Caroline Godfrey Announced the Apologies and Confirmed There
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MINUTES OF THE PARISH FORUM HELD ON THURSDAY 09 DECEMBER 2010 AT 7 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC OFFICES PRESENT: Cllr Mike Galloway Chair Cllr Tom Fraser Campbell Park Parish Council Cllr David Livingstone Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe Parish Council Cllr Jean Nicholas Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe Parish Council Cllr Jeremy Rawlings Olney Town Council Cllr Kevin Wilson Woughton Community Council Cllr David Pafford Campbell Park Parish Council Cllr Adrian Dneš Stony Stratford Town Council Cllr Dai Evans Calverton Parish Meeting Cllr Jacky Jeffreys Woburn Sands Town Council Cllr Norman Wilkes Wavendon Parish Council Cllr Joe Geary Hanslope Parish Council Cllr Phil Ayles Castlethorpe Parish Council Cllr Cecil Macaulay Great Linford Parish Council Cllr David Stabler Great Linford Parish Council Mike Morris Clerk Haversham cum Little Linford Parish Council Cllr Veronica Belcher West Bletchley Council Cllr Debbie Dyer Stantonbury Parish Council Cllr Ken Maudsley Kents Hill and Monkston Parish Council Cllr Alan Francis New Bradwell Parish Council Cllr Jeannette Green Walton Parish Council Cllr John Napleton Simpson Parish Council Cllr David Binnie Simpson Parish Council Cllr David Hopkins Wavendon Parish Council Cllr Rosemary O'Sullivan Stony Stratford Town Council Cllr John Cropley Broughton and Milton Keynes Parish Council Cllr Hilary Saunders Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council Cllr Margaret Roberts Woughton Community Council Also in Attendance: Mrs Sandra Cleary Cllr Isabella Fraser John Franklin Cllr Darron Kendrick Officers: John Moffoot (Assistant Director Democratic Services), Caroline Godfrey (Governance Manager), Shelagh Muir (Governance Officer), Paul Gibson (Housing Policy & Development Officer) John Harper (Transport Policy Manager), Steven Bishop (SDG), Ken Cleary (Chair Larger Local Councils Committee (NALC)), Bill Errington (MKi Manager), Ian Rudd (Parish Online) and Janie Burns (Minute Taker, Development Control) The Chair welcomed everyone to the Forum; Caroline Godfrey announced the apologies and substitutions and introduced the guests. PF20 Apologies: Cllr Marie Collins (New Bradwell), Cllr Roz Hatton (North Crawley), Cllr David Hunt (North Crawley), Cllr Rebecca Kurth (CMK), Cllr Michael Horton (Emberton), Cllr Kate Porter (Lavendon), Moulsoe Parish Council, Cllr Keith Ely (Bletchley & Fenny Stratford T C ) Cllr Esther Long (Wolverton T C), Cllr Robin Garrett (Simpson PC) Cllr Sharon Smith (Kents Hill and Monkston Parish Council). Substitutions: Cllr John Napleton for Cllr Robin Garrett (Simpson). PF21 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING The Forum agreed the minutes, no amendments were made. Questions: Cllr Jeffreys advised that Woburn Sands TC was not happy with Section 106 allocation of £10,000 towards Real Time Passenger Information in Woburn Sands as this was inadequate Cllr Adrian Dneš commented that RTPI was not in use on all bus services and that transponders were fitted to all buses but not used on all services. The Chair agreed this was unsatisfactory and would investigate. Action Caroline Godfrey. PF22 ITEMS REQUESTED BY PARISH COUNCILS PF22a Housing Strategy Policy Strategy Consultation Paper Requested by 30 September Parishes Assembly. Paul Gibson Updated the Forum: Housing Policy and Strategy section previously wrote one large paper and have now split this into two; one paper that is short and visionary along side an action plan with details on delivery which could be updated when changes occur e.g. from Central Government. He reminded the Forum of the current consultation which ends on 13 December 2010. Question: Cllr Ken Maudsley (Kents Hill & Monkston) raised an issue about traffic lights being close to houses and flats e.g. on the A5130 and asked if the housing strategy would ensure this does not happen in future? PG advised the new process would allow ‘building for life’ systems and include clearer guidelines for planning and housing strategy with better design. The Chair explained that design codes would be included in the Core Strategy to remove as much error as possible. Question: Cllr Jacky Jeffreys questioned whether planning officers, in future, would ask first of Housing what is needed in terms of how many bed, houses etc. PG admitted there is shortage of 1 and 2 bed houses and expressed that good communities needed a good mix. Housing Strategy gave general indicators. Cllr David Hopkins commented that Aylesbury Vale Council had withdrawn its housing strategy. No set methodology to assess need to achieve the proper mix but being done in the north [of the country] and should be published in the new year. PF22b Cold Calling Zones – Cllr Phil Ayles briefed the Forum on Cold Calling Practices Castlethorpe Parish Council had received complaints from residents about improper cold calling practices and he had met with Trading Standards Officers for advice. No cold calling zones would only be established where there is door step crime. There is