Councillor and Clerk Monthly Reports – Sept 2021

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Cllr Julie Cottle Report

  1. Tree works

The tree stumps have been removed from outside the school and in Brookside Close.  Topsoil and grass seed have been applied.  I’m pleased to say after checking each area, the seed has taken, and the grass is growing well.  We need to review this time next year with regards to replacing with new trees.

  1. KGV Field

The resident survey results are in, and we will be reporting on the results at the September meeting.

  1. Flooding/Canal Leak

I have been in contact with CRT, and they have informed me that the repair to the culvert under the canal will take place in the winter when it is quieter on the canal as they will probably have to drain a section of the canal for access.

  1. Footpaths

I am still waiting to hear from WNC regarding the footpath FP4, reported to Street Doctor.  I have also reported a broken stile on FP6 and a broken gate on FP8.

  1. Tarrys End

I have not heard from the contractor we awarded the Tarry’s End contract to. I will try to contact him again.

  1. Christmas Tree

I am looking into the feasibility and costs of planting a permanent Christmas tree on the Green near the memorial.

Cllr Chris Bolton Report

Street Lighting

Maintenance

  • Maintenance refund from EON received – £476.04.

Highways

  • Potholes – as always, any potholes or highway issues needs to be reported via Fix My Street
  • Crick Road railings – these have been damaged. Waiting for site visit from Northants Highways
  • Railings opposite the school – these have been repaired
  • Ward’s Lane – re-surfacing issue being picked up with residents and Northants Highways

Planning

Solar Farm

  • Bluefield LLP has appointed its main contractor – Bouygues. They were recently recognised as one of the top 10 solar EPC providers in the world by WikiSolar. Bluefield are still liaising with WPD on a connection date to allow works to begin.  I have chased regarding the community fund details and am awaiting a response.

Housing development – Hillmorton Lane

  • I have received an update from Whiterock. Some revisions to the site layout, following District Council comments, are being worked on which Whiterock will share with the PC once these have been agreed. Initial surveying work has been undertaken and a full planning application is expected to be made by the end of October.  Whiterock will keep us updated through myself and the Clerk.

New build

  • A planning application (WND/2021/0261) has been made for the construction of a dormer bungalow on the land to the rear of Manor Cottage, 92B High Street. The Council Planning Committee met to discuss this and decided to object to this on a number of grounds. Minutes of the Planning Committee can be found on the YPC website.

Speed Sign Project

  • A separate report with recommendations to the Parish Council has been made on this.

Clerk’s Report

CEMETERY

Burials

Quite busy this month with two internments, two exclusive rights of burials, two queries, and a headstone memorial request.

Cemetery headstone inspection training

It is best practice that the Burial Officer plus one other is trained in headstone inspections.  The recommended training is with BRAAM.  I have contacted them for training details but it was very expensive at £350 + VAT.  NALC are now running a course for £85 but with very limited numbers.  I have provisionally booked a place and added to this agenda for approval. This will compliment previous training undertaken.

TRAINING

I have booked a GDPR course and have attended many free webinars this month:

  • Northants ACRE – Going Green with Energy
  • Northants ACRE – Community Swap Shops and Food Growing Projects
  • Northants ACRE – natural capital, green infrastructure plans and the planning framework’
  • Northants ACRE – Rural projects to explore – setting up a community orchard’
  • Northants ACRE – The importance of village halls in rural life

AUDIT

The 2020/21 audit documentation was submitted to the external auditor in June and published on our website. Still no result received.

MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR

The new groundsman contractor seems ok, albeit a bit slow as he is so busy.  He does respond to me quickly but takes 2-3 weeks to carry out work.  He has cleared all the alleys and the footpath by Troutbeck.

GRASS

There has been a couple more teething problems with Norse not cutting all the areas they should but they rectify them same day.  I cannot fault their service/customer service and I think the village is looking the best it has for a while.

Village Directory

I have spent considerable time updating the village directory listings and trying to obtain payment.  So many just do not respond or no not advise updates to their details.  A lot of companies have been removed from the directory as they have not paid and are not responding to my correspondence.

