Agenda and approved minutes – April 2025

A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, 14^th APRIL 2025, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm.  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 Annual Parish Meeting for Bozeat held on 17^th March 2025.
• To approve the minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 17^th March 2025.

4. Matters arising from the previous meeting/s: –
5. Circulating documents – to note the progress of any packs that are circulating.
6. Training – to agree any training courses requested by members of the council and receive reports on any attended.
7. Doctor’s surgery – update on service issues.
8. Review of Fixed Asset Register – to approve revisions to the register.
9. Local Government elections [1^st May 2025] – update.
10. Flooding – replacement sand bags.
11. Assets of Community Value.
12. Bozeat flag – purchase of new flag.
13. Purchase of gazebo for village events.
14. Grass cutting contracts for 2025-2026

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 quotes for safety checks of 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. Cemetery – to consider replacing the outside tap with one that cannot be left open.
12. Allotments – general report.
13. Allotment rents for 2026 – to consider options for revising the rents set 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 set up working parties to retrieve and manage the data collected and to manage and move the equipment, including charging the batteries.
14. Planters – to note that the Village Produce Show has agreed to care for the planter on Olney Road.
15. Great British Spring Clean – report from the litter picks that took place on 22^nd

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.
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].

12. Finance
13. Payments – to receive a report and to approve fund transfers and payments to be made this month.
14. Annual audit of accounts – to note the required procedure.

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 Annual Meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 19^th May 2025, immediately following Public Participation at 7pm. The meeting will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat.

Signed by Lyndis Payne, Clerk to Bozeat Parish Council.

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A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 14^th APRIL 2025, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm.  THE MEETING WAS HELD AT BOZEAT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

PRESENT: – Cllrs Skittrall [Chairman]; Cooke; Foward; Gibbins; Moulds; Pollard; Pritchard and Steel.

PUBLIC: – One member of the public arrived during the course of the meeting.

It was resolved to accept apologies for absence received from Cllrs Brown and Docker.

1. Declarations of interest.

• Agenda item 7a – it was resolved to accept a declaration of non-pecuniary interest from Cllr Pritchard in planning application NW/25/00160.

• Cllr Pollard proposed that the minutes from the Annual Parish Meeting for Bozeat held on 17^th March 2025 be accepted as a correct record, this was seconded by Cllr Steel and a vote was taken = 6 for with 2 abstentions, motion carried.
• Cllr Steel proposed that the minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 17^th March 2025 be accepted as a correct record, this was seconded by Cllr Pollard and a vote was taken = 6 for with 2 abstentions, motion carried.

3. Matters arising: –
4. Circulating documents – the progress of circulating packs was noted.
5. Training – information about upcoming courses were noted.

• Doctor’s surgery – the Chairman reported that Cllr Gill Mercer had met the ICB yesterday to discuss issues raised about the lack of services at Bozeat.  The practice now only has 2 registered GP’s but are currently training others.  The surgery now only has 2 available rooms, with 1 being used as a dispensary and the other for nursing services.  They do not anticipate offering appointments at Bozeat at the moment.  The Chairman suggested that doctors could use the nurses room part time when the nurse is not present to offer appointments to those that are unable to readily travel to Wollaston.  Cllr Mercer said that she would take the suggestion to the ICB.

1. Review of Fixed Asset Register – the Clerk reported that a petrol strimmer purchased in 1988 no longer works and it was resolved not to replace this and to remove it from the register

Local Government elections [1^st May 2025] – it was reported that all 10 candidates who had submitted nomination papers have been elected unopposed and the council

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will have a vacant seat to fill by co-option.

1. Flooding – replacement sand bags. The Clerk reported that she had received an acknowledgement of her request for sand bags but had heard no more, agreed to chase this up.
2. Assets of Community Value – it was noted that the listing for the Red Lion pub will

need to be resubmitted shortly.

1. Bozeat flag – purchase of new flag. It was agreed that Cllr Pollard should prepare a design for the new flag in gold and green.  It was further agreed that the St George’s flag be flown from tomorrow.
2. Purchase of gazebo for village events – it was agreed that the Chairman and Cllr Gibbins liaise to submit an order for the gazebo.
3. Grass cutting contracts for 2025-2026 – the Clerk reported that she has received signed contracts back from both C.Chapman and R & G.

4. Council services.
5. Cemetery – general report – Cllr Steel provided a general report, noting that a strut on the rear of the Coronation Seat has broken. A local handyman has offered to take the seat away for refurbishment.  Anglian Water has written to confirm that the reported water leak has been repaired.
6. Cemetery – repairs to the surface of a section of the access lane – it was noted that the council had asked for a further quote to incorporate a wider turning area, Cllr Gibbins to chase this up.
7. Cemetery – tree safety assessments – Cllr Steel to seek a second quote.
8. Cemetery – report from the Green Burial Area working party – pending.

• Cemetery – to consider the purchase of racking for the office area of the lodge, to ensure safe and appropriate storage. It was noted that a working party will be arranged for later in the year.

