Agenda and approved minutes – December 2024

A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, 16^th DECEMBER 2024, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm.  THE MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 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.

3. To approve the minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 18^th November 2024.

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. Santa Pod traffic issues – to receive any further survey forms, note any issues with recent events and consider a way forward.
9. IT and Website – to report any issues.
10. Emergency Plan review – to review and adopt a draft plan.
11. Commemorative nameplate – to note that the family have been contacted to arrange installation on the village sign.
12. Pensions Regulations – to note that the re-declaration of compliance has been submitted.
13. Review of Fixed Asset Register – to approve revisions to the register.
14. Local Government elections – 1^st May 2025 – to encourage participation.
15. Flooding – replacement sand bags.
16. Deposit of items with the County Archivist – to note that minutes from January 2014 to July 2021 and the Town Well account book have been deposited.

5. Council services – to receive reports.
6. Cemetery – general report.
7. Cemetery – to consider approving a quote of £3841.10 nett for urgent repairs to the surface of a section of the access lane.
8. Cemetery – to consider revisions to the guidelines.
9. Allotments – general report.
10. Allotments – to receive an update on maintenance works [replacement plan for noticeboard].
11. Allotments – boundary issues, including cutting back of the hedge on Allens Hill.
12. Allotments – rent collection for 2025.
13. Allotments – review of tenancy agreements.

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 – to report/note any lights that are not working.
10. Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – request for 40mph speed limit for the A509 Bozeat Bypass in order to improve safety when crossing the road. Overgrowth on TA22.  R esponsibility 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.

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 – roof issues.
11. Police Liaison.
12. Public transport.
13. NNC parish and ward meetings – report from the Town and Parishes Forum meeting held on 21^st
14. BEES Group – to approve the preparation of a section of verge in Easton Lane for the planting of wildflower seeds.

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

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

11. Assets of Community Value [St Mary’s Community Church Hall] – to note that an application has been submitted to North Northants Council for listing on the register.

12. Local events.
    1. 30^th November 2024 – report from the Christmas Tree lights switch on event.
    2. 16^th December 2024 – 80^th anniversary of the death of Lt John Ahern – commemorative event.
    3. 10^th May 2025 – Waendel Walk checkpoint.
    4. Opening event for new Village Hall [to include a Thank You event for village volunteers.

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

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

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

16. To receive any items for the next agenda.

17. Date and time of next meeting – to note that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be the Annual Finance Meeting, held on Monday, 13^th January 2025. The next monthly meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 20^th January 2025.  Both meetings will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat and immediately follow Public Participation at 7pm.

Signed by Lyndis Payne, Clerk to Bozeat Parish Council.

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A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 16^thDECEMBER 2024, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm.  THE MEETING WAS HELD AT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

PRESENT: – Cllrs Skittrall [Chairman]; Brown; Docker; Duckles; Gibbins; Moulds; Pollard and Pritchard.

PUBLIC: – Four members of the public and North Northants Councillors – Jon-Paul Carr, Martin Griffiths and Tom Partridge-Underwood – were present at the meeting.

MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC: –

• Solar farm proposals for the outskirts of the village.

It was resolved to accept apologies for absence received from Cllrs Cooke, Foward and Steel.

2. Declarations of interest.

No new declarations of interest were received.

The minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 18^th November 2024 were proposed as correct by Cllr Duckles, this was seconded by Cllr Moulds and a vote was taken = 5 for with 3 abstentions, motion carried.

4. Matters arising.

• Circulating documents –the progress of any packs that are circulating was noted.

1. Training – information about upcoming training courses was noted.
2. Doctor’s surgery – update on service issues. The Chairman to contact Cllr Gill Mercer to chase up the ICB for a response to concerns.
3. Santa Pod traffic issues – it was resolved to remove this item from the agenda until February next year as events have stopped for the winter months.
4. IT and Website – no issues reported.
5. Emergency Plan review – Cllr Pritchard proposed that the draft Emergency Plan be adopted, this was seconded by Cllr Duckles and agreed.
6. Commemorative nameplate –the Clerk to contact the family again to arrange the installation of a nameplate on the village sign.
7. Pensions Regulations – it was noted that the re-declaration of compliance has been submitted and resolved to remove this item from the agenda.
8. Review of Fixed Asset Register – to approve revisions to the register. It was resolved to defer this until the next meeting.

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1. Local Government elections – 1^st May 2025 – draft posters viewed and discussed; it was resolved to defer this until the next meeting.
2. Flooding – replacement sand bags – contact details for the Emergency Planning officer at North Northants Council were provided, the Clerk to contact him.
3. Deposit of items with the County Archivist – the Clerk reported that the minutes from January 2014 to July 2021 and the Town Well account book have been deposited. It was resolved to remove this item from the agenda.

5. Council services.
6. Cemetery – a general report was received – Cllr Steel is to organise a meeting to look at improving the cemetery to benefit wildlife.
7. Cemetery –a quote of £3841.10 nett was received for urgent repairs to the surface of a section of the access lane, which has lifted. Cllr Pritchard proposed that the quote be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Duckles and agreed.  It was further agreed to ask if additional work to include parts of the lane where vehicles regularly cross the grass could be considered.
8. Cemetery – to consider revisions to the guidelines – it was resolved to defer this until the Annual Finance Meeting.
9. Allotments – general report. No issues were reported.

