Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday Tuesday 1 August 2006

PRESENT
Mr T Hughes (Chairman), Mr I Owen (Vice Chairman), Mr W Davies,
Mr P Davies, Mr C Savery, District & County Councillor N Hartin.
Ms Claire Greener (Rural Policy Adviser, Shropshire Rural Pathfinder).

11 members of the public.

LOCAL SCRUTINY IN BUCKNELL
The Chairman introduced Ms Greener, who explained that Bucknell had been chosen as it fulfilled the required criteria to qualify for scrutiny, in effect to establish how the rural community worked, with an emphasis on access to services and any individual needs within the village. This would enable Ms Greener to speak up for Shropshire in contacts with Defra.

Ms Greener explained the procedure for obtaining the evidence. There would be a transit walk on a Saturday in September in the village and input from residents would be welcomed. The following formal event would probably take place in an evening in November.

Following questions from the floor, the Chairman thanked Ms Greener, who then left the meeting.

A show of hands indicated a unanimous vote in favour of the scheme. The Parish Council would instigate the procedure.

OPEN DISCUSSION
Mr Comes had heard a rumour regarding the railway. The Chairman replied that the
Parish Council was unaware of any problem.

Mr Jackson had observed two youths on the school playing field with a rifle which had a telescopic sight. The police has been informed of the incident.

Replying to a question, Mr Hartin explained the bidding process for the different types of affordable housing in the village.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mrs K Law, Mr K Bamett, Mrs B Sharpe, Mrs F Hughes.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 4 JULY 2006
Agreed unanimously and signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record.

MATTERS ARISING
Road Signs in Bridge End Lane. Mr Hartin said the County Council may not legally be able to remove the signs as they have to conform to traffic regulations. The
sum of £426,000 had been spent countywide putting up similar signs, and the cost of taking them down would be additional.

Land at Chapel Lawn Road. Grant funding was being sought.

Enforcement Notice at Alpha Stud. In the hands of the Enforcement Officer. Regarding the noise from the generator, Mr Hartin had noise monitoring forms for completion by residents if required, to establish whether noise monitoring equipment would be needed.

Squeezy Lemon Pop Festival. Still going ahead, but with reduced numbers, believed to be on the weekend after next.

PLANNING
Application No. 1/06/18470/F. Extensions to Bridgend House, Bucknell. No objection.
 
The following applications had been granted:
No. 1/06/18318/TC. Reduce height of Leylandii at Weir Cottage, Bucknell.
No. 1/06/18287/CA. Demolition of a barn at Rectory House, Bedstone.


DAFFODIL LANE DEVELOPMENT
Mrs Edwards tabled a written report, which was read out by the Chairman.
The recreation ground and paths and seats are being well used and the play area has been completed and paid for.

A Fun Day would be held on 13 August, to take the form of Old Fashioned Sports, and sideshows, etc.

The application pack for Big Lottery Community Building has been received. The Funder required an environmentally friendly building, incorporating solar panels and recycled materials where possible. Additional Funders were also needed. Tickets for the 100 Club were now available, not limited to 100 members, half the proceeds would be given out in prize money. The first draw would be on 5 September in Bucknell Memorial Hall at 7.2Opm, prior to the Parish Council Meeting. Monies raised would go to the new build fund.

The County Council has erected Playground signs. A sign is in place regarding overhead cables, as is the disabled car park signs.

Mr Chris Sansom has joined the Steering Group Committee.


FINANCE
It was agreed unanimously to pay the following:

Bucknell Memorial Hall (hire for meetings)	£42.00
Npower (energy charge June 06 qtr)	£70.36
Mr Ray Davies (grasscutting, etc)	£101.00

Accounts to year ended 31.3.06. Mr Owen to pass these to Mrs Lyn Cordrey, who had agreed to perform the internal audit.

CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from Mr Wi! de Gose and others regarding traffic calming. In the village. This was discussed extensively and the present situation detailed. Road Safety in Bucknell to be Agenda’d next time.

South Shropshire District Council letter re: Open Space at The Square, Bucknell. This was know locally as The Causeway. Mr Hartin said this was an exercise to update Council records. Chairman to deal with this.

SSDC letter + enclosure re: Clean Neighbourhood & Environment Act 2005. To Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Shropshire County Council letter + enclosure re: Local meeting 9.10.06 at the Community Centre, Bishops Castle.

Shropshire Hills AONB letter re: Undergrounding of electricity cables. To Chairman.
West Mercia Police Authority letter re: Police Service Restructuring. This proposal had been dropped.

Central Networks letter + enclosure re: grant funding available. Copy to Mr Savery.

SALC information re: Training courses.

SCC P3 Newsletter “Path Times”. To Mr Savery.
Bus Timetables. To Post Office.

SSDC letter + enclosures re: Documents for Consultation — Draft Statement of
Community Involvement. Affordable Housing Interim Planning Guidance. To
Chairman.

CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
Churchyard Wall. The Chairman explained that the estimate for the present work had been £5,042, which was accepted by the Parish Council, but when the work started it transpired that the wall was in a much worse state than at first thought, and the cost would be £6,750 for approximately half the job.

Mr Chambers was invited to speak from the floor and said that the first half was a retaining wall, and the second half was not, and suggested that the Contractor rebuild the first half of the wall, and another Contractor the second half. This could include volunteer labour from Caring for God’s Acre. This was discussed by the Parish Council, and it was agreed unanimously that this was the way to go.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Mr P Davies asked whether the 30mph sign could be moved to the bottom of Onion
Hill for safety reasons. Mr Hartin said that a site meeting had been held a short time ago and the County Council had considered it was not necessary. Mr Hartin to ask County to monitor that piece of road.

Street lights were out at Yew Tree Cottage and the Old Post Office. Clerk to report these.

Revised: 01 October 2006