An ordinary meeting of Shillington Parish Council was held on Tuesday 1st September 2020 at 7.30pm online using Zoom.

Members Present: Mrs Sally Stapleton (Chair) Mr John Clark (Vice Chair) Miss Tracey Petrie Mr Derek Turner Mr Mark Thyne Rev’d Angus McCormick (left at 20:15) Mr David Mott Mr John Hyde Mr Tony Howells Ms Alison Graham

Also present: Helen Smith (Clerk to the Council).

1) There were no apologies for absence.

2) There were no declarations of interest.

3) The minutes of the following meetings were approved and signed: a) Ordinary meeting held 4th August 2020.

4) There were no matters arising not covered by the agenda. It was reported that the Musgrave Arms pub is currently up for let. It was noted that this is listed as an Asset of Community Value with Central Council.

The meeting was not adjourned for public comments as there were no members of public present.

5) Planning: a) (For information only) Decisions from Council: i) CB/20/01994/FULL – 3 Chibley Cottages, Road, Shillington. 2 storey side extension. GRANTED 30/07/20 ii) CB/20/01758/FULL – 2 Upton End Road, Shillington. Provision of new pitched roof 2 x dormer windows. GRANTED 30/07/20 iii) CB/20/01333/FULL – Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Road, . Installation of a chiller and associated fencing. GRANTED 11/08/20 iv) CB/TCA/20/00333 – Land to rear of 33a High Road, Shillington. Works to Trees Within a Conservation Area: reduce crown by 25% at a maximum 2-3m radial spread and height of Horse Chestnut Tree (T1), remove all major deadwood over 50m diameter in size and coppice Horse Chestnut Tree (T2) to previous points. GRANTED 11/08/20 v) CB/20/01998/FULL - 7 Bedford Close, Shillington. Demolition of existing garage. Construction of two storey side and single storey side and rear extensions. Formation of additional parking bay. GRANTED 12/08/20 vi) CB/20/02502/FULL – Mill Haven, Shillington Mill, Shillington Road, Gravenhurst. Erection of a new outbuilding with home office and gym. WITHDRAWN 14/08/20 vii) CB/TCA/20/00360 – 3 Scyttels Court, Shillington. Works to Tree in a Conservation Area: Fell to ground level a Silver Maple tree located in the garden. GRANTED 20/08/20

b) New / Revised Applications to be considered: i) CB/20/02739/FULL – Land adjacent to 129 Bury Road, Shillington. To construct a single 3 bedroom detached chalet. SUPPORT, unanimous. ii) CB/20/02901/LB – The Old Rectory, Higham Road, Higham Gobion, Hitchin, SG5 3HR. Listed Building: Demolition of attached single storey garage; two storey front & side extensions (over part existing footprint at side); single storey rear front, side & rear extensions; first & second floor alterations; new garden wall and gates; & residential oil tank and boiler store behind garden wall. SUPPORT, unanimous.

c) Planning Appeals: i) (For information only) APP/P0240/W/20/3245286 – Appeal by Lancot Developments Ltd regarding application CB/19/03476/OUT – Land off Gravenhurst Road, Shillington. APPEAL DISMISSED

8) Report of Central Bedfordshire Councillor: Central Bedfordshire Ward Member Alison Graham gave a verbal report which included the following: • Updates on planning applications discussed at previous meetings: Sadly the application to remove a Silver Maple tree from a property in Scyttels Court had been approved. The application to alter the roof and windows of a property in Upton End Road which would have impacted on the privacy of the neighbouring property was amended to address the privacy issue and has now been granted.

• Under the “Planning for the Future” White Paper Central Bedfordshire Council will have 42 months in which to rewrite its Local Plan. Land has to be classified under three types: Growth – where development is appropriate (e.g. ); Renewal – where gentle infill would be allowed; Protection – where development should not be undertaken (e.g. SSIs). There is also an obligation that all new homes must be Zero Carbon ready. • The Transition period for Brexit ends on 1 January 2021 and as there is currently no detail on the Tariff regimes that will be in place this could have an impact on the Environmental Health enforcement, Trading Standards and Environmental protection activities of the Council. • The EU has historically funded areas of the UK which are considered to be poor. Whilst Central Bedfordshire is not within this category, the Council has benefitted from EU funding as a result of its excellent economic results. Post Brexit this will no longer be available but there is going to be a Government-funded UK Shared Prosperity Fund instead. There are no details yet on how this will work or the amounts available.

