Meeting Minutes: 29th September 2022
KIMBOLTON & STONELY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the Council meeting held at 7 p.m. on Thursday 29 September 2022 in the Youth Hall at the Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton.
PRESENT Councillors P Seabrook; J Gray ; K Hutchinson; Ms C Jessup; Mrs E Milne and L Farrer
IN ATTENDANCE County Councillor I Gardener & Lionel Thatcher, Clerk to the Council.
137/22 APOLOGIES were received from Councillors Mrs J Stainer; R Gooderham; Ms H Bradbury; Mrs R Lloyd and Mrs D Hellett and District Councillor J Gray.
138/22 PUBLIC FORUM was not used.
139/22 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
Councillor Seabrook declared an interest in the matter of the planning application for the Solar Farm
140/22 COUNTY COUNCILLOR Ian Gardener referred to the application to the County Council for additional funding to cover the shortfall regarding the pedestrian crossing and said that the committee has agreed to ask this council to submit an application for additional funding shortly. He will advise the Clerk.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Gardener for all his help with this project.
Bids to the LHI scheme start on 31 October and close at the end of January 2023. The Panel meeting will be held in May. There will be two routes, one for complex schemes and one for non-complex. The maximum contribution for complex is £25000 and for non-complex it is £10000.
The Transport Strategy for Hunts will develop future travel ideas.
Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership is working to introduce a congestion charge – a sustainable travel zone – from 2028. There will be more buses into Cambridge and a flat fare will be introduced. The congestion charge will be £5 per day and this will apply to all residents whose vehicles move between 7am and 7pm.
Councillor Farrer joined the meeting
There is an urgent appeal for Foster Carers, particularly younger persons.
Councillor Gardener left the meeting
141/22 MINUTES of the Council meeting of 25 August 2022 were read, approved and signed as a true record of that meeting.
142/22 MATTERS ARISING
- Neighbourhood Watch. The Clerk reported that our ‘local’ PCSO had now left and it is doubtful that he will be replaced. He was the lead on Rural Watch scheme so whether that survives is doubtful.
- Pound Lane The Chairman, Councillors Kutchinson and Farrer met John Lightfoot to look at siting and design of a possible building. John Lightfoot is providing sketch designs.
- Pedestrian Crossing Due to the world-wide shortage of materials, the crossing is unable to be completed. The platform is finished but the beacons and actual crossing will be delayed by some 14 weeks.
- Cemetery Wall repairs. Quotes will be sought
- MVAS signs Thanks to assistance from a Tilbrook councillor, the signs have been erected – one by the Prep School and one on Park Lane. Councillors Seabrook and Gray undertook the work and will for the time being monitor and change batteries and download information. The Clerk will speak with the manufacturer to see if they can advise on the positioning of the machines for best results and regarding the information produced.
- Christmas Lights and Fair. It was agreed to seek the closure of the High Street and to provide an event similar to last year. The cost of traffic management was understood to be c£1300 plus VAT. It was proposed by Councillor Gray,seconded by Councillor Hutchinson and agreed to engage FirstCall TM to undertake the traffic management.
Since the Headmaster of Kimbolton School is retiring soon, was thought it would be good to ask him to switch on the lights.
It was also noted that next year there is likely to be the coronation of King Charles III and it was agreed to form a working party to start considering the form local celebrations should take.
g) Mandeville Hall Councillor Hutchinson has received copies of the minutes of a number of Mandeville Hall committee meetings and, whilst they show some discussion relating to tarmac, none show any discussion as to whether or not they would be prepared to contribute towards the requested repairs to the tarmac by the Youth Room entrance. Accordingly, and in an effort to draw this matter to a close, it was agreed to forgo the promised £500.
