Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Minutes of March 5th 2009.

ORLINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held in the Village Hall on Thursday 5th March 09

19.Present: Cllrs Miles (Chairman), Rootham (Deputy), Allen, Waller, and Alison McLaven (Clerk).

20. Apologies: Were received and accepted from Cllrs Norton, Rowlett, and Timms

21. Minutes of meetings 8th January and 24th February 2009

21.1 The minutes of 8th January were signed as a true and correct record.

21.2 3.2 Councillor Miles has spoken to Mr Gosling who is working on the website. He is very overworked at the moment. Councillor Miles will revisit him. It was noted that the money has not yet been paid, as the work has not yet been completed.

21.3 9. All the planning applications have now been approved.

21.4 4.2 Councillor Allen had spoken to Joe Hubbard several times but not received any formal response. The Clerk had spoken to Joe Hubbard whilst attending a meeting, and discussed the section 106 monies.

The Borough has been contacted by the developer and whilst they had no problem with what the money was being spent on, they felt that due to the economic situation the money could be reduced. The borough will not allow that to happen. The developers also felt that the triggers for the money have not yet been reached.

The Clerk will write to Joe Hubbard re the conversation and insist the money index linked and ask to confirm that although the 3rd trigger may not have been met the first 2 have and therefore surely 2/3rds of the payment should have been made.

21.5 4.3 Helen Howard (Highways) has now received the section 106 agreement, but is away possibly ill and we are chasing this issue. The Clerk also mentioned this matter to Joe Hubbard, and he was looking into this.

21.6 4.4 The empowerment grant it was agreed to go ahead and replace and relocate the notice board to the top of Rectory Lane, with the bench and paved area. Councillor Allen will contact Sam Bosworth to arrange this.

21.7 11.2 The meeting regarding access to the allotments had taken place and is minuted at 24th February meeting.

21.8 5.3 Councillor Miles will put in the newsletter that abandoned vehicles need to be reported to the police.

21.9 The minutes of 24th February 2009 were renumbered, and 14.4 changed from “skidded” to “parked on the verge”.

21.10 15.1 A grit bin has been placed on the corner of Orchard Close, by the Highways department. Following discussion it was agreed to write and ask for a further bin at the top of Rectory Lane and one in Harrowden Road below the 30mph sign. The County Council should agree to this as it meets with their criteria, but if they will not the Parish Council will purchase the bins.

21.11 18.2 (13.2) Councillors Allen and Waller will write a letter of clarification for residents, explaining about smart water and its merits.

22. Correspondence

22.1 Village Agent – The Clerk had received an email asking for information as the county are looking to fund village agents, who will bridge the gap between the local community and the statutory and voluntary sector organisations. The Clerk to be the contact.

22.2 Several conferences taking place, spring conference on 18th March, working together conference 24th April, Wellingborough Partnership 16th March, Councillors to attend if possible.

22.3 Temporary Closure of the Post Office – retrospectively from 16th December.

22.4 Bus Service contract renewal. The service is only one day a week, but the clerk to comment that we do not wish the service to be reduced.

23.Financial Matters

23.1 The following accounts were approved for payment.
602 E-on – electricity supply £852.20
603 Clerk salary £246.9024.

24. Reports from external meetings attended

24.1 The Clerk had attended the Parish Forum. Once again the prior information for this was of varying amounts to different Councils. Some only received draft agendas, some full, and some had not received anything. The discussion on the CPA report was not very informative, and the Clerk will write for a copy of the report.

25 .Planning

WP/2009/0038/F – this has been discussed at the previous meeting and as no residents attended the meeting to discuss further, the council will comment that they would like the hedge line to remain in place as a condition of approval.

26.Spending Empowerment Grant

This was approved under minute 21.6

27.Emergency Planning –dates for training evenings

Two meetings are needed, the first to confirm the plan and its details, the second to simulate the circumstances, there is a meeting with the Borough regarding emergency plans and therefore it was thought best to have the second meeting after this. All nominated in the plan to attend the meetings. It was then agreed the first meeting would be 30th April and the second on 21st May, both meetings to be at 7.30pm, in the village hall.

28. Rectory Lane Grass Verge Repairs.

28.1 It was noted that the grass verge outside the entrance to the Dovecote and outside the village hall presents as an untidy area. It is difficult to stop people parking on it. It was agreed to ask Highways to tarmac this. The other side of the verge also needs tarmacing, and Highways should be asked to do this as well.

28.3 An article in the Evening Telegraph was brought to the attention of the council. This advised that gangs of repairmen would be working on minor highway repairs and general tasks to improve the local environment. These would be called lenghtmen gangs and they were historically part of the local community. It was hoped that this would happen again. Repairs still need to be reported to Street Doctor and then the local lenghtmen would do the work.


