Grendon Parish Council Clerk: Deborah Rush (01933) 663918 Email [email protected] www.grendon-pc.org.uk

In accordance with The Local Authorities & Police & Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority & Police & Crime Panel Meetings) ( & Wales) Regulations 2020 this meeting will be held by video conference call.

Minutes of the meeting of Grendon Parish Council held on Monday 8th February 2021 at 7.30pm by video conference call.

236. Open forum One member of the public attended to observe the meeting.

237. County & Ward Councillor Reports -To receive reports, from county and ward councillors if able to attend. CCllr Martin Griffiths attended the meeting and reported that NCC had been mainly focussed on the COVID-19 situation and the move towards unitary. He was very pleased with ’s exceptional response to the pandemic and the vaccine roll-out with Northants sitting at 4th in the country for vaccine distribution in groups 1-4, there was still a long way to go but they were confident this would continue if the supply held-up. He also reported that the elections will go ahead on the 6th of May 2021, in a COVID-19-secure way. He thought turn-out could be low which would be a shame and no door-to-door canvassing was permitted. Residents are very much encouraged to apply for postal votes which is a secure way to avoid the polling station. https://www.wellingborough.gov.uk/downloads/file/8643/postal_vote_application_form He also reported that the North Northants Unitary Authority budget was out for consultation and the new Children’s Trust was operational. Locally BCW had refurbished the multi-storey car park which should make visiting the town much more enjoyable and should encourage support of the local businesses once restrictions are lifted. The urban extensions at Stanton Cross & Glenvale Park continue at pace and the plans for a new primary school at Stanton Cross have just been approved. On the 31st of March 2021, The Borough Council of will cease to exist, but it will be leaving a strong legacy for the new unitary authority with strong capital reserves, a large property portfolio, no debt, and no borrowing to be handed over. He also mentioned a recent spate of doorstep selling in which is illegal under current restrictions, the police had been involved and he asked that any further instances be reported to him. Cllr Dow asked what was happening with the illegal encampment at Summer Leys?

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Cllr Griffiths advised that a joint enforcement effort with Kettering BC, Corby BC who have similar issues was underway. It had also been raised by our MP in Westminster as it was felt national action was required. Cllr Howell raised the issue of the pub and expressed his concern that with the move to unitary any change of use planning application might fall through the cracks. Cllr Griffiths reassured the council that most officers were moving to the new authority and that he would hope the new unitary authority would help when and if required. Cllr Denton thanked CCllr Griffiths for attending and for his ongoing support.

238. To receive and accept apologies for absence. Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllr Bailey. Present; Cllr Denton (Chairman), Cllr Blacklee, Cllr Butcher, Cllr Dow, Cllr Herron, Cllr Howell, Cllr Mason, Cllr Smith & the Clerk.

239. To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non-statutory disclosable interests from Councillors for items on the agenda. Cllr Mason declared an interest in planning item 245.1, NW/21/00017/FUL. He was permitted to remain in the room during its discussion.

240. To sign the minutes of the meeting held on 11th January 2021. The minutes of the meeting held on 11th January 2021were signed.

241. Police Matters - Monthly Crime Report - Noted Crime Statistics from Police Website www.police.co.uk November 2020 Crime On or near Blackmile Lane Criminal damage and arson (1) Includes damage to buildings and vehicles and deliberate damage by fire. Investigation complete; no suspect identified.

December 2020 Crime On or near Church Way Criminal damage and arson (1) Includes damage to buildings and vehicles and deliberate damage by fire. Under investigation

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Crime On or near Easton Way Anti-social behaviour (2) Includes personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. No crime timeline details for anti-social behaviour.

Criminal damage and arson (1) Includes damage to buildings and vehicles and deliberate damage by fire. Investigation complete; no suspect identified.

