KENSWORTH PARISH COUNCIL
Mrs M Whiting, 6 Cheney Close, Toddington
BEDFORDSHIRE LU5 6BE
Tel: 01582 418213 (answer machine)
e-mail:
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 12th MARCH 2015
Present: Chairman Mrs Patricia Mitchell, Parish Councillors Mr Jamie Bradley, Mr Gerry Blackburn, Mrs. Cheryl Browne, Mr Philip Woods, Mr Anthony Sinfield-Green and Mr John Worboys
Locum Clerk Mrs Maxine Whiting, Ward Councillor Richard Stay
Seven members of the public
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mr Ian Lowery and Mr John Murray, Ward Councillor Kevin Collins and PCSO Brian Hutton. These apologies were accepted by the Parish Council.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS (Personal and/or Prejudicial)(Parish Councils (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2001).
No Members had any declaration of interests, either personal and/or prejudicial, in any of the items under consideration at this meeting of the Parish Council.
3. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
3.1 A resident queried if any further action was being taken with overgrown hedges reported to CBC highways. No further update from CBC on this matter.
3.2 The resident that queried costs for highways works at Dovehouse Lane last month has not received a response yet from Ward Cllr Stay. Ward Cllr Stay will chase officers at CBC.
3.3 BT broadband green box has been installed and positioned badly at Dovehouse Lane, restricting visibility of traffic. Clerk to request repositioning of box as a box has recently been moved in Manor Road, Caddington.
3.4 Resident queried the increase in council tax for Bedfordshire Police. Ward Cllr Stay responded regarding CBC billing.
3.5 1 Wick Hill have resubmitted planning application. 30 Common Road residents have forwarded their concerns to Ward Cllr Stay and the parish council. Ward Cllr Stay will call this application to committee on receipt of parish council objections following discussion of application this evening.
7.50pm Cllr Cheryl Browne arrived
3.6 Concern at number of Tuffnell lorries on Downs Road. Ward Cllr Stay will cover this issue in his report.
3.7 Damaged tree on green. Highways tree officer aware and will take action. Clerk to write to resident and owner of vehicle responsible. Issues will also be discussed with CBC housing.
4. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Cllr J Worboys thanked Cllr P Mitchell for chairing meeting in his absence. Next stage is to obtain funding for a public meeting with adequate display material.
CBC Head of development planning and housing strategy Richard Fox had written regarding 'Call for sites'. Kensworth will carry on regardless.
Clayhall Road land is now a valid option for development and Clerk Mr B Farrelly has obtained a copy of the deed and there are no prohibitions. It was advised that the Clayhall road site was sold by the owner of Clayhall Farm in 1892 to the Guardians of the poor of Luton Union and Kensworth Parish. A mortgage was taken out for £450 for thirty years and was paid up in 1924. The land was purchased, to provide allotments initially, as a ten acre plot of land but only 3 acres was needed for allotments, the remaining land was rented out to provide some income for the Parish. The only restrictions on this land is that it shall be properly fenced. If this land were to be sold for development, this would provide huge funding for the village to carry out other projects.
The next Neighbourhood plan meeting will be on Wednesday 25th March.
5. CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL (CBC)
5.1 Caddington & Slip End neighbourhood plan will be holding a consultation from 20th–21st March. Cllr P Mitchell will attend for information.
5.2 100 Common Road applicants have lost on appeal.
5.3 Ward Cllr Stay personally supports Police precept increase in order to obtain more officers, however suspects they will lose referendum.
5.4 Now that A5 – M1 link road has started there will be a review of speed limits and weight restrictions, meaning there could be an opportunity to request these in the parish.
5.5 Village safety scheme is going forward with a 20mph restriction around the School.
5.6 Updates had been received on matters outstanding forwarded by the Clerk following last meeting. The Chairman thanked Ward Cllr Stay with his assistance on these matters and they would be reported later in the meeting.
Ward Cllr Stay left the meeting
6. POLICE MATTERS
A copy of the February 2015 Police Report, showing a total of fifteen offences, had been circulated and received.
7. PLANNING Notice of Planning Applications (Town and Country Planning Act 1990)
CB/15/00569/FULL 1 Wick Hill, Kensworth, Dunstable, LU6 3RQ
Erection of two storey dwelling (Re-sub of 14/5018/Full)
Plans for the above were made available. Following a discussion, itwas AGREED the Parish Council OBJECT on the grounds of gross over development of a cramped site, impinges upon privacy of 30 Common Road, driveway is an entirely new access to Common Road and concern over close proximity to entrance of Wick Hill and Chilterns. Removal or reduction of hedgerow and trees will substantially change the delightful rural street scene and Wick Hill. The parish council request a TPO (tree preservation order) to be placed on all the trees and hedges on site.
