CHACOMBE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday, 5th April 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

 

Present: Cllrs. Harper, Woolley, Wyatt, Jones, White, Reid, Kennedy and Clerk.

 

Apologies: Cllrs. Coates and Jenkins

 

Public Time. Mrs Evans wanted to know what had been done regarding the pot holes in Thorpe Road. Cllr. Harper informed her that he had recently carried out a survey of roads and pavements and all damage had been reported to Highways via Clarence Line. A passing motorist had spoken to Mrs Evans in an aggressive manner, accusing her of taking his number and then telephoning the Police. The Council advised Mrs Evans that she should always ring the Police if she felt threatened or intimidated in any way.

 

Minutes of previous meeting on 1st March: adopted and signed.

 

Matters arising

1.1 Playing Field Fence Update: A post and rail fence, without an entrance, has been installed.

1.2 Neighbourhood Watch Signs Cllr. Harper volunteered to look at the signs with a view to fixing them at appropriate sites at the entrances to the village. Update: Signs erected.

1.3 Closure of Post Office A lengthy discussion took place regarding the closure and although the Parish Council was very sympathetic, disappointment was expressed that nothing was being done to try to re-establish the facility. The Post Office had given Mr & Mrs Somerton three months to consider their options. When the three months actually commenced had been difficult to ascertain because the Post Office and Post Watch had given conflicting dates but it was likely that the end of April would be an appropriate time to re open the discussion. It was agreed to write to Mr & Mrs Somerton requesting an update on the situation.

Finance

 

Expenditure                                                                                                                                                    Income

101101                        CS&SC £1000                        

101102                        Chacombe Village Hall £1500

101103                        NALC Membership £122 + £32.50 (5 subscriptions to ³Update² at £6.50 per copy) £154 50

101104                        Jeffs Coaches (Feb) £80.00

101105                        Chacombe School £500

101106                        Chacombe Chimes £780

101107                        Clerkıs salary £750

 

Authorise: NACRE Membership £30, BT £60.51, TreeTops.Com Ltd £176.25, ABB £117.49, PowerGen £115.90, David Grainger £135.13, Jeffs Coaches (March) £80.00, Clerkıs expenses £29.38, Winged Fellowship £75.00 and CPRE Membership (Direct Debit) £25.00

 

Correspondence

Clerkıs & Councilıs Direct March

ODPM Local Plans and Unitary Development Plans

NACRE Village Viewpoint

                        The Countryside Agency Vital Villages Update

                        Have you ever thought about becoming a school governor?

Alzheimerıs Newsletter

CPRE S Northamptonshire Area Committee. Invitation to Summer Party at Blakesley on Friday, 21st May

South Northamptonshire Local Strategic Partnership - Community Strategy 2004 ­ 2009

Connect2 Northamptonshire.com ­ community portal?

Caring Matters Spring 2004

DEFRA Rural Broadband

NALC ³Update² March 2004

                        Training Support Co-ordinator

                        Legal Topic Note 7 ­ Acquisition of Ownerless Land

The Local Channel

CPRE Northamptonshire. Photography competition and invite to evening with Max Hastings Friday, 23rd April

SLCC Training courses for Clerks

CPRE Rural Matters

                        Planning Update

                        TCG News

CCLA  COIF Charity Funds Annual Report 31st December 2004

HLB AV Audit Auditor Briefing and questionnaire re: 2003 Audit.

NCC       i) Northamptonshire Minerals Local Plan ­ First Deposit Draft

ii) Northamptonshire County Structure Plan 1996-2016 - Monitoring Report 2004

iii) S Northamptonshire Area Committee Minutes from meeting 15th January and papers for meeting on Wednesday, 19th May 2004

iv) Supplementary Planning Guidance on Planning Out Crime in Northamptonshire has been adopted.

v) Wildlife in your Parish. Identification of conservation verges and have any new wildlife areas been created since 2002?

vi) Community Strategy for Northamptonshire

vii) Community Scrutiny Committee Minutes from 4th March and papers and agenda for 8th April

 

SNC        Planning applications week ending: 3/3/04, 10/3/04, 17/3/04, 24/3/04 and 31/3/04 e-mailed

Brochures: Record Playground Equipment ­ application form for a catalogue, Animal Waste Services

 

Agenda

3.1 Winged Fellowship ­ request for donation

Cllr. White proposed that the Council make a donation of £75. This was seconded by Cllr. Woolley and agreed by the Council.

 

3.2 Cynthia Spencer Hospice Appeal

Although the Council agreed that this was a worthy cause, it would prefer to make any donation to Katherine House Hospice, therefore it was agreed that no donation would be made to the Cynthia Spencer Hospice Appeal.

 

3.3 Dropped Kerbs

It was proposed that the kerb opposite the bus stop in Thorpe Road and the two kerbs at the bottom of Thornhill should be considered for lowering. Cllr. Harper would speak to Cllr. Jenkins in order to identify any other areas.

 

3.4 Chacombe Brook

The e-mail from Mr Moore, prompted by the recent Chimes article, required a reply. The article had been an attempt to explain the current situation, but it was evident that the Parish Councilıs view of the situation was different to Mr Moores and that the conclusions from the two reports had only led to confusion. Since the responsibility for the stream was remaining with NCC, SNC and riparian owners, it was agreed that a meeting should be arranged for all relevant parties to try and resolve this matter. The issues need to be made clear about what can and cannot be done.

 

3.5 Chacombe Sports Field

Cllr. Woolley informed the Council that use of the Wardington Road field, kindly loaned by Mr Stephen Schilizzi, would no longer be available after the end of the 2004 cricket season. Chacombe Sports & Social Club, the group responsible for the fieldıs upkeep, had called an emergency meeting on 24th March and had agreed that it would try and secure another location for the village football and cricket teams.

 

3.6 NACRE membership

Cllr. White proposed that membership of NACRE should be renewed at a cost of £30. This was seconded by Cllr. Jones and the Clerk was asked to forward payment.

 

3.7 SNC S/2004/0264/P Two storey extension at front of 38 Thorpe Road                          

If SNC considered that this application would have too great an impact on the surrounding area and be out of keeping then it was likely that it would be refused. The Council had no observations. Update: Permission refused.

 

AOB

1. Cllr Harper informed the Council that Chacombe School had purchased three Usborne Internet linked books with the £100 from the Parish Council.

2. Concerns had been expressed to Cllr. Woolley about cars parked outside The Old School House as they were very close to the junction. Dangerous parking should be reported to PC Martin Sargeant by telephone or e-mail. The addition of a photograph, showing date and time, would be helpful.

3. Cllr. Harper informed Cllr Jones that the pond in the school grounds was not managed for wild life alone.

4. Cllr. Kennedy announced her resignation and informed the Council that she had done all she could. She was thanked for her service to the community, not only as a Parish Councillor but also for her twenty years as a member of the Village Hall Committee.

 

Meeting closed at 8.45pm

 

The next meeting, the AGM, will be held on 10th May 2004 at 7.15pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pcmn080/ss 26/04/04