Minutes of a meeting of Clifton Parish Council held on Thursday 10 th January 2008 in Clifton Community and Sports Centre, Whiston Crescent , Clifton at 7. 30 pm

Present: Mr B. Livesey (in the Chair)

Mr A . Burnage

Mr M. Ephgrave

Mrs P. Livesey,

Mr S. Melia

Mr I. Pacey,.

Dr R. Puritz

Mr J. Stevens

District Cllr P. Carne

1. Public Forum: There was no Public Forum

2. Apologies: Apologies for absence were received from Mr D. Bullen .T. Cobb, Mrs I. Cook S. Fish, Cllr T. Rogers and Pc S. Busby.

3. . Minutes : The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 13 th December 2007, a copy of which had previously been circulated to each member of the Council, were agreed to be a true record and were signed.

4 Matters arising:

4.1 War Memorial : The Chairman reported that an e-mail from Mr Neil Best of Davies Loss Adjusters had been received informing the Council that the War memorial was under-insured and this would be reflected in any settlement. He enclosed a calculation of the cost of repairs by their surveyor giving an estimated total of £51,559.53. Mr Cobb had questioned these and a copy of his proposed reply together with the estimated costs was circulated. It was agreed that a copy of this reply should also be sent to Allianz.

4.2 Memorial bench : It was noted that Glasdon had informed the Council of a change in price originally quoted and cost of plaque. Mr Rees is happy with these and the advice of a delivery date is awaited.

4.3 Garden of Remembrance : It was noted that the Parochial Church Council had been advised of the £500.00 donation from the Council and that an.application for a grant from Mid Beds Cemeteries Fund had been submitted by the Parish Council on the former's behalf. The application is due to be considered on 28.1.08 and Mr A. Clarke and the Clerk would attend.

4.4 Play equipment in Bilberry . It was reported that the Residents Association had been advised that Aragon would not be responsible for providing or maintaining this proposed equipment.

4.5 Heating in Community Centre ; Mr Harvey had requested to do this modification at a weekend when there were no events booked at the Community Centre. At present the next such weekend was 19/20 January.

4.6 Church Street – Litter bin It was reported that following the request by the Highways Committee for a bin to be located by the butcher's shop Mid Beds District Council had stated that if the Parish Council wished to purchase a bin for by the butchers shop at a cost of £145.00 it would be responsible for the installation/emptying of the same.

4.7 Parking on verges: Mr Livesey submitted a copy of a letter drafted to be sent to those motorists parking on gthe grass verges for information.

5. Outstanding Matters : No list was available for circulation, but it would be presented at the committee meetings..

•  Correspondence :

6.1 MBDC: Invitation to take part in the Chairman's Charity Quiz to be held on 1.2.08.

6.2 Beds Association of Town and Parish Councils: Advance notice that the Affiliation fee for 2008/2009 would be £516.00. This was noted

6.3 Whitbread Wanderbus: Letter from the secretary requesting the donation precepted for 2007/2008. It was proposed by Mrs Livesey, seconded by Dr. Puritz that a donation of £250.00 be made.

6.4 MBDC: Consultation on Unitary Local Government in Bedfordshire.

6.5 Beds and Luton Fire Service: Annual Corporate plan summary.

6.6 Wildlife training workshops

6.7 Beds and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership newsletter

6.8 Watchwide News Winter 2007

6.9 Beds RCC: Network

6.10 Horizon

6.11 CPRE Fieldwork

6.12 Local Council Review Vol 59 No 5. Jan 2008-

6.13 Clerk and Councils Direct Jan 2008 Issue 55

MBDC Forward Plan

7. Community Centre and Playing Fields Management Committee:

The report of the meeting held on Wednesday 19 th December 2007, a copy of which had been circulated to each member of the Council was presented and discussed. It was noted:- .

7.1 Heating: It was reported that Mr Harvey had partially completed the work on the modification of the the heating. He should be asked if this work could be done in the immediate future. If this is not possible an alternative contractor should be approached. Complaints about the temperature in the building were noted .

7.2 Dog fouling It was reported that guidance on possible future measures had been received from Defra. The Chairman outlined the various options which might be taken to control dogs on the playing field.. He undertook to set down the steps necessary to achieve the exclusion order, the agreed option, and circulate them.

7.3 Referees Changing Room : Some work still remains to be done.

7.4 Redecoration of interior and damage to doors It was agreed to seek estimates for partial redecoration. The doors will be re-painted with sadolin and appropriate measures to avoid damage caused to the walls at a low level by chairs will be considered. .This item would be included in projects for the coming financial year. It was noted that there had been a complaint about the doors being damaged by not opening the double doors whilst bringing equipment in on a trolley. The Clerk will write to the Parent and Toddler Group about this matter .

