Agenda and minutes

Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires a record be kept of the Members present and that this record form part of the minutes of the meeting. Members who cannot attend a meeting should tender apologies to the Town Clerk.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dodwell, Owen, Stock, T Humber (Community Forum) and C Andrews (Beds Rural Community Charity).

(i)            The Localism Act 2011 and the Code of Conduct requires Councillors to declare any pecuniary interests, other registrable interests or sensitive interests in items on the meeting agenda, which are not already included in the Register of Interests. Members may choose to declare interests already listed in the Register for clarity and transparency.

(ii)          For disclosable pecuniary interests, Members must leave the room and not participate in discussion or voting, unless a dispensation has been granted.

(iii)         For other registrable or non-registrable interests which directly relate to the financial interest of a Member, a relative or close associate, councillors may speak on the matter only if members of the public may also speak at the meeting. Thereafter, Members should leave the room and not participate in discussion or voting, unless a dispensation has been granted.

(iv)         The Council/Committee/Sub-Committee is asked to consider approving any requests for dispensations to speak/vote on any agenda item in accordance with the Dispensations Procedure.

Councillor Harvey declared a personal interest as a member of South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth and Councillor Palmer as a member of the Friends of Leighton Linslade in Bloom.

To receive questions and statements from members of the public in respect of any item of business included in the agenda, as provided for in Standing Order No.s 3(e)(f)(g) and 3(h).

There were no questions from members of the public.

(a)  To receive and approve as a correct record the minutes of the Partnership Committee meeting held on 8 December 2022 (attached). 

(b)   To receive any updates arising from the minutes.

(a)      The Committee received the draft minutes of the Partnership Committee meeting held on 8 December 2022. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Partnership Committee meeting held on 8 December 2022 be approved as a correct record and were signed accordingly.

(b)      Updates from the previous meeting would be covered during the meeting.

This item was brought forward for discussion from item 8 (Standing Items)

on the agenda.

The Committee received an update in respect of the Land South of the High Street from Marcel Coiffait, Chief Executive of Central Bedfordshire Council.  It was confirmed that the principal authority would commence a public consultation on potential scenarios for Land South of High Street on 10 March 2023, to run until 2 June 2023.  The findings would then be reviewed and processed with a report to be presented to the Central Bedfordshire Executive in October 2023.  During the consultation window, two public open sessions would take place in Leighton Buzzard, with a further two on-line engagement sessions to also take place. 

The major challenge with this land would be the need to balance deliverability and value, with the amount of land available and the many and varied potential uses of the site. It was confirmed that the consultation was based only on the land in the ownership of Central Bedfordshire Council.

It was felt this was an opportunity for the town to get together and look at best possible outcomes for this site to provide something positive for the public. Committee members looked forward to the consultation but disappointment was expressed that the town council had not been involved prior to the consultation being made public. 

Thanks were given to Marcel Coiffait for attending the meeting and it was hoped Central Bedfordshire Council and Leighton-Linslade Town Council could move forward working collaboratively with this project.

To receive a six monthly update report from Central Bedfordshire Council on services and projects relevant to Leighton-Linslade (to follow).

The Committee received an update report from Central Bedfordshire Council on matters relating to the parish, including information in respect of social care, health and housing, crime figures, antisocial behaviour, business rates, car parking, transport matters, community services, waste, schools, public health and services to young people. Examples of recent projects included health and wellbeing activities, courses and workshops to help unemployed people back into work and a waste reduction and engagement programme. There has also been a good number of commercial property enquiries.

A question was raised regarding whether Town Council vehicles could be granted access to the Tidy Tip if picking up fly-tipped rubbish whilst working in and around the parish. 

There were concerns expressed regarding the online portal for highways issues (“Fix-my-Street”) and the length of time it took to complete repairs across the Leighton-Linslade area.  A question was raised regarding the removal of the unloading area on Hockliffe Street which had resulted in local businesses being ticketed when taking deliveries or unloading.  It was confirmed that a new contractor would be taking over the Highways work at the beginning of April and it was hoped the standard of work would improve.

