An ordinary meeting of Shillington Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 7th January 2025 at 19.45 at The Congregational Church, Shillington. The Agenda is set out below.
1) To receive apologies for absence.
2) To receive declaration of any interests in items on the agenda as required by the Shillington Parish Council Code of Conduct for Members and by the Localism Act 2011.
3) To resolve that the minutes of the following meetings be signed as a correct record:
a) Ordinary meeting held on 3rd December 2024
b) Finance meeting held on 11th December 2024
4) Matters arising not covered by the agenda (Information only).
Adjournment for Public to make comment:
Members of the public may make brief comment on items which are not on the agenda.
Members of the public wishing to address the Council during the meeting must make the Chair aware of their intention before the meeting starts.
5) To receive information from Police and Crime Commissioner
6) Planning
a) Information only – Decisions from Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC)
CB/TCA/24/00518 –10 Hanscombe End Road, Shillington, Hitchin, SG5 3NB. Works to a tree within a Conservation Area: Remove Ash Tree to ground level. RAISE NO OBJECTION 22/11/2024.
b) New / Revised Applications to be considered (Click on reference to view documents online)
Application Reference: CB/24/03612/FULL – Former Pig Pen, Higham Road, Higham Gobion. Demolition of existing building and erection of a dwelling house. (Comments to CBC by 14th January 2025).
Application Reference: CB/24/03597/LB – 75 Church Street, Shillington, Hitchin, SG5 3LJ. Listed Building: Removal of ground floor window and insertion of French doors. Internal works for removal of later hearth and cupboard additions, removal of internal wall panels. Construction of new internal partition wall and door and refurbishment of ground floor slab. Construction of new patio and erection of fences and gate. (Comments to CBC by 14th January 2025).
7) To receive a report from the Central Bedfordshire Councillor
8) Finance
a) Council to approve 2025/26 finance budget and precept provisionally agreed at Finance Meeting held 11th December 2024.
9) To consider tenders received and award contract
a) Grounds Maintenance and Litter Cleansing at Playing Fields and Hornes Pasture 01/04/2025 – 31/03/2027
b) Grass Cutting at Shillington War Memorial Garden 01/04/2025 – 31/03/2027
c) Amenity Grass and Highway Verge Maintenance Contract 1 & 2 01/04/2025 – 31/03/2027
d) Street Lighting Maintenance 01/04/2025 – 31/03/2027
10) Highways, Footpaths & Street Lighting
a) Streetlights
i) To consider quotation for replacement lantern for faulty streetlight S1 Bryants Close (£300.00 exc VAT).
b) To receive updates on Highway / Footpath issues in the Parish.
i) Grass verges and parking in Greenfields.
ii) Cracked and uneven footpath on Hillfoot Road.
iii) Surfacing condition of junction and road at Greenfields.
iv) Bridleway 8 from Church to Hanscombe End Road.
v) Non-accessible footpath on Upton End Road across Marquis Hill Junction.
vi) Parked cars on High Road, next to entrance of New Walk.
vii) Tree situated in Greenfields.
viii) Cracked and uneven path on Bury Road.
ix) Limited visibility of Barton Road signage.
x) Overgrown hedges impeding Highways areas situated on Hillfoot Road and Upton End Road.
c) Future road closures notified by Central Bedfordshire Council (Information Only):
– Aspley End Road, Shillington. Access for Engineers to work in overhead structure to repair cables customer without service. The closure will be in place 7th January from 0930-1530hrs.
– High Street, Gravenhurst. Carriageway Patching. The closure will be in place from 0900-1530hrs from 7th to 9th January 2025.
– Higham Road, Higham Gobion. Electrical Cable Installation and Connection Works. The closure will be in place from 24th to 28th March for 24hrs a day.
– Greenfields, Shillington. Micro Asphalt Surfacing. The closure will be in place from 29th to 30th January 2025 from 0900-1530hrs.
11) Police & Crime
a) Information only: Street Watch there were a total of 11 x 2 person patrols completed, averaging an hour for each patrol.
b) Information only: Speed Watch there were a total of 3 sessions in December completed.
c) Information only: Crime Statistics November 2024 had not been received.
12) Road Speed and Parking
a) Council to discuss options available for concerns of road speed in village.
13) Parish Council Deliberation:
a) Council to be updated in relation to the Clerk pursuing to be qualified and prepped for the job role.
b) Council to be updated with Working Groups research.
c) Council to discuss potential amendments to Financial Regulations (NALC 2024 version).
d) Council to discuss S106 expenditure and consider ideas.
14) CERT and Flooding
a) Council to be updated with regards to Community Emergency Response Team.
15) Community Properties, Land and Buildings
a) Council to discuss the use of Parish Council Reserves to update Community Buildings.
b) Council to be updated with Litter Campaign.
c) Council to discuss Memorial Tree placement for Resident.
d) Council to discuss ‘’go pesticide free’’ initiative.
e) Council to discuss a definitive map.
16) Defibrillators in the Parish
a) Council to discuss defibrillator for Pegsdon, Congregational Church and management of existing units.
17) Shillington Memorial Playing Field
a) Council to consider and discuss contribution to the purchase of a Bench, situated at Playing Fields.
18) Correspondence received
a) Correspondence received from Partnerships Community & Engagement Team CBC regarding VE Day 80 – 8th May 2025.
b) Correspondence received from Resident regarding Shillington Village Christmas Tree.
c) Correspondence received from Partnerships Community & Engagement Team CBC regarding Central Bedfordshire Local Plan.
d) Correspondence received from Chilterns National Landscape regarding proposed changes to the statutory management plan.
e) Correspondence received from Resident regarding concern of water leakage on Church Street.
f) Correspondence received from Resident regarding concern of child safety at corner of Church Street.
19) Accounts for Payment
a) Council to approve the payments to be made on or between meetings
b) Council to receive Bank reconciliation to 30th November 2024.