PARISH OF STOKENCHURCH
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 20th July 2011 at Longburrow Hall
Attendees: Mr Penny (Chairman), Mrs Cripps, Mr Conran , Mr Davis, Mr Elliott, Mr Jones,
Mr Parkinson, Mr Randall, Mr Saunders, Mr Thomas, Cty. Cllr. Frank Downes, Mr Capell (Clerk) and 4 members of the public.
1. Apologies were received from Mrs Baker.
2. Declarations of Interest. None.
3. Co-option to fill vacancy. The vacancy created by the resignation of Mr Warden had been reported to the District Council, which had undertaken the statutory process and advised that the Parish Council was permitted to fill the vacancy by co-option. Mr Robin Thomas had expressed an interest in the position and it was proposed by Mr Conran, seconded by Mr Davis and agreed unanimously that he be co-opted to the Parish Council.
4. Minutes. It was proposed by Mr Conran, seconded by Mr Jones and agreed by majority decision that the Minutes of the meeting held on 6th July 2011 be approved. Mr Parkinson, who was on holiday and Mr Saunders, who had not received the Minutes, abstained.
5. Matters Arising. Mr Elliott informed Members that ‘pony & trap’ events in the village were not ‘trotting races’ but dressage-type tests as practiced by the Duke of Edinburgh.
Mr & Mrs Spicer were present at the meeting and addressed Members on their request to install a bench in the Parish Cemetery in memory of their late father. The Council approved the request provided that it was securely fixed, but noted that it may need to be relocated when the cemetery extension is brought into use.
6. Reports & Actions. The Chairman, Mr Randall and Mr Harding had attended a briefing/display of various machines and equipment used in parish and agricultural projects; unfortunately a machine to grade and resurface roads and tracks was not on view, but it was hoped to witness a demonstration when it is next in the local area.
7. Other Parish Matters. Marlow Road cemetery and unsightly rubbish
8. Planning. Two application s were considered; in the case of 06585 – Studley Arms, Members had no objection but re-iterated their concern about a lack of a footpath, especially for children attending the nearby school. In the case of 06457 (9 Mill Road, Stokenchurch), it was proposed by Mr Elliott, seconded by Mr Conran and agreed by majority decision, that no objection be raised. Mr Parkinson abstained.
9. Finance. (i) Bills Payable and Accounts for June 2011. It was proposed by Mr Elliott, seconded by Mr Conran and agreed unanimously, that the Bills Payable (in the sum of £1499.68) and Accounts for June be approved. (ii) Report of the Finance & Risk Assessment Committee. The report was received and
Mr Penny highlighted the Committee’s discussions. The following recommendations were ratified:-
· The purchase of shelving at a cost of £301 for the outside store
· To accept the quotation from Mr R. Thompson in the sum of £159 for the repair of the gate at the Allotments (Mr Elliott abstained).
· To accept the offer from Cllr Davis to install fencing and a gate at the Marlow Road entrance to the former Burial Ground, in the interests of children’s safety, at the cost of materials (£246). Mr Davis, Mr Penny and Mr Harding will undertake the installation work. Proposed: Mr Randall, seconded by Mr Conran. Mr Elliott abstained and Mr Parkinson voted against the decision.
· Promotion of Longburrow Hall via half page advertisements in “Village View” and local notices was deferred until redecoration and improvements had taken place
· To accept the quotation from Rentokil Initial for a ‘deep clean’ of the oven and kitchen area in the sum of £360
· To accept a quotation from Powercom for an electrical socket in the store at a cost of £80
· To defer a decision on lighting and Fire Exit signage until further information is available
· To defer a decision on a new doorbell until further information is available.
· Mr Penny updated Members on his discussions concerning the possible licensing of the premises for marriage and other ceremonies.
10. Correspondence.
· An invitation was received from WDALC to a Councillors’ Briefing: Mr Penny and Mr Thomas to attend
· The results of the Best Kept Village were announced
· The Conservation Officer at WDC had written helpfully about the possibility of listed building status for the Four Horseshoes.
· An application from Smith’s Amusements for a Fun Fair on the Common during week commencing 25th July was approved
· Miss Isla St Clair, the well-known entertainer will appear at Stokenchurch on 28th October as part of the Theatre in the Villages scheme.
· Mr Jones agreed to represent the Parish Council at a meeting of the Patients Participation group at the Medical Centre on 4th August
11. Scouts & Guides Headquarters. Nothing to report
12. MUGA. Nothing to report
13. Travellers’ sites. Nothing to report
14. Vantage Land. Nothing to report
15. Stokenchurch Library. Mr David Cripps reported that he had attended a meeting at Missenden Abbey with officers from the County Library Service and representatives of libraries threatened with closure. Plans to retain community libraries must be submitted for approval by the County Council by next December and it was expected that ‘saved’ libraries would be operational within 12 months. Some 13 libraries in the County were affected, 10 of which were facing funding problems. Statistics provided by County showed that many Stokenchurch residents used the High Wycombe Central Library. Following the local Stokenchurch meeting on 12th July, Mr Cripps had met with Caroline Bradfield and Louise Newell to discuss a questionnaire to be sent to local residents via “Village View” It was also intended to undertake doorstep surveys and Mrs Bradfield had offered to attend meetings of local village organizations to ascertain the level of support for retaining the library. Without such support, the Stokenchurch Library will close and the village will be left with a visiting mobile library and books ordered online, or residents could make the journey elsewhere.
16. Slade Road School site. Cty Cllr Frank Downes reported that the consultation programme had ended and that approval to develop the site in accordance with the outline plan was expected. He suggested that the Parish Council should reinforce its expectation concerning the play area and recreational facilities by reminding the County & District Councils of the commitment to hand over the play area of the former school to the Parish, and to seek some developer funding via Section 106, especially in view of the shortfall in play facilities for the 8-13 age group on the eastern side of Stokenchurch.
17. Report of the Cemetery Committee. Mr Randall outlined the discussions of the Committee and the following actions were agreed:-
· Clerk to obtain advice re suitable hedging and then obtain quotations
· Agreed that parishioners may donate trees in memory of their relatives, to be planted with the Council’s consent along the boundary, at similar intervals to those in the main cemetery.
· Policy on benches to achieve appropriate styles and maintenance etc to be agreed.
· Pruning of hedge along the right-hand side of the extension to be carried out
· Mr Armstrong to provide a plan of the layout, prior to the clerk contacting the utilities for precise location of any underground services.
· Half of the new extension to be consecrated in the first instance
· Quotations to be obtained for laying beams, either singly as required, or for the whole cemetery.
18. Mr Penny reported on further clearance work at the Marlow Road cemetery by the Freemasons; he and the Parish Warden had burnt off a large pile of cleared undergrowth.
Three areas of un-cleared rubbish were reported – at the rear of the Four Horseshoes, by the cricket pavilion and behind the village store. If the area behind the village store was cleared, it may be possible to accept deliveries at the rear of the shop and avoid parking problems on the A40.
It is hoped that the Wednesday Baby Clinic session will move to the small hall so that the Day Centre, which is experiencing increased numbers can use the large hall.
The dates for the Longburrow and Finance Committees have yet to be finalized.
There being no further business the meeting ended at 9.15pm