Minutes of the Meeting of the Helmdon Parish
Council held on
Wednesday, 25th September 2002
in the Reading Room, Helmdon at 7:30 p.m..
1. Present:
Councillors Ayres, Bearman, Brookhouse, Burns (in the Chair),
Earl, England, and Spendlove.
Apologies received from Cllrs Glassett and Gittens.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meetings held on 31st July
and 21st August 2002, having been circulated, were approved and
signed as a true record with the following amendments :
i) Cllr Earl pointed out that his name is spelt without a second
"e" and the minute was amended accordingly.
ii) Cllr Brookhouse asked that the vote concerning the Village
Action Plan should be amended to 4 votes for, 1 vote against and
4 abstentions. This was agreed to.
3. Matters arising
i) Cllr Spendlove gave her apologies for her non-attendance at
the special meeting on the 21st August as she had not seen the
notice calling the meeting.
ii) Hintons Close - the Clerk was instructed to write to SNC asking
them to formally record that there is nothing further they can
do to the new parking arrangements in Hintons Close to avoid any
accident occurring due to the fall in levels.
iii) The refuse bin in Wappenham Road is dismantled and Cllr Bearman
agreed to reinstall it.
4. Open Forum
Mr Brian Short raised the question of Councillors dealing with
various matters owing to any restrictions the new Code of Conduct
may impose on them. The restrictions were explained by the Chairman
and Councillor Brookhouse, as Chairman of the Planning Committee,
explained the position regarding planning matters.
5. Finance
i) The financial position at the 25th September 2002 was :
Current Account ………………………….
£ 4439.40
Savings Account ………………………….
£ 8180.68
Nottingham Bond ………………………….
£ 500.00
ii) The following accounts were approved for payment:
|
Cheque
No.
|
Item
|
Amount £
|
|
230
|
J Parker (Wholesale) Ltd |
90.77
|
|
231
|
A.B.B. |
99.69
|
|
232
|
JEMS Stationers |
7.12
|
|
233
|
C & E |
225.00
|
|
234
|
W Forgham (Salary) |
208.33
|
|
235
|
W Forgham (Expenses) |
59.29
|
6. Correspondence
Correspondence between 1.8.02 and 25.9.02
| Item |
Action
|
Info
|
| S Nhants Alzeimers Society news letter and annual
report |
|
X
|
| ACRE invite to village of the year Awards 26.
Sept. |
X
|
|
| SNC Year Book 2002/2003 |
|
X
|
| Clerks and Councils Direct Yearbook 2002/2003 |
|
X
|
| NALC Wheelclamping on private land |
|
X
|
| NALC DEFRA Organolin compounds - update |
|
X
|
| NALC changes to landfill tax credit scheme -
update |
|
X
|
| NALC Race Relations (amendment) Act 2000 |
|
X
|
| NALC Changes to licensing hours during all future
New Years Eves - update |
|
X
|
| NCC Quick reference for highway related services |
|
X
|
| NCC Highways - bus timetables |
|
X
|
| NALC update June / July |
|
X
|
| NALC sundry information |
|
X
|
| NALC annual general meeting 19th Oct |
|
X
|
| SNC Grants for repairs to private properties |
|
X
|
| SNC Street name plate - Station Road |
|
X
|
| NCC Atkins Hintons Close Parking |
|
X
|
| NCC Parish Highways representative scheme Northamptonshire |
X
|
|
| NCC Atkins Parish Highways information initiative |
|
X
|
| DEFRA Parish and Town Councils role in planning |
|
X
|
| Brackley Quad Center |
|
X
|
| SNC Supplementary Planning Guidance,
Telecommunication masts - draft for consultation |
|
X
|
| Wellingborough & SNhants Rural
Transport Partnership |
|
X
|
| NALC Village Viewpoint - Autumn 2002 |
|
X
|
| DEFRA Rural Services Standard 2002
|
|
X
|
| Highways Agency opening of the A43
to M40 dualling |
|
X
|
| N'hants Touring Arts Agency general
details and menu |
|
X
|
| NALC Update August 2002 |
|
X
|
| NALC meeting regarding Code of Conduct
10th Oct |
|
X
|
| NALC Parish Lengthsman pilot scheme |
|
X
|
| NCC S N'hants Area Committee 5th
Sept |
|
X
|
| NCC Highway reps meeting 26th Sept |
X
|
|
| S Nhants Volunteer Bureau information |
|
X
|
SNC Guide for Parish and Town Councils
re involvement
in determination of planning applications |
|
X
|
| SNC development Control Charter |
|
X
|
| Cherwell Vale Primary Care Trust
brochure |
|
X
|
| Insurance for Brackley Athletic FC |
|
X
|
| Countryside Agency Doorstep greens
initiative |
|
X
|
| Arts Touring Agency general information |
|
X
|
| CPRE to those who build in Northamptonshire
|
|
X
|
It was felt by the Council that a letter should be sent to the
Commission for Racial Equality registering the concern of the
Council that unnecessary expense was incurred in sending the details
of the Race Relations Code of Practice to the Chairman of the
Council, (rather than the Parish Clerk to whom the accompanying
letter was addressed), by registered courier rather than by using
the Royal Mail.
