Snapshot…of the Parish Council meeting on 9 May 2017.

Planning Applications
A large house extension in Curridge and other applications were considered at the meeting.    

Annual Meeting of the Parish Council: This being the Annual Meeting of the Chieveley Parish Council, the Agenda included items for the election of Chairman and Vice Chairman for the year and for the appointment of Councillors to committees, working groups and outside bodies.

Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman: Rob Crispin was elected Chairman and Mike Belcher as Vice Chairman of the Parish Council for the year.  Photographs and profiles of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councillors can be viewed on the Parish Council web site via http://www.mychieveley.co.uk/info/parish_councillors.

Appointment of Councillors to Committees, working groups and outside bodies: The Parish Council made a number of appointments of Councillors to committees, working groups and outside bodies associated with the communities of Chieveley, Curridge, Oare and part of Snelsmore.  Appointments were made for the Recreational Centre and Parish Council Liaison Group; the Downland Patient Forum; the Newbury Showground Residents’ Group; the Public Rights of Way Group; the Public Relations/Press Release and Website Group; HELAA & Local Plan Group and a representative for the Village Hall Committee agreed.  It was agreed that the Code of Conduct Committee and Parish Plan Review Group would be convened, if required, with any three Councillors.  

M4 Junction 12 to 13 closures for bridge repairs
The Highways Agency continue to carry out works on two bridges involving replacing central reservation barriers, road resurfacing, deck beam and bridge joints. Full closure was over 31 March – 3 April.  Future dates to note: 19 – 22 May.  Clear diversions will be in place.

Braziers Farmhouse Wall, High Street, Chieveley
Traffic lights will be in Chieveley High Street outside Braziers Farmhouse to allow essential planned works to the wall in the High Street as it requires rebuilding using salvaged and replacement bricks and repointing. Works are planned between 12th - 30th June 2017.  Permission has been obtained from the Highways Deprtment at West Berkshire Council to install traffic lights ref. JV004BRAIFARM, details of which can be viewed on www.roadworks.org. The contractors will endeavour to minimise the impact on residents with the traffic light regime and the works will be completed as soon as practically possible.

Home to School Transport: The Parish Council agreed to facilitate a meeting for parents in and adjoining the Parish no longer eligible for free school transport to their catchment school due to changing West Berkshire Council policies.  A gentleman from Burghfield who has set up an alternative transport scheme there will be invited to speak and meet with the parents affected.

FAQ…of the month
Question – If I encounter a problem with a road (e.g. a pot hole or footway), or with the countryside and the environment (e.g. a public right of way) in the Parish, who do I report this to? 
Answer – Please report the matter to West Berkshire Council using their Report A Problem service.

Spotlight…on Grants for 2017/18
At the start of each financial year the Parish Council considers requests for grants and donations from clubs and groups in the community.  Whilst the funds available for allocation each year are limited, they provide an important contribution to the overall costs of the schemes proposed.  The grants and donations approved for the new financial year cover contributions toward: playing field ground maintenance for Chieveley Recreational Centre; operating costs for the Curridge Residents Association; churchyard maintenance for St Mary the Virgin Church, Chieveley; planter maintenance undertaken by Chieveley Gardening Club,  playground maintenance for the Curridge Playground Charity, contribution towards sport skills sessions and beebot programmable floor robot for Chieveley Pre School and MUGA maintenance for Chieveley Recreational Centre.​

Next Meeting... Next Parish Council meeting is on Tuesday 13 June 2017 at the Curridge W I Hall, Curridge, Berkshire RG18 9DZ at 7.30pm.
 

Closure of Graces Lane, Chieveley 29th to 31st May

Graces Lane will be CLOSED as above between Oxford road and Green Lane.
This is to allow Water Main repairs.
The alternative route for all traffic affected is via Oxford Road, East Lane and High Street.
Any queries should be forwarded to Torid Bastien of Thames Water on 02035 77 77 40. For more info follow the link Graces Lane

To order tickets please call, email (details below) or use this link to be taken to an online order form.

