FELMERSHAM & RADWELL PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 14 JULY 2020 CONDUCTED ON-LINE USING THE ZOOM REMOTE MEETING FACILITY Attendees: Councillors: Peter Hartop (Chair), Marjorie Pipe (Vice Chair), Matilda Boswell, Maxine Boswell and Annette Courtney Borough Councillor: Doug McMurdo Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer: Trevor Roff Public: There were three members of the public that joined the meeting Action 35/20 Parishioners Talk Time Rob Armour (a relatively new resident to Felmersham) and Gary Cunningham (from a neighbouring village) attended the meeting to better understand how the Parish Council works and the range of issues faced at a local level. Note Clive Just addressed the meeting and expressed concern at the recent problem of litter at the Jubilee Lawn (see agenda item 41/20(h) below). Note Clive Just also outlined the encouraging results from a recent survey to assess the interest in establishing a village shop. About 75% of respondents considered that such provision was important or very important. Approximately 27% of households in Felmersham had responded to the survey and about 10% of Radwell households. Volunteers had offered to support the enterprise and a Steering Group had been established. The Plunkett Foundation had been approached for support and possible locations for the venture were being considered. The meeting welcomed the encouraging progress and looked forward to further updates on this local initiative. Note 36/20 Apologies for Absence There were no apologies for absence. Note 37/20 Declaration of Interests There were no disclosures of interest in relation to Parish Council business. Note 38/20 Approval of Minutes of Parish Council Meeting Held on 12 May 2020 The meeting considered the draft minutes of the last meeting. Note RESOLVED: The minutes of the meeting, held on 12 May 2020, were approved and signed as a correct record. PC (Proposed by: Cllr. Annette Courtney, Seconded by: Cllr. Pipe, All in favour) 1 39/20 Matters Arising All matters arising were considered and updates provided as part of agenda items. Note 40/20 Reports (a) Borough Councillor Doug McMurdo, Borough Councillor, provided a detailed update on the following key issues: (i) Bedford Borough Local Plan Review: Bedford Borough Council already has a Local Plan in place up to 2030, and is now looking beyond that period. The plan will set out how much growth is needed in the Borough in the coming years (housing, jobs and associated infrastructure) and where it will take place. Note The Government requires Councils to plan for a certain level of housing growth in their local plans. As part of the next Local Plan, allocations may need to be made for between 5,000 and 15,000 additional new dwellings over a plan period up to 2040. The exact number will depend on forthcoming revisions to the Government’s housing-need formula. The main focus of the new Local Plan will be the allocation of new development sites to meet the Government’s growth targets but it may also be appropriate to update existing or add new policies to guide decisions on planning applications and to repurpose the town centre. Note The Borough Council has recently, therefore, launched a consultation to gather comments about the range of subjects to be covered in the plan and where in the Borough new growth should be located. It will also look at policies around climate change, protecting the natural environment, quality of development, self and custom build homes, open space in new developments, and policies around the town centre. Note This process will also open a ‘call for sites’ where people can put forward land to be allocated as a site for development in the next local plan. A consultation paper has been prepared to help people think about and comment on these issues. The deadline for submitting comments is 4 September 2020. Note (ii) Bedford Borough COVID-19 Deep Dive: New local data from Public Health England and the Joint Biosecurity Centre, working with Bedford Borough Council, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Commissioning Collaborative, have been released as part of a ‘deep dive’ in Bedford Borough. Note The data shows that, while Coronavirus infections are still high in the Borough, they are starting to decline. The interim findings of the deep dive review has identified that women between the age of 30-59 have been the most affected in the borough. It is understood that many of these work in the health and care sector. Note 2 While there were no ‘hot spots’ in the general population the interim findings identified the highest number of cases in areas around the town centre. While the initial findings suggests the rate of infection looks to be improving, it remains high compared to other areas and caution is being urged to help slow the spread of the virus. Measures to continue the downward trajectory of infection have already been put in place, including improving testing facilities at Bedford Hospital, to allow for a faster turn-around of test results. Note (iii) Local Outbreak Control Plan: Bedford Borough Council has published its Local Outbreak Control Plan, setting out how it will respond to a local COVID-19 outbreak. With the introduction of the NHS Test and Trace programme all Unitary and County Councils were asked to produce a Local Outbreak Control Plan. These plans set out how local authorities will work with communities and partners to prevent and respond to local issues and situations related to Coronavirus and slow the spread of infection. The plan provides a specific focus on measures to support those who may be more vulnerable to the effects of Coronavirus. Note As a key part of the NHS Test and Trace programme, the plan also describes how local residents developing symptoms associated with COVID-19 can get tested and how mobile testing units may be used to provide tests to specific locations within the Borough. It also explains how the programme will identify people who have been in contact with the infection so they can self-isolate to limit further spread. Note (iv) Increased Planting in the Borough: The Borough Council has announced measures to plant 1,000 additional trees in the Borough, new hedgerows and increased areas of natural grass and wildflower meadows. Wildflower species, such as clover and dandelion, provide important pollen and nectar sources for insects, bees and other pollinators that are a vital part of the ecosystem. Allowing grass to grow longer produces a more sustainable natural environment and provides food and shelter for animals, bees and other insects. Note Across the parks and open spaces of Bedford, the Borough Council has already reduced mowing, allowing large areas to grow naturally. This has seen the creation of significant areas where grasses and native plants have been allowed to grow and flower, with ecological benefits. The Borough Council is currently having a number of habitat surveys undertaken in urban open spaces including Addison Howard Park, Bedford Park and Longholme Lake. These will help to determine additional ways to improve these areas for biodiversity, including recommendations for native species and wildflower meadows. Note The Borough Council is also bringing this approach out of the parks, and onto the streets. On roadside verges, the grass must be cut short to ensure that people can see and that junctions are safe. However, the grass is often left long at the back of the verge away from the road. This is an important way to encourage wildlife such as invertebrates, butterflies and bees into the heart of the urban area. Note 3 (v) Play Areas in Bedford Borough: With ongoing concerns about the high infection rate in the Borough, the Borough Council has decided that children’s play areas will not be opening on Saturday 4 July 2020. Play areas are a risk area for infection to be spread and, with a high rate of infection locally, this decision has been taken to help slow the spread of the virus and keep people safe. Updated signage has been placed in park areas and, where possible, the Borough Council will continue to keep play areas locked and secured. Note (b) Felmersham Village Hall There was no formal report to consider but the meeting acknowledged that the play area remained closed for public use due to COVID-19. It was reported that, during the closure period, arrangements had been made for the perimeter fencing to the play area to be repaired and for the decayed timber edging and posts to the bark pits to be replaced. Note (c) Bedfordshire Police Crime Statistics The Parish Council considered the crime statistics for May and June 2020 which identified two incidents, committed in Felmersham on 28 June 2020, contrary to Section 4(a) of the Public Order Act 1986 by causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress. Note 41/20 Update on Current Issues (a) Communications There were no issues to report to the meeting. Note (b) Environment The Portfolio Holder, Cllr. Hartop, reported on the following environment related issues: (i) River Great Ouse: The river by the bridge in Felmersham has been in almost daily use by swimmers and boaters of all ages gaining access from the Jubilee Lawn and slipway. There is no provision of a lifebelt or lifeline and clarification has been sought from the Borough Council about (i) the existence of a policy to provide a lifebelt or lifeline equipment in places where access to the river is from Borough Council owned land and (ii) whether they provide the equipment. Note The Borough Council has confirmed that there is no such policy, and that there is no legal requirement to provide such devices.