Meeting Minutes: 26th September 2024

KIMBOLTON & STONELY PARISH COUNCIL

A meeting of Kimbolton and Stonely Parish Council was held on Thursday, 26th September 2024.

Present: Deb Hellett (Chair) DH, Keith Hutchinson (KH), Joan Stainer (JS), Harriet Bradbury (HB), Rosemary Lloyd (RL), Martin Buckley (MB), Catherine Jessup (CJ), Lee Farrer (LF), Paul Seabrook (PS), Josh Lee (JL)

In attendance: Ian Gardener – County Councillor; Jo Russel – Clerk; One member of the public.

Members: 11 Quorum 4

Minutes

157/24 – To receive and approve apologies for absence.

Russell Gooderham – holiday; Jonathan Gray – District Councillor – attendance at another meeting

158/24 – To receive declarations of interest.

Members are invited to declare disclosable pecuniary interests and other interests in items on the agenda as required by Kimbolton and Stonely Parish Council Code of Conduct for Members and by the Localism Act 2011.

Joan Stainer – agenda item 167/24 Hunters Way

159/24 Public participation

To allow for any members of the public and any councillors declaring the existence and nature of a prejudicial intereft, to address the meeting in relation to the business on this agenda.
One member of tpe public attended but did not participate. To receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 29 August 2024. The draft minutes were circulated to all parish councillors prior to the meeting. KH proposed that they be accepted as a true and accurate record of the meeting and CJ seconded. All who were present agreed, and it was resolved to so.

160/24 To receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 29th August 2024.

The draft minutes were circulated to all parish councillors prior to the meeting. KH proposed that they be accepted as a true and accurate record of the meeting and CJ seconded. All who were present agreed, and it was resolved to so.

161/24 To receive report from county councillor.

At the last meeting IG was requested to arrange a meeting with a Highways Engineer to look at the possibility of installing a buffer zone before the existing 40mph with a zone in Pertenhall. IG to reported look at thatthe he had now met with1 Karen Lunn, the Highways Engineer, and a member of Pertenhall Parish Council to discuss the implementation of a buffer zone from the existing end of the 40mph zone to approximately the layby on the 8660. At the meeting it was felt the scheme would meet the criteria of a Non-complex scheme, if it was put in by Kimbolton Parish Council under an LHI Bid. The maximum spend under a noncomplex scheme is £10,000, with the PC contributing a minimum of 10%. Following that meeting the officer has reviewed the situation and thinks a better solution to the speeding issues would be to extend the existing 40mph zone to the informal layby on the 8660 and then have a 50mph buffer zone. At present, IG does not have a costing as Highways believes it would be prudent to consult with Bedford Borough Council in the first instance to see if they were agreeable to such a scheme, before moving to the next stage. If Bedfordshire were agreeable to the proposed scheme, the next stage would be to determine costings and for the parish council to determine how to fund such a scheme, whether it be through the LHI process or a Privately Funded Scheme. IG will contact Karen Lunn to progress this.

IG also reported that the East Park Energy Solar Park consultation has begun and will run until 23.59 on Tuesday 29th October 2024. The two areas neatest to Kimbolton are Areas A & B, which extend from Pertenhall to Little Staughton, the other two areas are adjacent to Great Staughton and between Great Staughton and Hail Weston. The proposed development would comprise of a new ground mounted photovoltaic energy generating station and an associated on-site Battery Energy storage system (BESS) on land to the West of the A1 adjacent to St Neots. The scheme extends to approx 766 hectares, which includes for all land required for solar development, BESS, landscaping, cabling, access, and grid connection. Because of the size of the development, the planning process is being undertaken by the Planning Inspectorate, with Cambridgeshire CC, Huntingdonshire DC, and Bedford Borough councils being statutory consults.

CJ asked IG about the hedges being cut on the B645 as they are causing cars to swerve into the road. IG suggested that the clerk write to the homeowners asking them to cut the hedges. They are on private property so not responsibility of Highways. CCC could do this but would then send the homeowners the bill. The clerk will draft the letters.

162/24 Notification of planning items.

RL abstained from voting as she had not read the documentation for these two items.

