CARLTON AND CHELLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 8th FEBRUARY 2010

Present :-

Cllr. I. Tusting - in the Chair for the start of the meeting

Cllr. D. Jenkins arrived at 8.00. p.m. assumed Chair

Cllrs. V.G. Brandon, T Coles, Mrs. E. Devine, Mrs. A. Geerts, D. Neil, Mrs. S. Owen

Miss H. Jago from Emmaus Village.

Apologies for absence

Received from Cllr. L. Dempsey

Disclosure of Interest

None

Minutes of Meeting

Held 12th January were agreed and signed as correct. Meeting closed to allow Miss Jago to report on

Emmaus Village -

where there is a lot of activity and things are going well with the work beginning to make a big difference. 25 companions at present, after one banned and one moved on, another companion moving to Northampton within the month. Trading very busy for this time of year.

Miss Jago was asked whether Emmaus purchased their eggs from the shop? No. It was also mentioned about the rubbish bin in School Lane - could companions be persuaded to use it for their cans etc. - and about visitors to Emmaus staying overnight. Apparently visitors can stay provided there is a spare room and they book beforehand. The visitor who had a heart attack on Friday night is O.K. Miss Jago led at 7.40. p.m. and meeting resumed.

Matters Arising from January Meeting .

Cold Calling Signs. Does the Parish Council want to remove them ? Signs are not needed, all of Bedfordshire is No Cold Calling. Borough Council will be asked to take the signs down.

Borough Councillor's Report.

Mr. Brandon said the Council tax has been increased a little. He has had a problem with the grant application in respect of the Village Hall boiler and Mrs. Tusting will assist in completing the form. The application is being considered by the finance committee this week. Had an application been made in respect of the railings along Harrold Causeway? Apparently not.

This matter should have been dealt with a few weeks ago, decided on replacing like for like, but he will ensure we have an answer from Mr. Briggs tomorrow.

Highways Report.

Mrs. Owen and Mr. Neil had walked round the village with Amey representative, Alex Cattanach to identify problems. Amey can only repair category 1 potholes (1inch on the pavement and 2 inches on the road vertical drop), and those in School Lane and Edens Lane |11 be dealt with. The others will be reviewed in April.

Rural Transport Provision.

Mrs. Geerts had attended the meeting with Chris Pettifer last week. Basically our bus route is 90% financed by the Borough Council and something has got to be done. lt costs £110,000 to keep one bus on the road and £20m. cut from central government. Discussed ways of getting people on to the buses and various options, such as use of school buses during the middle of the day and evenings, and would Parish Council try and find out from parishioners the bus service required. Maybe discuss at the Annual Meeting which Mr. Pettifer could attend, and send a circular round the village before the meeting. Following discussion councillors agreed to this and Mrs. Geerts did obtain a questionnaire for copying and request Chris the postman to deliver to every house.

Public Footpaths Report.

Mr. Coles has not received the definitive map. We need to get someone round to check footpaths. Councillors discussed the footpath through Spring Close Farm and history of same.

War Memorial Monument.

Mrs. Geerts reported the committee in process of obtaining quotes for a design which is basically stone and granite, and these will be brought to Parish Council for approval. A bank account has been set up for donations - possible grant of £1,000 from Borough Council.

Planning applications.

None.

Appl. 09/01131/S73, refused for extensions, Rosewayne, The Moor - Appeal has been made to the Secretary of State.

Correspondence.

B.B.C.. Martin Brawn, Outdoor Access & Rights of Way, - questionnaire handed to Cllr. Coles.

Keith Simmons. Head of Registration & Records, 3/2, revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Prinicples is now available at www.bedford.gov.uk/ga2005 .

D.S.D., 28/1, Andy Garrod, ref dog bin locations, - Cllr. Owen has this in hand.

B.B.C., 28/1, Hugh Bartos, Scrutiny & Overview Support Officer, - committee keen to know what Carlton & Chellington Parish Council would like them to investigate in the next municipal year. Respond by 16th April.

A. Geerts, 3/2, Villager Bus timetables will be delivered around the village by Chris the postman.

B.B.C., 26/1, timetable for mobile library, January - June, 2010.

B.A.T.P.C., 1st Feb., with details of clerks willing to provide locum service.

Correspondence to be Circulated

B.A.T.P.C. Constitutions 10/09. Bedfordshire Bugle, January, 2010, handed out to councillors.

Louise Ashmore, 28/1, notes ref B.B.C. Freight Strategy Stakeholder Workshop, 27/1 ,

Bedford Standards Committee, Minutes of Meeting 11th January,

Milton Keynes Council, l 5/1, Pre-submission Publication in respect of M.K. Core Strategy. As a Parish Council in or neighbouring M.K., they will be inviting comments from Carlton & Chellingtona before 31st March.

N.A.L.C. 28/1, Leadership Academies 2010, programme for parish councillors.

B.R.C C., 1st Feb., February e-Bulletin

School Governor's Report.

Have not had a meeting since last Parish Council.

Playing Field Report

The goal posts have been taken down because of the depressions in the ground. Zurich said they were unsafe. Groundsman, Colin, has been along to advise best way of filling them in. Might move the goal posts, problem recurring. Discussed, but matter is one for the Playing Field Committee to decide. Complaint from someone in Street Close about balls.

Village Hall Report

Successful Quiz Night, raised f 865.50. It was a good evening and thanks to those who supported it. In turn the Village Hall Committee were thanked for arranging same.

Finance Report.

Cheque drawn for R. Sinclair, f40.00. Mrs. Bransgrove-Knight's claim for f467.91 . to be checked, also the position ref Income Tax and N.H.I.

Mr. Jenkins received a reminder from the auditors, 2| February, we are two years behind with our audit. D.J. read out the letter, to 30th November additional charges incurred total f65.00. Having received copies of various E-mails sent to the clerk by BDO LLP up to and including 29th January, he had subsequently received Mrs. Bransgrove-Knight's resignations 30th January.

The Precept forms have not been sent to the Borough, the Precept will remain the same as last year, also V.A.T. has not been claimed for two years.

It was formally proposed and seconded that Parish Council appoint Mrs. Iris Allsopp to sort out the accounts. When 2007/8 accounts are completed, ask Mr. Bellamy to internally audit same, and bring to meeting to be arranged for next week for signing of and sending to BDO LLP.

Appointment of New Clerk.

We need to find a new clerk and a sub-committee was formed, comprising Cllrs. Jenkins, Geerts and Owen to advertise the vacancy in local shops etc. and THE BUGLE. Should be 1) someone local, who can do the clerks job and book-keeping, or 2) someone to do the clerks job and someone to do the R.F.O. duties.

General Village Matters

Yew tree at the end of The Green, and brambles, a problem. Ask maintenance man to attend.

Parish Council consumed that budgeted here for maintenance is 10 hours per month @ £10.00 per hour,

A.W.A. at the cross roads, cap is open and bubbling up. Mrs. Tusting will check.

Dee-Jak: line of Leylandii across field, - any response from the Borough Council ?

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10:15 p.m.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Monday, 8th March at 7:30p.m.