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CHALFONT ST PETER PARISH COUNCIL Council office, adj. The Community Centre, Gravel Hill, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks,SL9 9QX Clerk and Treasurer: Mrs S.Moffat Tel & FAX 01753-891582 e-mail smoffat@chalfontstpeter-pc.gov.uk MINUTES OF THE DULY CONVENED MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL OF CHALFONT ST PETER HELD IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, CHALFONT ST PETER, ON MONDAY19th, JANUARY 2003 AT 8 P.M. 137 PRESENT Cllr J Banham (Chairman), Cllr B Allen, Cllr Mrs J Bacon, Cllr Collins, Cllr Mrs Darby, Cllr Horne, Cllr A Moffat, Cllr D Palmer, Cllr Mrs L Smith, Cllr Watts, Cllr Mrs West and the Clerk. 138 DEMOCRATIC QUARTER OF AN HOUR Residents from Gold Hill Common were present to discuss the letter sent to them by the Youth Action Group of the Village Appraisal Group regarding the proposal to erect a Youth Shelter on Gold Hill Common. 8.05 Cllr Mrs Darby joined the meeting. Residents complained that the letter had only been distributed 3 days prior to this meeting so there was little time to prepare objections. A summary of the objections raised were as follows:- • Change of use of Common, although a minor change a structure could set a future precedence. • Too near the playground. • All year round meeting place would detract from the quality of life of local residents. • Concern that the police and outreach workers would not visit the site. • Increase in rubbish on the common. • Noise disturbance particularly in the early hours of the morning. • Users of the shelter may bully and intimidate other youths. • Attract drug users who may leave discarded needles. Cllr Watts, who is a member of the Youth Action Group, apologised about the letter being distributed at short notice but the Safety Officer at Chiltern District Council had offered a grant for a youth shelter which is only available during this financial year. Hence if this project is to continue a decision is needed quickly. A picture of the proposed youth shelter was shown which demonstrated that it is similar to a piece of play equipment rather than a building. The proposed location of the youth shelter would be approximately 30 yards from the playground, further away from houses and would blend in with the tree line to be as unobtrusive as possible. At the proposition of Cllr Mrs Darby, seconded by Cllr Mrs Bacon, the Democratic Quarter of an Hour was extended. The purpose of the youth shelter was for youngsters to congregate away from the playground where they could meet and chat. Youth shelters were encouraged by the Police, District Council and the Government and the location was chosen after considering the guidelines given by these authorities and after discussion with the local youths, local police and youth workers in the area. Mr Eaglestone, Chairman of Youth Action Group, did apologise if the correct protocol was not always known but pointed out that the Group was instigated by the Parish Council, information had been circulated and all members of the Group were volunteers. The Youth Action Group did want to do things to help the youth in the Village. Cllr Banham thanked the residents for attending the meeting and explained that this matter would be discussed by Council under the appropriate agenda item. 139 TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from Cllr Adams and Cllr Gupta. 140 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS None were received. 141 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Minutes of the last meeting held on 15th December, 2003, were considered and signed by the Chairman as a true record. 142 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Cllr Banham had met with staff from the Kingston SSVC site who had expressed a wish to become more involved with the activities of the Village. 143 CORRESPONDENCE • Booklets for borrowing:- Wild Life News, Matters Arising from BALC, Safer Routes to School Newsletter, Council Review, News Of the Woods, Annual Review 2002-3 of the Countryside Services from Bucks CC. • Denham Aerodrome Consultative Committee - Minutes of the September, 2003 meeting are now available. Noted. • Up-date from Thames Valley Police on Non-emergency Call Handling - Noted. The non-emergency number to make it easier to contact the police is 0845 8 505 505. The Clerk will ask the Press to publicise this number. • Copy of the letter from CDC in reply to a local businessman who raised concerns about the level of car park charges to be levied in April at Church Lane car park which would effect staff earnings for those employees using the facility. CDC have now reduced the annual season ticket by approximately £100 following representation from local employees. 144 MATTERS ARISING Minute 132 Entertainment (Indoor Music and Dancing) Licence for The Chalfonts Community College - The College has agreed to restrict the number of events to ten during the year with a minimum period of 14 days between events. No objections were raised. 