Agenda and approved minutes – 17th March 2025

A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, 17^th MARCH 2025, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING FOR BOZEAT AT 7pm AND THEN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT BOZEAT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT MEETINGS MAY BE RECORDED

A G E N D A

1. To consider accepting apologies for absence.
2. To record any new declarations of interest from members in items to be discussed.

To approve the minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 17^th February 2025.

4. Matters arising from the previous meeting/s: –
5. Election of Vice-Chairman
6. Casual Vacancy – to note the required procedure.
7. Circulating documents – to note the progress of any packs that are circulating.
8. Training – to agree any training courses requested by members of the council and receive reports on any attended.
9. Doctor’s surgery – update on service issues.
10. Emergency Plan – to note that the Clerk has sent a copy of the Plan to Grendon and Wollaston Parish and North Northants Council.
11. Review of Fixed Asset Register – to approve revisions to the register.
12. Local Government elections – 1^st May 2025 – to encourage participation.
13. Flooding – replacement sand bags.
14. Assets of Community Value.
15. Bozeat flag – purchase of new flag.

5. Council services – to receive reports.
6. Cemetery – general report.
7. Cemetery – repairs to the surface of a section of the access lane.
8. Cemetery – tree safety assessments – to consider arranging for safety checks of the trees.
9. Cemetery – report from the Green Burial Area working party.
10. Cemetery – to consider the purchase of racking for the office area of the lodge, to ensure safe and appropriate storage.
11. Allotments – general report.
12. Allotment rents for 2026.

6. Local environment – to receive the following reports.
7. Highways – including speed reduction measures near the primary school.
8. Highways – request for parking restrictions on London Road, opposite Selby Gardens.
9. Street Lights.
10. Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – responsibility for the footway running from Hewletts Close onto TA21/TA22.
11. Village Warden.
12. Village Green.
13. Speed Monitoring Equipment – to arrange training in setting up and data collection.
14. Planters – to note that the Village Produce Show has been asked if they would like to care for the planter on Olney Road.
15. Great British Spring Clean – to note that the council has been signed up to take part and to agree target areas and teams for 22^nd and 23^rd

7. Planning – to receive a report.
8. Current/new planning applications.
9. Solar Farm proposals – to receive reports from recent events and formulate a response to any future planning application.

8. Representatives’ reports – to receive the following reports.
9. Bozeat Playing Field Association.
10. Bozeat Primary School.
11. Police Liaison.
12. Public transport.
13. NNC parish and ward meetings – report from Parishes Forum held on 13^th
14. BEES Group.

9. Village Hall Working Party – to accept a report.

10. Police – to note any local crimes that are notified to the council.

11. Local events.
    1. 8^th May 2025 – VE80 – to consider taking part in national events.
    2. 10^th May 2025 – Waendel Walk checkpoint.
    3. 13^th July 2025 – Summer Fete.
    4. 15^th August 2025 – VJ80 – to consider taking part in national events.
    5. Opening event for new Village Hall [to include a Thank You event for village volunteers].
    6. Gazebo – to consider the purchase of a good quality 6m x 3m replacement gazebo, including heavy duty side panels, for village events, costing £432.

12. Finance
13. Payments – to receive a report and to approve fund transfers and payments to be made this month.

13. Correspondence – to acknowledge receipt of correspondence received since the last meeting.

14. On hold – to note the following agenda items are on hold
    • Audit of local council adopted policies and procedures.
    • Cemetery – repairs to railings – to consider replacing sections with a new hedge.
    • Village Green CCTV and planters.

15. To receive any items for the next agenda.

16. Date and time of next meeting – to note that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 14^th April 2025, immediately following Public Participation at 7pm. The meeting will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat.

Signed by the Clerk to Bozeat Parish Council.

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A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 17^thMARCH 2025, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING FOR BOZEAT AT 7pm AND THEN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.  THEMEETING WAS HELD AT BOZEAT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

PRESENT: – Cllr Skittrall [Chairman], Brown; Cooke; Docker; Moulds; Pollard; Pritchard and Steel.

PUBLIC: –Two members of the public and Cllr Carr [NNC] were present at the meeting.

MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC: –

• 6% increase in Bozeat Parish Council’s share of council tax.
• Response to the Solar farm proposals.

It was resolved to accept apologies for absence received from Cllrs Foward and Gibbins.

2. Declarations of interest.

No new declarations of interest were received.

The minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 17^th February 2025 were proposed as correct by Cllr Pritchard, this was seconded by Cllr Docker and a vote was taken = 7 for with 1 abstention, motion carried.

4. Matters arising.
5. Election of Vice-Chairman – Cllr Pritchard nominated Cllr Cooke to serve as Vice-Chairman, this was seconded by Cllr Pollard and unanimously agreed.

• Casual Vacancy – the Clerk noted that local elections will take place on 1^st May and it was resolved to not co-opt a new member at this time.

1. Circulating documents – the progress of circulating packs was discussed and it was agreed that members should email the Clerk when they pass any pack on.
2. Training – a report was received from Cllr Steel who attended a Neurodiversity training course, and it was reported that no change was required in the council’s current practices.
3. Doctor’s surgery – the Chairman reported that Gill Mercer was contacted recently and she is still pursuing the ICB.
4. Emergency Plan – it was noted that a copy has been sent to Grendon and Wollaston Parish Council, Easton Maudit and Strixton Parish Meetings and North Northants Council. It was agreed to remove this item from the agenda.
5. Review of Fixed Asset Register – agreed to defer this item until next month.
6. Local Government elections – 1^st May 2025 – the Clerk reported that information is prominently displayed on the council’s website and a poster has been placed on the

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noticeboard.

1. Flooding – replacement sand bags – the Clerk reported that she has contacted North Northants Council.
2. Assets of Community Value – noted that the listing for the Red Lion pub will need to be resubmitted soon.
3. Bozeat flag – purchase of new flag – it was resolved that the Clerk liaises with Cllr Brown to ensure the correct colours and design are used.

5. Council services.
6. Cemetery – Cllr Steel presented a general report. It was suggested that the council investigates replacing the water tap for one that automatically shuts off so that it can’t be left running accidentally and is less attractive for unauthorised users. This to be an agenda item for the next meeting.
7. Cemetery – repairs to the surface of a section of the access lane – this is pending.
8. Cemetery – tree safety assessments – Cllr Steel reported that she had received a quote of £475 for an assessment. Cllr Docker noted that, if work is found to be required, the parish council must act on it.  It was agreed to obtain at least one other quote and also contact North Northants Council’s arboreal officer for advice.
9. Cemetery – report from the Green Burial Area working party. This is pending.
10. Cemetery – to consider the purchase of racking for the office area of the lodge, to ensure safe and appropriate storage. It was agreed to defer this item until the next meeting.

• Allotments – general report. Cllr Pollard reported that a routine inspection will take place shortly.

1. Allotment rents for 2026 – concerns raised by the Allotments Manager over the percentage increase in rents for those in receipt of state pension were outlined and it was resolved to consider a detailed report ready for the next meeting.

6. Local environment.
7. Highways – including speed reduction measures near the primary school. It was resolved to accept a report as received.  A resident has asked what action is being taken about ponding on the A509 bypass.  It was noted that residents in Hope Street have received letters telling them that they cannot use the private area at the top to turn vehicles.  It was noted that the provision of a turning head was assumed as part of the planning consent and the Chairman will investigate.  The movement and storage of large mobile homes on land next to Harrold Road was discussed.
8. Highways – request for parking restrictions [opposite Selby Gardens] – this has been submitted.
9. Street Lights – no issues reported.

• Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – responsibility for the footway running from Hewletts Close onto TA21/TA22.Cllr Brown reported that this issue has been elevated to the Asset Department at North Northants Council.

1. Village Warden – report read as received and an extra effort noted.
2. Village Green – no issues noted, snowdrops are now in bloom.
3. Speed Monitoring Equipment – to arrange training in setting up and data collection.
4. Planters – it was noted that the Village Produce Show has been asked if they would like to care for the planter on Olney Road and reported that a local business is keen to take it on board if the Show does not want to.

