Minutes of the Kensworth Parish Council Meeting
held at Kensworth Village Hall on Thursday 13th October 2016
Present: Vice Chairman J Worboys, Parish Councillors, J Bradley, J Murray, P Woods, I Lowery and G Blackburn, Ward Cllrs R Stay & K Collins.
Clerk Maxine Whiting, 8 members of the public
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Chairman P Mitchell, therefore Vice Chair J Worboys Chaired the meeting. Apologies were also received and accepted from Parish Cllr C Browne
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Woods declared a prejudicial interest in planning application CB/16/04095/FULL Corner Farm, The Lynch, Kensworth, LU6 3QZ
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8th September 2016 were a correct record and signed by the Chairman
4. PROGRESS UPDATE FROM LAST MEETING
Request made to CBC to weed spray communal areas in Russell Close and The Chilterns and to check paving for trip hazards.
EB Lions Football Club licence agreement has been signed and returned and payment received. Clerk to request fixtures list.
5. CO OPTION OF PARISH COUNCILLOR AND DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE
Three residents were interested in the position of parish councillor and each gave a short speech on why they wish to become a Councillor and the skills and interests they have.
It was RESOLVED to co-opt Melanie Peploe, having received the absolute majority of votes. She signed the declaration of acceptance of office and agreement to abide by the code of conduct, and completed the CBC disclosable pecuniary and other interests form and joined the parish councillors in discussions.
The Chairman welcomed Melanie and thanked the other two residents for applying and hoped they would be able to assist the parish council in the future.
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Resident complained regarding the relocation of the bench from the Common Road side of the recreation ground as she enjoyed sitting there.
Resident complained about the parking problems from the Industrial Estate. Ward Cllr Stay advised that yellow lines would not be enforced. Resident feels that Harris Coachworks are the main issue and he has approached owner in the past but he hasn’t been interested. Ward Cllr Stay and Cllr J Worboys sympathised with resident and will meet with Harris Coachworks owner to request they have greater consideration for their residential neighbours.
Resident complained about parking in Poplar Road, in particular junction with Common Road.
7. CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL REPORT
Ward Cllr Stay reported that M1 J11A is making good progress and there is also progression on weight limit restrictions. It has been a bad summer for CBC with unauthorised traveller encampments. Greenvale site in Caddington wish to expand to include a temporary stop off for travellers.
Cllr Worboys advised that the Focus Group now have membership of 12 parishes dealing with G&T issues affecting Bedfordshire villages. CBC should be made aware of anger from parishes and a petition sent. Cllr Woods advised MP Selous is pushing for more Police officers and addressed Houses of Parliament yesterday regarding G&T issues and the need for laws to be changed.
Ward Cllr Collins reported that CBC have started a High Street Improvement Scheme consultation for Dunstable and will also shortly consult on the new Leisure Centre.
8. POLICE REPORT
Clerk had circulated Police crime data spreadsheets link to Councillors.
Cllr Worboys attended the Bedfordshire Police ParishCouncilForumon10thSept with Police and Crime Commissioner Kathryn Holloway and Chief Constable Jon Boutcher. He raised the issues with G&T and emailed Chief Constable Boutcher those that affect the Kensworth community. He also sent a copy to CBC Cllr Nigel Young and CBC Leader James Jamieson.
Clerk attended the Community Policing invitation to Engagement Evening on 14th Sept.
Community Policing Team will shortly be launching Operation Sentinel which is a commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour and addressing issues that matter most to residents including drug dealing, nuisance youths and dangerous motorcycles. Details will be forwarded shortly for publication and raise awareness. Rural policing team mostly deal with Farmers and agricultural rural crime. Community Inspector Annita Clarke wishes to meet with and address as many parish councils as possible and it was suggested she attends a Focus Group meeting as a large number of parish councillors now attend these regarding G&T issues. Regarding speeding in villages, Community Policing advised that the Speed Watch scheme is effective. Many of the smaller villages do not have enough volunteers to run the scheme in their village, It was suggested that volunteers undertake the training and then contact neighbouring villages with trained Speed Watch volunteers to run sessions in each other’s villages on a rota.
