Meeting of the Parish Council,

Wednesday 6 September 2023 at

7.30pm, Reed Village Hall

Minutes

Download printable version (opens as PDF file) Minutes of the meeting held on 6 th September 2023 at 7.30pm held at Reed Village Hall. Present Cllrs: K Langley (Chair), D d’Ayala (Vice Chair), B Blower and N Payne. In attendance the Clerk Catharine Toms and one member of the public. This meeting would be recorded for the purpose of the minutes. 1.09.23 Attendance. As listed above. 2.09.23 To receive apologies for absence. Cllr. Kilby (on holiday), Dist. Cllr. Morris and County Cllr. Hill (attending the Royston Area Forum) – apologies accepted. 3.09.23 To receive Members Declarations of Interest. Cllr. d’Ayala (item 17.09.23) 4.09.23 To approve the Minutes of the Meetings of the Parish Council held on 5 th July 2023 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 Standing Orders were suspended. 5.09.23 To invite Members of the Public to address the meeting. The Member of the Public present did not wish to speak. Standing Orders were resumed. 6.09.23 To receive Chairman’s Report – (See Appendix A) In addition, he reported that he had liaised with residents of Brickyard Lane and County Cllr. Hill regarding an overgrown hedgerow that needed cutting back opposite The Kilns. In the past this had been cut by Rands. Herts County Council (HCC) had indicated that it was not their Highways responsibility. The residents between them had since paid to have the hedgerow cut. 7.09.23 To receive report from District Councillor – Dist. Cllr. Morris had submitted a report in his absence - A decision had not yet been made by North Herts Council (NHC) regarding removal of the archaeological condition in respect of the Wisbridge Reservoir application. There was a long stop date for that decision of 18 th October 2023. He was not aware of any schools within his Ward that were affected by the current aerated concrete issues highlighted nationally. The NHC planning officer had informed him that so far there had not been a request for an appeal over the refusal of the Nicholl’s Yard development application. 8.09.23 To receive report from County Councillor – County Cllr. Hill had submitted a report in her absence – All actions from the previous meeting had been carried out. The grass cutting issue around The Green appeared to have now been resolved with all requested areas having been cut. The Summer Reading Challenge had been very successful. No schools in Hertfordshire had, so far, had to close due to the aerated concrete problems. Surveys had been carried out in 2020/21, which had resulted in 3 schools identified as needing attention. Works on these were completed in 2022. She had submitted objections to the proposals to introduce a Congestion Charge in Cambridge, to the proposal by NHC to increase car parking charges in Royston, to the proposals to close ticket offices at railway stations, and to the planning application to remove the Archaeological condition relating to Wisbridge Reservoir. She had also responded to the consultation regarding health provision in Royston and the surrounding area. There was a Royston and Ermine Councillors’ Surgery being held on Sat 9 th September in the Royston Market area. Cllrs. Morris and Hill were thanked for submitting their reports. 9.09.23 To review action points from the meeting on 5 th July 2023 – reviewed. Action Points from this meeting (see Appendix B). Recent work carried out on clearing the ditches around the Green by the Community Payback Team had been a great success and they were returning the following week to finish the job. The Village Hall had been used as their Rest Room. Thanks were given to a local farmer who had kindly taken the debris away. Community Payback Work to be included on the agenda for the November meeting. Action: Clerk 10.09.23 To note conclusion of the Period of Public Rights – The Clerk reported that this had ended on Friday 4 th August and no request had been received to inspect the records. 11.09.23 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 £25,454.86 of which, £10,133.35 was Push Energy Community Contribution (ring-fenced for special projects), £4,610.00 was Bonfire Night reserves, £690.75 was P3 grant balance, S106 Sustainable Transport Reserve was £651.87, Play Park Reserve was £2,000.00, leaving general reserves at £7,368.89. 12.09.23 To agree accounts for payment, including insurance renewal. Payments to be authorised at the meeting were Clerk’s salary and PAYE. £99.37 to reimburse Cllr. Kilby for website expenses and £188.34 to reimburse Cllr. Kilby for the cost of printing of the Annual Village Report for 2023. Proposed, seconded and approved by all. 13.9.23 To ratify comment submitted under delegated authority on planning application: Section 73 Application : Remove Condition 6 – No demolition/development shall take place/commence until an Archaeological Written Scheme of Investigation has been submitted to an approved by the local planning authority in writing. Land Between Bush Wood and Rokey Wood, High Street, Reed, Hertfordshire. Case Ref No: 23/01667/S73 After consideration of the application, and also taking into account information and views passed on to them by District Councillor Morris from James Danter, a person with archaeological expertise and interest. Reed Councillors concluded as follows: The Condition for a physical archaeological Investigation was imposed for a good reason. The proximity of the site to the scheduled ancient monument in Bush Wood, along with the evidence (including Lidar evidence) of archaeological features within the area of the proposed reservoir site, supports the requirement for a physical investigation before irreparable damage is done, including by compression caused by the weight of water or by heavy machinery during the building of the proposed reservoir. The condition should not be removed without the opinion and approval of the County Archaeologist. Without such approval Reed Parish Council would object to the application. Proposed, seconded and ratified by all. Resolved. Cllr. Langley was asked to query with Dist. Cllr. Morris whether this application could be called in for a decision by the Planning Control Committee. Action: KL 14.09.23 To ratify comment submitted under delegated authority on planning application: Full Permission Householder : Replace existing front and rear elevation windows. 3 Woodbine Cottages, High Street, Reed, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 8AH. Case Ref No: 23/01635/FPH – Response submitted of ‘No Objection’. Proposed, seconded and ratified by all. Resolved. 