Minutes of the Kensworth Parish Council Meeting

Minutes of the Kensworth Parish Council Meeting held at Kensworth Methodist Hall on Thursday 8th June 2017

Present: Chairman P Mitchell, Parish Councillors G Blackburn & P Woods, Clerk Maxine Whiting, 2 members of the public

1. APOLOGIES Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Parish Cllr I Lowery, J Murray, J Bradley and Ward Cllrs K Collins & R Stay.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declaration of interests.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held 11th May 2017 were a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

4. PROGRESS UPDATE FROM LAST MEETING Currently pay £23.23 to Cawleys a week for village hall bin rental & emptying. Clerk received a cheaper quote of £17.16 from Biffa. Currently in a contract with Cawleys until December 2017 due to annual waste transfer payment in January, however they have agreed to better the Biffa quote and offered £15/week. Clerk will sign new contract for cheaper price to start immediately. CBC highways have inspected The Chilterns paved area. All priority trip hazards were made safe and slabs outside 52 lifted and grass seeded as requested by the resident. The issue with over grown weeds has been passed to new Waste Services officer for Kensworth, Sabby Nagy. He thinks that that the parish council are able to weed spray the area using their own contractor, but will check with Joe Pitt who is on holiday until Monday. Either way, he will arrange for CBC to weed spray if still their responsibility, or notify the Clerk so she can request Village Garden Services to take action. Clerk emailed Police regarding issues and evidence given but not yet received a response. Luton Airport emailed a Kensworth Community Noise Report which was forwarded to Cllrs 25th May. Will Holloway, CBC Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, has taken over the enforcement case CB/EN/0044 for 6-7 Red Cow Cottages which has led to the recent submission of planning application CB/17/01881which should go some way to resolve the breach of planning control at the site. Planning Officer Nicola Darcy has been made aware of this and also received the parish council objections, but a decision has not yet been made on the application.

5. CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLOR No applications have been received. Parish Council will continue to advertise the vacancy.

6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Overhanging hedge 99 Common Road. Clerk to report to CBC highways as this is an ongoing issue. CBC to investigate if hedge is owned by property or highways. Suggest removal as not maintained. Pot holes in Poplar Road and Maple Way. Cllr Lowery to include on highways walkabout. Parking on grass verges. Include article in Parish Link and also highways walkabout.

7. POLICE Clerk circulated Police crime data spreadsheets link to Councillors. 12 offences reported in May. Invitation received from Beds Police to attend an engagement evening at Dunstable Police Station on 13th July. Unfortunately this is the same evening as the July parish council meeting, however Vice Chair Ian Lowery has agreed to attend this meeting and convey the parish council’s issues and request an update on actions being taken in Kensworth following recent open sessions and information provided by residents.

8. CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL Ward Cllr Collins and Stay had given apologies due to general elections.

9. PLANNING CB/17/02305/FULL Kingsclere, Common Road, Kensworth, Dunstable, LU6 2PN Proposed redevelopment of existing stables to a detached four bed bungalow and erection of detached carport. No Comment.

1 Signed by Presiding Chairman ------13th July 2017 Minutes of the Kensworth Parish Council Meeting held at Kensworth Methodist Hall on Thursday 8th June 2017

CB/17/02647/FULL 204 Common Road, Kensworth, Dunstable, LU6 2PJ Part two storey part single storey rear extension. No Comment. CB/17/02225/FULL 61 Common Road, Kensworth, Dunstable, LU6 3RH Two storey front, side and rear and single storey side extensions to dwelling No Comment. CB/16/03979 Land adj The Bays, Common Road LU5 2PW Appeal received Appeal ref APP/P0240/W/17/3173358 No Comment.

10. HIGHWAYS ISSUES Vice Chairman Ian Lowery has arranged a village walkabout with Central Beds Council highways officers to discuss highways and footpath maintenance issues on 24th July. There has also been an issue with missing manhole covers in Kensworth and many other villages and towns in Bedfordshire. CBC are aware of this and dealing with these as an emergency.

11. CHAIRMAN REPORT I received an email, concerning the new fence erected down FP3 by the owners of 92 Common Road. The original fence was erected approx. 1971 and falling down and overrun with weeds, which we cleared two/three years ago and redid the steps at the bottom of the path. It would appear that the owners drew a straight line from the garden fence down to the gate and erected a railed fence. The new fence encroaches the footpath by approx. 18 inches. Residents have complained to CBC Footpath Officer Michelle Flynn and she will visit the site and deal with. Also reported to me by residents is new activity on the land rear of lane to 92 Common Road into footpath 3. Dumping of topsoil and rubbish has taken place on the field raising the level in a larger area of the field. He has also put cattle in the field. I have received calls from residents concerned about the fly tipping in Dovehouse Lane & Isle Of Wight Land, general litter left by groups of youths loitering close to the sawmills and a burnt out car. There is a group of youngsters in the village, who appear to be causing ASB issues in the village. Also issues with youths leaving food debris and broken glass by the seats at the rear of the hall. Hedge on recreation field bordering the pavement needs cutting. This should have been cut by contractor end of April but will now have to wait until early September due to bird nesting season. Fence between The Chilterns and allotments is damaged and people getting in & turning on water taps. Reported to CBC housing to make repairs. BRCC Simon Patterson has advised that their Good Neighbour Scheme now has a steering group and held 2 meetings making the scheme viable. A relaunch is imminent.

12. CORRESPONDENCE CBC Casual Vacancy Kensworth Councillor, proceed to Co-opt Village Hall booking confirmation for meeting dates 2017-18 HMRC VAT refund payment paid directly by BACS BATPC AGM 19th October – email fwd Cllrs 5/6 Beds Police June 2017 newsletter – email fwd Cllr 5/6

13. AUTHORISATION OF PAYMENTS It was RESOLVED by full council to authorise the following accounts for payment and two authorised signatories were instructed to sign the below cheques: 01/06/2017 DD BT Village Hall CCTV £ 27.00 01/06/2017 SO Maxine Whiting Clerk salary & expenses £ 620.00 08/06/2017 102006 Maxine Whiting Clerk balance salary & expenses £ 105.04 08/06/2017 102007 Bedfordshire Pension Fund Pension contributions £ 227.58 08/06/2017 102008 HMRC PAYE & NI £ 165.93 08/06/2017 102009 Anthony Bishun Litter picking £ 111.60 08/06/2017 102010 Village Garden Services Invoice May 0226 £ 713.30 30/06/2017 DD Cawleys Village Hall Bin Emptying £ 111.50 14. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION IN “THE PARISH LINK” Highways issues, Councillor vacancy, Parking on pavements/grass verges. Meeting closed at 8:25pm.

2 Signed by Presiding Chairman ------13th July 2017