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Minutes of August 2008 Meeting |
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The verified minutes of the meeting held in the Village Hall, Keysoe on Monday 18th August, 2008 were;
MEMBERS PRESENT: PCllr Bates, PCllr Whitmore, PCllr Browning, PCllr Bryans, PCllr Landmann, PCllr J Worth, PCllr Turner, Mr Alan Woodward, BCllr Clifton, Julia Mackie Rural Housing Trust, 10 members of the public, and Mrs Gill Wiggs (Clerk).
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEETING
There were none
2. DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS PERSONAL OR PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS IN THE BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED HEREUNDER
There were none
3. TO VERIFY THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 21ST JULY 2008
These were agreed to be a true record.
4. MATTERS ARISING
- Bus Service The Clerk was asked to ask CCllr Wootton for an update.
- Playing Field Litter Bin The Clerk had been assured this would be emptied each Monday, but it still was not being done. BCllr Clifton offered to deal with the matter.
5. OPEN FORUM FOR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK
- Rural Housing Trust see Appendix 1.
- New Play Equipment Thanks were offered to the Parish Council for providing the new play equipment.
- Oil Tank in Bolnhurst on Highways Land PCllr Whitmore asked for an update. PCllr Worth explained the Clerk had written to Highways and had received a response advising the Parish Council the matter was being dealt with between Highways and the land owner. PCllr Worth would ask Highways for an update.
- Playing Field Grass cutting PCllr Browning explained that the cuttings from the first cut had needed to be removed at a cost of £10. The Clerk would arrange payment at the next meeting.
- MOD Cage PCllr Browning reported an old MOD cage on the back road to Thurleigh was insecure, and being used for fly tipping etc. The Clerk would investigate this.
- Bramble on Keysoe Row East PCllr Browning reported a very large and dangerous bramble growing across the Highway. She was currently dealing with the matter.
6. RURAL HOUSING
Letters received:
Nigel Dix Raising objections to the scheme and circulated prior to meeting
Bob Smith -
Jeanne Cox
A Clarke -
Mr and Mrs Franklin/Mr & Mrs Priestley
Anita Benfield - giving information about RHT, and asking about procedures
Mrs Gear supporting the proposal (not circulated as received at the meeting)
The RHT had written full responses to all the objection letters. It was agreed the Parish Council would also respond and advise them a meeting will be held once the plans have been drawn up.
Registered Social Landlords - The list would be circulated to all Parish Councillors for comment.
7. PLANNING
Decisions made by the Borough Council (for information only):
08/01272/FUL Permission refused for conversion and alterations of barns Hope Acres London End, Keysoe Row East. PCllr Landmann asked if the matter of the residential caravan on the land could be raised with Planning. It was agreed the Clerk would write to Planning.
08/00872/FUL & 08/00889/LBC Permission granted for conversion of barns to Olympic equestrian accommodation College Farm Equestrian Centre, Church Rd Keysoe
08/01743/FUL Permission granted for 2 storey side and single storey front extension Sundew, Weybridge, Keysoe
08/01088/S73 Application withdrawn for change of use to paddocks and erection of stable block Land r/o Sundew, Weybridge, Keysoe
Planning Applications for Discussion:
08/01947/FUL 2 storey rear extensions - Stapletons Cottage, Keysoe Row West. There were no objections raised.
08/02165/FUL Single & 2 storey rear extension 2 Greensbury Cottages,Thurleigh Rd, Bolnhurst. There were no objections raised.
08/02103/S73 - Change of use to paddocks and erection of stable block Land r/o Sundew, Weybridge, Keysoe. Whilst the new position was an improvement, the Parish Council would still prefer to see the stables sited further away from the neighbours residential dwelling. It was agreed to have no objection to the application, but to make this comment.
8. FINANCE
It was agreed to sign the following cheques:
| Mr G Beverley Bus Shelter | £15.00 | | Mrs G Wiggs Clerks Account | £470.52 | | Bespoke bus shelter | £2181.19 | | A Summerfield - grass cutting | £587.50 | | BRCC subscription | £30.00 | | R & J Maddison playing field grass cutting | £487.62 | | BT phone bill | £108.96 | | BDO Stoy Hayward External Audit | £158.63 |
9. EXTERNAL AUDITORS REPORT 2007/8
The External Auditors Report 2007/8 had been received with no anomalies found, and no recommended actions for the Parish Council to take. The Auditors acknowledged future submissions would be made excluding VAT.
