Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of Ickleford Parish Council will take place on Wednesday 14th May 2025 at 7.30pm to be held at Ickleford Village Hall for the purpose of transacting the business set out in the agenda below and members of the Council are hereby summoned to attend this meeting. Members of the press and public are invited to attend.
Kathy Goldie
Chairman of Ickleford Parish Council
AGENDA
1 To elect a Chairman
1.1 To elect a Chairman for the ensuing year
1.2 The newly-elected Chairman and the Clerk to sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office
2 To elect a Vice-Chairman
2.1 To elect a Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year
2.2 The newly-elected Vice-Chairman and the Clerk to sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
3 Apologies for Absence
3.1 To receive apologies and approve reasons for absence.
4 Chairman’s Notice
4.1 To announce notice on openness and transparency at this meeting.
5 Declaration of Interests
5.1 To receive declarations of interest from councillors relating to items on the agenda
5.2 To receive written requests for dispensation for declarable interests; and
5.3 To grant any requests for dispensation as appropriate
6 Minutes of the Last Meeting
6.1 To approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting on 29th April 2025
7 Review of Standing Orders and Financial Regulations
7.1 Standing Orders have been reviewed and circulated to all Councillors. Councillors to approve amendments
7.2 Financial Regulations previously updated and approved by full council in April 2025
8 Appoint, as required, the following representatives for the ensuing council year:
8.1 Appointment of representative for Rand’s Educational Foundation
8.2 Appointment of representative for Ickleford Village Hall Committee
8.3 Appointment of representative(s) for Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club Committee
8.4 Appointment of members of the Staffing Committee
8.5 Appointment of representative(s) for Common Holders
8.6 Appointment of Planning advisors
8.7 Appointment of Rights of Way advisors
8.8 Appointment of signatories online banking
8.9 Appointment of the Internal Auditor for the 2025-26 audit
8.10 Continuing engagement of DCK Payroll for 2025-26
9 Review of insurance cover arrangements and asset register
9.1 Councillors to approve terms and renewal premium of £1224.43
9.2 Councillors to review and approve any amendments to the asset register
10 Review of the Council’s and Clerk’s memberships of other bodies
10.1 Ickleford Parish Council is currently a member of HAPTC (including NALC affiliation), CPRE, Open Spaces and ICO (the Information Commissioner)
11 Review of policies
11.1 Safeguarding policy
11.2 Volunteering guidelines for co-ordinators
12 Review of allotment rental
12.1 To resolve to keep the allotment rental the same as 2024-25
13 Calendar of meeting dates for the ensuing council year
13.1 Councillors to agree and approve dates for the remainder of 2025-26
14 To approve the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2024-2025
14.1 To approve the annual accounts for 2024-25
14.2 To approve the internal auditor’s report for 2024-25
14.3 To approve the Annual Governance Statement for 2024-25
14.4 To approve the Accounting Statement for 2024-25
14.5 To agree the dates for the public rights period for the 2024-25 accounts
15 On-going Projects
15.1 To receive updates on the legal documentation for the lift and the arrangements for insurance and ongoing maintenance at the Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club and approve any actions.
15.2 To receive updates on Rights of Way and to discuss the potential part-funding of filling potholes on BW4 and approve any actions
15.3 To receive an update regarding the land to the front of The Old George and approve any actions including a response to the objection by Greene King
15.4 To receive updates on Highways matters and approve any actions.
15.5 To receive quotes for ongoing metering of electricity on Upper Green and to resolve to provide a Parish Council response to the UK Power Networks survey.
15.6 To provide an update on the recruitment of a new Clerk/RFO and approve any actions 16 New Matters
16.1 To approve the costs for new Chairman training and training for the new Clerk
16.2 To consider funding the installation and servicing of a dog bin on Greenfield Avenue near Wyatt Close where there is a piece of waste land
16.3 To consider a request for metal detection to be carried out on common land
16.4 To approve a contribution to the cost of repairs to the fence by the river on the common
16.5 To discuss the safety of construction vehicles along Chambers Lane
16.6 To approve the cost of storage boxes for the marquee
17 Planning applications
17.1 New planning applications received since the last meeting
17.1.1 25/00787/LBC at Barn House, Turnpike Lane, Ickleford SG5 3UZ
Listed Building Consent : Internal and external alterations to existing attached garage to facilitate garage conversion. Deadline for comments: 15th May
17.1.2 25/00786/FPH at Barn House, Turnpike Lane, Ickleford SG5 3UZ
Full Permission Householder : Alterations to existing attached garage fenestration to include insertion of ground floor front window and door following removal of one garage door to facilitate garage conversion. Insertion of rear rooflights. Deadline for comments: 15th May
17.1.3 Consultation on the proposal to open a Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) at Lordship Farm Primary School, Letchworth – see appendix
Deadline for comments: 22nd May
17.1.4 25/00990/FPH at Top Park, Westmill Lane, Ickleford SG5 3RN
Full Permission Householder : Single storey rear extension including raised roof height. Alterations to existing attached garage fenestration following removal of garage doors to facilitate garage conversion and insertion dormer windows at first floor to north east and south west elevations. Entrance porch. External cladding and alterations to fenestration.
Deadline for comments: 18th May
17.2 Planning applications received between 6th and 14th May
18 Planning Decisions
18.1 Planning decisions received since the last meeting
18.1.1 25/00524/FPH at St Katherine’s Close, Ickleford SG5 3XS
Single storey side extension and alterations to existing driveway/hardstanding to create 2x parking spaces.
Conditional permission granted.
18.2 Planning decisions received between 6th and 14th May
19 Planning Appeals
19.1 Appeal by: Mr Bruce Parker: Appeal ref: APP/X1925/W/25/3362553
Site address: Land At New Pound Farm East Side Of, Old Hale Way, Hitchin SG4 0SA
Description: Erection of one detached 2-bed farm workers dwelling
Appeal Start Date: 22 April 2025; representations to be received by the Planning Inspectorate by 27th May
20 Finance
20.1 To note receipts between meetings
20.2 To approve the payment of invoices and submission of VAT reclaims by J Crosier (the previous clerk) during the recruitment process and until Cllr Blake can be added as the key contact with Unity Trust Bank.
20.3 To approve the invoice from DCK Payroll for £99.60
20.4 To approve payments made between meetings and any payments made at the meeting – noted on Appendix A
21 Reports – for information only from organisations with Parish Council representatives on their committee – no decisions or actions can be agreed at this time:
21.1 Rand’s Educational Foundation Governors
21.2 Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club Committee
21.3 Ickleford Village Hall Committee
22 Chairman’s Report
22.1 To receive urgent matters from the Chairman – for information only
23 Next Meeting
23.1 To suggest agenda items for the next Parish Council meeting
23.2 To confirm the next meeting date