Notice is hereby given that the monthly meeting of Ickleford Parish Council will take place on Thursday 5th September 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.
Katrina McKnight
Locum/acting 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 11th July 2024
5 Co-option to fill 2 (two) casual vacancies on Ickleford Parish Council
5.1 To resolve to proceed with the co-option process to fill two casual vacancies
5.2 To co-opt two new Councillors following the process in the Co-option policy, should the Council resolve to do so in item 5.1
5.3 The appointed Councillor(s) to sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office in front of the Proper Officer to take up their seat(s) on Ickleford Parish Council
5.4 The appointed Councillor(s) to complete the Register of Members Interests’ Form and return to the Proper Officer
5.5 If the appointed Councillor(s) wishes to receive the meeting summons (agenda) in electronic form, they should also sign a consent form noting a specified email address for this and return to the Proper Officer
6 Public Participation Session
6.1 Members of the press and public have the opportunity to have an open discussion with the Parish Council
7 Police Report
7.1 To receive the Hitchin Rural Police report.
8 Reports from County and District Councillors
8.1 To receive the report from the County Councillor
8.2 To receive the report from the District Councillor
9 On-going Projects
9.1 To receive updates on the RHCG and maintenance of the natural river environment
9.2 To receive updates on Rights of Way and approve any actions.
9.3 To receive updates on Highways matters and approve any actions
9.4 To approve all costs and actions for the electricity supply to Upper Green as follows:
9.4.1 To approve payment of the full cost for extending the electricity supply to Upper Green to be paid by bank transfer to UK Power Network as acceptance of their quote for £4085 + VAT and requesting the work to be carried out by the agreed date of 2 November 2024.
9.4.2 To resolve to engage an electrician urgently and approve extra costs for the electrician of circa £2750 + VAT for installation of the feeder pillar/cabinet prior to UK Power Networks carrying out the work.
9.4.3 To further resolve to arrange the installation of a meter by and an ongoing contract with appropriate energy company and approve all installation and ongoing costs.
9.5 To provide an update on the bollard on the track behind Turnpike Lane and approve any actions.
9.6 To discuss the antisocial behaviour at the play area car park and approve any actions.
9.7 To review the village hall hire for the Monday drop-in sessions
9.8 To approve the change of meeting night from the first Thursday of the month to the second Wednesday of each month from 8th January 2025 onwards
9.9 To review the marquee hire policy and storage arrangements for 2 x village marquees
9.10 To discuss the lift at the ISRC and approve any actions
10 New Matters
10.1 To appoint the village hall committee representative
10.2 To resolve to decide the date for the Christmas tree event with Cllr Barnard’s input and appoint a working party to organise the event
10.3 To resolve to obtain a quote from Evolution Tree Services to assess the tree on common land at Claymore Drive and any other tree works that may be urgent
10.4 To discuss the Governance Review of Parish Councils and approve any actions
10.5 To approve the annual play inspection cost of £50 + VAT
10.6 To resolve to obtain quotes from Mr Crosse for the following extra work: to cut back the hedge from the highway along Chambers Lane including the brambles by the footpath from the play area; to clear allotment plot 16 (and 15 if applicable) and remove access to private gardens and create access points to plots 15 and 16 from the main allotment site; and to assess the posts on Upper Green and carry out any work required for their upkeep
10.7 To approve the cost of clearing vegetation growing through to a property along Bedford Road, should the resident require this prior to the plot clearance
10.8 To approve HR consultancy fees for staffing matters at a cost of £395 per day for a maximum of 2 days
10.9 To approve the request from ISRC to organise and run a firework event
10.10 To approve the cost of the locum clerk and subsequent payment
11 Planning applications
11.1 Applications received since the last meeting
11.1.1 24/01031/S73 at Land off Turnpike Lane and adjacent to 4 Manor Close, Ickleford Section 73 Application : 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: To retrospectively approve the response sent to planning officer between meetings
11.1.2 24/01725/S73 at 4 Freewaters Close, Ickleford SG5 3TQ Section 73 Application: Variation of condition 2 (revised plans) of planning permission 24/00387/FPH granted 30.04.2024 for single storey rear extension following demolition of existing conservatory and utility room. Front canopy, alterations to fenestration and external cladding. Alterations to existing detached garage roof and fenestration to facilitate conversion to home office (as amended by plans and DAS received on 25/04/2024 and plan received on 30/04/2024). Deadline for comments: 6th September
11.1.3 24/01446/FPH at 3 Chambers Lane, Ickleford SG5 3YA
Full Permission Householder: First floor rear extension; alterations existing front porch roof and fenestration and Insertion of rear dormer and front rooflight to existing roofslopes to facilitate conversion of loft into habitable accommodation. External render and alterations to fenestration. Deadline for comments: 30th August; councillors informally had no comments to submit
11.1.4 24/01148/FPH at 5 Witter Avenue, Ickleford SG5 3UF
Full Permission Householder: Part two storey and part single storey rear extension; front porch extension and replacement cladding to front elevation. Alterations to fenestration (amended plans received 25.07.2024). Original objection from the Parish Council re-submitted between meetings; retrospective approval required
11.1.5 24/01486/FPH at 6 Raymond Cottages, Upper Green, Ickleford SG5 3YE Full Permission Householder: Single storey rear infill extension Deadline was 3rd August – councillors informally had no comments to submit
11.2 Planning applications received between 28th August and 5th September
12 Planning Decisions
12.1 Decisions received since the last meeting
None
12.2 Planning decisions received between 28th August and 5th September
13 Finance
13.1 To note receipts between meetings
13.2 To approve online payments made between meetings
14 Reports – for information only – no decisions or actions can be agreed at this time:
14.1 Rand’s Educational Foundation Governors
14.2 Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club Committee
14.3 Ickleford Village Hall Committee
15 Chairman’s Report
15.1 To receive urgent matters from the Chairman – for information only
16 Next Meeting
16.1 To suggest agenda items for the next Parish Council meeting / AOB
16.2 To confirm the next meeting date of Thursday 10th October