Council Meeting – 10 September 2025 commencing at 7.30pm in the Community Centre

Stondon sign

You are hereby invited to attend the Stondon Parish Council Meeting on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, commencing at 7.30 pm in the Function Room, Stondon Community Centre, The Pastures, Upper Stondon, SG16 6QB, to transact the following business.

Sian van der Merwe
Clerk to Stondon Parish Council

Link to the meeting agenda.  Please do not print this post.

AGENDA

Members of the Public: Members of the public wishing to address the Council during the meeting must make the Chairman aware of their intention before the meeting starts. Members of the public wishing to record the meeting are asked to notify the Chairman of their intentions so that appropriate arrangements can be made for the recording, in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders and Recording of Meetings Policy.

42.  Apologies for absence  7.30pm

43.  Declarations  7:33pm

To receive declarations of interest from councillors on items on the agenda and provide outcome to requests for granting dispensations.

44.  Chairman’s announcements  7:36pm

45.  Public session  7.39pm

Standing Orders will be suspended for a period of up to 10 minutes to allow members of the public to address the Council in relation to the business on the agenda or request matters to be discussed at a subsequent meeting. Please note that this is limited to a maximum of 3 minutes per member.

46.  Community reports  7:48pm

To receive a report, for information only, from the following groups:

a)      RAF Henlow representative.

b)      Central Bedfordshire Council representatives.

c)      Other Village Organisations.

Please submit a report for inclusion in the minutes.

47.  Planning Applications as received from Central Bedfordshire Planning Authority for comment or information.  7:55pm

a)      CB/25/02329/FULL – Holwell Bury Farm Cottages, Bedford Road, Lower Stondon

New dwellinghouse.  The consultation period for this application expired 27 August 2025, but the Planning Officer has stated that, if the application is still in progress as at 11th September, she would be willing to accept this Council’s response.

b)      CB/25/-257/VOC – 81 Station Rd, Lower Stondon, SG16 6JN: Deadline to respond: 16/09/25

Deadline to respond: 16th September 2025  Variation of condition number 2 against planning permission CB/20/03710/FULL (Construction of 3 detached dwellings and associated works). Variation sought: to amend the approved plans, condition to read, “The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the submitted plans, numbers:L-01 rev A; TUL/002; TUL/003; TUL/004; TUL/0005; Design and Access Statement, Waste Management Strategy, Planning Statement and Parking Strategy dated Sept 2020; Ecological Appraisal dated August 2020”.

c)      CB/25/02480/FULL – 108 Station Road, Lower Stondon, SG16 6JH

Deadline to respond: 10 September 2025.  Erection of a two-storey side extension, and a single storey first floor rear extension, with roof light.

d)      CB/25/02460/NMA – Former Henlow Greyhound Stadium, Bedford Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow, SG16 6EA

No deadline to respond.  Non-material amendment to planning permission CB/24/01679/RM (Reserved Matters (appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) for 75 dwellings with open space, sustainable drainage systems and associated works, pursuant to outline planning permission CB/20/02193/OUT and conditions 4 (Housing Mix, Type & Tenure), 5 (Landscaping and Public Open Space Scheme), 7 (Ecological Enhancement Strategy), 8 (Noise Assessment), 25 (Cycle Parking Scheme) and 26 (Electric Vehicle Charging Provision) thereof.) Amendment sought for changes to the LEAP equipment, type stays as approved but changes from timber to the metal versions together with replacement of some areas of rubber mulch with Ecosmart grass tiles and grass.

e)      CB/24/03389/FULL: Planning Appeal: 216 Station Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow, SG16 6JE

Change of use of existing room at the front of the property to a nail bar, alter front window to door. Retrospective.  Planning Appeal Outcome: Dismissed

48.  To approve minutes of the Stondon Parish Council Meeting of 27th July 2025.  8:15pm

49.  Clerk’s Report  8:18pm

50.  Community and Village Hall  8:21pm

a)      Community Centre:

  1. Actions required to progress remaining snagging issues.
  2. Update on the retained sum of £62k
  3. Update on Practical Completion Certificate.

b)      Village Hall

  1. Update on Village Hall Construction Works.

51.  Procedural   8:24pm

a)      Co-option update and consider applications.

b)      Review of draft Community Engagement and Project Officer job description.

c)      To consider budget project planning for 2026/2027 and set up a working group.

d)    To review and adopt the following policies:

  1. Volunteer Policy v1.0
  2. Freedom of Information Policy v2.0
  3. Asset Register Policy v3.0
  4. Dealing with Complaints Policy v2.0
  5. Dealing with Vexatious or Habitual Complaints Policy v1.0
  6. Lone Working Policy v1.0

52.  Open Spaces  8:35pm

a)      Review and Approve Transfer of Mulberry Land (16/05229 – Land West of Bedford Road – Mulberry) to the Council.

b)      Review and Approve Transfer of Bloor Open Space (24/01679 – Henlow Greyhound Stadium – Poppyfields) to the Council.

c)      Review and Approve Transfer of Bovis Phase 2 (16/02314 – Land to rear of 104 to 168 Station Road) open space from First Port to the Council.

d)    Review and Approve Transfer of Redrow Open Space to the Council (22/01045 – Land off Bedford Road – Stonehill).

e)      Poppyfields Community Garden.

  1. To review the draft re-design of garden and agree on actions / next steps.

f)      To agree the location of the Christmas Tree.

g)     Allotments

  1. Update on rat infestation issues.

h)     Other green spaces update and information including:

  1. Hedge planting with CPRE.
  2. Anglian Water pipe install and actions required.
  3. The Pastures and Pollards Way goal post purchase and installation.
  4. Meadowsweet attenuation pond works.

53. Community Engagement 8:45pm

a)      To consider the following community engagement events:

  1. Parish Councillor surgery at Fireworks Event.
  2. Christmas Tree Lights Switch-On event.
  3. Christmas Afternoon Tea event for village pensioners.
  4. To discuss and confirm actions for a Community Engagement Forum.

54.  Neighbourhood Plan 9:00pm

a)      Plan/Meetings Update.

b)      To approve cost of additional maps and other works required to complete draft plan.

55.   Finance  9:05pm

a)      Budget vs actual report.

b)     To consider increasing Clerk’s hours to 25 hours per week.

c)      To approve the purchase of:

  1. Mobile phone and SIM contract for Clerk.
  2. New laptop for Clerk.
  3.  To approve cost for clearance of wild growth at allotments.
  4. To approve the cost of a skip for removal of materials.
  5. To approve painting of and costs related to the Allotments Eco Toilet Shed and gazebo.
  6. To approve costs for weed spraying at the Pastures.
  7. To approve the donation amount for Remembrance Sunday wreaths.
  8. To approve costs for signage in the parish.
  9. To approve costs for Christmas tree and associated items.
  10. To consider the purchase of Stondon Parish Council branded clothing.

d)      To approve payments to be made or made between meetings.

e)      To receive details of income received.

f)       To receive bank statements and reconciliations for May, June, July and August 2025.

Please note that individual agenda item timings are only indicative.

 

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