PARISH NEWS covering SHILLINGTON, PEGSDON & HIGHAM GOBION www.shillington.org.uk SHILLINGTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNUAL FLOWER & VEGETABLE SHOW Saturday, 16th September 2017 SHILLINGTON VILLAGE HALL Doors open at 2.30pm Entrance £1.00 Schedules and entry forms now available from the Secretary - Helen Copeland [email protected] 01462-713144 Issue 131 - August 2017 Deadline for October edition – Friday, 29 September 2017 PARISH COUNCIL CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL – LOCAL PLAN CBC have now produced their draft local plan for further public consultation and we would urge you to visit their website or write to them providing feedback on the various options they are proposing. This consultation is open until 29th August 2017. This plan sets out how Central Bedfordshire will develop over the next 20 years and will control how this development happens in the right places, fits in with the character of Bedfordshire and has the appropriate infrastructure to support it – i.e. schools, services, retail, leisure and community facilities. The plan has been developed with input from residents at the various community planning events held earlier in the year, as well as considering existing, potential and new transport infrastructure. These events highlighted the importance of keeping the character of Central Bedfordshire, limit the impact on our countryside, plan for affordable homes as well as for the older generation, make sure our roads can cope, plan for local jobs and services and build near existing roads and infrastructure and use brownfield sites. Of the 20 sites put forward for Shillington during the ‘Call for Sites’, 7 have come through the first round following preliminary assessments, these being: • ALP026 - land at Apsley End Road • ALP166 – land at the north of New Walk • ALP167 – land to the south and east of High Road • ALP275 – land off New Walk • ALP402 – land at New Walk • NLP188 – land North of Dawes Garage • NLP243 – The Gables, Land at New Walk Further public comments are invited on these sites for the next round of considerations by CBC before the pre-submission plan is again open for public comment in Spring 2018. There will be further community planning events later 2017 to early 2018. THOMAS’ MEADOW – NEW APPLICATION - CB/17/02991 Another application has now appeared, albeit with less dwellings than submitted in the earlier application last November. The same very relevant and valid reasons still exist as to why this development should not be supported and village residents are again making their views known to the planning officer. Parish Council will be discussing this application at a planning meeting on 1st August (sorry again not given sufficient notice to publish here in time). We were very pleased to hear that as part of CBC’s Community Plan consultation they have made the decision to now identify Thomas’ Meadow as ‘open space’. For all Parish Council issues please currently contact: Mrs. K. Cousins, Clerk to the Parish Council 20A Vicarage Close, Shillington, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 3LS. 01462 713567 email: [email protected] website: www.shillington.bedsparishes.gov.uk VACANCY FOR CLERK TO PARISH COUNCIL Shillington Parish Council has a vacancy for Clerk to Council, following the resignation of Mrs. Karen Cousins after 22 years of service. The Parish Council has 10 elected members and we have formal monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month (apart from August). There are occasional extra meetings associated with planning applications and budget setting. The position is part time, working from home, with hours of approximately 42.5 per month. Hours are flexible, but it is important to be available to attend monthly Parish Council meetings. Salary is in accordance with Scale LC1 and conditions are in accordance with NALC (National Association of Local Councils) standard employment contracts for part-time Clerks, which will depend on experience and qualifications. Previous local government experience/CiLCA qualification would be desirable, but full training will be provided. Additional payments are made for hours worked over the norm. Allowances are paid for use of a room, storage of equipment and documents, heating and lighting and internet access. Telephone line rental and calls on behalf of the Council are also paid, as is a travel allowance when using own car on Council business. Summary of job description: • ensure that the council conducts its business lawfully • administer all the council’s paperwork • ensure that meeting papers are properly prepared and the public is aware of meeting times • implement the council’s decisions • oversee the implementation of projects • keep legal documents • keep up to date by training/qualification • maintain a basic parish council website and Facebook page The Clerk is also the Responsible Financial Officer and duties include: • managing budgets and all aspects of any business