Twitter mentions – None

242.Matters arising from previous minutes - -Highways chased re verges Easton Way, response received 16.12.20 C/F -Blocked drains reported to street doctor, Church Cottage ref 2477447 (14.1.21 Investigating) The Clerk reported that an update had now been received on this, a works order had been issued for within 28 days. -Bank alongside playing field reported for cutting back, ref 2473711 (12.1.21 Thank you for your enquiry an inspection will be undertaken within the next 10 days) – NOTED C/F -Highways contacted re signage warning of flooding, response that needs reporting to Flood and Water Management Team for full investigation. This had been passed to the flood warden for completion. -Questionnaire to village? (Covered by Chairman’s report)

243. Chairman’s Report Including -Update solar farm proposal working party The Chairman confirmed that this group was due to meet via zoom next week. Some activity had been observed at the back of Hall Farm with soil sampling taking place over the last week. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact Statera Energy for an update. Action Clerk

-Update Half Moon community bid group, meeting held 21.1.21 Clarification from BCW that – Any application to change the use of the pub would still, in accordance with Policy 7 of the Joint Core Strategy, must demonstrate that the pub was: No longer viable No longer needed by the community it serves. The facility is not needed for any other community use or the facility is being relocated and improved.

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Cllr Denton reported that 2 meetings of the community bid group had now taken place and they were preparing evidence to support the refusal of a change of use if such an application were submitted. A chairman had been elected, Andy Burton, and various sub-groups had been appointed. He thanked Cllrs Herron & Smith for getting this off the ground. He felt that the support shown by residents was encouraging and he continued to have telephone and email conversations with the new owner Richard Pears who has informed him that some improvement work would be taking place in the pub and then a new tenant would be sought. Obviously, the current COVID-19 situation was likely to delay that. It was reported that some extensive surveying has taken place in recent days, the Chairman agreed to contact Mr Pears to ascertain what the purpose of this was. Action Cllr Denton

Cllr Smith reported that he had had a telephone conversation before the PC meeting with Andy Burton who had informed him that a constituted, unincorporated body, The Friends of the Half Moon would be being formed to submit a further Asset of Community Value Nomination & as a vehicle to run a possible social club at the Village Hall. He gave a little more detail about the sub-groups for the benefit of the councillors who were not involved. -Sub-group to explore viability of pub, formulating a business plan which would be needed if a change of use application is made. -Sub-group to submit further Asset of Community Value Nomination. (Cllr Denton explained to the council that even if this were approved by BCW it did not mean that the community bid would have to be accepted by the owner, all it would do, would be to delay a sale by 6 months whilst a bid was pulled together and that care should be taken not to jeopardise the relationship with the current owner). -Sub-group to look at Village Club in the village hall as an interim place for residents to gather. -Sub-to look at structure of running a community pub if a bid was made and accepted. -Sub-group to deal with communications / questionnaire to residents about what they would like to see the pub become.

Following discussion, it was agreed that a copy of the council’s previous refused application should be made available to the ACV sub-group, noting that the process has now been changed to encourage the evidence to be gathered before submission and then submitted with the form. When the previous submission was made the council were only given a week to do this, so it only contained the details the councillors were able to come up with, not evidence gathered from others. A very robust letter had been received from Charles’ Well’s solicitors stating that there was insufficient evidence to justify registering it as an ACV and BCW had refused the application.

It was agreed that the Parish Council would in principle, support the new application subject to seeing it before submission.

Cllr Denton reported that Gigaclear, a company that provides fibre broadband will be installing fibre cables in the village which will improve internet connections, although there would be some disruption whilst the infrastructure was laid.

244. Accounts

244.1 Income - NOTED. Interest £ 0.19 Allotment fees £175

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244.2 Expenditure

Grendon Parish Council Payment schedule 8.2.21

Date Chq No Payee Amount Vat Payable under power including VAT

5.1.21 DDR Total Gas & Power £ 120.06 £ 5.71 Highways Act 1980 s.301 26.1.21 DDR Total Gas & Power £ 134.05 £ 6.36 Highways Act 1980 s.301 29.1.21 1645 Unity Trust £ 500.00 LGA 1972, s.111 8.2.21 1646 D Rush £ 428.90 LGA 1972, s.112 8.2.21 PAYE £ 1.60 LGA 1972, s.112 1.2.21 1647 HMRC £14.20 LGA 1972, s.112

*Where payment is made under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Council is satisfied that the benefit is commensurate with the amount.

