Nash Parish Council
Present: Cllr C G Tomkins (Chairman), Cllr G F Culverhouse, Cllr B Dewhurst (from Minute 82 onwards), Cllr D Gillow, Cllr Sir John Southby Bt, Cllr A Taylor, Cllr E Watts
In Attendance: Mrs M S Hedges (Clerk), Mrs B Dewhurst (for Minute 80)
The formal Parish Council meeting was preceded by an open meeting with residents to discuss the planning application for ten houses on the Church Farm site. Twenty-four residents attended. Cllr Southby explained the planning application process. Mrs Hedges outlined the draft submission from the Parish Council to AVDC. As a result of the discussion a number of additional points would be made. Residents were encouraged to write individually to AVDC.
(i) 09/00293/APP Church Farm 4 Stratford Road : Erection of 10 dwellings with garages and new access road and alterations to existing access to Church Farm. The Council asked Mrs Hedges to amend the Council’s draft response, which had been tabled, in the light of the discussion with residents. The final version submitted is attached to these minutes.
(ii) Other New Applications: The Council noted the following:
a) 08/02889/AGN Land west of Stratford Road : Erection of barn for agricultural storage: AVDC had asked for details of the siting scale and external materials before reaching a decision.
b) 09/00022/APP 45 High Street : Single storey side extension, conversion of garage to habitable room and new oil tank. NPC had made no objection.
c) 09/00206/AOP Yew Tree Farm Whaddon Road : Erection of two storey farm dwelling and access. This was an outline planning application and NPC had made no objection. There were some concerns about access to the Whaddon Road, that should be overcome in the detailed application to follow.
d) 09/00296/APP Westbury 23B Winslow Road: Enclosure of porch and conversion of garage for residential use. NPC had made no objection.
(iii) Winslow Green: The Council noted that, following consultation, a letter objecting to the Winslow Green development had been sent.
Cllr Tomkins reported that Mrs Dewhurst had volunteered to serve as a Parish Councillor. On a proposal by Cllr Southby, seconded by Cllr Gillow, Nash Parish Council agreed unanimously to co-opt Mrs Dewhurst as a member of the Parish Council. Cllr Dewhurst then signed the declaration of office and joined the meeting.
The Minutes of the meeting on 15 January 2009 were approved as a correct record, subject to changing trough to through in the last sentence of Minute 68(iii), and signed by the Chairman.
The Minutes of the meeting on 9 February 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
(i) Planting of Trees on the path to the Pond (Minute 66(i)): The Council noted that the proposed meeting with residents who had concerns about this proposal had not been arranged because of pressure of other business. During the winter a number of dead trees had been removed from the hedge on the east side of the path because of safety concerns after a tree had fallen onto the path. Accordingly, the Council agreed to defer the matter to the next Annual Parish Meeting as it now seemed more appropriate to suggest the inclusion of new trees into the existing hedge.
(ii) Motocross activities at Barnhill Farm (Minute 79): The Council received copies of the plan that had been omitted from Mr Dales’ letter of 23 January and of the file note of Mrs Hedges’ discussion with Mr Dales. Mrs Hedges reported on her conversation with Sir Beville Stanier. The Council confirmed that the 4 x 4 events did not disturb Nash residents and so, for the moment, they would continue to monitor the number of motocross events.
(iii) Ladies Walk: The Council noted that the hedge adjacent to Ladies Walk had been cut but not the hedges on either side of Chapel Lane. Mrs Hedges would contact BCC again.
(i) Payments authorised/approved: The following payments were authorised/approved:
a) CPRE: Annual subscription £29.00
b) Eon: Electricity Supply, January 09 £29.12
c) Eon: Electricity Supply, February 09 £29.12
d) Playground Facilities: Deposit on Safety Surfaces repairs £485.07
e) Acme Pest Control £252.00
f) All Saints’ Church: donation in lieu of payment for work done
to trees at the Pond by John Hamilton £35.00
g) Bucks Association of Local Councils: Annual Subscription £59.84
(to be paid after 1 April 2009)
h) Mrs M S Hedges (Clerk’s Salary) £1,293.42
i) Inland Revenue Tax £323.36 less £100 allowance for filing online £223.36
j) Mrs M S Hedges (Clerk’s Expenses) £72.74
(ii) Financial position: Cllr Taylor reported that the funds in the Parish Council accounts, after taking account of cheques (a) to (e) above were:
Current Account £121.94
General Reserve £3,556.10
Recreation Ground Reserve £2,649.98
Total £6,328.02
Cllr Taylor reported that he had applied for the return of VAT amounting to £851.58 for the period 1.3.08 to 28.2.09. Cllr Taylor was thanked for his work during the year on the Council’s finances.
