Bradwell Parish Council Minutes, 2016/17 Year. Page 18

Minutes of the Business Meeting of Bradwell Parish Council,

Held on Monday 18th July 2016 at 7:30 pm at

Bradwell Memorial Hall, Bradwell Village, Milton Keynes

Members present:

Councillor James Alexander (Chairman)

Councillor Marie Bradburn

Councillor Robin Bradburn

Councillor Rose Davy

Councillor David Evans

Councillor Rex Exon

Councillor Leon Gilpin

Councillor Jenny Jones

Also attended: Mr Danny Moore of Bradwell Cricket Club, Harold Atkins, parish clerk/RFO and June Bryant, Administrator.

2016/17

1  Apologies for absence. None required

2  Disclosures of Interest. None disclosed.

..

3  Minutes

The minutes of the business meeting held on 27th June 2016 were approved by all members present and signed by the chairman as a true record.

RESOLVED: That the Council approves the minutes of the annual meeting held on 27th June 2016.

4  Police & Crime Report.

No police officer or PCSO was present

5  Public Open Forum.

Mr Danny Moore, representing Bradwell Sports & Social Club, requested permission for the Club to use the Parish Council’s Viking ride-on mower which is garaged in the container on St Lawrence Allotments. Only one named driver, Mr Graham Downard, would drive it and be responsible for it and replacing it in the container after use. The reason for this is that the ride-on mower cuts the football field better, especially at the start of the football season when grass is still growing and should not be cut too short. It also has a grass box to collect the trimmings, which the gang mowers do not. The clerk had consulted Peter Stamp, at present the only user of the ride-on mower, who agreed with this proposal as the machine was under-used. Members agreed to Graham Downard having use of the tractor, and having keys both to the mower (which would have to be cut) and the container. Mr Bernard Dolan had moved and would no longer be registered as a driver of the Kubota tractor.

6  Chairman’s Announcements

a)  A post Beacon Party meeting had been held. It was agreed to hold next year’s Beacon Party in early July 2017. A meeting of the organising committee would be held next March.

Brian King has stated that he will no longer be able to run the barbecue.

b)  Former Bradwell resident, mayor and MP Brian White had died. A memorial service would be held at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone on 20th July.

c)  The chairman is sorting out the new website with June Bryant. He has been awarded two days’ time off by his employer, the Open University, to do this. It was suggested that a map should show not only dog waste bin locations but charging points and bicycle racks, for example, as well.

7  Liaison Between the Parish Council and Bradwell Sports & Social Club

7.1. Bradwell Sports & Social Club had requested a meeting with the Parish to discuss the financing of the extension of the club pavilion. Cllr Alexander had recommended a separate meeting between representatives of the Club and the Council at the Club pavilion, to which the Club had agreed.

7.2. Several dates and times were suggested, but after the meeting, it was agreed that this meeting should be held at Bradwell Sports & Social Club at 7:00pm on Friday 5th August. The Parish Council would be represented by councillors James Alexander, Leon Gilpin, Robin Bradburn, Rosie Davy, David Evans (who is a member of the Club), and the clerk.

7.3. Last year, the Council resolved to finance three replacement double glazed windows at the Club pavilion and agreed a contract with WinDor to make and fit them for £3,541 including VAT. A deposit of £541 was paid in January with the windows agreed to be fitted by 31 March. On surveying the property, WinDor demanded a further £825 for cladding required, but did not answer any emails requesting further information and a site visit. When the clerk threatened to cancel the order WinDor returned the £541 deposit and declared the order to be cancelled. This matter will also be discussed at the meeting on 5th August.

7.4. The Sports & Social Club also requested a grant of £625 towards a survey into the drainage of the sports pitches by the Institute of Groundsmanship. Members requested that this matter also be brought up at the meeting on 5th August as, depending on what the survey uncovered, considerable additional expense could be involved.

8  The Suffolk Punch Site

8.1. Parking Problems

Cllrs Marie and Robin Bradburn had a meeting with Fr James Cassidy and Sgt Gary Molloy and PCSO Tom Willingham. While the parking situation was not as bad as it was several months ago, bollards are still needed, and an application had been made to the police to let Fr James have a supply of police bollards which could be locked away for use on Sundays. No response had yet been received from the police.

8.2. Ownership of the Suffolk Punch Site

The Suffolk Punch was the first asset to be listed as an Asset of Community Value in Milton Keynes. As the Council had not received any revocation of this, it must still be in place. Cllr Robin Bradburn had been advised that the Suffolk Punch site had been sold to a company called “Riverside Fulham Ltd.” MK Council’s solicitor had requested Freeths, solicitors for the Parks Trust, to clarify the position, but no reply had been received to date. MK Council had not been notified of any change of ownership of the site.

8.3. Planning Application

Consideration of Planning application reference 16/01475/FUL proposal for “demolition of existing public house and erection of 27 dwellings, 248.5m2 two storey D1 use building for a nursery and associated parking to east of St Augustine’s Church. Site: The Suffolk Punch, Langcliffe Drive, Heelands Milton Keynes.”

