July 2025 Minutes
Present
Members: Deborah Croyle (Chair), Rob Jarvis (Vice Chair), Andy Croyle, Sharon Hall, Suzanne Chappell, Nicholas Watts, Nicky Mansellas-Cooper, Anna Spencer and Jim Mitchell
Clerk: Angela Harrison
County Cllr: Raymond Condell
7 Parishioners
Public Forum
12. Chairman’s remarks and announcements.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and requested a minute’s silence for Bruce Banstead who sadly passed away recently. He was one of the first volunteers for the Community Speed Watch.
Paul Barrett
One of the new interactive speed signs in Hop Pole is being obscured by a tree.
It was agreed that the tree needs to be trimmed back so that the sign can operate properly.
Paul agreed to ask his contact to do it.
Recycling and black bags down Campain’s Lane and Carrington Drive are being collected in a small, caged van and going to landfill, as the waste freighters cannot gain access.
PC will raise this issue with Cllr Astill, as he is the Portfolio Holder for waste at SHDC.
ACTION: Clerk
Reports that a Councillor is using social media in a way that is not acceptable.
The Chair advised that there is a social media Policy in place and advised all Members to familiarise themselves with it.
Mr and Mrs Boyce
Mr Boyce stated that they reside at 4 Haywain Drive, opposite the wildflower garden and that thistles and seeds are being blown across the road and going into his garden.
Cats are bringing rats and mice from there to his garden.
Mr and Mrs Boyce suggested that the wildflower garden should be moved somewhere else in the village.
The Chair advised that they contact the Gardening Club directly and write in to the Parish Clerk with their concerns.
Resident from Hop Pole
Also raised the issue of the interactive speed sign in Hop Pole and questioned the reasoning behind putting it there in the first place.
SC explained that LCC Highways stipulated where the signs could be placed and that the foliage had been trimmed back in the Spring, but since then the leaves have come out the sign has become obscured.
The gentleman stated that the other sign is outside his property and the sign is almost constantly flashing up in red, and asked what is being done about all this speeding traffic.
The Chair explained that the signs are recording data which can be downloaded and made available to the Police.
The resident also complained about the condition of the road through Hop Pole and stated that vehicles were travelling on the opposite side of the road to avoid it.
AC advised that these and many other highway faults have been reported on Fix My Street.
Cllr Condell stated that the Highways officers will be taking him around all of the roads in his ward so that he can see the issues first-hand.
The resident asked whether it would it be possible to have a Police presence in the village?
RJ advised that we have no community policing at the moment but he will be having a meeting with the PCSO next week, when she comes back on duty and will raise this with her.
Nicky Mansellas-Cooper
NM-C wished to raise an issue on behalf of the gentleman who runs the village shop. He is looking to open a Post Office within the shop but needs proof that there is a need.
The Council agreed that they would support this.
Presentation
The Chair invited Paul Barrett to accept a plaque to commemorate his 24-years of service on the Parish Council and wished him every happiness in his retirement.
13. To receive and approve reasons for absence.
Apologies were received from Louise McGuinness and District Cllrs Bryan Alcock and Jim Astill.
14. To resolve to Co-opt either Kayleigh Montgomery or Trevor Jackson into the vacant seat left by Paul Barrett.
A secret ballot was taken which resulted in Kayleigh Montgomery being co-opted into the vacant seat. Kayleigh was invited to join the meeting and signed a Declaration of Office in the presence of the Clerk.
15. To receive Declarations of Interest, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 being any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Member’s Register of Interests.
There were none.
16. Notes of the Annual Council meeting, held on the 27th of May to be approved as the Minutes.
The notes were proposed RJ by and seconded by AC
It was resolved to approve the Notes as the Minutes and the Chair signed them as a true record.
17. Matters arising from the Minutes, (not included in this Agenda).
There were none.
18. To receive the Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding.
The report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
Speed Limit Reduction (40-30) DSN
The Clerk advised that she has received an update, with thanks to Cllr Condell for chasing.
Senior Traffic Engineer advised that they are unable to give any further updates ‘due to complex electrical work involved in the delivery of this scheme that requires the input of external stakeholders.’
Chair requested that Cllr Condell go back to the STE to ask for clarification of his statement.
ACTION: Cllr Condell
War Memorial Cleaning
The Clerk advised that she has now received a quote of £1,025 +VAT for the cleaning of the War Memorial. This includes low pressure, high temperature steam and re-colour of the lettering. Although she has asked for a date for when the work can be carried out, she has not received a reply to date.