15.09.23 To consider and make comment on planning applications: Full Permission Householder : Single storey rear extension, and Listed Building Consent : Single storey rear extension Crabtree Cottage, Crow Lane, Reed, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 8AE Case Ref Nos: 23/00147/FPH & 23/01732/LBC – After consideration of the applications it was agreed that there was no objection provided that the Planning Officer and Conservation Officer at NHC were satisfied that the further proposed extension was consistent with preserving the integrity of the listed building. Proposed, seconded and agreed by all. Resolved. The Clerk to submit response to NHC. Action: Clerk 16.09.23 To receive update from Turney Trust about RD1 site, regarding access and sale of site – There was no further information to report. Meanwhile, Mr Meredith (Rural Housing Enabler) from CDA Herts had been in contact regarding site RD1 and had asked if Reed would like to have another Housing Need survey carried out as it was about 15 years since the last survey was done. Cllr. Langley agreed to contact him to discuss matters. Action: KL 17.09.23 To receive update from Save The Cabinet Action Group (SCAG) – SCAG had been writing to the new Development and Conservation Officer at NHC, Mr Greaves. They were chasing for a response to their query as to why there had been a lack of action over a period of 3 years to numerous works carried out on a listed building without planning consent. A recent visit by Planning Officers to The Cabinet only allowed them access via The Spice Cabinet entrance and they were unable to get access to the remainder of the building to inspect, even though that was classed as ancillary to the business. Cllr. d’Ayala to check with SCAG if it would be helpful to send a letter to NHC from the Parish Council supporting SCAG. Action: CD If agreed, then Cllr. Langley to write letter supporting SCAG to NHC. Action: KL 18.09.23 To receive update on Highways Matters – A resident of Brickyard Lane had expressed concern over the increased amount of speeding vehicles along the lane. It was narrow along there and combined with a tight bend, vehicles often had to use his driveway to avoid a collision. After discussing possible methods to encourage safer driving, it was agreed that Cllr. Langley would contact Cllr. Hill to see what could be done, including possibly putting ‘Slow Down’ stickers on bins, as had been spotted in a nearby Cambridgeshire village recently. Action: KL Cllr. Langley to also let Cllr. Hill know that the temporary yellow drain cover had now finally been replaced. Action: KL 19.09.23 To receive update on project to preserve ponds and agree any action required – There was not much to report. A large branch now needed removing from the Cart Pond. There was quite a lot of work that could now be carried out to maintain the ponds outside of the time where the Great Crested Newts would be present. There was a balance needed to control the vegetation whilst preserving the wildlife habitats. Cllr. Blower to talk to neighbours regarding the maintenance needed and maybe organise a Working Party in November, depending on what help might also be available from the Community Payback Team. Action: BB 20.09.23 To receive bi-monthly Parish Council play area inspection report and agree any action required – An inspection had been carried out on 5 th September, other than a minor repair to a bench, there were no other issues that needed to be addressed. Cllr. d’Ayala to check if she had a suitable length of wood to provide a brace for the bench. Cllr. Langley to fit it. Action: CD/KL 21.09.23 To receive update from Play Area Working Party, including funding, and agree any action required – It was reported that meetings had been booked with two potential suppliers of Play Equipment. Their views would be sought on lifespan of existing equipment and what could be added with a realistic budget and timescale. Action: KL/BB 22.09.23 To agree to proceed with organisation of Bonfire Night on 04.11.23 and approve a budget of £1,000 for expenditure on fireworks – It was proposed, seconded and agreed by all to proceed with arrangements for Bonfire Night, and spend a budget of £1,000 on the purchase of fireworks. Cllr. Kilby to buy the fireworks and advertise the event via the village WhatsApp group. Resolved. Action: EK Cllr. Langley to mark out site for the bonfire with cones and put out a request to the village for wood to be placed there. Action: KL 23.09.23 To receive update regarding likely timescales for Modification Order Applications to amend Definitive Maps of Rights of Way upgrading Reed 20 & 23 and Reed 21 to Restricted Byways – The Clerk to contact the Definitive Maps Officer at HCC for an update on the status of the applications. Action: Clerk 24.09.23 To receive update on maintenance of kissing gates Reed 005/011 & 013 – It was noted that there had been no response from Dukes & Partners to the letter sent on 4 th July requesting repair of the gates on their land. Cllr. Blower to check on safety of the gate on Reed 005/011 and to ascertain if it needed to be fixed. Action: BB 25.09.23 To receive update and agree any action on Push Energy Project – Community Noticeboard – Further to discussions with Reed School it was understood that the noticeboard outside the school could be used as a Community Noticeboard (in addition to the one by the Church). Cllrs. d’Ayala and Payne to inspect to ascertain what needed doing to renovate it. Action: CD/NP. That would leave the noticeboard outside the Village Hall for sole Parish Council use. Cllr. d’Ayala put forward a suggestion that some of the dead trees around the Green could be replaced and supplemented with local variety Apple and Pear trees, at a cost of £18 per tree, creating an orchard area for the village. The project would meet the criteria for Push Energy Fund expenditure. She agreed to put together a proposal for the next meeting. Proposed, seconded and approved by all as a potential project. Action: CD 26.09.23 To receive matters for report or referral to next agenda. (Information only) Bonfire Night, Ponds Protection Project, Footpath Kissing Gates and Modified Application Orders, Village Orchard Project, Fibre Optic Network, Housing Need Survey, Wisbridge Reservoir plan for removal of excess material on site, Projects for Community Payback work, Speeding in Brickyard Lane, Play Area Project, Community Noticeboard 27.09.23 To note correspondence received. (Information only) – A letter had been received from Gigaclear regarding a project to install a Fibre Optic Network in Reed. Cllr. Payne to contact Gigaclear to find out more information. Action: NP 28.09.23 To agree date of next meeting. Weds 1 st November 2023. Agreed. There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.25pm. ..