Members considered this application. Whether the proposed nursery can be designated a “community asset” will have to be tested by Development Control. Cllr R Bradburn is trying to speak to the developers about including a better community asset. A landscape architect has raised issues about the number of dwellings. Should the Parish Council’s designation of the Suffolk Punch as a community asset expire, a residents’ group can apply for a new designation. It was proposed by Cllr Rose Davy and seconded by Cllr Leon Gilpin that the Council oppose the planning application on the following grounds:

a)  That the proposed replacement of the community asset (a nursery) is not appropriate under the Localism Act. This would not be “like for like.”

b)  The number of dwellings makes the site over-developed.

c)  No affordable homes are included.

d)  The three storey blocks of flats are out of character with the vicinity.

This proposal was passed unanimously.

RESOLVED: That the Council object to planning application ref. 16/01475/FUL on the grounds listed above.

9  Parking on Bradwell Common

Following meetings on the subject of parking on the north side of Bradwell Common, Sara Bailey of Milton Keynes Council proposed a further consultation for part of the north western part of the estate. The residents of the north side of Bradwell Common Boulevard, Brill Place and Dorney Place had voted by 70%+ to want residents’ parking permits. If such permits were issued, Ms Bailey believed the parking problem would probably migrate to adjoining roads, Forrabury Avenue, Leasowe Place, Maidenhead Avenue and Walkhampton Avenue, and Ms Bailey recommended re-balloting those roads to determine if they would change their vote if the parking permit scheme were extended to the neighbouring roads. Parish councillors had no firm opinions on this proposal and asked to be kept informed of developments.

10  Report from the Clerk

a)  A letter of thanks had been received from the Food Bank for the £1,000 grant.

b)  Zurich Municipal insurers had again rejected the claim made by the residents of 44 Abbey Road, Bradwell for damage to properties allegedly caused by the roots of trees that were on Parish Council controlled land, but which were felled in 2013.

c)  MK Safety Centre, Kiln Far, are holding an Open Day on Sunday 24th July.

d)  Bucks County Show will be held on Thursday 1st September at Weedon Park on the A413 three miles north of Aylesbury.

e)  The Parks Trust MK invited members to the opening of the Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve at Old Wolverton Road on Thursday 25th August.

f)  Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe Parish Council had moved to new larger offices at 1 Wimbourne Crescent, Westcroft.

g)  An email had been received from MK Council detailing their approach to Landscape Sensitivity to Wind Turbine and Solar Photovoltaic developments.

h)  The cost of tractor flailing the hedge at the rear of 17-32 Lundholme, Heelands (on parish property beside Heelands West Allotments) is £325.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

11  Account signatories

11.1. Cheque Signatories

Signatory forms were completed and signed by two existing cheque signatories. The new signatories, Cllrs Leon Gilpin and David Evans were given forms to complete and return.

11.2. National Savings Investment Account Signatories

It was agreed that Cllrs Hames Alexander and Rex Exon and Harold Atkins would be signatories to the National Savings account. Any two would be required for withdrawals.

12  Payment of Accounts

Please see the list on page 22 which was approved by all members present.

ENVIRONMENTAL & COMMUNIT MATTERS

13  PLANNING

13.1. New planning application.

None reported

13.2. Applications Granted

Ref. 16/01101/FUL – Demolition of porch and store and erection of a single storey front extension.

14  Environmental and Community Matters

a)  Two more locations requiring dog waste bins have been identified as valid. They are by the redway at the end of Hadley Place, Bradwell Common, and on the redway on the north side of Bradwell Abbey. Before new bins are ordered, the clerk was requested to determine if there are any underused dog waste bins elsewhere that could be transferred the new locations.

b)  The kebab van on Bradwell Common has obtained permission to move from Wandsworth Place to the layby at the junction of Bradwell Common Boulevard and Stokenchurch Place.

c)  A report from the Parishes Forum advised that MK Council’s emptying of litter bins and street cleansing was being reduced in frequency to save money.

d)  Cllr Rex Exon reported on an Emergency Planning seminar organised by Campbell Park Parish Council. The clerk advised that when Bradwell PC took over running Heelands Meeting Place in 2010 they agreed to keep it registered as an Emergency Rest Centre in case of any local disaster temporarily displacing people.

e)  Cllr Rose Davy advised that WREN had approached her for more information on Bradwell Common Local Park play area. This was to check costings and advise a postcode. A quotation for the work had also been received.

f)  Cllr Rose Davy had obtained a copy of the Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe PC newsletter which was passed to June Bryant.

g)  In response to a query, the clerk advised that that the Green Gym was due to start work to cut back overgrowing foliage at the Community Quite Area on 21st July. It is likely to take more than one morning’s work.

.

Signed …………………………………………….. Chairman

Date ……………...……………………………………. 2016.

Appendix

Signed ………………………………..chairman

Date ……………………………………….2016

18