existing planting in the area.

Clerk    It was RESOLVED to progress with the project once ownership of the land had been confirmed and liaison carried out with National Grid.  The Clerk was asked to investigate.

IA         Mrs Allsop believed there to be some correspondence in this regard in the filing cabinet, and she agreed to pass this to the Clerk.

            DRAFT ALLOCATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS PLAN

            The Plan was discussed and it was felt that there was little in it to affect Carlton and Chellington. 

Clerk/TC  It was RESOLVED in principal to respond, stating our preference for the Settlement Policy Boundary and Open       Spaces to remain as they are at present.  Cllr. T Coles agreed to review the documentation in more detail and                                                                                                        liaise with the Clerk regarding any additional response required.

              PLANNING MATTERS

07/01677/FUL

5 Manor Close, Carlton, MK43 7LD

1st floor extension over garage and extension to rear

This application had been previously approved but the time limit now lapsed. 

It was RESOLVED to approve this application.

10/01180/LBC

12 Bridgend, Carlton, MK43 7LP

Installation of satellite dish to south east facing side elevation

This application had been submitted retrospectively.

It was RESOLVED to approve this application.

DISABLED PARKING BAY – VILLAGE HALL / LOWER SCHOOL

The Hall and Lower School require the painting of a disabled parking bay and Acting Clerk D Shephard had received quotations in this regard.  The Parish Council had been approached in regard to meeting the cost of this but felt it to be the responsibility of the Hall and School themselves.  Cllr. J Tusting confirmed that the Village Hall would meet the cost of this work and liaise with the school regarding apportioning costs.

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE

2 no. planning applications as above (forwarded to Cllr. L Dempsey)

Freight Strategy Workshop information

2 no. invoices (forwarded to RFO)

Email from Cllr. T Coles re. gas canister within school grounds

Notification that Carlton had not been selected by Mayor’s Office for ‘pints’ evening

Notification of rejection of Carriers Way planning application

Email from Mrs Walmsley re. affordable housing

Cllr. Brandon advised caution in contacting Mrs Walmsley in case the Council’s position regarding any possible development was compromised.

Clerk    As some of the above items had been sent to the previous Clerk, the new Clerk was asked to contact the Mayor’s Office and Planning Department to ensure they had her details.

Clerk    Cllr. T Coles advised that the gas canister is still at the school.  Clerk to follow this up again.

            MATTERS OF INTEREST

SO       The Minute Book for the years 2000-2003 is still missing.  Cllr. S Owen offered to follow this up.

Clerk    The ditches in the Harrold Bridge area require some attention and Highways are to be contacted in this regard.

            It was noted that certain matters regarding Council staff had been dealt with somewhat unprofessionally at a previous meeting and any future issues should be dealt with more sensitively.

            The Council’s filing cabinet contains some dated documentation and Mrs Allsop offered to sort through this and archive accordingly before passing to the new Clerk.

Clerk    The Highways survey has not yet been received.  Clerk to follow this up with Highways.

            Approximately £4,000 of the £4,500 needed to fund the war memorial has been received and all Councillors agreed, in principal, to the project. 

Clerk    The telephone box adjacent to the pub has been vandalised.  Clerk to follow this up.

Clerk    The fence on land belonging to the Barn at the playing fields is broken and in a dangerous condition.  Clerk to write to lease-holder of land in this regard.

            The hedging around the playing field is looking un-kept.  The Playing Field Management Committee have been given a grant recently and therefore need to use this money if the condition of the hedge is deemed to be a priority.

Clerk    Speed indicator signage is temporarily present in areas around the village but we still have a speeding problem, particularly on The Causeway.  Clerk to contact our Safer Neighbourhood Team to obtain confirmation that speed checks will be carried out in the forthcoming weeks.

Clerk    There are prominent tree suckerss on the two trees alongside the allotments.  Clerk to instruct Mr Sinclair to deal with these.

Clerk    Haster Housing were, until recently, in the process of obtaining land for Social Housing in Carlton.  Since the departure of a member of staff, we have received no further communication from them in this regard.  Clerk to make contact with Haster and ask what progress has been made since.

Clerk    The Standing Orders Committee has yet to meet.  Clerk to forward a draft set of Standing Orders as a starting point for the Committee.

            It was understood that the village Bier was not being maintained.  However, Cllr. Tusting confirmed that the Bier was now with her for safe keeping.

Clerk    A tall hedge has been planted on the land adjacent to 51 The Causeway, blocking the view across the countryside, and in breach of planning regulations.  Clerk to follow up.

            ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON NEXT AGENDA

            War memorial

Clerk    Planting at Wychtree Cottage, The Moor (Clerk to obtain copy of planting license)

            Repositioning of new bench

            Billy’s Plaque

            Renewal of Barn lease

            Renewal of insurance

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Monday 12th July, 7.30pm at The Village Hall, Carlton.

The meeting closed at 9.35pm.

Signed…………………………………………………………….Dated…………………………………