Bolnhurst & Keysoe Parish Council A meeting was held on 18th February 2019 in Keysoe Village Hall at 7.30pm Present: PCllr R Bellamy, PCllr R Heming, PCllr M Perry, PCllr S Bates, Mrs G Wiggs (Parish Clerk) BCllr T Wootton and 14 members of the public. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE None. 2. DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS LOCAL & PECUNIARY INTERESTS IN THE BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED HEREUNDER PCllr Heming declared an interest in item 8, as he is a member of the Village Hall Management Committee. PCllr Bates declared an interest in item 13 as the owner of the Equestrian Centre. 3. TO VERIFY THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS PARISH COUNCIL MEETING These were approved. 4. MATTERS ARISING Triathlon event – Thanks have been sent for the information by The Clerk. NHW Meeting – The Clerk confirmed she has not heard about the meeting yet. Rural Businesses – PCllr Bellamy has written to the Borough Council about the difficulties facing rural businesses recruiting & retaining suitable staff. He has received a positive response and been asked to produce a more detailed report. Report of outstanding Highways work – PCllr Perry reported that this is in hand. Police Article for newsletter – PCllr Bellamy reported this had been completed. Police Matters raised at the last meeting – PCllr Bellamy had received a written reply from PC Kerry Jones. He summarised the key points in the meeting: Precept allocation- PC Jones has no personal involvement in setting budgets, determining the Precept, nor in allocating the Police Resource. Staffing – There is one Community Police Officer, PC Jones, who works closely with 2 PCSO’s dealing with issues that matter to local communities. Be they long term or developing issues, raising awareness or dealing with worries and concerns. If additional officer support is needed in the area the Community Team can call upon their Force colleagues from other teams e.g. Community Crime, Response, Specials, Dogs, Firearms, Traffic, CID, Missing Persons, Operation Boson, and Operation Sentinel for assistance. Interest in Rural Issues – PC Jones is based at Riseley and takes a personal interest in rural issues & the workload is based around rural issues. In addition, PC Jones holds Community engagement events such as Operation Beneke (the latest one in Keysoe on 16/2/19); there are 1/4ly meetings to establish neighbourhood policing priorities; Hare Coursing was identified at the last meeting and a lot of officer time has been spent on this issue resulting in a number of arrests. Recently the Response Team seized 2 vehicles, arrested 2 males and recovered 4 dogs. WHATS APP groups have proved to be very useful and PC Jones would like to see these developed more within the community. The Rural Crime Team-Operation Sentinel -specialises in rural crime issues. [email protected] CCTV data not being collected – It is the responsibility of the investigating officer to decide what data is collected, and whether that information will assist the investigation. Please could the resident with this concern E mail [email protected] with detail and the matter will be followed up the issue with the case officer. Police visibility – PC Jones has visited Bolnhurst and Keysoe on a number of specific occasions and drives through the Parish regularly when travelling across the area. Other Police officers also drive through the Parish doing HVP en route to other locations. Speed enforcement activities have also been 1 Bolnhurst & Keysoe Parish Council undertaken on a number of occasions. Unless residents are looking out of their windows all the time they will not know when the Police have been in the Parish. It should be remembered that Police also use unmarked vehicles when carrying out their business. Crime –In the past 12 months there have been 18 crimes in Bolnhurst & Keysoe. Beds Police Performance: PC Jones’ focus is to carry out responsibilities to the best of her ability. Stonely Crime – PC Jones cannot comment on Stonely as it is outside the area. PC Jones is meeting with Cambs police on 22nd February to discuss rural matters which will include working together on cross boundary crimes. Private Security Patrols – unable to comment. Bolnhurst Footpaths – PCllr Heming reported that he had not been able to proceed with the queries raised: no further information had been provided. It was hoped that residents had used the Report It app. Local Plan - PCllr Bellamy reported that the Inspector has been appointed & public hearings will be held between 27/5/19 & 24/6/19. Community Speed Van tickets – PCllr Bellamy is chasing a reply. Reinvestment of Speed Camera income - PCllr Bellamy is chasing a reply. 