For the record

Here are the full minutes of the April meeting of the full parish council - for the record. We were very pleased to co-opt Daryl Saint as anew PC member.

In Attendance: Mrs R J Davey-Hunt. Mr D Saint (later joined the meeting).

^1.            To receive apologies for absence:  Mrs Sue Clark, V Cosbie-Ross.

        

^2.            To receive declarations of personal and/or prejudicial interests in any matter.  

^3.            To confirm the minutes of the last meeting dated 20^th March 2013; RESOLVED that the minutes of that meeting (previously circulated) be confirmed as a true record.

^4.            Clerks Report

4.1.    The Government has announced today that as part of the Safer Cycle Routes plan a grant of £125,000 is being given towards the cost of building a cycle path between Cranfield village and Cranfield University. CB/PCllr Mrs Sue Clark circulated a plan of the proposed route to all members.

4.2.    National cycleway – Route 51.  Work started today to repair the surface damage on Cycle Route 51 caused by water run-off. The work will be concentrated along Bridleway 12 towards Rectory Farm and The Thrift. As a result the Bridleway will need to be temporarily closed whilst the works are undertaken. It is not expected to take longer than 5 days, but an agreed alternative route has been agreed with the Forest of Marston Vale along their tracks through the new plantations.

^5.            Health and Safety

5.1.    Play Equipment: No problems reported, however PCllrs Mrs Laura Moore and M Phillips reported that the fence at the High Street recreation ground has been damaged.  The Clerk undertook to contact David Rawle to request prompt action to repair it.

^6.            Reports from Committees:

6.1.    Planning Committee and additional planning matters.  The Council received a report from the Chairman of the Committee (minutes previously circulated); it was RESOLVED that the report is approved and the recommendations therein be accepted. 

6.1.1.    The planning application relating to Barretts Yard Cranfield was deferred to the meeting of the Planning Committee in May.  The Clerk undertook to request an extension to deadline for comments to 3^rd May.

6.1.2.    PCllrs Mrs Delise Ball and R Baker will attend the Landfill Liaison meeting on behalf of CB/PCllr Mrs Sue Clark.

6.1.3.    It was reported that the first Neighbourhood plan has been passed.  It was agreed that this Council will register for the newsletter in order to track developments on the process with a view to assessing its value to this council.  CBCllr K Matthews reported that Barton le Clay and Toddington are in the early stages of the process.  Funding will be available from May 2013.

6.2.    General Purposes Committee.   The Council received a report, read by PCllr A Morris, from the Chairman of the Committee (minutes previously circulated); it was RESOLVED that the report is approved and the recommendations therein be accepted.  Mr Daryl Saint, the recommendation to co-opt him to the Council having been approved, signed Acceptance of Office and handed in his Members' Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests Form.  PCllr D Saint joined the meeting.

6.2.1.    Ben King, CBC, writes to invite Town and Parish Councils across Central Bedfordshire to bid for transport funding to deliver important schemes in the local area. The funding is part of the Central Bedfordshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) integrated transport budget allocation (details at http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/Images/LTP3_tcm6-20737.pdf#False .)  Details of the LTP Rural Match Fund and Bidding Guidelines circulated to all members on 3^rd April, together with a copy of the application form which should be returned as soon as possible.  It was agreed that this matter should be brought to Full Council, and that members would read the document and forward all comments to the Clerk - no comments were received.  PCllr L Pollock advised that the deadline for bids is July 2013, and proposed that members of the General Purposes committee familiarise themselves with the process with a view to discussing the matter in May at the meeting of the committees.  Possible projects include a pedestrian crossing at Mill Road (PCllr D Allan undertook to get further information to the Clerk to enable Amey to cost the work) and renovation of the university bus shelter; further suggestions to be put forward.  Match funding will be required and will therefore need to be included in the budget for 2014-15.   

6.2.1.1.    Steve Hall wrote some time ago stating: ‘Overall crossing of Mill Road at this location ought to be easier now as there is less distance to cross (whilst there used to be an island it was not used as a pedestrian refuge) and -  vehicle speed should be reduced and vehicle direction should be more obvious. Previously any vehicles approaching from High St could have been going either along Mill Rd or Bedford Road and it would not always have been obvious - even if they indicated. For those crossing to the Co-op from Portnall Place I would have thought that again the reduced speeds and clarity of the direction of approach of the cars would help pedestrians.  Mr Hall asked for any additional information that could help in producing estimates for a crossing. 

6.3.    Burial Grounds Committee.  The Council received a report from the Chairman of the Committee (minutes previously circulated); it was RESOLVED that the report be approved and the recommendations therein.

6.4.    Environment Committee. The Council received a report from the Chairman of the Committee (minutes previously circulated); it was RESOLVED that the report is approved and recommendations therein be accepted. 

^7.            FINANCIAL MATTERS AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT. 

7.1.    In consideration of the above, and having heard the comments and a proposal that the accounts presented are approved for payment from the Chairman of the Council; RESOLVED that those accounts detailed in Appendix A be approved for payment.

