Minutes of the Stanbridge Parish Council Meeting held virtually by Zoom on 13th April 2021 Present: Chair E Sutton, Parish Councillors R Deville, P Lidford, B Houston, M Waters, M Walker, Clerk M Whiting, 2 members of public A minute silence was held in memory of HRH Prince Philip. Stanbridge Parish Council extend their deepest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and all members of the Royal Family PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Owner of Kingsway Cottage in attendance regarding their planning application. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE All Parish Councillors in attendance. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr M Waters declared a personal interest in application CB/21/01305 24 Tilsworth Road, Stanbridge, LU7 9JA due to her rear garden backing onto property boundary. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 9th March 2021 were a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 4. PROGRESS UPDATE FROM LAST MEETING Comments to Solar Farm application number CB/21/00437 Land North of Stanbridge Road, Tilsworth, were sent to all participants at March meeting and final comments to planning officer on 24th March. 5. POLICE REPORT & SPEED WATCH Clerk circulated Police crime data spreadsheets link to Cllrs. 1 offence reported in March. Clerk has invited Community Officers to attend Annual Parish meeting and asked for a Police report. 6. CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL Ward Cllr Versallion advised he has a clash with Chalgrave parish meeting on Tuesday 20th April but hopes to also attend Stanbridge parish meeting. Tilsworth parish council are levelling the parish council owned field known as the Hyde, located between the traveller site and golf club. They will also dredge the ditch by the road side to assist with flooding issues. No further news on Tilsworth solar farm application apart from planning officer has concerns due to Green Belt land. There are further solar farm applications coming forward in Chalgrave and Hockliffe parishes. This brings the total to 6 solar farm pre applications in 6 months for his ward. Part of the attraction of this area is the close proximity to Sundon substation enabling connection to the National Grid. Personally would prefer Green Belt land to be used only as a last resort. Developer at early stages of a proposal for a Retirement Village abutting Stanbridge on the Leighton side. Wishes to engage with the Parish Council to discuss broad outline of proposal & seek views. Ward Cllr will confirm exact location. 7. GRASS CUTTING Village Garden Services have terminated current grass cutting contract @ £105 + VAT per cut due to staff shortages. Clerk approached John O’Connor and MW Agri Ltd for quotes. It was AGREED to instruct MW Agri Ltd to undertake grass cutting contract on a fortnightly basis throughout growing season at £100 + VAT per cut. 8. VILLAGE GREEN DITCH CLEARANCE Total Draincare attended site on 9th March. They have advised the approximately 350 metres long ditch needs digging out as it is full of mud and silt, which is around 0.5m depth in places. The issues of the pooling water in areas is a result of the silt in the ditch being above ditch level causing water to spill onto the grass. Total Draincare cannot assist with this project as it more of a task for a landscaping/groundworks company as there are lots of trees in the area that need cutting back also. CBC Flood Risk Team Assistant Drainage Engineer David Allan, advised Clerk by email on 16th March that based on information provided from Total Draincare, it would be advisable that the village green ditch is cleared of silt. From the measurements of the ditch and the depth of the silt provided, the clearing of this ditch will greatly increase the capacity of 1 Signed by Presiding Chairman -------------------------------------- 4th May 2021 Minutes of the Stanbridge Parish Council Meeting held virtually by Zoom on 13th April 2021 water it can hold and therefore be the first step in limiting the flooding in the village green area. Regarding the potential to exasperate flooding elsewhere in the village; understand the concern that the clearance of this ditch may lead to greater amounts of water flowing elsewhere in the village, however unless it is already known that the drainage system is insufficient further downstream the likelihood of flooding elsewhere cannot be known until either the ditch is cleared or a drainage company surveys the downstream network. Therefore, to address the current issue which is the village green area flooding it would be wise to clear the ditch and return it to its full capacity. In regards to request for a survey of the village to be completed and a maintenance plan put together, that is not something within their remit. Due to the multitude of undertakers responsible for