CB/15/00511/LDCE Lynch Farm Cottage, The Lynch, Kensworth, Dunstable, LU6 3QZ
Barn 6 - Use as ancillary accommodation for Lynch Farm, a single dwelling house
Plans for the above were made available. Cllr Worboys declared a personal interest in the application.
It was AGREED the Parish Council has no objection.
8. KENSWORTH PLAYGROUND PROJECT
No further updates.
9. WORLD WAR 1 COMMEMORATIVE GARDEN
The Clerk had received three quotes to supply and install a lockable hinged parking post:
£246 + VAT M J Granger Grounds Maintenance
£285 + VAT PMG Landscapes
£188 + VAT Village Garden Services
It was AGREED to place an order for the above with Village Garden Services at £188 + VAT.
10. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS
It was PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED that the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 12th February 2015 were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
11. MATTERS ARISING (for information only)
Item 16 Village Hall:Cawleys have replaced bin with a lockable model as requested. There was no additional charge for this.
Item 19 Ruts on grass area:Order has been placed with VGS as agreed, and email sent to Asda head office on 25th Feb 2015 for reimbursement, reference number #150225-000221
Item 23 Accounts for payment:Councillors P Mitchell, J Worboys and J Bradley met with Mark Russell at VGS on 26th February to discuss grit run criteria used. Parish maintenance & recreation area works are split equally over 12monthly invoices.
12. CHAIRMAN’S AND COUNCILLORS REPORTS
Chairman P Mitchell reported the following:
An update on Brian, he is now signed off until the middle of May, but he is making progress on his treatment. Brian is doing some work to help Maxine and he has been sorting out some of the documents needed for the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.
We have received the election forms which need to be completed as soon as possible and returned to Chicksands. We have a timetable of events leading up to the election and notices will be placed in the notice boards to advise that nominations should be sent to Chicksands.
I was very upset to hear that the Middle shop had been burgled twice in a week. This is very unnerving as we all feel that someone is watching us for an opportunity to rob with menacing knife threats. The police have urged us to be vigilant and report suspicious cars or people. The outcome for the village is a reluctance for the owner to stay open later into the evening, which is understandable, but disappointing for villagers and the owner.
John, Jamie and I met with Mark Russell of Village Garden Services and thanked him for his excellent work on the Grass Cutting contract. There were a few hiccups initially but everyone is now happy with the work being done and the Recreation Ground grass looks in very good condition throughout the summer. We explained that we were happy with the gritting service but asked if they could use a little more discretion on the number of visits to the minor roads where grit does not dissolve as fast as the main road, meaning these roads may not need gritting on consecutive nights. Mark agreed this could be more flexible.
I also asked the PCSOs to visit the Drop In coffee club on a Thursday morning to talk to residents about ASB issues affecting them and provide more precise timing information. I asked that they should visit the Village Hall to meet people rather than visiting individual houses which people were worried about. The first meeting took place today and proved to be very useful. Hopefully this will happen on a more regular basis going forward.
13. REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
Airport: Cllr. Blackburn had nothing to report
Allotments:Cllr Bradley advised there are 3 allotments available for rent.
Highways: Cllr Mitchell is continuing to log potholes with CBC highways department
School Governing Body: Nothing to report
Village Hall: The Village Hall Committee were advising the PC that the footpath from the PC car park onto Common Road needed attention due to raised ironwork.
14. CORRESPONDENCE
CBC Julie Ogley, Director of Social care, health & housing – response to matters outstanding. Clerk forwarded email 27th February
CBC Affordable housing – main allocation & local letting policy. Clerk forwarded email 25th Feb
Bedfordshire Bugle March 2015
CBC Richard Farrow, Housing Estates Manager – meeting? Clerk fwd email 5th March
Beds Assc Town & Parish Councils – Training programme. Clerk fwd email 5th March
CBC Richard Fox, Head of Development Planning and Housing Strategy – Next steps for Neighbourhood planning and sharing of site submissions
CPRE Beds Protect our Green Belt public meeting 25th March 7pm Luton
Town & Parish Council Clerks Seminar 18th March Delegate list
tds promotion to carry out RoSPA inspection of play areas
CBC update to electors list
SLCC Membership renewal due
CBC Parish election timetable of proceedings for Thurs 7th May and nomination paper. Distributed at meeting to Councillors.