• Allotments – it was reported that the replacement plan has been placed on the noticeboard and resolved to remove this item from the agenda. Thanks were recorded to Cllr Brown.

1. Allotments – boundary issues, including cutting back of the hedge on Allens Hill. It was noted that work to cut back the hedge on Allens Hill is planned.
2. Allotments – rent collection for 2025 – the Clerk reported that over 50% of rents have been received.
3. Allotments – review of tenancy agreements – it was agreed to defer this until the Annual Finance Meeting.

6. Local environment.
7. Highways – a report was received and accepted.
8. Highways – a request for parking restrictions on London Road, opposite Selby Gardens had been received from a local resident. It was resolved to ask North Northants Highways to include this area on the next parking restrictions application.
9. Street lights – a light in Court Lane is not working, as this is the responsibility of the Parish Council, a request for repair has been submitted to the contractor. It was resolved to follow this up.
10. Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – request for 40mph speed limit for the A509 Bozeat Bypass in order to improve safety when crossing the road – it was resolved to remove this from the agenda as a request has been submitted. Overgrowth on TA22 – it was noted that there is sufficient room to walk along the footpath, and it was resolved to remove this from the agenda.  Responsibility for the footway running from Hewletts Close onto TA21/TA22 – Cllr Brown is investigating this through the Land Registry.  Cllr Pritchard suggested that a claim as a public footpath be submitted.
11. Village Warden – no report received.

• Village Green – no issues noted.

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1. Speed Monitoring Equipment – Cllr Brown to arrange training in setting up the equipment and data collection.

8. Current/new planning applications – Cllr Skittrall proposed that a report [Appendix A] be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Gibbins and agreed.
9. Solar Farm proposals – the Chairman reported that he is close to completing work on the parish council’s response to the initial proposals. The deadline for responses is rumoured to have been extended to 10^th  It was noted that the parish council had agreed to accept an invitation by Green Island Solar to meet, however it was felt that this should be a public meeting.

8. Representatives reports.
9. Bozeat Playing Field Association – Cllr Gibbins reported that some repairs have been done to sections of the car park and the MUGA is being used more regularly due to recent wet weather.
10. Bozeat Primary School – Cllr Duckles reported that the parish council letter has been sent on by the school. A visit to the Nene Milling site is to be organised.
11. Police Liaison – no report this month.
12. Public transport – no issues noted, although road closures have affected the timetable.
13. NNC parish and ward meetings – copies of slides presented at the Town and Parishes Forum meeting held on 21^st November had been received. The next meeting will be held in January.
14. BEES Group–work to plant wildflower seeds on a section of verge in Easton Lane will be done in the Spring.

9. Village Hall Working Party.

Cllr Gibbins reported that the group had held a useful meeting with the site construction manager and the hall is likely to be completed by June 2025.  It is important to get a management committee together to run the hall.  Cllr Duckles asked about the document which indicated that there will be funds available for the allotments and playing field and it was resolved to contact Debbie Kirk before the Annual Finance Meeting as this could affect the precept requested.

No crimes reported locally since the last meeting.

11. Assets of Community Value [St Mary’s Community Church Hall].

The Clerk reported that the listing for St Mary’s Community Church Hall was due to expire and she has submitted a further application for inclusion on the register.

12. Local events.
    1. 30^th November 2024 –Christmas Tree lights switch on event. It was agreed to send a letter of thanks to Jo at the Red Lion for providing free mulled wine. It was further agreed to investigate expanding the existing tree socket, this to be an agenda item for the next meeting.
    2. 16^thDecember 2024 – 80^th anniversary of the death of Lt John Ahern – commemorative event. It was agreed that this event went well, with good public

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attendance.  It was resolved to send letters of thanks to those who took part, further resolved to ask St Mary’s Church if they would like to display some of the crash relics.

1. 10^th May 2025 – Waendel Walk checkpoint. This was noted.
2. Opening event for new Village Hall [to include a Thank You event for village volunteers]. It was resolved to consider a date for an event nearer the time.

It was noted that beacon events to mark the 80^th anniversary of VE Day are being planned for 8^th May 2025 – this to be an agenda item for the next meeting.

14. Payments – Cllr Gibbins proposed that a report [Appendix B] and the payments and funds transfers listed on it be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and agreed.  It was further resolved to investigate exemption for VAT for the water supply for the allotments.

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 – tree safety assessments.
    • Cemetery – repairs to railings – to consider replacing sections with a new hedge.
    • Village Green CCTV and planters.

16. To receive any items for the next agenda.

• Publication of draft minutes.
• Purchase of new mobile phone.

17. Date and time of next meeting.

It was noted that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be the Annual Finance Meeting, held on Monday, 13^th January 2025.  The next monthly meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 20^th January 2025.  Both meetings will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat and immediately follow Public Participation at 7pm.

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

Signed by Brian Skittrall, Chairman, 27^th January 2025.