7.5. Section 106 Agreement – Stockbridge Road Development : The Chairman reported that he was consulting with a group of teenagers to get their input. Mrs Tiney reported that Mr Burbridge was proposing to hold meetings with.both older and younger age groups to find out what was needed .

7.6 Fencing: This matter should be pursued as two sets of goal posts were currently being stored at the rear of the Community Centre. Mr Granger is to be authorized to go ahead with the installation

7.7 The locking plate on the back gate on the back gate needs attention. Mr Granger is to be asked to attend to this when he installs the new fencing.

7.8 Hall Floor Replacement accessories should be obtained for the Numatic TT3450T Mains Scrubber Dryer.

7.9 Youth Club The Clerk had written to Mr Burbridge. It was reported that he was awaiting confirmation of assistance.

7.10 Budget It was noted that this had been accepted with no amendments.

7.11 Under 10's football : The decision to allow the Under 10's free use of the facilities had been queried. This was noted but it was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed that no charge be made.

7.12 Caretaker's telephone; This matter should be dealt with. Mr Melia agreed to do so.

7.13 Finance (a) Mrs Yarwood's, Mr Ansell-Carter's and Mr Ferguson's accounts had been authorised..

(b) The balance sheet showed a balance of income over expenditure of £1681.70. It was noted that the Cricket Club had still not paid the account. The Clerk would bank the £50.00 deposit and the balance of £30.00 would be pursued

.(c) The Forward Plan was presented. It was noted that the meters had been read the previous day and an electricity account would be expected. It was also agreed that the bushes around the playing field should be trimmed.

7.14 Any other Matters ; (a) Safety Checks PAT Testing was booked for 18 th January. The testing of fire equipment had been booked for the previous Friday but the appointment was cancelled. A new date is to be arranged.

(b) Mr Stevens reported that Raj was prepared to advertise the Community Centre in the Clifton Cuisine. Mr Stevens would prepare the advertisement.

(c) Dogwood : Mr Crawley would be doing this early next year.

(d) Car park : Sweeping is required. Mr Ansell Carter would be asked to do this.

(e) Football Matters An update on these was requested. Mr Stevens undertook to contact the managers. A representative on the Playing Fields Committee was required. The pitch and changing facilities had been hired out at short notice to Shillington FC on Sunday but after the match the changing rooms had been left in an unsatisfactory state . It was agreed that the club should be warned and if this happens again they will not be allowed to use Clifton 's facilities.

(d) Charity Bingo : It was reported that the final session was a great success.

The report was adopted.

8.Highways Committee: .

The report of the meeting held on Thursday 20th December 2007, a copy of which had been circulated to each member of the Council was presented and discussed. It was noted:- .

8.1 War Memorial: A report from the Loss Adjusters advised the Parish Council that it was under-insured and any settlement would reflect this. The Chairman would assess this information. Mr Fish had provided the Parish Council with details of sources of possible grant aid to make good any shortfall..

8.2 Drain by the War Memorial: The County Council had been asked to report what measures they intend to take to remedy the problems. It was noted that this was due to be investigated in December. ( Works no.50762) To date there had been no report.

8.3: The bollards on the splay of the AdmiralPH needed replacing to prevent parking on the verge. There had also been a recommendation that bollards should be installed on the verge by mthe junction of Broad Street and New Road . Mr Rogers is to be asked to intervene on the Council's behalf..

8.4 New Trees Mrs Livesey reported that this was in hand.

8.5 Traffic Calming Survey The Chairman reported that the Parish Council had approved the recommendation that it should conduct its own survey

8.6 Confident Communities: The Council should use the allocation to fund time of a PCSO in particular on Fridays and at the weekend. The time of visits should be flexible and the exact number of hours to be decided in consultation. A second VAS sign should also be applied for.

8.7 Litter bin : Mid Beds District Council had acknowledged the request to provide an extra litter bin by the butcher's shop saying there had been no complaints of litter at that location. However it recommended that if the Council was to pay for the installation of a bin the District Council would arrange for regular emptying. Mrs Livesey proposed that a bin should be purchased and this was unanimously agreed.

8.8 Bilberry verges Aragon had advised the Council that the posts nearest the buildings were positioned so as to allow for the passage of ride on mowers. Mr Granger should be informed of this.

