PITSTONE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY, VOLUNTEER FAIR AND DEFIBRILLATOR DEMONSTRATIONS

Minutes of the Annual Assembly held on 21 April 2015 
in the main hall at the Memorial Hall, starting at 7.45pm and concluding at 9.35pm

PRESENT:	Cllr Saintey (Chairman), Cllr Blunt (Vice Chairman), Cllr Mrs Arney, Cllr Mrs Stack, 
Cllr Nicholls, Cllr Mrs Hawkins, Cllr Richardson, Cllr Mattey, Cllr Brooks and Cllr Ginda.  
Clerk: Laurie Eagling.   County & District Cllr Mrs A Davies.   PCSO J Dodson.  
Derek Flint, South Central Ambulance Service.  Plus 51 members of the public.

APOLOGIES: 	Mrs J DeSelincourt

The Volunteer Fair (open from 6.45-7.45pm) included displays from 17 different local community groups that are looking for extra voluntary support.  Derek Flint from the South Central Ambulance Service was also providing demonstrations of how to use the defibrillator which is now located in Yardley Avenue, having been funded by The Village Health Centre and all the local football and cricket clubs.

1/15AA	ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES - See above.    
The Chairman opened the meeting and thanked everyone for attending.  He encouraged everyone to visit the stands and support the community groups during the refreshment break if they hadn’t already had chance to do so.  

2/15AA	MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY held on 13 May 2014.
	The draft minutes were available on the web site all year.  Copies were also available from the clerk and further copies were available at the annual assembly.  It was RESOLVED that the minutes were a true and accurate record and the Chairman was authorised to sign them as such.

3/15AA	PRESENTATION OF PITSTONE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2015
The Chairman presented Pastor Dave Clifford with the Volunteer of the Year Award for his volunteer activities with the Souper Lunch programme, running the Silver Surfers Club and operating the Community Car Scheme.  Unfortunately, Pastor Clifford leaves us this summer, which is a great shame.  He was thanked for all his efforts within our community over the last 7 years and wished well for the future.   

4/15AA	CRIME REPORT FROM THAMES VALLEY POLICE – PCSO J DODSON
	PCSO J Dodson of the Thames Valley Police Wing Neighbourhood Policing Team who gave a report on the crime levels over the previous 12 months.  We are fortunate to have low levels of crime and ongoing operations will continue to target hot spots and key topics.  One resident requested conviction rates vs the reported crime and PCSO Dodson promised to pass the information to them.

5/15AA	PITSTONE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN (NDP) – TONY CLARE, CHAIR OF THE NDP STEERING GROUP
	Tony Clare explained about the planning history and implications behind the instigation of the Neighbourhood Development Plan, what it would cover, and what the process was.   The engagement days generated over 300 visitors and 198 feedback forms which was great.  The feedback revealed that the parish would like a true village centre, to retain the village feel, for education to be available for all the local children (but no parking outside), to realise the promised skatepark, muga and expanded sports facilities, a pub and a nursery/pre-school amongst other things.   The team are working very hard with the planning company to help interpret all the feedback and produce a draft plan that will be issued to the community for their feedback.   It was stressed that if the community did actually want these extra benefits that they may have to get involved, help create them, commit to use them and potentially help fund them.   The NDP is the plan for the village that we want for our children to be growing up in in 20 years time.  Tony asked everyone to get involved and commit to as much as they can.  Such good opportunities to actively shape our community don’t come along very often.
Questions were taken from those present.  Tony Clare explained how the housing targets (approximately 15% increase to be seen as in favour of development) were generated; that AVDC received funding to run the referendum; the inclusion of part of the Pitstone Development Area housing figures; GP capacity; and required social & affordable housing levels (33%).

6/15AA	DEFIBRILLATOR DEMONSTRATION BY DEREK FLINT, SOUTH CENTRAL AMBULANCE SERVICE
Derek Flint explained to those assembled about the Community Access Defibrillator which is now located outside the Village Health Centre in Yardley Avenue.  The defibrillator was funded by the surgery and the external lock box was funded by the village sports cubs.  In the event of an emergency, dial 999 and the operator will give you the necessary instructions to access the unit to provide life-saving emergency treatment whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive from Stoke Mandeville.  Derek provided a demonstration of how to use the unit so that everyone was comfortable using the equipment in an emergency.  Everyone was able to visit the stand during the volunteer fair and during the refreshment break to have a try themselves.  Don’t worry if get something wrong, covered by Good Samaritan Act.  If you do nothing, the patient will probably die anyway, so do give it a try.  Derek explained about the Community First Responder service and asked everyone to consider volunteering.

	REFRESHMENT BREAK AND CHANCE TO VISIT THE NDP, COUNCIL, LOCAL CHARITY, DEFIBRILLATOR AND VOLUNTEER STANDS.