The Chair proposed that the quote be accepted and this was seconded by RJ. It was resolved to accept the quote.
ACTION: Clerk
NMC advised that the 40mph signs have been put up on Counter Drain Drove in Tongue End.
AC advised that the Notice Board on St Nicholas Way has been resurfaced using cork tiles.
19. To receive a report from the Highways & Footpaths Committee and resolve any recommendations therein.
NW stated that he has been active regarding several hedges that are overgrown within the village. Mr Tinsley owns the Beech hedge and is away at the moment, but will trim it when he gets back.
Reported the undulations of the road to Highways, via telephone along with the blocked drains.
AS advised, that she has spoken to the manager of Highways, (Ms Nettles), who is sending her assistant out to meet with herself, her neighbour and Cllr Condell. There is also an issue a little further down that is also subsiding. Looking at maybe resurfacing a longer stretch of the Main Road.
20. To receive a report from the Community Speed Watch team.
A brief report from Paul Barrett had been circulated prior to the meeting.
24th July 2025
Harrow Road 40mph zone
550 vehicles checked
No speeding vehicles
The Chair advised that moving forward, we can have more than one co-ordinator
Coordinators need to let the Clerk know who is going out, where and when, in order that they are covered by the Council’s insurance.
Teams should go out ideally once a week, but at least once a month.
ACTION: Clerk to send an email to the co-ordinators
21. To receive a report from the Playing Fields Committee and to resolve any recommendations therein.
RJ advised that the contractors are in place for Hop Pole playing field.
Awaiting annual inspection for St Nicholas Park, which is due to take place in August.
Also awaiting planning permission for the Muga on Littleworth playing field.
SHDC have a Love Parks session tomorrow on St Nicholas Park, starting at 11am.
22. To receive a report from the Planning Committee.
A report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
AC advised members that the development at Blue Bell Inn was refused by SHDC and is now being appealed by the applicant.
Land off Littleworth Drove behind Campain’s Lane development of social housing still undecided.
SC advised that the land at the Blue Bell Inn has now been sold and is under new ownership.
23. Finance Matters and to receive Bank Reconciliations and Budget report from the RFO
The Bank Reconciliations for May and June were received and signed by the Chair.
The Budget reports were received with thanks.
24. To approve Invoices for Payment, received since the last meeting.
A list of payments was circulated prior to the meeting.
The payments were proposed by DC and seconded by RJ
It was resolved to approve payments of £5,521.23 which alongside general running costs, included £1,191.37 for the PC’s annual Insurance Renewal, £1,635 for grass cutting of the playing fields and Triangle and £688 to cover the cost of the Village Fete.
25. To discuss plans to commemorate the 80-year anniversary of VJ Day on 15th of August.
It was resolved that bunting would be put up in St Nicholas Park and the Sensory Garden where the Tommy figures would also be placed.
26. To receive reports and updates from members on Community groups and to resolve any requests.
Good Neighbour Scheme/GNS (RJ)
RJ requested whether the GNS could use/copy the PC’s policies for this group.
DC proposed, AC seconded and all agreed.
The village primary school has agreed to site a shed within their grounds, which can be used by any of the community groups to store items of low value.
The Chair requested that the shed and contents be added to the PC’s insurance.
ACTION: Clerk
Chatter Natter has been relaunched and will take place once a week, with the first one being this coming Tuesday.
The GNS organised the Village Fete for the first time this year, which raised just shy of £1,000.
Neighbourhood Watch Scheme/NWS (RJ)
RJ advised that there had been 10 incidents reported on Coronation Avenue, all of which were related to 1 person who has mental health issues.
Gardening Club (DC)
DC advised that the team are doing a fantastic job, especially considering the recent heatwave.
Members agreed that the planters are all looking fantastic.
The pathway through the sensory garden hasn’t been put in yet, as the ground is too hard.
Parish Plan (LMcG)
No update.
AC will liaise with LMcG when she returns.
Village Hall Committee
AC advised that a new trustee has been appointed, that being Rob Jarvis.
The S106 Agreement states that the Hall be handed over to a Trustee of which there are now 3 members who are currently on the PC.
Tongue End Rewilding Project (NM-C)
NM-C advised that she has been waiting for the Public Liability Insurance to be put in place, but hasn’t been able to access the funds to do so.
There will be a meeting of the group, in 2 weeks’ time in Baston Village Hall.
27. Agenda items for the next meeting.
There were none.
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday the 22nd of September
SH advised of her apologies in advance.
Meeting ended at 20:28