Council Meeting, 28 March 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 Wednesday 28th March 2007, commencing at 7.30 pm
Members of the public and Press are invited to attend this meeting 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 24th January
2007
3. Matters Arising from the Minutes of 24th January 2007
4. Open Forum
5. Finance a) Financial statement b) Bills for Payment c) Payments Received d) Fencing tenders e) VoY – to consider how to spend £125 prize money f) Insurance – consideration of increase to fidelity insurance cover
6. Correspondence
7. Blackpits Recycling Site a) Current Issues b) New planning application regarding expansion
8. Helmdon School and Security
9. Village of the Year 2007
10. School Playground update a) Lease agreement – Consideration of Heads of Terms b) Update on outstanding repairs/improvements
11. To receive the decisions of the Planning committee on applications since 24th January
12. Allotments
13. Election Information
14. Update on Groves Development Concerns a) water b) proposed Tree Preservation Order
15. Annual Parish Meeting 2007
16. Risk Assessments
17. Notice Boards and benches
18. Councillors’ Questions
Signed _______________________
Liz Hart, Parish Clerk
[address removed]

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HELMDON PARISH COUNCIL
Draft minutes of the meeting of Helmdon Parish Council held on Wednesday 28th March 2007
in the Reading Room, Church Street, Helmdon at 7:30 p.m.
Present: Councillors Bearman, Brookhouse, Burns (Chair), Earl, England, Moody, Spendlove.
Smith.
Parish Clerk: Liz Hart
Fifteen members of the public were present.
Action
1 Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr Watson due to a billiards final; these were accepted by the Council. Cllr Bearman was delayed and arrived during agenda item 3.
2 Approval and signature of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 24th January
2007
The following corrections were made:
3a) Robertson amended to “Robinson”
4) Cllr Brookman should read Cllr Andrew Grant
17) request for funding for PSCOs amended to request for funding for PSCOs and Special
Constables.
Cllr Earl proposed, seconded by Cllr England that the Minutes be accepted with the corrections above. All were in favour; Cllr Burns duly signed the Minutes.
3. Matters arising from the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 24th January
8 Councillors’ Undertaking to Work within the Code of Conduct
– Cllr Brookhouse asked Cllr Spendlove where she had obtained her information from; she responded that a reply was not necessary as Cllr Brookhouse had not denied the instance described. Cllr Brookhouse wished to record that he felt the incident had cast a vicious slur upon him. He asked Cllr Moody why he had failed to declare an interest in 5(e) as he was a member of HYHO and 5f) the budget proposal as there is provision for the lease agreement for the playing field. Cllr Moody apologised to the Council if they considered an interest should have been declared, highlighting the importance of a clear agenda so that one can consider declarations in advance. Cllr Spendlove agreed that she should have declared an interest in 5f) the budget as she was a member of the Friends of the Churchyard.
Cllr Burns emphasised that Councillors should take care to raise every interest.
Cllr England proposed a vote of confidence in Cllr Brookhouse, seconded by Cllr Earl.
Those in favour: Cllrs Burns, Earl, England and Bearman.
Three abstentions: Cllrs Moody, Spendlove and Smith. Motion carried.
4. Open Forum
The following points were raised by members of the public:
Brackley Cottage Hospital donation – were Council aware of the actual number of Helmdon residents who had benefited from care as it had been stated that under s137, 10% should benefit? It was pointed out that one could benefit without actually using the service.
Budget 2007/8 – this was agreed with seven abstentions. It was confirmed that, as the majority of those voting were in favour, the motion had been passed correctly. The work of

