Agenda and approved minutes – June 2025

A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, 16^th JUNE 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 Meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 19^th May 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. Casual vacancy – to consider applications and fill the current vacancy by co-option.
10. Flooding – replacement sand bags.
11. Assets of Community Value.
12. Bozeat flag – purchase of new flag.
13. Roles and responsibilities – to confirm amendments to the list.

5. Council services – to receive reports.
6. Cemetery – general report.
7. Cemetery – access lane repairs/widening – to note that a quote has been accepted.
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 – purchase of racking and lodge cleaning.
11. Cemetery – water supply.
12. Cemetery – to note an inspection report for the lodge roof, which is leaking.
13. Cemetery – to consider a revision to the guidelines concerning donations of seats.
14. Allotments – general report.

6. Local environment – to receive the following reports.
7. Highways – including speed reduction measures near the primary school.
8. Highways – requests for parking restrictions [London Roade/Selby Gardens; London Road/Little Close].
9. Street Lights – to note any issues and to consider arranging for a baffle to be fitted to a light in Court Lane.
10. Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – responsibility for the footway running from Hewletts Close onto TA21/TA22.
11. Santa Pod – to discuss any issues with events/traffic.
12. Village Warden.
13. Village Green.

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. BEES Group.
10. Bozeat Playing Field Association.
11. Bozeat Primary School.
12. NNC parish and ward meetings.
13. Public transport.
14. Speed signs.
15. Verge mowing.

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

10. Leisure and Recreation equipment: –

• Skate ramp – to note that essential repairs and work to strengthen the supporting structure has been completed.
• Skate Ramp – report from the working party.
• Play Area – to approve a quote of £927.44 for cleaning all play equipment and repair/improve the safety and grass surfaces.

11. Mobile Phone – to consider purchasing a new mobile phone for council use.

12. Audit of Policies and Procedures – to accept a report.

13. • To accept a report from the Police Laison Representative.
    • To note any local crimes that are notified to the council.

14. Chairman’s expenses.

To consider paying an amount to cover expenses incurred by the Chairman in the course of his duties for the year ended 30^th April 2025.

15. Local events.
    1. 13^th July 2025 – Summer Fete [to include a Meet The Village area].
    2. 19^th July 2025 – Open Gardens [allotments to be included].
    3. 15^th August 2025 – VJ80 – to consider organising an event.
    4. Opening event for new Village Hall [to include a Thank You event for village volunteers].

16. Finance

• Payments – to receive a report and to approve fund transfers and payments to be made this month.
• Annual audit of accounts – to complete and approve section 1 of the Annual Return; to approve section 2 of the Annual Return; to accept the Internal Auditor’s report.
• Insurance – to note that the annual premium has been paid and the policy held with Zurich Municipal renewed for a further year.

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

18. On hold – to note the following agenda items are on hold
    • Cemetery – repairs to railings – to consider replacing sections with a new hedge.
    • Village Green CCTV and planters.

19. To receive any items for the next agenda.

20. Date and time of next meeting – to note that the next of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 21^st July 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, 16^th JUNE 2025, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm.  THE MEETING WAS HELD AT BOZEAT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

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

PUBLIC: – There was one member of the public present at the meeting, together with Cllr Dunsmuir [NNC].

MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC: –

• Application to join Bozeat Parish Council.
• North Northants Council planning policies.

1. Apologies for absence.

It was resolved to accept apologies for absence received from Cllrs Foward and Steel, Cllr Moulds was also absent.

2. Declarations of interest.

• Agenda item 14 – Cllr Skittrall declared a pecuniary interest.

The minutes from the Annual Meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 19^th May 2025 were proposed as correct by Cllr Pritchard, this was seconded by Cllr Brown and a vote was taken = 5 for with 2 abstentions, motion carried.

4. Matters arising.
5. Circulating documents – the progress of circulating packs that was noted.
6. Training – it was noted that Cllr Steel is attending a course this evening.
7. Doctor’s surgery – update on service issues. The Chairman reported that he would contact the new Integrated Care Board representative, following the recent election.  Cllr Brown asked if there is a legal requirement for a minimum number of GP’s based on the local population and said that he would investigate

• Review of Fixed Asset Register – noted that this is pending.

