293. MINUTES OF MAY MEETING were taken as read, approved as a true record subject to inclusion of Cllr Cross as Sports and Social Club representative (minute (277) and signed.
Index
 

294. MATTERS ARISING
1. Village Appraisal: members noted that the recently published book had been extremely well received. Sales were continuing buoyant. Members agreed to convey congratulations and appreciation to Appraisal Committee and especially to P Webb, Committee Chairman.
2. Garden of Remember: Official dedication ceremony was held on 3rd June. Over 30 members of public attended but noted low attendance by Parish Councillors. Project well received by villagers. Cllr McKay left report of difficultly in disposing of the tree cuttings and cost may exceed £100.
3. Blackwell End garage forecourt: Action by SNC still outstanding.
4. Allotment vacancy: Plot 3 not taken but very overgrown. Members agreed to waive runt until October 2001.
5. DETR Code of Conduct: no action.
6. Replacement street light PL3: now completed satisfactorily.
7. Footpath damage outside 32 Blackwell End: Concern repair urgently required regardless of action re lorry. Clerk to pursue with NCC and seek assistance of C.Cllr Walker.
8. Clerk's Contract of Employment: outstanding.
9. Vandalism/Neighbourhood Watch:
(I) Bungalows, Sanders Lane: Knole Securities has promised repairs but will not demolish. Council felt unable to take matter further at present.
(ii) Cllr Mrs Dimmock report another disco is booked fro Village Hall and concern re possible disturbance afterwards. Clerk to convey concern to Village Hall Committee and inform P.C. Goddard.
(iii) Cllr Lucas report damaged head lanterns to 8 street lights in Mays Way/North Way/Brownswood Drive/Homestead Way area, all on one evening. ABB Services carrying out repairs. Also all column numbers have been scratched off galvanised poles. Clerk to obtain quote for renewal of numbers.

10. Youth Project: No information as Cllr Fitzgerald absent. Chairman then temporarily closed meeting to allow Neighbourhood Watch coordinator to speak[separate minute]. Meeting reconvened.
11. Environment challenge shield and Silver Band Cup: Clerk to contact school to claim shield and ask school to nominate winner(s) of cup for 2001. To decide winner of shield at July meeting.
12. Notice Board: PIGs have erected this on car park wall at Cock PH.

Chairman closed meeting temporarily to allow residents to speak.
Meeting reopened.
Index

295. PLANNING
(I) Applications:
S010301P Springfield Farm Livestock building for turkeys - SNC officer report to Committee received recommending approval pending report from Environmental Health and Highways. Cllr Parkin agreed to attend Committee on Parish Council's behalf and raise Parish Council concerns.
NCC response received re new pedestrian access created beside A5 junction requesting reinstatement. No action taken by owner.
S010651P 60 Meadow View Demolition of existing garage and erection of new garage and store. No objections - noted deep ditch beneath property may affect depth of footings.
S010648P Sports and Social Club: container for cellarage adjacent original building. Agreed acceptable provided temporary pending erection of a permanent structure.
S001254P Land r/o 47-53 High Street Amended elevations. Members agreed to raise concern about Plot 5 which should have hipped gables to match terraces on either side of development site, this being the only dwelling which will be visible from High Street.
(ii) Decision Notice: 1 Elmfield Close Conservatory approved.
(iii) T.P.O.1\1996 1 Church Lane: Beech tree found to be diseased by tree contractors; SNC Tree officer given agreement to fell as adjacent to highway. Council upheld Cllr Lucas's view that loss of last mature beech in village very regrettable but inevitable; concern that involvement of tree officer by SNC felt to be inadequate leading to unnecessary conflict of opinions prior to felling. Clerk to convey concern to SNC.
(iv) Planning Enforcement Officers: letter received stating present understaffing leading to convey concern to SNC.
(v) Milton Keynes and S. Midlands long term study: Clerk to enquire re involvement.
Index

296. PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Complaints received re service UC35 not following correct route through Blackwell End on several occasions. NCC investigating. Letter received from NCC apologising for lack of information and publicity regarding changes to services which took place in April.
Bus passes: no further problems raised regarding access to these.
Index

297. SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB
(I) Lease redraft: Cllr Cross reported that this had been rewritten by Committee and now awaiting Sports & Social Club Committee's comments. To Be considered at next full Council meeting.
(ii) Valuation: in hand. Clerk to follow up.
(iii) Filing bin: removed.
(iv) Refuse bin: replaced with larger size Sulo bin.
(v) Meadow View field: letter received from Friends of School requesting permission to use field for Fun Day on 8th July. Granted.
Index

