Draft Minutes

Markyate Parish Council

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MARKYATE PARISH COUNCIL

Tuesday 7 July 2026 at 7.30pm

Present: Cllr P Bunyan (Chair), Cllr M McCann, Cllr C Ononye, Cllr R Peterson, Cllr H Renvoize.

In attendance:  Mrs V Tilley (Clerk), Borough Cllr J Timmis

61/26                    Apologies

Cllr M Collins, Cllr S Hakki. C/Cllr C Smith-Wright

62/26                    Declarations of interest

None

63/26                    Minutes of last meeting

To confirm the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Markyate Parish Council held on Tuesday 2nd June 2026 as an accurate record of proceedings.

Resolved, proposed by Cllr R Peterson, seconded by Cllr H Renvoize that these minutes be agreed as a true and accurate record of the proceedings and be duly signed by the Chairman. Unanimously agreed.

64/26                   Public Questions

None

65/26                    County Councillor Report

C/Cllr Smith-Wright reported that the safety works on the A5183 have started with a central refuge island outside the Holiday Inn. National Highways work on the M1 has meant this had to be paused while they have a diversion in place on to A5183, should be completed at the end of July. To keep up to date with roadworks, sign up to https://one.network which is a really helpful tool for staying informed. The final court hearing date has been set for 22nd July at the High Court of Justice in the case of unauthorised settlement in Friendless Lane. Lighting column enquiry has been followed up, awaiting response. Libraries will be staying open on Sundays following consultation responses. Children’s Summer Reading Challenge launched on 4th July. Locality Budget is now open to funding applications, interested groups can email c.smith-wright@hertfordshire.gov.uk Your Tree Our Future scheme has reopened giving free trees, details of HCC website.

66/26                    Borough Councillor Report

B/Cllr Timmis reported that a proposal to remove all red dog poo bins in the Borough has been challenged, although dog waste can go in the regular litter bins these have a more urban appearance. Luton Airport are holding an event where you can book to speak to the executives about aircraft noise on 20th July. New A320 Neo and A321 Neo aircraft now being used, A320 Neo is 1decibel quieter, A321 Neo is no quieter.

67/26                   Police Report

None

68/26                    Planning decisions:

1 26/00951/NMA Non-material amendment to planning permission 25/00829/FHA 49 London Road Refused
2 26/00519/FUL Conversion of loft to create a bedroom and a shower room, including one new dormer and two conservation rooflights and internal alterations to first floor flat. 23A High Street Granted
3 26/01115/FHA First floor rear extension 4 Parkfield Granted
4 26/00843/RES Details of the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the development pursuant to outline application 25/02006/OUT Land South and Adjacent To Hill View, Luton Road Granted
5 26/00919/ADV New fascia signage. Self Adhesive Vinyl graphics to windows 131 High Street Granted

69/26                    Planning applications

1 65 High Street Construction of a Self Build detached three bedroom dwelling, 1.5 storeys high, within the rear curtilage of a Grade II listed dwelling, together with parking, landscaping and ancillary works. 26/01225/LBC and 26/01224/FUL Objection – Overdevelopment and infilling. Additional vehicles on High Street unsustainable.
2 40A High Street Removal of ‘Telephone’ signs x 3 and replacement with ‘Book Exchange’ signs x 3 in matching style. 26/01243/LBC Abstain
3 St Johns Church Build a new children’s day nursery in the grounds of St Johns Church Markyate. This will be a purpose built temporary structure. 26/01025/LBC and 26/01024/FUL Application withdrawn
4 Beechurst, Caddington Common Construction of a basement 26/01337/FHA No objection

70/26                    Planning applications in last 6 days

None

71/26                    Bank reconciliation

Noted and signed by Chair. Proposed by Cllr C Ononye, seconded by Cllr M McCann and unanimously agreed.

72/26                    Accounts for payment

To authorise the signing of cheques for payment and the signing of the Accounts schedule.

Resolved, proposed by Cllr C Ononye, seconded Cllr M McCann to approve these payments.

Unanimously agreed.

The schedule of accounts listed the balances of the Parish Council’s accounts as follows:

As at 30th June 2026

MPC Current Account £    2,219.01
HSBC [Precept Account] £ 121,670.38
MPC Investment  [NS&I] £   32,771.66
Petty Cash £         91.52
TOTAL £ 156,752.57

                    Schedule of Monthly Payments – please see attached document.

73/26                    First quarter spend

The first quarter spend was received and noted, including the un-budgeted overspend on telephone/broadband. This was due to delays installing the service from Daisy and therefore continued billing from BT.

