Stamford Mercury – Monthly Report from Ketton
The monthly Parish Council Meeting of Ketton Parish Council was held in the Congregational Hall on Wednesday, 19 January, and was attended by ten councillors, County Councillor Gordon Brown & the Clerk.
Sadly, Gordon Alderson died at the end of December, aged 90 years. He cared deeply about Ketton and served it through his actions as a Parish Councillor, including as Chairman. We extend our condolences to Ann and his family.
We have two vacancies for new parish councillors. So, if you have time, energy and enthusiasm to spare please do consider putting yourself forward as a Parish Councillor – contact the parish clerk for more information (see contact details below).
Police report
PCSO Andy Wylie sent an area crime report for the past month, dated 19 January. During the last month the following crimes have been reported; two incidents of hare coursing; one motor bike was stolen; a neighbour dispute was reported in Ketton; one incident of damage to a motor vehicle (car keyed); one electric fence stolen; a horse trailer was stolen in Ketton; one burglary was reported in Tinwell; one incident of criminal damage to a field (crops) and a gate reported & one theft of a motor vehicle.
The beat priorities remain – road safety and rural crime.
The police will be out in villages and towns with the speed laser gun, and will update Twitter and Facebook with the results. They will continue to work closely with the local residents and will alert residents as soon as a crime is reported. If anything suspicious is seen, please report it through either 999 or 101.
There were 4 members of the public present, C.Cllr Brown confirmed that RCC Planning has not receive an application yet for the proposed development off Manor Green.
C.Cllr Brown informed councillors that although mesh has now been fitted to the new Empingham Road bridge, to ensure the safety of pedestrians, it will require further revision & updated cllrs on progress regarding the parking problems in Aldgate.
C.Cllr Karen Payne informed councillors by email prior to the meeting, that public consultation on Rutland County Council’s annual budget has started and runs until 9 February 2022. All of the feedback received as part of this consultation will be reported to RCC’s Cabinet and Full Council at the end of February.
The on-line consultation will be made live today and together with the draft budget can be found on the website address https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-council/contacts-facts-and-figures/council-spending/annual-budget/
RCC received a one year settlement only from the government which includes some one off payments only and wont reoccur next year. The draft Budget for 22/23 is £42.245m is balanced by drawing on less than £100k of reserves which is better than last year But, this assumes a 1.99% increase in Council Tax and a 3% increase in the Adult Social Care precept. RCC has many pressures including a 6% inflation rate forecast by the Bank of England for the next year together with rises in Social Care costs and increased demand, a new Environment Bill and many other financial risks. Despite delivering savings of over £2m this year RCC is still forecasting a deficit in 23/24 of £2.2m therefore the Council is already looking at further cost cuts.
Plans are progressing with preparations for celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We hope to decorate the village with home made bunting, light a beacon at 9.15pm on June 2nd, have some musical entertainment on June 3rd and a ‘big lunch’ at KSCC on June 5th, with a hog roast for 400, free to Ketton residents, followed by a ‘mini fete’ and games.
Ann Tomlinson, Chairman of the Ketton and Tinwell Joint Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, delivered an update from the Ketton & Tinwell Neighbourhood Plan steering group, which has appointed a consultant, who is helping to get the plan ‘into shape’ and legally compliant. The working group submitted a draft plan to Full Council for discussion, prior to public consultation.
Progress in creating the Neighbourhood Plan has been impeded somewhat by, first of all, delays within the process of producing the next Rutland Local Plan, and subsequently by the withdrawal of the draft Local Plan altogether, following RCC councillors’ inability to agree on the St George’s Barracks development site.
The parish council is aware of the impact of the withdrawal of the Local Plan on development control within the county. Without an extant Local Plan which clearly demonstrates a five-year housing supply, RCC will be under increased pressure from developers to agree new sites for development. This could mean a large number of opportunistic applications being brought forward to take advantage of the hiatus, and indeed we have already seen the first signs of this locally.
The draft Neighbourhood Plan has required a fair degree of revision following the withdrawal of the Local Plan, so that it can focus, with added emphasis given the changed circumstances, on the key issues of where development within Ketton and Tinwell parishes might be appropriate and where it is not.
The public consultation will run from 4 February until 31 March, with three consultation events planned.
The draft Neighbourhood Plan will be available to view online and paper copies will also be provided.
