Ickleford Parish Council Annual Report 2016-2017 Published July 2017
Overview of the Parish Council The Parish Council consists of eight elected representatives of the village who voluntarily take on responsibility for preserving village interests in terms of character, history, environment and current requirements. Regular liaison occurs with the District and County Councils on likely policies affecting future developments in the village including housing, highways, footpaths and public safety. Surgeries are held between 7.15pm and 7.30pm in the Village Hall prior to all monthly Parish Council meetings for residents to discuss any matter relating to the Parish with a Parish Councillor. Parish Council meetings normally take place on the first Thursday of every month, except August, when there is no meeting. Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings, and residents are invited to take part in open discussion between 7.35pm and 8pm. In addition, the Annual Parish Meeting is held between March and May. Meeting agendas may be viewed on the Village Green noticeboard and on the village website at www.icklefordpc.com Contact Details Parish Clerk Parish Clerk Mrs Danielle Weetman 1 Freewaters Close, Ickleford, SG5 3TQ 07913 839933 mail@icklefordpc.com Parish Councillors Parish Councillors Cllr Miles Maxwell Chairman Chairman, Ickleford Primary School Governors 01462 434538 miles.maxwell@icklefordpc.com Cllr Philip Crowe Vice-Chairman Cllr Mick Barber Burial Ground Trustee Planning Advisor Sports and Recreation Club Committee Chairman, Ickleford Village Hall Committee Hertfordshire Highways Representative 01462 454310 philip.crowe@icklefordpc.com 01462 620489 mick.barber@icklefordpc.com Cllr Ray Blake Planning Advisor 01462 835135 ray.blake@icklefordpc.com Cllr David Chapallaz Rands Educational Foundation Governor Church Liaison - St Katharine s Church 01462 452475 david.chapallaz@icklefordpc.com Cllr Kathy Goldie Common Holders Committee Parish Paths Partnership Planning Advisor 01462 434779 kathy.goldie@icklefordpc.com Cllr Clare Tagg Planning Advisor clare.tagg@icklefordpc.com Cllr Colin Thurstance Burial Ground Trustee Common Holders Committee Parish Paths Partnership Rands Educational Foundation Governor Sports and Recreation Club Committee 01462 451059 colin.thurstance@icklefordpc.com District Councillor Cllr Harry Spencer-Smith Tingley House, Hexton Road, Pirton, Hitchin, SG5 3BJ 01462 712344 harry.spencer-smith@north-herts.gov.uk District Councillor County Councillor Cllr David Barnard County Councillor Lodge Cottages, Lilley Bottom Nr Luton, LU2 8NH 01462 768888 david.barnard@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Chairman s Report The Parish Council has led or overseen several initiatives in the past year. These include: Refurbishment of the village playground near the Sports and Recreation Club Completion of the initial phase of the footpath on Chambers Lane Production of an updated version of the Discover Ickleford leaflet Oversight of the refurbishment of the footbridge over the river Hiz near Gerry's Hole Continued maintenance of the Little Park allotments Challenged the validity of secondary school transfer rules Planning has been the area to which we have devoted much of our effort. In addition to the routine applications we have been presented with an outline proposal for up to 70 dwellings on the Bowman's Mill site, and for 19 dwellings at Ickleford Manor. The Parish Council has persuaded the applicants for the Ickleford Manor proposal that the sewage from this development should be pumped towards Hitchin, thus avoiding further overburdening the waste pipework in the centre of the village. The most significant challenge facing us is associated with the NHDC Proposed Submission Local Plan, which has put forward four developments within our parish: IC1 at Duncots Close 9 dwellings IC2 at Burford Grange 40 dwellings IC3 - Land at Bedford Road between Bedford Road and Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club 150 dwellings LS1 Land at Bedford Road at the north end of the parish boundary with Lower Stondon 120 dwellings The Parish Council has questioned the accuracy of some of the statements in the section of the Plan relating to Ickleford, and has some doubts that it has been created in good faith. More substantively the Parish Council believes that there are elements of the Plan, as they impact Ickleford, which are unsound and in some cases not legally compliant. Our main areas of objection are: Building on Green Belt Drainage and sewerage issues Increased traffic, and associated environmental and health impacts The Plan's incompatibility with District and national environmental objectives Lack of prior consultation on the two sites IC3 and LS1 which were added at a late stage Overlaying all of this is a real concern that the local infrastructure will simply collapse under the weight of the proposed developments. We accept the necessity of NHDC having a Local Plan, the need for additional housing, and that Ickleford should take a fair share. We are not opposed to all development indeed we did not object to the Local Plan proposal at LS1, and could accept some development further down at IC3. However, 319 new dwellings associated with the Local Plan, a further 70 at Bowmans and 19 at Ickleford Manor would take Ickleford from 844 to 1252 homes an increase of 408, or nearly 50%. This would alter the village beyond recognition, is simply unreasonable and unacceptable, and will be vigorously opposed. We strive hard to maintain the village to the high standards residents have come to expect, but find ourselves under increased financial pressure. A significant change which will affect us in the coming financial year is the decision from NHDC to prevent organisations such as Ickleford Parish Council who have the ability to raise funds via the Council Tax precept from applying for grants in future. We have accessed this funding stream many times over the years for a variety of projects and for maintenance of the village. Due to this and other economic challenges the Parish Council has reluctantly increased the precept by 5%. For a Band D property, the Parish Council element of Council Tax will increase by about 3 per year. We hope residents understand the need for this. It's important to acknowledge the representatives of the various village organisations, the police and our District and County Councillors, for their contributions to Ickleford, and to thank all members of the Parish Council and our Clerk for everything they do for the village. Cllr Miles Maxwell Chairman, Ickleford Parish Council
