Members of Stondon Parish Council:
Cllr A Marabese (Chairperson), Cllr M Thompson (Vice-Chairperson), Cllr N Benson, Cllr M Bilsby, Cllr J Cleary, Cllr N Hansford, Cllr C Jenkins, Cllr P Lazenby, Cllr G Simkins
You are hereby summoned to attend the Meeting of Stondon Parish Council on Wednesday 27th May 2026, commencing at 7:30 pm in The Function Room, Stondon Community Centre, The Pastures, Upper Stondon, SG16 6QB for the purpose of transacting the business set out in this agenda.
Central Bedfordshire Council Ward Members, representatives of the press and electorates of Stondon, for information.
Sian van der Merwe
Clerk to Stondon Parish Council
AGENDA
150. Election of Chairman and acceptance of office – 7.30pm
151. Election of Vice Chairman and acceptance of office – 7.32pm
152. Apologies for absence – 7.35pm
153. Declarations – 7:37pm
a) To receive declarations of interest from Councillors on items on the agenda. If, at any time during the meeting, a Councillor feels they have an interest in an item being discussed they should declare it at that point.
b) To receive written requests for dispensations for disclosable pecuniary interests.
c) To grant requests for dispensation as appropriate.
154. Chairman’s announcements – 7:40pm
a) Notice regarding openness and transparency of the meeting.
b) Other information.
155. Public session – 7:45pm
Standing Orders will be suspended for a period of up to 15 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 speaker.
156. Community Reports – 8:00pm
To receive a report, for information only, from the following groups:
a) Bedfordshire Council representatives.
b) Rands Educational Trust.
c) RAF Henlow representative.
d) Other Village Organisations.
157. Neighbourhood Plan – 8:10pm
a) To receive an update on the Neighbourhood Plan.
158. Planning Applications as received from Central Bedfordshire Planning Authority – 8:12pm
a) CB/26/01355/DOC – 169 Station Road, Lower Stondon, SG16 6JQ – Consultation period expires 4th June 2026
Discharge of Conditions 3, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 15 against planning permission CB/25/00083/FULL (Erection of one new self-build dwelling to the rear garden. Demolition of existing attached garage conversion. New access driveway, revised front parking and landscape proposals).
b) CB/26/01268/DOC – 81A Station Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow, SG16 6JN – Consultation Period Expiry – None
Discharge of Condition 6 against planning application ref CB/25/02567/VOC (Variation of condition number 1 against planning permission CB/23/03293/VOC (Construction of 3 detached dwellings and associated works – Variation being sought to raise the height of the roof over the garages add rear access doors, windows and skylights and introduce a hipped end. Render to gable wall). 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/25/01945/OUT – Appeal for consideration by DMC: Land at Mount Pleasant Golf Course, Station Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow, SG16 6JL – Appeal
The above application is scheduled for consideration at the next Development Management Committee on 03rd June 2026. It has been recommended for refusal however; the DMC is free to make a decision which is not in line with this if it considers there is grounds to do so. This Council has the opportunity to present its arguments to the Committee and the deadline to request a speaking slot is 2nd June 2026. The DMC Agenda will be published on 22nd May 2026.
159. To approve the Minutes of the Stondon Parish Council Meetings of 25th February, 25th March, 14th April and 29th April 2026 -8:30
160. Delegation Arrangements – 8:32
a) To appoint members for the following Committees:
i. Personnel
ii. Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
b) To appoint or reconfirm members to the following Working Groups:
i. Open Spaces Working Group
ii. Community Engagement Working Group
iii. Governance & Development Working Group
iv. Budget Planning working Group
v. Local Plan Working Group
vi. Poppyfields Community Garden Working Group
c) To appoint or reconfirm representatives to outside bodies:
i. Stondon Recreation Association
ii. Rands Educational Trust Charity
iii. Stondon Patient Participation Group
iv. RAF Henlow Action Contact
v. Stondon Village Hall Committee Liaison
161. To receive the Clerk’s Report – 8:40pm
162. Community Centre and Village Hall – 8:45pm
a) Update and actions on snagging issues and defects liability end period at the Community Centre.
b) Update on Stondon Village Hall Management Committee Meeting of 18th May 2026.
c) Update and actions on Village Hall matters.
163. Procedural – 8:50pm
a) Co-option of Parish Councillor:
i. To consider an application received for the Parish Councillor vacancy.
ii. Signing of the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
b) To confirm the Terms of Reference for:
i. Personnel Committee
ii. Neighbourhood Plan steering Group
iii. Open Spaces Working Group
iv. Community Engagement Working Group
v. Governance & Development Working Group
vi. Budget Planning Working Group
vii. Local Plan Working Group
viii. Poppyfields Community Engagement Working Group
c) Policies:
i. To re-adopt Code of Conduct (no changes)
ii. To approve CCTV Policy (changes made)
iii. To approve Financial Regulations (changes made)
iv. To approve Standing Orders (changes made)
v. To approve Risk Assessment (changes made)
d) Chair’s Nominated Charity: To consider and approve a nominated charity for the 2026 – 2027 financial year.
164. Open Spaces – 9:10pm
a) To receive an update on all green space issues.
b) Poppyfields Community Garden: To consider a proposal from the GP Surgery regarding use of the Poppyfields Community Garden and decide on actions to be taken.
c) To receive an update on Anglian Water pipe installation and actions required.
165. Community Engagement – 9:15pm
a) To receive a report on fundraising efforts at the Stondon All Saints Garden Festival
b) To confirm planned Community Engagement events in May and for the remainder of the financial year.
166. Finance – 9:18pm
a) Bank Signatories: To consider and approve Councillors as signatories on Lloyds Banking account (currently AM, PL, NB).
b) Savings Account Signatories: To consider and approve Councillors as signatories on CCLA Savings Account (currently AM, PL, NB).
c) Community Engagement: To consider 3 quotes and approve the purchase of a generally branded gazebo for events for the Council – as per quotes provided.
d) Community Centre: To consider and approve purchase of additional electrical equipment – up to £170 including VAT.
e) Amazon Business Account: To consider and decide on purchasing an annual subscription for Amazon Business Prime – £9.99 per annum on reduced fee between June 26 and May 27.
f) To consider and approve an Open Spaces Hire application by Stondon PTA for a school event to be held on The Pastures Recreation Ground on 16 July 2026.
g) To approve payments made or to be made between meetings.
h) To receive details of income received.
i) To receive bank statements and reconciliations for January, February and March 2026.
Please note that individual agenda item timings are only indicative.