PRESENT: Cllr. Neil Boyce (Chairman), Cllr. Richard Anker, Cllr. Steve Davies, Cllr. Gary Elliott, Cllr. Fiona Rowlands, Cllr. David Shaw, Cllr. Terry Young and the Clerk John Haste. Two members of the public were also in attendance.
Minutes of Castor Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday 6th March 2025 at 7.15pm in the Cedar Centre
1047 APOLOGIES ––Cllr. William Baxter, absent from Peterborough & apologies from Cllr. Anker, anticipated being late arriving
1048 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None.
1049 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS – We unanimously RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Thursday 6th February 2025 -. These were duly signed by the chairman.
Proposed Cllr. Terry Young and seconded Cllr. David Shaw
1050 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES. – none.
1051 PUBLIC FORUM – None
1052 PLANNING AND ASSOCIATED MATTERS
a) Peterborough Local Plan (LP) – Cllr Anker arrived during discussion on this agenda item. Cllr. David Shaw reported on two meetings held with City Council officers and it was apparent at those meetings, that city council officers have in mind development of 2-3000 homes in Castor parish area, north of the bypass. City Council officers thought that Homes England were open to a more constructive dialogue with the parish council than has hitherto been the case.
We were informed that the city Council cabinet are anticipating receiving a draft revised LP on 20th March with joint scrutiny committee consideration later the same day. In the light of that information, we considered that the time is now right to hold a public meeting during March to gauge the views of residents on the strategy to be followed once the draft plan is published.
We RESOLVED to delegate to Cllr. Shaw and the chairman the task of setting up an initial public meeting. Once residents’ views were clear, to then formulate the practical & a formal responses to the local Planning Authority
Proposed Cllr. Neil Boyce and seconded Cllr. Gary Elliott
b) Joint Community Action Plan (JCAP) – We had approved the revised draft plan at our February meeting and John Hodder reminded us that we should be re-registering Common Land in the parish.
c) Castor Neighbourhood Planning (CNP) – Cllr. Shaw reported that, as resolved at the previous meeting, the agreed final draft of a revised NP had been sent to the City Council. The planning policy manager has acknowledged that there have been several conversations with policy officers about the proposed changes before they were submitted for approval. The policy manager has however, challenged our wording of policy CRV1, and suggested an alternative wording. We are content to accept the suggested wording and believe it achieves the same outcomes as intended by this parish council. We therefore, unanimously, RESOLVED to approve the documents be amended by the following wording of the final paragraph of policy CRV1 for submission to the city council for final approval and subsequent submission to an inspector.
“Some development at the Woodlands, has already taken place as older people accommodation (C2
development) on part of the site. Any further development should accord with policy CH1, and should
not create significant additional traffic, or harm the amenities of the village or landscape setting of the village. Any application should be accompanied by evidence of clear local community support for the proposed scheme (demonstrated through a thorough and proportionate pre application community consultation exercise).”
Proposed Cllr. Neil Boyce Seconded Cllr. Terry Young
d) Status report – The clerk had reported no change in either planning applications validated or determined since the previous meeting and the Status report therefore remained unchanged.
e) Planning applications –
i There were no planning applications to consider at this meeting.
f) Woodlands – Standing Item
i. Development of a sports pavilion, storage facilities and associated infrastructure – We noted that the application by Nene Park Trust is expected to go to the Planning & Environmental Protection Committee sometime in April. In anticipation of that event, we RESOLVED that Cllr. David Shaw should represent the parish council.
Proposed Cllr. Terry Young Seconded Cllr. Richard Anker
ii. Care Home Application – No further progress to report
iii. Tennis Club – We were informed that the Tennis Club achieved Outline Planning Permission for two one and a half Storey residences on the Holmes Close Site and had agreed terms of a Licence with Nene Park Trust (NPT) to provide three grass courts; and have worked with Country Court Care (CCC) to enable the Club to move forward with proposals for three astroturf tennis courts, pickle ball and a padel court. Cllr. Shaw undertook to establish more detail on the agreements with NPT and CCC.
1053 LAND & ALLOTMENTS:
i. Thorolds Paddock – The Clerk reported no change since the January meeting and that he awaited further communication from Mr Parker.
ii. Ferryfields access road (R21) – No progress since the January meeting.
III. Councillor observations on parish council owned land – It was noted that the cricket ground now benefitted from a high-speed fibre broadband connection.