Refurbishment of the Play Area The Parish Council wanted to update and renew the play area at the Recreation Ground. We had some funds already that were being held by North Hertfordshire District Council following building projects already completed in the village, but on looking at the cost of just replacing just the old metal swings we realised that we needed some more funds. We researched what grants were available and came across the Tesco Bags of Help scheme which awards up to 12,000 to local charities and organisations. We applied and after a few months we were notified that we had been awarded 8,000. This made a big difference as we were then able to spend the money we needed to replace equipment which had been in place for over 40 years. We consulted with local residents, including the Ickleford School Council, to try and discover what was wanted. Most of the comments related to replacing the old swings, and a group swing was also very popular. Following research of various suppliers and numerous plans, we agreed on new swings being supplied and these were installed in November 2016. These new swings have proved very popular. Cllr Ray Blake Project Co-ordinator Little Park Allotments Little Park, situated behind Turnpike Lane, comprises 2,000 square metres of land owned by North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC). For many years this was just wasteland, bordered at one end by old corrugated iron garages which had fallen into disrepair. These garages had become total eyesores, attracting fly-tipping and vandalism, and causing the residents in the surrounding properties concern at times for their safety, in addition to the area also attracting various types of vermin. Pre-allotments When the Parish Council created their Parish Plan, residents asked if some improvement could be made. After enquiries of NHDC and North Hertfordshire Homes had been made confirming that the land was not going to be used for housing, due to financial constraints, the land could be transferred to themselves for allotments, and in 2010 the two authorities agreed. In terms of financing the refurbishment costs of 17,320, NHDC contributed 2,568 from S106 monies, 2,625 came from the Rural Grants Fund, and the Parish Council had 1,600 available, leaving a shortfall of 10,527.Following a successful application to the Big Lottery Fund, the site was cleared of old trees and shrubs, levelled off and new fencing installed for security. Finally a water supply was connected and the project completed. Creation of allotments NHDC granted a 15-year lease from 1 January 2012 and the area was divided into 14 plots of varying sizes, with the two established plots of 140 and 302 square metres respectively completing the site. Residents from the village were quick to respond and since the opening date all plots have been taken, with any vacancies quickly filled. The general consensus is of a happy bunch generating plenty of produce. This is a totally successful project by the Parish Council that has brought satisfaction to plot holders and surrounding residents of the area. Cllr Philip Crowe Project Co-ordinator
Financial Report Ickleford Parish Council employs the Parish Clerk as its Responsible Financial Officer to carry out day-to-day financial administration, prepare and present the annual accounts for audit, and prepare an annual budget for consideration by the Councillors. The Councillors set the budget in December for the following financial year after due consideration of on-going and future project commitments. The annual accounts and financial procedures for 2016/17 were approved at the Parish Council meeting held on 1 June 2017 following review and verification by an independent internal auditor. These have been sent to the external auditors, BDO LLP. In order to meet the higher cost of providing services for the benefit of the local community, the precept was increased to 45,000 for this financial year (from 42,500 in 2015/16). Please find below a summary of the Parish Council s income and expenditure for 2016/17. Accounts Summary for 2016/17 Balance at 01 April 2016 27,866 Receipts Payments Precept 45,000 Wages/Pension/Admin 17,493 Grants 21,534 Recreational Facilities 2,052 Other Receipts 1,170 Open Spaces 6,398 Bank interest 3 Village Repairs/Improvements 2,823 Burial Ground 3,790 Play area refurbishment 17,660 Grants 6,385 VAT 5,960 PCSO (Match Funded) 7,125 Other Projects 1,313 Total Receipts 67,707 Total Payments 70,999 Balance as at 01 April 2017 24,574 Grants During 2016/17, Ickleford Parish Council awarded grants totalling 6,385 to local organisations including Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club, Ickleford Pre-School, Ickleford Scout Group, St Katharine s Church, 60+ Group, and St Katharine s Junior Church and Mums & Tots Group. The Parish Council has a dedicated budget for grants to local organisations. The Grant Application Form and Policy can be downloaded from the website at www.icklefordpc.com Danielle Weetman Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
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