It was further proposed by Councillor Mrs Milne, seconded by Councillor Hutchinson and agreed that, in lieu of paying a rent for the use of this hall for council meetings, a donation in the sum of £500 effective from 1 May 2022 will be paid, this being for 12 months.
h). Butts Tree Planting. An offer of help with planting has been received from children at the Preparatory School and the Clerk will let Mr Davies have the contact details. Six trees will be reserved for people/groups having requested them. Rotary are organising the planting and expect to arrange dates in November, perhaps 12th and 13th.
j) Statty Fair The feedback from residents of East St has been good and they appear pleased with the new arrangements. The Clerk expressed concern that some vehicles were being allowed past the barriers and were approaching the turn into St Andrew’s Lane at speed, whilst pedestrians, including young children, were crossing at that spot.
k) Playpark. The repairs to the roundabout have been ordered but the installers have a lead time of about 10 weeks, so it’s doubtful that the job will be done before November.
l) Health & Well-Being of Residents – winter project. The Clerk referred to the visit of Anna Bradley-Dorman of HDC to August’s meeting and explained further details of what is proposed. Councillor Gray expressed some concerns as to what was going to be required of the council, but it was agreed to participate. The Clerk will liaise as necessary.
143/22 PLANNING
a)The following applications were considered –
22/01089 The Park, Pound Lane, Kimbolton – construct car park. Members were concerned that this application does not appear to have been fully understood by the Planners and asked the Clerk to write and emphasise the intention that the surface will be ‘grasscrete’ or similar, the intention being that grass will grow through it and maintain the appearance of a grassed field.
22/01945 Land W of Bicton Industrial Estate – solar farm and associated works.
Councillor Seabrook declared an interest in this item, vacated the Chair , left the room and took no part in the discussion or vote.
Councillor Hutchinson in the Chair.
There was a lengthy discussion on this application, with concerns being raised by several members. Councillor Gray said that he was not happy about arable land being lost and other were concerned about the visual impact.
It was finally proposed by Councillor Gray, seconded by Councillor Ms Jessup and unanimously agreed to recommend approval, subject to assurances being given before the application is decided, that
- The loss of arable land has been considered
- The visual impact has been considered, and
- A landscape assessment has been carried out.
Councillor Seabrook re-joined the meeting at took the Chair.
144/22 REPORTS
Allotments The report forwarded was read and noted.
Cemetery Cottage. The Clerk reported that he had now received a quote for the supply and installation of three modern storage heaters from C O’Dell in the sum of £3100 plus VAT. It was proposed by Councillor Ms Jessup, seconded by Councillor Farrer and unanimously agreed to place an order.
Trees. It was agreed to order a tree survey to be undertaken
Village Maintenance
Streetlights at Halls Meadow bridge and in St Andrew’s Lane were reported to be out.
Outside Bodies
Mandeville Hall – No report
Kimbolton Trust. No report
Kimbolton School Governors. No report
145/22 FLOOD ACTION The Chairman said that he will be writing to the Environment Agency.
146/22 SLCC NATIONAL CONFERENCE It was agreed that the Clerk should attend the conference which is being held at Hinckley, Leics on 2/3 November 2022.
147/22 ROOKERY LANE It was reported that tyres have been laid on Rookery Lane, presumably with the intention of placing flowers in them. Members wondered whether they might obstruct the lane and it was agreed to check upon its width.
148/22 CORRESPONDENCE
Nothing other than that already circulated.
149/22 LOCAL COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION by Charles Arnold Baker. The Clerk said that the copy which he had was the 8th edition and now the 13th edition has been issued. He thought that we should buy an up-to-date copy as legislation has changed significantly. The cost would be £137.00.
It was proposed by Councillor Gray, seconded by Councillor Farrer and agreed to purchase the book.
150/22 ACCOUNTS
- The following were approved for payment –
K & M Lighting streetlight maintenance 128.15
Safelincs Defib.batteries & pads 685.45
Lockwood Litho Signs 312.00
PKF Littlejohn External audit fee 480.00
Payroll costs Pay, PAYE & NIC + stamps etc 2818.70
151/22 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR was unable to be present
152/22 HIGH ST CAR PARKING no report
153/22 MEMBERS’ POINTS OF INFORMATION
Councillor Seabrook reminded members to bring forward their proposals for LHI bids to next month’s meeting.
Councillor Gray reported that the ‘St Andrew’s Lane’ road name sign was broken.
154/22 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 27 October 2022 commencing at 7pm.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2230 hours.
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