28.4 It was agreed that the Clerk should write to the Chief Executive of the County
Council regarding the review done with Verity Chilvers, as a year has gone by and nothing has been done, we have been waiting for signs to be moved and nothing has happened. Accident debris on the Harrowden Road has been there for several months

29. Mowing Equipment

Councillor Rootham proposed Councillor Miles seconded, all in favour, that the mowing equipment be serviced. It should be noted that only the Green Team, Councillors and anyone over 18 nominated and approved by the above can use the mowing equipment.

30.Annual Parish Meeting

Smartwater to be discussed at the meeting.

31.Village Hall

A touring company is coming to the village hall, but there are concerns regarding how well this has been advertised.

32. Any Other Business

32.1 There are concerns from residents about how the electricity company is cutting back trees.

32.2 Councillor Waller is updating the welcome pack.

32.3 It was asked if the Queens Arms could advertise in the newsletter, mentioning smartwater, Councillor Miles will contact the Landlord and discuss.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.10 pm, with thanks from the Chair to those attending.



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Chairman Date

Monday, March 2, 2009

February 24th 2009 MINUTES

ORLINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held in the Village Hall on
Tuesday 24th February 09

13.Present: Cllrs Miles (Chairman), Rootham (Deputy), Allen, Rowlett, Waller, and Alison McLaven (Clerk).

14 Apologies: Were received and accepted from Cllrs Norton and Watts

15 Grit Bins
15.1 There are no grit bins in Orlingbury. In the past the salt has been dumped on the corner of The Green, which was not good for the grass. There had been a lot of snow and ice over recent weeks and residents had commented on problems. The Highways gritting map was produced for information and showed that the Broughton to Little Harrowden Road was the main one to be gritted and that the road from the A43 to Isham would be gritted in prolonged adverse weather conditions. It was noted that the County ran short of salt and only gritted the major roads. Grit bins in other villages were not refilled when they ran empty.

15.2 A resident had contacted the County because they could not get out of Rectory Lane to Isham Road. They had received a full response from County who had advised they were looking into the situation, but at the moment they could not afford to put grit bins in any more locations.

15.3 The Clerk has been looking into prices for bins, but the County have not yet
got back to her. The Clerk will now contact Bosworths and Glasdon to provide costs as well

15.4 NALC advised, a person is only liable if they leave the road in a dangerous condition when spreading the grit, it is a public service to provide grit. Clerk to write to Highways and ask if the Broughton to Little Harrowden Road was gritted.

11.Allotments
11.1 Councillors Miles and Allen have met with Rod Derry and the agreement has been finalised. Mr Titmuss has been contacted and is happy as long as the entrances to the properties are not blocked. He also has concerns re heavy traffic, the allotment agreement asks allotment holders to keep traffic to a minimum, and use consideration in accessing the site.

11.2 The Land registry confirms that the Parish Council owns 15 feet from the centre of the hedge at 4 Northampton Road. This is important to confirm as the future access for when it becomes burial land must be retained.

11.3 Rod Derry has done a lot of work meeting with the allotment holders, who are advised that they have a 2 month notice period if they are not keeping the allotment in good condition. There will be a meeting soon which Councillor Miles will attend and get the holders to sign the agreement and collect the £5 rent monies from each holder. 11.4 There are still fence posts across the end of the allotments and it has been agreed to plant a Hawthorn hedge along this line, with a large enough gap left for access.

12. Planning
Councillors Rootham and Rowlett declared an interest.WP/2009/0038/F – Single Storey extensions & alterations 11 The Leys Tim Robinson

As long as the hedge line remains there were no objections.

It was agreed to wait until after the next meeting for the Clerk to put this comment on the plans, in case any resident attended the regular meeting expecting this to be discussed, due to members of the public in attendance at this meeting.

13. Smart Water
13.1 Charlotte Cook had been advised that the cost of smart water would increase from the beginning of March from £19.50 per household, and that it would also need to be re- registered at a cost after a year.

13.2 Smart Water is a small vial of liquid containing a DNA like number, which shows up under ultraviolet light, allowing the police to return stolen property, and making it difficult for thieves to sell on. The liquid is applied with the brush supplied and can mark between 75 & 100 items.

13.3 Councillor Miles proposed and Councillor Allen seconded, All in favour of the Parish council buying 50 kits and selling them on at cost to the residents. Also 4 signs to go on lamp posts advising that this is a Smart Water area, (similar to Neighbour hood watch signs) to be purchased. Clerk to order.

14. Any Other Business
14.1 There are potholes on the Isham Road by the pony paddock and a long wide pothole in Rectory Lane. Councillor Rowlett to report to Street Doctor.

14.2 It was agreed to put relocating the notice board and moving forward with spending the money received from Councillor Bailey on the next agenda. The current noticeboard was in a poor state and needed attention.

14.3 To confirm the dates of the emergency plan meetings at the meeting.

14.4 It was noted that a 4 x 4 had skidded out side the village hall and caused a large ditch in the grass verge. This also to be put on the next agenda to discuss ways forward, replanting, resurfacing etc.



There being no further business the meeting was closed at 8.50pm, with thanks from the Chair to those attending.

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Chairman Date