24/01531/HHFUL – Application for two storey extension 1A Easton Road, Stonely

24/0667/HHFUL – Application for two storey and single storey extensions – 4 East Street, Kimbolton; No comments or objections – HB proposed, and JL seconded.

163/24 Finance

To approve accounts for payment for September 2024 as follows:

K&M Lighting maintenance. £128.15

Ibbett – Hedge cutter main. £109.63

Mick George skip hire. £223.20

Clear Councils PC Insurance. £1,107.58

Mick George topsoil. £95.98

Pulse Digital Clerk IT. £48.00

Pulse Digital Clerk IT. £144.00

Clerk expenses PC Laptop. £549.00

Cemetery cottage main. £97.13

RBL Wreaths Remembrance Parade £54.00

Ibbetts leaf grabber. £33.48

Deb Hellett reimbursement of fuel £134.27

Harry Brace September. £1,400.00

Salaries September. £2,439.70

HMRC PAYE & NIC September. £600.29

Two councillors reviewed the invoices for payment and signed them. It was agreed that PS and KH would authorise the payments via online banking. It was also agreed that all councillors should be added to the banking mandate. The clerk will make that application to Unity Trust bank. The Notice of Conclusion of Audit in respect of the AGAR 23/24 has now been published on the website, as per the statutory requirements.

164/24 Traffic, Highways and Road Safety

a) MVAS signs monthly reporting – HB had looked at the data and it appeared that over 50% of cars were speeding. KH queried whether the council had ordered the new MVAS sign as the insurance monies had been received. The clerk will investigate this.

165/24 Community

a) Christmas Light Switch on 1 December – LF has arranged the road closure for this event. The working party will now meet to discuss ideas. Chair to arrange a date.

b) Pound Lane – legal advice has been sought by unfortunately the firm of solicitors approached were not able to assist and have been advised that a specialist property lawyer should be asked to advise. They have recommended another firm, and the clerk will make contact with them. PS questioned whether action was being taken on the quotes to put a car park in that area. All councillors agreed that the decision had been taken at a previous meeting not to take this particular project forward at this point.

166/24 To receive verbal reports from parish councillors on matters arising from their portfolio responsibilities:

a) Working Parties

Allotments – RL reported that there were a few allotments which were going to become vacant shortly. Some areas need cutting back and the hedges on the east and west need cutting. The taps have been checked and there is low pressure. It was agreed that the allotments need to be advertised further afield, and any potential allotment holders need to be aware of the commitment involved. It was agreed that once the maintenance work had been completed, they could be advertised and HB agreed to prepare a poster.

Harriet Bradbury left the meeting at 7:50pm

Footpaths – JS reported that the footpath by the lake is generally walkable. The footbridge over the brook at Old Ford Lane and Hatchet Lane is rotten and needs replacing. The clerk will report this.

Grounds – there are some nettles that need cutting back in Constable Leys. The clerk will ask the grounds staff to do this. In addition, MB has spoken to the residents regarding the Grass Yard cut through. The resident had informed him that this would be resurfaced after the work to his property had been completed. The parish council asked the clerk to write to him to say that this should be temporarily filled as this is a trip hazard.

Playgrounds – there is a rotten bar in play park near the first station. The ground staff will be asked to remove this.

Structures and supervision of property – the bench purchased to commemorate the King’s coronation is fading and needs treating. LF will action. The fire bricks at Cemetery Cottage need to be installed. It was agreed that the parish council would pay for the firebricks and the tenant will arrange for them to be installed. It was also agreed to obtain quotes to fix the fence at the property, as this is falling down.

Environmental and Trees -DH and CJ met with the tree surgeon. There are a lot of trees that need work. He has advised that the parish council should have a Risk Register of Trees and DH/CJ will action this. The tree surgeon does work for HOC so he will try to obtain a map of the trees in the village to see which ones HOC are responsible for and then we can ask them to deal with them. There are a lot of dead trees in the village.
RL reported that she had spoken to Rotary who had explained that it was the parish council that had been asked to keep the area clear after planting. The grounds staff will be asked to remove the dead trees and clear the area. It is hope Rotary will plant new trees in the Spring but they must be planted at the correct distance so the area can be mechanically trimmed.

b) Representatives on outside bodies –

Mandeville Hall – KH reported that the women’s toilets had been refurbished and they were obtaining quotes for redecorating.