1. Cemetery – to consider replacing the outside tap with one that cannot be left open. It was resolved to seek advice from a plumber.
2. Allotments – general report. Cllr Pollard reported that there are no known issues at present, the first inspection of the year will take place next month. The Clerk reported that two plots have been issued to new tenants.
3. Allotment rents for 2026 – to consider options for revising the rents set for 2026. The Clerk had produced a report detailing the current situation, the rents agreed for 2026 and concerns raised by the Allotments Manager.  After discussion, Cllr Cooke proposed that allotment rents for 2026 be increased by 10% from the rents being charged for 2025, with tenants being advised that rents will be standardized for 2027 so all tenants will pay the same rate.  This was agreed.

5. Local environment.
6. Highways – a report was read as received. It was noted that work to install the VAS system near to the primary school is scheduled to begin tomorrow.  The depth and number of potholes on the High Street and Fullwell Road were noted.
7. Highways – request for parking restrictions on London Road, opposite Selby Gardens – noted that this request has been submitted.
8. Street Lights – a complaint about the brightness of a light on private property was noted and discussed, the Clerk to send a suitable reply.

• Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – responsibility for the footway running from Hewletts Close onto TA21/TA22. No issues were noted with rights of way around the

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village.  It was reported that Cllr Brown is to pass on information relating to the Hewletts Close footway to Cllr Docker and noted that this could be claimed as a right

of way.

1. Village Warden – a report was read as received. It was agreed that Cllr Foward should check the fence along The Flat and submit a report to North Northants Council requesting repairs to the worst areas.
2. Village Green – no issues noted.
3. Speed Monitoring Equipment – it was agreed to defer this until the next meeting.
4. Planters – it was noted that the Village Produce Show has agreed to care for the planter on Olney Road and agreed to remove this from the agenda.
5. Great British Spring Clean – it was reported that 10 bags of rubbish, 2 tyres and a length of aluminium were collected. The Clerk has submitted a nomination for a Rose of Northamptonshire Award for Mrs P Brannon.

7. Current/new applications – Cllr Skittrall proposed that a report [Appendix A] be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Cooke and agreed. Cllr Pritchard declared a non-pecuniary interest in application NW/25/00160/FUL
8. Solar Farm proposals – the Chairman reported that he had submitted a response to the recent Targeted Consultation.

7. Representatives’ reports.
8. Bozeat Playing Field Association – a report was read as received. It was noted that the equipment in the play area needs cleaning and a quote is being sought.
9. Bozeat Primary School – it was noted that a letter has been sent to the school.
10. Police Liaison – a report was read as received. Crime figures had been received for March and were discussed – 5 reported.  The riding of motorised scooters around the village was noted and will be reported to the PCSO. It was agreed to move this to the Police agenda item for future meetings.
11. Public transport – Cllr Pollard reported that new timetables for the Village Hopper have been received but the W8 service has not been included, there is not enough space in the timetable cases to add a second timetable so this will be an issue. It was agreed to email Cogenhoe & Whiston Parish Council to ask if a combined timetable could be provided.
12. NNC parish and ward meetings – no meetings held recently.
13. BEES Group – a report was read as received. It was noted that a cowslip event held in the churchyard at the weekend went well.

It was resolved to add Verge Mowing to the list of reports to the agenda for the next meeting.

A letter was read as received from a village resident and it was resolved to remind the contractors not to cut the verge in Wollaston Road. The resident also requested that the area of verge in Wollaston Road that was accessed for the installation of services to the new housing estate be restored with grass and bulbs and it was agreed to send a copy of the letter to the North Northants Council representatives after the 1^st May elections.

8. Village Hall Working Party.

Cllr Cooke reported that the working party had been in discussion with the

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developers about the kitchen for the new hall and it was agreed to wait and see what is handed over.

A letter from a village resident expressing concerns about potential parking issues was discussed and it was agreed that notices will be displayed in the hall reminding

patrons to park responsibly.

One crime in Irchester had been notified since the last meeting.

10. Local events.
    1. 8^th May 2025 – VE80 – to consider taking part in national events. The Chairman reported that the beacon is to be lit.  It was agreed to ask Jo at the Red Lion pub if she would like to take part in the national fish and chip supper event.
    2. 10^th May 2025 – Waendel Walk checkpoint – the rota for checkpoint duties was completed. The box will need picking up the day before the event.
    3. 13^th July 2025 – Summer Fete – the required events licence has been obtained.
    4. 19^th July 2025 – Bozeat Open Gardens.
    5. 15^th August 2025 – VJ80 – to consider taking part in national events. The Chairman reported that there don’t appear to be any national events being organised to mark this, although a service is to be held in London.
    6. Opening event for new Village Hall [to include a Thank You event for village volunteers].

It was noted that a local resident will celebrate his 100^th birthday on 7^th May, a card and gift have been organised.

12. Payments – Cllr Pritchard proposed that a report [Appendix B] and the payments and fund transfers listed on it be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Foward and agreed.
13. Annual audit of accounts – the Clerk reported receipt of the audit paperwork from PKF Littlejohn LLP and that she has organised the required internal audit.

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

A request from Bozeat W.I. for a donation towards the cost of organising training for bleed control kits was noted and it was resolved to make a donation of £50.

13. 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.

14. Items for the next agenda.

• Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

15. Date and time of next meeting.

It was noted that Annual Meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 19^th May 2025, immediately following Public Participation at 7pm.  The meeting will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat.

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

Signed by Brian Skittrall, Chairman, 19^th May 2025.