1. Casual vacancy – two applications to join the Parish Council had been received and it was agreed to hold a secret ballot and for the Clerk to count the votes. After the result Cllr Skittrall proposed that Melody Todd be invited to join Bozeat Parish Council, this was seconded by Cllr Brown and agreed.
2. Flooding – replacement sand bags. The Clerk reported that the Emergency Planning Officer had advised that they no longer use sand bags, preferring to use hydro snakes instead but had not offered to provide any.

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It was resolved that the Clerk investigate costs of hydro snakes and produce a report ready for the next meeting.

1. Assets of Community Value – noted that the listing for the Red Lion is likely to expire soon.
2. Bozeat flag – purchase of new flag. It was agreed that Cllr Pollard contacts David Brown to ask about the original artwork and liaise with Melody Todd.
3. Roles and responsibilities – amendments to the list were noted and it was agreed to invite Melody to join groups of interest.

5. Council services.
6. Cemetery – a report was read as received.
7. Cemetery – access lane repairs/widening – to note that a quote had been accepted for the essential repairs, but that a further quote is required for the widening of the lane.
8. Cemetery – tree safety assessments – Cllr Brown reported that he has requested a template from North Northants Council.

• Cemetery – noted that the Green Burial Area working party has yet to meet.

1. Cemetery – purchase of racking and lodge cleaning – the Chairman reported that the racking has been purchased, agreed to defer cleaning the lodge and installing the racking pending repairs to the lodge roof.
2. Cemetery – water supply – a reply from Wave was noted and it was agreed to remove this item from the agenda.
3. Cemetery – the Clerk reported that a potential leak in the lodge roof may be to blame for water ingress into the office area of the lodge. A local roofing contractor has visited and there are a number of damaged tiles on one side of the roof and areas of missing cement.  It was noted that the roof hasn’t been repaired or replaced for many years and agreed to request a quote for repairs and also for a complete replacement roof.
4. Cemetery – guidelines concerning donations of seats. The Clerk reported that there is already a guideline in place which covers donated seats however this may need some changes to the existing wording.
5. Allotments – general report. Cllr Pollard reported that there hasn’t been an inspection recently but no issues have been reported.

6. Local environment.
7. Highways – a report was read as received, noting that the VAS signs near to the primary school are due to be installed at the end of the week.
8. Highways – requests for parking restrictions [London Road/Selby Gardens; London Road/Little Close]. The Clerk reported that a resident had provided evidence of vehicles parked close to the Mill Road junction with London Road, making it difficult to safely exit Mill Road.  Cllr Docker noted that there appears to be no enforcement of parking rules, Cllr Brown noted that evidence can be submitted to North Northants Council by email.
9. Street Lights – Cllr Pritchard will chase up a request for likely costs to fit a baffle to a light in Court Lane.
10. Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – no issues reported, Cllr Docker will discuss the ongoing issue of determining responsibility for the footway running from Hewletts

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Close onto TA21/TA22 with David Brown.

1. Santa Pod – no complaints have been received since the last meeting.

• Village Warden – no report received this month.

1. Village Green – it was noted that the surviving trees and the wild area created around them are looking good. It was agreed that the Red Lion pub can use the village green for an event, subject to the relevant licences and insurances being in place   Cllr Cooke asked that the provision of new planters on the village green be an agenda item for the next meeting.

8. Current/new planning applications – Cllr Skittrall proposed that a report [Appendix A] be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and agreed.
9. Solar Farm proposals – Cllr Skittrall reported that the DCO has been submitted but there is no news as to whether it has been accepted or rejected. Cllr Brown reported that he had met to discuss this with North Northants Council representatives, there is a huge opportunity to achieve S106 funding, should the proposals go ahead.

