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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 council@stpeter0.freeserve.co.uk MINUTES OF THE DULY CONVENED MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL OF CHALFONT ST PETER HELD IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, CHALFONT ST PETER, ON MONDAY24TH NOVEMBER, 2003 AT 8 P.M. 107 PRESENT Cllr J Banham (Chairman), Cllr Adams Cllr B Allen, Cllr Mrs J Bacon, Cllr M Cocksedge, Cllr Collins, Cllr Mrs Darby, Cllr V Gupta, Cllr Horne, Cllr A Moffat, Cllr D Palmer, Cllr Mrs L Smith, Cllr Dr J Warder, Cllr Mrs West and the Clerk. 108 TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from Cllr Collins. 109 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS None were received. 110 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Minutes of the last meeting held on 27th October, 2003, were considered and signed by the Chairman as a true record. 111 MATTERS ARISING • Minute 87 - Update on the travellers encampment on the land by A413, opposite Deanacre Close. The caravans have now gone. No one appealed against the Enforcement Notices which now come into effect. • Minute 93 - The Area Manager for Chiltern and South Bucks will be able to attend a pre-meeting of the Council on 23rd February, 2004, starting at 7.15 p.m. An invitation to this meeting will be extended to any interested parties of the Village Appraisal Action Groups. 112 CORRESPONDENCE • A letter of thanks from Cllr Palmer's wife for the flowers sent to her by Cllr Banham, on behalf of the Parish Council, after her recent operation . • Copy of the letter sent from M Dewar (Bucks C.C. Cabinet Member of Community Services) to M Beckett MP regarding concerns raised about routes currently recognised on the Definitive Maps as either footpaths or bridleways being claimed as byways open to all traffic since the introduction of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Currently there are no applications in Chalfont St Peter area. • Letter received from the new owners of the 'Jolly Farmer P.H.' in response to the concerns raised by the Parish Council about the renaming of pub. The owners renamed this establishment 'The Village Hall' and believed a new name was important at the same time as the refurbishment . Members were disappointed that the history associated with the 'Jolly Farmer' would cease and that the new name was confusing with other halls in the village. A number of complaints had been received from the public. The Clerk to write again to pass on these sentiments. 113 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS • Membership fees for the Community Association required from each Councillor. • Chairman to send out invitations to the 'Christmas Social' after the December Council meeting, aiming to commence at 8.30 p.m. 114 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Amenities and Planning on 10th November, 2003 Reports and recommendations were accepted on the proposition of Cllr Mrs Darby, seconded by Cllr Adams. Policy and Finance on17th November, 2003 Reports and recommendations were accepted on the proposition of Cllr Mrs Darby, seconded by Cllr Mrs Smith with the addition in Minute 39F 'to the agenda' after ' job description as attached'. 115 TO ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR 2004-5 AS PROPOSED BY THE POLICY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE ON 17TH NOVEMBER, 2003 A precept of £197040 has been proposed which is a 10.07% rise on last years budget. At this point an in-depth discussion took place to consider the advantages and disadvantages of increasing the precept. The main contentious issues were providing free parking in Church Lane as Chiltern District Council had considerably increased the charges, employing a Village Warden and a part time assistant for the Clerk. It was pointed out that free parking was important to support the Village Centre but due to increased charges only one hour free parking would be possible. The Village Warden would be beneficial as consultation with the public via the Chiltern Community Plan and CSP Village Appraisal both highlighted the need to reduce the fear of crime. It was also recognised that due to the increase in administration and increase in the size of the Parish, additional Office help is required. The disadvantage to all these issues was the increase in the precept. Cllr Mrs Darby did stress that these three items would be for a trial period of one year. If no benefits could be shown then free parking and/or additional staffing would cease. At the proposition of Cllr Palmer, seconded by Cllr Horne, it was agreed that the motion was now put. At the proposition of Cllr Mrs Darby, seconded by Cllr Palmer the motion was put forward to adopt the budget for 2004-5 as proposed by the Policy and Finance Committee. The motion was passed. Cllr Adams asked for his name to be recorded as voting against the motion. 