Minutes of Meeting of the Parish

Council

Wednesday 3 November at 7.30pm,

Reed Village Hall

Download printable copy (opens as PDF document) Chair’s Report (opens as PDF document) Present Cllrs: K Langley (Chair), E Kilby and B Blower. In attendance the Clerk Catharine Toms, County Cllr. F Hill and Dist. Cllr. G Morris. This meeting would be recorded for the purpose of the minutes 1.11.21 Attendance. As listed above. 2.11.21 To receive apologies for absence. Cllr. C d’Ayala (other commitment), Cllr. J Kershaw (work commitment). Dist. Cllr. A Hunter (other meeting). Apologies accepted. 3.11.21 To receive Members Declarations of Interest and to note dispensation granted. No declarations of interests declared. Cllr. Kilby, for the remainder of his period of office, dispensation granted allowing him full participation at meetings in issues arising concerning The Cabinet public house including, but not limited to, planning matters. 4.11.21 To approve the Minutes of the Meetings of the Parish Council held on 15th September 2021 and to authorise the Chairman to sign them as a true record. It was proposed, seconded and all voted in favour to approve. Resolved. Approved minutes to be posted on the website. Action: Clerk/Webmaster 5.11.21 To invite Members of the Public to address the meeting. No members of the public were present. 6.11.21 To receive Chairman’s Report. (See Appendix A). 7.11.21 To receive report from District Councillor – Cllr. Morris reported that the Inspector’s report was still awaited following the last consultation on the NHDC Local Plan. The remaining S106 monies held by NHDC for Reed was in the process of being allocated towards the cost of refurbishment of the Village Hall floor. Newsells Stud had recently been sold and although would continue as a Stud, the new owner wanted to allocate some of the land for a vineyard and hoped, in due course, to set up a visitor centre, food area and shop for this new section of his business. 8.11.21 To receive report from County Councillor – Cllr. Hill reported that preparation work, prior to main work, had been carried out on the road surfaces from Crow Lane to Jacksons Lane up to the bridge and from the bridge to Church Lane. Drainage work had been completed in Blacksmiths Lane. The School sign for the A10 was about to be installed. Highways were looking at turning round the Speed Indicator Device (SID) on the A10 to prevent any complacency by drivers. The Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) Community Safety Vans were now operating and a session was planned for Reed on 12 th Nov. These could be used more often than Police Speed Camera Vans and acted more as an educational tool for motorists. The new Herts Lynx on-demand bus service was operating very well. A new Library Home Service was being set up and a briefing note from Herts County Council (HCC) would be circulated soon to raise awareness of this scheme. 9.11.21 To review action points from the meeting on 15 th September – reviewed. Action Points from this meeting 10.11.21 To receive report from the Clerk on current financial position - A list of monies received and payments to be authorised had been previously circulated to all Cllrs. Accounts showed a bank balance of £16,825.53 of which £10,133.35 was Push Energy Community Contribution (ring-fenced for special projects), £67.17 was Bonfire Night reserves, £815.75 was P3 grant balance, S106 Sustainable Transport Reserve was £1,079.62, leaving general reserves at £4,729.64. £1,827.07 S106 monies had been received from NHDC, for expenditure under the category of ‘Sustainable Transport’. 11.11.21 To agree accounts for payment. Payments to be authorised at the meeting were Clerk’s salary and PAYE, £420.00 for grass cutting in 2021 and £30.00 to HAPTC for a Councillor training session. Proposed, seconded and approved by all. Resolved. 12.11.21 To review 1 st draft of budget for 2022/23 – Following discussion where it was recognised that the General Reserve levels were diminishing, it was proposed, seconded and agreed to arrange an informal meeting by end of 1 st week in December. The aim to focus on income needed by the Parish Council based on a longer term strategic plan which would include development of the play area and provision of other services that the Parish Council might need to budget for. In preparation for the meeting, the Clerk to circulate current Asset Register and information on cost of Precept as part of the Council Tax bill for band D properties in Reed compared with neighbouring Parishes. Action: Clerk A proposal for the Precept application would need to be agreed at the January meeting. 