Latest update from Highways England: 

​The next weekend closure of the M4 is planned from 9pm on Friday 12 May through to 6am on Monday 15 May 2017* (57 continuous hours), with a contingency weekend proposed for Friday 2 to Monday 5 June 2017.

Delays will be expected during this weekend closure and it is advisable that you plan ahead of your journey or avoid this route where possible – depending on your final destination, we would advise you to allow an addition 30 to 40 minutes for your journey.

Chieveley Parish Council – latest news


Snapshot…of the Parish Council meeting on 11 April 2017.


Planning Applications
A large house extension in Curridge and other applications were considered at the meeting.     


New Code of Conduct
The Parish Council considered and adopted a new Code of Conduct. This document can be viewed on the  HYPERLINK "http://www.mychieveley.co.uk/index.php?page=197" mychieveley.co.uk/parish council


Chieveley Parish Annual Assembly
The Parish Assembly took place on Tuesday 11 April 2017 at Chieveley Village Hall & Recreational Centre and commenced with the Parish Council Chairman ‘s welcome, introduction, and Annual Report followed by other community group reports from Chieveley Village Hall & Recreational Centre, Chieveley Cricket Club, Curridge Primary School and information on the progress of the West Berkshire Council Housing Site Allocations and Development Plan Document.  Displays from Chieveley Primary School on Ernest Shackleton, minute book excerpts from 1917 and pictures, census snapshots of 2001, 2011 and recent demographics for the Parish on housing, jobs, travel, Chieveley Pre-School and Chieveley Toddler Group information, Speed Indictor Device demonstration with display with recent speed data captured from locations of concern.


The Chairman’s Annual Report included information about the Parish Council’s role and responsibility as a Statutory Consultee for several government agencies and District Council consultations, the continued work by the Speeding and Road Safety Working Party, Curridge Playground Generation news, Oare Pond Environmental Improvement project.  Disappointment was expressed to the Assembly regarding the ongoing West Berkshire Council Home to School Transport Policy and the conflict between the School’s Admission Policy and the Discretionary Fares Policy which continues and providing damaging inequality for some families in the Parish with the three fold increase in costs per child for these affected families.


The Chairman also outlined to the Assembly that due to cost cutting at West Berkshire Council, devolution of some of the services to Parish Councils is inevitable in the future. Whilst Chieveley Parish Council have resisted some devolved service cost requests i.e. Library services it is inevitable that the Parish Council will have to meet some costs for essential services in the Parish. Examples given included additional vegetation cuts to important PROWS, the priority of some parish roads for salting in icy conditions.  An overview of the income and expenditure for the 2016/17 Financial Year and the precept and budget for 2017/18 was presented.   A full transcript of the Annual Report will be published on the MyChieveley web site in due course along with the other community reports.  


M4 Junction 12 to 13 closures for bridge repairs
The Highways Agency are carrying out works on two bridges involving replacing central reservation barriers, road resurfacing, deck beam and bridge joints. Full closure was over 31 March – 3 April.  Future dates to note: 5 – 8 May, 12 – 15 May, 19 – 22 May.  Clear diversions will be in place.


FAQ…of the month
Who makes decisions in an emergency?
It is good practice to specify in standing orders the kind of decisions that the clerk can make routine decisions, such as dealing with emergencies or spending small sums of money. Standing Orders may require decisions to be taken after consultation with two councillors (including the chairman), but the decision remains with the officer. Most important, the council must not allow delegation to a single councillor – not even to the Chairman.


Spotlight….I want to chop down a tree do I need Planning permission?
Under certain circumstances. Consent is required for work on trees covered by Conservation Areas or Tree Preservation orders. It is advisable to contact West Berkshire Council prior to starting work on any trees to find out if they are protected. It is an offence to top, lop, fell or damage a protected tree without obtaining consent.


Next Meeting... Next Parish Council meeting is on Tuesday 9 May 2017 at Chieveley Village Hall & Recreational Centre, High Street, Chieveley, Berkshire RG20 at 7.30pm.