Agenda and approved minutes – May 2023

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, 15^th MAY 2023, FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm. 

THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT MEETINGS MAY BE RECORDED

A G E N D A

1. To elect the Chairman for the coming year.
2. To consider accepting apologies for absence.
3. To record any new declarations of interest from members in items to be discussed.

4. To elect the Vice-Chairman for the coming year.

5. To confirm working parties and representatives for the coming year.

6. To approve the minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 17^th April 2023.

7. Matters arising from the previous meeting/s: –
8. Amendments to insurance cover.
9. Circulating documents – to note the progress of any packs that are circulating.
10. Website migration – to discuss any outstanding items.
11. Training – to agree any training courses requested by members of the council and receive reports on any attended.
12. Play area inspection report.
13. Village Risk Assessments – review of templates/schedule.
14. Skills audit – to produce a list.
15. List of council achievements.
16. Doctor’s surgery – issues with access to services.
17. Casual vacancy.
18. Mobile phone – to consider purchasing a mobile phone for council use.

8. Council Services – to receive reports.
9. Cemetery – general report.
10. Cemetery – applications for permission to place memorials/headstones in the cemetery.
11. Cemetery – to receive an update on any outstanding maintenance works [extension to Garden of Remembrance].
12. Cemetery – memorial inspections.
13. Allotments – general report, including access gate from a private property.
14. Allotments – to receive an update on maintenance works [replacement noticeboard/replacement gate post/boot scrapers].

9. Local Environment – to receive the following reports.
10. Highways – including parking restrictions and speed reduction near the primary school.
11. Street Lights – to report/note any lights that are not working.
12. Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way.
13. Village Warden.
14. BEES Group – to receive a report.
15. Litter bin outside the village shop – to monitor the effectiveness of the emptying schedule.
16. St Mary’s Road verge – request for a transfer of ownership of the wide verge at the junction of St Mary’s Road and London Road to Bozeat Parish Council.
17. Verge mowing – to note any issues and/or revisions to the mowing map/schedule.

10. Planning – to receive reports.
11. Current/new planning applications.

11. Representatives Reports – to receive the following reports.
12. Bozeat Playing Field Association.
13. Bozeat Primary School.
14. JAG and Police Liaison meetings.
15. Public transport.
16. NNC parish and ward meetings – ward meeting requested to discuss Santa Pod traffic issues. The next Town & Parish Forum will be 16^th or 18^th

12. Santa Pod traffic issues – to agree a list of demands to be sent to Santa Pod Raceway.

13. New village hall – design and business plan.

14. Police – to receive reports.
15. Crimes – to note any crimes that are notified to the council.

15. Local Events.
    1. 6/7^th May 2023 – Coronation of HM King Charles III – report from the Family Picnic.
    2. 12-14^th May 2023 – Waendel Walk – report from the checkpoint.
    3. 15^th July 2023 – Annual Summer Fete – to receive a report from the working party and agree a budget for this event.
    4. Christmas Tree – to agree a date to switch on the lights and details for the event.

16. Finance
17. Payments – to receive a report and to approve payments to be made this month.
18. Bozeat Playing Field Association request for funding towards the cost of providing bench seating [£3000].
19. Village Green CCTV and planters – to agree a budget for this project.
20. Audit of 2022-2023 accounts – to receive the internal auditor’s report; complete section1 of the Annual Return, and approve the figures contained in section 2.

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

18. On Hold – to note the following agenda items are on hold
    1. Emergency Plan review.
    2. Audit of local council adopted policies and procedures.
    3. Revision of policies and guidelines.
    4. Thank You event for village volunteers.
    5. Meet The Village event.
    6. Cemetery – repairs to railings.
    7. Cemetery – tree safety assessments.

19. To receive any items for the next agenda.

20. Date and time of next meeting – to note that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will take place on Monday, 19^th June 2023, 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.

Page 2131 – 15^th May 2023.

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 15^th MAY 2023, FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm. 

THE MEETING WAS BE HELD AT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

PRESENT: – Cllrs Cooke [Chairman]; Docker; Duckles; Morris; Pollard and Pritchard.

PUBLIC: – One member of the public was present at the meeting.

MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC: –

• Domestic waste collection services.

1. Election of Chairman for the coming year.

Cllr Skittrall was nominated by Cllr Morris to serve as Chairman of Bozeat Parish Council for the coming year.  This was seconded by Cllr Duckles and unanimously agreed.

2. Apologies for absence.

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

3. Declarations of interest.

No new declarations of interest were received.

4. Election of Vice-Chairman for the coming year.

Cllr Cooke was nominated by Cllr Docker to serve as Vice-Chairman of Bozeat Parish Council for the coming year.  This was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and unanimously agreed.

5. Working parties and representatives for the coming year.

It was resolved that this be an agenda item for the next meeting and that suggested amendments to the list be emailed to the Clerk.

6. The minutes of the meeting held on 17^th April 2023 were proposed as correct by Cllr Duckles, this was seconded by Cllr Morris.  A vote was taken = 2 for, 4 abstentions, motion carried.

7.Matters arising.

Amendments to insurance cover – it was agreed that the Clerk meets with Cllr Morris to go through the existing cover, noted that this is the final year of the current deal with the insurers.

Circulating documents – noted that one pack is currently circulating.

Website migration – the Clerk reported that the new logo has been sent to the web designer and he will update the site.

Training – a list of the latest courses available through NorthantsCALC had been circulated.

Play area inspection report – agreed to defer this item until the next month.

Village Risk Assessments – Cllr Morris reported that he had met with the Clerk and is working on reviewing the templates and schedule.

Skills audit – members were urged to send this information to the Clerk.

List of council achievements – Cllr Cooke to email a list to the Clerk.

Doctor’s surgery – following discussion it was resolved to send a further letter to the practice, copying in Peter Bone M.P., asking if patients will be able to see a doctor at the Bozeat surgery in future.

Casual vacancy – the Clerk reported that the required legal notice has been posted on our noticeboard and website, the closing date for requesting an election is the end of May, after which the council will be able to co-opt a new member.

Page 2132 – 15^th May 2023.

Mobile phone – Cllr Docker proposed that the Clerk be authorised to purchase a mobile phone for council use, this was unanimously agreed.

8. Council services.

Cemetery – Cllr Docker reported that she will review the cemetery policies and guidelines as several applications for memorials have not been covered by the current ones. A complaint has been received about the grass cutting contractors and it was resolved that Cllr Docker should arrange a meeting with the contractors to discuss issues of concern.  Cleaning of the war memorial has been requested.

Cemetery – applications for permission to place memorials/headstones in the cemetery – three received and approved.

Cemetery – to receive an update on any outstanding maintenance works [extension to Garden of Remembrance].

Cemetery – memorial inspections – noted that these will start tomorrow.

Allotments – a report was noted, as received. It was resolved to take no action regarding the gate from a private property into the allotments at this time.

Allotments – to receive an update on maintenance works [replacement noticeboard/replacement gate post/boot scrapers] – no update.

9. Local environment.

Highways – a report was noted, as received. The removal of a no cycling sign from Court Lane was discussed and it was agreed to submit a Street Doctor report.

Street lights – it was resolved to report a faulty light next to the bus shelter in London Road.

Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – Cllr Pritchard reported that she had contacted Rights of Way about the damaged stile at the bottom of the cemetery field.

Village Warden – no report received this month.

BEES Group – Cllr Morris reported that the areas removed from the mowing schedule are growing nicely and areas are being planted with wildflowers. The group would like to have a stall at the Fete to provide information and promote the planting of sunflowers etc. Costs of around £100 are expected for seeds, plants etc and it was agreed to add this to the agenda for the next meeting.

Litter bin outside the village shop – it was resolved to remove this item from the agenda.

St Mary’s Road verge – it was resolved to ask North Northants Council representatives to investigate if the land is to be transferred to the Parish Council or managed in a more wildlife-friendly way.

Verge mowing – a complaint that the verges on the St Mary’s Road estate had been missed by the contractors has now been resolved and the area cut. A complaint that the path running from Easton Lane to Mill Road has not been cut was discussed – it was noted that this is not verge nor does the land belong to the parish council, however the parish council has asked the contractors to cut it occasionally and borne the cost.  It was resolved that an Odd Job form be raised to get the area cut and a suitable reply send to the resident.