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the RFO in bringing in expenditure below budget was congratulated. Cllr Bearman and
Smith were applauded for their precept proposal. It seemed sensible to make 4 staged payments to Brackley hospital in light of its uncertain future. Cllr Brookhouse declared an interest at this point and commented on the ongoing fight with the NHS to keep an intermediate care facility in Brackley
Blackpits recycling site – given the planning applications had been submitted, would a public meeting be organised as previously indicated? Cllr Burns confirmed that it would, as such applications demand. Suspicions were aired as to the timings of the Open Days. Cllr
Brookhouse stated that the application is via NCC rather than SNC with the Environment
Agency responsible for issuing the licence. He further commented that the Parish Council has always shown interest in the site and with its knowledge of the background of the site, it is uniquely qualified to comment. Parish funds should not be used to pay for expert opinions on the site. There was dissatisfaction that no-one had seen the recent Audit Report undertaken by the EA – the clerk was actioned to obtain a copy. Of particular concern were the heaps of waste in various locations around the parish.
A request was made to ask C + E (grass cutters) not to trim the daffodils bulbs until June.
Footpaths and pavements – Roger Miles reported that a site meeting near Tony Wilson’s allotments concerning an area prone to flooding indicated a hopeful outcome. Regarding other issues Cllr Bearman stated that no responses had been forthcoming from his nd enquiries. A meeting with Margaret Andrews (Atkins) was scheduled for 2 April. Cllr Moody proposed seconded by Cllr England that the clerk write to Andrew Grant and Robin Digby highlighting Council’s dissatisfaction with the lack of response.
Two members of the public highlighted their high level of confidence in Cllr Brookhouse as a person of the highest integrity.
5. Finance a) To receive the financial statement
Cash & Investments
Current Account (Coop) 19368.01
Debit Cheque To Be Presented (Village of Year) -15.00
Nottingham Bond 500.00
Total 19853.01
Cllr Moody proposed, seconded by Cllr Burns, that the financial statement be accepted. All were in favour.
b) Bills for Payment
Cllr Moody declared a prejudicial interest in the Helmdon Website Management costs,
NALC membership and NALC internal audit and withdrew from the room.
The clerk noted that as Council had not yet been invoiced by Bernie Wadeson (notice board repair), the bill would fall payable in the following financial year.

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Accounts Payable Cheque
Helmdon Website Management Costs 100.00 500011
NALC Membership £167 + £5 electronic copy of Update 172.00 500012
NALC Internal Audit Charge 126.00 500013
ABB Lighting 110.92 500014
Clerk’s Wages (Jan and Feb) 337.38 500015
Clerk’s expenses (laser cartridge) 60.99 500015
Total 907.29
Cllr Bearman proposed, seconded by Cllr Earl that the bills for payment be accepted as a whole. All were in favour. Cllr Moody returned to the room.
c) Payments Received
Accounts Received (all shown in current balance)
Allotment key deposit – receipt no A/003 Paul Salmon 5.00
Allotment key deposit – receipt no A/004 Catherine Ruffley 5.00
Allotment key deposit – receipt no A/005 Mr Drew 5.00
Allotment key deposit – receipt no A/006 Mr Francis 5.00
Allotment key deposit – receipt no A/007 Mr Davies 5.00
Allotment key deposit – receipt no A/008 Stuart Loveday 5.00
Interest (Coop) 22.00
Total 52.00
It was proposed by Cllr Smith, seconded by Cllr Earl that the accounts received be accepted. All were in favour.
d) Fencing tenders
As the clerk had received only one updated quote, Cllr Burns proposed, seconded by Cllr
England that this decision be held in abeyance until May’s meeting. All were in favour.
e) £125 prize money from Village of the Year
It was proposed by Cllr England, seconded by Cllr Bearman that suggestions for the prize money should come from the parishioners via an article in Talkabout. All were in favour.
f) Insurance – consideration of increase to fidelity insurance cover
The Clerk informed the meeting that the previous audit report had highlighted the fact that the fidelity insurance was not high enough in respect to the precept and monies held. The cost of increasing the insurance will be approximately £40; Cllr Moody proposed, seconded by Cllr England that the Clerk apply for the increase. All were in favour.

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6 Correspondence
Listed separately: Appendix A. No further comments.
7
a)
b)
Blackpits Recycling Site
Current Issues
New planning application regarding expansion
Cllr Earl and Cllr Bearman both declared an interest. Cllr Moody proposed, seconded by
Cllr Earl that a date of 12th April be set for a Public Meeting to be immediately followed by an
Extra-ordinary Meeting at which the Council would discuss the applications and agree comments. The clerk was actioned to invite all relevant parties: SNC, NCC, Andrew Grant,
Robin Digby, the Environment Agency, the Humphreys, CRS. All were in favour.
The Clerk read out a summary of the planning applications.
8 Helmdon School and Security
Cllr Moody declared a personal interest as he is employed by the school, a governor and liaison officer.
Cllr Brookhouse commented that he felt the school was very exposed security wise and it was too easy for a person to enter on to the premises. He cited examples in Brackley where premises were surrounded by a chain link fence and proposed a solution of a new fence running from the bungalow boundary around the higher tarmac play area and down to join with the fence behind the oil tank. It was proposed by Cllr Brookhouse, seconded by Cllr
Bearman, that the clerk write to the school governors with this proposal. 6 in favour, 1
against, motion carried.
9 Village of the Year 2007
The Clerk informed the meeting that the form was almost complete and thanked those
Councillors who had comment on the draft application.
10
a)
b)
School Playground update
Lease agreement – Consideration of Heads of Terms
Cllr Moody declared an interest in the lease agreement.
Cllr Burns will provide Cllr Bearman with the comments made by Philip King so that a recommendation may be made by the Playground Committee to the next meeting.
Update on outstanding repairs/improvements
Cllr Bearman confirmed that repairs were outstanding pending obtaining materials.
Cllr Bearman confirmed the swing surface would be power washed as soon as possible.
11 To receive the decisions of the Planning committee on applications since 24th
January
Application No. S/2006/1067/P – 20 Bell Close Helmdon
Proposal: Single storey extension to rear
Decision: Support
Application No. S/2007/0081/P – 2 Wrightons Hill
Proposal: Ground Floor and first floor extension to rear
Decision: Support
Application No.S/2006/1296/PR – Two detached dwellings, land off Church Street, Helmdon
Amendment: Amended door and window design to dining room, breakfast room and kitchen; window added to ground floor WC; external door to utility room moved
Decision: no objection – the amendment was noted in absence of further information
Cllr Burns
Cllr Bearman

