CRICK PARISH COUNCIL.

Minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday 19th.November 2012 at 7.30pm in the Old School, Church Street, Crick.

Present – P. Dunkley (Chairman) D. Tolfts (Vice Chairman) J. Goodger, R. Atterbury, Mrs M. Gibbins, Miss A. Ward, J. Richards, W. Simms and W. Fursman.

168. Apologies.

County Councillor Mrs C. Boardman, R. Lowe (abroad) Mrs G. Nisbet (illness) PCSO L. Conopo (on duty)

169. Declaration of Interests.

Members did not declare any interests at this stage of the proceedings.

170. PCSO L. Humfries outlined a number of offences that had occurred in the Parish since her last visit. She warned the meeting of a number of scrap collectors operating in the villages and stealing scrap from gardens and skips. She would welcome any registration numbers of vehicles involved in these offences.

District Councillor Mrs C. Lomax outlined the business of DDC since the meeting in October. Andy Simmonds had been appointed as the new Police Commissioner. The Chairman thanked her for her input.

Members of the public raised concerns of HGV’s still using Bucknills Lane, bringing ballast and tarmac to the new Sportsfield. The Chairman of the new sports field Committee had advised the companies concerned to use Church Street to reach Road, the fault may well lie with companies using temporary drivers. The problem is to be discussed with MGWSP, PCSO L. Humfries and the Chairman of the Parish Council on 26th.November.

The Chairman of the newly formed Jubilee Park Committee, Steve Lassman, gave a presentation on the ambitions of the Committee to form woodland and grassed area, on land adjacent to the Grand Union canal. The Committee has applied to become a ‘Small Charity Constitution’ and it is envisaged that the land will be leased from the Parish Council using a lease document similar to that used to lease the land from the Council to Crick Millennium Wood.

171. Minutes of the meeting held on 15th.October 2012.

The minutes had been circulated previously; Mrs M. Gibbins proposed that the minutes were a true record of the meeting. The proposal was seconded by W. Simms and agreed unanimously. The minutes were signed by the Chairman.

56. 172. New Sportsfield – phase one update and funding via the PWLB.

Paul Lane, the Chairman of the Committee, updated the meeting on the progress of the new Sportsfield. The pitches are in place and are of a high standard. A meeting with Paul, J. Goodger and the Clerk had taken place to discuss the finances of the project. All invoices from White Horse Construction Ltd. had been paid with the exception of the last two, one of which was for £85,000. Paul is applying to the Football Foundation to fund the two invoices.

The Chairman proposed to take out a loan with the PWLB to cover the Council’s commitments to the project, the sum of £25,000. £10,000 is committed for the financial year 2012/13 and the Council has already funded £6,300 of this amount. £10,000 is committed for 2013/14. £5,000 has been committed to the MUGA project. This will leave the Council short of reserves and the loan will offset this and provide funds for the project. The proposal was seconded by R. Atterbury and agreed by those present. The Council already has a loan from PWLB for a 25 year period, paying £7,430 per annum. It was agreed to take out a loan for a shorter period of time.

The Council has a source of income from the Baker/Gazeley Community Fund, which in the past has been used to fund Village Groups and Organisations. The regular sources of funding from the Parish Council are now catered for in the yearly precept. Funding will also be available from the Yelvertoft Wind Farm and this should meet the requirements of the Village Organisations. The Community grants from the Baker/Gazeley fund can repay the second Public Works Loan. He proposed a loan period of ten years. He further proposed that the Budget Committee should consider the loan sum and period of time and report at the December meeting. This course of action was agreed.

173. Outstanding items from 2011.

Lease of Yelvertoft Road land from NCC to the Parish Council – James Ellis (NCC) is processing the lease document and is hopeful for an early completion.

174. Circulations.

The following documents were circulated via the Parish Office; Yelvertoft PC – minutes of the meeting held on 8/10/12. Clerks and Councils magazine. Crick PFA – accounts for the year ending 2011. CPRE – Countryside Voice magazine and Outlook newsletter. War Memorials Trust – newsletter. NRHA – Annual Report 2011/12.

175. Correspondence for response.

DDC is to hold the Parish & Town Councils’ meeting on Tuesday 11/12/12 – 6.30pm in the Council Chamber. J. Richards agreed to attend.