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1. Great British Spring Clean – reported that bags and litter pickers have been received from North Northants Council. It was agreed that a team will target an area off Wollaston Road

on Saturday morning and another team will target an area on London Road, near to Stocken Hollow on Saturday afternoon.  The primary school are to litter pick at the playing field during the week.

8. Current/new planning applications – Cllr Skittrall proposed that a report [Appendix A] be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Steel and agreed.
9. Solar Farm proposals – a further leaflet from Green Island Power has been sent to all residents recently. Interest is being assessed for a public meeting.  Details of potential issues were discussed and options considered.

8. Representatives’ reports.
9. Bozeat Playing Field Association – no report received this month.
10. Bozeat Primary School – it was resolved to keep in touch with the school by sending regular letters.
11. Police Liaison – report read as received.
12. Public transport–Cllr Pollard reported that both services are running OK at present.
13. NNC parish and ward meetings – Cllrs Docker and Skittrall attended a Parishes Forum meeting on 13^th It was noted that North Northamptonshire Council, NorthantsACRE and NorthantsCALC have designated grants pages on their websites and it was resolved to add Grants Monitor to the list of roles and responsibilities for the parish council.
14. BEES Group – a report was read as received. Cllr Pritchard reported that she is creating a map of the village to identify areas that are being managed for the benefit of wildlife.

9. Village Hall Working Party.

Cllr Cooke reported that the Working Party is in discussions with the developer over details for the fitting out of the hall.

Cllr Cooke left the meeting at this point.

10. Grounds Maintenance Contracts.

It was noted that the annual contracts for grounds maintenance need to be considered for the next financial year.  A report giving details of the current providers and costs was received and discussed.  The Clerk reported that R & G had confirmed no increase in their prices for the coming year.  Cllr Docker proposed that the general grounds maintenance contracts for the verges, cemetery, village green, town well and allotments central track for the financial year beginning 1^st April 2025 be awarded to R& G with minor works at the cemetery including emptying of bins and clearing leaves, weeds etc be awarded to C.Chapman.  It was noted that the grounds maintenance contract for the Playing Field would be managed by the Playing Field Committee.

No crimes reported since the last meeting although there is evidence of fly-tipping at Stocken Hollow and there seems to be an increase in fly-tipping in the local area.

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12. Local events.
    1. 8^th May 2025 – VE80 – Cllr Skittrall reported that a beacon event is being planned and it was agreed to investigate whether the Windmill Singers would be able to send a group to sing. It was noted that communities are being encouraged to hold an event on 5^th May and agreed to see if BPFA would like to hold a barbecue on the village green.
    2. 10^th May 2025 – Waendel Walk checkpoint. Information has been received and a rota will be prepared ready for the next meeting
    3. 13^th July 2025 – Summer Fete. It was reported that the Working Party is meeting regularly.
    4. 15^th August 2025 – VJ80 – It was noted that there don’t appear to be any national events being organised to mark this.
    5. Opening event for new Village Hall [to include a Thank You event for village volunteers]. Agreed to defer this item until the next meeting.
    6. Gazebo – it was noted that a new gazebo is required as the previous one has collapsed. Cllr Skittrall proposed that a good quality 6m x 3m replacement gazebo, including heavy duty side panels, for village events, costing £432 be purchased.  This was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and agreed.

14. Payments – Cllr Skittrall proposed that a report [Appendix B] and the fund transfers and payments listed on it be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Moulds and agreed.

The Clerk reported that an amendment to the list of bank signatories has been completed.

It was resolved to acknowledge receipt of correspondence received since the last meeting.

15. On hold – noted that the following agenda items are on hold: –
    • Audit of local council adopted policies and procedures.
    • Cemetery – repairs to railings – to consider replacing sections with a new hedge.
    • Village Green CCTV and planters.

16. Items for the next agenda.

• Cemetery tree safety assessments.
• Replacement outside tap for cemetery.
• Allotment rents for 2026.

17. Date and time of next meeting.

It was noted that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 14^th April 2025, immediately following Public Participation at 7pm.  The meeting will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed.

Signed by the Chairman, 14^th April 2025