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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 COUNCIL OFFICES, CHALFONT ST PETER, ON MONDAY 27th NOVEMBER, 2006 AT 8P.M. 111 PRESENT Cllr Palmer (Chairman), Cllr Adams, Cllr B Allen, Cllr R Allen, Cllr Mrs Bacon, Cllr Banham, Cllr Mrs Darby, Cllr Horne, Cllr Moffat, Cllr Nowell, Cllr Shafe, Cllr Mrs Smith, Cllr Watts and the Clerk. 112 DEMOCRATIC QUARTER OF AN HOUR • Megan Wall, on behalf the Safety Group, informed the Council she had permission to use SID (Speed Indicator Device) during the week commencing 22nd January, 2007. She was hoping some councillors will volunteer for the sessions between Monday to Friday, 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 14.30 to 17.00. Approximately 30 volunteers are needed. If you are available please inform the Clerk. • Mr Sansum advised the Council that Chalfont St Peter Middle School is twinning with a village abroad and would we consider doing the same. Councillors commented that it has been discussed before and concluded there was no benefit. It was suggested that the Clerk asks other councils such as Chesham and Amersham for their comments. 113 TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from Cllr Gupta. 114 DECLARATION OF INTEREST None were declared. 115 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Minutes of the last meeting held on 30th October, 2006, were considered and signed by the Chairman as a true record after changing Minute 99, Policy and Finance on 9th October, Minute 43F to include ‘The matter of staff remuneration was discussed and resolved’ and an amendment was made to Minute 43F which was agreed at the end of the meeting after the public and the press were excluded and the amendment is shown on pink paper. 116 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LAST MINUTES Minute 96/83 To consider the response of the Council to the reduction of available beds at the Chalfonts and Gerrards Cross Hospital – Cllr Mrs Bacon reported that the petition from VOPAG had been sent to Cheryl Gillan MP. Cllr Mrs Darby reported Cllr Nowell and herself were going to attend the meetings of the Bucks PCT and the Bucks Hospital Trust in the coming weeks. 117 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS • The Maria Taylor Christmas Carol Service is on Thursday, 14th December, 2006. Cllr Banham, Cllr Mrs Smith, Cllr Mrs Bacon and Cllr Nowell gave their apologies in advance as are unable to attend. • After the next council meeting, there will be Christmas drinks and nibbles. All councillors, staff and partners are welcome. Also the Chairman will invite members of the Village Appraisal Groups, Chamber of Commerce and CSP Village Association. Cllrs B Allen and Shafe gave their apologies in advance as are unable to attend. 118 CORRESPONDENCE • 2005/6 Annual Review of the Chilterns Conservation Board. • CSP Community Association – ideas wanted to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the foundation of the Community Association. A copy of the letter will be attached to the Minutes to encourage councillors to respond. 119 Reports of Committees Amenities and Planning on 13th November, 2006 Reports and recommendations were proposed and accepted as a true record once Minute 95A, Planning Application 2006/1896/FA was changed from ‘Refused’ to ‘Objection’. Matters Arising Minute 98A - The possibility of a proposed telephone mast was highlighted but as yet no official communication has been received. Policy and Finance on 20 th November, 2006 Reports and recommendations were proposed and accepted as a true record. Matters Arising Minute 54F – Cllr Mrs Darby highlighted the recommendation not to subsidise free parking in Church Lane Car Park as from 1st April, 2007 as Chiltern District Council were unable to negotiate a reduction in fees. 120 ACCOUNTS The following accounts were examined and, upon being found in order, cheques were signed on the proposition of Cllr R Allen, seconded by Cllr Mrs Smith:- Inland Revenue 2096.25 Bucks C.C. - superannuation 1411.20 CDC –Church Lane car park 2668.43 Southern Electric – unmetered electricity 345.17 Bt plc – office phone 92.00 BT plc – broad band 123.40 A & A Sims Lawnmowers – machinery parts 727.59 Dell – Adobe Acrobat Professional software 428.88 Dell – lap top computer 901.46 Viking Direct - stationery 70.90 NFU Mutual – tractor and ride-on insurance plus demo machine 410.13 Spaldings – tools and equipment 287.05 South Bucks Estates Ltd – new gate for Garden of Rest 129.90 S Moffat paid by credit card for Nesbitts - wine glasses for council offices 45.68 Three Valleys Water – Gravel Hill allotments 65.04 Grant and Stone – materials 138.60 Chiltern Open Air Museum - grant 450.00 Chiltern and South Bucks dial-a-ride Ltd - grant 100.00 Voluntary Action-Chiltern and South Bucks - grant 100.00 Furniture@Work – office furniture 74.97 C Barham –travel expenses for chain saw course at Reading – 82 miles at 40.1p/mile for 6 days 197.29 BT plc – second phone line 48.35 Imprest 200.00 STANDING ORDERS AND DIRECT DEBITS 25.11.06– Salaries 5289.43 IMPREST ACCOUNT 3.11.06 Cash - petty 100.00 23.11.06 Cash - petty 100.00 Petty cash checked 121 TO AGREE THE MEETING DATES FOR 2007-8 The meeting dates agreed are shown as attached. 