Meeting Minutes: 27th August 2020

KIMBOLTON & STONELY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the Council meeting held at 7 p.m. on Thursday 27 August 2020 by means of video conferencing due to the coronavirus pandemic.

PRESENT  Councillors P Seabrook; K Hutchinson; D Poole; Mrs R Lloyd; Mrs C Jessup; L Farrer ; Mrs J Stainer; Ms S Mugglestone; Mrs D Hellett and R Gooderham

IN ATTENDANCE  County Councillor I Gardener; C L Thatcher, Clerk to the Council .

121/20  APOLOGIES  were received from Councillor Mrs E Milne.

122/20  PUBLIC FORUM  was not used.

123/20  DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

Councillor Mrs Hellett declared her interest in the ongoing matter of Mulberry Cottage stables and Councillor Farrer regarding the Hearse House repairs and churchyard cobbles.

124/20  COUNTY COUNCILLOR    Councillor Gardener said that the money for the new pedestrian crossing had been agreed with Huntingdonshire DC and goes to the County Council on 3 September, but it has been put forward for approval.

The County Council is participating in a scheme for household solar energy and is in partnership with www.solartogether.co.uk/cambs.  Anyone interested should register before 6 October to take advantage of this ‘reverse auction’ which is bringing together companies willing to offer their best prices for solar panel installation .

On 11 August he met with Joseph Hudson, the Highways Maintenance Engineer, together with Councillors Mrs Hellett and Catherine Jessup and discussed repairs to gullies.  Approval for road diversions is awaited before this work can be undertaken.

Grass cutting along Park Lane by the drain is a part of the agreement with the Parish Council and should be undertaken by the Parish Council.   London Road and Easton Rd gullies are to be cleared.

The Tollfield footpath repair will be undertaken soon. 

Councillor Poole asked about the blocked drains in Station Rd and was told they would be done in 6 – 8 weeks.

Councillor Gooderham said that he had spoken with the fair operator regarding the Stattie Fair. There is no way to comply with social distancing rules so the fair won’t go ahead this year.  However, the operator will provide one small ride and the receipts from this will go to charity.  There will, therefore, be no need for a traffic diversion this year.

Councillor Gardener thanked Councillors Gooderham and said that they would work together in the arrangements for future fairs. 

125/20  MINUTES  The minutes of the Council meeting of 30 July 2020 were read, and approved  as a true record of that meeting.

126/20  MATTERS ARISING

• Neighbourhood Watch.   The Clerk reported that a Horse Fair was being held next weekend at Wollaston which might mean an increase in travellers using the B645.

• Hearse House .    Nothing further to report.
• Churchyard cobbles. Work has now commenced.
• Notice board.  It was proposed by Councillor Gooderham, seconded by Councillor Ms Mugglestone and agreed that the quote of Nick Small in the sum of £400 be accepted.
• Pound Lane Working Party  The Chairman said that a discussion had taken place today and suggestions will be circulated.
• Twinning with Fernie.  Not progressed due to circumstances.
• Pedestrian Crossing.  As reported above.
• Christmas Lighting.  Councillor Farrer said that he hopes to have an estimate ready for the next meeting.
• Vehicle speeds and noise.  The Clerk reported that there will be a police operation along the B645 co-ordinated with Northants police over the first weekend in September.
• Coronavirus Update.  Nothing further to report.

Councillor Gardener left the meeting

127/20   PLANNING MATTERS.

• Applications  

20/01243  Highview House, Station Rd, Kimbolton – extensions.

It was proposed by Councillor Poole, seconded by Councillor Gooderham and agreed to recommend approval as appropriate development.

20/01301  Hemlock Cottage, Bedford Rd, Pertenhall – erect garden studio.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Hellett, seconded by Councillor Ms Mugglestone and agreed to recommend approval as appropriate development.  Councillor Gooderham abstained.

20/01350  Bigrams Farmhouse, Easton Rd, Stonely – detached garage with guest room over.

It was proposed by Councillor Ms Mugglestone, seconded by Councillor Mrs Stainer and agreed to recommend approval as appropriate development.

20/01528  29 Constables Leys, Kimbolton – retrospective application to build boundary wall around front garden.

Three letters of complaint from neighbours were read by the Clerk.

It was proposed by Councillor Ms Mugglestone, seconded by Councillor MsJessup and agreed to recommend refusal due to it not being in keeping with neighbouring properties.      There were two abstentions.

• Ongoing Matters.     Mulberry Cottage stables.  No sign of activity is reported and the windows remain boarded.

                 Councillor Poole left the meeting.

• Future Planning White Paper

Councillor Hutchinson provided a briefing on government proposals.

He said that fundamental changes are proposed – all designed to speed up applications and cut out red tape.      There will be simplified Local Plans and areas designated as growth areas will be suitable for substantial development, and there will be areas suitable for development and protected areas.

It is not clear whether the countryside itself is covered by these changes.

The requirement for a 5 year supply of land for housing is likely to be scrapped and there will be a statutory time table for Local Plans of 13 months – and these must be map-based rather than policy-based.  New design codes are proposed and there will be no need for s106 agreements.    Big sites will be split between developers and applications will be shorter and more standardised.

