July 2008

306

CARLTON AND CHELLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the meeting held Monday 21^st July 2008 at Carlton Village Hall – 7.30pm

Present: Cllr. L. Benson (Chairman), Cllrs. T Coles, L. Dempsey, Jane Tusting,

B. Cllr. Jim (V) Brandon (arrived 7.45pm).

In attendance: C. Cllr. Mrs P. Gershon, Stan Smith.

Apologies: Cllrs. R. Davis, E. Devine, A. Geerts, D. Jenkins

Helen Jago (Emmaus), Police – Rob Smith, P.C.S.O. Allan Taylor

Disclosure of interest: none.

3. Close Parish Council meeting 7.35pm. Open meeting to the public.

Emmaus report (via the Clerk) – 27 companions at present, no problems.

Bistro refurbishments completed.

Police report (via the Clerk) – distributed to all councillors present – 5

reported crimes since 1^st June. Thefts of lead and metal are on the increase,

the police advise all businesses and churches to have property marked and

report any suspicious vehicles in the area. Request from the police to update

the Safer Neighbourhood Profile of Carlton & Chellington – notices to be put

on village notice boards to recruit a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.

Harrold Forum meeting (held 31^st March 2008) report given out by Clerk and

Police report circulated. Reminder that regular police surgeries are held at

Emmaus on Tuesday afternoons between 1400 – 1500 hrs, and are advertised

in ‘The Bridge’.

B. Cllr. report: no removal of ay BT public phone boxes from Carlton.

Village clean up (in association with B.B.C.) will be Saturday 22^nd Nov.

C. Cllr. report: B.C.C. are working very hard with B.B.C. to ensure the

smooth transition to B.B.C. Unitary status. Cllr. Tusting asked Mrs Gershon

if she knew why Harrold Bridge was being closed to vehicles 24 hours a day

Monday to Friday and was this absolutely necessary? Mrs Gershon agreed to

look in to this matter, Clerk to follow up and contact Cllr. Tom Wootton and

B.C.C. Amey (Highways). Public meeting closed at 7.50pm. Mrs Gershon

made her apologies and left the meeting, the Chairman thanked her for

attending.

Open Parish Council meeting 7.52pm.

Minutes of meeting 16^th June: confirmed as a true record of the meeting.

5. Matters arising from June meeting: R.H.T. – site meeting recently held

with land owner and Julia Mackie/Chris Warder Smith (Regional

Development Director) – both R.H.T. – we now await further response from

the land owner on preferred site. War Memorial Monument – most of the

village organisations contacted by the Clerk have now responded, several to

chase. Clerk to liase with Cllr. Jim Brandon to organise the first meeting with

representatives from the organisations. Clerk has put a note in the Aug./Sept.

issue of ‘The Bridge’ informing villagers again about this proposal.

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Matters arising cont/ ………

7.55pm Close parish Council meeting by Chairman. Open public meeting – Stan Smith wanted to check all organisations had responded, Clerk to contact

two groups outstanding. Close public meeting – re-open Parish Council meeting 8pm. Speeding/traffic calming – data loops were installed in the village 11^th July to 18^th July at 6 locations. It will be approx. 4 weeks before this data is processed by the Highways department, then full consultation will be made on the results with the Parish Council. Mirror (St. Mary’s) – a mirror will be purchased by the Parish Council and installed opposite the main entrance to St. Mary’s car park. Clerk to advise Cllr. Benson on supplier/cost.

5 (i) Resolved, by councillors present, to purchase the mirror and erect on private land opposite car park entrance.

Dog bins – Clerk to contact Glasdon for prices etc. Two locations (as

indicated in minutes 16^th June) - outside Chellington Centre (Cllr Tusting and

Clerk to check with Chellington administration) and The Causeway, near to

Playing Field. Bus Shelter – quotation received from B J Wood (£80. +

V.A.T.) for repairs.

5 (ii) Resolved, by councillors present, to accept this quotation.

Procedures and agenda – email response from Cllr. Coles regarding email

sent by Cllr Benson about this subject read out to councillors present. Agreed

the Clerk will list any matters outstanding from previous meeting.

Councillors may contact the Clerk to request items to be included.

There will be no parish council meeting in August.

Cllr Coles requested a copy of ‘The Good Councillor’s Guide’ (Clerk).

Cllr Coles queried his position as Highways representative – The Chairman

advised that his role is to report any problems he finds around the village to

the Clerk, who then advises Highways.

6. Highways repairs: potholes at School Lane and The Moor done. Removal of

dead Silver Birch tree (opposite school entrance, The Moor) during August

(B.C.C.) and replace with like. Complaint from resident regarding recent

resurfacing work at The Marsh and subsequent site visit by Julian Keen

(Structural Maintenance Supervisor – Beds Highways) – still a problem with

surface rain water forming puddles – Clerk to write to complain about possible

implications in freezing weather and also comment on the unsatisfactory

finished road surface. Harrold Bridge – contact B.C.C. regarding the 24 hour

weekly closure to vehicles (why is this necessary?) and what is the cost for the

work being carried out (request from councillor).

Finance report: 7 cheques drawn for payment – Mr W Crammen (June

wages and expenses), Mr W Crammen (post dated cheque for July wages)

Reach Out Projects £30.00 (Chellington Centre hire), Warner’s of Bedford

£376.00 (2 x main cut), Warner’s of Bedford £193.89 (3 x Playing Field cut),

N Bransgrove-Knight (June and July wages and expenses), Carlton Senior

Citizens (£227.27) donation to Christmas lunch fund.

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7. Finance report cont/ ………

Note: meeting 16^th June cheque no. 983 cancelled. This should have been a credit from B.B.C. for £658.15 – this has now been received and added in to the current account.

Balance of current account – to 21.07.08 - £5,801.21

Balance of Capital Deposit Account - £18.020.04

Post Office – sub-committee have met with Alison to discuss ways in which the Parish Council can help and support her. Clerk to contact Alison for further clarification and then write to necessary authorities. All councillors in agreement to start a petition (with Alison’s consent) to support the continued opening of the village post office.

Grass cutting/village handyman – (i) accept Warner’s quotation to strim Baptist Chapel Churchyard (ii) request strimming around the seat area on Carlton Road.

(iii) Cllr Benson proposed that Warner’s carry out future grass cutting to the Village Green on a regular basis – all councillors present agreed to this proposal. Cllr Benson to talk to Billy about this decision and ask Billy to carry on with ‘light duties’ as required.

Planning applications: 08/01650/FUL - 32 Rectory Close (replace roof over

Garage/study) no objections. 08/01512/FUL – 23 The Causeway (conservatory to rear) no objections. 08/01774/FUL – Carlton Hall Farm (two storey side extension and single storey front extension) no objections.

08/01756/FUL – Rosebank cottage, 15 The Moor (two storey rear extension and first floor front extension) no objection to rear extension, concern to first floor front extension overshadowing No. 11 The Moor.

Correspondence – list circulated to all councillors prior to meeting. See apex. (i) for actions taken.

School Governor’s report: Successful recent Open Day. Good attendance for Autumn term. New Library completed.

Playing field report: none.

Village Hall report: no problems reported. ‘Ramp’ (type of) in situ for necessary use.

Village matters: Cllr reported tree roots coming through pavement outside

No. 22 The Causeway.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING – MONDAY 8^th SEPTEMBER 2008

7.30pm Carlton Village Hall

NOTE – no Parish Council meeting in August.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.55pm.