drainage assets (water companies, highways, private landowners etc.) it is outside CBC manpower to undertake a village-wide survey and the number of undertakers make an all-encompassing maintenance plan near impossible to create. However, where a drainage asset is in need of maintenance, CBC are able to send letters under powers as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) that requests the land/asset owners undertake maintenance work to allow proper flow/storage of surface water. It was AGREED to request CBC to write to land owners on Station Road & Peddars Lane where recent flooding was. Re highways drainage and the issues in Tilsworth & Station Road, this is something for CBC Highways department as they may have responsibility over assets that are involved with these flood events and are aware of issues. Clerk contacted 5 contractors to obtain quotes for ditch clearance. Total Draincare - advised would not get involved with this project as it more of a task for a landscaping/groundworks company as there are lots of trees in the area that need cutting back also. Village Garden Services – unable to quote at present John O’Connor – no quote received W Roff Agricultural– Cut back vegetation and dig out ditches, leaving arisings on site and spread adjacent to ditch to settle then level and grass seed £3750 + VAT or increase to total £6812.93 + VAT if remove and dispose of arisings. MW Agri Ltd – Cut back vegetation, dig out length of ditch, spoils stockpiled on site and removed later by grab lorry £3720 + VAT. Small section of play area fence will have to be removed to allow access to ditch behind and park shut for a day. It was AGREED to accept quote from MW Agri Ltd for £3720 + VAT. Clerk to confirm that fence will be reinstated and included as part of the quote. Councillors happy to assist with reinstating fence if required. 9. VILLAGE GREEN WOODEN POSTS & ACCESS RIGHTS It was AGREED ditch clearance is a priority and defer post installation until ditch works completed. Clerk to request a quote from MW Agri also. 10. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Agenda for 20th April Annual Parish Meeting was issued on 6th April and displayed on website and notice board. Chairman is preparing a presentation. 11. MAY ANNUAL MEETING DATE Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP, has written to council leaders and NALC (National Assc. of Local Councils) about remote meetings to confirm the government has considered the case for extending legislation very carefully and has concluded that it is not possible to bring forward the emergency legislation on this issue at this time. NALC is hugely disappointed and are supporting the court application by Lawyers in Local Government, the Association of Democratic Officers and Hertfordshire County Council that the authority to meet remotely already exists within the 1972 Act. The court case is expected to be determined by end April. Currently however, powers to enable Councils to meet remotely will expire on 7th May. It was AGREED to hold the May Annual meeting remotely via zoom on Tuesday 4th May. 12. VILLAGER OF THE YEAR It was AGREED to award Villager of the Year to Rhys Hibbert in recognition of all his work in the village and in particular for his primary role in setting up and running the Community Response Team. Chairman Sutton will present a framed certificate to Rhys and it is hoped he will be able to attend our virtual Parish meeting next week. 13. NEWSLETTER Spring newsletter has been delivered to all households and well received. 2 Signed by Presiding Chairman -------------------------------------- 4th May 2021 Minutes of the Stanbridge Parish Council Meeting held virtually by Zoom on 13th April 2021 14. CORRESPONDENCE CBC East West Rail (EWR) Consultation open until 9th June – 31/3 fwd email to Cllrs CBC Local Plan proposed main modifications consultation – 18/3 fwd email to Cllrs Beds PCC newsletter April 2021 – 7/4/ fwd email to Cllrs Village Garden Services terminating grass cutting contract – 22/3 fwd email to Cllrs Richard Stay, Retirement Village proposal – 12/4 fwd email to Cllrs, Ward Cllr Versallion cc’d in 15. 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: 01/04/2021 SO Maxine Whiting Clerk salary & expenses £ 650.00 13/04/2021 101415 St John the Baptist Church GRANT:New music system £ 2,141.00 Stanbridge & Tilsworth GRANT:Hall recreation ground grass cutting & 13/04/2021 101416 Comm Assc maintenance £ 2,141.00 13/04/2021 101417 Villages Focus Group GRANT: Admin costs £ 500.00 13/04/2021 101418 Bedfordshire Pension Fund Pension contributions £ 281.05 13/04/2021 101419 Maxine Whiting Clerk salary & expenses £ 177.45 13/04/2021 101420 HMRC PAYE £ 217.15 13/04/2021 101421 DM Payroll Services Ltd Payroll services 2021-22 £ 105.00 A1 Copying Systems & 13/04/2021 101422 Supplies Printing newsletter £ 48.00 16.