7/15AA	PITSTONE DEVELOPMENT AREA UPDATE – COUNCILLOR BLUNT
Regular update on the land that had been outlined within the Pitstone Development Area Comprehensive Plan which was adopted by Aylesbury Vale District Council in 2005.  The parcels of land are within private ownership, and the district council is responsible for the eventual planning, however the Parish Council continues to try and work with the landowners and AVDC to ensure the community aspirations are also delivered.   We have entered into a joint land-owners agreement with the two private landowners.   The proposed play area has received planning permission but the order can’t be placed until the landowner grants permission.  The parish council has employed AVDC to procure a skate park once we are able to proceed and they already have a recommended supplier shortlist.  
Cllr Blunt answered questions from those assembled, regarding the S106 funds held by AVDC for leisure development in the parish and the possibility of the council purchasing the desired land (which the Charity Commission has said can’t take place until planning permission has been granted for the residential Pitstone Development Area).

8/15AA	PITSTONE MEMORIAL HALL CHARITY – STEVE MATTEY
Councillor Mattey is also the Acting Chairman of the Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity.   He talked about the hall and the social club, and encouraged everyone to make full use of the facilities and join the social club to make this building the hub of the village.  There is a meeting for potential volunteers on Monday 28 April 2015, which is open to anyone interested in becoming a trustee and taking the building forward to become the facilities that the community want within the NDP vision.  Anyone interested was encouraged to attend.  No questions were tabled regarding the hall.

9/15AA	CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – COUNCILLOR SAINTEY
It has been a good, strong council which has worked hard on a number of issues.  Two councillors are now retiring, Cllr Richardson and Cllr Ginda, and they were thanked for their numerous years of service.   This year, there will be an election on 7 May 2015, with 12 candidates standing for 10 seats.

The Chairman gave an update on the work of the Parish Council during the year, including:

•	Working with Herts County Council to progress the proposed cycle/footpath to Tring station, and Marsworth Parish Council/the Local Area Forum regarding a proposed footpath to Marsworth
•	The Royal Mail has finally approved the provision of a letter box on Windsor Road (no installation date as yet)
•	Working with Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust to improve safety at the junction of Yardley Avenue and Cheddington Road with the installation of bollards
•	Transport for Bucks resurfaced parts of Glebe Close & Cheddington Road, sided out part of the Vicarage Road footpath and the path in the layby opposite Masons, and replaced the damaged village sign in Vicarage Road.
•	The council funded Christmas lights on the Recreation Ground.
•	Investigations continue into accepting devolved services from Bucks County Council but there are currently a number of legal issues which need resolving before any contract can be signed.
•	At the allotments, the mounds were removed, 4 new quarter plots created, trees donated by National Trust were planted and 2 new water troughs installed.
•	Good news that the Cricket Club has decided to remain on the Recreation Ground rather than relocating, and the council will be working with them on a number of developments to the ground and hall.
•	Over £20,000 of financial support had been given to community groups during the year including commissioning the removal of asbestos from the hall loft void, grants to the football and cricket clubs, grants to the Scouts for new camping equipment and the Guides for a new flag plus the funding of a dedicated Community First Responder kit for Pitstone.

Questions were taken from those assembled about the dog bin at The Crescent (replacement has been on order for a long time) and the adoption of Castlemead (Bucks County Council working with Taylor Wimpey on the long remedial list).  

10/15AA	UPDATE FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLOR AVRIL DAVIES   
Avril has been the Councillor for Pitstone for 24 years but has decided not to stand for District Councillor again in the forthcoming election.   However, she will remain the County Councillor for our area for at least another 2 years.

Cllr Davies provided an update on:

o	Planning changes within AVDC
o	Cheddington & Pitstone are going to be merged as a single ward with two District Councillors in the forthcoming election
o	Attended 5 Annual Assemblies within the area over the last few weeks and Pitstone has been the most well attended
o	County Council issues will continue with falling budget and difficult issues to tackle within highways, adult social services, children services and education.  BCC have the duty to provide education facilities but not the ability to enforce them with the foundation schools.  Avril praised Brookmead School for their ‘Good’ OFSTED report this year.
o	A full report will be published in the next edition of Pitstone Parish Post.

No questions were put to Cllr Davies.  

11/15AA	PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
•	A resident asked if there was any resolution to the car parking issues outside Brookmead School.  Cllr Saintey advised that Transport for Bucks have approved a bus box for outside the Haldi, and Karen Groom from Ivinghoe Parish Council talked about the outcome of their traffic assessment presentation which recommended creating a ‘pedestrian friendly’ zone outside the school and diverting traffic.  Suggested options will be discussed with Bucks County Council.
•	A discussion took place about possible options to reduce traffic to the school.
•	The Parish Council was thanked for all their hard work by a resident.

12/15AA	CLOSURE OF MEETING
	There being no further questions, the chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting and for their contributions.  There being no further business to be transacted, the chairman closed the meeting at 9.35pm.

NOTE	CHARITY AND COUNCIL ACCOUNTS   
Copies of the various accounts listed below were available to all attendees at the meeting and representatives of each group were available to answer any questions both during the Volunteer Fair and Refreshment Break.  

1)	Pitstone Town Lands Charity & Williamson Trust
2)	Pitstone Recreation Ground Charity and Pitstone Parish Charity
3)	Pitstone Parish Council

Signed:	__________________________________________________	Date: _______________

                  Chairman