Archiving

I use August to do my annual archiving, clearing out etc.  Many files that are no longer needed have been shredded.  Minute books passed to the History Group.  I am working on making all the cemetery correspondence electronic.  Scanning it all is taking a lot of time.

Councillor & Clerk Monthly Reports – July 2021

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Cllr Julie Cottle Report

Tree Works

The Mountain Ash in School Lane and the False Acacias in Brookside Close have been removed.  The stumps will be ground down and dressed with top soil.  Grass seed will be applied to all three in due course.

I have looked at the trees in Tarrys End as required by our tree survey and can report that all the trees appear to be healthy. I will continue to monitor them.

Tarrys End

I am in discussion with the contractor and still waiting to get the resurfacing work underway.

KGV Field

Survey is ready for printing.

Flooding

There was a leak in the canal which flooded down the Crick Bridleway.  I contacted CRT to report this immediately and it has been temporarily fixed.  I am liaising with CRT who will let me know when a permanent fix will be completed.

There is a need to raise the profile of the flooding problems in Yelvertoft.  Several residents have asked me what actions the Parish Council is taking to resolve the flooding situation. The Parish Council Flood Team should meet to formulate a response to the residents.  We should also be pressurising all the authorities on the actions they are taking to resolve Yelvertoft’s flooding problems.

Footpaths

Having received complaints about FP8, I have cleared and trimmed the grass and hedge concerned.  This is an area where volunteers would be particularly useful.

After receiving a complaint last month about FP8, I am pleased to report that a farmer has removed the manure heap and laid hardcore down to make the gateway easily passable.

FP15 Wards Lane to The Old Rectory is overgrown and requires clearing.

I have responded to WNC advertisement for Parish Path Warden for Yelvertoft.  Apparently, I will get training and support to carry out this role if successful.

Cemetery

Waiting for a delivery date on the new container.

Volunteers in the Village

I have become very aware recently of the excellent work our current volunteers are doing.  With the increase in growth of grass and hedgerows etc. the work has become demanding, so we are grateful of their support.

We need to officially thank John Nichols for mowing and keeping the KGV Field and Allotment Field tidy, Mr Sam Jarvis for the excellent work on tidying the Diamond Jubilee Garden recently.  We also need to thank Laurie Tedcastle and David McCullum for their continued hard work in the Cemetery and surrounding areas.  They do an amazing job whilst saving the Parish Council considerable revenue.

Cllr Chris Bolton Report

Street Lighting

Maintenance

  • Successfully negotiated a refund on street light maintenance. The amount is to be confirmed
  • Report that a light on Ward’s Lane is obscured by tree foliage. Requires attention – working with Clerk to resolve.

Highways

Speed Signs

  • Met with representative of Road Safety team to discuss speed signs. Proposal/motion in progress.

Potholes

  • There has been significant pot hole work both in the village and surrounding areas (eg Lilbourne). However, potholes will remain an issue for the future.  Residents need to continue to be reminded to report problems through the YPC website or directly through Fix My Street

Other

  • Railings – the railings opposite the school were damaged by a delivery van reversing into them. Northants Highways have removed the damaged parts and put tape round.  Estimated time for full repair is up to 6 months.  The school has been informed.
  • Work has started on the electronic gate for the bridleway at the end of Hillmorton Lane.

Solar farm

Positive meeting held on solar farm – 2nd June.  There are a number of companies involved in the development with Lightrock seemingly a sub-contractor for the application.  The main investor and ultimate owner is Bluefield.  The meeting was with a Bluefield Investment Associate and their Head of Engineering.  No construction company had been appointed at the time of our meeting.  It was however anticipated that ‘enabling works’ (fences etc) would take place this year with actual construction starting in 2022 and lasting for c6 months.

It was agreed that a further meeting would take place once the construction company had been appointed to enable discussions on traffic management and potential highway damage and any other concerns (eg flooding, environment).  It was also agreed that community liaison was essential in order to address and alleviate any resident anxieties.

The £10k Community Fund was also discussed and Bluefield will report back on this.

