Meeting Minutes: 29th August 2024

KIMBOLTON & STONELY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the annual Council meeting held at 7 p.m. on Thursday 29 August 2024 in the Youth Hall at the Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton.

PRESENT Councillors Mrs D Hellett (in the Chair) J Lee; K Hutchinson and Ms H Bradbury; Mrs J Stainer; Ms C Jessup; P Seabrook; Mrs R Lloyd; L Farrer and R Gooderham

IN ATTENDANCE County Councillor I Gardener; Lionel Thatcher; Clerk to the Council and 6 Members of the public.

141/24 APOLOGIES were received from Councillors M Buckley.

142/24 PUBLIC FORUM was not used.

143/24 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.

Councillor Mrs Stainer declared an interest in the item relating to Hunters Way, by virtue of her residence in that road.

144/ 124 COUNTY COUNCILLOR

Councillor Gardener reported that we had been unsuccessful in our bid for funding under the LHI scheme. He said that we were just below the cut-off point. He was asked to provide a copy of the scoring matrix.

A new Highways Officer for this area has been appointed and will commence work on 2 September. The elected Mayor’s consultation on bus franchises was now open.

An appeal to recruit more school governors was underway, there being currently a shortage of around SO in the county. He urged caution when re-charging batteries, as there had been a number of fires, some fatal. He advised against doing so overnight, when all were asleep. The Local Plan consuttation will be open until 28 November and there will be an opportunity to comment on those sites put forward under the ‘call for sites’.

Councillor Farrer joined the meeting.

Councillor Hutchinson asked whether Huntingdonshire District Council were still pursuing the national policy relating to the Local Plan. Councillor Gardener thought that was the case.

Councillor Mrs Hellett said that the footpath across Halls Meadow was uneven and in need of repair. A member of public present spoke on behalf of Pertenhall and Swlneshead Parish Council in requesting consideration of an extension to the 40mph limit on the 8660 on the approach to Pertenhall. This area was within Cambridgeshire, though on the approach to the Bedfordshire village. The Clerk has already wntten to County Highways asking whether they might support a scheme, but no definite answer was received. Councillor Gardener said he would contact Highways.

Mention was also made about overhanging trees on Park Lane and an overhan_ging hedge on Main Rd Stonely. Councillor Gardener said he would try to obtain action on these. The sweeping of roads in the vill age was also raised again, particularly the High St and Councillor Lee was keen to hire a road sweeper for a week and use our staff to drive it.

The Clerk sald that he had already written to HOC asking them to sweep the High St immediately following the Statty Fair, when no vehicles are parked. No reply has yet been received.

145/24 Minutes of

a) The Council meeting held on 25th July 2024 and

b) The Council meeting held on 15th August 2024

were read, approved and signed as a true record of those meetings, subject to the words in item 125/25 relating to the litter pick being deleted.

146/24 MATTERS ARISING

a) MVAS signs -Councillor Bradbury had circulated her report.

b) Proposed closure of Fire Station. No further information, but a point was raised about the future of the playpark, should the Fire Station close. Members were reminded that the land upon which the playpark resides Is owned partly by the Fire Service and partly by the Police and the terms upon which this council makes use of It are not known. The Clerk was asked to write to the Chief Fire Officer, with a copy to Councillor Gardener, and ask for a copy of any lease or agreement.

c) Pound Lane. No further action.

d) Statute Fair. In the absence of Councillor Gooderham the Chairman said that the approval for the road closure was still awaited from the County Council and that the contribution required from this council towards the Traffic Management costs will be the same as last year.

e) Land at Hunters Way. The Clerk read a letter received from the Medical Practice in which It was confirmed that they did wish to purchase the land and were now in a position to do so. However, they are not yet in a position to make use of the land and they ask whether this council would, ff they purchased it, be prepared to take on a lease at a peppercorn rent, to maintain the land as a public open space until such time as It was needed.

Council confirmed their support for the Medical Centre and agreed, in principle, to maintain the land as an open space on their behaij, if required.

f) Pound Lane request by Cricket Club. The Working Party had been looking at the options and the legality of assigning the land to the Cricket Club. Apparently a lease of a minimum of 31 years would be required in order for them to qualify for grants to make improvements to the i

football pitch.

Councillor Gooderham joined the meeting.

g) Cllr Gooderham gave the Stattie Fair report and also reported that the fire station were training new members.

h) Summer Fair report. Unfortunately, It had been necessary to cancel the fair due to the forecast of heavy rain -which proved to be accurate.

Councillors Gardener and Gooderham left the meeting.

147/24 PLANNING

The following application was considered. 24/00883 Rookery Farm, Stow Rd, Klmbolton -construct solar farm with battery energy storage system and associated works. The majority of the area to be occupied by this project would be within Kimbolton parish, though probably the greatest impact would be on Stow Longa.

Some consultations have taken place and replies have been received from . among others, Historic England, who have raised no objection. Councillor Hutchinson said that he thought the application premature as no archaeological investigation has taken place. Concerns were also raised about the loss of farmland (though this is apparently not high quality) and the impact on the landscape of this very large development.

