CHACOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday, 1st November 2004 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
Present: Cllrs. Coates, Jones, White, Woolley, Reid, Offers, Jenkins, Harper and Clerk.
Apologies: Cllr. Wyatt
Public Time.
Mr Ted Garrett wished to respond to the letter in last monthıs Chimes re: grass-cutting. ³I am of the opinion that there are other parts of the village which also appear to be uncared for, but each time improvements are asked for the answer is always, it will cost too much. In the last four years the council tax on a band D property has risen by nearly 32% for which we the residents receive the usual services enjoyed by every citizen in the country. This is well above the rate of inflation and we have no desire to pay more, yet when even small improvements are suggested we are told that funds will have to be allocated, presumably by an increase in the precept or cuts made elsewhere. The bulk of our council tax goes to the County Council and SNC who I perceive are lacking in giving this village its fair attention to maintenance. The alley way between Thornhill and Thorpe Road has received very little attention in 35 years. The state of our roads and pavements are highlighted by an authority which seems to have abundance of white paint and yet, since the pot-holes were identified eight weeks ago still nothing has happened. Where pot-holes are filled or granite sets replaced the work is of a poor standard. Vegetation grows from the gutters which are only swept every three months (Note: every four months) and it is my belief that the side roads in Chacombe were not swept at the time of the last visit in August but to ask for them to be done more often will cost too much. Annually, residents make a concerted effort to clear litter from the approach roads to the village. Does the local authority ever supplement this effort at other times of the year? No, because it costs too much? The 30mph signs have been missing from Thorpe Road since Easter 2003, long before any consideration was given to re-locating them. Is it possible that you yourselves, when looking around the village see other areas that I have not mentioned here? Does the Parish Council lean sufficiently hard enough on District and County Council Officers and on our elected representatives of those bodies to get things done or whether areas requiring attention are merely reported in the hope that someone is listening but in fact are never followed up? Well meaning residents do their bit to make Chacombe a pleasant place to live but unless support is given by our district and county councils by having a blitz at tidying up and improving what needs to be done, I fear we are fighting a losing battle and in the end it really will cost too much².
Minutes of previous meeting on 4th October: adopted and signed.
Matters arising
1.1 New Residentıs Social
The Chairman expressed his thanks to Cllrs. Woolley and Jenkins for providing the refreshments and, although the evening was an excellent opportunity to met new and old villagers, it was agreed that there were not sufficient new residents to warrant holding the event every year.
Finance
Internal control completed as of end of September.
Expenditure Income
101138 ABB £126.22
101139 BT £75.54
101140 Jeffs Coaches (Sept) £120
101141 HLB AV Audit £141.00
101142 Victim Support £100
101143 Clerkıs expenses £72.83
Authorise: New Residentıs Social: Cllr Jenkins £22.62 and Cllr Woolley £40.00 and Jeffs Coaches (Oct) £80
NACRE Village of the Year results and changes to next yearıs competition.
Adventure Playgrounds Ltd
Alzheimerıs Newsletter Sept.2004
Leicestershire Education Business Company. Launch of mentoring and befriending strategy in Northamptonshire on Monday, 13th December 2004. Poster
CPRE Countryside Voice
The Local Channel
Society of Local Council Clerks ³Funding and Managing Community Projects² Conference Friday, 10th December in Huntingdon
From a villager re: handrail in Silver St and overhanging conifers by the ford
CPRE Northamptonshire Invitation to ³Carols, Mulled Wine and Mince Pies² at Cranford Hall on Thursday 9th December. RSVP 4th December
Clerks & Councils Direct Nov 2004
NCC i) Northamptonshire Minerals Local Plan
ii) Voluntary Sector Support Unit (VSSU) Funding application pack
iii) Jason Travel for All. Posters and leaflets
SNC i) S/2004/1041/P New wing adjoining existing Care Home for 24 bedrooms, staff accommodation and ancillary rooms. Amended plans: alteration to access, including removal and re-siting of wall, agreement to staff travel plan, revised ownership certificate.
ii) Periodic Electoral Review. Significant imbalances with version 2 therefore version 1 will also be submitted unless Parish Councils can provide further justification for version 2 which would include Thenford, Marston St Lawrence, Edgcote, Thorpe Mandeville, Culworth and Chacombe
iii) Stock Option Appraisal. Poster
iv) Local Development Framework (2001 2021) Pre-submission Consultation on the Statement of Community Involvement. Reply required by Friday, 10th December
v) S/2004/1041/P Chacombe Park amended plans. Detailed landscape matters submitted
vi) Planning applications week ending: 6/10/04, 13/10/04, 20/10/04 and 27/10/04 e-mailed
Agenda
3.1 Budget 2005 2006
The Clerk had produced a draft budget for discussion. Should the Parish Council consider paying more for the grass-cuttings to be collected? Atkins, contracted by NCC Highways, had aimed to keep the cuttings on the grass but this had not always been the case and grass had always been left after the Parish Councilıs contractor had mown. Tenders will be sought to include grass collection before a contractor is appointed for next year. Was the provision of the village bus still worthwhile in the light of a half- hourly bus service and pensionerıs entitlement to a half fare bus permit? It was agreed that enquiries would be made about the number of residents using the village bus. No provision would be made for a New Residents Social next year. The cost of the Village Hall phone had risen considerably and it was agreed that the Councilıs contribution would be reviewed. Cllr. Jones advised the Council that there would be no charge for the running and updating of the village website. It was also agreed that the budget for general maintenance would be increased but the precept would remain at the same level as last year: £10,500. The budget would be finalised at the next meeting.
3.2 Highway Representativeıs Report
Cllr. Harper has been the representative for seven years and part of his role is to liaise with NCC through Peter Cheney, the Area Maintenance Engineer. WS Atkins has taken over the organization of the Highway Representatives since the setting up of the partnership with NCC and meetings have been arranged on a regular basis. At the meeting in May many villages were expressing the same concerns, particularly about lack of maintenance. £10,000,000 had been available in February and March but this did not carry forward for April and May. A list of works including carriageway and footway resurfacing had been produced for September 2004. There is a perception that the Parish Council is not pulling its weight. When faults were reported to Clarence Line the call number would be reported in the Chimes so that local residents could also check on what progress, if any, had been made.
AOB
1. Cllr Jones advised that it had been proposed that the web-site could be used to promote the Chimes and that the Chimes could also contribute to the web-site. This would appear to be of advantage to both.
2. The Clerk had received a call from a local person who had expressed an interest in running the Post Office. Was there anything the Parish Council could do?
Meeting closed at 9.20 pm.
The next meeting will be held on 6th December 2004 at 7.15pm.
pcmn087/ss 30/11/04