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