116 TRANSFER OF JUSTICES LICENCE An application for a Transfer of License at the Village Hall (formerly the Jolly Farmer) had been received - Noted. Notice had also been given that the transfer of license for the Tesco Express, Gravel Road, had been deferred to a later hearing. 117 ACCOUNTS The following accounts were examined and, upon being found in order, cheques were signed on the proposition of Cllr Palmer, seconded by Cllr Cocksedge. Bucks C.C. - superannuation 1178.57 Inland Revenue 1428.20 CDC - Church Lane Car Park 2345.59 Southern Electric - unmetered electricity 378.56 Neil Curtis Funeral contractor - grave digger 520.00 Stump Grinding Services Ltd - removal of tree stumps at the Garden of Rest 446.50 W.H.Carden Ltd - wood supply - 310.44 + 13.08 323.52 Golf and Turf - protective clothing 332.57 Risborough Agr Services Ltd - tractor repairs - 235.03 +77.99 235.03 CSP Community Association - room rental 84.00 M & G Book-Keeping Services - internal audit 47.00 Wicksteed Leisure - playground repairs 70.40 Gemini - memorial plaque 71.68 GX Skips.Co.UK - Chipstead account 240.00 M Wall - equipment from Chipstead account 145.27 Brooke North - legal fees for Siblet's Wood enquiry 13835.54 NSE - footpath work 140.00 A & A Simms - machinery repair 86.29 Warehouse Direct - tools and materials 159.05 Screwfix Direct - tools and materials - 147.9+51.4=199.30 199.30 Greenham - materials and black bags 481.41 Bingo - stationery 56.04 Victim Support - grant 50.00 Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance - grant 100.00 Samaritans - grant 50.00 Age Concern - grant 500.00 CPRE - subscription 25.00 J Banham - chairman's expenses 79.08 Imprest account 600.00 STANDING ORDERS AND DIRECT DEBIT 1.11.03 Council office rates 60.00 Salaries 4189.36 IMPREST ACCOUNT 29.10.02 - Cash - petty 100.00 4.11.03 - Garden Scene Cash & Carry - bedding plants 160.85 5.11.03 - NSE - Christmas cards 11.35 18.11.03 - Cash - petty 100.00 Check petty cash tin Cllr Mrs West and Cllr Allen to sign cheques in December. 118 AN UP-DATE ON THE PARISH WEB SITE Cllr Banham thanked Cllr Watts for the excellent work he had done to produce and up-date the parish web site. Cllr Watts pointed out that Council minutes can be viewed on the web site, as well as the history of the Village and hyper-links to Bucks C.C, Chiltern District Council and all the schools in the village which have a web site. Cllr Watts was willing to add any other up to date information or news. Cllr Adams pointed out that Newlands Park and Chiltern Open Air Museum should also be included as they are within the parish boundary even though their postal address is Chalfont St Giles. INFORMATION ITEMS 119 YOUTH ACTION GROUP Cllr Watts reported that the Group had been offered a grant from District for a youth shelter in the Village. The grant of £3000 is available until March, 2004. The youth shelter would hopefully help the problem areas being Chipstead, Leachcroft and Lovel Road area so it was important to find the right location. 120 DONATION Cllr Moffat wished to thank the local business, Uniq, for donating £4,000 for footpaths to the 3 play grounds in Chalfont St Peter in order to improve access for the disabled and parents with pushchairs. 121 AUSTENWOOD LANE The road sign is still missing. 122 NSE NEWSLETTER The newsletter included feedback on the responses to the questionnaires that were distributed during the public exhibition in July of the proposed development of the land belonging to National Society for Epilepsy. The newsletter to be circulated with the Minutes. No other business being raised the meeting closed at 9.14 p.m. Meetings in December Amenities and Planning 7p.m. on 1st December Village Appraisal Steering Group 7.30 p.m. on 10th December Council meeting at 8 p.m. on 15th December Maria Taylor Carol Service at 7.30 p.m. in St Peter's Churchyard on 18th December. |
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