Council Meeting, 26 September 2007

HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
All Councillors are summoned to a meeting of Helmdon Parish Council to be held in the
Reading Room, Church Street, Helmdon on Wed. 26th Sept. 2007, commencing at 7.30 pm
Members of the public and Press are invited to attend and to participate in the Open Forum
AGENDA
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Approval and Signature of the Minutes for the Ordinary Meeting held on 25 July and for the th Extra Ordinary Meeting held on 29 August 2007
3. Matters Arising from the Minutes of 25th July and 29th August 2007
4. Presentation regarding Blackpits – alterations to building
5. Open Forum
6. Finance th a) Financial statement b) Bills for Payment c) Payments Received d) Annual return – findings of internal and external auditors
7. Correspondence
8. Parish Lengthsmen Scheme – update
9. Blackpits Recycling Monitoring Group Report
10. Village of the Year 2007 – suggestions for spending the prize money
11. School Playground update a) Lease agreement – update on revised document submitted to NCC
b) Repairs/improvements to the play area
12. To receive the decisions of the Planning committee on applications since 25th July
13. Helmdon Talkabout
14. Parish Survey – NALC
15. WNDC – Consultation Document
16. Issues regarding Groves’ development
17. Flooding – documentation to be submitted to SNC
18. Reading Room – legal relationship with the Parish Council
19. Allotments
20. Helmdon information board – installation and timescales
21. Risk Assessments
22. Tennis Courts
23. Councillors’ Questions
Signed _______________________
Liz Hart, Parish Clerk
[address removed]

07/20
HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
Draft Minutes of the Ordinary meeting of Helmdon Parish Council held on Wednesday 26th September 2007
in the Reading Room, Church Street, Helmdon at 7:30pm
Present: Councillors Barnes, Burns, Coatsworth, Duncombe, England, Stothard, Thorne
Parish Clerk: Liz Hart
Ten members of the public were present.
Action
1 Apologies
Apologies had been received from Cllrs Turner and Crouch due to work commitments.
2 Approval and Signature of the Minutes for the Ordinary Meeting held on 25th July and for the Extra Ordinary Meeting held on 29th August 2007
th Cllr Stothard proposed, seconded by Cllr Thorne, that the minutes of 25 July be approved.
All in favour and Cllr Burns duly signed the minutes.
Cllr Duncombe proposed, seconded by Cllr Coatsworth that the minutes of 29th August be approved. All in favour and Cllr Burns duly signed the minutes.
3 Matters Arising from the Minutes of 25th July 2007 and 29th August 2007
None.
4 Presentation regarding Blackpits – alterations to building
Dr John Mullett (Development Director CRS) and Steve Sharratt (CEO of CRS) gave a short presentation regarding a planning application which Blackpits are to submit. A
structural survey had revealed that for technical reasons it would be advisable to replace the existing building. The chosen proposal is for an aluminium space frame covered with tensile fabric which is translucent; this would have the same footprint as the existing building. A
presentation folder was passed to the councillors depicting the proposed development.
Cllr Thorne queried what plans were in place for drainage; there will be a holding pond to manage the flow of water into the stream.
There being no further questions, Cllr Burns thanked the presenters for attending the meeting.
5 Open Forum
Blackpits – query regarding whether the holding lake could overflow. The Enviroment
Agency had provided the specification to ensure the lake would have adequate holding capacity.
Repair of bridge damaged by the flooding – concern was expressed at the loss of access for machinery. Cllr Barnes shared the frustration at how the bridge had been repaired by
NCC as it contradicted their own policy of improving access but confirmed that the landowner had maintained that no vehicular access was in fact required. It was pointed out that electrical supplies cross the land; the Clerk is to approach NCC and Andrew Grant to emphasise the potential problems.

07/21
6 Finance a) Financial Statement
Cash & Investments
Current Account (Coop) 19467.08
Nottingham Bond 500.00
Total 19,967.08
Cllr Stothard and the Clerk presented the following “sinking fund” figures which had been signed off by the Finance Committee.
Reserves – general and sinking fund
Year ending
31/03/07
Breakdown
General Sinking Fund Total
11,628.51 6817.49 18 446
Total 31/03/07 Spend this yr to date
Budgeted for sinking fund this yr
Exp total
31/03/08
750.00
150.00
125.00
200.00
200.00
5,450.00
475.00
63.78
800.00
800.00
Playground equipment
Notice boards
Computer
War memorial
Village Seats
4,700.00
700.00
117.49
600.00
700.00
375.00
178.71
100.00
Cllr Thorne proposed, seconded by Cllr Barnes that the statement be approved.All in favour.
b) Bills for Payment
Accounts Payable NET VAT GROSS Cheque
C + E Grass Cutting 200.00 0.00 200.00 500035
Neptune Outdoor Furniture 506.00 88.55 594.55 500036
SNC 1,083.22 0.00 1,083.22 500037
ABB 99.18 17.36 116.54 500038
49.89 500039 Allianz
Brackley Cottage Hospital (2/4) 250.00 0.00 250.00 500040
Clerk’s Wages (July and Aug) 353.07 0.00 353.07 500041
BDO Stoy Hayward LLP 120.00 21.00 141.00 500042
Request for donation for “The
Playing Field Newsletter”