5. OPEN FORUM FOR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK Black Cat – Caxton Gibbet – PCllr Bellamy reported that the chosen route has now been published. That being the orange route to the north which was the most popular. Parish Council meetings – PCllr Heming has received feedback that some Councillors could not be heard at the last meeting. He is looking into using a PA system. Ian George – PCllr Bellamy reported that Ian George passed away recently. His funeral will be held at 2.30pm on 8/3/19. Local Signage – A resident asked if the Parish Council was aware that Bolnhurst Old School had been asked by the Borough Council to improve directional signage & were seeking help from the community to do this. PCllr Bellamy confirmed the Parish Council was not aware of this, but it is understood the Borough Council do occasionally do this, in order to ensure emergency services can easily find locations. Blue Line Security – A resident explained he had sent in information about Blue Line Security & enquired why it is not on the agenda tonight. PCllr Bellamy explained that there is only limited information available yet, & the Parish Council would only be in a position to consider such a matter, once there is a clearly scoped & costed proposal available for consideration. He also referred to recent posted information which indicated this was intended to be villager funded. The resident added that he understood the member of the public driving this forward will be holding a public meeting in early March, at which information will be available about the nature of the proposals & likely costs. PCllr Bellamy suggested a Parish Councillor could attend that meeting if possible. The resident added he understood that funding support would be sought from both Bedford Borough Council & Bedfordshire PCC and possibly one other group with the idea that Parish Councils would share the remaining costs. PCllr Bates added he understood from a Kimbolton Parish Councillor that an early indication of the costs had been excessive. They hope to discuss it at their meeting on 24/2/19. On a positive note, the Police investigation into the crimes Kimbolton experienced in Easton Rd have already resulted in arrests. Neighbourhood Watch – The Neighbourhood Watch representative said that the group now had 56 members. He confirmed his intention to hold a group meeting (see January minutes) at some future date and this would be attended by the Police. A resident commented that in his view based on personal experience whilst working on various village photographic assignments that people in general do not take a great deal of interest in unusual activities. He had never been challenged about his photograph activity. He also noted that a number of properties were obviously empty and little, or no attempt made by residents to disguise this fact. BCllr Wootton – The Council has received an increase in funding from central government. Winter highways maintenance is going very well this winter. The Black Cat changes are due to take place in 2022. The East/West Rail link consultation between Bedford & Cambridge is now open, with 5 route options. Two come north of Bedford using the existing Midland Road station. The precise route is 2 Bolnhurst & Keysoe Parish Council unclear, but he suggested it may be near to Bolnhurst. It is a very rural route & likely to be expensive & unpopular. The Ward Forum is next week & will be attended by PC Kerry Jones & Andrew Prigmore. 6. PLANNING DECISIONS: 18/03016/FUL – Permission granted for single storey front, side & rear extensions & remodelling of existing dwelling – Silver Birches, Kimbolton Rd, Bolnhurst 18/01704/FUL – Permission granted for erection of stable block & storage barn (revised) – College Farm Equestrian Centre Church Rd APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN: 18/02603/FUL – Application withdrawn for a new building to accommodate cats on a short-term basis with additional planting planned. Permission for 2 new sets of gates – Sherwood Cottage, Kimbolton Rd, Bolnhurst APPLICATIONS GONE TO APPEAL: 18/01275/FUL – Appeal submitted against refusal for conversion of redundant chicken shed into a four- bedroom family dwelling including access, parking & landscaping (resubmission of 17/02798/FUL). Appeal reference APP/K0235/W/19/3219714 – Wychtree Farm, Keysoe Row West Planning Decision Letters – In the past the Parish Council has received a letter from Planning Officers explaining the rationale behind their decision, in cases where objections or suggested conditions by the Parish Council have not been taken on board. These letters have not been received in recent months. The Clerk will make enquiries about this – Action The Clerk 7. TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING PAYMENTS Bank Account Reconciled 24/12/18 - £23,472.02 The following payments were approved: BATPC – subs £164.00 Keysoe Village Hall – hire £160.00 G Wiggs – Clerks account £431.66 S Woodward – odd jobber £30.00 Beds Pension Fund £147.28 HMRC – Income Tax £81.40 8. REQUEST FROM VILLAGE HALL FOR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS COST OF REPLACEMENT CONCRETE APRON (TOTAL COST £6K) PCllr Heming declared an interest & did not take part in this agenda item.