10. PLAYING FIELD
- Youth Shelter A grant of £6000 had been awarded, and it was hoped Steve Tomblin would be able to provide this.
- Gates to playing field A quote of £160 had been obtained to repair the gates from Stockton. The Clerk was asked to obtain 2 more quotes from Mr Harris of Little Staughton, and Bespoke Timber.
- Notice board PCllr Bates would chase this
- WI Seat The location of this seat would be decided once the notice board and Youth Shelter have been sited.
- Damaged bucket swing & dolphin The dolphin is currently under dispute between the installers and the manufacturers, but is hoped to be sorted out. The bucket swing is unlikely to be replaced.
- Extra goal posts PCllr Whitmore reported these had been offered to the Parish Council free of charge. It was agreed to accept this offer.
- Surface The poor condition of the surface had been reported, and was being dealt with.
- Official Opening This was provisionally set for 4/10/08, pending confirmation that the village hall is free.
- Risk Assessment See Appendix 2. PCllr Browning stated that the overflow outlet was the responsibility of the Village Hall, and confirmed that any accident resulting from it would be the responsibility of the Village Hall Committee. She also confirmed the branches by the main gates would be attended to.
11. REPORTS FROM MEETINGS ATTENDED DURING THE MONTH
Play Partnership Meeting This had been attended by PCllr Whitmore. This was a general meeting for anyone associated with playgrounds in the Borough. The Borough have installed a BMX track, a skate park, and currently run a cricket league in Queens Park. A Play Ranger has been appointed who will come along to our Official Opening.
12. HIGHWAYS CURRENT INFORMATION
PCllr Worth reported the Parish Partnership funding may now stretch further, to get more of our requested works done. This may include recycled tarmac being used for the Bolnhurst Bus Shelter.
PCllr Bates also reported road signs (including the VAS) being covered over by trees. It was hoped land owners would be attend to this.
13. FOOTPATH AND CYCLEWAY FOR BOLNHURST
PCllrs Worth and Whitmore presented a proposal for a footpath and cycleway for Bolnhurst. Since the Parish Highways have been designated a `Safety Route`, speed limits have been introduced or extended, and over 250 road signs and other items of furniture have been installed along the Parishs 5 mile stretch of road. Although this has been done in the name of road safety it has done little to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in Bolnhurst.Traffic levels have increased markedly which means that the B660 is very busy through Bolnhurst, particularly between the St Neots and Thurleigh roads.
Whilst Keysoe has a footpath linking both sections of the village, Bolnhurst has only a small section adjacent to School Lane. As a result it is currently too dangerous to walk along the B660 in Bolnhurst. Recently, the bus service through the centre of Bolnhurst has been removed, and the car has become the only safe means of transport within the village.
They therefore proposed that a footpath/cycleway along the B660 between the two 40mph speed limits of Bolnhurst, as has been done in Keysoe.
The Parish Council agreed to support this proposal, and the Clerk was asked to raise the matter with the Highways Authority.
A further proposal to ask for reduced speed limits on the side roads was not supported.
14. PARISH OWNED LAND AT KEYSOE ROW WEST
A request had been received to reassign the tenancy agreement from the Executors of T G Elliott to W H Elliot. The Parish Council agreed to this in principle; however it was decided that PCllr Bryans would review the paperwork in the first instance.
15. HANDYMAN VACANCY
One application had been received from Cicely Holland. PCllr Browning would explain the job to her in more detail and report back at the next meeting.
16. BOLNHURST BUS SHELTER
The residents of Bolnhust had been consulted on whether to leave the seat in situ, or re site it inside the bus shelter. One response had been received in favour of moving it. It was therefore agreed to move it to the Bus shelter. PCllrs Bates and Bryans offered to do this.
17. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
- BBC Confirmation that grant of £10,000 has been awarded to Kymbrook Lower School to enhance outside play areas.
- BBC Allocations and Designations DPD, Review of Settlement Policy Areas consultation deadline 10/10/08. PCllr Bates took this to circulate to all Parish Councillors before the next meeting. The Clerk would ask for an extension for reply until after the October meeting.
- Bob Smith email thanking Parish Council for the new play equipment.
- P Clarke (circulated prior to meeting) letter raising concerns about Parish Council. It was decided no further response was appropriate.
- Anita Benfield raising concerns about procedures. It was agreed that this would be replied to acknowledging her comments.
- BBC Thank you for comments submitted on BDF Allocations and Designations Plan.
18. CLOSE OF BUSINESS 10.05pm
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