10. Planning.

Current/new planning applications – Cllr Morris proposed that a report [Appendix A] be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Docker and agreed.

11. Representatives’ reports.

Bozeat Playing Field Association – a report was read, as received.

Bozeat Primary School – Cllr Duckles reported that he had contacted the school to request a meeting with the headteacher. Cllr Docker suggested that the school be encouraged to have a stall at the village Fete to raise funds.

JAG and Police Liaison meetings – Cllr Docker reported that these two groups have been amalgamated.

Page 2133 – 15^th May 2023.

Public transport – Cllr Pollard reported that there have been no issues with the services.

NNC parish and ward meetings – it was noted that the next Town & Parish Forum will be on 18^th No date has yet to be received for a Ward meeting, agreed to suggest this should be before mid-June.

12. Santa Pod traffic issues.

The level of nuisance from traffic travelling to and from Santa Pod through Bozeat was debated and it was noted that the Parish Council receives very few complaints.  In order to gauge the level of nuisance and gather evidence, it was agreed that a leaflet be prepared and delivered to every home in the village asking that residents contact the Parish Council either by email or by letter.  The cost of this to be an agenda item for the next meeting.

It was further resolved to approve a letter to North Northants Council that Cllr Skittrall had prepared and that a list of proposals prepared by Cllrs Duckles and Morris be circulated to the full council.

13. New village hall.

Cllr Cooke reported that a meeting with the developers has been arranged for this week and more information will be available after then.

14. Police Report.

Crimes – no crimes were reported in the local area since the last meeting.

15. Local events.

6/7^th May 2023 – Coronation of HM King Charles III – it was noted that this was a good event and the bar and food sold out before the end. A letter of thanks received from Bozeat Playing Field was read as received.  It was resolved to send a letter of thanks to the W.I. for decorating the Village Green.  An annual event on the Village Green was suggested and it was resolved that this be considered.

12-14^th May 2023 – Waendel Walk checkpoint – noted that this was organised by Wellingborough Town Council. It was reported that the checkpoint was busier from around 10:30am and resolved that two people be on duty from that time next year.

15^th July 2023 – Annual Summer Fete – Cllr Pritchard proposed that a budget of up to £500 be set aside for the Fete, this was seconded by Cllr Duckles and agreed.

Christmas Tree – it was resolved to switch on the Christmas lights on 2^nd Cllr Morris to investigate the possibility of renting a tree, noting that it needs to be around 12-14 feet tall. A request for a memory tree was noted and it was resolved that the smaller, planted tree, could be used for that purpose.

16. Finance

Payments – Cllr Docker proposed that a report [Appendix B] and the payments listed on it be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and agreed.

Bozeat Playing Field Association request for funding towards the cost of providing bench seating [£3000]. Cllr Pritchard proposed that a virement of £3000 from the Cemetery Extension Fund be used to pay £3000 towards the cost of new benches at the playing field.  This was seconded by Cllr Duckles and agreed with 1 abstention.  It was further agreed to invite residents to sponsor a bench, possibly in memory of a loved one.

Village Green CCTV and planters – it was resolved to defer this item, pending additional information.

Audit of 2022-2023 accounts – Cllr Cooke proposed that the Internal Auditor’s report be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Morris and agreed. Section 1 of the Annual Return was then completed and approved.  The Accounting Statement in Section 2 of the Annual Return was then proposed as approved, by Cllr Docker, seconded by Cllr Cooke and agreed, with 1 abstention.

Page 2134 – 15^th May 2023.

17 Correspondence.

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

18. On hold agenda items.

1. 1. Emergency Plan review.
   2. Audit of local council adopted policies and procedures.
   3. Revision of policies and guidelines.
   4. Thank You event for village volunteers.
   5. Meet The Village event.
   6. Cemetery – repairs to railings.
   7. Cemetery – tree safety assessments.19.Items for the next agenda.

• Chairman’s expenses for previous year.20 Date and time of next meeting.

It was noted that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will take place on Monday, 19^th June 2023, 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, 19^th June 2023