RESOLVED to note the information.

To receive and consider the Committee’s work plan for 2022-2023 (attached).

The Committee received and considered the objectives and work plan for the municipal year 2022-2023.  

RESOLVED to note the report.

To receive updated comments on the aspirations contained in the town council’s Partnership Project List (projects which cannot be delivered by LLTC in isolation) as of February 2023 (attached).

The Committee received the Leighton-Linslade Town Council Partnership

Project List with updated town council comments as of February 2023.  As a working document, this would continue to be reviewed and revisited.

RESOLVED to receive the document. 

To receive verbal/written updates as applicable:

·         Taxis

·         Future of the High Street

·         Land south of the High Street

·         CBC Councillors updates.

·         LLTC Councillors updates

·         Co-opted Members updates

·         Community Forum updates

(a)   Taxis

Concerns were raised regarding the condition and poor quality of the taxis in Leighton Buzzard and whether there were minimum standards and a code of conduct for the drivers which should be adhered to.  Licensing advice would be sought.

The committee was reminded that a possible site for relocation of the taxi rank had been visited approximately eight months ago but there had been no progression since this meeting. Members agreed the site near the multi-storey car park would be preferable to having idling taxis next to a restaurant in the High Street where outside tables were used during the warmer months.  This would also be followed up with Licensing.

It was confirmed there were no powers to limit the number of taxis in the High Street. Although there were only four spaces allocated for them at present, there were often more vehicles waiting and this caused them to park in inappropriate places such as on yellow lines and disabled spaces.

(b)      Future of the High Street

The question of signage issues in the High Street was raised, especially regarding overnight car parking which continued to cause operational problems on market days.

(c)    Land South of the High Street

This agenda item had been discussed earlier in the meeting.

(d)    CBC Councillors Updates

Councillor Harvey advised that following recent legislation green areas within Leighton Buzzard would be entitled to funding from developers to enhance these areas.  The Countryside Access Team would manage any projects required. 

Councillor Wallace spoke of the issues along Vandyke Road since the new road had been opened without a width restriction. This had caused an increase in traffic with larger vehicles using an already narrow and busy street.  The speed limit should be reviewed and reduced from 30 mph to 20 mph and the enforcement of this limit and parking in the area followed up.  It was hoped to see progress with these problems in the coming months.

(e)      LLTC Councillors Updates – no updates given.

(f)        Updates from co-opted members

G Borelli of LB First spoke to welcome the new Head of Cultural & Economic Services at the Town Council and looked forward to working with her to promote good ideas for the town.  He felt there was a positivity around the town for businesses with lots of success stories and increasing demand for micro-units and start-up units. 

(g)   Community Forum – no updates given.

To identify any matters to be formally requested for attention through a Central Bedfordshire Overview & Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the procedure below:

i.              The CBC Joint Committee Chair or CBC Joint Committee Vice Chair would need to request the item to the Monitoring Officer (MO)

ii.             The MO will ensure the item is added to the relevant O and S agenda for consideration by the relevant Committee. (7 clear working days’ notice required).

iii.            The CBC Member can attend the meeting to explain the reasons for the request. The Committee can then decide:

• To resolve it forthwith; or

• To request the officers to prepare a report for the next meeting; or

• To set up a task and finish group to investigate and report back to the committee; or

• To make recommendations to the Executive or Council, as appropriate; or

• To decide to take no further action upon the request, for stated reasons.

The Committee was made aware of the problems encountered with parking on cycleways/pedestrian paths around Kestrel Way.  It was confirmed that parking on a pavement would be a police issue and could be dealt with by enforcement especially if the parking caused people to have to walk in the road.

A question was also raised regarding the adoption of roads on the new southern developments.   Both these issues would be escalated to the appropriate Central Bedfordshire Council department.