NORTH CRAWLEY PARISH COUNCIL
Pat Nunn, 25 Park Close, Moggerhanger, Beds, MK44 3RY. Tel: 01767 641281/07899801719
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Tuesday 6th January 2009 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall
Present: Cllr R Hatton (Chair), Cllr A Higgins (Vice-Chair), Cllr D Hunt, Cllr T Stapleton, Cllr J Hobbs, Cllr F Flower, RFO Miss H McLinton, Mrs P Nunn (Clerk), 6 members of the public
Item 1 Apologies for Absence – MK Cllr Sam Potts (late 8.55pm)
Item 2 Declarations of Interests – None at this stage but Cllr Hobbs will declare an interest later in the meeting during planning
Item 3. The Minutes of the last meeting held on the 2nd December 2008 were approved and signed
Item 4. Cllr Higgins was confirmed as SCAN reporter for this month
Item 5 Planning:-
06/11/08 08/01856/FUL – side extension at 35 High Street, - permitted
14/10/08 08/01901/CLUP – rear conservatory at 11 Folly Lane, - permitted
05/01/09 08/082071/FUL – barn conversion at Moat Farm, - no adverse comments (Cllr
Hobbs declared on interest and left the meeting at this stage whilst discussion
took place).
Item 6. Cranfield Developments update
02/06/08 No update this month
Item 7. East of M1 proposal
02/07/08 Cllr Hatton reported that we were all in receipt of a statement from Mark Lancaster
MP that he read out to the House of Commons supporting our objections.
Item 8. Village Appraisal update
06/10/07 The next meeting is 15th January 2009 when a draft will be signed and actioned
Item 9 IMC/PC update
05/12/07 A positive meeting took place with all parties on 16th December to finalise the
position of the boundary and another meeting is planned for next week
Item 10. Consultations with other bodies
06/01/09
Cllr Hunt had attended the NAG Meeting and reported that the pavements are under review, the EVA has been completed, and we are awaiting an answer regarding a possible school crossing zone.
Item 11. Councillor’s Reports:
06/01/09 Traffic calming
The 40mph speed limit now in place on entry to the village from Cranfield does not extend to Broadmead and East End unfortunately and Cllr Hatton has received complaints regarding speeding in these areas, although she is in consultation with Trevor Dove to see what can be done to solve the problem. Kevin Paradine from MK Council is hopeful of arranging some VAS signs for the village but will first need to organise some percentiles or speed data at every entry to the village to qualify for these measures. The only drawback is that this could take 3-6 months to put into action.
Highways - Cllr Hatton has been liaising with Ian McGregor and reported that the various pot-holes in the village will be done, Nixie’s Walk barrier can be improved, and Church Walk has been cleared up since the report of wet leaves making it dangerously slippery. Now of course, we have the snow and wintry weather upon us but it was suggested that possibly an aggregate surface could be applied which would be less dangerous for the children and others.
Landscape Cllr Hobbs reported that some of our trees need attention, pruning and thinning. They are placed in East End and the spinney in Pound Lane and will be getting out of hand if not attended to soon, so it was agreed to get a quote for the necessary work to be done before March. Clerk to action.
Item 12 Correspondence file –
06/01/09 This was handed out to be circulated – not too much this month due to xmas/new year
Item 13 Parish Council Noticeboard – this was discussed and resolved to obtain 3 quotes for a new one and possibly apply for a grant to finance it. Clerk to action.
Item 14. Finance – the following invoices were agreed and paid.
06/01/09 P Nunn 101417 £ 470.65 Clerk’s salary
T Smith 101418 £ 153.40 RFO salary
H McLinton 101419 £86.00 RFO trainee salary
P Nunn 101420 £40.00 Clerk’s expenses
Churchyard Matters – the following cheques were incoming
F Greenaway Exclusive Right of Burial £120.00
Derek Arthur Fay “ £240.00
Mr & Mrs Mitchell “ £145.00
Item 15. Spinney Registrations
01/02/08 Cllrs Stapleton and Flower are to meet again on 13th January to further the project.
Item 16. Parish Partnership Grants/Play Area
01/03/08 Cllr Hatton is still dealing with this, we should know in March if we have passed the first stage and been successful so far.
MK YOUTHBANK is a new project we have on board for this year as reported in the December minutes. The 6 teenagers involved in the scheme (NCY team) have produced a very nice “flier” to be door-dropped explaining the project and hoping for support. They are very excited about it and are asking for suggestions, although they are ultimately responsible for the organising and intend to turn this excellent opportunity into reality. The Parish Council have pledged their support. There is a deadline of March 2009 in order to be allocated the funds if agreed so the lads have a lot to do in the next 3 months. Watch this space!
Item 17. The Ford update –
Cllr Hatton and MK Cllr Potts will meet with David Roche of MK Council to discuss non-payment of the proposed £1800.00 this week and will report back. The ditches have now been cleared out although further work is necessary.
Item 18. Councillor’s items
06/01/09 Cllr Flower is dealing with footpath No 20, at the back of the school which has not been
re-instated after ploughing, along with other footpaths, he is liaising with an officer from
MK Council in order to get these jobs done.
Cllr Stapleton had received complaints from the Toddler Group about icy conditions
outside the Institute. This was discussed at length to try to solve the problem but it
was agreed it was the responsibility of the IMC who would need to check their insurance
or not let out the hall during dangerous conditions for fear of reprisal. They agreed to
discuss this at the next IMC meeting at month end.
The problem of rubbish left outside the Institute was AGAIN discussed at length; it is
not only unsightly but encouraging rats to run around the area which is unacceptable to
residents living nearby. This would also be brought up at the IMC meeting with a view
to coming up with a solution to a long-standing problem.
Cllr Stapleton reported that there would be a skip at the side of his house shortly which
would hopefully cause minimal inconvenience.
Cllr Flower and MK Cllr Potts are working together with a list of styles located around
the village to get them cleared and so be accessible again for the public.
Cllr Hobbs reported a bad pothole in Bryans Crescent which is very dangerous for the
residents there. This will be dealt with together with the other repairs necessary.
Item 18. (cond)
It was agreed to discuss possible projects that need funding possibly through the
grant system at the September meeting as MK Council send us forms in December/
January and need them in by early February which is not enough time to obtain quotes
etc. Clerk to action.
Precept Meeting – there will be an extra meeting to discuss precept requirements on
Monday 19th January 2009 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall for all Cllrs to attend.
A resident requested when the potholes in Little Crawley would be repaired. This
will be chased and repaired with other commitments promised.
The Meeting closed at 9.50pm
Next PC Meeting confirmed as Tuesday 3rd February 2009 at 7.30pm