Penalties for councils failing to determine applications within the time limits.

Councillor Gray agreed to respond to the White Paper and many questions were raised.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Hutchinson for his report.

128/20    REPORTS

Allotments  Notices had been placed around the allotments warning tenants about the thefts.  Two tenants require letters warning them of the need to cultivate their allotments and the hedges will need cutting soon.

It was agreed to rotavate and seed the plots withdrawn from use.

Dog Fouling.   It was agreed the problem seems worse.  The Clerk reported on the consultation by HDC on their Dog Control Policy and it was agreed to support their proposals.

Leys Hedge.  The Clerk asked whether Matthew Hellett could be employed to cut the Leys Hedge?  He would be able to do it quickly with his tractor and flail, whereas it will take the Grounds Staff a good week to cut it.  This was agreed, if Matthew can spare the time.

Footpaths.  Councillor Mrs Stainer referred to the footpath from Rookery Lane towards Stonely.  The wooden bridge is broken.

Playgrounds  Councillor Mrs Hellett said that rubbish is being left in the playpark; the cracked slabs still need repair and there is a trip hazard caused by the tree roots.     Perhaps a warning notice would help?  The gate into the Fire Station yard needs locking.

Personnel.  The Clerk reported receipt of the NJC Pay Award for local council staffs, which amounted to 2.75% and was effective from 1 April 2020.  It also provides for one extra day’s annual leave (pro rata for part-time employees).

Trees.  The Clerk said that he had received a quote from Argenta Tree Services in the sum of £1600 to inspect and advise upon all trees in the village which are on council land.   Such a survey is long overdue and is needed in mitigation of our insurance.   It was proposed by Councillor Gooderham, seconded by Councillor Ms Mugglestone and agreed to accept the quote of Argenta Ltd of Isleham.

Village Maintenance.  The following were mentioned as needing attention-

• The surface to Carnaby footpath
• Excessive loose gravel in Grass Yard

Outside Bodies.

Kimbolton Trust.  The Chairman said that the next meeting will be in October.

Kimbolton School.  Councillor Mrs Hellett said that the school is still full and will be re-opening on Wednesday week.

Mandeville Hall   No report

129/20  STATTIE FAIR This was reported in 124/20 above, but Councillor Gooderham will advise if anything relevant transpires.

130/20  GOVERNMENT BUSINESS GRANT FUND   The Clerk said that government had offered a grant to businesses whose non-domestic rate bill was less than £15,000 per annum .  This Council ‘pays’ non-domestic rates on the cemetery (though we receive a 100% rebate) and so he applied for a grant.  This has now been received and amounts to £10,000.

131/20  CORRESPONDENCE

• Remembrance Day parade.  It is very unlikely that the parade will take place, primarily because of our inability to ensure social distancing between members of the public in attendance.   It is expected that some form of remembrance will take place though, possibly an event within the school grounds and separate laying of wreaths at the memorials.
• Relinquishment of Exclusive Right of Burial.    The Clerk reported that Mr Vigars had given up the two plots which he had reserved and has kindly refused to accept a refund of the money paid by him some thirty years ago.
• Kimbolton Castle Rotary Club – A letter has been received from Rotarian Geoff Lloyd asking whether this Council would work with Rotary on an environmental project, perhaps involving the planting of trees.   It was agreed to wait until after the results of the tree survey are received as this might indicate areas where old trees need felling and new ones could be planted.  The Clerk will advise Mr Lloyd accordingly.

Councillors Gooderham and Farrer left the meeting

132/20  ACCOUNTS

The following were proposed and approved for payment –

        Information Commissioner      Annual regn. fee                      40.00 

         K & M Lighting           Maintenance                                       125.48      

         Came & Co            Annual insurance premium                  2049.68

         Geoxsphere Ltd     Annual mapping subscription                  42.00 

         Mick George Ltd             Skip hire                                        207.60

         Paul Randall             Replace picket fence                          378.00

         D Eades                     August work                                      384.55

        Payroll costs             Pay, PAYE & NIC                              2499.71

        C L Thatcher             Diesel & Piaggio car tax                     115.35       

133/20  DISTRICT COUNCILLOR  Councillor Gray confirmed that the grant from HDC CIL account of £20,000 towards the pedestrian crossing was earmarked and would be provided.

He said that he, too, had received many complaints about motorcyclists.

Covid dominates work and is costing the council a lot.  The car parks are still free but likely to return to payment in mid September.

There has been a big impact on their budget.

They are still not meeting face to face.

The Chairman thanked all for their help in obtaining the funding for the crossing.

Councillor Gray left the meeting.

134/20  HIGH STREET CAR PARKING  Nothing to report.

135/20  MEMBERS’ POINTS OF INFORMATION.

Nothing other than that raised under Village Maintenance above

136/20  DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next normal meeting of Council will be held on Thursday 24 September 2020, commencing at 7pm in the Youth and Community Room at the Mandeville Hall, if permitted, otherwise by means of video conferencing.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2140 hours.