148/24 REPORTS

Allotments. Councillor Mrs Hellett said that there are 27 plots plus one riverside plot. At present 18 plots are ‘OK’ or ‘good’; 3 are very untidy and 7 are vacant. The tenant of plot 18 needs a further letter reminding of the need to keep down weeds. Footpaths. The bridge on the footpath behind the Primary School is unsafe and the ‘footpath’ sign is missing from the footpath at the end of Pound Lane. Both need reporting to the Rights of Way Officer. Lighting. It was proposed by Councillor Ms Bradbury, seconded by Councillor Ms Jessup and agreed to order a solar powered streetlight to be placed on Thrapston Rd between Budgens and Camaby. Trees. The Clerk has received an estimate from Manor Farm Tree Services for remedial action to be taken as necessary to trees In and around Halls Meadow in the sum of £3000. It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Stainer, seconded by Councillor Ms Jessup and agreed to accept this estimate and to meet with the tree surgeon next week to confirm which trees need felling.

Village Maintenance Action Points – Hearse House glass -Councillor Ms Bradbury said that it is difficult to find the type of glass used. but she will continue trying. Sensory Garden -investigations will take place to see if this could be sited adjacent to Halls Meadow. Litter posters will be pmduoed by Councillors Ms Jessup and Ms Bradbury. Councillor Mrs Lloyd commented that Rotary recently undertook a litter pick. Street Naming -the Chairman referred to the story boards being produced by Tllbrook Parish Council and suggested following a sinilar idea.

REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES Mandeville Hall -no report Kimbolton Trust -no meeting but Councillor Seabrook said that a few people are being supported. Kimbolton School -the swimming pool official opening will be on Saturday 7 September.

149/24 CORRESPONDENCE

1. A consultation is taking place on the Cambs and Peterborough Bus Franchise.

2. Pertenhall & Swineshead Parish Council request for support in extending the 40mph limit on the approach to the village. This referred to In 144/24 above.
3. Request from MAGPAS for a donation to assist in their operational costs. It was proposed by Councillor Farrer, seconded by Councillor Bradbury, and agreed to send £150.00.

150/24 ACCOUNTS

a) The following were approved for payment –

K&M Lighting – Maintenance – 128.15

Ibbetts – Hand Tools – 1474.99

Mick George – Skip Hire – 223.20

Huntingdonshire DC Fitness Instructors – 187.20

Wicksteed Leisure – Swing seat & bolts – 242.33

PFK Littlejohn – External Audit Fee – 504.00

Catworth Service Station – Service & MOT – 218.64

Morelock Ltd – Purchase of MVAS – 3288.00

FirstCallTM – Replacement of lost cheque – 1591.25

1st Kimbolton Scouts ” ” ” ” 260.00

Mandeville Hall – Donation – 500.00

JW Gardening – Temporary Work – 1160.00

H Brace – August work – 1400.00

Mrs D Hellett – Reimbursement of fuel – 166.61

Payroll costs – Pay, PAYE & NIC – 3101.25

b) The Clerk reported that the external auditor has signed off the accounts for 2023/24 with one comment relating to the need to cancel cheques which were unpresented and out of date and should be written back into the accounts. This has been done.

151/24 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR was not present

152/24 HIGH ST CAR PARKING no report

153/24 MEMBERS’ POINT OF INFORMATION

Councillor – Mrs Lloyd reminded members that Rotary would be only too pleased to help with local projects. Councillor Mrs Stainer said she was still concerned about the parking in Hunters Way and Newtown. Councilor Seabrook said there was a need to remind County Highways and the police about the 0vergrown hedges on the B645. Councillor Mrs Hellett said that the top plank on the bench on the Causeway near to the B660 was broken and that the sign In the cemetery warning people about the danger of branches falling from trees was also broken. The support to the gate in the Playpark at the rear of Tollfield has rotted. Councilor Hulchins0n said that tonight was the Clerk’s final meeting altar over 28 years’ service to the Council. He thanked him for his past service and wished him well for the future.

154/24 IT WAS RESOLVED that the Press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item In accordance with the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960.

155/24

The appointment of Jo Russel as Clerk was confirmed, as were the conditions of service applicable to the post. together with a commencing salary pro rata to SCP26, rising to pro rata to SCP28 once CLCA qualified It was proposed by Councillor Ma Bradbury, seconded by Councillor Mrs Lloyd and agreed to purchase a laptop completed for the Clerk, to a value of £1000 plus VAT It was also agreed to cease the Council’s landline telephone and purchase a mobile phone Instead. The Clerk will be offered the choice of either another phone, for which a rental of around £20 per month is authorised, or a dual sim so that all calls, council and personal, could be made on one phone.

156/24 NEXT MEETING

The next normal meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday 26th September 2024, commencing at 7pm in the Youth Room at the Mandeville Hall.

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

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