121 TO AGREE THAT THE FOYER AREA OF THE COUNCIL OFFICES CAN BE USED BY THE HERITAGE GROUP AS A ‘MUSEUM/HERITAGE CENTRE The Heritage Group (a newly formed group of the Village Appraisal Group) has recently received a £5800 grant from CDC to set up a ‘museum’. The Group has asked if the foyer area of the council premises can be used for this purpose until more suitable accommodation can be found. It was agreed to ask the Group to provide a proposed plan, costs and security arrangements for the heritage/museum for consideration at the Amenities and Planning committee in January, 2007. Cllr Mrs Smith invited councillors to the AGM of the Village Appraisal Group on Wednesday, 6th December, 2006 at 7.30p.m. at the Council Offices. 122 TO RECONSIDER WHETHER CHALFONT ST PETER PARISH COUNCIL BECOMES A QUALITY PARISH, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT WHITE PAPER ‘STRONG AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES’ It was agreed that Cllr Nowell would read the information available on this subject and to provide a summary to the next Policy and Finance meeting for discussion. The Clerk will ask BALC for the latest information. 123 TO AGREE THE PRECEPT FOR 2007-8 The Policy and Finance Committee recommend a precept of £218,415. The Chairman of Policy and Finance, Cllr Mrs Darby, explained that a precept of £218,415 reduces the reserves from £114,454 at 31.3.06 to £64,809 at 31.3.07 and projected reserves of £46,874 at 31.3.08. The reserves are at a lower level than previous years but with a precept of £218,415, reserves should not be over £100,000 unless there is a good reason (previously this was the refurbishment of the new offices). There are reserves of £39,100 earmarked for the Major Machinery budget specifically identified for replacement of machinery in the future. There is also a reserve of £1000 in the Capital budget for building up a fund for replacing playground equipment. The reserves of £814 and £2000 have been given to the Council for specific projects at Chipstead and heritage signs, respectively. At the Policy and Finance meeting of 16th October, 2006, it was recommended to aim towards a level of £25,000 for general reserves. At 31.3.07 these reserves will be £4382, which is a lower level than recommended but given there is a sufficient level of reserves in the Major Machinery budget, it was agreed to accept this level of general reserves this year in order to keep the precept at £218,415. Cllr Palmer asked for the Premises sub-committee to reconvene in order to establish Capital Reserves needed in the future for the up-keep of the new offices. This will be raised at the next Policy and Finance Committee. At the proposition of Cllr Mrs Darby, seconded by Cllr Palmer it was unanimously agreed for the precept to be £218,415 for 2007/8. 124 COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS • Cllr Nowell reported some interesting comments had been made at the BALC’s Chairmanship training he attended but he did not agree with everything. • Cllr Moffat reported that he also attended this meeting and submitted a paper on Module 1 ‘What do Chairmen Do?’ to be circulated to councillors. He pointed out the main headings:- A) Plan a meeting B) Discuss with the Clerk prior to the meeting C) Be punctual D) Length of meeting – one and half hours is ideal length of time for a meeting. • Cllr Moffat also reported that he had attended a Presentation Ceremony where PCSO, Graham Johnson, received a commendation from the Assistant Chief Constable. 125. Clerk’s report Noted INFORMATION ITEMS 126 VOPAG Cllr Horne commented at the last VOPAG meeting, two officers from CDC reported on Special Parking Areas and there was a lively discussion. 127KINGSWAY PUBLIC TELEPHONE BOX Cllr Banham reported he has phoned twice to report the broken glass but it has still not been repaired. The telephone has not been reinstated since the last case of vandalism earlier in the year. Cllr Adams reported the telephone box at the bottom of Rickmansworth Lane has been without a telephone since January. The Clerk has asked BT about both telephones and has been told they would be replaced. 128 SPAM Cllr Mrs Darby reported she receives approximately 25 spam emails a day through the Parish Council email address. Cllr R Allen suggested a filter on the server. 129VILLAGE APPRAISAL GROUP Cllr Mrs Bacon enquired if it was correct for members of the Village Appraisal to approach officers at Chiltern District Council without the Parish Council being represented. Cllr Banham stated it was within the remit of Village Appraisal Groups to approach district councils without parish council representation. No other matters raised, the meeting closed at 9.25 p.m. PINK PAPER FOR COUNCILLORS EYES ONLY |
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