Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of Ickleford Parish Council will take place on Thursday 9th May 2023 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.
Judith Crosier
Clerk to Ickleford Parish Council
AGENDA
1 To elect a Chairman
1.1 The newly-elected Chairman and the Clerk to sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office
2 To elect a Vice-Chairman
2.1 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 4th April 2024.
7 Public Participation Session
7.1 Members of the press and public have the opportunity to have an open discussion with the Parish Council.
8 Review of Standing Orders and Financial Regulations
8.1 Standing Orders have been reviewed and circulated to all Councillors. Councillors to approve any further amendments.
8.2 New model Financial Regulations have been issued this week by NALC and will be reviewed for adoption by Ickleford Parish Council at a future meeting.
9 Appoint, as required, the following representatives for the ensuing council year:
9.1 Appointment of representative for Rand’s Educational Foundation
9.2 Appointment of representative for Ickleford Village Hall Committee
9.3 Appointment of representative(s) for Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club Committee
9.4 Appointment of members of the Staffing Committee
9.5 Appointment of representative(s) for Common Holders
9.6 Appointment of Planning advisors
9.7 Appointment of Rights of Way advisors
9.8 Appointment of signatories for cheques, and for online banking when the new bank account is in use
9.9 Appointment of the Internal Auditor for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 audits
9.10 Continuing engagement of DCK Payroll for 2024-25
10 Review of insurance cover arrangements and asset register
10.1 The Clerk has reviewed insurance arrangements and circulated to all Councillors. Councillors to approve terms and costs of insurance.
10.2 The Clerk has reviewed the asset register and circulated to all Councillors. Councillors to review and approve any amendments to the asset register.
11 Review of the Council’s and Clerk’s memberships of other bodies
11.1 Ickleford Parish Council is currently a member of HAPTC (including NALC affiliation), CPRE, Open Spaces and ICO (the Information Commissioner). SLCC. Councillors to approve the cost of ongoing membership of the above organisations
12 Review of policies
12.1 The Privacy Policy has been reviewed and circulated to all Councillors. Councillors to review and approve any amendments.
12.2 The Protocol on Communications has been reviewed and circulated to all Councillors. Councillors to review and approve any amendments.
12.3 The Terms of Reference for the Staffing Committee have been updated to provide clarity. Councillors to review and approve the amendment to and clarification of bullet point 4.
13 Calendar of meeting dates for the ensuing council year
13.1 Councillors to agree and approve dates for the remainder of 2024-25.
14 On-going Projects
14.1 To receive any updates on the Neighbourhood Plan.
14.2 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.
14.3 To receive updates on the RHCG and maintenance of the natural river environment in Ickleford and approve any actions.
14.4 To receive updates on Rights of Way including fly tipping at Lavender Grange.
14.5 To receive updates on Highways matters and approve any actions.
14.6 To receive updates on Herts Connected and approve any actions.
14.7 To receive an update on The Old George car park and approve any actions.
14.8 To receive an update on the street plan for Ickleford and approve any actions.
14.9 To resolve to write a letter to Hertfordshire County Council supporting SLGF.
14.10 To approve the request for the purchase of crime prevention items on behalf of Hitchin Police
14.11 To provide updates on the investigation of the removal of the bollard at Little Park and approve any actions including alternative solutions for traffic calming.
14.12 To finalise arrangements for the D-Day anniversary event and approve the invoice of £400 for the singer including the refund of £200 to Cllr Goldie for the deposit and any other outstanding costs
15 New Matters
15.1 To approve the costs for training on the role of the Chairman as well as CPD for the Clerk.
15.2 To resolve to request S106 funding from North Herts Council for projects in the village.
15.3 To consider a request from a resident to create a path across Upper Green.
15.4 To review the change in the contract for grass cutting arrangements at Lower Green and theplay area and to approve any actions.
15.5 To approve the transfer of allotment plot 8 to resident sharing plot 10.
16 Planning applications
16.1 24/00882/FPH at 4 Longmeadow Drive, Ickleford SG5 3TJ
Full Permission Householder: Installation of freestanding air source heat pump in front garden. Deadline for comments: 22nd May
16.2 24/00018/LBC at 100 Arlesey Road, Ickleford SG5 3TH
Replace sole plate and brick plinth, replace existing timber studs at ground floor only, install sheep’s fleece insulation within infill panels before finishing with lime render on front (gable end) elevation.
Councillors supported the application and the Clerk informed North Herts Council prior to the meeting.
16.3 24/00724/LBC at Lower Green Farm, Lower Green, Ickleford SG5 3TW
Retrospective Listed Building Consent: Internal alterations to small barn including installation of mezzanine floor and staircase. Deadline for comments extended to 13th May
16.4 Planning applications received between 3rd and 9th May
17 Planning Decisions
17.1 24/00348/LDCE at 19 St Katherine’s Close, Ickleford SG5 3XS
Construction of new bungalow : [North Herts] Council is satisfied that, on the balance of probabilities, sufficient evidence has been provided to establish that the new bungalow identified in the application commenced before the expiry date of the planning permission 21/00457/FP.
17.2 24/00018/LBC at 100 Arlesey Road, Ickleford SG5 3TH
Description as above. Conditional Listed Building Consent was granted on 12th April.
17.3 24/00414/FPH at 71 Arlesey Road, Ickleford SG5 3TG
Two storey side extension and front porch extension following demolition of existing conservatory (as amended by plans received 9 April 2024). Conditional permission granted
24/00387/FPH at 4 Freewaters Close, Ickleford SG5 3TQ
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).
Conditional permission granted.
17.4 Planning decisions received between 3rd and 9th May
18 Finance
18.1 To note receipts between meetings
18.2 To approve the pay increase for the Clerk after recommendation from the Staffing Committee to award a pay rise of one spinal point at the annual performance review meeting.
18.3 To approve payments made between meetings and any payments made at the meeting – see Appendix A
19 Reports – for information only – no decisions or actions can be agreed at this time:
19.1 Rand’s Educational Foundation Governors
19.2 Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club Committee
19.3 Ickleford Village Hall Committee
19.4 Staffing Committee
20 Chairman’s Report
20.1 To receive urgent matters from the Chairman – for information only
21 Next Meeting/AOB
21.1 To suggest agenda items for the next Parish Council meeting
21.2 To confirm the next meeting date