Bedfordshire Police have allocated two PCSOs to Kensworth and neighbouring parishes. They are Sally Simmonds PCSO 4651 and Richard Alleyne PCSO 8192and can be contacted on tel 01582 473211 and email . Details have been put on the website & will be included in next parish link article. Clerk has also sent 2016 & 2017 meeting dates and details and it is hoped they will attend a meeting shortly.
PCSOs have met with the CBC Housing team and are aware of current Anti-Social Behaviour issues from Council housing tenants. Tony Keaveney, CBC Assistant Director of Housing, will attend the November meeting and Councillors are requested to gather evidence and questions from parishioners to put forward at the meeting.
9. PLANNING
CB/16/03979/FULL Land adj to The Bays, Common Road, Kensworth, LU6 2PW
Proposed detached bungalow
Concerned that this will be an intrusion into the Greenbelt, AONB and set a precedent for further Greenbelt development. Also remarked that a huge number of mature trees had already been cleared and wish CBC planning to investigate if any had TPO’s.
CB/16/03641/FULL Chiltern Gateway Centre, Dunstable Road, Whipsnade, LU6 2GY
Installation of 6 x solar powered pay & display machines with accompanying signage at Chilterns Gateway Centre (Dunstable Downs), to include the replacement of 5 x pay & display machines and replacement (and removal of excess) signage
No comment
CB/16/04188/FULL Hollicks Lane Farm, Hollicks Lane, Kensworth, LU6 2PL
Demolition of existing buildings and erection of three dwellings (amendment to CB/15/04242/FULL)
No comment
9pm Cllrs Murray & Bradley left the meeting
CB/16/04095/FULL Corner Farm, The Lynch, Kensworth, LU6 3QZ
New agricultural storage building and hardstanding apron to serve existing agricultural operation incorporating landscaping, planting and scheme of surface drainage
Cllr Wood declared a prejudicial interest and left the meeting for the discussion of the application. Cllr Peploe declared a personal interest.
No comment
Cllr Wood returned to the meeting
10. BOUNDARY COMMISSION PROPOSED CHANGES TO CONSTITUENCY
Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is currently conducting the 2018 review of parliamentary constituencies. As part of the review they are consulting on initial proposals for new constituencies. Details are available on their website (link sent to Cllrs) and public are also welcome to public hearings. The existing South West Bedfordshire constituency plus additional transfers from Mid Beds, pushes it above the upper 5% limit. It is proposed to transfer Kensworth, and other neighbouring villages, from South West Beds into the Luton South constituency.
It was AGREED to make no representation.
11. VERGE AND FOOTWAY PARKING
Van in Ridgeway is taxed to 1st Jan 2017 and MOT'd until 25th April 2017, therefore CBC and Police unable to assist. Clerk has requested ownership details from DVLA, however van has recently been moved.
The parish council can apply to CBC for a traffic order to be applied where parking on verges is prevalent and will have to pay for costs of signage at the site.
Clerk has received below advice from Paul Salmon CBC Highways Team Leader Traffic Management
We have a number of requests for signage installation to facilitate the enforcement of the blanket Verge Parking TRO.Numerous sites have been monitored and selected for treatment, and we need evidence to be gathered and monitored over a period of time before we would consider the installation of the enforcement signs.
In the first instance we would look to do a letter drop in the roads and monitor the impact of asking residents to park in a more considerate manner. We would also need to monitor any displacement of parking and whether residents have any parking facilities at all and if signage was installed to facilitate enforcement, where would people park.
The signage required to seal the TRO and facilitate enforcement obviously costs and would require assessments to know where it could be safely installed and where repeater signs would need to be placed. This could also require the installation of additional posts, all of which would need statutory undertaker searches to ensure nothing is in the verge that would conflict the sign installation.
We have a very small budget every year for this type of work and a priority list already compiled. I would suggest in the first instance that a letter drop is the first step and if you could please clarify if the roads are affected I can work with my colleagues on getting that done.
It was AGREED to suggestion in the first instance of a letter drop and the roads the parish council wish to include are: Common Road (B4540) whole length including outside the Industrial Estate, The Chilterns, Russell Close, Poplar Road, Maple Way, Ridgeway. Clerk to forward to Paul Salmon to action.
12. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Clerk requested a meeting between CBC and NP Chair Cllr J Worboys, however CBC have declined at this time.
