Meeting Minutes: 29th August 2019

KIMBOLTON & STONELY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the Council meeting held at 7 p.m. on Thursday 29 August 2019 at the Youth & Community Room, Mandeville Hall, Thrapston Rd., Kimbolton.

PRESENT  Councillors P Seabrook (in the Chair); Mrs D Hellett; D Poole; Mrs R Lloyd; Mrs S Hawkes; Mrs E Milne; L Farrer and R Gooderham..

IN ATTENDANCE  County Councillor I Gardener; District Councillor J Gray; C L Thatcher, Clerk to the Council and four members of the public.

119/19  APOLOGIES were received from Councillors K Hutchinson; Ms S Mugglestone and Mrs J Stainer..

120/19  PUBLIC FORUM  Members of the public present referred to the 150 bus service now being operated by Dews.  They said that the drivers stick rigidly to the published route, whereas previously HACT drivers were willing to vary it slightly and drop off people who were not able to walk very well, nearer to their homes.

It was agreed to ask the County Council if the route could be varied.

The Chairman welcomed our new Vicar, Revd. Philip Howson, to the meeting.

121/19  DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

Councillor Mrs Hellett declared her ongoing interest in the matter of Mulberry Cottage stables and, as a Governor, Kimbolton School. 

122/19  COUNTY COUNCILLOR

Councillor Gardener said that the conversion of the park and ride site at St Ives into a renewable generating site had started.

Many County residents have signed up to a collective energy switching scheme and have collectively saved £500,000 this year.    Anyone interested can join online at the County Council website.

Councillor Farrer joined the meeting.

Councillor Gardener had met the County Engineer at Hatchet Lane to discuss flooding and it is believed that two drains are blocked.  He will get them cleaned and, if necessary, repaired.

He also met with Karen Lunn of Highways today together with Councillors Poole and Mrs Stainer and the Clerk, to discuss the possibility of a pedestrian crossing in Thrapston Rd.  He thought it a constructive meeting and had determined that a crossing could be possible, even though there were issues with the positioning of bus stops and availability of an electricity supply.

Councillor Gray joined the meeting.

Should power be available on both sides of the road then the likely cost would be around £20,000.  Should there be no power on the south side then the cost would increase to £30,000 to £40,000.

A feasibility study would be required at a cost of around £2,000.

It was proposed by Councillor Gooderham, seconded by Councillor Poole and agreed to order the feasibility study at a cost of up to £2,500.

Councillor Gardener said that this year’s LHI Panel meeting will be held on 27 January 2020 between 8am and 6pm.  There will be only the one meeting this time.

123/19  MINUTES of the Council meeting held on 25 July 2019 were read, approved and signed as a true record of that meeting, subject to the amendment to 112/19 to show that the water butt is not leaking, it simply needs uprighting and to removing Councillor Mrs Hellett’s name from the Members’ Points of Information.

124/19  MATTERS ARISING

• Neighbourhood Watch.    No report.
• Hearse House repairs   Nothing yet received from the Panning Department.
• CCTV.  The Clerk said that he was waiting on Mr Valletta to show him what area he required to be covered within the school grounds by a new camera.    It was thought that it might not be possible to include this on a system that we use because of data protection requirements.

It was, however, agreed that remote monitoring of the recording device would be sensible, so that access to the unit when required is guaranteed.

• Christmas Decorations.   The Working Party has not yet met but a discussion took place in which it was agreed to involve the School in any plans.  Councillor Farrer offered to help and is investigating the possibility of using Christmas lights which are battery powered and can be placed on a timer. 
• Stonely Bus Shelter has now been removed and it was agreed to take no action to replace it.
• Risk Management Working Party has not yet met and this will remain an agenda item.
• Pound Lane Working Party.  The Clerk has contacted both the Cricket Club and the Football Club and both confirm their interest in a new pavilion.  It was agreed to arrange a Working Party meeting with the Clubs’ representatives on 12 September, starting at 7pm.
• Local Highway Initiative.  The Clerk said that the Highways Engineer would not accept the suggestion that double yellow lines be painted on Park Lane to require residents to park on the opposite side of the road, for safety reasons.
• Halls Meadow. It was agreed to continue to cut the whole of the meadow for the time being and to consider establishing a wildflower meadow next year.

The gate at the entrance to Halls meadow from Station Rd appears to have been stolen and it was agreed to purchase a replacement. 

125/19    PLANNING MATTERS.

• Applications  

19/01586  Land adj 1-2 Nene Rd, Bicton Industrial Estate – erect light industrial storage building.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Hellett, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hawkes and agreed to recommend approval.

