Minutes from PC Meeting held 7th February 2017

Cllr Bush advised that the Welcome Pack was still being worked on and should be available for the next Parish Meeting.

• RECEIVE WARD COUNCILLORS REPORT

1)   MKC Budget

–       Has now officially been put out by cabinet and the Budget meeting will be held on Wednesday 15^th February for a decision

A number of changes were noted as follows:

–       Council tax has increased by 4.95% which is 1.95% on General Services and 3% on Adult Social Care. Initially the increase in council tax was 4%.

–       Some minor changes to savings to the budget was one of the cuts was landscaping to Parishes and that this would now be extending for a year to allow for negotiation but this does not effect Sherington

–       Grit bins would no longer be serviced by MKC

–       Litter picking scaled back

–       Weeding would no longer be serviced by MKC

2)   Training Ground for the MKDons

The training ground is proposed very close to Sherington in the village of Chicheley along the A509 on the Newport Pagnell layby. Cllr Geary commented that Sherington PC should be involved in discussions and suggested that SPC send their views and to ensure there are benefits to the community.

Cllr Bush asked whether SPC could have access to the facilities and Cllr Geary advised Cllr Bush to send him an email expressing concerns.

3)   Olney Ward Forum

One of the discussions in the meeting was that Parishes need to take the initiative and take control of litter in and around their villages.

4)   Plan MK

Plan MK will be going out on the 21^st February for consultation, this is the refreshed core strategy to     planning documents on how MK should grow and not have an impact on rural areas.

This is MKC 3^rd option for the plan for MK. The first proposal was that MK had to have a plan by law and how another 7500 houses were to be recognised and the vision for MK.

Plan MK needs to be put in place quickly and the core strategy needs to be robust

Cllr Geary suggested all parishes should have a Neighbourhood Plan which Sherington have therefore this puts them ahead.

• RECEIVE CLERKS REPORT

Spion Cop

Has now been removed

Trig Point

Was removed in 2014 due to causing problems whilst ploughing

Sandwich Board to advertise the Village Shop

Prices start from £15 depending on size.  Cllr Johnstone commented that Cllr Caldwell mentioned in the last PC meeting that the shop would need to pay for this.

Notice Board for the Church

Prices start anywhere from £600 to over £1000 depending on styles, size etc.  Cllr Thatcher asked whether we were able to support the church and Cllr Geary mentioned contacting Cllr McLean as there is a budget.

Community Payback Scheme (clearing pathway between NP and Sherington)

Awaiting a call back from Thames Valley Police.  Cllr Geary mentioned that Jane Brushwood from Lavendon PC would be able to help.

Memorial Bench in the Village Hall Park

Has been fixed.  Cllr Bush requested that the bench opposite the old pub along the High St to be looked at.  TY to speak to the Caretaker

MK Play Rangers

It was agreed for sessions to continue this year as it is in the budget

Pavilion Sign (John Cook Memorial)

Prices obtained, TY to send prices to Cllrs Bush and Thatcher

TY

TY

 TY

Cllr Thatcher gave the details of whom to contact at MKC regarding the Plan

Cllr Bush added that weight is given to the NP if there is evidence of community support therefore it was crucial that everyone made a comment.

Cllr Geary advised that if there is a 60/40 split, this means that it may not get through to referendum and the Council will be left with a very big legal bill.

Cllr Bush advised that the next stage would be to appoint an examiner which can be a 4 week wait, however after some persuasion this could be as little as a week.  The examiner will look at the papers and if there are serious objections about the plan they may decide to have a public hearing or they may just look at the documents and review them, this stage could take a matter of days or a couple of weeks.

–       Reduce visual impact to the village by increasing the screenage

–       Other sites to be exhausted before they come to the British Heritage Site

Cllr Geary confirmed that 1 of the changes was a setback distance from workings which would affect Lathbury and potentially some of the properties in Water Lane.  Cllr Thatcher to go back and comment

PAVILION – TY advised that at the last meeting there was mention of clearing the ditch in the field and that she had contact Jason Grace from MKC who advised that the ditch needed clearing first before work to the drainage could be undertaken.  Cllr Johnstone confirmed that he would speak to Cllr Caldwell

Tracey Young                       Clerks Expenses                                        £17.20

10.3 Precept

Cllr Thatcher commented that many questions regarding the Precept in the past had been how much the NP plan was costing us to date.  Cllr Thatcher reported that thanks to mainly grants we have had £9000 covered by that therefore the total cost would likely be £4000. With regards to the increase in the Precept, this would be 1.9% rise which was under the 2% rise that the Government had suggested for most Councils and mainly this would be for the increase for a Village Caretaker to undertake the services that MKC were dropping.  This would be £3.33 a head. Budget would be visible on the Website

 TY

11.2 REF: 17/00206/OUT Hazelmead Farm, High St – outline permission for the erection of up to 30 dwellings with all matters reserved except for means of access.  Cllr Bush expressed concern that this was outside the village boundary, in open countryside and a site not allocated for development therefore this application was not supported by the PC

Appeal numbers to refer to are APP/YO435/W/16 315 2083 and APP/Y0435/W/16 315 2055

Mr Brewiss commented that he neither, supported or objected to this proposal but one of the important facilities that the village lacked was paved exercised areas and the land owner for this application had put in a gateway footpath and if such a footpath could be built then that would be very important.

11.3 Consideration of any other outstanding or recently submitted applications. Cllr Bush mentioned that there has been a lot of discussion regarding the Bedford Rd site and over the Xmas period there was an addition to the material submitted with the plan to incorporate a footpath linking it from the site closer to the centre of the village and the MK planning officer committed the application to Development Control within days. There was no consultation and therefore a serious issue at MKC.  The Parish Council intervened as this pavement would cut into 2 of Sheringtons’ ancient monuments.  Historic England were contacted and they sent a lot of advice to MKC.  MKC accepted that there were serious shortcomings and are looking into it and will address the short-comings.

There are 4 options for different crossings and Cllr Bush expressed his concerns about the safety of pedestrians crossing and the setting of the long barrow.

TY

A member of public mentioned that along the junction of Hill View and Perry Lane the bin wagon keeps reversing round and knocking the kerbstones off. TY to report to MKC

Mr Brewiss mentioned the dog waste bags in hedges. Cllr Bush advised that the PC had invested in new Dog Bins and Cllr Thatcher commented that dog waste can go in rubbish bins.

Mrs Tyrell commented on the state of the over grown hedges along Bedford Rd and School Lane and that these have not been cut within the last 5 years by the farmer. Mrs Tyrell advised that she had spoken to the MKC and they said it was not their responsibility. Cllr Bush advised that we would look into it.

Mr Powell reported on the size of the pot holes down School Lane and Cllr Thatcher confirmed that these were down to be filled on the 15^th February.

Mrs Lusted from the Sherington Youth Club asked for a small donation of £300 for extra equipment for crafts and sports.  Cllrs all in favour.

Mr Prewiss reported that he will be making a planning application for an animal field shelter along Coney Gray which is in the Article 4 area.  Cllrs confirmed that they would need to take a walk down to the area and see the plan

TY