Page 2 - BPC Minutes November2016

2016/17 – 7

7. To receive an update on Woodlands Park and agree further action:
CCTV Cameras: The Clerk had circulated dates for the parish councillors to visit the CCTV Control Centre at the Borough Council. A maximum of
eight could attend. Cllr Bailes reported that two cameras had been attached to the first lighting column near the Owl Park and the other two at
the Westrope Way entrance to Woodlands Park. Both cameras near the Owl Park may need re-positioning. The one designed for number plate
capture is too high and the panoramic view camera should be pointing toward the estate entrance from the Owl Park and not into the park
itself. Similarly, the panoramic view at the Westrope Way point should give a general view of the area toward the bus gate with a wider view
than that intended to capture indexes. There is discussion of a third camera being located near the Owl Park to be directed at the changing
rooms which would be financed by Bedford Borough Council.

Progress on Projects/Adoption: Cllr Bailes confirmed that Simon Fisher had now left the Borough Council and there was to date no replacement.
As a result, Cllr Bailes had contacted Paul Pace. He had stressed that the parish council had been at a fairly critical position in terms of agreeing
some of the improvement projects at Woodlands Park. He had sought confirmation that it was still the intent of the Borough Council to provide
the £5k top-up funding from the S.106 monies outstanding. Additionally, he was keen to set up a meeting in the next week or so with the
incumbent in this role so that we can finish the agreements and purchase the gates, benches and picnic tables this side of Christmas. With
regards choice of supplier, the Borough Council had a preferred supplier list. The Borough Council were still awaiting finance from Persimmon
and one possibility was that the parish council consider undertaking the purchases with an agreement from the Borough to reimburse the parish
council once the funding had been realised. Cllr Bailes was thanked for his report.

8. To consider any future action the parish council may take regarding the play area off Francis Groves Close: Cllr Retout

Cllr Retout referred to the consideration made in the past that the parish council might take over some of the roles and responsibilities from the Clerk
Borough Council in order to help reduce the financial pressure. Within Brickhill, one area this might apply to is that of open spaces. The small
play area off Francis Groves Close was installed as a planning condition for the development of Francis Groves Close itself. He was of the view
that it was not well used and one alternative use would be as a community garden.
It was resolved that as a first step in the process, Cllr Retout write an article for the parish newsletter to seek the views of residents in the parish
as to how well used or otherwise it was and whether they felt that a better use could be made of the area. Brickhill Lower School would also
need to be consulted. The Clerk would attempt to establish from the Borough Council what the maintenance costs for the present site are.
9. To further review the parish newsletter, to agree a pricing structure for 2017 and agree any further action: Clerk

Following discussion, it was resolved to increase charges for new advertisers from January 2017 by 20%, but for current advertisers increase the Assistant Clerk
rate by 10% for 2017 but by the full 20% from January 2018.
It was further resolved to increase the number of newsletters to five in 2017, three before the summer and two after and to reduce the number
of pages of advertising from 4 to 3 in the 8 page issues but to keep the number of pages to 5 in the 12 page Christmas edition.

10. To note the action taken regarding the St Thomas More Travel Plan and agree any further action: Letters were being sent out to the relevant Clerk
parties and this item would be revisited on the January agenda.

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BPC Minutes 3 November 2016
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