13.11.21 To receive update on project to preserve ponds and agree any action required – Cllr. Blower reported that she had finally heard back from Countryside Management Services (CMS) and was very disappointed to understand, that although they had already invested time in visiting the ponds, that the CMS team were at capacity and were now not able to offer project management support going forward as funding was no longer available. They were looking for alternative sources of funding to be able to continue with their work. Cllr. Blower would contact them to ask for guidance on what work should be done this Autumn in order to prevent further damage to the ponds. Action: BB County Cllr. Hill suggested Cllr. Blower could investigate ‘Hertfordshire Crowd Fund’ (HCF) which was a new initiative that HCC had put money into. They had supported a variety of projects. Cllr. Hill to provide contact details for this organisation. Action: BB 14.11.21 To receive update on issue of low water pressure and agree any action required – Following monitoring of water pressure levels by Affinity over the summer, it appeared that matters had settled down. It was however proposed, seconded and agreed to write to MP Sir Oliver Heald to express concern about the unsatisfactory situation that Utility Companies were not always Statutory Consultees on planning applications for development, depending on the District Council. This matter needed to be brought to the attention of Ministers in higher level Government Action: KL 15.11.21 To agree final arrangements for Bonfire Night on 6 th November – Cllr. Kilby reported that all plans were now in place, risk assessments had been carried out and they were following the Red Guide for non-professional firework displays. 16.11.21 To ratify comment submitted on planning application: Full Planning Permission : Erection of one detached 3-bed dwelling including associated parking, landscaping and vehicular crossover into Blacksmiths Lane. 3, Hobbs Hayes, Blacksmiths Lane, Reed, Hertfordshire. SG8 8AU. Case Ref No: 21/02456/FP – The Parish Council had already submitted, under delegated authority, a response to this planning application. It was proposed, seconded and agreed by all to ratify the objection to this application. Resolved. It was agreed that Parish Council responses to planning applications should be posted on the website. The Clerk to forward final agreed responses to Cllr. Kilby. Action: Clerk 17.11.21 To ratify comment submitted on amendments to planning application: Full Planning Permission : Two storey rear extensions to existing dwellings (1 and 2 Gladstone Villas) and erection of one detached 4-bed dwelling including installation of vehicular crossovers. Gladstone Villas, Brickyard Lane, Reed, Hertfordshire. Case Ref No: 21/00799/FP - The Parish Council had already submitted, under delegated authority, a response to this planning application. It was proposed, seconded and agreed by all to ratify the objection to this application. Resolved. 18.11.21 To consider and make comment on planning application: Full Permission Householder : First floor side and single storey side extension to include basement, and replace existing rear rooflights with a dormer to facilitate conversion of loftspace inti habitable accommodation following demolition of existing detached side elevation lean-to and removal of boiler and oil tank. Mill Corner Farm, Jacksons Lane, Reed, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 8AB. Case Ref No: 21/03003/FPH – After consideration of this application, it was proposed, seconded and agreed by all that there was no objection. The Clerk to submit response to NHDC. Action: Clerk 19.11.21 Save The Cabinet – to receive update – Cllr. Kilby reported that Save the Cabinet Action Group (SCAG) had submitted a formal complaint to NHDC, the response received from NHDC was considered to be a ‘brush off’, so the complaint had been escalated to Stage 2. A response had then been received from the Head of Planning and SCAG were now in touch with Solicitors and considering whether to take the matter to the Ombudsman. Environmental Health has issued a Prohibition Notice as a result of discovering that staff were living illegally in an outbuilding. This had been appealed and the Appeal was due to be heard on 16 th Nov. If the Appeal was dismissed then the Prohibition Notice would stand. 20.11.21 Wisbridge Reservoir Project – to receive update – No update to report. The site was continuing to re-wild. 21.11.21 To discuss Highways matters and agree any action necessary – Cllr. d’Ayala to liaise with County Cllr. Hill regarding verge cutting responsibilities and schedules. Action: CD 22.11.21 To receive bi-monthly Parish Council play area inspection report and agree any repairs required – Cllr. Kershaw had indicated that there was no change from the previous inspection to report and that another inspection would be carried out later in the month. Action: JK 23.11.21 To discuss concern raised regarding usage of footpaths used by cyclists and agree action required – a complaint had been received from a Parishioner regarding the public footpath between Reed and Buckland. This had been inspected by the Parish Council and there was no evidence found of usage by cyclists or horse-riders. The Rights of Way Officer at HCC had indicated that she would be receptive to the idea of installing a kissing gate, if necessary. It was proposed, seconded and agreed by all to monitor the situation and review in due course. Resolved. 