Notice is hereby given that the monthly meeting of Ickleford Parish Council will take place on Thursday 3rd October 2024 at 7pm 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. A Councillor will be available between 6.45pm and 7pm to discuss any matter relating to the parish.
Judith Crosier
Clerk to Ickleford Parish Council
AGENDA
1 Apologies for Absence
1.1 To receive and approve apologies for absence
2 Chairman’s Notice
2.1 To announce notice on openness and transparency at this meeting
3 Declaration of Interests
3.1 To receive declarations of interest from councillors relating to items on the agenda
3.2 To receive written requests for dispensation for declarable interests
3.3 To grant any requests for dispensation as appropriate
4 Minutes of the Last Meeting
4.1 To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5th September 2024
5 Public Participation Session
5.1 Members of the press and public have the opportunity to have an open discussion with the Parish Council
6 Police Report
6.1 To receive the Hitchin Rural Police report.
7 Reports from County and District Councillors
7.1 To receive the report from the County Councillor
7.2 To receive the report from the District Councillor
8 On-going Projects
8.1 To receive updates on the RHCG and maintenance of the natural river environment
8.2 To discuss renewal of the underlease and the lift installation agreement between the Parish Council and ISRC and approve any actions including solicitor costs
8.3 To receive updates on Rights of Way and approve any actions.
8.4 To receive updates on Highways matters
8.5 To approve further costs for the electricity supply to Upper Green including the increased quote by £216.00 for UK Power Networks, amended on 24th September, after consultation with the electrician. To receive updates on the installation date set by UK Power Network, as well as quotes from energy companies for the ongoing contract and electricity meter.
8.6 To receive updates on allotment plots 15 and 16 and approve costs for associated work including the quotes from Evolution Trees for £576.00 for the tree work required
8.7 To approve the quote / cost of £150 for cutting back the overgrown hedge on Chambers Lane and the quote of £48.00 for tree work at Claymore Drive
8.8 To review the marquee hire policy and storage arrangements
8.9 To approve the payment for the locum clerk for £362.50 + VAT, totalling £435.00, for the September meeting
9 New Matters
9.1 To receive an update from the working party regarding the Christmas tree lighting event as agreed at the September meeting:
– Quotes and details for all expenses that will be incurred
– Availability of Father Christmas on 29th November
– Confirmation from the school that they have no events planned for 29th November
and approve any actions
9.2 To discuss the VE Day 80th anniversary official commemorations for 8th May 2025 and approve any actions.
9.3 To approve costs for HR consultancy
9.4 To discuss the Governance Review of Parish Councils and approve any actions
9.5 To resolve to liaise with St Katharine’s Church regarding the Remembrance Day commemorations and to appoint a representative of the Parish Council to attend
9.6 To approve costs for materials for work to be carried out on the map boards by a resident
9.7 To consider a grant request from the St Katharine’s 60+ Group
9.8 To consider the conclusion of audit report from the external auditors and approve any actions including payment of the invoice to PKF Littlejohn for £378.00
10 Planning applications
10.1 Applications received or considered since the last meeting
10.1.1 24/01974/FPH at 90 Arlesey Road, Ickleford SG5 3UE
Full Permission Householder : First floor side extension over existing double garage including front dormer window, and single storey front porch extension. Erection of detached single storey outbuilding following demolition of existing rear outbuilding and attached conservatory. Part removal of front brick garden wall and reconstruction of section of the wall. Removal of existing first floor front and rear hanging tiles and installation of render finish. Alterations to existing fenestration. Deadline for comments: 12th October
10.1.2 24/02026/FPH at 71 Arlesey Road, Ickleford SG5 3TG
Full Permission Householder: External render to rear and side elevations
Deadline for comments: 18th October
10.1.3 24/01868/S73 Glencoe Villa Snailswell Lane, Ickleford
Removal of condition 9 of planning permission 23/00505/S73 granted 20.04.2023 for the erection of one detached four-bedroom dwelling with associated access, car parking and hard and soft landscaping following the demolition of existing structures and hardstanding. Retrospective approval to be given for letter of objection sent by Ickleford Parish Council on 16th September.
10.1.4 Closure of Hillshott School Speech, Language and Communication Needs Base
Consultation on the proposal to close the Speech, Language and Communication Needs base at Hillshott Infant School and Nursery, Letchworth, from 31 August 2025
10.1.5 SRP at Featherstone Wood Primary School, Featherstone Road, Shephall, Stevenage
Consultation on the proposal to open a Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) at Featherstone Wood Primary School, Stevenage, from 1 September 2025. The SRP will provide up to 12 places for pupils with social communication difficulties, including autism, in addition to children with severe speech disorders and developmental language disorder.
10.2 Planning applications received between 26th September and 3rd October
10.3 Future potential planning applications
Land at Pound Farm, Bedford Road, Ickleford
Engagement request from developers’ agents
11 Planning Decisions
11.1 Decisions received since the last meeting
11.1.1 24/01550/LDCP at 5 Upper Green, Ickleford SG5 3YG
Description of development: Single storey infill and rear extension. Insertion of rear dormer window to create additional habitable loft space. The North Herts Council, in pursuance of their powers under the above-mentioned Act and the associated Orders and Regulations, hereby refuse to grant a Certificate of Lawful Development for the operations described above in respect of the aforementioned land.
11.1.2 24/01031/S73 at Land off Turnpike Lane and Manor Close, Ickleford
Variation of condition 2 (revised plans) of planning permission 23/02650/FP granted 16.02.2024 for erection of eight dwellings comprising of 3 pairs of semi-detached dwellings (6 x 3-bed) and two detached 4-bed dwellings including integral garages (plots 1 and 8) with a new access spur from the Lodge Court, on-site parking, landscaping. Conditional permission granted
11.2 Planning decisions received between 26th September and 3rd October
12 Finance
12.1 To note receipts between meetings
12.2 To approve the payment of employee HMRC tax payments by Direct Debit
12.3 To note the report from external auditors, discuss internal auditor appointment and approve any actions
12.4 To approve payments made between meetings and any payments made at the meeting – see Appendix A
13 Reports – for information only – no decisions or actions can be agreed at this time:
13.1 Rand’s Educational Foundation Trustees
13.2 Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club Committee
13.3 Ickleford Village Hall Committee
14 Chairman’s Report
14.1 To receive urgent matters from the Chairman – for information only
15 Next Meeting
15.1 To suggest agenda items for the next Parish Council meeting / AOB
15.2 To confirm the next meeting date of Thursday 7th November