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Melchbourne and Yelden Parish Council Chairman: Mrs. Helen Bone Clerk: Mrs. Cheryl Ellis Tel: 01933 314365

Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday 19 September 2018 in Yelden Village Hall at 8.00pm.

Please note that the public and press were excluded from item 18.120

Present: Borough Councillor Towler (MT) (late another meeting), Councillors Mackonochie (RM), Morgan (FM) & Sizer (PS). Councillor Bone was in the Chair (HB). There were three members of the public present.

18.99 Apologies for absence. . Councillors Franklin (AF) (unwell), Paynter (SP) (another engagement) & Prescott (PP) (work meeting).

18.100 Requests to grant dispensation for disclosable pecuniary interest. . None.

18.101 Declarations of Interest in any agenda item. . None.

18.102 Approval of Minutes of 18 July 2018 meeting. . Already circulated by email and signed as correct. PS/RM resolved unanimous.

18.103 Correspondence for discussion. . Anglian Water Pumping Station, . Appearance of site, foliage screening & recently fenced off area. Report from HB - works should complete by end November. Earth mounds to go in, grassed, shrubbery planted, trees to pumping station to be topped by RKR Estates & contractors Bentleys agreed to cover costs. Highways monitoring. . Installation of defibrillators. Installation dates confirmed 1 & 2 October. Then notify ambulance service & arrange training. . Review of site appearance & hedge damage at cabinet site Melchbourne. Meeting to be arranged, BT & BBC in October. . Property damage & crime statistics. Data reports & incidents. 1 attempted theft. . Police Parish Priority Setting meeting 14th August - report from FM. Rural crime, aggravation, hare coursing, Gypsy & Travelling community in vicinities. Speeding. Concentration of crime 43 cases in . FM thanked for attending. . Parish & Town Council Network. Next meeting 13 November. PS still hoping to attend. Thanked. No suggestions or topics for stands. . Community Orange Sack distribution. Sourcing boxes for a supply. AF not present. . To note interim report from MT August 2018. Consultation re closure of Putnoe Walk centre (subsequently suspended): Network Rail plans for east/west rail link Oxford to , Bedford to Cambridge (mid 2020s): plans to reconfigure Black Cat roundabout delayed to align with A1 improvements: BBC £307k Govt funding for homeless services for staff & accommodation: increase 22% in knife crime, Beds Police initiatives to reassure public & initiatives to reduce monitor & awareness. TY. . Commemorative event 11 November 2018 to mark end of WW1. Progress, permissions from both church wardens, installation SP & RKR Estates will install without charge under professional businesses. Funding agreed BBC ward funds for £500. To consider purchasing ceramic poppies for silhouettes £20 × 2 MT agreed 2

from Ward Fund (clerk). Note, Diocese of St Albans advising may be positioned in church yards without faculty permission, just need Archdeacon letter of agreement. At present Yelden agree outside church gates, Melchbourne outside church yard. . Annual Parish Council Conference, Police & Crime Commissioner 13th September, Shefford. Report from FM - disappointed as low attendance, requested all PCs contact MPs (Philip Hammond better) to complain Beds Police 2nd lowest funded force in country. MYPC felt achieve little. Northants take on 1,000 specials but many quickly left, not successful. Police 2nd best in country for solving crime, 3 times as many crime calls but same staffing. Rural Op-sentinel team including Crime Stoppers/NFU new rural crime number 0800 783 0137, scheme monitoring rural crime & targeting hare coursing etc. PCC - improving force, 5 times more work, no more funding, officer numbers down. FM thanked for attending. . Litter Pick 2019 - suggested suitable dates 6 April or following week. KIV village co-ordinators. . BATPC AGM 18 October, , no-one able to attend. No topics suggested. . Noted: revised National Planning Policy Framework now published. . Environment Agency Flood & Costal Erosion feedback - circulated to PC & Yelden Flood Group. No PC suggestions. . Small amendments to Standing Orders as recommended by NALC 2018. Data protection not need to appoint officer & financial controls include list of approved suppliers. Resolved unanimous, adopt revisions. . Late addition, invitation to meeting with Alistair Burt Saturday 10 November for PCs, HB will try to go. Thanked.

18.104 Police briefing from PC Kerry Jones. . PC responsible for Parish area (Group 4) to discuss local issues. Arranged shift to attend, directive from Police, all serving officers needed for operations. Sincere apologies, try to attend November meeting. Noted.

