Notice is hereby given that the monthly meeting of Ickleford Parish Council will take place on Thursday 7th December 2023 at 7.00pm 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 7.00pm 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 2nd November 2023.
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 Neighbourhood Plan.
8.2 To receive updates on the RHCG and maintenance of the natural river environment.
8.3 To receive updates on Rights of Way and approve any actions.
8.4 To receive updates on Highways matters and approve any actions including resolving to request the speed humps along Turnpike Lane to be repaired.
8.5 To receive updates on OWL and Neighbourhood Watch and approve any actions.
8.6 To receive an update on The Old George car park and approve any actions.
8.7 To approve the next steps to be taken regarding vans parked on common land and provide an update on Open Spaces Society with regard to law enforcement on common land and approve any costs including donation to the Open Spaces legal action appeal if appropriate.
8.8 To provide an update regarding insurance of the drain cover at the play area and approve any actions.
8.9 To provide an update on the new street plan and approve any actions.
8.10 To consider the provision of lighting at the play area car park.
9 New Matters
9.1 To approve the cost of £336.00 for cutting back the hedge on Chambers Lane at Arnolds Farm; to consider covering the cost of approximately £400.00 for cutting back trees at Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club requested by ISRC staff; and to discuss the removal of horse chestnut leaves throughout the village in order to reduce the presence of horse chestnut leaf miner.
9.2 To consider taking over the management of the allotments in Old Hale Way
9.3 To resolve to investigate grant eligibility for playground equipment grants
9.4 To discuss the flyer from residents regarding the planning decision appeal by The Old George and approve any actions
9.5 To resolve to investigate a replacement barrier at the ditch along Snailswell Lane and approve any actions or costs involved.
10 Planning applications
10.1 Applications received since the last meeting
10.1.1 23/02650/FP at Land South West Of And Adjacent To Lodge Court, Turnpike Lane
Full Planning Permission : Erection of eight dwellings comprising of 3 pairs of semi-detached dwellings (6 x 3-bed) and two detached 3-bed dwellings including integral garages (plots 1 and 8) with a new access spur from the Lodge Court, onsite parking, landscaping.
Deadline for comments: 16th December, extended to 12th January
10.2 Planning applications received between 29th November and 7th December
11 Planning Decisions
11.1 Decisions received since the last meeting
None
11.2 23/00210/1BOC Planning Enforcement Request
Burford Grange, Bedford Road, Ickleford, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3XG
11.3 Planning decisions received between 29th November and 7th December
12 Finance
12.1 To finalise the budget and approve the precept.
12.2 To acknowledge the Local Government 2023-24 pay agreement and approve the mandatory increase to the hourly rate within the current pay scale backdated to April 1st 2023.
12.3 To provide information regarding the issues with Barclays Bank and resolve to open a new business account, either with Barclays or with Unity Trust Bank.
12.4 To note receipts between meetings.
12.5 To approve payments made between meetings and any payments made at the meeting including the re-issue of the cheque to Stondon Village Hall – see Appendices A and B
13 Reports – for information only – no decisions or actions can be agreed at this time:
13.1 Rand’s Educational Foundation Governors
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 11th January 2024 at the village hall.