9) Finance: a) The Clerk reported that the insurance company had agreed to pay for a replacement street lamp column on Hillfoot Road and the Council would therefore need to pay only the £250 excess on the claim. b) Cllr Stapleton declared an interest and did not take part in the vote. It was unanimously agreed to reimburse Cllr Stapleton for the cost of top soil and plants used by volunteers in the War Memorial garden in the sum of £30.00.

10) Shillington Memorial Playing Field: a) Councillors involved in watering the seeded area gave an update on the grass. The area was still patchy with rosette weeds which will prevent the grass from growing. It was felt that the area needed selective weed killer to kill these weeds and then additional seeding and rolling. There was a discussion about the quality of the imported top soil and the Clerk was asked to request copies of any certification / documentation from Mr Granger. b) The Clerk updated that she had made contact with the sign company who had some queries about the artwork required on the signs in order to provide the quotation. In the meantime the temporary signs would need replacing. c) It was noted that a complaint received from resident regarding trees on bank at playing field. This had been referred to Playing Field Management Committee.

11) Hornes Pasture a) Council reviewed the License Fee for Hornes Pasture for year commencing 1st January 2021 and agreed that the amount should remain at £750 per year. It was also agreed that any additional works requested by AFC Shillington would be at their own cost. b) Council discussed the correspondence from AFC Shillington regarding use of field by the community and other groups. It was agreed that golf practice on the fields was not safe however it was also noted that Hornes Pasture is a community facility and the user license held by AFC Shillington is for the football pitch on Hornes Pasture not for the whole field. c) Council discussed the request for use of Hornes Pasture for Walking Hockey and in principal was in favour of this activity. The Clerk would contact the organiser to obtain further details.

12) Council Acting as Trustees for Shillington Car Park Charity a) Resolution: It was unanimously agreed to accept the annual report for year ending 31 March 2020. b) Council discussed the concerns raised by local residents of subsidence and deterioration of the surface from photographs provided by the Clerk. It was agreed for a group of Councillors to visit the site to look in more detail and report back to Council.

13) Council Acting as Trustees for War Memorial, Shillington a) Resolution: It was unanimously agreed to accept the annual report for year ending 31 March 2020.

14) New Community Building a) The Chair gave an update on new Community Building project. The Charity Commission has requested historic documents detailing the public consultation that was undertaken as part of the project.

15) Review of Council Contracts a) The Clerk advised she is in the process of drafting a new grass cutting contract based on a template from a neighbouring Parish Council. She will circulate this for comment.

16) Highways:

a) Response awaited from CBC Highways regarding overgrown hedge on High Road. Clerk to chase. Cllr Mott reported that he had seen a person with a pushchair walking in the road due to the obstruction.

17) Dog Waste complaints a) Response awaited from CBC Environmental Services regarding location of new dog waste bin on Hanscombe End Road. Clerk to chase. b) Response awaited from CBC regarding report of dog waste on footpath off Upton End Road. Clerk to chase.

18) Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Planning Consultations Council briefly discussed the following NALC consultations but no resolutions were made: a) Changes to the current planning system b) Planning for the future c) Transparency and competition: a call for evidence on data on land control

19) Accounts for Payment: Resolution: It was proposed by Cllr Derek Turner, seconded by Cllr Alison Graham and unanimously agreed to make payments per the list with the exception of the invoice 15942 to MJ Granger Grounds Maintenance due to ongoing concerns about the quality of the work and the top soil imported to the site.

Invoice Total Total Payable to Payment Details VAT Number (net) (gross) D J Granger Cut grass War Memorial INV-020738 Grounds 19.46 3.89 Maintenance Ltd Cut grass Villages INV-020777 470.90 94.18 Cut grass War Memorial INV-020787 19.46 3.89 Cut grass War Memorial INV-020821 19.46 3.89 £635.13 MJ Granger Removal of tennis court and seed Grounds 15942 Maintenance Ltd 5100.00 1020.00 £6,120.00 Lonsdale Direct Printing Parish News Aug 20 244037 - Solutions 442.00 £442.00 - Cleaning Bus Shelters A Complete - £28.00 Cleaning Service 28.00 Mrs S Stapleton - Reimbursement for materials for - £30.00 War Memorial garden 30.00 Clerk - Salary, expenses etc - £712.60 712.60

Significant receipts during the month: HMRC - VAT Refund £18,610.59 Central Bedfordshire Council – Precept (second half) £19,000.00

Comments / Items for next agenda: • It was noted that the bollard on the junction of Church Street and Hillfoot Road has been damaged again. • Cllr Howells reported that the post box and the telephone box in had been stolen.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21:26

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