Minutes of a Meeting of Northborough Parish Council held on
Wednesday 10th March 2021 from 7.00pm
by video link using Zoom, in accordance with regulations issued under Section 78 of the Coronavirus Act 2020.
21.28 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair John Dadge, Vice Chair Malcolm Spinks, Councillors Robert Chiva, David Aldwinckle, Mark Malcolm
IN ATTENDANCE: Clerk Catherine Franks
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Brian Spriggs (Covid-19 restrictions), Stewart Curtis (health), Elaine Mann (health)
21.29 DECLARATIONS: No declarations of interest nor written requests for dispensations were received
21.30 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING, held on Wednesday, 10th February 2021, were Proposed by Cllr Spinks, Seconded by Cllr Aldwinckle, Confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.
21.31 PUBLIC FORUM: None
21.32 COUNCILLOR VACANCY: No applications received, item carried forward.
21.33 REPORTS FROM WARD COUNCILLORS or OTHER INVITED SPEAKERS: None
21.34 PLANNING applications considered:
34.1 21/00156/HHFUL: 53 Church View, Loft Conversion exceeding permitted development limits and single storey rear extension. Cllr Chiva had reviewed the application. No comments proposed.
34.2 21/00141/HHFUL: 29 Crowson Crescent, First floor extension and single storey rear extension. Chair and Cllr Chiva had reviewed the application. Proposed by Cllr Dadge, Seconded by Cllr Chiva and RESOLVED to submit the council’s objection to the proposal, with comments as drafted and circulated. A large number of public comments submitted, in support of and against the proposal, was noted.
34.3 21/00131/LBC: 1 Church Street, Installation of non-opening roof light to….kitchen extension. No comments proposed.
34.4 21/00239/CTR: 30A Church Street, Poplar – reduce tree height. No comments proposed.
34.5 21/00297/CTR: 54 Church Street, Willow – reduce one tree and re-pollard another. No comments proposed.
Decision on application about which the Council has commented was Noted:
34.6 20/01632/HHFUL: 2 Church Farm Mews, Permitted.
21.35 GOVERNANCE:
35.1 Annual Village Meeting, Saturday 10th April. Council received proposals from the Clerk for the meeting to be held virtually under Section 78 of the Coronavirus Act 2020. It was Agreed to proceed as recommended, including expenditure on inserts in the Village Advertiser at a cost of £64 (exc VAT).
35.2 Annual Parish Council meeting. Clerk had previously circulated advice from NALC relating to the expiry of regulations that allow virtual meetings, a week before the planned meeting date. It was Proposed by Cllr Chiva, Seconded by Cllr Malcolm and RESOLVED to bring the date of the meeting forward to Wednesday 5th May.
35.3 CAPALC/NALC affiliation for the 2021/22 financial year. It was Proposed by Cllr Dadge, Seconded by Cllr Chiva and RESOLVED to renew the Council’s affiliation, including the Data Protection Officer Membership scheme.
35.4 A risk assessment template to be used for Volunteering Activity was Proposed by Cllr Malcolm, Seconded by Cllr Dadge and ADOPTED as drafted. Councillors noted the template had been used by Cllr Chiva for the wildflower planting project and confirmed a need for a Safeguarding policy. ACTION – Clerk.
35.5 Trading licence policy beyond ‘lockdown’. Councillors agreed that trading in the Cromwell Close car park had gone well to date and raised issues of a) support for the Packhorse Pub once it re-opened, and b) parking congestion once the Village Hall re-opened. NCA Treasurer and GNFC Treasurer had both been approached and neither expected a problem in the next few months. ACTION – Clerk to liaise with Packhorse Pub. It was Agreed to continue with the policy as at present and review at each Council meeting as restrictions lift.
35.6 An application from Amo La Pizza to trade in the car park on 27th March or 3rd April was Approved.
21.36 VILLAGE AMENITIES AND MAINTENANCE:
36.1 Burial Grounds: Draft Minutes of the Burials Committee meeting held on 22nd February 2021 had been published and were Noted. It was also Noted that work on the Churchyard Footpath started on 8th March; one query by the contractor had been resolved. Work on the Cemetery footpaths was ongoing, with a delay in supply of key materials.
21.37 FINANCE:
37.1 The Finance Report dated 28th February 2021 was Proposed by Cllr Dadge, Seconded by Cllr Chiva and APPROVED.
37.2 Recommendations by the Burials Committee for expenditure were considered:
a) Subscription to Scribe Cemetery software at cost of £468pa and £200 initial set-up (exc VAT). Chair commented on discussions held by the Burials Committee. Proposed by Cllr Spinks, Seconded by Cllr Chiva and RESOLVED.
b) Cost of materials only, to make minor repairs to the cemetery gates. Chair outlined revised plans. Expenditure of £50 was Proposed by Cllr Spinks, Seconded by Cllr Malcolm and RESOLVED.
