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Minutes of March 2007 Meeting |
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The verified minutes of the meeting held in Keysoe Village Hall on Monday 19th March, 2007;
1. MEMBERS PRESENT
Cllr. Mrs Whitmore (Chairman), Cllr. Bates, Cllr. Mrs Browning, Cllr. Bryans, Cllr. Dix, Cllr. Mrs Landmann and Cllr Worth. The Clerk Mrs Maddison, County Councillor Tom Wootton and 9 members of the public were in attendance.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEETING
None
3. DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS PERSONAL OR PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS IN THE BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED HEREUNDER
Cllr. Dix declared a prejudicial interest in item No. 10
4. TO VERIFY THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MONDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2007 AND PLANNING MEETING OF MONDAY 5TH MARCH 2007
These were both signed as true records.
5. OPEN FORUM FOR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK
Mrs Fardell from Janet’s Place informed the Council that she had designed her proposed garage so that it would look like a barn rather than a garage and for security reasons planned the entrance to it around the back of it rather than on the road side. She would be happy to move the garage back in line with the existing cottage if the Parish Council could then support it.
Mr Heming from the floor reported that he had attended the open meeting regarding the replacement of Kymbrook Lower School and wanted to inform the Council that he and other local residents are not in favour of it being built on the existing school playing field as he felt the site was too small.
Mr Hoye from the floor reported that his planning application no. 07/00522/FUL was to replace the agricultural barns which would greatly improve the site and would enable him to keep a small number of pigs and a horse.
Cllr. Mrs Browning asked if the public could be given copies of the Annual Parish Meeting Minutes at the following annual meeting with a copy of the accounts also. The Clerk will put this onto the next agenda for discussion. She also asked the Clerk to chase up the proposed bus shelter at Bolnhurst.
Cllr. Mrs Landmann asked if the cycle path signs could be chased up again on the footpath/cycle path along the main road. She also reported that the quality of the footpath is poor. This will also be placed on the next agenda for discussion. The Clerk will also write to Tom Wootton to report this.
6. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS FROM MEETINGS ATTENDED IN THE MONTH
Cllr. Mrs Whitmore reported that she had attended a workshop held by the County Council regarding Unitary Authority and the idea of the evening was to get feedback from Town and Parish Councils. It would appear that the biggest bugbear from the Parish Councils present was the lack of effectiveness in objecting to planning applications which was noted. The liaison forums and the fact that these were to be abolished were mentioned but the Chairman wished to postpone discussion of these until later in the meeting, however, unfortunately this never happened. It was put forward that perhaps it would be a good idea to appoint an officer, either at County Hall or at the Beds RCC to deal solely with Town and Parish Councils queries and needs. Efforts will be made to weed out the amounts of publications forwarded to Town and Parish Councils and try to send only those appropriate to the particular council. The lack of time to return questionnaires seemed to be an issue in that by the time the paperwork had been circulated to all members, the deadline could be passed.
Cllr. Worth reported that he had attended a meeting with the Highways Dept. and the system is working very well. He has a close relationship with this dept. and as of yet, they have come out to assess every problem that he has reported.
Cllr. Worth also reported that he had attended a meeting with the Borough Council to put forward their Unitary Bid. He reported that the County Council has put a bid in which would run the whole of the County, the Borough Council’s bid would run the Northern rural area and South and Mid Beds Council has put a bid in together to run the rest of the County. However, this bid could go either way or indeed stay as it is. Either way there will be a lot of costs involved, at somewhere around £10mllion. Announcements of the decisions will be given in the next few weeks and the parish councils should be consulted with in June.
7. PLANNING
For discussion:
07/00577/FUL – Replacement barn and garage to Bridleside, Mill Lane, Keysoe, MK44 2HN – No one had made a site visit however, this proposal is for a like for like replacement and therefore it was resolved unanimously to support this application.
07/00522/FUL – Erection of replacement agricultural barns to The Piggeries, St. Neots Road, Bolnhurst – Cllrs. Mrs Whitmore and Cllr. Worth had made a site visit and had also spoken with the neighbours and there were no concerns regarding this replacement and indeed this would be an improvement. With all in favour, it was resolved to support this application.
07/00686/FUL – Erection of detached garage/car port with 1st floor home office/storage above to Janet’s Place, Kimbolton Road, Keysoe, MK44 2HH – Cllrs. Mrs Landmann and Cllr. Dix had made a site visit and did feel that the garage is too close the footpath and that is should be put back in line with the building line of the existing cottage. This was also felt by the neighbour. With six in favour it was resolved to support the application only if the garage was put back in line with the existing cottage and as the application stood it would not be supported.
Planning descisions made by the Borough Council - for information only:
06/03162/COU – Change Of use Of land and buildings from residential care home (Class C2) and school room to one residential dwelling (Class C3) and office block (Class B1(a)) and associated garden land and car parking at Elm Farm, Keysoe Row East, Keysoe, Beds, MK44 2JB – Permission granted.
06/01586/TPO – Felling of sycamore, Elm and Elder Trees at The New Vicarage, Church Road, Keysoe, Beds, MK44 2HW – an inspector has been appointed by the secretary of state for the Environment to determine this appeal. The hearing will be on 17.4.07 at 10.00am – interested parties may attend. – No one will attend as the Parish Council has already supported this application
07/00142/FUL – Replacement garage and store and installation of wind turbine. 2m fence or railings to front boundary (Fence omitted by condition) to Lingfield, Keysoe Row West, Keysoe, MK44 2JG – Permission granted.