18.105 Speeding. . Police speeding data for Melchbourne & Yelden. Report from FM. Meeting AP Highways 19/9, will install posts & happy with positions. Positions proposed: Melchbourne: 1. South, footpath by nursery school just inside 30 mph. 2. North, past 30mph start, 200yds on RHS before junction. Yelden: 1. By Trailly Close. 2. By Kitts Barn (Riverside) on lamp post. Purchase of 4 speed cameras, two quotes TWM £8,800 & Morelock &9,692 plus VATs. Morelock longer warranty 2 yrs, changeable signage message, training provided, track record as used in other villages eg , quote preferred. Resolved unanimous apply to CRE Trust fund for £9,692 to purchase 4 cameras from Morelock. (RM to review) Purchase price includes 4 spare batteries (rechargeable), posts, charging units, download software. Councillor Morgan thanked for lots of hard work. Noted D & S PC & other villages also interested in cameras, FM & MT to liaise.

18.106 Church Lane, Yelden - anti-social behaviour. . Legal process & possibility of Traffic Order. Highways investigations concluded, historically a carriageway but lawfully stopped up, vehicle & carriage usage since WW2 unlawful. Writing to those raising concerns advising intending to proceed with order. If no further representations, to book hearing at Magistrates Court.

18.107 Correspondence for information only. . BATPC Bugle for September 2018 sent by email & marketing literature on table.

18.108 Planning. . 18/00253/UNAUTU (Previously14/00103/UNAUTU) Lot 3 at Tall Oaks Farm, Melchbourne Road, Riseley, Beds. Unauthorised use investigation by Planning 3

Enforcement. Site ownership changed. Fresh Enforcement Notice & injunction served. Planning Enforcement visiting site, confirmed not near oil pipeline. Monitoring. . 16/00431/UNDEV, Primrose Nurseries, Swineshead Road, Melchbourne. Unauthorised use investigation re containers on site & Enforcement case remains open. 18/00280/S73A retrospective planning permission, retention of existing container building & installation of external timber cladding & windows/doors. Notice served, all works to be completed by 31 December 2018 as per permission. Monitoring. . 14/00392/UNAUTU Hill Farm, Melchbourne Road, Riseley. Permission for erection of agricultural machinery store. Investigation re right to live on land. Planning Enforcement Notice now served. Appeal to Planning Inspectorate ref: APP/K0235/C/18/3192535 - decision 21/5/18 appeal dismissed & Enforcement Notice upheld. Applicants must comply with EN requirements within 6 months. Monitoring. . 18/01138/FUL The Old Post Office, Spring Lane, Yelden. Single storey porch extension, conversion of store to annexe with single storey link extension & external alterations including flue. MYPC supported. Application withdrawn by applicant.. . 18/01616/FUL 6, Stanbrook Way, Yelden. Conversion of existing integral double garage with internal & external alterations to provide Granny Annexe ancillary to the main dwelling. MYPC resolved, supported. BBC permission granted. . 18/00014/WASVOC (NCC) Westwood AD Plant, Bedford Road, Rushden. Variation of Condition 20 (visual amenity) of planning consent ref: 17/00048/WASVOC to alter an approved drawing. Replacement and upgrade of emergency flare. MYPC no comments. NCC permission granted. . Late addition: Local Plan 2030 new consultation. site no longer included. Development now centred around A421 with road upgrade proposed & other infrastructure. Developing E/W rail links. Responses to previous consultation still valid. MYPC noted, no further comments.

18.109 Poultry Buildings & Farm. . 18/01284/FUL (ENC), land: North east of Westwood AD Plant, Bedford Road. Rushden. Construction & operation of a broiler rearing unit with six linked poultry buildings & ancillary structures comprising fifteen grain silos, three crumb feed silos, three feed blending houses, two water tanks with an associated pump house, two gas storage tanks, an electricity substation, switch room & standby generator with fuel tank, weigh room, welfare block, cold store & incinerator, boiler house & storage building, security gatehouse & associated hardstanding with boundary fencing, landscape, planting & flood attenuation works & upgrading of existing anaerobic digestion plant access road (revised scheme to 17/01328/FUL). Additional application information, 79 documents covering many aspects as previous application withdrawn. MYPC concerns expressed. ENC decision pending.

18.110 The Chequers Inn, Yelden. Planning Application. . 18/00949/FUL The Chequers Inn, High Street, Yelden. Proposed extensions & alterations to Public House & residential development of 4 dwellings consisting of 2 three bed & 2 four bed dwellings with associated parking & access. MYPC no objections. BBC decision pending. Resolved unanimous: request a decision from BBC as PC & community waiting.