Clerk has emailed Siobhan Vincent, CBC Neighbourhood Involvement Officer in Planning Policy Team, to gain advice on what actions to take next with the plan but not had a response yet. Clerk to contact Siobhan again and arrange a Neighbourhood Plan committee meeting in November.
13. ALLOTMENTS
Cllr J Bradley has given renewal letters to all allotment holders. The school boundary hedge to the allotments is overgrown however the school do not have the facility or funds to cut it. It was agreed to add to the recreation ground hedge cutting.
14. 2nd QUARTER SPEND AGAINST 2016/17 BUDGET
2016/17 / 2nd Qtr / Year EndStaff Costs / Budget / Spend / Predict
Clerks Salary & expenses / £ 9,672.00 / £ 4,844.96 / £ 9,672.00
NI & Tax / £ 1,966.00 / £ 1,241.38 / £ 1,966.00
BCC Pension / £ 2,730.00 / £ 1,510.24 / £ 2,730.00
TOTAL / £ 14,368.00 / £ 7,596.58 / £ 14,368.00
Administration
Office expenses / £ 200.00 / £ 99.43 / £ 200.00
Chairman Allowance / £ 750.00 / £ 250.00 / £ 750.00
Insurance / £ 700.00 / £ 648.49 / £ 648.49
Training, Subscriptions, Fees / £ 800.00 / £ 672.50 / £ 800.00
Sundries / £ 500.00 / £ 500.00
TOTAL / £ 2,950.00 / £ 1,670.42 / £ 2,898.49
Highways & Amenities
Parish Land Grasscutting / £ 2,600.00 / £ 880.02 / £ 2,600.00
CBC Land Grasscutting / £ 6,500.00 / £ 3,132.48 / £ 6,500.00
Gritting / £ 2,500.00 / £ - / £ 2,500.00
Hall Refuse collections / £ 1,200.00 / £ 575.08 / £ 1,200.00
Hall CCTV phone line & repairs / £ 750.00 / £ 338.59 / £ 750.00
Playground repairs and maintenance / £ 500.00 / £ 66.50 / £ 500.00
Litter Clearance / £ 1,300.00 / £ 647.95 / £ 1,300.00
Allotments Water / £ 250.00 / £ 250.00
Allotments Maintenance / £ 100.00 / £ 69.90 / £ 100.00
Hedge cutting, general repairs / £ 500.00 / £ 145.00 / £ 500.00
Tree Surgery / £ 500.00 / £ 500.00
TOTAL / £ 16,700.00 / £ 5,855.52 / £ 16,700.00
Section 137 (capped spending powers of direct benefit to village)
Grants / £ 2,500.00 / £ - / £ 2,500.00
TOTAL / £ 2,500.00 / £ 2,500.00
VAT / £ 3,000.00 / £ 1,361.13 / £ 3,000.00
GRAND TOTAL BUDGET SPEND / £ 39,518.00 / £ 16,483.65 / £ 39,466.49
Ring fenced Projects (N.B. not included as spend 2016/17!)
Neighbourhood Plan / £ 1,034.00 / £ 991.18
New playground equipment / £ 9,395.00
TOTAL / £ 10,429.00 / £ 991.18
GRAND TOTAL INCL RING FENCED / £ 49,947.00 / £ 17,474.83
15. BANK RECONCILIATION
The following bank reconciliation and accounts had been provided to Councillors prior to meeting:
Balance at 31.03.16 b/fwd / £ 36,035.31Plus income to date / £ 33,992.75
Subtotal / £ 70,028.06
Less payments to date / £ 17,474.83
CLOSING FUNDS BALANCE / £ 52,553.23
Represented by balance at / 30.09.16
Current Account / £ 52,745.73
Subtotal / £ 52,745.73
less unpresented cheques / £ 192.50
CLOSING BALANCE / £ 52,553.23
DIFFERENCE / £ -
Unpresented cheques
101933 / £ 174.00
101937 / £ 18.50
£ 192.50
In accordance with Financial Regulation 2.1, Cllr I Lowery signed the bank reconciliation and the original bank statements as evidence of verification.
16. CHAIRMAN REPORT
Nothing further to report other than G&T issues already discussed.
17. CORRESPONDENCE
Dept for Communities & Local Govt (DCLG) consultation on Local Govt Finance Settlement for 2017-18 – email fwd Cllrs 20/9 & NALC key points 3/10