Annual Parish Meeting

Minutes of the Annual Nash Parish Meeting on Thursday 8 May 2008 at 8pm.

Present: Chris Tomkins (Chairman), Marjorie Bell, Geoffrey Culverhouse, Henry Eggleston, David Gillow, Margaret Hedges, Eileen Horton, Nick Kamm, John King, Ron Unwin, Edwin Watts.

Apologies: John Hamilton, Miles Hedges, Margaret Morgan, Thelma Shadbolt, Sir John Southby, Bt, Vicky Southby, Alan Taylor

1          Clerk:  Mrs Hedges was appointed Clerk to the meeting.

2          Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 10 May 2007

The Minutes were approved by the meeting and signed by the Chairman.

3          Matters arising from the above Minutes

(i)      Junction of Little Horwood Road and Winslow Road (Minute 3(i)):  Cllr Gillow reported that BCC had now installed reflective signs at this junction, which was a significant improvement.

(ii)    Hedge beside Lacemakers’ Cottage: Mr Unwin asked what the maintenance programme was for this hedge.  Mrs Hedges said that it was the responsibility of BCC and she did not know what they planned.  However, she would contact them whenever the hedge had grown so much that it needed cutting.

4          Annual Report of the Parish Council for 2007/08: This report was tabled at the meeting and accepted by the meeting.

5          The Planting of Trees by the Pond

Mrs Hedges explained that John Hamilton, as Nash’s Tree Warden, had examined the trees on public land (to identify any problems) and had suggested that if any additional trees were to be planted, a line of trees on the path to the Pond could enhance that area of the village.  BCC had not objected to the proposal in principle but would like more details before approving such planting on their land.  Some residents supported the proposal on aesthetic grounds but others raised objections on safety grounds.  The specific points raised were:

·        This was the main path between the south end of Nash and the rest of the village.  In particular children used it to walk to and from the school bus.  The planting of trees would mean that the path was enclosed/overhung. This would make the path dark and a safety hazard for children, particularly in the winter when they were walking home after sunset.

·        There were underground services (e.g. telephones) and any planting would have to ensure that the tree routes avoided them.

Some alternative suggestions were made about isolated plantings or planting trees as part of the hedge.  Councillors agreed to consider the matter further in the light of the points made during the discussion.

6          Matters raised by Village Organisations

(i)      Nash Village Hall Committee: Mr Kamm reported that the Committee was hopeful of successful outcomes to both its application for planning permission and its application to the WREN fund for financial support.  Most of the work would be done in August with the balance being completed at Xmas.  The Committee was now seeking quotes from contractors.

(ii)    Nash Allotments: All twelve allotments were let and there was no waiting list.

7          Matters raised by Local Government Electors on the current Electoral Roll

(i)      Grass Cutting: Rev King raised the concern that the village green was being cut both by Nash Parish Council’s contractors and by AVDC’s contractors.  This was a waste of public money. 

(ii)    Conservation Area: Mr Unwin asked about the Nash Conservation Area.  Mrs Hedges said that AVDC had approved the booklet and she had been supplied with a copy as Clerk to the Parish Council.  Some residents said that, at the exhibition on the plan in February 2007, they had been told that they would be sent a free copy if they signed the relevant list.  Nobody had received such a complimentary copy.  Mrs Hedges was asked to investigate.

Rev King said that Thornborough had a map of the village with all the footpaths marked on a Notice Board outside the Village Hall and suggested that Nash do something similar.  It was also suggested that a map of the conservation area could be included in the next Newsletter.

The Meeting closed at 8.35 p.m.