Bradwell Parish Council Minutes, 2014/15 Year. Page 1

Minutes of the Business Meeting of Bradwell Parish Council held on Monday 8th September 2014 at 7:30 p m at the Summerfield School, Downley Avenue, Bradwell Common, Milton Keynes

Members present: Councillor Brian King (Chairman) Councillor James Alexander Councillor Marie Bradburn Councillor Rex Exon Councillor Leon Gilpin Councillor Paul Lewin Councillor John Newbury (temporarily left the meeting at 8:10 and returned at 8:32)

Also attended: Harold Atkins, parish clerk/RFO, June Bryant, administrative assistant. Presenters of Grant Applications (item 5): Clive Carter and Mike Johnson.

1 Apologies for absence Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Councillors Caroline Godfrey and Marc Hairsine.

2 2.1. Disclosures of Interest. None disclosed at this point. 2.2. Chairman’s Announcements Cllr Brian King attended his first meeting following his accident. He thanked those who had sent goodwill messages and cards. His ankle has been rebuilt and his leg has mended, but he has serious trauma to the pelvic girdle and arthritis which results in serious difficulty with mobility. Brian hopes to remain as chairman until next May when he intends to retire.

3 Minutes The minutes of the meeting held on 28th July were approved by all members. They were signed by the chairman as a true record. RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28th July 2014, as amended.

4 Public Open Forum. No members of the public were present other than for presentations for grant application under item 5.

5 Presentations for applications for Parish Council grants. 5.1. Bradwell Sports & Social Club The presentation was given by club committee member Clive Carter. Although the Club had received planning permission for an extension, and are hopeful of obtaining 70% grant funding from the Football Stadium Improvement Fund towards its estimated £60,000 cost, there are still legal procedures, and building control plans involving fees towards which the club requested a grant of £800. Clive Carter answered several questions about club finances and parking. 5.2. Secklow Sounds (CIC) The presentation was given by Mike Johnson. Secklow Sounds is a community radio station based at Inter-Action, Peartree Bridge, which is applying for a five year full-time FM licence. Currently available online and run by volunteers, it claims 19,000 – 20,000 listeners, and is a

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platform for local people and for students on work experience and emerging musicians. It supports local residents and can broadcast interviews and even a parish council meeting! The grant requested of £480.00 represents their annual subsidised rent from Inter-Action. Other costs include £600 for the five year FM licence and £5,000 per year for a music licence.

6 Community Asset Transfer (CAT) – Heelands Meeting Place Bradwell Parish Council is the only applicant for the Community Asset Transfer of Heelands Meeting Place. The Stage One meeting with councillors and officers will be held at the Civic Officers on 19th September. The clerk and Councillors Caroline Godfrey and Leon Gilpin will represent this Council.

7 Report of the Visioning Event held on 6th September and future Visioning Meetings. The informal Visioning Event, with Sheila Thornton as facilitator, was held on 6th September. Six parish councillors attended the event, which was positive. Work on the parish plan is proceeding and Cllr Paul Lewin will write notes about it, and Sheila Thornton will present her recommendations. Councillors will meet on every Thursday before Council meetings, and a future Saturday morning meeting will include the staff.

8 Community Champions June Bryant gave details of the Community Champions initiative by Serco. It is recruiting volunteers to report on work required to be done in the community. The chairman pointed out that the Parish Council used to carry out this function called “Estate Inspections,” subsequently run by the NAG as “Environmental Visual Audits.” He recommended that members’ inspection of estates form part of the visioning process. Cllrs Paul Lewin and Marie Bradburn volunteered as Community Champions. Cllr Rex Exon would personally continue regularly to report matters requiring attention.

9 Parish Council Allotments The chairman declared a personal interest as an allotment tenant and abstained from voting on this item. 9.1. Allotment Rents for 2014/15. After much discussion, it was agreed to maintain the 2013/14 allotment rents of: St Lawrence Site £25 per plot, the smaller plots at Heelands West and Fosters Lane £20.00, all with a 20% reduction for unwaged tenants. The allotment deposit is £25.00 per plot, returnable if the plot is surrendered in at least as good a condition as when it was taken on, and, where applicable, the gate key is returned. 9.2. Fosters Lane Allotments: Revised Rules The clerk submitted a 6 page publication which listed a marked plan of Fosters Lane allotment site as it now is, and the revised tenancy rules. Other than identifying the new plots and facilities, the new rules would enable tenants to use hand held hoses and prohibited the lighting of fires under any circumstances. Some members were concerned about the possible increased use of water, but it was pointed out that, due to the distance from the taps, many existing tenants are using hoses unofficially and that the use of hand held hoses does not necessarily increase the use the use of water compared with filling buckets and cans. The new Fosters Lane Allotment Tenancy Rules were approved by five votes in favour with two abstentions (6 members present at this point). 9.3. Heelands West Allotments The chairman requested that the change to granting permission to use hand-held hoses be extended to tenants of Heelands West Allotments, and this was agreed. 9.4. Sub-division of Allotment Plots. Cllr Paul Lewin requested that where allotment tenants could not manage to cultivate a full size plot it could be sub-divided into two plots. This was agreed by all members present,

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10 10.1. Report on work carried out during the summer break a) June Bryant presented a report on Heelands Meeting Place. Interior redecorating had taken place during the playgroup summer holidays with the contractor also carrying out many small outstanding jobs. Some of the bookings had to be suspended for two weeks during the redecoration, but otherwise carried on as normal through the summer. b) Fosters Lane Allotments are now nearly complete except for marking out and the clearance of plots near the hedge on the railway side. c) The driveway from Abbey Road to St Lawrence Allotments has been completed. There had been some criticism of the surface and the chairman, who negotiated with the contractor, would look into this. d) The number of young trees planted in and around Abbey Field would more than compensate for those lost by felling in Abbey Road and lost in February’s storms. Members agreed that the deep water pond could be cleaned out and revitalised. The area between the ponds needed work and the chairman would consult with the contractor. If much work was required it would have to be put out to a separate tender. 10.2. Volunteer Environmental Warden Members agreed that when the chairman leaves in May 2015 he will be appointed as “Environmental Warden” on a voluntary basis, which will include special responsibility for the Abbey Field Wildlife Conservation Area.

