PRESENT: Cllr. Neil Boyce (Chairman), Cllr. Richard Anker, Cllr. William Baxter, Cllr. Steve Davies, Cllr. Gary Elliott, Cllr. David Shaw, Cllr. Fiona Rowlands, Cllr. Terry Young and the Clerk John Haste. Three members of the public were also in attendance.
Minutes of Castor Parish Council Meeting
Held on Thursday 9th January 2025 at 7.15pm in the Cedar Centre
1021 APOLOGIES – None
1022 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None.
1023 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS – We unanimously RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Thursday 5th December 2024 -. These were duly signed by the chairman.
Proposed Cllr. Fiona Rowlands and seconded Cllr. David Shaw.
1024 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES. – none.
1025 PUBLIC FORUM – None raised
1026 THOROLDS PADDOCK – in the absence of any other matter raised in the public forum, the chairman brought forward item 7a on our agenda and invited Mr Parker a resident of Ailsworth to make his presentation on the potential future use of Thorolds Paddock. Mr. Parker proposed to start a Chicken farm with the intention of selling the eggs in the local community and in the longer term providing some local part time employment opportunity. Mr Parker provided variants of a business plan some dependent on receiving some grant funding for equipment.
We unanimously considered this to be a venture worthy of our support and RESOLVED to grant Mr Parker a three year lease commencing as soon as he is able to arrange the necessary structural work outlined in his Business Plan. We further RESOLVED to provide a grant of £1000 and the first year rent free to enable the project to proceed as quickly as possible. Second and third year’s rents to be paid annually in advance on the anniversary of the lease.
Proposed Cllr. Neil Boyce Seconded Cllr. David Shaw
1027 PLANNING AND ASSOCIATED MATTERS
a) Peterborough Local Plan (LP) – Cllr David Shaw reported that although progress is being made by the city council, government planning policy changes mean that the draft LP is unlikely to emerge before Mid-March.
b) Joint Community Action Plan (JCAP) – We noted that this is to be reviewed at the next meeting of JPLG scheduled for 16th January 2025
c) Castor Neighbourhood Planning (CNP) – Cllr. Shaw reported that he and John Hodder had met with Maria Cafano and awaited further comments from her. Parish council preference would be to have our proposed rewording to be approved. John Hodder undertook to circulate a summary of recent discussions with Maria.
d) Status report – The clerk had circulated with the agenda an up-to-date record of Planning applications. The report recorded that since the previous parish council meeting, the following had been permitted – alterations to 23 Peterborough Road, tree works at 4 Polls Yard, Olde Stables splash lane and 12 Peterborough Road. The planned demolition and replacement of Stamford Lodge had been refused.
e) Planning applications –
i 24/01375/R3FUL – C of E Primary school Stocks Hill – Replacement 2No classroom modular building with associated works – whilst supportive of the school and acknowledging the need for the additional classroom space we OBJECT to the replacement of a temporary building with yet another temporary building. The formal response to the planning authority is delegated to the Clerk in conjunction with Councillors David Shaw and Gary Elliott. The latter undertook to speak with the Head of the Primary School
f) Woodlands – Standing Item – We noted that we have been consulted on revised submissions of the Nene Park Trust application and have until 21st January to respond. The revised documents fail to address any of the concerns raised by this parish council and our objection stands. Cllr Shaw to draft a formal response in conjunction with the Clerk The applications for the Care Home and the Tennis Club proposals have yet to be submitted and validated
1028 LAND & ALLOTMENTS:
i. Thorolds Paddock – See minute 1026 above
ii. Ferryfields access road (R21) – We noted that receipt of our letter expressing an interest had been acknowledged by the city council.
iii. Councillor observations on parish council owned land – We acknowledged the fast removal of fly tipped material and the replacement of bins by the city council and Cllr. Young questioned the current plans for the footpath access through Tweentowns. Cllrs. Neil Boyce, Fiona Rowlands and William Baxter are to meet with PECT to agree the proposed routing of the footpath.
1029 HIGHWAYS & PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY
Councillors Observations –
a. Allotment lane retractable post – We noted that this had been completed
b. Allotment lane – Orphaned Wall – No change from the previous report
c. Councillor Observations – The chairman reported that the city council had agreed to attend to the white lining of the High Street
1030 COMMUNITY MATTERS:
a) Antisocial Behaviour
i. Graffiti – The chairman reported that the repainting of the bus shelters will be carried out by the community payback scheme, parish council to supply materials.
b) Joint Parish Liaison Group (JPLG) Joint Parish Liaison Group (JPLG) – John Hodder had circulated a draft agenda for the planned meeting on 16th January 2025. We have no changes to make to the proposed agenda
c) Langdyke Trust Nature Recovery Project (NRP) –
i. We noted that a grant of £5000 to the parish council had been approved and would enable the purchase of necessary equipment for the ongoing maintenance of Splash Lane Paddock. We RESOLVED to authorise Cllr. Fiona Rowlands to sign the grant acceptance documentation along with Mike Horne
Proposed Cllr. Neil Boyce Seconded Cllr. David Shaw
d) Memorial Tree Bench – Roadside portion of Thorolds Paddock– Cllr. Richard Anker had obtained a quote for approximately 20 metres of fencing and a gate. We agreed that two more quotes should be obtained. We deferred further consideration to our next meeting pending the receipt of further tender prices.
1031 GOVERNANCE MATTERS: –
a) Castor & Ailsworth Celebrations and Events Group – We considered the request of the group for a parish council representative and unanimously approved the nomination of Cllr. Gary Elliott as our representative and as a signatory to the group bank account.
Proposed Cllr. Neil Boyce seconded Cllr. David Shaw
b) Good Neighbours Rural Peterborough (GNRP) – We noted and accepted the revised memorandum of understanding with GNRP and RESOLVED to approve continued membership at the revised fee discounted by 50% of the previously communicated amount.
Proposed Cllr. Terry Young seconded Cllr. Fiona Rowlands
1032 TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, CORRESPONDENCE OR REPORTS – We noted that the official statutory Notice of Vacancy had been published
1033 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS –
A) Fencing quotes for Thorolds Paddock, Tweentowns Footpath route.
B) Date of Next meeting– scheduled for Thursday 6th February 2025 at 7.15pm in the Cedar Centre. Cllr. Gary Elliott indicated that he would be unable to attend on that date.
Meeting Closed at 9.12pm
Clerk & RFO 14th January, 2025
APPROVED BY CASTOR PARISH COUNCIL
Signature of Chairman
of approving meeting: 6TH FEBRUARY, 2025
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