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Application no: S/2007/0068/PCC – Helmdon Primary School Station Road Helmdon
Proposal: Single storey extension to provide classroom, cloakroom and store
The following comments were submitted to NCC:
A letter was read out from a Councillor who made several points on the application, as follows:
1 Concern over the positioning of the proposed extension
2 No dimensions were given to the size of the extension apart from the square metres of the extension
3 A loss of playground area and difficult to use with safety.
4 Positioning an extension in the middle of the play area could become a safety issue for the children.
5 The general safety issue was also raised. It was pointed out that the development would create two areas secluded, quite and free from the public view. This area would be free for disturbance by undesirables to hide in.
The Parish Council sub committee then looked at the application for the additional school room for Helmdon School. The council recognised the need for additional accommodation at the school for the increase in students attending. The Parish Council would like to bring to the attention of the Northampton County Council the following points,
1 The plans submitted for observations were misleading as they did not give measurements and were not to scale with regard to the site.
2 The area for development would decrease the play ground area and would make it difficult for parents who bring their children to school.
3 The drawing did not indicate the loss of windows to the existing school room classroom 06
and what was proposed.
4 On an application for a public building such as a school, fire and safety issues should be of concern to the Parish Council. The council are particularly concerned on the general safety of the school playground.
(1) With this plan it allows two areas to be extremely difficult to monitor especial when the school is not manned.
(2) The Parish Council Sub Committee also feel that the general security of the whole school should be addressed, with the play area being enclosed by a 6ft chain link fence, as are found in schools in Brackley and the surrounding area.
12 Allotments
Clerk confirmed that the site was now secured by a padlock on the gate and holders who wanted keys had been issued with them. A list of issues had been drawn up and will be passed on to the next allotment Committee.
13 Election Information
All information received had been communicated to Councillors by the Clerk. Clerk still had spare nominations forms.
14 Update on Groves Development Concerns water proposed Tree Preservation Order
Cllr Moody and Cllr Bearman declared an interest in the above.
The clerk had already communicated on both issues to the Cllrs since the previous meeting; the water issue had been resolved and whilst Ian Lorman (SNC) had decided not to impose a TPO on the trees on the site, the Planning Officer had asked for Groves to move the proposed close boarded boundary fence back behind the hedgerow so that it would be preserved.
Clerk

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15 Annual Parish Meeting 2007
The draft Agenda was discussed; Cllr Earl proposed seconded by Cllr Brookhouse that the item giving prospective Council candidates the opportunity to speak be deleted as not all candidates might be able to attend. Six in favour, one against motion carried.
16 Risk Assessments
The risk assessments were signed off.
A review of the financial risk assessment indicated that the Council is still insured by Aon; clerk to update with the current details this and also to amend the fidelity insurance details once they are increased.
17 Notice Boards and benches
Helmdon information Board – Cllr Spendlove passed the Clerk some amendments; as these were small it was proposed by Cllr Burns and seconded by Cllr Brookhouse that if they could not be made easily without further input, Council should accept the draft version. All in favour.
Jenner’s piece bench replacement – Cllr Earl proposed, seconded by Cllr Moody that the first choice replacement should be Cara (Neptune Outdoor), with Avenue (Neptune
Outdoor) as a second choice. The base to which the bench is attached must be concrete.
All were in favour.
18
Clerk
Councillors’ Questions
Cllr Earl commented on the heaps of spoil on the Old Rectory site.
Cllr Burns thanked all Cllrs for their input over the last 4 years, and wished those standing for re-election good luck. He also thanked the Clerk for all her work since July 2006, wishing her luck with the new arrival.
The meeting closed at 10:00 p.m.
The date of the next meeting is now
Monday 14
th
May 2007 – AGM and
Ordinary Meeting
Clerk