The balance in the Current Account stands at £ £11,570.69 (assuming all cheques presented). The balance in the Business premium account stands at £22,040.82. The balance in the Unity Trust new account stands at £500. It was proposed and resolved that all invoices as listed should be paid. Action Clerk

244.3 To approve bank reconciliation, 7.1.21 (Appendix 1) It was proposed and resolved that this be approved.

244.4 Application forms for internet banking being processed by Unity Trust - NOTED

245. Planning 245.1 Applications Received. Application No. NW/21/00017/FUL Proposal: Single storey rear extension & removal of an internal wall between existing breakfast room & lobby. Location: 57 Main Road, Grendon, Northants, NN7 1JW https://publicaccess.wellingborough.gov.uk/online- applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=QMRFLPRBL1N00 It was proposed and resolved that Grendon Parish Council make the following comments to this planning application- ‘No objections’

245.2 Applications Determined. Application Number: WP/20/00671/FUL - Application Permitted - NOTED 68

80 Main Road Grendon Northamptonshire NN7 1JW Proposed rear and side extension. https://publicaccess.wellingborough.gov.uk/online- applications/files/FDF042412807B25E04D40C07B681DBDF/pdf/WP_20_00671_FUL- DECISION_NOTICE-346523.pdf

Application Number: WP/20/00686/FUL - Application Permitted with conditions - NOTED. 38 Blackmile Lane Grendon Northampton Northamptonshire NN7 1JR First floor rear extension detached single garage and a front porch extension. https://publicaccess.wellingborough.gov.uk/online- applications/files/DDD3353526D823C9D7453D69B070DFF9/pdf/WP_20_00686_FUL- DECISION_NOTICE-348284.pdf

Application Number: WP/20/00650/FUL - Application Permitted - NOTED 3 The Knoll, Grendon, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN7 1JG Proposed car port, alterations to driveway/access and conversion of existing garages to games room/gym AMENDED PLANS https://publicaccess.wellingborough.gov.uk/online- applications/files/DE15404FF3056ACEFD363B96C12D3F55/pdf/WP_20_00650_FUL- DECISION_NOTICE-350719.pdf

246. Playing field - To receive completed risk assessments. Cllr Howell reported that the slide appears to have been hit with a large rock or a hammer and has been dented. Whilst this is not a hazard it was disappointing that this sort of vandalism had taken place. It was agreed that this would be reported to the police and residents asked to be vigilant in the next edition of the Grendon Times. Action Clerk He also reported that the recent filling of the holes around the goal mouths had stayed in place but would need some grass seed once the growing season re-commenced. Cllr Herron was thanked for filling these. Cllr Howell also asked about the new ‘No Dog’ signage, he agreed to fit these.

247. Allotments -Update untended plot (4), Cllr Smith speaking to tenant Cllr Smith advised that the tenant was planning to cultivate the plot, the outstanding fees would therefore be requested. Action Clerk -All tenants contacted re hedge work date - NOTED Hedge work postponed until ¾ March 2021.- NOTED.

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-Invoices issued to all tenants. (Plots 4,6,10 outstanding). The Clerk advised that fees for plot 10 had now been received, plot 6 was not being renewed and plot 4 fees were still outstanding. The tenant of plot 6 had been asked to remove all his property ASAP. -Update Cllr Herron re greenhouse, plot 5 Cllr Herron had inspected the footings for this, and whilst the tenant had acknowledged that permission from the council should have been sought before these were laid, they were prepared to lodge a deposit with the council so that if they did not renew their tenancy the council would be able to remove them without cost to the council. It was agreed that this would be acceptable, and that permission be given for the erection of the greenhouse subject to a £250 deposit. It was agreed that consideration should be given to taking a deposit from all tenants in the future as too many leave their plots in an unusable state when they vacate. C/F -Update Cllr Blacklee re rubbish clearance. Cllr Blacklee advised that the rubbish could be cleared for a cost of £270 (3 days labouring cost) plus the cost of the skip £235 + VAT. It was agreed that this should be organised as soon as possible so that the contractors can proceed with the hedge work booked for early March. Action Cllr Blacklee The previous tenant of plot 7, and who still has another plot would be asked to remove his old chicken shed ASAP. Action Clerk

