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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 MONDAY 21st MARCH, 2005 AT 8 P.M. 176 PRESENT Cllr Banham (Chairman), Cllr Adams, Cllr Allen, Cllr Mrs Bacon, Cllr Mrs I Darby, Cllr Horne, Cllr Gupta, Cllr Moffat, Cllr Nowell, Cllr Palmer, Cllr Mrs Smith, Cllr Dr Warder and the Clerk. 177 TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from Cllr Watts due to illness. 178 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS Cllr Palmer declared an interest in Minute 188 as he is being paid a consultancy fee for his surveying work. 179 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Minutes of the last meeting held on 28th February, 2005 were considered and signed by the Chairman as a true record. 180 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST MINUTES None. 181 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT Cllr Banham informed the Council that Cllr Mrs West has resigned. 182 CORRESPONDENCE - Booklets for borrowing:- FieldWork from CPRE, CSP Parish Magazine - Annual Meeting of CPRE on 22nd April, 2005 at 7.30p.m. at Newlands Park - Invitation to the Re-Opening of Tithe Barn Youth Centre on 23rd April. - 183 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Policy and Finance on 7th March, 2005 Reports and recommendations were proposed and accepted. 184 TO APPROVE AND WELCOME THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE FOR THE PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY IN CENTRAL WARD Two candidates were interviewed and seemed suitable for the position. Due to the recent resignation of Cllr Mrs West, it was decided to wait and see if the next vacancy is to be filled by co-option before a final decision is made. 185 ACCOUNTS CHEQUES SIGNED OUT OF COUNCIL by Cllr Banham and Cllr Palmer:- Marcus Lee & Co. (solicitors) – charges and disbursements for the new premises = £12,026.75 The following accounts were examined and, upon being found in order, cheques were signed at the proposition of Cllr Adams, seconded by Cllr Allen. CHEQUES SIGNED IN COUNCIL Inland Revenue 1677.46 Bucks C.C. – superannuation 1078.71 CDC – Church Lane car park (invoice not yet received) 2340.21 Southern Electric – unmetered electricity 322.84 Southern Electric – garage 22.45 ABB Ltd – street light repairs 277.59 BT – broadband rental 105.71 Neil Curtis & Sons Funeral Contractor – grave digging 1040.00 Three Valleys Water – Church Lane allotments 27.15 Allianz Cornhill - additional insurance for new premises 156.85 Caudwell communications – office phone 18.42 Grant & Stone Ltd – materials 55.45+7.60+5.06 68.11 NSE – training course for P Isom and M Stevens 129.25 Streetmaster – memorial bench 583.98 World of Color – photocopier service charge 77.55 HireWorld – hire of generator 122.20 Screwfix Direct – cement mixer 359.99 P Isom - street light scouting 56.33 J Banham – chairman’s allowance 18.48 S Moffat - mileage 13.13 Standing orders and Direct Debits Salaries 4942.67 Imprest Account 24.2.05 – Cash -petty 100.00 8.3.05 – BALC entry fee for Best Kept Village 8.00 17.3.05 Cash - petty 100.00 Petty cash checked 186 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR NEW/TRANSFER OF LICENCE • Notice of Transfer of Licence for Three Pigeons PH - Noted. • Notice of additional licence for Winkers Farm – Noted. 187 TO COMMENT ON THE SOUTH EAST PLAN It was agreed that the Parish Council should point out the error made in one of the maps in the document of the consultation paper of the South East Plan that presents Chalfont St Peter as being part of Gerrards Cross and therefore part of the ‘Western Corridor’ and not as part of Chiltern District which it should be and consequently part of ‘the Rest of Buckinghamshire’. Also, it was agreed that the Parish Council endorses the draft response made by Chiltern District Council to the South East Plan, reinforcing the following points:- • Paragraph 15, Urban Focus and Green Belt – strongly support development in Brownfield Sites. • Paragraph 16, Sustainable Economic Development – strongly resist the loss of employment land. • Paragraph 17 Housing Policies – recognise the need for affordable housing but also recognise that the Parish Council and Chiltern District Council do not have enough powers to make this happen. Also the regional target of 40 dwellings per hectare is too high for this area. Regarding the omission of gypsies and travellers, Chalfont St Peter Parish Council strongly support the opinion that gypsies and travellers should be treated the same as any other person seeking planning application in Green Belt Land and that they should not be made a special case. It is also important to point out that there is an official gypsy site in Chalfont St Peter and two others in the rest of Buckinghamshire. • Paragraph 18, Parking Provision – Chalfont St Peter has double the national average of car ownership and very little public transport so the need for minimum standards should apply under PPG3. 188 REPORT FROM CLLR MRS DARBY AND/OR CLLR PALMER REGARDING THEIR MEETING WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REGARDING CAR PARK CHARGES Cllr Mrs Darby reported that she and Cllr Palmer met with District Councillors Dodd, Brown and Warder. It was recognised by CDC that the fee of £24,000 for one hour’s free parking was in excess of the projected use but due to the way charges were calculated it was difficult for District to do anything about this. However, the District Council did wish to work in partnership with the Parish Council and suggested that the Revitalisation Group should apply for a grant from CDC to help towards the cost of providing free parking. Nothing has yet been decided for calculating the cost in future years but there should be more detailed information available and the effect of Special Parking Areas should be known by then. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Darby, seconded by Cllr Palmer, that the Parish Council should pay £24,000 to CDC for providing one hour’s free parking at Church Lane car park. This was agreed by the majority of councillors present. Cllr Nowell pointed out and asked for it to be minuted that he believes a deal should be made with CDC for a discounted rate as car owners may not necessarily use the one hour’s free parking if they had to pay. Also, he considers that £24,000 is a substantial overpayment by Chalfont St Peter Parish Council for providing one hours free parking. 189 UPDATE ON THE PURCHASE OF NEW PREMISES The purchase of the Red Cross premises is now completed. Cllr Palmer has commenced drawing up plans for the refurbishment of the building and the Clerk is investigating the possibility of the police using part of the building for community policing. Once information is available, the Building Sub-Committee will meet to discuss proposals to bring to full Council. INFORMATION ITEMS 190 PERIODIC ELECTORAL REVIEW Cllr Banham informed the Council that the parish response, as already agreed last year, is in the process of being sent to CDC i.e. that Goldhill and Austenwood wards are amalgamated to provide more equal representation throughout the wards whilst maintaining the same number of councillors. If any councillors have any ward boundary anomalies, please inform the Clerk. 191 GYPSY INQUIRY The appeal is being held in the Council Chambers at CDC on 22/23 & 24th March, 2005 commencing at 10 a.m. for anyone wishing to attend. 192 SHOP WATCH Cllr Adams informed the Council that the Safety Group is encouraging walkie-talkies to be used by the shop keepers to communicate any problems happening in the Village. 193 OLD PEOPLE’S ACTION GROUP (OPAG) Cllr Horne informed the Council that the Elderly Action Group of the Village Appraisal has set up an OPAG in the Village. No other business being raised, the meeting closed at 8.46 p.m |
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