Councillors indicated their overall approval to the direction of travel of the Neighbourhood Plan, and to the outline proposals for the Regulation 14 consultation.
The parish council has received notification from the solicitor representing the developer of Chater Field, that the permissive footpath from the High Street to KSCC, will shortly be closed to allow for the approved development of the field and orchard for housing by Balfour Beatty Homes. The alternative pedestrian route is via the High Street and Pit lane, which has a footpath on one side only and the Pit Lane/High Street corner is ‘blind’. Louise Hayter, attended the meeting & expressed resident’s concerns regarding pedestrian’s safety, as the footpath is a well used and safe route to KSCC. The parish council & our county councillors Gordon Brown & Karen Brown are exploring other options, including the possibility of requesting that RCC install a pedestrian crossing on the High Street, between Pit Lane and the entrance to the propose new development at The Crescent, so pedestrian won’t need to cross the blind corner on the Pit Lane/High Street junction.
Broadband by Openreach is already in action to bring full fbre broadband to the village. They have been spotted in Ketton, rodding the underground telephone duct work to check for clearance and putting pull-thrus in ready for the fibre optic cables. Cllr Phillips reported that some of the telephone poles are now ‘fibre ready’.
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr Sarah Furness PhD is very keen for the residents of Rutland to have the opportunity to participate in The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) Initiative. This is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”. Everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates will be encouraged to play their part to enhance our environment by planting trees during the official planting season between October to March. Tree planting will commence again in October 2022, through to the end of the Jubilee year. With a focus on planting sustainably, the QGC will encourage planting of trees to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the Nation, which will benefit future generations. Adam Cade, chairman of Ketton Green Spaces Group informed councillors of tree plantings around the parish, which have already been taken place at Hall Close, Ketton Sports & Community Centre, & proposed/ongoing tree plantings at The Ark Nursery, Cuckoo Farm Campsite, Ketton Park Green Burial, Rutland Vineyard, & potential new sites which are currently being explored.
Cllr Sinclair Rogers is leading on this project for the parish council & thanked Adam and the KGSG volunteers, for their very valuable contribution towards the aim of planting one tree in Ketton for every resident.
Rutland’s new out of hours emergency service is contactable on: 01858 464 499 This out-of-hours emergency service is a 24 hours service and will deal with any out of hours emergencies in Rutland..
Our local Rutland South Police officer is Pete Icke, and his contact details are 07967589225 peter.icke@leicestershire.pnn
Ikra Hussain is our new Rutland South beat Police Community Support Officer, who can be contacted on 07929723321 Ext: 3306555, or Ikra.Hussain@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
The Whitebread Trust is a charity for the support of individuals and organisations within the parish of Ketton. Applications for support should be addressed to the Chairman of the trust, Glenis Southern, via the Parish Clerk kettonpc@btinternet.com
Useful contacts/information:
Ketton Good Neighbours Scheme: for help or support, call Rachael on 07517793397, between 9am and 6pm.
Ketton Library is open for collection of Covid 19 self-test kits (lateral flow) RCC’s Covid 19 Crisis helpline: 01572 722577, and information at http://www.rutland.gov.uk/coronavirus
The Hub meets every Thursday from 10am to 11.45am at KSCC. Come and have a coffee and a catch up with friends.
Dates for your diary:
Saturday February 5th 9am to 10am, County Councillors’ Surgery in Ketton Library (note new times).
Monday February 14th St Valentine’s Dinner at KSCC price £19, drinks extra.
Sunday February 20th ‘Show the Love for the Planet’ – judging of Green Hearts in windows (see @KettonClimate, Facebook Ketton Climate Action for details).
Monday February 21st 7.30pm, Film Club at KSCC
Sunday February 27th 10am to 12 midday, Ketton Climate Action litter pick.
Thursday March 10th 7.30pm, Annual Parish Meeting in the Congregational Hall.
Monday March 14th 7.30pm, Film Club at KSCC
Thursday March 24th copy date for Chatterbox.
Sunday June 5th the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Hog Roast village lunch and mini fete with free games and stalls at KSCC. Volunteers needed, individuals and organisations, to help with the event – please contact the Parish Office.
Thursday June 2nd to Sunday June 5th 2022 the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Volunteers needed, individuals and organisations, to help with the events – please contact the Parish Office.
The Parish Office in Stocks Hill (Tel 01780722451, email kettonpc@btinternet.com) is open Tues and Wed 8am to 4pm.
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