Kimbolton Trust – KH reported that they are considering whether to assist the doctor’s surgery in purchasing a new defibrillator.

Kimbolton School – DH reported that the recent open day was well attended and that the VAT on school fees legislation did not seem to have had an adverse effect on the school yet.

c) Village Maintenance Action Points –
Solar streetlight quote – one quote has been received but another two will be necessary. LF will
provide the clerk with two other firms’ details.
Tree surgery – see above
Hearse House glass – the parish council is probably going to have to look at sourcing this from a reclamation yard.

167/24 Correspondence and Communications

a) Land at Hunter’s Way —a substantive response from HDC has not yet been received. It was agreed
that the clerk will ask Jonathan Gray to assist and liaise with HDC to provide a response to the
issues raised in the email sent in August 2024.
b) Fire service – playpark
land lease. The parish council need to determine who owns the land. Whether ti si the police and fire station or just the fire station, as would initially appear from the
plans.

168/24 To receive report from district councillor – Jonathan Grey was unable to attend this evening as he was attending another meeting in Huntingdon. He had flagged a couple of issues in an email to the clerk. Firstly, Solar Farm – there is some suggestion that the application is not the same as the presentation/consultation given earlier in the year. fI the parish council is of that opinion, HDC have suggested the possibility of the asking the applicant to meet with concerned local PC reps. Secondly, the Local Plan – there is a mass of documentation that is emerging. It is important that the parish council engage with the process. Everyone is waiting to see the impact of the announcements made by Angela Raynor around housebuilding targets and what this in practice means
for HDC.

169/24 Governance – Approve Parish Council Insurance renewal quote previously circulated to all councillors. The renewal quote had only just been presented to the parish council despite being emailed on 15 August. The renewal date is 1 October 2024. After reviewing the quote it appeared that a number of items needed amendment and the chair will consider this and then liaise with the clerk so an updated quote can be provided before the renewal date. The CCTV was not insured. A fully itemised asset register also needs to be prepared. The chair will do this.

170/24 – Members points of information and matters for future consideration. KS – the Local Plan needs to be considered. The consultation ends on 27 November 2024. There is an exhibition in the scout hut on 2 October from 2-8pm. It was agreed that a working party would attend during the day and then meet afterwards to discuss at 7pm at the fire station. Aresponse will then be considered at the next parish council meeting.
DH is preparing the Risk Assessments that are needed for staff and the equipment they use. LJ has kindly provided some documents that DH can amend to suit the parish council. The wreaths have been purchased for Remembrance Parade. This year DH wil lay the wreath but anyone from the parish council can volunteer to do this in future years. DH also noted that the clerk was in the process of preparing a diary of important dates such as preparing the documents for the Christmas road closure, MOTs and insurance so these matters do not get missed in the future.
RL – reported that there was a van in Newtown with no MOT.
MB – queried whether the parish council needed to change the mower, but this was not necessary at the moment.

171/24 – Date of next meeting: Parish Council Meeting – Thursday 24th October 2024

Meeting closed 9.20pm.

Actions Due By Person Responsible

Write to homeowners re overgrown hedges on B645. ASAP Clerk

New MVAS sign -chase delivery date ASAP Clerk

Update Unity Trust banking mandate to add al councillors ASAP Clerk

Christmas Light Switch On working party to meet ASAP Clerk

Arrange meeting with Roythornes re Pound Lane ASAP Clerk

Prepare poster to advertise vacant allotments November Meeting HB

Report footbridge Hatchet Lane/Old Ford Lane ASAP Clerk

Grass Yard – write to resident re trip hazard ASAP Clerk

Cemetery Cottage – fencing quotations October Meeting Chair & Clerk

Risk Register for Trees and obtain map of village trees that the HDC are responsible for Ongoing Chair & CJ

The Butts – remove dead treesand clearthearea- obtain quotes ASAP Chair

Solar Streetlight – two further quotes are required. Details to be provided
to the clerk ASAP LF

Prepare fully itemised Asset Register ASAP Chair

Treat King’s Coronation Bench ASAP LF

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