Woodford Parish Council Minutes September 2005

Present:	Mr P Bird (chair), Mr S Clifton, Mr P Colson, Mrs I Godden, Mrs S Hayman, Mrs E Reid, Mr I Vaughan, Mr M Vaughan, and Mr D Woods
In attendance:	Cllr A Langley, Cllr D Hughes, Mr P T Bird (Clerk)
Apologies for absence:	Mrs A Fulcher, Mr D Sharples, Mr Whalley, Mrs Whalley
Minutes of last meeting:	The minutes of the August Parish Council meeting having been circulated, were proposed by Mrs Hayman and seconded by Mr Clifton as a true record of the meeting. It was unanimously agreed that the Chairman sign them as such.
Youth Forum Update:	1: Mr M Vaughan informed the meeting that the first aid course he was to attend had been cancelled due to lack of participant. A further course may be arranged later.
Police Report:	2: No Police were in attendance and a report had not been received.
Comments from Electors:	3: No members of the electorate were present.
Cllr Langley’s Comments:	4: Cllr Langley explained that the County Council would be contributing £1.5 million of their budget to the Police to increase the number of Community Support Officers. 5: Landfill Site restrictions previously applied to vehicles visiting the sites would be lifted from 5 October. 6: Irthlingborough Diamonds were seeking to increase their links with local youth organisations.
Cllr Hughes Comments:	7: Cllr Hughes drew attention to various funds available to local groups from East Northants Council. 8: Attention was also drawn to a counter proposal from the “East Northants Local Government Committee” to merge the Woodford War with Thrapston (part of) and Denford, instead of Great and Little Addington (see para 23). 9: Cllr Hughes asked when the Police last attended the Parish Council meeting and whether the Council was happy with the attendance rate. Parish Councillors informed that the Police last attended in February and a more frequent attendance would be greatly appreciated. Cllr Hughes said that he had recently spoken to the local Inspector and would formally raise this issue.
Matters arising from the minutes:	10: Prince of Wales. The Clerk said he understood that extended licensing hours had been awarded by ENC 11: BT Phonebox. A letter from BT acknowledged the Councils concerns regarding the alterations to the public telephone (cash to cashless). 12: Motocross. The Clerk’s letter to Mrs Beard of Alledge Drive regarding the Motocross was read out. 13: Dog Bin Thrapston Road. It was suggested that the location of the new dog bin be placed on the side of the new path in Thrapston Road.
Planning Issues:	14: Planning Committee Comments a) No Applications had been reviewed since the last Parish Council Meeting 15: East Northamptonshire Council Decisions a) ENC had not made any planning decisions affecting Woodford. 16: New Planning Applications a) Alterations to Ringstead Mill. Alterations including the renovation of the old Mill building and other works were discussed. The main concern was how parking was to be addressed and the Clerk was asked to convey these concern to ENC
New Correspondence:	17: Donation for Churchyard Maintenance. A letter from the Church requesting a donation towards the cost of maintaining the public graveyard. Following scrutiny of the accounts which showed a considerable deficit when compared to previous years. The clerk was asked to clarify the cost of tree pruning and also a further anomaly. Agenda Item for October. 18: Phil Hope MP had written with details of the new Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill. 19: Standards Board. Agenda and reports for the forthcoming ENC Standards Board meeting were to hand. Clerk to file. 20: Definitive Map. The definitive map was to hand on loan to the Parish Council Clerk. The map can be viewed but must not be copied or leant to any other person. 21: ENC Business Directory. The Clerk drew attention to the new directory, and also that many Woodford businesses were excluded. It was agreed to express the council’s thoughts to ENC. 22: Community Safety Forum. The next meeting is timetabled or 19 October at Queen Victoria Hall at 8.00pm 23: Electoral Reform East Northants had written informing that a lobby group – East Northants Local Government Committee – had suggested that Woodford ward be merged with Denford and part of Thrapston, allowing Ringstead to merge with Little and Great Addington. Parish Councillors voice extreme dismay at such a suggestion commenting that Woodford had very few links with Thrapston, designated schooling was towards Irthlingborough, the church has direct links with Little and Great Addington, and also shared a common County Councillor. The Clerk was asked to convey these comments to ENC and request that ENC approve the original “status quo” for Woodford and the Addingtons. The Clerk was also asked to try and find out more about the “lobby group”. 24: The Chairman asked that the following items of correspondence be circulated: a) East midlands Development Agency News b) ENC Councillor Information Circular c) County Council Rights of Way Improvement Plan d) Rural Rides newsletter e) Guidance on Developer Contributions in ENC f) Local Transport Plan g) County Council Community Funding News h) STOP development plans in East Northants i) Community Planning Network News j) ENC Business Directory
Finance:	Balance brought forward		£5011.51
	Less
	Litter Picker	£157.20
	P Bird Clerk’s salary	£190.00
	ABB Lighting ¼ Maintenance	£253.11
	ENC (verges cutting April – July 4 cuts)	£618.27
			£1218.58
	Balance Carried forward		£3792.93

	25: Mr I Vaughan proposed, Mrs Godden seconded, and it was unanimously agreed that the above accounts be settled.
Future of Children’s Playground	26: The Clerk reported that he had received no comments from members of the public regarding the future of the playground. Quotes were being sought for new safety flooring but had yet to be received. It was agreed to discuss the matter further at the next meeting.
Poppy Wreath for Remembrance Sunday	27: It was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council should once again lay a wreath at the war Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. It was further agreed that on the proposal by Mrs Reid (seconded by Mr Colson) that a donation of £50.00 be made to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
Any other Business:	28: Daffodils. Mr Woods proposed and it was agreed that the Clerk should purchase a sack of daffodil bulbs for planting later this autumn. 29: Zebra Crossing. Mr I Vaughan suggested a Zebra Crossing in the High Street. It was agreed that the Clerk approach the County Council to find out how to proceed. 30: Street Lamps. Various street lamps that were not working were mentioned and various holes in road were raised including Mill Road, Whittlesey Terrace, Highfield Thrapston Road were mentioned and the Clerk said he would refer them to the “Street Doctor” 31: Car Parked on Village green. Mr Sharples had informed the Clerk that he had placed a note on the windscreen of a vehicle (Registration Number obtained) of a vehicle that had parked on the village green requesting that it not be done again. 32: Live ammunition. Ammunition found near the river had also been passed to the Clerk via a Parish Councillor, who was to pass it on to the Police.

Woodford, Near Kettering, Northamptonshire, England

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