57.

LGBC – The Commission has now completed its review of . The changes proposed must now be implemented by order subject to Parliamentary scrutiny. The draft order will provide new electoral arrangements for Northamptonshire to be implemented at the local elections in 2013.

Richard Wood (DDC) is to hold a series of meetings to consult on an Issues Paper for the Settlement and Countryside Local Plan. The Chairman and J. Goodger agreed to attend the meeting in Watford Village Hall on 26th.November at 7.00pm.

M‐hp, the website provider, has received some information from the ICO. He suggests setting up an external backup drive to the computer with the appropriate software which will automatically back‐up files and email correspondence from the computer. The Clerk agreed to seek the cost from the IT Consultant.

A letter has been received from an elderly couple in Kingstyle Close, Crick. Their daughter is buried in the Crick Burial ground and they wish to reserve the plot next to their daughter for themselves. The policy of the Council is that burial plots cannot be reserved. Members agreed that the Clerk write and explain the current position.

176. Planning.

Planning permission has been granted to the following applications; DA/2012/0648 – single storey extension and garage conversion at 2 Pyke Way, Crick. DA/2012/0700 – single storey swimming pool extension including an ancillary plant room at Papillion Fields, Yelvertoft Road, Crick. DA/2012/0677 – first floor extension over the existing single storey extension at 20 Lauds Road, Crick. DA/2012/0689 – an extension of time for the flood defence scheme at Tesco Stores Ltd. Danes Way, Crick. DA/2012/0707 – to allow the temporary warehouse to be utilised for an additional 18 months at Royal Mail, Danes Way, Crick.

177. Cooperative store – improved parking facilities.

Representatives of the Cooperative Society, NCC Highways Authority and DDC will meet on 3rd.December 2012 to discuss proposed parking facilities improvements.

178. Review of village streetlights.

J. Goodger reported that the report from Parish Lighting Services is still awaited.

58. 179. Insurance cover for village events.

J. Goodger has researched the extent of Parish Council insurance cover for events and activities with the insurer, Aviva and Northants CALC. He has prepared a report and this includes the six points that must be answered in the affirmative for each event. The report has been circulated and a copy will be retained with the November minutes. Members agreed that the report is quite explicit in the requirements of Parish Council involvement in events such as the Scarecrow weekend, Crick Feast and the Bonfire event. The Chairman reminded members involved with events to be careful to follow the rules outlined in the report. The 2012 Bonfire event was not mentioned in the minutes, the names of the organiser(s) and Parish Councillors involved were not mentioned and the risk assessment, which had been sent to the insurer, was not agreed at a Parish meeting, although a copy had been filed with the Clerk. The Chairman asked that a report on the 2012 event be presented at the meeting in December. J Richards agreed to provide.

180. DDC –the future of Cracks Hill.

Simon Bovey (DDC) has been asked if the future of the land should lie with DDC or the Parish Council. He has yet to respond. R. Atterbury will follow this up.

181. Wind Farm funding.

On behalf of the Parish Council, the Chairman and J. Goodger met with representatives of AES Ltd, the developer of the Yelvertoft Wind Farm in July 2012 to discuss the proposed wind farm funding to the villages of Yelvertoft, Lilbourne, Crick and the hamlet of . The Chairman attended the meeting of Yelvertoft Parish Council the same evening to assist in the debate on how the funding should split between the parishes. Every household in the villages would be affected by the turbines and the principal factor in the distribution of the community fund was the population of each village. Crick has 762 homes, Yelvertoft 359, Lilbourne 154 and Clay Coton 18. The Chairman had proposed that 35% of the fund should go to Crick, 30% to Yelvertoft, 30% to Lilbourne and 5% to Clay Coton. The Chairman reported that both Lilbourne and Yelvertoft PC’s had submitted alternative proposals, but had not consulted with Crick PC. Lilbourne’s proposal was 34% to Lilbourne; 46% to Yelvertoft; 15% to Crick and 5% to Clay Coton. Yelvertoft PC had not revealed their proposal. Members and the Clerk ratified the Chairman’s proposal for distribution.

The Chairman has responded to the developer stating that Crick PC’s proposal was agreed unanimously by the members of Crick Parish Council, is a fair one and the predominant factor should be the number of homes that will be affected. The proposal The proposal of Lilbourne PC is considered to be fundamentally flawed and totally unacceptable.

