Appendix 1 – Borough Councillor report
A603
The changes to the speed limits on the A603 as it passes though Cople and Willington are scheduled to be in place by the end of the year. It will mean that the 30mph limit through Willington is extended to the Willington Road/A603 junction and the 50mph limit extended back to Dog Farm. Once that is in place the average speed cameras in Willington will go “live”. These measures should help control both speeds and traffic noise along this stretch.
Community Hub The Council’s Community Hub has been revived during this second lockdown. It formed a valuable link with the many voluntary groups that existed in the community and which have been and continue to be active in supporting the vulnerable during the continuing Coronavirus pandemic. The lessons learned have not been lost. Thank you to all those who volunteered their time or made donations.
Town Deal investment plan As part of a bid for up to £25m of Government funding the Town Deal Board has prepared a report containing information about ideas for the Borough’s future role in the Oxford Cambridge Arc and clean growth- which might be of interest to residents. http://www.councillorsupport.bedford.gov.uk/documents/s51235/Item%2013%20Draft%2 0Town%20Investment%20Plan%20APP%20A%20- %20Bedford%20Town%20Investment%20Plan.pdf
Local Government Boundary Review The draft proposals have now been published. The proposal is to split Great Barford Ward and combine Cople and Cardington with Cotton End and Wilsted into one single member ward which will be called Wilshamstead Ward.. The draft recommendations are subject to a consultation which closes on 7th December.https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all- reviews/eastern/bedfordshire/bedford
Litter and bins Green bin collections will cease at the end of the month which will pose problems for some, not least anyone living near a tree! It is not obvious that the Borough has any clear idea of when seasons start and finish. The recycling centre in Barker’s Lane is remaining open with the on-line booking system still in place. It can be easily found on the Borough website
Local Plan Consultation The first round of local plan consultation has now closed. The consultation considered the time period that the plan should cover and the broad locations for growth and was responded to by the Parish Council and many individuals. The plan is likely to be very similar to the one up to 2030 just completed but the Borough was ordered to produce another because the 2030 plan did not deal with issues such as the pressures from the “Oxford -Cambridge Arc”. The pressures arising from the growing population and the attendant housing shortage are considerable but one bit of positive news is that the government’s targets for housing in Bedford are likely to be revised downwards.
Properties submitted under the call for sites in Cople can be seen at (Bedford.opus4.co.uk/planning/localplan/maps/planning )
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
National Planning Consultations The Planning For The Future White Paper contained many proposals for speeding up the planning process. Many of us are concerned that these proposals, if implemented, will reduce the influence of local residents, both individuals and Parish and Borough Councils, in relation to planning developments both large and small. We have drafted a response criticising the proposals as has the Borough Council
Pavement ParkingThis has been a long running problem affecting many villages, unfortunately all too often by the time any enforcement action is taken the offending vehicle has moved. However, the Govt has consulted nationally with three options: 1. Improving the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process, under which local authorities can already prohibit pavement parking.
2. A legislative change to allow local authorities with civil parking enforcement powers to enforce against ‘unnecessary obstruction of the pavement’.
3. A legislative change to introduce a London-style pavement parking prohibition throughout England.
Support for families A reminder that there is still a range of support available to families, including those of children aged 0-5 who may be feeling cut off at the moment. The Borough Children’s Centres are operating online via Facebook and Zoom with activities and support https://m.facebook.com/bedfordcc/ http://www.ecpbedford.org/ and there are many other support options available:
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
As ever, if we can be of assistance please do get in touch.