248. Emergency Plan

-To update, as necessary. Some updates to contact details were made. Action Clerk

249. Update from Clerk Local Government Reorganisation Q&A - attended 19.1.21. The Clerk reported that she had attended this virtual event that had been hosted by NCALC and at which the new North Northants Chief Executive Rob Bridge answered questions on the new authority. He very much wants to work with the Parish & Town councils but was not convinced the elections would go ahead on the 6th of May (although it has now been confirmed that they will). The new shadow authority is ‘ready to go’ and Rob Bridge very much wants to rebuild trust and reputation of the principal authority after the bad press received in recent years.

250.Correspondence Issued (in addition to listed above)

Precept demand submitted to BCW (receipt acknowledged). New bank account details need to be advised - NOTED.

251. Correspondence Received (in addition to listed above)

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25.1.21 Request from resident & offer of help re pocket park (situation with Copse explained in response)- NOTED.

Facebook message re flooding Blackmile Lane - NOTED

25.1.21 Highways bulletin (forwarded 25.1.21) - NOTED.

25.1.21 Details of Supporting Independence Programme - Public Health This will be publicised in the Grendon Times.

26.1.21 Cogenhoe & Whiston Parish Council re reduction in service of Village Hopper due to pandemic& confirmation of £10k grant from South Northants Council - NOTED

29.1.21 NCALC e-update (forwarded 2.2.21). Cllr Howell raised the subject of an energy broker mentioned in this, Clerk to check the fixed term contract dates. Action Clerk

252. Information for the Chairman (no legal decision can be made on this information)

Cllr Smith advised that he had had a conversation with the Chairman of the Village Hall Committee who had advised that 4 of the 8 trustees were stepping down at the AGM in March. He had advised the Community Bid sub-group who are looking into a Village Club of this, and it was hoped they may be able to also fulfil these roles. The vacancies will be advertised in the Grendon Times. Action Clerk He also questioned if some sort of litter pick could take place in March/April in a COVID-19-secure way. It was agreed he would investigate this. Action Cllr Smith

Cllr Smith advised that the bridge at Easton Maudit seems to be constantly flooded. It was agreed that the Clerk would report this to Highways for investigation. Action Clerk

The Clerk advised that she had received an email to say that the twinning with Bois Bernard was being ended due to the age of the usual supporters, the COVID-19 situation and Brexit implications.

The Clerk advised that she had received an email complaining about work on Saturday afternoon at 15 Chequers Lane, this would be reported, but the resident had also been asked to do this as it would be better coming directly from the affected party.

253. Meeting Closed and date of next meeting -

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.15pm.

Date of next meeting Monday 8th March 2021 7.30pm, Council Meeting.

Deborah Rush Clerk 9.2.21

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Appendix 1

Bank reconciliation 7.1.21

Total receipts £ 20,743.29 less Total payments £ 18,171.67

Plus opening balances £ 32,117.04

£ 34,688.66

Bank accounts

Current AC £ 13,568.84 plus Business Prem AC £ 22,040.82 Plus credits not yet showing £ 70.00

£ 35,679.66 Less unpresented cheques

1637 replaced 1641 WA Handyman Services £ 77.00 1640 Wellingboro Norse £ 196.80 1642 Countrywide - hedge £ 297.60 1643 D Rush £ 330.40 PAYE £ 1.60 1644 Aylesbury Mains £ 87.60 £ 991.00 £991.00

£ 34,688.66

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