19/01395  Kimbolton House, High St, Kimbolton – rebuild front parapet wall to match existing; renew lead lined box gutter.

Councillor Farrer declared a disclosable prejudicial interest in this matter, took not part in the debate and did not vote.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Lloyd, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hawkes and agreed to recommend approval.

19/01627  Lye House, Bedford Rd, Pertenhall – removal of conditions 12 & 14.

It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Hellett, seconded by Councillor Poole and unanimously agreed to recommend refusal.  The applicant should be required to abide by the Highways initial decision which should not be varied.

• Ongoing Matters.     Mulberry Cottage stables.  No report.

126/19  DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

Councillor Gray said that August is very quiet apart from a few planning matters.

The parking charges in St Neots have been varied, so that parkers pay just for the time they are parked and this raised no objection from the St Neots Council, though there have since been questions about one of the car parks.

Councillors Gray and Gardener left the meeting.

127/19    REPORTS

Allotments.  There was little change in the allotments since last month, but it was noted that the surrounding areas were getting very overgrown.    It was acknowledged that this work would be more than could be expected of our own staff and therefore the Clerk was authorised to engage a contractor to clear up.  This was proposed by Councillor Gooderham, seconded by Councillor Mrs Lloyd and agreed, subject to a maximum cost of £1500.00.

Playpark.  The same issues remain and the Clerk will endeavour to get the same contractor as for the allotments to undertake the work.

Councillor Mrs Hellett provided the ‘phone numbers for the specialist cleaning companies and the Clerk will contact them.

Lighting.  It was reported that the globe on PC57 in Carnaby was open.

Trees.  Councillor Gooderham enquired about a tree survey and a dead tree at The Butts was reported.

Outside Bodies.

Mandeville Hall.  No recent committee meetings, the next being 26 September.

Kimbolton School.  The Outdoor Pursuits unit has now been erected.

128/19  CHURCHYARD COBBLES

The condition of the cobbled paths, particularly the one from the south door towards St Andrews Lane, was causing concern.    It was agreed to prevent use of that portion of the path and to obtain quotes for the renewal of the cobbles.  Councillor Farrer offered to provide the specification to which the quotes should be sought.

129/19  SLCC NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The Clerk reported that the conference was taking place at Hinckley, Leics between 1 and 3 October and the cost is likely to be c£375. It was proposed by Councillor Gooderham, seconded by Councillor Poole and agreed that the Clerk should attend and Council would pay the cost.

130/19  CORRESPONDENCE

• A request from a resident to purchase a part of Council-owned amenity land at Constables Leys was considered.  It was proposed by Councillor Gooderham, seconded by Councillor Farrer and unanimously agreed to refuse this request.
• The Cricket Club, having suffered yet another burglary, had requested that a gate be placed across Pound Lane to prevent easy access to the area.     Members had concerns as to whether this would be practicable and agreed that it should be discussed when the Working Party meets with the Club on 12 September.
• A request for a headstone to the late John Henry Nelson Tebbs was approved.

131/19  ACCOUNTS

a)The following were proposed and approved for payment –

CGM Group Ltd                   Grass cutting                                    1967.89 inc VAT

Information Commissioner    Registration renewal                           40.00  no   “

Anglian Water                       Allotment water                                    83.61   “     “

Fishers                               Groundsman sundries                            63.98  inc     “

K & M Lighting                    Streetlight maintenance                       125.48   “     “

D Eades                             August work                                         459.00  no   “

Payroll costs                      Pay, PAYE & NIC                               2186.36   “     “

C L Thatcher                        Piaggio car tax                                     91.00   “     “

C L Thatcher                        Diesel for Piaggio                                 25.82  inc  “

132/19  HIGH STREET CAR PARKING  Nothing to report.

133/19  MEMBERS’ POINTS OF INFORMATION.

Councillor Gooderham said that it was proving impossible to obtain no waiting cones from the police these days and he thought the Parish Council should purchase 50 at a cost of up to £500.00.     This will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.

Councillor Mrs Lloyd said that Rotary will prune the rose bushes in the churchyard on 5 October and were asking about a litter pick as they would like to be involved in the future.

She thought the trees in the spinney at Halls Meadow needed attention.

Councillor Poole said that the Post Office hanging sign was obscured by a bend sign.

Councillor Mrs Hellett remarked that Rookery Lane hedges need attention and that she is organising a Crime prevention evening at the Mandeville Hall on Tuesday 24 September, commencing at 7pm.

134/19  DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next normal meeting of Council will be held on Thursday 26 September 2019, commencing at 7pm in the Youth and Community Room at the Mandeville Hall.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2145 hours.