Cllr Stephen Moon 01234 870 061 [email protected] Cllr Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant 07813939249 [email protected] Facebook @greatbarfordward
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
Appendix 2 – Crime statistics
Crime statistics, 01st – 29th September 2020 Recorded Ref Date Offence Street Area 40/52567/20 26/09/2020 Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) Willington Road Cople 40/51225/20 20/09/2020 Assault without Injury - Common assault and battery Rye Crescent Cople 40/49286/20 10/09/2020 Attempted - Theft if not classified elsewhere Bedford Road Cople 40/52781/20 28/09/2020 Theft from a motor vehicle Willington Road Cople Theft in a dwelling other than from automatic machine or 40/48618/20 07/09/2020 meter Willington Road Cople 40/51912/20 23/09/2020 Threats to kill Rye Crescent Cople
Crime statistics, 30th September – 27th October 2020 Recorded Ref Offence Street Area Date 40/57271/20 21/10/2020 Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) Rye Crescent Cople 40/57795/20 23/10/2020 Assault without Injury - Common assault and battery Rye Crescent Cople
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
Appendix 3 – Receipts and Payments. Bank balances and Reconciliation
Receipts and Payments Unreconciled Payments Detail Total Bedford Borough Council Bus shelter cleanse £54.00 Total £54.00
Unreconciled Receipts Detail Total None NA NA Total NA
Payments for approval Detail Total
AR Worboys (Inv SI1402) Grass cutting – all areas, £290.40 churchyard Cheque - 1376 Bedford Borough Council Clerks Salary – September £528.37 2020 Direct debit Bedford Borough Council Clerks Salary – October 2020 £467.82 Direct debit Opus Street lighting electricity £83.51 Direct debit 22/08/2020-20/09/2020
New Payments Detail Total
Andy Muskett Ltd 1st quarter maintenance street 290.40 lighting Andy Muskett Ltd 2nd quarter maintenance street 528.37 lighting AR Worboys (SI1416) Grass cutting all areas + £290.40 churchyard AR Worboys (SI1432) Grass cutting all areas + £410.40 churchyard + ride in forest area Cloud Next Premium hosting (cople- £95.98 pc.gov.uk) Opus Street lighting electricity £97.60 (Direct debit due 06/11/2020) (21/09/2020-21/10/2020) Grand total 1713.15
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
Bank Reconciliation
Spreadsheet Balance £8775.36
Bank Balance 30-Oct-2020 £8829.36
Unreconciled receipts £0.00
Unreconciled payments £54.00 Balance £8775.36
Reserves
Lloyds Flexible Savings £9936.90
NS & I Investment Account £11,793.65
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
Appendix 4 – Action Plan
2021-2022 Action Plan Cople Parish Council aims to identify how its community can be best served by setting out an action plan for the financial year in order to ensure that council tax payers receive good value for money.
Comments/ What Action to be taken When Updates
Planning applications Consider and respond As required to planning applications
Bedford Borough Respond to As required Council Local Plan consultations Consultations
Bedford Borough Respond to all As required Council Consultations relevant consultations
Continue to engage with Lesley to prepare Bi-monthly residents and the local updates after each community by giving meeting regular updates in the village magazine
Maintain up-to-date Clerk Regular intervals website
Maintain up-to-date Clerk Updated as Asset Register necessary
Maintaining David Hughes/Clerk As required Noticeboards
Defibrillator Checks Chainie Worrall Weekly
Maintain good relations Village Hall Trust/ Ongoing with outside School/Church bodies/businesses
Clerk’s Chair to carry out Annually - appraisal/development review to ascertain November review training needs
Neighbourhood Plan Support NP Steering Awaiting NP Group when plan is Group update moved forward
Millennium Wood To arrange clearance Autumn/Winter maintenance work 3 times per year
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
Carry out regular grass Apr/Oct cutting of areas within the 30mph zone
Street Light Contractor Quarterly Maintenance
Maintaining street Clerk to monitor Ongoing furniture including bus shelters
Report Highways Issues Clerk Weekly Councillors to pass on regular items for reporting to BBC
Church grounds Continue to carry out As required maintenance regular maintenance to the church wall and grounds
Church Parking Area Tidy/weed/sweep 3 Spring/Summer/Au times per year tumn
Church Trees Carry out Annually if Maintenance required
Traffic Calming Awaiting Average Parish Council Measures Speed Cameras agreed to on Northill Road contribute £10,000
Vehicle Activated Sign Maintenance Annually
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
Appendix 5 – Draft Budget
