Minutes of the Tilsworth Parish Council Meeting held at Stanbridge and Tilsworth Hall on Monday 20th March 2017 Present: Chairman G Box, Parish Councillors C Quantrill, P Mitchell, P Pennington & P Dillamore, Clerk M Whiting, Ward Cllr Versallion, 2 members of public 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were also received and accepted from Parish Councillor B Allen 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declaration of interests. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16th January 2017 were a correct record and signed by the Chairman 4. PROGRESS UPDATE FROM LAST MEETING CBC housing department have investigated the complaint regarding occupant living in a caravan on driveway in Bury Rise. After inspection by the Estates Management Officer, permission was given for the tenants to keep their 2 berth caravan on the property; on the understanding that it was not used for people to sleep in. The tenant’s agreed and have removed the second motor-home. The tenants are no longer in breach of their Tenancy Agreement, as they now have permission to keep the 2 berth caravan; on the proviso that it is not used for the purpose as mentioned above. 5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Resident asked why there were surveyors on Dickens Lane. Councillors unaware and not received any information. Anonymous letter has been received by some residents and has been passed to the Police to deal with. 6. POLICE REPORT Clerk had circulated Police crime data spreadsheets link to Councillors. There were 6 incidents in February and 7 in January. The first Op Sentinel Rural Community Newsletter was also circulated. 7. CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL 16/3/17 Dunstable Road flooding email update from Charlotte Dunham CBC Area Technician Highways as follows: Raised the order for 30m of the ditch to be dug and culvert jetted so water can flow away and not cause flooding to the road. The works require a road closure and I’ve allowed for 2 days (day time), however the process for getting a road closure authorised is 3 months minimum. We have, in the last week or so cut back the trees near the ditch to allow us to get in easily to dig a section of it out. I am waiting on the date of the closure so that I can let you all know of this and I will notify the golf club & bus company. As there are no residents in the actual works area we don’t usually do a letter drop but I will get some yellow small advisory boards put up. There will be no access through the works in day time as we will have vehicles moving in and out and I have allowed for gatemen at each end so access to the golf club will be maintained and drivers directed onto the diversion around the works at the opposite end. Clerk to remind CBC highways to clear the rest of the drains on their maintenance schedule. Clerk to find out if tests have been carried out on the flooding water and ditches. Request copy of test results. Cllr Mitchell informed that the Focus Group are requesting information from Anglian Water regarding sewerage and water connections in this area. 8. PLANNING CB/17/00510/FULL 34 Dunstable Road, Tilsworth, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9PU Single & two storey side extension and demolition of conservatory No Comment 9. GRANTS £700 is allocated in the 2017/2018 budget under Section 137. Stanbridge and Tilsworth Community Hall Committee have advised they understand the pressures and other priorities the parish council face, and with the current state of their finances, they have not applied for a grant this year. 1 Signed by Presiding Chairman -------------------------------------- 15th May 2017 Minutes of the Tilsworth Parish Council Meeting held at Stanbridge and Tilsworth Hall on Monday 20th March 2017 The parish council received a grant application from Autism Bedfordshire. It was AGREED that the parish council wish to prioritise financial support to local village events and organisations where financial support and sources are limited. It was RESOLVED to award the following grant and cheque to be distributed at the Annual Parish Meeting, but dated 6th April due to 2017/18 financial year budgeted expenditure: Tilsworth PCC Maintenance £ 500.00 10. VILLAGER OF THE YEAR Nominations were discussed and it was agreed to award to Celia Bourne and present her with a framed certificate and pot plant at the Annual Parish Meeting. 