A follow up email has been sent (26/06/210 to request an update)

  • Whiterock Homes (Hillmorton Lane development)
  • Awaiting planning confirmation

Cllr Nigel Mercer Report

Neighbourhood Watch and PLR report

This month there were quite a few break ins and burglaries that got shared to the village noticeboard.

We also now know who our Police Community Support Officer is (PCSO) and I am making contact with him this week. PCSO 7065 Craig Egdell, Neighbourhood Policing Team, Daventry Rural Officer.

I have also now contacted PLRs and NW folks in the nearby villages, to gauge interest in forming a WhatsApp group for locally disseminating information that is particularly relevant to our area.  So far, positive responses, so I’ll be forming the WhatsApp group very soon.  I’ll invite PC Craig Egdell to join as well.

We have been offered new NW signs to put up in the village.  After a walk around I think our existing ones seem to be in good condition but I think that there a few extra places that we could put some.

Clerk’s Report

CEMETERY

Cemetery ashes sign

I am having no joy with getting the sign back of the old contractor.  I will persevere.

Cemetery Headstone Complaint

I contacted the next of kin regarding an unsafe headstone.  She asked that the PC get it secured and invoice her, which I did.  We now have the son denying any liability.  I am dealing with this.

Cemetery headstone inspection training

It is best practice that the Burial Officer plus one other is trained in headstone inspections.  The recommended training is with BRAAM.  I have contacted them for training details and costs but to date cannot get a response.

TRAINING

I have attended many free webinars this month:

  • HMRC – Payroll expenses and benefits
  • Northampton Virtual Funding Fayre:
  • Rural Support Services and Village Hall Advice
  • Tesco Community Grants and SEMLEP Community Grants
  • Lloyds Bank Foundation
  • Office of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
  • The National Lottery Community Fund
  • Children in Need
  • Central Coop and Coop group

AUDIT

The 2020/21 audit documentation has been submitted to the external auditor and published on our website.

MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR

The previous contractor will just not respond to me. As stated above, he is holding the Cemetery ashes sign, along with the bridleway no vehicles sign.  I will continue different ways to resolve this.

The new contractor is not interested in small ground maintenance work.  I have made a proposal to solve this with a new contractor on this agenda as we have many outstanding jobs that need doing.

GRASS

There has been some teething problems with Norse not cutting all the areas they should but Julie kindly took photos and I have been liaising with Norse who came out straight away and rectified the issues.  Going forwards they are now a lot clearer on what/where we cut so there should be no more problems.

Support for Carers

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Saxon Spires Drop in Poster from 7.9.21

 

Notice of Parish Councillor Vacancy

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NOTICE UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT (1972 (Section 87(2))

VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that a casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor for the Parish of Yelvertoft following the resignation to accept office of ___Dawn Hedgecock____________________.

Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 now applies.

The rule allows TEN ELECTORS for the ward in which the casual vacancy has arisen to request the Returning Officer to hold an election to the vacancy.* That request must be made within FOURTEEN DAYS, calculated in accordance with the rules. The 14 day notice ends on 1st October 2021.

What if a request to hold an election is not received during the permitted time?

Rule 5(5) of the above Rules will apply.  The Parish Council must, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the fourteen-day period, co-opt a person to fill the vacancy.

The Returning Officer’s address is:

Electoral Services, West Northamptonshire Council, Lodge Road, Daventry, NN11 4FP.

The telephone number for further guidance is 0300 126 7000 or email: electoralservices.ddc@westnorthants.gov.uk

 

This notice is dated _13th September 2021__________________

Samantha Haywood, Clerk to Yelvertoft Parish Council

 

* There is no form of word for this request, which might simply be a letter headed with such words as ‘We the undersigned being electors of the [Ward of] …. Parish, call for an election to fill the vacancy arising from the [death][resignation] of *.  A template entitled “Request for an Election” is available from the Parish Clerk.  It is helpful if the ten signatures are accompanied by printed names and addresses.

** In calculating the notice period, day one is the day following the date of this notice; a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, Good Friday or a bank Holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning shall be disregarded, and the period closes at midnight on the fourteenth day after the date of this notice.  Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities)(England and Wales) Rules 2006 now applies.