2020/2021 Draft Budget (£) Receipts Precept 18033 Grass Cutting 372 Bank/Investment Interest 100 Other Credits 0 Total Receipts 18505 Payments Administration/Clerks Expenses 535 Hall Hire 100 Clerk's Salary 5850 Payroll provision 150 Stationery 200 Annual Insurance 590 Subscriptions 280 Data protection 40 Training 100 Legal/Audit Fees 335 Street lights - Electricity 1072 Street lights - Maintenance 438
Church 1400 Grass cutting 2190
Hedge Cutting Expenses 370 Street Furniture: (Litter/Dog Bins/Noticeboards/ Benches/Bus Shelters) 300 Signage 555 Elections 0 Donations/S137 150 Village Maintenance 670 Cople Village Trust donation 1000 Millennium Wood 1560 Neighbourhood Planning 250 Website 270 Total Payments 18405
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
Appendix 6 - Correspondence log Bedford Borough Local Plan - Call for sites Emailed to Councillors 22.09.2020 Email Planning Policy, BBC information 23.09.2020 Email BBC New Test and Trace requirements Emailed to Councillors 23.09.2020 Email Louise Bates, Bedfordshire Police New Inspector Emailed to Councillors Press Release - Government announces Emailed to Councillors 23.09.2020 Email BBC changes to support 23.09.2020 Email Resident Meeting update regarding planing Clerk responded 25.09.2020 Email Resident Speeding and Speed Watch update Emailed to CC & DH 25.09.2020 Email Councillor Martin-Moran-Bryant Cycling between Cople and Willington Emailed to Councillors A consultation on proposals for new Local Government Boundary wards in Bedford Borough Council has Emailed to Councillors 29.09.2020 Email Commission begun 30.09.2020 Email Bedfordshire Police Crime Stats Emailed to Councillors 30.09.2020 Email CPRE Newsletter Emailed to Councillors Press Release: Traffic Light Upgrades in Emailed to Councillors 01.10.2020 Email BBC Bedford Press Release - Borough Supports Emailed to Councillors 02.10.2020 Email BBC HiddenDisabilitiesSunflowerLanyards Press Release - Bedford Borough launches Emailed to Councillors 06.10.2020 Email BBC Test and Trace SupportPayment Press Release: Have Your Say on Tackling Street Drinking in BedfordTown Centre Emailed to Councillors 06.10.2020 Email BBC Area 06.10.2020 Email Bedfordshire Police New Community Policing Priority Emailed to Councillors BATPC Training in partnership with Emailed to Councillors 06.10.2020 Email BATPC Breakthrough Communications Press Release - Mental Health Awareness Emailed to Councillors 07.10.2020 Email BBC Day 10 October 2020
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
08.10.2020 Email BATPC Planning consultations Emailed to Councillors 09.10.2020 Email Resident Speeding update Clerk responded Press Release - The Higgins Bedford Emailed to Councillors 09.10.2020 Email BBC Celebrates Black HistoryMonth202 Urgent Help Sought To Tackle Rising Emailed to Councillors 09.10.2020 Email BBC Infection Rate 12.10.2020 Email Ian Booth, BBC Highways Clearance of vegetation, Water End Emailed to DH,LC Press Release - Adopt East Alliance Emailed to Councillors 14.10.2020 Email BBC launches today Press Release: £56million In COVID-19 Emailed to Councillors 15.10.2020 Email BBC Support Given to Local Businesses Press Release - Bedford Borough parks Emailed to Councillors 15.10.2020 Email BBC retain Green Flag Award2020 Parish & Town Council Network - Monday Emailed to Councillors 16.10.2020 Email BBC 2nd November, 7.00pm 21.10.2020 Email Came & Company Response to avice request Detail emailed to DH & LC Press Release: New COVID-19 Marshals Emailed to Councillors 23.10.2020 Email BBC Operating In Bedford Borough Press Release - Bedford Borough Council Emailed to Councillors 26.10.2020 Email BBC to Refurbish KingsBridge Press Release - Bedford Borough Council receives grant from Government’s Emailed to Councillors 26.10.2020 Email BBC Culture Recovery Fund 26.10.2020 Email Mazars Audit query Emailed to Councillors Press Release: Council Discusses Transformation Plan In FaceofCOVID-19 Emailed to Councillors 27.10.2020 Email BBC Pressures 28.10.2020 Email Fiona Gibson Response to query about the church wall Clerk responded 05.11.2020 Email BBC Emergency Notice BB235 Cople BW 2 and Emailed to Councillors
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….
14 06.11.2020 Email Member of public Tree planting request PC meeting 09.11.2020 Email Fiona Gibson Response to query about the church wall Noted 10.11.2020 Email Swarco VAS maintenance quotation PC meeting 10.11.2020 Email Worboys Confirmation of outstanding grasscutting Noted Press Release - Remember November Emailed to Councillors 10.11.2020 Email BBC Online in Bedford Borough Proposed Road Closure at Water End, Emailed to Councillors 11.11.2020 Email Parrott Utilities Cople Press Release: Past Goes Online With Emailed to Councillors 12.11.2020 Email BBC Bedfordshire CommunityHistories 12.11.2020 Email Ann Paice, Clapham PC East West Rail group Emailed to Councillors 16.11.2020 Email Jo Tester , BBC Budget Consultation Emailed to Councillors
Minutes November 2020 Signed (Chairman) ……………….