145 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Amenities and Planning on 29th December, 2003 and 5th January, 2004 Reports and recommendations were accepted on the proposition of Cllr Palmer, seconded by Cllr Mrs Darby. Cllr Allen expressed his appreciation to Cllr Palmer and Cllr Mrs Darby for the handling of the Copthall Lane appeal. 146 REQUEST FROM THE YOUTH ACTION GROUP TO INSTALL A YOUTH SHELTER ON GOLD HILL COMMON Cllr Allen proposed that this matter should be discussed at Committee level before it is brought to Council. Cllr Watts explained the urgency of the matter being that the grant from CDC had to be spent during this financial year so proposed that this matter should be considered at this meeting. This proposition was seconded by Cllr Horne and agreed by the majority of members of the Council. The objections raised by the residents during the Democratic Quarter of an Hour were taken into consideration during the discussion of this matter. The main points of discussion were:- • The youth already congregate on the Common. • No guarantee that the youth shelter will be successful. • The shelter is some distance away from residential areas. • The public already complain about the noise on the common. If the youth congregate in one area, it would be easier for the Police or Outreach Workers to approach them. • The police encourage the use of youth shelters so should have the support of the police. • Councillors are elected to make decisions for the village and the Parish Council should be prepared to support the Village Appraisal Group or there is no point having such a group. • If the proposal was to go ahead, should consider methods of measuring success in order for it to continue in the long term. After an in-depth debate about this request, at the proposition of Cllr Palmer seconded by Cllr Darby, it was agreed that the matter should now be put. It was proposed by Cllr Watts and seconded by Cllr Horne, that 'The Youth Shelter should be installed for a trial period of 12 months during which time there should be stringent monitoring of the situation with the option to review the matter at any intermediate time if a serious problem arose. The criteria to measure the success or otherwise must take in to account the whole village. The Open Spaces Committee to recommend a method of monitoring. If the Youth shelter is successful then it would remain. The proposal to erect a shelter would also mean that permission is granted for the erection of the youth shelter to be organised by the Village Appraisal Group'. This proposition was agreed by a majority vote. 147 ACCOUNTS The following accounts were examined and, upon being found in order, cheques were signed on the proposition of Cllr Mrs Bacon, seconded by Cllr Collins. Bucks C.C. - superannuation 1126.56 Inland Revenue 1384.70 CDC - Church Lane Car Park 2345.59 CDC- new dog bin 123.38 SEC Ltd - street light maintenance quarterly charge 3652.01 SEC Ltd rechargeable repairs 858.53 SEC Ltd - emergency call out 232.65 SEC Ltd - emergency call out 232.65 Southern Electric - unmetered electricity 400.80 Hacker Young - external audit for 02-03 881.25 W.H.Carden Ltd - wood supply 18.13 Chalfont Community Services Ltd - christmas drinks 96.00 Harlequin Fireworks - maroons for Remembrance Day 90.00 S. Moffat - Clerks mileage from 8.4.03 to 14.1.04 at 40p per mile 129.20 Grant and Stone Ltd - materials 19.86 Neil Curtis - grave digger 580.00 Farnham common Nurseries - trees 47.00 J Banham - christmas food 11.96 Megan Wall - equipment purchased from Chipstead account 22.91 Golf and Turf - protective clothing 6.93 Unit 42 Ltd - padlocks 192.60 Maximon Solutions - 2 x radio 373.65 A & A Simms - machinery repair 169.31 Glasdon U.K. - litta-pikkas 88.87 H S Jacksons & Son (Fencing) Ltd - fencing for the Millennium Wood 433.35 STANDING ORDERS AND DIRECT DEBIT 1.1.04 Council Office rates 60.00 Salaries 4189.36 IMPREST ACCOUNT 15.12.03 - Oak Farm Leisure - tow bar for landrover 60.00 15.12.03 - Cash - petty 100.00 5.1.04 - Cash - petty 100.00 Check petty cash tin checked 148 TO REPORT THAT THE 2002-3 ACCOUNTS HAVE NOW BEEN AUDITED BY THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR The Clerk reported that the 2002-3 accounts have now been audited by the external auditor and the public notice stating this had been displayed on the parish council notice board for the required period of time. 149 TO NOMINATE A PARISH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AGE CONCERN Cllr Horne volunteered to be the parish council representative for Age Concern and it was agreed unanimously. INFORMATION ITEMS 150 OPENING OF TENDERS FOR THE STREET LIGHTING CONTRACT Cllr Banham and Cllr Palmer to open the tenders for the street lighting contract with the Clerk at 9.15 a.m. on Monday 26th January. No other business being raised, the meeting closed at 9.43p.m. DATES OF MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY Policy and Finance - 2nd February, 2004 Amenities and Planning - 9TH February, 2004 Open Spaces - 16th February, 2004 Council - 23rd February, 2004 |
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