transaction • completing VAT returns • producing annual returns for assessment by external auditors • accounting responsibilities (cash flow, etc) Candidates wishing to apply for this important role should send their CV detailing previous experience to the Parish Council Chair: Mrs. Sally Stapleton – [email protected] Closing date for applications is Friday, 18th August 2017. ANNOUNCEMENTS / ITEMS / NEWS IN BRIEF A big THANK YOU to family and friends for the lovely gifts, cards and good wishes on the occasion of our Diamond Wedding anniversary on 29th June. John & Ann Clark Afternoon teas will be served by the Flower Team in All Saints Church on Monday, 28th August (bank holiday) from 1-5 pm. Local ‘makers’ will also be exhibiting their wares so please do pay us a visit….. CHURCH HILL ALLOTMENTS The rents are now due for payment at the end September. Anyone wishing to cancel or make payment please contact David Simkins Rosehill Farm. 711209. Liz & Dick Brewer would like to thank all who contributed to “The Garden Lunch” held on 2nd July, either by preparing food, donating raffle prizes, or lending chairs and tables, etc. It was a great success. May I take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to Shillington Care Volunteers who have taken me to numerous hospital appointments over the past months and continue to do so, particularly Liz Brewer. They also collect my prescriptions from the surgery. What would I have done without them? Thanks again…… Sylvia Ansell Dog Fouling Will the irresponsible dog owner(s) who walk their pets down the pathway between Church Street and Vicarage Close (beside the Congregational Church) please carry a bag so you can clear up the deposited mess. Last week (18 July) the excrement was along the path, and particularly around the steps at the side entrance to the Church. Please be considerate to the people who use the pathway as a short cut into Church Street. Thank you in anticipation! Letter from the Vicar Richard Winslade The Vicarage, Shillington 01462-713311 [email protected] Dear Friends On Thursday the 6th July I celebrated the 20th anniversary of my ordination as a Priest and on the 10th July my 21st anniversary of ordination as a Deacon. It took me a long time to accept my calling to ordained ministry and it was not a decision I entered into without serious thought. Ordination is a life changer for all who enter into it but it is also a life changer for the person’s family and friends. Before each ordination service those to be ordained go on retreat together. Here they are led by a senior clergy person to reflect on the great privilege and responsibility of ordained ministry. There are staff on hand to deal with the invertible moments of panic. I clearly remember my panic moment before being ordained as Deacon. The thought of such a life changing decision and whether I was able to serve God in the way he wanted me to became over whelming. I decided to go for a wander around the grounds of the retreat house desperately sending up prayers as I went. As I paused by the boundary wall deep in prayer and wondering how I would cope with such responsibility so the sound of a familiar hymn floated over the wall from the school assembly next door. The hymn was ‘One more step along the world I go’. Reflecting on the words which reassures us of God’s presence with us as we journey through our lives brought hope and comfort to a panicking ordinand. I still love that hymn and its simple reassurance of God walking with us through the highs and lows of life and his promise to strengthen us in our times of challenge and new adventures. There will be many of you facing challenges in life at the moment whether it be big decision or illness or other life changing situations such as changing schools. Remember that God walks with you too. Richard ALL SAINTS NEWS www.allsaintsshillington.org.uk or follow us on Facebook Parish Priest: Rev’d Richard Winslade ( 01462-713311) [email protected] (Day off on Fridays) Churchwardens Liz Brewer : 01462-711594 Patricia Humphries : 01462-711557 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]. Church Services: • 9.30am – Sung Eucharist - every 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sunday. • On 5th Sunday some services are held jointly with the Congregational Church at alternate venues. • 1st Sunday of the month: 9.30 am - Family Service / 6.00 pm - Choral Evensong For details of all our services and for PCC members’ contact details, please see our website www.allsaintsshillington.org.uk or the church notice board. Sunday Club: Unfortunately, at present, we are not able to run a Sunday Club. We welcome children to all our services and have a play area available. Special Services: 10th September - 6pm - Sung Evensong at St. Mary's Gravenhurst with Bishop Richard 1st October – 9.30am - Harvest Festival For details of all our services and for PCC members contact details, please see our website www.allsaintsshillington.org.uk or the church notice board.