07/00353/FUL – Installation of domestic wind turbine at Keysoe Lodge, Keysoe Row West, MK44 2JG – Permission granted.
8. FINANCE
Cllr. Bates proposed that the following accounts be paid. This was seconded by Cllr. Bryans and agreed unanimously:
| Village Hall, Keysoe – Rent | £ 136.00 | | Mrs J Maddison – Clerks Account | £ 545.53
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9. THOUGHTS/OUTCOMES FROM THE OPEN MEETING AT KYMBROOK LOWER SCHOOL REGARDING THE POSSIBLITY OF BUILDING A REPLACEMENT/NEW SCHOOL
All the Councillors agreed that the meeting was very informative and most agreed that they would support the Governing body in developing this school in the village. With six in favour it was resolved to write to the head of the Governing body to say that the Parish Council supports the new school in principal and would welcome a new school in the village.
10. UPDATE ON THE RURAL HOUSING TRUST
Cllr. Mrs Whitmore reported that she had heard from Ann Bishop from the Rural Housing Trust and that her development officer had come back to her with a preferred site. The site he favours is a field where the footpath ends along Keysoe Row West near to Elm tree grove. He is now writing to the land owner to see if he is willing to sell the land and then another survey will be carried out to see who will be residing in the houses, then this will be followed by a formal planning application to Borough Council. Although Cllr. Dix had declared a prejudicial interest he did report that there are residents in Keysoe Row West who have grave concerns about these houses and who would be living in them. He also felt that there were far better open spaces in the parish where these houses could be placed. It was resolved to place this on the next agenda where members of the public could come and speak in the open forum if they so wished.
11. OUTCOME/PRECIS FROM THE PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING A POTENTIAL LOTTERY BID FOR PLAY EQUIPMENT
Cllr. Bryans reported that he had received some photos and a letter from Jackie Fraser who ran the open meeting and that she was pleased with the age ranges of those who attended. The children grouped together and made a collage of pictures of what they liked to do and afterwards used dots to vote for what they would like in their play area. The next stage is speaking with Sue Norman from the BRCC who will help with the planning and design layout for the area. Cllr. Bryans will contact Sue Norman and arrange for a meeting.
12. POLICING IN THE PARISH
Cllr. Bryans reported that he had asked the Police some questions at the last Liaison Forum to which he had received the following feedback Bolnhurst & Keysoe is one of 15 parishes in North Beds covered by 1 patrol officer. The total population of these parishes is c.10,500. Bolnhurst & Keysoe are part of the North Beds police area centred on Bedford. The overall population of Bedford and the rural areas of which we are part if 151,000 for which there are 128 patrol officers, ie. there is one patrol officer to approx. 1180 people in the whole area. Clear up rates in north Beds are very low for all forms of burglary and theft averaging about 7% compared to an average of around 14% in urban Bedford. The Beds Police force only has a total of 434 patrol/beat officers for the whole of the County. This is compared to a figure of c. 2000 police establishment. As there were no PCs available to attend the Annual Parish Meeting of earlier, it was resolved to ask if someone could attend the next parish council meeting. Cllr. Bryans will speak with them.
13. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
- Bedfordshire and Luton Combined Fire Authority – Integrated Risk Management Action Plan 2007/8 received – Clerk to file.
- Audit Commission – It is their intention to extend the appointment of Lubbock Fine to carry out the external audit for 2006/7 – only respond if this is not acceptable (copied to all cllrs. Prior to meeting). – It was resolved that this would be acceptable.
- Beds Rural Affairs Forum – A half day conference is being held on 30th March at the Rufus Centre, Flitwick on Rural Action
- Can it make the world of difference? No one available to attend.
- The Village Show at Keysoe – A letter has been received seeking permission to use the playing field for the show on Saturday 1st September. This was agreed.
- Church of St. Mary – A letter has been received seeking permission to use the playing field for the Church fete on Saturday 7th July 2007. This was agreed.
- Bedford Borough Council - scrutiny and Policy Review and Development Committees’ Work Programme – What would the Parish Council like them to investigate in the next municipal year? (copied to all Cllrs. prior to meeting) There were no items put forward.
- Bedford Borough Council – Pride in Bedford Mayor’s Community Awards – The nomination process is now open until 30th March for nominations of any persons or groups that you feel deserve recognition for their contribution to their community. – There were no names put forward.
- Bedford Borough Council – Annual Statement of Accounts and Statement of Internal Control 2005/6 received – Clerk to file
- Bedford Borough Council – Rural Bulky Waste Collection Service 2007 – Collection dates are 16.6.07 and 27.10.07
- CPRE – Fundraising Dinner at Husborne Crawley on Sat. 12th May – tickets £40.00 each. No one wished to attend.
- Bedford Borough Council – Publication of Annual Report and Summary Financial Information – Is the Parish Council satisfied with the way in which these are available? (letter copied to all Cllrs. Prior to meeting). It was agreed that the PC are happy with this.
- NALC/Electoral Commission – These have launched ‘All about Parish and Town Councils’ - a resource pack exclusively formulated and designed for use by parish and town councils. Copy received and passed on to Cllr. Mrs Whitmore.
- Alistair Burt MP has forwarded his notes from the meeting with Parish Councils in February. (copied to all Cllrs. prior to meeting). Clerk to file.
It was at this point that the Chairman thanked Cynthia, Wendy and Caroline for serving the refreshments at the Annual Parish Meeting earlier.
14. CLOSE OF BUSINESS
There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 22:25 hours.
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