24.11.21 To receive update on grass cutting vacancy and agree recruitment to fill the post – A number of people had indicated an interest in the vacancy to cut the grass in the children’s play area. Cllr. d’Ayala had spoken with these people. There was one suitable candidate who had their own public liability insurance in place. Cllr. d’Ayala to make further contact with that person. Action: CD The cutting of the wider area was still under discussion, and it was hoped that the Parish Council may be able to work in conjunction with the Cricket Club to manage this area. 25.11.21 To receive update regarding Play Area New Equipment project – A working party was being formed. Action: KL/JK/BB 26.11.21 Push Energy Fund Projects – no update to report. 27.11.21 To receive matters for report or referral to next agenda. (Information only) Village sign maintenance, Ponds protection project, Play equipment project and grant funding, Community noticeboard / Push Energy fund expenditure, Highways verges, grass cutting in play area. 28.11.21 To note correspondence received. (Information only) – a) NHDC regarding free Saplings b) NHDC – Consultation regarding District Councillor elections c) County Cllr. Hill – Luton Airport Consultation d) Letter from Diary Committee 29.11.21 To agree date of next meeting. Thurs 6th January 2022. Agreed. The Clerk to check on availability of the Village Hall. Action: Clerk It was suggested that with the ongoing Covid-19 virus, it would be of benefit to the Parishioners if the Parish Council could consider, in time for the next meeting, the practicality of enabling virtual attendance by members of the public. Cllr. Kershaw to be asked to investigate this. Action: KL/JK There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.25pm. Appendix A: Chair’s Report November 2021 A few things only to report for the period since the September Parish Council Meeting. 1. As an action mandated at the September meeting I wrote to Simon Ellis, Head of Planning at NHDC, following responses the PC had received from the Affinity Water on the matter of water supply in Reed. He replied very fully informing us that Water (and the other utilities) are not in fact statutory consultees when a planning application is made. It is apparently a duty on the applicant to liaise with the utility company concerned to ensure the viability of supply for a development. The implication under current planning law is that once planning consent has been granted a development would be stalled as unsaleable if no viable arrangement for supply of utilities could be made. 2. I was contacted by a parishioner about land which has been put up for sale as 2.5 acres of “scrubland” off the A10 and opposite the turning to Reed End and Therfield. The parishioner was one of several Reed residents who received an unsolicited notification from the auctioneers about the forthcoming sale. The parishioner wanted to confirm to me that the land did not belong to the Turney Trust, unlike the adjacent RD1 site. Also to express concern that the sale could result in a disposal of the land which might lead to it being used by Travellers. Whilst no such potential use is suggested in the auctioneer’s sales particulars, I said that I would pass on the information and concern to be noted by other councillors. 3. On Saturday 23rd October there was an impressive turn out of villagers who undertook lopping and clearance work along the eastern edge of the Green and by the playground. The cuttings were shifted to the vicinity of the forthcoming village bonfire. Thanks to all who offered time and labour in this community endeavour. And to Councillor d’Ayala for coordination and to Martin Holiday for organising the team. 4. A week later, on Sunday 31st October I used the online fault procedure to report to County the fall of a small tree and bushes at the junction of Jackson’s Lane and Hobbs Hayes, which was blocking half of the highway. An hour later I received a reply that, on investigation, this was deemed a fault to be dealt with by the District council and not Highways. In the circumstances further procrastination and delay was avoided by action being taken by villagers to clear the road. That completes the Chair’s report for this period. ..