PITSTONE ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY

Minutes of the Annual Parish Assembly held on 15 May 2018
in the main hall at the Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm and concluding at 9.25pm

PRESENT:	Cllr Nicholls (Chairman), Cllr Saintey (Vice Chairman), Cllr Blunt, Cllr Mrs Arney, 
Cllr Mrs Crutchfield, Cllr Weber and Cllr Dr Frearson.  
Clerk: Laurie Eagling.   County Cllr Mrs A Wight.   PCSO M Harriett.  Plus 16 members of the public.

APOLOGIES: 	Cllr Mattey.  District Councillors Mrs S Jenkins and Mr D Town.

1/18AA	ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES - See above.    
The Chairman opened the meeting and thanked everyone for attending.  

2/18AA	MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY held on 16 May 2017
	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.

3/18AA	CRIME REPORT FROM THAMES VALLEY POLICE – PCSO M HARRIETT

	It was agreed to bring forward the presentation from PCSO M Harriett of the Thames Valley Police Wing Neighbourhood Policing Team, who gave a report on the crime levels over the previous 12 months.  Crime figures were down significantly on the previous year, with dwelling burglaries down over 50% and other thefts eg vehicle related, down over 35%.  Absolute number of reported incidents very low.  

PCSO Harriett accepted questions from members of public relating to visible police presence and the Ashridge estate.   The Chairman thanked her for her attendance and PCSO Harriett departed the meeting.

4/18AA	PRESENTATION BY EMILY SMITH, COUNTRYSIDE MANAGER, NATIONAL TRUST ASHRIDGE ESTATE

The Chairman introduced Emily Smith who gave a fascinating presentation into the projects currently underway at the Ashridge estate including:

•	Their production of a 20-year woodland plan which will incorporate management plans for their ancient oaks, Frithsden beaches, rare woodland creatures and other ancient or notable trees.
•	Their Countryside Stewardship Scheme to manage the Ivinghoe hills including their work with tenant farmers for beneficial grazing by livestock to encourage biodiversity.
•	The identification of Priority Habitants, their designation as an SSSI and the work to link such areas in a network with other wildlife habits to encourage biodiversity and migration (which is prohibited if just isolated pockets of habitat exist).  Recent successes have included the Yellow Hammers and Corn Bunting, which is again involving work with tenant and neighbouring farmers.
•	The project to review parking along Monument Drive and throughout the estate, the complications invoked by the various national protections and the benefits that can be evidenced by minor changes to parking which generate huge changes to visitor behaviour.

Emily took questions about classification of ancient trees, tree disease, pond biodiversity and maintenance and visitor number increases.   The Chairman thanked her for her attendance and the most interesting presentation.

5/18AA	PRESENTATION OF PITSTONE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2018

The Chairman presented Mr Rob Spiller with the Volunteer of the Year Award.  Rob has been assisting at the Pitstone Youth Café for 3 weeks out of every 4 since it first began and has built up valuable relationships with many of the young people in our community.  He is also a member of the Pitstone Allotment Association committee and acts as the Pitstone Allotment Site Manager.  Rob is always willing to get involved and help in various other capacities. 

The Chairman presented Rob with a framed certificate and cheque for £50.00.  He will also go forward as the Pitstone nomination into the AVDC Volunteer of the Year Scheme.

The Parish Council runs the Volunteer of the Year scheme to celebrate the unsung heroes within our community.  If you know someone who goes that extra mile and provides an outstanding voluntary service to the residents of Pitstone, please submit your nominations to the parish clerk so that they can be taken into consideration for the 2019 award.

	REFRESHMENT BREAK

6/18AA	PITSTONE PARISH COUNCIL REPORT – COUNCILLORS DAVE NICHOLLS AND BOB SAINTEY

As Chair of the Parish Council, Cllr Nicholls introduced the members of the council and updated those present on: the council finances (copies of the draft annual accounts and draft annual report were available to those at the meeting and will be published on the web site in due course), the forthcoming GDPR regulations, and provided an update on the planning applications relating to the Pitstone Development Area around the Memorial Hall.   Cllr Nicholls explained about the Community Car Scheme and the potential Community Transport project and encouraged anyone with an interest in volunteering to contact the parish clerk.

He was pleased to announce that the council had recently signed papers relating to the purchase of the Local Green Space between Marsworth Road and The Crescent and council hoped that this transaction would be completed before the end of the month.  Most of funding for this project has been provided from a Section 106 release from AVDC which arose from the development of the Castlemead estate.

Another key success had been the successful installation of the footpath between Pitstone and Marsworth.  This project had taken many years of negotiation, preliminary studies, road safety audits and engineering reports.   Thanks were expressed to the AVDC New Homes Bonus grant panel for awarding most of the funds required for installation, along with contributions from a Community Leader Grant and both parish councils.

As Chair of the Sports and Leisure Committee, Cllr Saintey explained that this covered the care and development of the pavilion site, the three playgrounds (and eventually the new playground being installed at the Bellway development off Vicarage Road), the allotment site and the recreation ground.

He provided an update on the successful completion of the first phase of improvements at the pavilion which had encompassed moving & replacing the western boundary fence, installing two sections of ball stop netting and extending the senior pitch.    This had been possible due to a successful grant from the Football Foundation, a release of Section 106 monies from AVDC, contributions from both the junior and senior football clubs and the parish council.   Work is now underway with an architect to look at improvements to the building and grounds to make these more fit for purpose and increase usage for other community members.

The allotments had seen a very successful year with the introduction of poly tunnels and bee keeping, both with the permission of the National Trust.  The site was being maintained to a very high standard and provided a wonderful resource to the community.

7/18AA	REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR ANNE WIGHT

Cllr Wight updated the community on her busy first year in office including her work on: public health, trading standards, the Paralympic Trust, mental health, Transport for Bucks, potholes, HGVs and the freight strategy.

	No further questions were raised by the public.   The Chairman thanked Cllr Wight for her attendance.

8/18AA	REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS DEREK TOWN AND SANDRA JENKINS

It was noted that both District Councillors had been called to a meeting at AVDC and had therefore tendered their apologies.   Both councillors had provided written reports on their work over the last 12 months.  Rather than read both reports in full, it was decided to publish these on the Pitstone website alongside the minutes for members of the public to read.

9/18AA	PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
•	A resident thanked the parish council for their helpful and informative article in PPP about the regulations surrounding parking.  He expressed disappointment that some members of the community seemed unwilling to uphold good practice.    Council agreed that parking was an ongoing issue in many locations in the parish and agreed to request that the PCSOs monitor when they are patrolling.
•	A resident raised an objection to the proposed installation of bus shelters and information panels on Marsworth Road, which arise following a legal agreement between BCC and the owners/developer of the Rushendon Furlong residential development.  The obligations were explained to the public attending.  The parish council has consulted with approximately 160 properties between existing bus stop by The Haldi and the bus stop by Pleasant View Cottages and will be responding to BCC in due course.
•	A resident wished to thank the parish council for all the work they undertake on behalf of the residents. 

10/18AA	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 9.25pm.

Signed:	__________________________________________________	Date: _______________

                  Chairman