SOUTHILL PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 2011 @ 7.00PM AT BROOM VILLAGE HALL

 

Present: Cllrs. Egar (Chairman), Andrews, Green, Hall, Hunt, Jones, Central Beds. Cllr. Turner, the Parish Clerk and nine members of the public.

 

1.       Apologies

Apologies were received from Councillors Blackburn, Hankins, Hickman, Rodenberg and Rook

 

2.   Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 5th September 2011 were confirmed as a true record and duly signed.

 

3.   Declarations of Interest from Members

Declarations were as follows : Cllr. Egar  Item 11 (b)

 

4.   Police Report

In the absence of any police presence there was no report. The Chairman outlined details of a recent meeting with the new Chief Constable who was targeting rural crime in the area despite severe financial restraints for the force. The on-going problem of lack of communication with the Parish Council was highlighted by the Chairman.              

 

5.   Matters arising from the Minutes

a) Queens Diamond Jubilee      

The Chairman announced that the Council had now formally registered with the appropriate authority to light a beacon. The agreed site has been confirmed as Stanfordbury Farm.

  

6. Special Interest Groups’ Reports

      a) School

Cllr. Andrews reported that 53 children currently attended the school but it was anticipated this would rise in the new year. The fund raising for the extension for the reception class was on-going. Currently there were major concerns over the threatened withdrawal of the school bus service.     

b) Broom Quarry Liaison

Councillors and members of the public had before them a comprehensive written report from Cllr. Hickman outlining the major points from the recent meeting of the Quarry Liaison Group. The Council agreed that a further letter should be written to Tarmac asking them to provide the two vehicle activated speed signs in the Parish now rather than wait for the planning obligation to take effect.   

c) Grass cutting

The last cut had now taken place for the season and all areas were satisfactory. The Council expressed their thanks to Cllr. Green for his hard work in arranging and monitoring the cuts.

d) Halls and Playing Fields

i) Southill  - There was nothing to report.  

ii) Broom – There was nothing to report

iii) Stanford – The annual duck race and raffle had taken place on 11th September and over £750 was raised which will help cover the annual £800 running costs for the playing field. Sponsors were thanked and notice of their support was highlighted on the notice board and in the Biggleswade Chronicle.  

 

 7.  Removal of School Bus Service

Cllr. Andrews advised those present of the current plans by Central Bedfordshire Council to remove the bus service to Southill Lower School on 17th December 2011.  This was a particularly worrying development as it would affect approximately 75% of the pupils attending. Many parents are very concerned about the prospect of walking to school on what is a very dangerous route. The parents and school are of one mind in that the criteria used by Central Beds.Council is seriously flawed and needs to be reviewed, indeed they have carried out their own vehicle count survey which differs significantly to that of the Council. The Parish Council were asked to do everything in its power to oppose the decision and support the school and parents.

Central Beds. Councillor Turner was present and was equally concerned by the Councils decision. In her view the B658 was a much busier route than a few years ago and would get even busier when the quarry works commenced. However, she was happy to report that, following discussion with the Portfolio holder for Children’s Services at Central Beds. the date for cessation of the service had been deferred until July 2012 and that the criteria used will be reviewed.

After discussion it was decided that the Parish Council should give wholehearted support to the school and parents and the Clerk was asked to write to various officers and Councillors at Central Beds.and urge them to reconsider their decision completely. It was also agreed for the Clerk to write to the local MP.

     

8.   Shuttleworth College – Noise Levels at Music Events

The Chairman reported that a request for support had been received from Old Warden Parish Council and an Ickwell resident who had concerns over recent events at the College. Councillors, although not particularly affected by these events, were happy to be supportive but felt it important that the terms of the licence should be upheld by Central Beds. Council.

 

9.   Town & Parish Councils Conference

      Unfortunately Cllr. Andrews was unable to attend the event and there was therefore, no report.