7. County Council Matters
i) Highway matters: The Clerk reported that he would be attending
a meeting on the 26th September on behalf of the Council at Northampton
in connection with the new Highway representatives scheme. It
was agreed the Clerk should attend.
ii) Village Signs: the Clerk reported that the missing Station
Road sign will be installed very shortly.
iii) A discussion took place on whether there has been any lessening
of the through traffic using Helmdon since the opening of the
A43 improvements and it was agreed that Councillors will monitor
the position.
8. SNC Matters
The Clerk reported that he has not yet sent out tender documents
in connection with the cleaning of the river bank by the allotments.
Members suggested that the Clerk contact those land owners who
may be involved to see if anything can be done jointly.
9. Reading Room Matters
i) The Clerk reported that all Councillors have been granted
dispensation to discuss and vote on Reading Room matters but pointed
out that it is still the responsibility of each individual Councillor
to declare any particular interests and have them recorded in
the minutes of the meeting.
It was also reported that the three Councillors who represent
the Council on the Reading Room Committee do not have a similar
dispensation when discussing
Management Committee matters and they must observe the requirements
of the Model Code of Conduct.
ii) After discussion Cllr Brookhouse proposed and Cllr Earl seconded
that in the interests of good government the Council should continue
their deliberations as they have always done unless they are challenged
in accordance with the Model Code of Conduct. The proposition
was put to the meeting and was carried by 5 votes in favour, and
2 abstentions. Cllr Spendlove asked that her abstention be recorded
in the minutes.
iii) The question of rent payable by the Parish Council was deferred
until the next meeting of the Finance Committee.
iv) Cllr England reported that it is hoped the alterations to
the Reading Room will be completed by the end of October and the
Post Office facilities will be reinstated then.
10. Planning
i) Cllr Brookhouse reported there were no minutes of Planning
Committees to be approved.
ii) The following planning Applications were discussed:
a) SN/01899C (SM010/C) …… Recycling Centre at Blackpits,
Redlands Farm, Helmdon - the Chairman reported that he has visited
the site and has discussed the various conditions the NCC will
impose and has been assured that they are all in the interests
of the community, in particular that vehicular traffic will be
routed via the A43 to and from Brackley and the site.
b) S/2002/0967/P .…. installation of oil tank at 38 Station
Road, Helmdon. Supported subject to suitable screening.
c) S/2002/1147/P .…. erection of a timber hay barn etc. at
Astwell Mill Farm. Supported
d) S/2002/0973/P….. provision of disabled access and toilet
facilities at the Reading Room, Helmdon. Approved.
e) S/2002/1162/P …. installation of extractor fan and partition
walls at Cross Cottage, Cross Lane. The Clerk reported that this
application has been withdrawn.
f) The question of the Calor gas tank at 40, Station Road was
raised and it was reported that although nothing can be done,
planning wise, it has been suggested that the tank should be adequately
screened to minimize the impression it presently gives to the
public.
11. Any Other Business
i) Village Action Plan: In his absence the Clerk reported that
Cllr Glassett has been informed that the result of the Village
Action Plan will be known in Mid October.
ii) ROSPA Report: the playground committee is arranging a meeting
to discuss the report.
iii) Jubilee Seat: The Clerk reported that as NCC own the land
in Church Street where it is proposed the Jubilee Seat will be
installed, permission has been given, subject to very stringent,
(and perhaps unnecessary) conditions in connection with warrantees
insurance and similar, and as a result it now appears unlikely
that the Council will be able to proceed. Mr Tony Humphrey, a
local builder, had previously
offered to carry out the installation completely free of charge
to the Council but in view of the stringent (and ridiculous requirements
of the NCC) he has found it necessary to withdraw his offer. It
was unanimously agreed that the Clerk should
try to obtain quotations from various Contractors for the installation
of the seat and village pump to ascertain what the costs will
be.
iv) Talkabout: It was agreed that Richard and Marie Wray, joint
editors, should be thanked for the excellent production of the
September Talkabout and it was agreed that the Finance Committee
should meet to discuss with Mr Wray the cost implications of future
editions of Talkabout.
v) Hedges in Station Road are overhanging in the area between
the shop and the bridge and the Clerk was asked to write to the
owners of the land and ask that their hedges are cut.
vi) Poppy Day Appeal: the Council have been asked if a new organiser
can be found in Helmdon. Councillor Earl volunteered to organize
the appeal In Helmdon - the Clerk will give him all the relevant
correspondence.
vii) Armistice Day Service: The Chairman of the Council will arrange
the laying of the wreath at the War Memorial on Sunday, 10th November.
viii) Councillors who wish to attend the memorial service in Brackley
on Sunday, 10th November at 3.00pm should notify the Clerk.
ix) The Clerk was instructed to write to the Rector and Rev Drage
to ascertain their proposals for the memorial service and it was
suggested that after the service at the War Memorial the assembled
company could walk up to the Chapel or Church depending upon where
the service will be held.
There was no further business and the meeting closed at 8:50 p.m.