Here is my annual report for the year of 2018/2019, which ends on the 31st March 2019.
The Parish Council in the village holds a posting for seven vacancies although we are currently running at six members. 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, Verity Hawkins, George Sweatman, Clive Birchett – Vice Chairman, and James Hopperton. The parish clerk is Mary Jordan.
The Council has met on 12 occasions during the year (including March 2019). 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 year, Council members attended various external events/meetings representing the Parish, including: Highways Department meetings, School meetings, Ward Forum meetings with our district councillors and on occasions our local MP’s, Training courses, Clerks meetings and meetings etc.
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 years the topics of Highways has been monitored by Mike Sargeant and we have seen that after much chasing the drain on Spring Hill was eventually cleaned out and some of the road signs cleaned and replaced. We are currently waiting for our slot as to re-surfacing the footpath on Spring Hill which we are promised will be done this year. Keep up the good work Mike.
Speeding
The speed watch team under Clive who is doing his upmost in getting sessions organised and keeping up a physical presence for this summer season. Beds Police are also occasionally assisting with these sessions which does make a difference. With the portable
Morelock speed device we a seeing it help keep the speed down albeit there are some who use it to see how fast they can go through the village. Information is being extracted from the device and used in our constant battle to see what alternate methods are available. 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. We keep on top of the equipment in line with the required ROSPA checks which we have annually alongside our own in-house risk assessment, the next one is due in May. Anything requiring attention from the report is the taken in hand if not spotted previously.
The Pavilion is due a coat of paint / stain this year to keep it tidy and prevent the timber building from rotting.
We have re-appointed Peter Bailey a contractor from Cambridgeshire to carry out this year’s grass cutting 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 some activity with the Solar Farm changing some of the original planning applications again, but we are currently up to date and on top of it.
Policing
WPC Kerri Jones is continuing her cover between Riseley and Biggleswade. We have kept up with the regular session’s councillors are now attending with the Police quarterly at Kempston, but the format is changing somewhat and yet again the more rural areas need better assurances from the force especially after a substantial rise in their percentage of the latest Council Tax Bill.
Village Green
The transfer is now complete for the area of Green in front of Sonny Woodham along with full preservation orders on some of the mature trees. This area is now saved for everyone’s future enjoyment.
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 around the village.
Thanks to Jeanette Atkinson who retired after a long service of the village newsletter and many thanks to Vicki Airs for taking on the role and the seamless transfer between them. Also thanks to Marion Davies and Mary Jordan for distributing copies each month and all the other areas you both cover without being asked.
Thanks to Roger Jordan for the continued free 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 questions or concerns.
Garry Folbigg
Chairman
March 2019