11. FOOTPATHS Proposed diversion of Public Footpath No 7 map and details were circulated to all Cllrs on 7/3/17. It was AGREED there were no objections to the proposal. Ask ROW officer Rick Thomson to contact Cllr Pennington to discuss riparian ownership of ditch. Also forward complaint from Spring Clean day of litter found on the footpath rear of 8,9,10 & 11 Greenhill View and also suggest dog litter bin be located at bottom of Blackhill next to grit bin. CBC Rights of Way officer Rick Thomson visited Public Footpath No 6 to allotments with highways colleague Chris Nicol in February. They felt that extra work to the surface between the properties could and probably should be done and propose to extend the current surfaced path back up to the common land, maintaining the same usable width (a meter). They also recommend surfacing an additional section at the rear of the properties from the edge of the field through the timber gate, as the surface there was pretty bad too. They have found however that legally the Public Footpath does not start until the point where it leaves/meets the village green. Technically that’s 11m away from the surfaced path that crosses the green. The Public Right of Way doesn’t start until the rear of Wesley Anne. This means that CBC does not actually have any maintenance responsibility for the 11m of surfacing that’s needed to resolve the local complaint; technically it’s down to the Parish Council as they are responsible for the village green. They will get a price from the previous contractor to do the work, as still need to do the bit by the kissing gate but parish council need to be aware that they might not do the bit between the two houses. 12. TREE WORKS Following a complaint from a resident regarding a Walnut tree on the Green, Cllr P Pennington met with Goodfellers tree surgery. They both agreed the tree needed a crown lift, preferably before spring growth. Quote given £60 + VAT. Following financial regulations, as the quote was under £100 and work required, the Clerk notified the Chairman and authorised the work. 13. BUS SHELTER ANCHOR PUB Dave Streeton, CBC Senior Public Transport Officer, has advised CBC are now able to install a wooden bus shelter in front of the Anchor Pub on the agreement the parish council would take over the responsibility and maintenance of it. Both the pub landlady and resident next door have been advised and have no objections to it, however the pub wish to discuss the final location of the shelter. It was AGREED the parish council support this installation and will accept ongoing responsibility and maintenance for it. Request CBC Dave Streeton to contact pub to liaise directly with final location of shelter. 14. EAST OF LEIGHTON BUZZARD DEVELOPMENT IMPACT Totternhoe Parish Council are concerned that the development of up to 2,500 houses to the East of Leighton Buzzard will increase traffic through Stanbridge, Tilsworth, Eaton Bray and Totternhoe, and the planned link road from North East of Leighton Buzzard to Stanbridge Road will exacerbate an already difficult situation. Stanbridge parish council are also concerned. Totternhoe Clerk believes the East of Leighton Buzzard development map they have obtained showing the link road is currently confidential and unable to circulate, but will arrange a meeting with Stanbridge, Tilsworth, Eaton Bray and Totternhoe parish councils to discuss the impact of traffic on the villages and will hopefully be available to view and discuss then. Ward Cllr Versallion has also been asked if he can obtain a copy and will circulate if available. It was AGREED that Tilsworth parish council are also concerned that housing development will lead to an increase of traffic through the villages and wish to be advised of the meeting date when arranged by Totternhoe PC. 15. ALLOTMENTS Plots 2,5,6,8,9 & 10 have all paid and renewed, income of £81. Plot 1 is unusable and plots 3,4 & 7 are vacant. 2 Signed by Presiding Chairman -------------------------------------- 15th May 2017 Minutes of the Tilsworth Parish Council Meeting held at Stanbridge and Tilsworth Hall on Monday 20th March 2017 16. FOCUS GROUP FOI REQUEST & NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FORUM The Focus Group have requested the parish council to forward an FOI (Freedom of Information) request to CBC. It was AGREED the focus group should send any FOI requests direct to CBC. Focus group are gauging interest in setting up a Neighbourhood Plan Forum with villages to make more viable and cost effective to produce. Agreed a good idea however concerned will struggle to find support and volunteers to produce it. 17. CLERK SALARY st It was RESOLVED to increase the Clerk’s salary scale to NALC LC2 Point 35 from 1 April 2017. 18. STANDING ORDER PAYMENTS It was RESOLVED to continue to authorise Standing Order from Barclays Bank current account on 1st of each month for £300 to Clerk Maxine Whiting for salary payment until further notice. It was RESOLVED to continue to authorise Variable Direct Debit payments to Public Works Loan Board for repayment of loan and Anglian Water for supply of water to the allotments.