11 To arrange a meeting of the Personnel Working Party The members of the Personnel Working Party would arrange a meeting themselves to consider the 2014/15 remuneration for the clerk and administrative assistant. It was agreed that this matter would be referred back to the Council for approval.

FINANCE

12 To consider the grant applications, the presentations of which was heard in item 5. 12.1. Bradwell Sports & Social Club The chairman proposed that the Council awards the requested grant of £800.00. This was seconded by Cllr Paul Lewin and agreed by all members present. RESOLVED: To award a grant of £800.00 to Bradwell Sports & Social Club under s137 of the Local Government Act, 1972. 12.2. Secklow Sounds CIC After discussion, Cllr Marie Bradburn proposed that the requested grant of £480.00 be awarded to cover one year’s rent. This was seconded by the chairman. Six members voted in favour with one abstention. RESOLVED: To award a grant of £480.00 to Secklow Sounds under section 137 of the Local Government Act, 1972.

13 To approve the Accounts for the period 1st April to 31st July 2014 The clerk/RFO had circulated the four bank reconciliations for the ends of April, May, June and July 2014 together with the Receipts and Payments Accounts for that period. The chairman proposed that the accounts be accepted. This was seconded by Cllr James Alexander and agreed by al members present. RESOLVED: To accept the accounts for the period 1st April to 31st July 2014.

14 Payment of Accounts Please see the List of Accounts on page 38.

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ENVIRONMENTAL & COMMUNITY MATTERS

15 Planning Applications 15.1. New Planning Applications The following planning application came through during the summer break and the consultation period had expired. It was circulated by email and Milton Keynes Council was advised of concerns raised by three members: Ref: 14/01603/FUL – Change of use from retail (use class A1) to hot food take-away (use class A5) at 5 Swinden Court, Heelands (currently Homestore). 15.2. Planning Application Permitted None received.

16 Environmental & Community Matters. a) Residents of Brill Place had reported to MK councillor Paul Williams the matter of the regularly overflowing litter bin at the end of Brill Place, Bradwell Common, near Aldi. Cllr Marie Bradburn felt that the additional collection arranged for Mondays was not being carried out, and this will be checked out as the Council is being charged for this extra collection. b) The newsletter currently being delivered includes article about parking in Bradwell Common, and this matter will be raised again at the next meeting. c) There was a complaint that MK Play Association did not clear up properly after the last play session at Summerfield School. This will be reported to the Play Association. d) The chairman announced that he has been able to obtain the burgers for the 27 September Memorial Hall barbeque at last year’s process.

The business having been completed the chairman closed the meeting at 9:25pm.

Signed: ….….……………………….……chairman

Date ………………………..………..2014

List of Accounts presented follows on the next sheet 4 Bradwell Parish Council Minutes, 2014/15 Year. Page 5

List of Accounts presented for payment on 08.09.2014 Bradwell Parish Council Account Type of payment Value £ To whom paid Reason for payment Cheque 003204 150.00 Peter Stamp Groundsman's remuneration Cheque 003205 55.08 Peter Baldwin Asst. groundsman's remuneration Cheque 003206 125.57 Churches Fire Security Ltd. Annual fire safety check, office and Cheque 003207 270.00 Milton Keynes Council Refitting doors at Heelands MP Cheque 003208 496.80 A H Contracts Emptying dog & litter bins in August Cheque 003209 3,171.00 ADD Ideas Redecorating interior + various repairs at Heelands MP Cheque 003210 67.20 D&I Window Cleaning Window cleaning Cheque 003211 1,076.00 Bespoke Media Printing newsletter Cheque 003212 3,570.00 Charmac Limited Resurfacing driveway from Abbey Road to St Lawrence Allotments Cheque 003213 861.98 HMRC Income tax and national insurance contributions deducted Cheque 003214 240.00 P J Leaflets (J. Clunie) Delivery of newsletters Cheque 003215 108.00 Metrosigns 2000 (Bedford) Ltd Replacement window for Bradwell Common Park notice board Cheque 003216 127.41 N power Electricity bill, Heelands MP Cheque 003217 446.42 Viking Direct Large toners. Stationery and stamps Cheque 003218 165.00 DA Garden Services Heelands MP, Heelands W & Fosters Lane Allotments maintenance Cheque 003219 800.00 Bradwell Sports & Social Club Section 137 grant Cheque 003220 480.00 Secklow Sounds Section 137 grant Direct debit 97.62 Biffa Waste skip and collection, Heelands MP Direct debit 34.90 British Gas Parish office electricity bill Amount deducted 25.62 Lloyds Bank Bank charges Telepay 2,393.55 Staff remuneration Early Sweptember pay (4-weekly paid staff) Debit card 179.69 Staples New inkjet printer for admin office, toners and stationery Debit card 66.28 Homebase Planting materials for Fosters Lane hedges and paths Debit card 20.00 B&Q Materials for lansdscape maintenance Debit card 14.93 Buckingham Nurseries Plants for landscaping King George's Field, Bradwell none

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