8. Representatives’ reports.
9. BEES Group – a report was read as received.
10. Bozeat Playing Field Association – a report was read as received.
11. Bozeat Primary School – no news received.
12. NNC parish and ward meetings – no meetings held recently.
13. Public transport – Cllr Pollard noted that there have been no issues reported.

• Speed signs – a report was read as received. It was agreed to move the signs to new locations regularly, the working party to decide on the locations, it was further agreed to download the data gathered on a monthly basis and provide a report for the Parish Council, data to be posted on social media and a copy to be sent to Santa Pod if there is an indication of speeding during events. Cllr Docker reported that Northants Police do not wish to receive the data.

1. Verge mowing – a report that damage was caused to a garden wall during mowing was discussed and it was agreed that Cllrs Cooke and Gibbins will visit the resident to look at the damage.

9. Village Hall Working Party.

Cllr Cooke reported that the working party is currently in a sitting and waiting mode as the hall is under construction.  Melody Tood will join the working party.

10. Leisure and Recreation equipment.

• Skate ramp – it was noted that the work to strengthen the supporting structure has been completed and the majority of repairs done, however work was suspended when users arrived on site. The contractor will return to complete the repairs.
• Skate Ramp working party – it was noted that the group have yet to meet. The Clerk presented a detailed expenditure report for the skate ramp since it was built in 2015 and reported that she would keep this updated.
• Play Area cleaning and repairs to the safety and grass surfaces – a quote of £927.44 had been received. Cllr Gibbins proposed that the quote be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Brown and agreed.

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11. Mobile Phone.

It was agreed to defer this agenda item until the next meeting.

12. Audit of Policies and Procedures.

It was agreed to circulate the report ready for the next meeting.

13. • Police Laison Representative – a report was read as received.
    • Local crimes – as detailed in the report.

14. Chairman’s expenses.

Cllr Skittrall declared a pecuniary interest and left the meeting.  Cllr Cooke took the chair for this item.  It was noted that the allowance is to cover the costs incurred by the Chairman over the past year in the course of his duties, which included providing a card and gift to a resident who reached 100.  Cllr Docker proposed that an allowance of £750 be paid to the Chairman, this was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and agreed.  Cllr Skittrall then returned to the room and took the chair.

15. Local events.

• 13^th July 2025 – Summer Fete – the working party had met earlier today and arrangements are well underway. Santa Pod have agreed to bring along a car.
• 19^th July 2025 – Open Gardens – it was agreed to check that someone is to monitor the allotments during this event.
• 15^th August 2025 – VJ80 – it was agreed to arrange for a suitable event to take place at Town Well and to ask the former members of Bozeat British Legion if they would like to take part.
• Opening event for new Village Hall [to include a Thank You event for village volunteers] – agreed to defer this until the hall is built.

• Payments – Cllr Gibbins proposed that a report [Appendix B] and the payments and fund transfers listed on it be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and agreed.
• Annual audit of accounts – Section 1 of the Annual Return was completed, it was proposed by Cllr Skittrall, seconded by Cllr Brown that this be agreed. Cllr Cooke proposed that Section 2 of the Annual Return be approved, this was seconded by Cllr Gibbins and agreed. Cllr Skittrall proposed that the Internal Auditor’s Report be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Brown and agreed.
• Insurance – it was noted that the annual insurance premium has been paid and the policy held with Zurich Municipal renewed for a further year. The Clerk reported that the two bleed boxes owned by the council have been added to the policy.

Correspondence received since the last meeting was acknowledged.  A request to display a business card in the council’s noticeboard was discussed and it was agreed not to accept this due to the potential volume of adverts that might be received from other local businesses.  Information about summer holiday activities for children has been received from North Northants Council.

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18. On hold – the following agenda items are currently on hold: –
    • Cemetery – repairs to railings – to consider replacing sections with a new hedge.
    • Village Green CCTV.

19. To receive any items for the next agenda.

• The purchase of planters for the village green.

20. Date and time of next meeting.

It was noted that the next of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 21^st July 2025, immediately following Public Participation at 7pm.  The meeting will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat.

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

Signed by the Chairman, 21^st July 2025.