18.111 Plastic Recycling & Recovery Facility. . 18/0006/WASFUL (NCC), Upper Higham Lane, Rushden. Construction of Plastic recycling & Recovery Facility involving the conversion of waste plastic by pyrolysis into diesel, petrol & liquid petroleum gas. MYPC objected (majority decision 6/1 by email). NCC decision pending. . Meeting with Environment Agency & applicant 19/7 to discuss environmental issues etc. Report from FM. EA comprehensive assessment, strong controls proposed. Traffic 4

movement figures needed more analysis. Subsequently provided showing 10.5k extra movements. Issues raised re road maintenance, widening, accidents. 2 sites in Australia, 20 tonnes plastic processed to diesel & petrol fuel. Bonded warehouse. £80m to be invested in building but not investing in road improvements. Proposals likely to go ahead. FM thanked for attending.

18.112 Chelveston Airfield. . Community Fund Four Parishes Trust. Report from RM - next meeting October.

18.113 Finance Approval granted for the following payments RM/PS (signed FM/HB) unanimous: . Clerk’s salary for period 19/07/18 to 19/09/18 £550.00. (L.G.A. '72 s.112) . Clerk’s expenses £11.99. (s.112) . Rental - Yelden Village Hall Sept '18 £10.00. (L.G.A. '72 s.133) . Ladywell Accountancy Services bookkeeping 2018/19 £45.00 (L.G.A. '72 s.112) . RK Richardson Estates grass cuts 1 & 2 £1,456.80 (Highways Act '80 s.96) . RK Richardson Estates Yelden Common Land grass cut £170.40 (s.96) . To note: grass cutting budget £3,324.46 & 2nd Precept £2,941.50 received.  Clerk reported bank reconciliations on all accounts completed successfully, entries and reconciliations verified by PS:  Current Account £12,676.94 ( Projected £16,688.71).  Current Account Payments £ 800.00  Reserve A/C (Allotments) £ 1,420.73  Reserve A/C (R. Til) £ 12,242.55

18.114 Grass cutting contract. . Cutting in both villages, next cut to be end month.

18.115 Highways. . Melchbourne. To receive a report from RM. Park Road, drains blocked. Requesting Highways flush through. MT to chase Rickie Dawkes for arranged annual flush through autumn/winter. . Melchbourne road closure St John & leak repairs AW. Report HB. Complaint re full road closure, traffic light installed for final works. Completed. . Melchbourne: drainage & flooding problems in Knotting Road. Report from HB, To chase Ollie, talking to owner re willow roots. . Melchbourne, progress re dead silver birch. BBC will inspect & remove. . Yelden. SP not present. Nothing reported. . Yelden. Progress clearance access & repair to Spring Lane pipe work. Chase BBC. . Street lights. Progress re survey from BBC engineers, nothing new to report. . Yelden Allotments, Anglian Water trees very high, overhanging & dangerous. Some fallen branches. Chased AW, two separate site visits. MYPC to request formally, reduce to manageable level. Request, remove logs & debris. HB to find contact from AW site. Write again. . Emptying of public bins, Yelden. Emptied last collection. Monitoring. . . 18.116 Ward Councillor Funding. . Suggestions & projects for 2018/19, budget £700 per PC. Silent Soldier silhouette purchases × 2 confirmed thank you to MT. To order two ceramic poppies to fit button holes, cost about £50. MT confirmed.

18.117 River Til, Yelden & area flooding. . River Til. Drainage capacity & river bank foliage growth. Very dry but heavy foliage. One resident suggestion cut back now. Not recommended, better foliage dies 5

back naturally, river bed silted up, KIV health & safety. Volunteer Warden to cut back in autumn. Requested BBC Ollie survey & report any work needed. . . Standing Orders suspended.

18.118 Open forum for members of the public for future agenda. . None. Standing Orders resumed.

18.119 Confidentiality Resolution . it was discussed and agreed that item 18.120 The casual vacancy will be treated as confidential business under the terms of Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s.2. The public and press were excluded from discussion of this item. HB/PS resolved unanimous.

18.120 To consider the casual vacancy. . Review the way forward for a new Yelden Councillor. Advert placed, deadline for applications 31 October. Clerk to circulate applications, decide at next meeting. . Councillor Sizer announced, with regret, she was unable to continue due to other commitments. Would continue till end of year or replacement found. . Clerk announced, with regret, unable to continue beyond middle next year, May at latest. To place advert for replacement after Christmas.

Meeting closed 9.55pm.

The next meeting will be 21 November 2018 in Melchbourne Village Hall at 8.00pm.

THIS WILL BE AN OPEN MEETING AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND.

Signed ______

Date ______