37.3 The attached Schedule of Receipts and Payments was Proposed by Cllr Spinks, Seconded by Cllr Aldwinckle and RESOLVED.
21.38 REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS AND CLERK:
38.1 Reports from councillors on portfolio of responsibilities and actions outstanding.
a) Cllr Spinks: The donated bench was about to be installed on playing field.
b) Cllr Dadge:
i) Defibrillator – the electrician had recommended using the school’s contractors to link with the supply to the rising barrier, Deputy Chair of Governors was liaising. Once this was carried out installation would be complete and the equipment could be available for use.
ii) Extension of CCTV coverage at Village Hall – costs had been received from the original supplier. Discussions continuing with NCA.
iii) Chair and Clerk had attended Glinton Parish Council’s February meeting to observe discussion over a major development on the edge of the village. Noted how the meeting was run, which was slightly different to Northborough. Chair and Clerk recommended councillors to attend a meeting in another parish, for experience of how other parishes operate.
c) Cllr Chiva:
i) Asked councillors to note that paths on Church Street were getting narrow, due to encroachment of undergrowth. Agreed to report to PCC with a maintenance request. ACTION – Clerk and to copy PCC Cllr Hiller. It was also noted that the footpath at end of Paradise Lane towards Maxey Cut was becoming damaged through over-use in bad weather. This was a public right of way but on private land.
ii) Seeds had been delivered for the wildflower test areas which would be prepared soon.
d) Cllr Malcolm: playing field bridge. After circulating information from the Internal Drainage Board, Lee Moore at PCC Highways had been consulted for contractor recommendations.
38.2 Report from Clerk on items not covered elsewhere on the agenda. None
38.3 External meetings, conferences and training – to note upcoming dates and receive reports: None
21.39 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED was Noted:
39.1 Request to publicise Animal Crackers Pet Food Bank. Agreed to accept a small poster for noticeboards.
39.2 Request from Glinton & Northborough Football Club for training over the Easter school break. Permission granted. Cllr Aldwinckle updated that this would be for the first week only.
39.3 Query from resident about landscaping of grassed area at front of property on Granville Avenue. Agreed that this was not a parish council issue. Resident to be directed to his title deeds and to PCC with reference to historic planning approval. ACTION – Cllr Dadge.
39.4 Objection from resident to the outcome of planning application 21/01632/HHFUL. Noted that this was an issue between the resident and the planning authority; no further comments.
21.40 The NEXT MEETING of the Council will be held on Wednesday 14th April 2021, followed by the Annual Parish Council meeting on 5th May 2021.
Meeting closed at 20:20
Abbreviations used in these Minutes:
CAPALC – Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Association of Local Councils
GNFC – Glinton and Northborough Football Club
NALC – National Association of Local Councils
NCA – Northborough Community Association
PCC – Peterborough City Council
Schedule of Receipts and Payments (21.37.3)
Receipts:
a) Northborough Community Association: cleaning contract, February 2021, £377.84
b) Weston: trading licence fee, £20.00
c) Scholes of Deeping: interment fee, £150.00
Payments:
d) Staff Basic Pay for February 2021, £1,451.21 (paid by standing order)
e) Lloyds Bank plc: monthly debit card fee, £3.00 (auto card)
f) HP Print: ink subscription for printer, £7.99 (auto card)
g) Takepayments: monthly subscription for card receipts scheme, £20.40 (direct debit)
h) Barclaycard: monthly card receipts scheme fee, £5.81, January (direct debit)
i) NEST: Employee/employer pension contribution February 2021, £77.40 (direct debit)
j) Staff Overtime less statutory deductions, February 2021, £371.03
k) HMRC: Employee/Employer NI for February 2021, £77.81
l) Richard Harding: Grounds Maintenance churchyard, cemetery etc, February 2021, £482.50.
m) Richard Harding: Grass cutting playing field, February 2021, £200.00
n) Richard Harding: Grass cutting verges, February 2021, £300.00 (incl agreed credit)
o) Viridor Waste Management: Waste removal January and February 2021, £89.90
p) CAPALC: annual affiliation fee incl DPO scheme, £493.63
q) Starboard Systems Ltd: Scribe Cemetery software, £801.60
r) Boston Seeds: Wildflower seeds (Minute 20.127.2.a), £302.99
s) Anglian Water Business: cemetery water supply, £43.80
t) John Dadge: reimbursement of village planter plants (Minute 20.127.5.b), £71.39