^8.            CORRESPONDENCE

8.1.    Consultation on Draft Revised Local List of Validation Requirements for Minerals & Waste Planning Applications within Central Bedfordshire.  The consultation period starts on Monday 8 April 2013 - comments must be submitted in writing to Roy Romans, Minerals & Waste Planning Team Leader, Central Bedfordshire Council, Priory House, Chicksands, Shefford SG17 5TQ or by e-mail to MWApplications@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk by 17.00 hours on Monday 20 May 2013.  Correspondence circulated to all members on 13th April.  The matter to be referred to CB/PCllr Mrs Sue Clark.

8.2.    Dawn Fowler, Leys Farm, Moulsoe Road (opposite Nissan and the Technology Park) writes to advise that the area where she lives is devoid of hedging and trees.  Mrs Fowler would like to plant a hedge between the farm fields and the roadside verge and is looking into funding from the farm stewardship scheme to help pay for hedging.  If nothing is forthcoming she asks if there are any funds available from this council.  Benefit would be for people using the footpath from the village and it would also act as an extra corridor for wild life to use.  Correspondence forwarded to all members on 12^th April 2013.

8.3.    The Department for Communities and Local Government is conducting a short informal survey which gives an opportunity to feed back direct to DCLG on the implications for this council of the Localism Act. The aim of the survey is to develop a better understanding of how town and parish councils are embracing community rights to empower their neighbourhoods to take action and influence local services. The survey is open until 10^th May 2013.

8.4.    PCSO Juliet Wright writes detailing recorded crime in the past 28 days (see appendix C).  Correspondence forwarded to all members on the 17th April.

8.5.    Mark Connell (Highways), writes regarding the proposed development at Flitt Leys Close.  He says that officers and members recently met with the developer for the site (Bellway), to discuss an alternative access to Flitt Leys Close; at the meeting, Bellway were encouraged to consider an alternative access for accessing the proposed new lower school and undertook to talk with landowners in the area to assess whether an alternative access could be feasibly achieved. Mr Connell went on to say that in the Executive meeting, where the development brief was formally adopted, Cllr Spurr identified that the Traffic Management Team would investigate a solution to the current parking issues in the area neighbouring the take-aways. This process will be subject to public consultation in the near future.  The Clerk undertook to ask for a timeline for the investigation.

 

^9.            REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES, CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCILLORS

9.1.    CB/PCllr A Bastable reported

9.1.1.    that at the CBC Committee meeting last night, it was recommended that the following councillors are to serve on committees as follows:

                                   Cllr K Matthews - chair of Planning; sustainable communities

                                   Cllr Sue Clark – planning and children’s services

                                   Cllr A Bastable – planning, sustainable communities

9.1.2.    The fencing at the access by Townsend Close is to be rebuilt.  PCllrs Mrs Delise Ball and A Bastable met with the university to agree the work.  The fence will be constructed using concrete posts and chain-link – to a height of six foot.  The area will be cleared of brambles, leaving a green area which will be the responsibility of this Council.  PCllr Mrs Delise Ball asked members to look at it and consider what to do with the land.

9.2.    CBCllr K Matthews reported that the annual meeting of CBC will take place tomorrow.

9.3.    PCllr L Pollock reported upon the disappointment of the Hartwell Charity in light of the rejection by CBC of the recent planning application relating to the alms houses.

^10.        HIGHWAYS.  Written reports passed to the Clerk for action. 

^11.        DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS:  Meeting of the General Purposes, Environment, Burial Ground, and Planning Committees: 1^ST May 2013 at 8.00pm (7.00pm Beds Fire Service – defibrillator); Annual meeting of the Full Parish Council, 15^th May at 8.00pm.

Appendix C

CRIME INFORMATION

18^th March – Theft from vehicle on Bedford Road. Location of offence is a driveway at the address whereby an unknown offender has crawled underneath the vehicle and removed and stolen the catalytic converter.  No signs of entry to the vehicle were made.

21^st March – Burglary in a building other than a dwelling on High Street.  Location of offence is an empty public house; offenders have used bolt cutters to cut off the padlock on the back door.  The premises have been stripped of all the copper piping and the copper boiler. Premises have since been secured.  No witnesses and no CCTV.

23^RD March – Burglary dwelling at Willow Springs. Location is a four bed detached house in which offenders have entered the rear garden and used a wheelie bin to climb on the conservatory roof and gain entry.  A tidy search was made and a small safe was taken, entry into the garage was made and tools and spanners were taken. Weight training equipment and jewellery were also taken.  House to house enquiries have been completed, no cctv and no witnesses.

25^th March – Theft from vehicle on Millards Close. 4 wheel trims have been removed from the vehicle at the location. No CCTV and no witnesses.

26^th March – Theft from vehicle at Portnall Place. Location of offence is a private car parking area.  An unknown offender has removed two power tools from a work vehicle which was insecure.

ANTI SOCIAL INCIDENTS

26^th March – Bourne End Road, abandoned vehicle.  This matter was resolved without officers attending.

3^rd April – Coronation Road, abandoned vehicle.  A 7 day order has been applied for.

4^th April – Mill Road, anti-social behaviour. Officers attended. The team are aware and are dealing.

6^th April – Lincroft, Rowdy/inconsiderate behaviour, noisy party at location, officers attended and advice was given.