Here is my annual report for the year of 2017/2018, which ends on the 31st March 2018.
The Parish Council in the village holds a posting for seven vacancies, we are currently running at six members and actively trying to find a seventh to fill the post available.
This last year saw the retirement of Geoff Deacon from the Parish Council and the resignation of Matthew Brightman due to other commitments and thank them both for the work they have put in. The next parish council elections are due to take place in May 2019.
The members of the current parish council are: Garry Folbigg – Chairman, Mike Sargeant – Vice Chairman, Verity Hawkins, George Sweatman, Clive Birchett, and James Hopperton. The parish clerk is Mary Jordan.
The Council has met on 12 occasions during the year (including March 2018). At each meeting we deal with finance, highways, planning, speed watch, playing field matters and policing along with any correspondence received or matters arising outside the agenda.
At the first meeting the council adopted a series of working documents (which we are required to do) for the duration of the current council, including Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, Audit Measures, Data Protection, Information Access and associated documents.
During the course of the year, Council members attended external events/meetings representing the Parish, including: Highways Department meetings, School meetings, Ward Forum meetings with our local MP’s, Training courses, Clerks meetings and meetings with the Mayor.
For the balance of the report I will cover briefly the areas of focus that appear on the agenda of the monthly council meetings.
Highways
During the past year the topic of Highways has been monitored by Mike Sargeant and we have seen the tractor signs put up near the Kangaroo and just before Rectory Farm, more recently the most of the pot holes have been repaired and after much chasing the drain on Spring Hill was eventually cleaned out and some of the signs cleaned and replaced. Keep up the good work Mike. We are now chasing on some footpath re-surfacing and better drainage relief on the Moor Road turn along with some signage repairs.
Speeding
The speed watch team have now been taken on by Clive who is doing his upmost in getting sessions organised and keeping up a physical presence. Beds Police are also occasionally assisting with these sessions which do make a big difference. Hopefully with the arrival of some new portable speed monitoring equipment and continued sessions we shall keep the speeding issues down. Keep at it Clive!
Playing Field
The playing field is managed by the Parish council and workdays are held throughout the year to keep on top of hedge cutting and general maintenance etc. With Matt Brightman’s departure we are looking for the next Councillor to look after the running of the playing field and keep on top of the equipment in line with the required ROSPA checks which we have annually; the next one is due in May I believe. Anything requiring attention from the report is the taken in hand if not spotted previously.
This year has seen the erection of a fence and a hedge planted to separate the Bridleway from the playing field and I feel sure it will require regular wire tightening maintenance. The hedgerow had a vigorous haircut and we shall need regular cuts to keep in manageable.
The Pavilion is due a coat of paint / stain this year to keep it tidy and prevent the timber building from rotting.
Since the Paul Feneley has retired from cutting the playing field we had various quotes in from contractors for the surface maintenance and since we have appointed Peter Bailey a contractor from Cambridgeshire to carry out this year’s services.
The Cricket Club use the playing field during the season, and support the maintenance costs incurred to ensure that the playing field remains a viable village asset.
Planning
We monitor all planning applications that are in the Parish area, and those in neighbouring areas that will have an impact on our village. We support reasonable applications that add to the village, but do oppose developments that are clearly unreasonable or excessive and create a negative impact on the environment.
In recent months there has been a little activity with the Solar Farm changing some of the original planning applications but we are currently up to date and on top of it.
Policing
Recently we have been advised that Laura Hoggard and WPC Kerri Jones are now in place between Riseley and Biggleswade. This is a step towards the replacement of Paul Jones. Hopefully we can keep making headway and with the regular sessions councillors are now attending with the Police and then we shall not be forgotten about.
Village Green
This past year saw a bit of a stir with the Borough Council deciding to try and sell a small parcel of ground to the rear of the village green and to the front of Sonny Woodhams.
During the sale period we managed to get preservation order proceedings started on the mature trees on the plot which are now in full effect this made the plot a little more difficult for potential buyers.
I would like to thank all those who contributed by lobbying the council. The final result saw the withdrawal from sale of the ground due largely to technicalities with it being a viable building plot. I would like to point out that we advised them of this at a site meeting prior to it all starting only to be ignored.
Originally after discussions we were going to rent the ground on a long term lease saving it for the benefit of the village however more recently they have decided to sell us the ground for a token charge of £1.00 we do however have some legal fees to pay but at least then the ground is future-proof and becomes a village asset. Job well done by all.
I would like to say a big thank you to all who have worked and supported the village during the past year and thank them for the hard work put in.
Borough Councillor Wootton. Tom has given us and myself great support over the past year and feeds our concerns back to the Borough Council, his support in fighting the corner for all of his small village wards is a credit to him. Tom updates us monthly what is going on at Borough level and holds a ward forum meeting on a quarterly basis with various Borough councillors attending for talks and questions. Tom also provides a ward fund which has been used in various ways such as a being put towards the playing field fence.
Thanks to Jeanette Atkinson who edits and produces the village newsletter in which this year seems to have got me in less trouble! I hope we can find someone as enthusiastic to fill her role and carry on the newsletter in the same way. Also thanks to Marion and Mary for distributing copies each month.
Thanks to Paul Feneley for his grass cutting efforts on the playing field, and Roger Jordan for the continued grass cutting services of the village green and church road.
Thanks to all the current councillors for their continued support.
Please don’t forget there is an open forum at the start of the monthly council meetings should anyone wish to attend and raise any concerns.
Garry Folbigg
Chairman
March 2018