1054 HIGHWAYS & PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY
Councillors Observations –
a. Allotment lane – Orphaned Wall – No change from the previous report.
b. White Lining – Councillors noted that the vast majority of the work had been completed but the Peterborough Road/ Thorolds way Junction missed and the paint on the cobbles already showing signs of wear. We asked the Clerk to inform the head of Highways.
Post meeting note – the above works were remedied the day after the meeting
c. Councillor Observations – The chairman reported that he had been in touch with DEFRA regarding the loose chickens on the road and had followed that up by reporting the matter to the city council, A city council enforcement officer had visited the owner’s premises informing him that all chickens have to be registered and kept secure on the owners’ premises.
1055 COMMUNITY MATTERS:
a) Antisocial Behaviour
i. Graffiti – We noted that the incidents had quietened down, but confirmed that we will continue to monitor that position
b) Joint Parish Liaison Group (JPLG) Joint Parish Liaison Group (JPLG) – Nothing to report at this stage and the next meeting is schedule for 15th May 2025.
c) Langdyke Trust Nature Recovery Project (NRP) – We noted that Mike Horne is still away in Vietnam and accordingly deferred consideration of security for the grant funded equipment pending Mike’s return
d) Thorolds Paddock – Rest area Fencing & Benches – We recorded our appreciation of Cllr. Baxter in sourcing the benches and fencing materials and noted that Mr Bedford had, today, started work on installing the fences. We discussed the “official opening” of the rest area and agreed that it should be associated with the VE80 commemorative activities. Cllr. Elliott undertook to discuss the arrangements with the VE80 events team and to report back to the April meeting.
e) VE80 Events Committee grant application – Amy O’Boyle apologised for nonattendance as unwell but had provided spreadsheets for the different elements of the commemorative activities. The evening paid event is budgeted to be self sufficient or raise funds for the school and/or the church. The committee requested financial support for the free day time event to be shared between Ailsworth and Castor parish councils. We RESOLVED to approve a grant of £400, as our share, as requested, by the events committee.
Proposed Cllr. Neil Boyce Seconded Cllr. David Shaw
f) Good Neighbours Rural Peterborough (GNRP) – AGM – we were informed that this had been attended by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. The Clerk had circulated, on the agenda for this meeting, the full documentation provided to that AGM including the report on activities, the financial accounts and some quantitive assessments of what had been achieved since the organisation was formed some 5 years earlier from humble beginnings in this parish.
1056 GOVERNANCE MATTERS: –
a) Parish Council Vacancy – We noted that the Parish council are able to co-opt a suitable candidate to fill the vacancy but also noted that to date no-one had, as yet, been identified.
b) VAT Reclaim – The Clerk reported that £8354.92 for VAT paid up to 31st March 2024 received in to the council’s bank account.
c) Village Hall Management committee – As reported to the previous meeting we noted that Martin Chilcott is standing down as a trustee on that committee. No replacement candidate has been found.
1057 TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, CORRESPONDENCE OR REPORTS
i. Castor lodge Care Home invite to see the Dragon Boat at the care home on 12th March – We noted the invite and left it to individual councillors’ discretion to attend the event if wishing to do so.
ii. The Big Clean 2025 – The chairman reported an invitation to take part in this national event and his intention to hold a litter pick on 22nd March. The chairman invited Ailsworth parish council to promote and participate in both the event and funding the refreshments. We RESOLVED to approve a budget of up to £400 to pay for “pie and a pint” at the Prince of Wales pub, at the conclusion of the event for all participants.
Proposed Cllr. Gary Elliott seconded Cllr. Terry Young
iii. CAPALC Affiliation – The Clerk Reported receipt on the day before our meeting, of an invoice from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough association of Local Councils (CAPALC), for the affiliation fee commencing 1st April (before the date of our next meeting). The affiliation fee includes affiliation to the National association of Local Council (NALC). The Clerk advised that we incorporate NALC copyright documentation in our policies. We accordingly RESOLVED to pay the affiliation fee, (excluding the optional data protection officers fee), of £392.42.
Proposed Cllr. Neil Boyce seconded Cllr. Richard Anker
1058 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
a) JPLG agenda approval
1046. Date of Next meeting– scheduled for Thursday 3rd April 2025 at 7.15pm in the Cedar Centre. Meeting Closed at 9.12pm
Clerk & RFO 10th March, 2025
APPROVED BY CASTOR PARISH COUNCIL
Signature of Chairman
of approving meeting: 3rd April, 2025