07/22
Cllr Stothard proposed, seconded by Cllr Duncombe that the presented bills be paid. All in favour.
Regarding the donation request from Acre for the Playing Field Newsletter, after consideration it was decided not to make a donation.
c) Payments received
The following were presented:
Receipt Accounts Received
Louise Carroll (key deposit) 5.00 A/019
Phil King (key deposit) 5.00 A/018
Village of the Year 105.00
d) Annual return – findings of internal and external auditors
Clerk confirmed final documentation from BDO Stoy Hayward had been received. The
Notice of the Conclusion of Audit was to be duly displayed. Cllr England proposed, seconded by Cllr Coatsworth, that the Annual Return be approved and accepted by the
Council. All in favour.
It was noted that the Issues Arising Report contained only points identical to those in the
Internal Auditor’s Report (which the Finance Committee had already considered and addressed (Item 4 of Minutes F/07/2) and therefore no further action was necessary.
7 Correspondence
See Appendix A
Cllr Burns confirmed that he and Cllr Duncombe had met with Kurt Groves and that the stone wall will tone down after time.
8 Parish Lengthsmen Scheme
Clerk informed the meeting that NCC funding was no longer available so the scheme was on hold.
9 Blackpits Recycling Monitoring Group Report
David Powell was invited to speak. The Group have produced a newsletter and an article in
Talkabout. New Signage (“Slow – Vehicles Turning” and “Site Entrance” have been ordered and are expected imminently.
10 Village of the Year 2007 – suggestions for spending the prize money
Following a request in Talkabout, the Clerk had received a suggestion for more signs regarding Helmdon’s success in the Village of the Year Competition. Council considered this but it was felt to be impractical. Cllr Burns requested all Cllrs to consider other ideas for the next meeting as it had been carried forward on twice previous occasions – all proposals to be forwarded to the Clerk.
11 School Playground update a) Lease agreement – update on revised document submitted to NCC
Clerk informed the meeting that we should receive NCC’s comments back before the next meeting.
All Cllrs
Clerk

07/23
b) Repairs/improvements to the play area
The details of the Tenders have been forwarded to the Clerk for distribution to the companies who are to tender.
Clerk confirmed that the rubbish bin on the school field belongs to the Parish Council.
12 To receive the decisions of the Planning committee on applications since 25th July
Application number: S/2006/1194/P
Location: [address removed]Amendment: Change to roof form and construction
The Committee supported the application.
(Clerk informed the meeting that this was her property).
Application number: S/2006/1296/PR
Location: Two detached dwellings, land off Church Street, Helmdon
Amendment: Amended details to plot 2. Alterations to rear balconies. Replace first floor French doors with window. Roof lights to rear elevation. Raise first floor window cills by 150mm. Garage door widened by 150mm. Amended design to utility room door.
.
The Committee supported the application.
Application number: S/2006/1296/PR
Location: Two detached dwellings, land off Church Street, Helmdon
Amendment: Amended boundary layouts including 1.8m fence to Southern boundary and 1.8m wall to common boundary
.
The Committee had no objections however it would request that the applicant have a site meeting with HAFWEG (Helmdon, Astwell & Falcutt Wildlife & Environment Group) and the
Helmdon Parish Paths Group in order to establish the details of the proposal, particularly with regard to the boundary details.
The Clerk is to write to Groves concerning the boundary wall with the Pump Garden as new coping stones have been added without seeking proper consultation with the Council.
13 Helmdon Talkabout
Cllr Burns informed the meeting that Richard Wray and Wilf Forgham are resigning from their posts and asked the other Cllrs to enquire if anyone is interested in the post or come forward themselves. The Clerk was actioned to write a letter of thanks to Richard and Wilf for all their hard work.
14 Parish Survey – NALC
The Clerk and Chairman will convene to complete the survey prior to the deadline.
15 WNDC – Consultation Document
This will be discussed in detail at the next planning meeting. Cllr Burns is to order additional copies.
16 Issues regarding Groves’ development
Covered under correspondence 7. above.
17 Flooding – documentation to be submitted to SNC
Cllr Burns

