Agenda and minutes

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor C Palmer be appointed Chair of the Committee for 2022-2023.  There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Palmer Chair of the Partnership Committee for the municipal year 2022-2023.

Councillor Palmer took the Chair.

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor D Bowater be appointed Vice Chair of the Committee for 2022-2023.  There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor D Bowater Vice-Chair of the Partnership Committee for the municipal year 2022-2023.

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 Councillor F Kharawala, Councillor E Wallace, Councillor T Stock and Tricia Humber (Community Forum).

(i)    Under the Localism Act 2011 (sections 26-37 and Schedule 4) and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, Members are required to declare any interests which are not currently entered in the Member’s Register of Interests or if he/she has not notified the Monitoring Officer of it.

(ii)   Should any Member have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in an item on the agenda, the Member may not participate in consideration of that item unless a Dispensation has first been requested (in writing) and granted by the Council (see Dispensation 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) 1(f)and 1(g).

There were no questions from the public.

(a)          To receive and approve as a correct record the minutes of the Partnership Committee meeting held on 21 April 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 21 April 2022. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Partnership Committee meeting held on 21 April 2022 be approved as a correct record and were signed accordingly.

(b)         The following updates were given and noted from the previous meeting.

150/LLP Place Shaping and Delivery – no update had been received from Sam Caldbeck, Central Bedfordshire Council regarding the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and a request was made for a written answer to be sent to the Town Clerk for circulation to the Committee.  Sarah Hughes would take this request back to Sam Caldbeck.

151/LLP Partnership Project List – the Committee requested that a second, more detailed response on this from Central Bedfordshire Council be added to the work plan for September 2022.  A request was also made for an update on S106 for East of Leighton Linslade to be added to the workplan for the September meeting, although it was noted that a presentation on this had previously been made to committee in September 2021.

154/LLP Central Bedfordshire Council Update Report – it was queried whether there were any updates from Central Bedfordshire Council regarding Schools for the Future, the future of traffic management in the High Street and cleanliness of the taxis within the town centre.  Councillor Dodwell advised there was no update in respect of the Leighton-Linslade cluster and that as soon as there was any further information, this would be advised.  The suggestion was made to include these as standing agenda items.  

To agree the committee secretariat for 2022-23 as per committee terms of reference.

Members unanimously agreed that Leighton-Linslade Town Council be appointed secretariat for the 2022-2023 municipal year, in accordance with the committee Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED that Leighton-Linslade Town Council be appointed secretariat for the 2022-2023 municipal year.

To receive a verbal update on the Central Bedfordshire funded public realm improvement project.

The Committee received a verbal update on the public realm improvement project.  The Town Ranger model had been followed with Central Bedfordshire providing the capital and Leighton-Linslade Town Council providing the teams and equipment which could be offered to Parish Councils at cost. The Committee heard about some of the equipment which had been purchased and the work which had been undertaken to date, such as graffiti removal and street cleaning. Equipment would be available to smaller parish councils in a self-contained trailer unit containing a range of tools, from litter pickers to more advanced equipment.  A suggestion was made for the Town Council to host an open day for Parish Councils to show what equipment and services were available to them.

RESOLVED to note the information.

By invitation, Lorna Carver, Director of Place and Communities will attend the meeting to provide an overview of the Directorate. 

Lorna Carver, Director of Place and Communities at Central Bedfordshire Council gave a presentation and overview on the Place and Communities directorate including some recent projects and initiatives across Central Bedfordshire.  The Central Bedfordshire strategic plan set out principles of economy, fairness, sustainability and place-based, with which to deliver the vision of “a great place to live and work”. The five priorities set out in the plan were: “delivering quality housing”, “creating opportunities for rewarding work”, “making the best use of resources”, “improving educational achievement and progress” and “enabling people to live their best lives”. The goal was to ensure that major development and infrastructure projects delivered the maximum environmental and infrastructure gains.

A question was asked about whether it was possible to enter into dialogue with Central Bedfordshire Council about how these overarching objectives could translate into specific projects addressing areas affecting Leighton-Linslade.  It was noted that many issues (such as regeneration of land south of the High Street, the shape of the future High Street, policing and healthcare facilities) were complex and required discussion and collaboration.  A question was posed about whether structures could be put in place to allow greater collaboration between councils on a strategic and practical operational level.

RESOLVED to note the information.

To receive an overview of Leighton-Linslade Town Council activity including areas in which greater collaboration with Central Bedfordshire Council is sought (attached).

The Committee received a report which outlined a brief summary of recent and current Town Council activity and projects, across all service areas, for information. The report also listed a number of areas in which greater collaboration with the principal authority was requested.

It was agreed that Central Bedfordshire officers would develop a response to the report and look at how the strategic objectives of both councils might align.

RESOLVED: 

(a)      To note the report.

(b)      To note the comments relevant to Central Bedfordshire Council, in particular the highlighted areas for collaboration.

To consider items to be programmed into Committee’s work for 2022–2023 (attached).

The Committee received a report which outlined a brief summary of recent and current Town Council activity and projects, across all service areas, for information. The report also listed a number of areas in which greater collaboration with the principal authority was requested.

It was agreed that Central Bedfordshire officers would develop a response to the report and look at how the strategic objectives of both councils might align.

RESOLVED: 

(a)   To note the report.

(b)   To note the comments relevant to Central Bedfordshire Council, in particular the highlighted areas for collaboration.

To receive verbal/written updates as applicable:

·         CBC Councillors updates.

·         LLTC Councillors updates

(a)   CBC Councillors – no updates

(b)   LLTC updates – no updates

In accordance with Town Council Standing Order 9, to consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor C Palmer and seconded by Councillor V Harvey:

·         That serious consideration be given (in the light of the points made in the attached document) following the consultation period, to the case for the continuation of Tiddenfoot as a leisure facility with such management and organisational changes as may be necessary for this to be feasible

·         That, in the event that such continuation does not prove practical, serious consideration be given to the continuation (and improvement) of such facilities which may be able to continue in use for the community whether through transfer to third parties or agreement with Cedars Upper School to minimise the disbenefits to the local and surrounding community

·         That, in the event of a more general closure of Tiddenfoot as a Leisure Centre, a firm commitment be given to its continuation as a community hub with serious and urgent consideration being given to the functions it might perform under this heading, in consultation with the community.

A motion was submitted by Councillor C Palmer and seconded by Councillor V Harvey in respect of the future of the Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre site, given the current consultation on proposals to build a new leisure centre to the east of the town.  The Motion requested that consideration be given for the continued use of Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre as a community leisure facility.

RESOLVED that the following recommendations be conveyed to Central Bedfordshire Council on behalf of the Leighton-Linslade Partnership Committee:

(a)   That serious consideration be given, following the consultation period to the case for the continuation of Tiddenfoot as a leisure facility with such management and organisational changes as may be necessary for this to be feasible.

(b)   That in the event that such continuation does not prove practical, consideration be given to the continuation of such facilities which may be able to continue in use for the community whether through transfer to third parties or agreement with Cedars Upper School to minimise the disbenefits to the local and surrounding community.

(c)   That in the event of a more general closure of Tiddenfoot as a Leisure Centre, a commitment be given to its continuation as a community hub with consideration being given to the functions it might perform under this heading, in consultation with the community.

To identify and confirm if any requested items for CBC’s attention in accordance with the defined procedure.

Concerns were raised regarding on-street car parking on Fraserfields Way and on Stoke Road (relating to the Sunday car boot sale) which caused visual obstruction and danger to other road users. These concerns could be discussed at the Planning & Transport Committee.

RESOLVED to note the information.