8.9 Garden of Rest ; . Mr Cobb and Mr Bullen had tidied the Garden of Rest ..

8.10. The broken branch in a tree outside 1 Spring Road had been removed.

8.11 Litter Campaign: The nature of this was discussed. It was agreed to obtain guidelines for organising a “spring clean” litter pick from Mid Beds District Council. Mr Livesey proposed seconded by Mr Cobb that this should take place in the spring with residents being urged to do their own roads. Since it was believed that public education was necessary in any campaign it was also agreed that schools should be involved and letters to be sent to the head teachers and governors. A poster competition for these was proposed. Mr Pacey should be consulted about the required format for entries.

8.12. Forward Plan The Forward Plan for December 2007 was presented and the current expenditure noted.

8.13 Other matters (a) Road signs: The recently replaced road sign at the Joint had been vandalised again and there were other missing signs around the village

(b) Bags on verge. It was noted that there were further bags on the verge outside 45 Pedley Lane .

The report was then adopted.

9. Planning

The undermentioned plans have been returned to Mid Beds:

07/01811/FULL: Covered walkway and parents shelter at All Saints Lower School: There were no objections in principle although it was queried whether the design was entirely appropriate for a Conservation Area.

07/01771/FULL: Erection of three detached dwellings and garages following demolition of the existing petrol station. Renewal of previously approved permission 02/02110/FULL dated 16.01.03 By a majority decision there were no objections.

Permission has been granted for County Matter BC/CM/2007/26 (Kiosks housing electrical and pumping equipment at Clifton Sewage Works).

It was noted that the Planning Inspectorate had dismissed the appeal lodged by Mr and Mrs R. Burton against the decision of Mid Bedfordshire District Council to refuse planning permission for the erection of 7 (seven) dwellings with associated garages and parking and formation of a vehicular access at 65 Shefford Road (06/01486/FULL)

10 Reports (a) Clifton Lower School: Mrs Livesey gave a brief report mentioning inter alia the forthcoming celebration of the bi-centenary and the building of the new pre-school accommodation.

(b) Mid Beds District Council :.Councillor Carne gave a short report..

(c) Beds CC: There was no report.

(d) Other: There were no reports

11 Finance

Finance Committee 7.01.08 The Clerk was asked to leave the meeting whilst a report of the meeting to review the Clerk's salary was given . The recommendations:

•  to increase the salary to £4,950.00 of which £300.00 is to be regarded as an allowance and to provide a computer fitted with a suitable suite of office programmes and connected to broadband to enable regular and easy access to a new email address in the style “cliftonpc@xxxx.xxx

•  the mileage allowance for occasional car use would be 55.8p per mile as recommended by NALC

•  to ask the Clerk to obtain model procedures for financial procedures from the Beds Association of Town and Parish Councils

•  to include Outstanding Accounts as a regular agenda item.

were accepted.

:Current bank statements at 31.12.07. show

Community Account £2266.78

Business Premium Account £18080.37

Business Reserve account £69234.12

The Village Improvement Fund stands at £71,676.10. £20,000 is earmarked for the cost of lighting, £771.90 was used for grass cutting which has exceeded estimated expenditure.

Receipts: The following receipts were reported; : Mr N. Randall: Extra hour's hire on 12.1.08 £10.00; Clifton Badminton Group: Hire of Centre on Wednesday nights Sept – Dec. £280.00; Mrs J. Knott: Hire of Centre on Sat 26 th Jan. £60.00;Mrs J. Price: Hire of Centre for Funeral Wake 15.1.08 + deposit £100.00: Ladies Social Hour Nov. and Dec £63.00: Shillington FC Casual hire of pitch £35.00:Beds CC: Hire of Centre for Keepfit for the mature £90.00: Mrs M. Burton: Hire of Centre on 18.1.08 £50.00

Payments to be authorised J. Ferguson 1 Months Litter collection £55.00 (Ch101374 )

Adrian Crawley: Playing Field maintenance in Dec £280.83 ( Ch 101375 )

Mrs J. Yarwood: Wages forJanuary (less tax and NI ) £580.19 (Ch 101376/377)

I. Ansell Carter; Wages forJanuary (less tax) £85.89 ( Ch101378)

*Whitbread Wanderbus: Annual donation £250.00 (Ch101379)

The Clerk was given authority to transfer £400.00 from the Business Premium Account to the Community Account

Authority was also given to refund the £50.00 deposit to Mrs Price.

13 Dates of next meetings : Thursday, 14 th February 2008

Thursday, 13 th March 2008

Thursday 10 th April 2008-

Thursday , 8 th May 2008

Thursday, 12 th June 2008

Thursday, 24 th July 2008