AES Ltd. wish to meet the representatives of the three major villages. AES Ltd. will decide the distribution of the fund if an agreement cannot be reached and the Northamptonshire Community Foundation will administer the fund.

59. 182. Crick Jubilee Wood – Small Charity Constitution.

Crick Jubilee Wood Committee has adopted a small charity constitution, whose objectives are to provide and maintain woodland for the benefit of the inhabitants of Crick and the surrounding area. Their AGM is to be held every year in April.

183. The Budget 2013/14.

J. Goodger reported that there is current debate on whether Councillors should seek a dispensation in order to be able to vote when the Council sets the precept for 2013/14. Northants CALC will adopt a formal position by the end of November. There is also debate if Parish and Town Councils are to be capped. The Chairman proposed to defer the decision on the budget until January. The Committee has discussed the 2013/14 budget and a proposal is to be made for an increase in the 2013/14 of just over 5%. Northants CALC in the meanwhile will decide their recommended way forward. The proposal was agreed. The cost of grass cutting in the current financial year will be £18,400 and members agreed that the Greens Committee should look carefully at the grass cutting schedule to ensure that costs in 2013 ‐ 14 do not exceed the budgeted amount of £16,000.

184. Cooperative Bank plc – investment account matures 21/12/12.

The Chairman proposed to reinvest the sum of £42,000 in the Council’s Deposit Account for a further three months, when the account matures in December 2012. Members agreed to the proposal.

185. Fields in Trust – Deed of Dedication & Land Registry forms.

The Chairman reported that the Deed of Dedication formed part of the process for obtaining funding for the new sports field via the Football Foundation and Sport . As part of the process Land Registry required completion of forms AN1 & RX1 – the forms were completed by the Clerk and four Councillors added their signatures to the form. The Chairman authorised an emergency payment of £100.00 to accompany the forms to Land Registry – cheque number 734.

186. Accounts for Payment and account balances.

The following invoices had been received, R. Atterbury proposed that payment be authorised. The proposal was seconded and agreed; Cheque number 728 – William Garvin – repair of litter bin ‐ £83.46. No. 729 – R. Candelent – salary – September/October/November ‐ £1,356.81 + expenses 10/9/12 to 10/12/12 ‐ £148.58 – cheque total ‐ £1,505.39. The expenses include the payback team expenses of £50.47 – entered under village maintenance on the accounts. No. 730 – E. on – streetlight maintenance, ending 30/9/12 ‐ £596.84. No. 731 – James Yates Youth Services – youth club evening in September and October ‐ £340.00 – 2 invoices.

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No. 732 – Marmax Products – purchase of a seat for the Doctor’s surgery ‐ £762.00 No. 733 – BT Payment Services – Parish Office telephone account ‐ £51.87. No. 734 – Land Registry – see item 185 ‐ £100.00.

Income. NCC grant for grass cutting ‐ £1,140.15. 5/10/12 – Football Foundation grant ‐ £19,637.00. 19/10/12 – Football Foundation grant ‐ £10,310.00 VAT refund from new sports field invoices Nos. 9291/9405/9375/9452.

The new sports field account (10.11.12) Total income ‐ £97,127 and expenditure ‐ £99,605.

Account balances – current account (26.10.12) ‐ £16,060. Deposit account ‐ £42,007.

187. Open meeting.

J. Goodger reported that the Remembrance Day event on Sunday 11th.November was excellent. He suggested that more publicity should be given to the event for 2013. It was agreed that mention be made of the 2013 event in the September meeting 2013.

J. Richards had received papers relating to Junction 19 improvements. He proposed to raise the papers at the Junction 18 Liaison meeting in December.

W. Fursman queried if the open space on the Marsh was registered. He was assured that it was registered and was on the Crick PC Asset Register.

W. Simms reported that Michael Venton (DDC) is to inspect the Ash trees on the playing field and the new sports field for sign of disease.

A letter of thanks will be sent to Marion Davies and Anne Bramwell for running the Village Market for such a long time. The event will continue at the Primary School with new organisers.

The Payback Team will be asked to clear the leaves on the Marsh.

No other matters were raised; the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9.55pm.

Signed. Chairman. 17.12.12.

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