Meeting Minutes: 28th April 2022

KIMBOLTON & STONELY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the Council meeting held at 7 p.m. on Thursday 28 April 2022 in the Youth Hall at the Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton.

PRESENT  Councillors P Seabrook;  R Gooderham;  Mrs R Lloyd ;  Mrs D Hellett.; D Poole and L Farrer

IN ATTENDANCE  County Councillor I Gardener; District Councillor Jonathan Gray and Lionel Thatcher, Clerk to the Council.

52/22      APOLOGIES  were received from Councillors Mrs E Milne; K Hutchinson; Ms S Mugglestone; Ms C Jessup and Mrs J Stainer.

53/22     PUBLIC FORUM  was not used.

54/22     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.   

  None were reported..

55/22     COUNTY COUNCILLOR Ian Gardener said that he was still chasing for the Parish Council to receive extra funding to cover the shortage , following the increase in costing.  He has asked the committee and they are considering funding it from the Community Capital Fund.    It was confirmed that, whether or not the extra funding is forthcoming, the raised crossing was wanted and this council would if necessary fund it out of next year’s precept.

Councillor Gardener also said that a Ukrainian Response Group has been set up by the County Council and they are meeting weekly.

The County Council does not intend to cut the grass on verges during May , except where needed for road safety.

Councillor Farrer joined the meeting

Councillor Gardener left the meeting

56/22    MINUTES of the Council meeting of 31 March 2022 were read, approved and signed as a true record of that meeting.

57/22     MATTERS ARISING

• Neighbourhood Watch. No report
• Pound Lane  The plan provided by John Lightfoot is not quite the same as that proposed by the Chairman and members agreed that the plan as drawn by the Chairman, with 49 spaces, would be the one they wished to go forward.
• The Chairman also said that the question of a building on site could be an integral part of this project and he asked that council permit the Working Party to discuss the possibility of providing a building for changing facilities/clubroom/social functions.  This was agreed.
• Twinning.   No action to be taken during the pandemic.
• Pedestrian Crossing   Fuerther to item 55/22 above, it was proposed by Councillor Gooderham, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hellett and agreed to proceed with the installation of a raised crossing as soon as possible.
• Cemetery Wall repairs.  It was agreed to defer this 
• MVAS signs         The Clerk phoned Highways and was told the MVAS signs were in stock.  He has arranged to collect them tomorrow.
• Street Market.  Highways Events confirm that the law does not permit road closures for street markets.  As a result, it would be necessary to hold the market on 27 August on Castle Green.  Councillor Mrs Hellett offered to liaise with the School over this.  

.h)  Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration.  We have reached the position where we need to firm up the programme and get the event advertised.

      i)   Litter Pick.  It was suggested to organise this for September/October and that Rotary are willing to help.

j)  New Street Lights.  Deferred

Councillor Gray joined the meeting

k)  Flood Protection. No further information

l)  Cemetery work.   The Clerk said that the contractor he had in mind for the work was no longer interested and he has been unable to find anyone else.

m)  Community Facebook Page.  It was agreed to place on future agendas an item for any matters arising from comments following publication of the precis of our meetings.

 n ) Coronavirus Update   There is quite a high level of infection but fortunately people are generally not experiencing serious effects.

58/22    PLANNING

a)The following applications were considered –

22/00694  41 Hatchet Lane, Stonely – erect garage/store/shed.  Proposed by Councillor Gooderham, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hellett and agreed to recommend approval.

22/00065  Aragon House Stud,Station Rd, Kimbolton – erect car port.   Proposed by Councillor Mrs Lloyd, seconded by Councillor Gooderham and agreed to recommend approval.

22/00794/LBC  Stonely House, Main Rd, Stonely – renovation & extension of existing listed building. Proposed by Councillor Gooderham, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hellett and agreed to recommend approval.

22/00793/FUL Stonely House, Main Rd, Stonely – erect dwelling.  Proposed by Councillor Mrs Hellett, seconded by Councillor Gooderham and agreed to recommend approval.

22/00557  18 East St Kimbolton – erect garden shed within curtilage of listed building.  Proposed by Councillor Poole, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hellett and recommend for approval.

b) Development Management Committee meeting 25 April 2022.  No-one was able to attend.

59/22  REPORTS

Allotments.     Councillor Mrs Hellett presented her allotments report.  The bonfire area still needs fencing and the plots we took back require spraying and rotavating.

Cemetery Extension.  The Chairman wondered whether a name should be given to the cemetery extension.  It was agreed to place this on the agenda for the next meeting.

The white lines delineating the limited waiting areas in the High St need re-painting.

PC72 on Main Rd Stonely is leaning

A tree in Stow Rd is rotten and needs felling.  Mr Kidman will be asked to deal.

The reactive sign warning of the junction with Easton Rd appears unserviceable

The Butts.  Having arranged clearance, the Chairman met with a representative of Rotary on site and discussed tree planting.

Outside Bodies.  Kimbolton School Governors.  Councillor Mrs Hellett said that the mock examinations start this week.

                           Mandeville Hall Committee.  No report.

60/22  CORRESPONDENCE   

A letter from the Chairman of the Mandeville Hall Committee notifying council of his intention to commence charging for council meetings, was read. The reason given was concern over the increase in electricity costs in future.  Members instructed the Clerk to reply and object to the proposal and request that the Chairman be invited to a meeting of the Hall Committee, pending which the charge be deferred.

61/22  ACCOUNTS

• The following were approved for payment –All Style Marquees   Stage Cover   180.00

  K & M Lighting    Maintenance        256.30

  Playsafety Ltd  RoSPA inspection  180.60

  Able Group     Cottage window       390.00

  Payroll costs – pay,NIC;PAYE      6579.58

62/22  DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

Councillor Gray said that things were very quiet due to purdah and the forthcoming elections, but there could be movement re the sale of the land to the surgery.

63/22  HIGH ST CAR PARKING  no report

64/22  MEMBERS’ POINTS OF INFORMATION

Councillor Gooderham commented on the amount of rubbish gathering in the burn pit at the Cricket Club

Councillor Farrer asked whether the sign attached to Rookery bridge railings was permitted and has noted that the railings have been bent.

Councillor Mrs Lloyd said that the blue kiddies slide plus a lot of straw remains on Rookery Lane outside the ‘goat field’ when the owner had promised to remove it.

Finally, the Chairman thanked Councillor David Poole, who is standing down, for his years of additional service following his original ‘retirement’ and all wished him well.

65/22  NEXT MEETING   

It was agreed that the next normal meeting of Council will be held in the Youth Room at the Mandeville Hall on Thursday 19 May 2022 commencing at 7pm.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2150 hours.