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CARLTON AND CHELLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL 321

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 9th March 2009 at Carlton Village Hall – 7.30pm.

Present: Cllr Jane Tusting (acting Chairman), Cllrs. A. Geerts, T. Coles, L. Dempsey, R. Davis.

In attendance: Helen Jago (Emmaus).

1. Apologies for absence: Cllr. D Jenkins, Jim (V) Brandon, E. Devine,

L. Benson, PC Rob Smith and PCSO Allan Taylor.

2. Disclosure of interests: None.

3. Minutes of meeting held 9th February 2009: one amendment – change point (10) (NHW) Susan Owen should be changed from Deputy Street Co-ordinator to Deputy Area Co-ordinator. Cllr J. Tusting amended this and the minutes were signed off as a true record of the meeting.

4. Emmaus report: Emmaus are currently full at the moment. Council advised that complaints about bottle/empty cans of lager had been found around the village in the bus shelter and various footpaths. Helen will talk to the companions about this, but also advised that a new bin has been installed by Emmaus in School Lane to collect any empty bottles etc. A work camp is scheduled at Emmaus on 29th June – more details to follow nearer the date. Bistro redevelopment is ongoing – the opening date is yet to be confirmed.

5. Police report: apologies from the Police for non- attendance at this meeting. A police report was circulated to Councillors at this meeting – this report is the same as will be printed in the April/May edition of “The Bridge”. Generally, criminal activity is low. Two reports of snowball throwing at vehicles during the snow period.

6. Matters arising from the February meeting:

  • Highways (Bridgend ditch and railings) Celia Sellers has held a meeting with Kevin Tracy and agreed to take on ownership of the ditch. Still waiting for a date for ditch clearance. Railings are a safety issue – Neil O’Leary is responsible for this area.
  • Wymington P.C. (possible part share in speed gun), awaiting on more details from them.
  • Rubbish bins – Cllr Tusting has done a check on all bins around the village, the rubbish bin by the bus shelter is hard to empty and was full of dog mess bags. Cllr Coles will inspect all bins and report back to Council at next meeting. Council looked at several models of Glasdon Dog Bins – clerk to price up the ‘Fido 25’. Reports of large amounts of dog mess again on The Causeway, the Clerk will advise the Borough Dog Warden and requests more visits to the village.
  • Carlton School – hedging plants have been planted.
  • New village handyman – only one applicant (Richard Sinclair) – Cllr Jenkins to interview with Clerk in attendance.
  • Water leakage at Carlton crossroads still a problem – Clerk to contact Highways again.
  • NHW – still need street co-ordinators.
  • Harrold Liaison Forum – unknown if this group will still continue, Clerk will contact Peter Sharp (the Clerk for this group).
  • Baptist Chapel stone wall – B J Wood quotation was accepted for repair of stone walls – Cllr. Benson to oversee this project.
  • Letter of objection sent to Bedford Borough Council planning department – 09/00137/MAF 6 wind turbines and associated infrastructure as part of a 12 turbine wind farm on land west of New Road, Harrold (Nun Wood). Invite Blot and npower to attend A.P.M. in April to give their respective points of view.
  • Letter of complaint sent to Tom Wotton relating to the recent snow/ice problems with Highways.

7. Borough Councillor’s report: not present (apologies given). Cllr Brandon is holding a meeting on Thursday 12th March – 7pm at the Village Hall (small room) for further discussions on the Carlton War Memorial Monument proposed project. All village group representatives have been advised. Parish Clerk to attend and take minutes. Cllr Brandon concerned about the new footpath resurfacing along The Causeway – another site visit to be arranged with Highways department to look at the problems.

8. Highways repairs: site visit to be arranged to walk around the village to discuss various problem areas – some ongoing, some as a result of recent bad weather conditions. Clerk/DJ/TC

Bus Shelter: Councillors decided to have the bus shelter removed, due to unsuitable use and general state of the structure. Quotation required from B J Woods – removal of shelter, relocate notice board and installation of new bench for seating area. Obtain price for new bench. Clerk

9. Village Handyman: interview Richard Sinclair and allocate all necessary

Jobs/work schedule as soon as possible. A suitable memorial to the late Billy Crammen will be decided at a later date.

10. Neighbourhood Watch report: The Marsh now has a street co-ordinator.

There is still a need for street co-ordinators in the High Street, Rectory Close, lower end of The Causeway. Smart Water kits will be handed out to parishioners at the A.P.M.

11. Youth: implement subsidised taxi service (one way back from Bedford on a Saturday evening using AGS Taxi service). This service will be for the teenagers (16 plus) of Carlton & Chellington and Harrold. Trial period will be for 6 weeks – starting in the Easter holidays. The charge to teenagers will be £3 per person.

12. Finance report: Three cheques drawn for payment – Smart Water Tech. Ltd (£3,151.00), Harrold Parish Council (part share office facilities – 3months - £112.50, N Bransgrove-Knight salary for February. Payments in – C Horne (£139.00), Confident Communities Fund (£3,150.00). Current account balance - £1,513.83 Deposit account balance - £23,116.48 (which also includes reserves for Village Hall, Playing Field, Baptist Chapel Churchyard).

13. Planning applications: none.

14. Correspondence: list circulated to parish councillors – see appendix (i) for relevant actions. In addition, Cllr Richard Davis announced that, with great regret, he has to resign from the Parish Council. This will take effect from 1st May 2009.

15. School Governor’s report: There is a good intake for the school scheduled for September 2009.

16. Village Hall report: currently decorating the Committee room. There is a Coffee Morning on Saturday 14th March to raise money for the senior citizens.

17. Playing field report: none. A meeting is scheduled for 10th March.

18. Village matters: parking problems at Carlton crossroads, request Police assistance to endorse safer parking.

19. Date of next meeting: Thursday 16th April. 7pm Parish Council meeting followed at 8pm by the Annual Parish Meeting. P.C. Rob Smith and Brian Skittrall from BLOT to attend as guest speakers (also ask npower to attend).

A leaflet drop to all parishioners giving advance warning of the A.P.M. Clerk to organise with Chris the postman.

There being no further business, this meeting closed at 21.15.