(iii) Requests for donations: None
(iv) Annual Accounts of village societies: Cllr Taylor reported that he had not yet received the latest audited/inspected accounts from the Youth Club.
(v) Risk Assessment Procedures: The Council received a copy of the current insurance schedule and reviewed it. The Council agreed that the new bench in the Recreation Ground should be added when the policy was renewed with effect from 1 June 2009.
Cllr Culverhouse reported that the Government’s response on the SE Plan had still not been published. The Council noted that an exhibition about the proposed development Salden Chase close to Newton Longville would be held on 6 and 7 May 2009.
Cllr Culverhouse reported that it was likely that the next expansion around Aylesbury would be on the eastern side. CPRE had recently issued a leaflet about the expansion of Aylesbury, expressing concern about the loss of green spaces.
(i) Safety Surfaces in the Play Area (Minute 71(i)): The Council noted that the contract had been placed and a deposit paid. No starting date for the work had been given. The Clerk would chase.
(ii) Moles in the Recreation Ground (Minute 71(iv)): The “mole man had paid six visits”.
(iii) Seats in the Recreation Ground: The Council agreed that it was inappropriate to add any moveable “shrine” to a seat in the Recreation Ground – where the seat was given in memory of some-one, the engraving on the seat should be sufficient. Mrs Hedges reported that the Youth Club was now in a position to donate a seat. The Council agreed to suggest that the seat be placed in the gap where a tree was taken down in July 2008.
(iv) Recreation Ground Gate (Minute 71(viii)): Cllr Watts promised to remove this lock
(v) Waste Bin in the Recreation Ground (Minute 71(ix)): Cllr Watts agreed to fit an elastic cord to hold the black plastic bag.
(vi) Pump on the Village Green (Minute 71(x)): Cllr Southby said that he expected that this work would be done in the next few months.
Mrs Hedges tabled a draft of the annual report that the Council would present at the Annual Parish Meeting. Some sections would be written after the end of the financial year. Councillors were asked to send any comments to Mrs Hedges.
(i) Local Area Forum: Cllr Culverhouse would represent the Council at the meeting on 26 March.
(ii) “On the road” (Minute 72(i)(a)): Mrs Hedges reported the apology that had been received.
(iii) Parish Gang Sheets/highway maintenance (Minute 72(i)(b)): Mrs Hedges reported that the updated sheet had been submitted and acknowledged but no feedback had been received.
(iv) Speeding Review (Minute 72(i)(c)): The Council suggested that Cllr Culverhouse should ask for an update on the speeding review at the meeting on 26 March.
(v) Energy from Waste Initiative: BCC had written to say that the decision about which of the two bidders should be accepted had been delayed.
(vi) Nash Village Sign: Cllr Southby reported that the village sign on the Beachampton Road needed repair.
(i) Local Council Planning Liaison Group: The Council received copies of the notes of meeting held on 21 January.
(ii) Core Strategy and Direction of Housing Growth at Aylesbury: The Council received copies of a letter about the consultation procedures for this.
(iii) AVDC Volunteer of the Year 2008: The Council decided not to nominate anyone on this occasion.
(iv) Play around the parishes: The Council had been invited to bid under this scheme. Cllr Gillow agreed to look at the invitation and consult with Mrs Firth if he thought it appropriate.
Mrs Hedges reported a request to survey the Pond as part of an amphibian and reptile survey of part of this area. The Council agreed to approve this request. It was noted that having ducks on the Pond was inimical to other wildlife.
The Council thanked Cllrs Gillow and Southby for erecting a platform in the middle of the Pond for the ducks.
The Council noted that the visit planned for this evening had been postponed because of the planning application. Vicky Wetherell was going on maternity leave. It was agreed that The Clerk and another Councillor if possible, would meet with her successor before the May meeting.
The Council agreed to approve the holding of the Fete on the Recreation Ground on Saturday 13 June. The Council noted that the event was covered by Nash Village Hall Insurance.
21 May; 16 July; 17 September; 19 November 2009;
21 January 2010; 18 March 2010
Annual Parish Meetings: 14 May 2009 and 13 May 2010.
Cllr Gillow gave apologies for 21 May, Cllr Southby for 16 July.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.20 p.m.