 

10.  Highway Maintenance

The 3 year Highway Maintenance Programme 2012 – 2015 had previously been distributed to members for comments of which there was only one. This was forwarded to Central Beds. There were no other specific maintenance problems to report.

 

11. Planning Matters

      a) Applications considered

Corn store at Old Rowney Farm, Ireland

Provision of 261 photovoltaic panels on the south facing roof of an existing corn store

                                                                                                                              No objection

      Land south of Broom, Broom Road, Stanford

      Scheme details of drainage pursuant to condition 21 of planning permission dated 28/2008                                                                                                                                                  No objection

      The Bungalow, Broom Road, Stanford

      Addition of first floor                                                                                                           No objection

     

      b) Central Beds. Council Decisions – Approvals

      Broom Quarry, Gypsy Lane, Broom

Variation of condition 3 of planning permission 21/2006 to allow an extention of time to complete mineral extraction and restoration to 31st December 2014

110 Broom Road, Stanford

Conversion of existing garage to study and erection of double garage

      c) Refusals

Nothing to report

     

      d) Local Development Framework

Central Beds. Cllr. Turner reported that the local plan for the whole of Central Bedfordshire will be completed by 2014.

 

12.  Financial Matters

      a) Bank Balances

      The Clerk reported bank balances as follows :                            £

                        Community Account                                             10609.53

                        Business Premium Account                                  14817.06

      b) Payments

      The following accounts have been received and were approved for payment :                            £

      Broom Village Hall                           Hire of room                                                       25.00

      MJ Granger Grounds Mtce.              Grass cutting                                                    498.00

      MJ Granger Grounds Mtce.              Grass cutting                                                    267.60

       MJ Granger Grounds Mtce.             Grass cutting                                                    765.60

      RSB (Old Rowney) Ltd.                    Repairs to play equipment                                 168.00

      BDO LLP                                        External Audit Fee                                             162.00

      Royal British Legion                                    Poppy Wreath                                                     18.00

      P.D. Knightley                                 Clerk’s duties & expenses Sept./Oct. 2011         789.57

      HM Revenues & Customs                Tax deductions Sept./Oct. 2011                         146.40

      c) Review of expenditure to date in 2011/2012

The Clerk’s review of expenditure to date and probable out-turn was noted by the Council. The Chairman asked that any suggestions to be included in next year’s precept be passed to the Clerk by 1st December 2011.

d) Annual accounts for the year ended 31st March 2011

The Clerk reported that the accounts had been approved and accepted by the external auditors BDO LLP. They did however recommend that the fidelity guarantee insurance taken out by the Council be increased to £15,000. This was accepted and agreed. The Chairman thanked the Clerk for his hard work in ensuring a ‘clean audit’

e) Stanford Notice Board

Cllr. Hickman reported that the notice board in Stanford is in poor condition and needs replacing. It was agreed that authorisation be given to spend up to £600 on the supply and fitting of a new board. The funding can be met partly from the general fund allocation for Stanford and partly from the New Projects budget. It was also noted that the Broom notice board is in need of some repair but hopefully a new board will not be necessary.

 

13. Correspondence

      The Clerk reported on the correspondence. :

      a) Central Bedfordshire Council -      Re-visit concept of Community Liaison Forum

                                                            ( the Council were happy to support this new initiative)

                        Funding for Green Infrastructure Projects

      b) General Correspondence

      Beds.Police                                               October edition of ‘Making Contact’                  

 

14. Meeting Dates 2012

      The following dates were agreed :

      Monday 9th January                         Southill             Tuesday 6th March                     Broom

      Tuesday 1st May                              Broom              Monday 9th  July                        Southill

      Tuesday 4th September                    Broom              Monday 5th November                Southill

 

There being no further business the meeting ended at 7.45 pm

 

 

At a general meeting before the Parish Council Meeting the following points were raised by members of the public :

 

 Proposals for Queens Jubilee celebrations to involve the three villages

 

Serious concerns over the proposed withdrawal of the school bus service