298. PLAY AREAS
(I) Insurance inspection report: received. Many of items raised already picked up, other new ones added. Particular concerns raised regarding Matta surfacing and play bark surface. Report passed to Village Improvements Committee for recommendations.
(ii) Inspections: Letter received from insurers regard level of inspections required viz: weekly inspections (recorded) albeit by non-qualified personnel to check for faults/damage and clearing up of litter immediately plus annual qualified inspection (as per existing), reports of which to be sent to insurer.
(iii) Quotations on play equipment repair: outstanding. Possible cost of around £300 to remove concrete pipe. Cllr Dring to action.
(iv) Litter picking: litter backlog due to holiday of litter picker. May need to arrange cover in the future.
(v) Blackwell End mowing: missed due to jammed padlock. Cllr Graves resolved and play area cut. Noted an area of verge missed down Woods Lane.
(vi) Inspection reports:
Meadow View: Cllr Lucas reported no bin liner and removal post not replaced. Cllr Cross to ask Mr Bevan to do this. Old swing set has missing washers. Concern about developing splits in timber of new equipment; VIC to inspect (not on insurance report).
Village Hall: Cllr Dimmock reported field gate left open. Cllr Graves stated chain destroyed and will replace it. Garden area noted as looking well.
Mays Way: Cllr Wootton reported satisfactory.
Blackwell End: Cllr Mrs Lynds reported bin run not used recently; climbing frame satisfactory; no litter.
Index

299. FINANCE
(I) The following invoices were approved for payment:
Jewsons Gravel for Garden of Remembrance ChqNo. 799 £135.01
SNC Concessionary travel tokens ChqNo. 800 £1017.45
N J Blackwell Mowing (May) ChqNo. 801 £790.59
J Wesley Litter picking (May) ChqNo. 802 £ 50.00
H Westlake Clerk's pay (June) ChqNo. 803 £257.50
E McKay Tool Repair arising from cemetery work ChqNo. 803 £ 7.04
Noted that District Audit have reimbursed incorrect invoice for £348.08 for fees to 31.03.01

(ii) Audit of accounts for 1999/00: Certificate of approval from District Audit received and audit complete.
(iii) Finance Committee: Cllr Mrs McKay and Mrs Lynds reported:
- Insurance Policy checked and recommend write off value of typewriter, mower and strimmer. Cllr Parkin, seconded by Cllr Mrs Dimmock proposed typewriter, mower and strimmer be removed from insurance policy and asset register be amended accordingly. Approved.
- Office equipment: Noted that Clerk is using own computer which is becoming outdated. Considered leasing arrangements but recommend purchase computer and software package totalling £656.00 + VAT including three year service agreement. Recommend vire funds from play area budget temporarily to allow this to proceed in current financial year. Recommend arrangement be negotiated with other two Parish Councils by whom Clerk is employed. After discussion, Cllr Mrs Dimmock, seconded by Cllr Whittaker, proposed above recommendations be accepted. Agreed.
(iv) Budget Report: Members received summary to 31/5/01
(v) Potterspury Playgroup: letters received requesting financial assistance with removal and setting up of Playgroup annex to Primary School. Chairman closed meeting to allow Playgroup representatives to add further information. Meeting reconvened.
Members accepted that move is beneficial to both school and playgroup and that funding would be for set up costs and could be treated as a loan until autumn term. Also noted that £400 set aside to underwrite Village Appraisal project will be repaid. Cllr Lucas proposed, Cllr Parkin seconded a donation to Playgroup of £400 with a request for a progress report in due course. Agreed. An amendment raised by Cllr Graves referring to a right to claw back funds from assets if Playgroup should fail was not supported.
Index

300. DOG REFUSE BINS
Letter received from Yardley Gobion Parish Council asking if members were interested in sharing cost of contract to empty dog waste bins. Declined on bases dog waste now be treated as litter.
Index

301. POCKET PARKS
Consultation document received from NCC. Cllr Lucas to action.
Index

302. HIGHWAYS
(I) Church End: still outstanding. Clerk to refer C. Cllr Walker.
(ii) Poundfield Road/A5 Junction: still temporary fix.
(iii) Manhole cover, A5: worse than before and considered very dangerous. Refer to Thorburn Colquhoun.
(iv) Brownswood Drive: deteriorating. Follow up.
(v) Woods Lane: No through road sign approved by NCC and will go ahead.
(vi) Blackwell End: Path to Reindeer - residents request for indicating house numbers. To ask SNC for sign.
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303. NEW CORRESPONDENCE
TADD AGM 20th June
SNC Contaminated Land Strategy; Arts News
A43 Towcester - M40 dualling Newsletter
NCC Mobile Library - changes to stops
NALC Local Council Review; Update May 2001
Environment Agency: Invitation to Flood Warning meeting
WRVS Request for financial support
Victim Support: Annual Report and request for funding.
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304. DATE AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING
Wednesday 11th July 2001 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

Chairman closed meeting at 10.21pm
Chairman

Minute of Public Debate
1. Mr Coppin, Neighbourhood Watch:
- 2 names passed to Police in connection with street light
- Litter bins targeted - same names
- White lining lorry still posing a problem
- Warning re travellers especially early evening
2. Mr Henson: Fence at Cock PH belongs to him and concerned that permission to erect notice board not made to him. Happy for board to stay but asked PC to inform management of Cock. Also requested re-erection of litter bin. Street light cover off pole A5.
Index