agreement that the best way forward is through education of older and vulnerable residents but this education must not intimidate those it is meant to protect. Cllr Ayles asked for other councillors’ involvement to set up a working group to take this forward– contact him direct or Shelagh Muir at [email protected]. Cllr Adrian Dneš commented that he had heard success stories of no cold calling zones. Cllr David Hopkins advised he had many requests for no cold calling zones and had read that where they have been established they are well supported by the public and police. PF23 ANNOUNCEMENTS BY PARISH COUNCILS West Bletchley Council The Chair announced that at its Council Meeting held on 25th October 2010, West Bletchley Council affirmed that it meets the prescribed conditions and is eligible to use the Power of Well Being. PF24 UPDATE ON PARISHES' PROTOCOL Caroline Godfrey advised that the Parishes’ Protocol was adopted by Milton Keynes Council Cabinet on 26 October 2010 following many months of development with the Parishes Working Group, whom she thanked for their hard work. Two copies have been sent to each Parish and Town Council for adoption. She asked that the Protocol is now considered at council meetings, adopted, signed and one copy returned to Governance, Democratic Services, Milton Keynes Council. Cllr Kevin Wilson raised that Milton Keynes Council may now charge Parish Councils for by-elections. He felt there was financial unpredictability for Parish Councils. He was concerned that this had not been done in Milton Keynes before and may cause Parish Councils to co-opt rather than hold elections, as they would have to bear the costs. The Chair advised that the cost of Parish by elections have historically been funded by MK Council but most other local authorities charge Parishes. MKC may cover costs of by- elections if held at the same time as other elections. The clause was agreed by the cross party working group, as requested by Cabinet on 29 June 2010. Cllr Cleary raised NALC have lobbied nationally on 2015 elections and commented that when the parish elections are held with other elections the turnout is higher. PF25 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS - Cllr Ken Cleary –(Chair Larger Local Councils Committee) NALC, The Chair introduced the guest speaker Cllr Cleary, who discussed the new Localism Bill due to go before Parliament on 13 December 2010 which is based on the belief that local people should be allowed to decide what is best for them and take decisions locally. NALC see this as an important opportunity for local councils and communities to take on services. To enable this, NALC are promoting resources through the Quality Parishes Scheme to provide schemes such as training bursaries. He continued that they are addressing the requirements of Parish Councils for training, learning and skills by many methods such as e- bulletins, guides for local councillors, contributing and supporting conferences etc. Cllr Cleary thanked Milton Keynes Council on its support and work in developing the National Training Strategy with NALC and partners of the National Stakeholder Group, to be launched on 10 December 2010. Cllr Joe Geary commented that Parishes require guarantees that funding comes with the services to be devolved and that Parish Councils will not have to provide funds to fund these. Cllr Cleary responded there are no guarantees where the funding will be coming from and gave examples where, at present, the funding was on a tapering basis, reducing over an agreed period. Cllr Tom Fraser commented that training schemes being offered by a variety of providers e.g. SLCC (Society of Local Council Clerks) for councillors and this would be better done by NALC. Cllr Cleary confirmed that NALC, SLCC and others work in partnership to deliver training. A Councillor commented that clerks represent their council and themselves; and therefore they need the tools through education. Good, trained clerks were needed in order to have good councils. Cllr Galloway thanked Cllr Cleary for addressing the Forum. PF26 PARISH ONLINE – Ian Rudd Ian Rudd explained and gave a demonstration on the merits of online mapping for Parish Councils. It is available to all as a web based solution; Version 2 allows clerks to update with “read only” access for others. Benefits: • Web based system information stored on servers in East London. • Information updated monthly. • Different methods of finding and viewing the information • Varity of objects and items can be annotated • The document can be printed and/or saved as a pdf. • Shows lots of information including Tree Preservation Orders, conservation areas etc. Members questioned timing and updates. Bill Errington (MKi Manager) confirmed Ordnance Survey now giving updates every 6 months and Parishes are encouraged to help with this by passing information back to him to enable amendments to be made. Cllr Jeremy Rawlings questioned whether it would work well in rural areas and Ian Judd demonstrated this to Councillors’ satisfaction. Cllr Alan Francis – is land ownership going to be able to be ascertained? BE advised that only Land Registry is included currently.