CARLTON AND CHELLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL 

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 9th OCTOBER, 2006. 

Present :- Cllr. L. Benson - in the Chair
Cllrs. G. Chapman J. Goggins J. Tusting 
C. Cllr. Mrs. P. Gershon 
Mr. M. O’Meara, Emmaus Village.

Apologies for absence received from Cllrs. Brandon, Devine, and Simpson.

Disclosure of Interest None
Minutes of Meeting held 11th September were agreed and signed as correct. The newly bound Minute Book for years 2001-2003 was duly admired. It is green with gold lettering.

Emmaus Village, Carlton. Mr. O’Meara. Had to ask one companion to leave because he was seen in a drunken state in Carlton. Someone reported him. Have not had any more applications, there are 18
companions now. Message has got round the hostels, etc. in Bedford, and no-one wants to come. Can take 29 but never reached that number. Mr. O’Meara was asked whether they were prepared to tell everyone who comes to them that the ban is in place ? Is it a problem with other Emmaus communities ? Most of the other centres are in towns and difficult to recognise companions.
Bonfire Night, with firework display, at Emmaus 4th November. Next Parish Council meeting, someone else
will represent Emmaus.

MATTERS ARISING from September meeting.
Stone Barn Lease. Chris Horne still has not returned the lease to Woodfines LLP. Clerk to remind him.
Rural Housing Trust. Mrs. Jean Fox has left the organisation and housing survey has not been actioned by them. They need Housing Needs Survey request form and letter 6/10. read out and agreed. Survey forms to Council 20/10, to be received back by Trust 24/11. A reminder to be included in next Bridge notes.
Anglian Water Services. Pumping Station, letter 25/9. Technicians and operational engineer working together to decide the best way of putting the new pumps, kiosk and control panel together while maintaining
water supply to the area. Assurance it will soon be up and running and fully repaired. Regarding Bridgend and School Lane leaks, remind A.W.A.
Rural Grants. Rural Affairs Committee only awarded us £1,500.00. towards £2,115.00. applied for. Cost of installation of seats on playing field and at Chellington Centre to be discussed, meanwhile clerk to order seats.
Village Hall application for providing secure storage, Mrs. Tusting provided two estimates for the work, 
J.D. Keech (Builders) Ltd. £2,471.31. and B.J. Wood & Partners £2,197.25. Clerk to apply to B.B.C.
Street Name Signs. B.B.C. state they only change them when they are damaged, and when it is reported to them by anyone. Tell them we strongly disagree we this, if there is any problem with the street signs it should be the Parish Council who reports it. The new ones in Carlton are unnecessary.
Gutters. Billy has had a go at clearing them.
Grass by Harrold Bridge and verges. B.C.C. have cut some verges, remind them they have missed this length.
Street Close. Mr. Benson met Celia Sellers. Repairs to various sections of the road, also at entrance to no. 13 to prevent ponding and direct surface water to gully, work to be completed in October. Dropped Kerbs
Rectory Close programmed for November. Corner High Street/The Moor Heavy vehicles are damaging the footpath. This and kerbs to be re-instated to remove trip hazard, in next few weeks. Salt Bin. They now want to instal it the other side of road to school. Check with Mrs. Cantwell.
Village Handyman. Problems with his time sheets. Discussed. Decided to pay him basic hours for Parish Council plus any hours worked on the Playing Field.

Highway Maintenance Partnership. Unable to make a decision until we hear from Celia Sellers. Write to her, ask for urgent reply so that we can decide about next year’s allocation by 22nd December.

Community Emergency Plan. Letter from Mr. Cirin, 21/9. Reply - councillors considering feasibility of preparing an emergency plan.

County Councillor’s Questions and Answers. None.
Borough Councillor’s Questions and Answers. None. - 2 - 246.


School Governor’s Report. Mrs.Cantwell is retiring in the summer, 2007. Governors are meeting 12/10 to finalise advertisement for a new head teacher next September. Mrs. Cantwell spends ¾ of her time teaching, most head teachers do 50%. Reputation for helping difficult children. Some pupils who are problems, getting extra help. Every year speech and vocabulary gets worse.

CORRESPONDENCE
Mayor of Bedford, Frank Branston, letter 5/10 ref. State of the Borough Debate, 4/11. Opportunity for local people to hear from a panel of speakers and participate in sessions to discuss key issues facing the Borough.
Mayor of Bedford, 2/10, commenting on his year of visiting rural parishes.
B.C.C., Email 6/10, ref. Town & Parish Council Reception, 3/11. Agenda includes “Where B.C.C. are now”;
“What people think of B.C.C.”; and “Safer Communities”; with questions and answers. Declined, it is a Friday evening, unless Steve Devine or David Jenkins would like to attend.
B.B.C., Community Welfare Assistant, 14/9, The Mature Citizens Action Group (MCAG) meeting 11/10.
B.B.C., Community Welfare Assistant, 28/9, Free Electric Blanket Testing and Mini Health Checks for
Over 60s, Bedford Civic Theatre, 30/10.
B.P.F.A. notice of A.G.M., 18th October, at Chicksands.
TO CIRCULATE :-
B.B.C., Rural Affairs Committee, Agenda for meeting 19/9.
B.B.C., Standards Committee, Agenda for meeting 9/10.
Bedfordshire Police, 14/9, Internal Reorganisation. 6 consultation evenings to be held in early October.
NALC Local Council Review (now LCR), Vol. 59, No. 4, November.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS - none this month. 
06/02189/TCA, 7, Manor Close, B.B.C. determined not to make a T.P.O. on three Lime trees.

Tree Preservation Orders discussed. According to Borough Council, there are three safeguards in Carlton. The Oak tree on the playing field is not included but councillors of the opinion this tree is safe because of its location. B.B.C. tree officer, A.J. Joshi, telephone 221818. Map showing details available on website.

FINANCIAL REPORT
Five cheques prepared for signature, Mrs. Allsopp £249.44., Bridge Magazine £100.00., Villager Bus £200.00. 
Warner’s £164.50. and Mr. Crammen £131.30. for September. Cheque for Mr. J. Lawrence, Bookbinder, had been signed between meetings, £30.00. for the Minute Book. Bank balances £1,877.33. current account and
£23,480.90., total £25,358.23. 
Appointment of New Parish Clerk. It was agreed that Mrs. Nina Bransgrove-Knight should be appointed, as from 1st November, upon receipt of two satisfactory references, subject to six months’ trial period and a course in Local Council Administration. Mrs. Allsopp would be retained as Responsible Financial Officer at least until the end of 2006/7 year, salary to be apportioned Mrs. Bransgrove-Knight £2,400.00. p.a., subject to P.A.Y.E. deduction of Income Tax, and Mrs. Allsopp £425.00. p.a. 

NO PLAYING FIELD REPORT NOR VILLAGE HALL REPORT 

GENERAL VILLAGE MATTERS
The grass has been taken down to the mud again, ask Mr. Sandler to raise the blade up and not to cut it so short.

Mr.Benson said he will not be attending November meeting and Mr. Chapman agreed to liaise with the new clerk. Mrs. Allsopp will also attend.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.00. p.m. 



DATE OF NEXT MEETING - Monday, 13th November, 7.30. p.m.