74/26                    Luton Local Plan

It was not deemed necessary to respond.

75/26                    Cemetery Committee Chair

It was proposed by Cllr R Peterson, seconded by Cllr M McCann and unanimously agreed that Cllr P Bunyan take up the position of Chair of the Cemetery Committee, and to be the third Markyate representative on the Aley Green Cemetery Joint Committee. ACTION: Clerk

76/26                    Internal Audit recommendations

  1. None
  2. Add receipt to file. Have been unable to obtain VAT receipt
  3. Going forward, the minute formally refers to the council’s “review of the effectiveness of the system of internal control”, as well as its “review of the effectiveness of its overall internal audit arrangements” (which forms part of the system of internal control). OngoingRecommend the following be considered for potential coverage in the council’s risk registers when they are next reviewed: “The provision of services being carried out under agency/partnership agreements with principal authorities”; “Professional services (architects, accountancy, design, etc.)”; “Rights of inspection”; and “Compliance with Transparency Code”. Discharged – added to the approved 2026-7 Risk assessments
  4. None
  5. Income controls. Discharged during AGAR
  6. Clerk periodically and at year-end checks the total in the petty cash tin to the month end reconciliation and signs and notes this on the reconciliation. Ongoing
  7. Going forward, columns to the right of the existing content in “Pension Return monthly rolling totals” spreadsheet be used to calculate the monthly contribution percentages from these data to highlight any potential anomalies. Ongoing              Recommend that it be confirmed that tax anomaly is not due to a particular arrangement with the LGPS, to establish the extent to which previous years may be similarly affected, and for any correction needed to be then sought with HMRC. This year has been corrected. 2 previous years to be taken up with HMRC by employees.
  1. Asset register corrections. Discharged                New insurance policy has CCTV as a separate heading but that the cover level is £nil. Ongoing
  1. Recommend that the council’s Investment Strategy document be updated having regard to the Statutory Guidance on Local Government Investments (noting in particular paragraphs 13, 16, 21, 32 & 41). Ongoing
  2. Recommend that purchase invoice numbers are routinely input. Ongoing
  3. N/A
  4. Recommend that the council includes information on its website in accordance with the Local Government Transparency Code 2015. Ongoing
  5. See 14
  6. Recommend that going forward, when these documents are uploaded, the live website is then checked to confirm that the upload has been successful. Discharged on upload
  7. Recommend that the council formalises its timeframe for regular data audits to identify what personal data is held, how it is used and make sure it is processed lawfully.              Recommend that the council monitors that staff & members are completing the available GDPR training on a regular basis. Available through HAPTC, contact Clerk to book
  1. None
  2. None

77/26                    Complaints Procedure

It was proposed by Cllr M McCann, seconded by Cllr P Bunyan and unanimously agreed to adopt the updated policy without amendment. ACTION: Clerk

78/26                    Vexatious Communications policy

It was proposed by Cllr R Peterson, seconded by Cllr C Ononye and unanimously agreed to adopt the version with examples of vexatious communications without amendment. ACTION: Clerk

79/26                   Automatic gates

It was proposed by Cllr R Peterson, seconded by Cllr C Ononye and unanimously agreed to call out Auto Gates to assess the work needed. ACTION: Clerk/FO

80/26                    Pickleball/Padelball provision

It was agreed to investigate the costs of installation and maintenance of both, along with concrete table tennis tables for consideration at a future meeting. ACTION: Clerk

81/26                    Abandoned vehicles

It was agreed that petitioning DBC on a change of policy would be futile as DBC will not exist from 2028. Await announcement of new unitary council and look at influencing policy when possible.

Clerk’s report

Car sales at the Packhorse has now gone past the time limit to return the site to original condition. Enforcement are preparing for prosecution. I will be gathering quotes over the summer for both a playground inspection and a tree inspection ready for September meeting. I am going through the criteria for the Local Council Award Scheme bronze award. A few more policies need updating or adding. Bronze demonstrates that a council has all the necessary documentation, information and policies in place for operating lawfully and according to standard practice. Alongside the Civility and Respect Pledge and Councillor’s Statements of Assurance this will show the council’s commitment to ensuring it is a Good Council and provide a foundation to become even better moving forward.

Brambles and nettles on footpaths 13 and 17 have been requested to cut back. Investigated the position of the boundary hedge between the drive and the school, maps inconclusive, appears to be on the Rec side of the original fence so would be PC’s responsibility. Plumber visited to look at works required from the Legionella risk assessment in order to quote. Herts residents survey closes on Sunday, link shared on website today.

 

There being no other business the meeting closed at 21.05pm.

Next meeting: 1st September 2026

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