07/24
All details on the flooded properties to be submitted to the Clerk.
18 Reading Room – legal relationship with the Parish Council
Cllr Thorne reported that he had had trouble locating the deeds; Cllr England believed them to be held in Lloyds TSB in Brackley – he will obtain a copy for the next meeting.
Clarity on the Scheme is to be sought from the Charity Commission.
19 Allotments
Clerk will seek tenders for the repair to the gatepost.
Clerk to check any conflict in tendering policy between Standing Orders and Financial
Regulations.
20
Cllr England
Clerk
Helmdon information board – installation and timescales
Clerk confirmed that further information is awaited from Ian Richardson in NCC.
21 Risk Assessments
These are being written up; Cllr Burns requested that Cllr Coatsworth circulate them as soon as they are complete.
22 Tennis Courts
Carried forward in the absence of Cllr Crouch
23
Cllr
Coatsworth
Clerk
Councillors’ Questions
New kerbsides are required outside 71 Wappenham Road – to be reported to Street Doctor. Clerk
Cllr England confirmed that Curly Earl had volunteered to organize the Poppies for
Remembrance Sunday. Clerk was actioned to write to him thanking him for his offer. Cllr
Burns reminded all Cllrs that they normally pay for the wreath on the War Memorial.
Clerk
Cllr Burns had received a letter regarding stones on the verge outside a property; Cllr
Stothard is to approach the landowner concerned.
The meeting closed at 9:05pm.
Cllr Stothard

07/25
Appendix – A Correspondence
South Northamptonshire Council/WNDC
Weekly Planning Application listings – 25/07 01/08, 08/08, 15/08, 22/08, 29/08, 05/09, 12/09
Allocated house number for coach house: no 46 Wappenham Road NN13 5QA
Electoral Register Updates –August
Details of Climate Friendly Communities Workshop – 16th October in Corby
West Northants Joint Planning Unit –Joint Core Strategy Issues and Options – notice of workshops
(posters displayed) and summary leaflet for distribution to Cllrs– comments to be returned by
Wednesday 31st October
Performance Plan x2, Best Value General User Survey x 2, Busy Person’s Guides
Set of Register of Interests Forms and accompanying letter
Housing Transfer Project – update letter
Targeting Fraud Campaign – poster
Review of Polling Places – respond by 30th Sept – circulated
Flooding – questionnaire and map for completion – on Agenda
Northamptonshire County Council
• Rural Accessibility Audit – returned
• Report to the People (achievement report)
• Emergency Planning Documentation – for Risk Assessment Officers
• Details of a public Consultation on Rural Bus Link – to be held on Thursday 29 November at the th school
NALC/ACRE
Update
Invitation to ACRE Sports Fields and Play Areas – passed to Playground Committee
Playing Field Newsletter
Village Viewpoint – Autumn 2007
NALC – Receipt for Training Course
NALC Parish Survey – on Agenda
ACRE – details of AGM (held in August)
ACRE/Every Action Counts – community champion details
NALC – details of AGM (Wed 17th October), request for nominations for County Committee
NALC – feedback from Village of the Year – circulated
Miscellaneous

07/26
Coop bank – August and September statement
Brackley Cottage Hospital– letter of thanks for £250 donation
Allianz – revised documents for increase in fidelity insurance
SNVB September Newsletter and recruitment posters
Banbury CAB – poster for display
Tim Boswell – leaflet on “Understanding Basic Flood Recovery Procedures”
Allianz – receipt for £158.15
Play and Activity Today – Magazine – for playground committee
Wicksteed – advertising flyer – for playground committee
Alzheimers Newsletter
Northants Touring Arts Programme
Groves – response to the Planning Committee’s request for the applicant to have a site meeting with HAFWEG
Groves – response to Council’s letter concerning the stone wall repairs and general concerns at site tidiness
Arts News South Northamptonshire
Police – Northamptonshire West Stakeholder Newsletter and Survey – forwarded to Cllr Crouch
Northamptonshire Neighbourhood Watch – invite to meeting on 24 September – forwarded to Cllr th
Crouch
Vitalise – Breaks for Disabled People and Carer – circulated
Northants Touring Arts
Townscape – product catalogue
Flooding details – emails received from Brian Bradford, Richard Wray, Jayne Brown, Val Eyre,
Richard Farquharson, Ian Drew th SNVB – details of “Rural Reach at the Racecourse” event on 17 October
Northamptonshire NHS – details of AGM of PCT
BDO – Completed annual return and associated documentation
Accounts received
• Allianz – £49.89 – additional premium for increased fidelity insurance
• SNC Invoice for Election costs – £1,083.22
• Northamptonshire ACRE – cheque for £105 for Village of the Year
• Neptune Outdoor Furniture – Invoice – 618.05 and credit note 23.50
• C and E Grass Cutting – £200
• Allotment Key Deposits – £10 (£5 from Phil King, £5 from Louise Carroll)
• ABB – Lighting £116.54
• BDO – Annual Return Charge – £141.00