Magazines from Clerks & Councils Direct, Chiltern Society and The Clerk
15. MATTERS OUTSTANDING FOR INFORMATION ONLY(Within the remit of the Parish Council)
Item / Date of Meeting / Date Matter ResolvedRepair of fence at the rear of The Chilterns by allotments / Issue first raised
13th October 2011 / Responsibility of CBC Housing Service. Bound by covenant to erect and maintain a concrete post and chain link fence 4feet high along southern boundary.
11th March 2015: Tony Keaveney emailed to advise an order had been placed.
Request for Dog Warden to visit The Chilterns as a result of level of dog faeces being left. / 16th January 2014 / Ticket 15/008794 has been raised to request a dog warden patrol for the area.
Overgrown Hedge at 99 Common Road – Two request letters already sent / 8th May 2014 / Matter being dealt with by CBC reference 226697.
13th June 2014 CBC sent letter to resident.
Overgrown Hedge at 27 Lynch Hill / 22nd January 2015 / Matter being dealt with by CBC Ref: 101000020632
Item reported as 'dealt with' at CBC.
Establish responsibility for upkeep of boundary fence in service rd. rear Russell Close / 9th October 2014 / Responsibility of CBC Housing Service.
11th March 2015: Tony Keaveney emailed to advise and order had been placed on a 5day priority to repair the boundary fencing to the service road and garage block in Russell Close.
16. REQUEST FOR DONATIONS
Four requests for donations had been received. In addition, a donation was usually made to The Parish Link who had not yet made an approach to the Parish Council. It was reported that a total of £2,332.00 (£2,407 less £75 Remembrance Day Wreath) remained in the Section 137 Donations 2014/2015 budget.
It was AGREED to award the following donation cheques under Section 137 budget, giving a total spend to date of £1425 for 2014/15:
£550 Two by Two Kensworth Toddler Group: 2 x heavy duty shelved storage trolleys and lids. Clerk to advise group that if it closed, these would remain for use at the village hall and the property of the parish council.
£400 Kensworth Village Hall Management Committee: Vandalism repairs
£100 Kensworth Community Scheme: Insurance
£200 Kensworth Flower and Vegetable Show: Rosettes and trophies
£100 The Parish Link: Administration costs
17. KENSWORTH CLEAN UP DAY
Chair P Mitchell rather disappointed that there have been no new offers to help on the Tidy Up Day, despite notes sent home to parents of schoolchildren from the school. Propose to meet on Saturday 28th March at 11 am at the Village Hall Car park, and start cleaning road signs in the village. Chair P Mitchell will provide a brush on a pole to wash signs and a bucket of water from the hall. If other people could bring secateurs to cut back bushes and to pick up litter.
It was RESOLVED to order 10 high visibility waistcoats with 'Kensworth Clean Up Team' printed on the back.
18. BUDGET STATEMENT
Locum Clerk Maxine Whiting will meet with Clerk Brian Farrelly on 27th March to handover finance and year end accounts for audit.
19. FINANCIAL STANDING ORDERS AND BANK SIGNATORIES
The financial standing orders were reviewed and it was AGREED to amend 5.3 to read '… shall be signed by two members of Council' and remove '(and countersigned by the Clerk)'
It was AGREED to add Councillor John Worboys to authorised signatories and the Clerk to complete the Barclays Bank Mandate change form.
20. FARM BUSINESS TENANCY AGREEMENT CLAYHALL ROAD
Clerk Brian Farrelly had obtained a copy of the agreement and had emailed to all Councillors.
Under section 10, Termination of this agreement, 10.2 states 'If this agreement does not end on or before the Last Day of the Term it will continue as a tenancy from year to year but either the Landlord or the Tenant may bring it to an end by giving to the other at least twelve months' notice in writing expiring on an anniversary of the Last Day of the Term'
It was AGREED that as no other interest or response had been received, no further action is taken.
21. ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
The following accounts were submitted and approved for payment:
22. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION IN “THE PARISH LINK”
It was AGREED the article to include information on the increase in crime, WW1 Garden lockable post installation, allotments available, report potholes to CBC highways and donations to local groups.
23. REPORT OF CLERK
Nothing to report.
24. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING TOGETHER WITH ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE NEXT AGENDA
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 9th April 2015 at 7.30pm in Kensworth Village Hall.
This concluded the normal business of the evening and finished at 9.30pm.
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9th April 2015