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PARISH COUNCIL REPORT

1st April 2009 to 31^st March 2010

As is normal practice I present a short summary of matters dealt with by the Parish Council for the last financial period — 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010. The matters are in no particular order.

Planning - A relatively quite year. We had expected the consultation on the new Local Development Framework (the old Local Plan) , would involve the Parish council in considerable extra work.

This has not happened as the consultation phase has not yet commenced. Applicants wishing to include sites in the new LDF for proposed development have made submissions to the Borough Council and at Parish level we are now awaiting the draft foe comment.

In the year we commented on28 planning applications compared to 21 in 2008/2009.

Admin and Financial

Details of the Income and Expenditure for the period are presented on a separate sheet together with current reserves.

In December 2008 we set the precept for 2009/20 10 at £22,600 which when added to other anticipated income from allotment rents, VAT recovery, grass cutting allowance and interest produced an expected income of £24,635.00.

VAT recovery was higher than anticipated and our total income was £26,253.43.

Total expenditure for the period was lower than anticipated at £22,130.18, This was mainly as a result of prudent management and some expenditure planned on such’ matters as replacement of ageing light columns and the erection of a new seat opposite the shop , not being completed within the financial year~

These will be carried forward to the 2010/2011 financial year.

In January 2010 we set the precept for 01/04/2010 to 31/03/2011 at a modest 1% increase to £22,860. Due to the method of dividing this between Community Tax payers in the Parish and the increase in the number of households , the average for a band D property has dropped from £44.81 to £42.24. A reduction of 6.08%.

One of the financial regulations placed on all Parish Councils in 1998 was that we have to appoint an internal auditor to carry out a series of checks which then form part of our annual external audit.

Tim Copping has carried out the duties on internal auditor very diligently and impartially and without any cost to the Parish. Tim is stepping down this year and on behalf of the Parish Council I wish to thank Tim for his work

I welcome Roy Nichol of Bowers Lane who has agreed to serve as our new internal auditor and was appointed by the Parish Council at our March meeting. ~

Highways, Footways and Lighting - The Highways Partnership Scheme under which we have had considerable footway and lighting updating over the past 5 or 6 years is now discontinued,

Highways work carried out in the Parish has therefore been limited to planned repairs and resurfacing.

The Parish Council has requested consideration for 20MPH speed restrictions outside our two schools and the approaches to the Lower School in Gold Street. A decision will not be made until full details of any proposed scheme is know.

Our planned replacement programme to replace two ageing light columns in 2009/2010 did not take place and we have therefore carried forward the total to be added to the replacements planned for 2010/2011.

Brook - Work was carried out in 2009 to desi]t around the Gold Street Bridge by the Environment Agency. There have been no problems this year with the water flow or flooding.

Ross Meadow & Allotments - As reported ‘last year we are seeking volunteers to take on the management of Ross Meadow as with its maturity the work needed to keep the trees and surrounding hedges in check is increasing.

One bed of shrubs that was getting out of control was removed by contractors and trees have been planted in its place..

In respect of the allotments we engaged contractors to tidy the area and rotavate the allotments. There is currently a waiting list which the Council is addressing. Charges are being revised to bring some consistency in the rents when compared to plot sizes and tenants not fully utilising their allotment are being asked to consider releasing them.

Playing Field — The RRA has drawn up a set of conditions for use where permission is sought for vehicular access to the Playing Field , either for Village events or for access to adjacent properties. Further work to pollard the trees at the top corner of the Playing Field is being carried out at a cost of £850.00.

Bottle Bank. — I must record once again thanks to Bernard Clark for running the Bottle Bank, doing the paperwork with the Borough Council and arranging with the hauliers for the regular emptying. The profit continues to be distributed ‘50/50 to the Village, Hall and RRA with £500 being donated to those organisations so far this year.

Newsletter - Deborah Matthews continues to edit and arrange for the production of the bi monthly newsletter on a purely voluntary basis for which, the Parish is very appreciative as it. Sharnbrook School continue to do the duplicating of some .550 copies which again is appreciated as the costs are lower than if we had to arrange commercial printing. Current costs are approx £1250 per year for the 6 issues.

Web Site —Thanks go once more to John and Jean Clelland for their efforts in maintaining and updating the Riseley Website; www.riseley.info with information and photographs of events.

It is pleasing to report that the web site has brought enquires from descendants of Riseley residents researching their family histories not only from within the UK but also this year from Australia, New Zeaiand and South Africa

Village Tidyness - Our Village Handyman, Raymond Martin continues in his efforts to keep the designated areas of the Village litter free and this is very noticeable. He has carried out additional duties such as cleaning the Village White gates and clearing the Autumn leaf fall.

The Spring Clean in 2009 was again one of the most successful in the Borough and well supported by youngsters and adults alike and by local businesses Sporting Targets and Bedford Autodrome. The 2010 event is on May 8th.

Donations to Village Organisations — The Parish Council supported the Villager Minibus, The Over 60’s Group ,paid for the hire of Margaret Beaufort School for the Borough Council Summer Play Scheme and gave a contribution towards grants sought from the Borough Council Rural Grant Scheme to The Indoor Bowls Club for equipment and The Riseley 2000 Group for a Picnic Table on the Playing Field.

Grass Cutting — This continues to be one of the main expenses of the Parish. We aim to cut all the verges within the 30MPH speed zone plus grass areas such as Ross Meadow and the Churchyard every three weeks , which equates to on average 13 cuts per year. We aim to cut the Playing Field every 10 days.

Conclusion - I thank the Parish Councillors and the Parish Clerk for all the time and effort they give to ensuring that this Parish Council runs effectively and efficiently and really makes a difference to our community.

I am sure that residents not familiar with the work of the Parish Council might think that it just involves having the one meeting a month but in fact, whilst the decisions are made at the monthly meetings most of the work goes on in the background

I also thank our Borough Councillor , Ian Clifton for his attendance at nearly all our meetings and for all the support he gives the Parish at Borough level. I can personally confirm that Ian serves the Parish very well for which the Parish Council are very grateful.

This has been particularly so in this transition period for Bedford Borough and Bedfordshire County Councils to the new Unitary Authority.

With all local authorities seeking cost savings it is more important now than ever before that the rural voice is heard in order to ensure we do not suffer reduced services.

The annual distribution of the £3.01 to Widows and £3.00 to Widowers of the Parish is a result of the combining of two village charities.

'Bourne's Gift' was created in the 18th Century by a gift of £10, the interest on which was to be distributed annually to widows of the Parish.

The 'Cakebread Close' charity dated from the enclosures act of 1793. The field next to the church was given to the vicar of the Parish with the proviso that two bushels of wheat be made into bread and distributed to every household in the Parish on St Thomas day.

The income from both charities is now so small that it is combined and distributed to Widows and Widowers in the Parish. The extra 1p or 'Widows Mite' being paid to Widows to recognise the wishes of the 'Bourne's Gift'.