BARNACK PARISH COUNCIL

Open Forum
Adam Broadway representing the Lee Family Trust attended the meeting. The Lee Family are the landowner of the site to the north of Stamford/Bainton Road. This site has recently been submitted for inclusion in the emerging Peterborough Local Plan under the ‘Call for Sites’ (SHELAA Site 2049). Adam wanted to present to Councillors, potential plans to sell the land for residential properties and explained that they want to raise the bar on sustainable living. Cllr. Taylor suggested he comes back in about six months’ time, once the Local Plan has been issued for a further discussion. Nicola Beck attended regarding the current Parish Councillor vacancy. Minute documented in
full minutes, ref: 47b. Paul Doubleday, from 54 Sissons Close attended the meeting. Paul wanted to explain the current situation regarding his loft extension. It was decided with agreement of Councillors that he will change the current cladding to stone coloured tiles/slips, which will be more in keeping with the street scene.
Brian Palmer attended the meeting to express his views on the verges being driven over in and around the village by what he believes is agricultural vehicles.
Rev. Gary attended the meeting to be part of our discussion regarding the maintenance of the Churchyard. Minute documented in full minutes, ref: 50c.
Sally Hullock attended to inform Councillors of the Christmas Light Switch on/ Sleigh travels in December. The date for this event is Saturday 14th December. Sally to discuss with Clerk plans for the decorations and set-up etc.

Planning: 5 new applications since the last Parish Council meeting. See full minutes.
Parish Councillor vacancy. Nicola Beck is interested in filling the current vacancy. Coronation tree in the churchyard requires additional support. Cllr. Taylor is going to wait until the spring to assess the growth of the Sissons Close tree. He will then make a decision regarding movement of the support from there to the Churchyard.
Volunteers for Speedwatch. Three residents have come forward offering their assistance Draft Traffic Calming Plan and reconvening the road safety working group – Cllr. O’Shea to look into this. Highways & Road Safety Bollards in Pilsgate. Cllr. Cameron to obtain feedback from residents. Refurb/recondition of village signs. Cllr. McCarey has confirmed that there are approximately 15 signs which need repairing. Cllr. McCarey is going to establish whether it is worth maintaining the existing signs or get new.
Vehicular Activated Signs – SWARCO has agreed that they are happy to take on the future maintenance of the three VAS signs. The Millstone sign which has been placed on the Uffington Road junction corner will not be re-positioned by PCC. They feel it doesn’t impair visibility Burial Grounds Cemetery & Churchyard tree survey – work will commence once tree work application has been approved by PCC.
Churchyard gates – Cllr. Taylor will be speaking to Stamford Bespoke Joinery regarding remedial work required to the gates. Churchyard wall – BPC had previously been made aware that the churchyard wall is in need of repair – quote: £10,247.98
(1) BPC were advised that the churchyard had been closed by an order in council on 20th May 1903 and at that time the costs were born by the parish council.
(2) Cllr. Palmer reported that in company with the clerk historical records had been examined in the city archives and that there was ample evidence that the costs of maintenance had continued to be borne by the parish council by the common consent
(3) The examination of historical records also confirmed that after the 1972 Local Government Act there is no evidence of any formal notice being given by the parochial church council under section 215(2) of that Act.
(4) BPC were also informed that the parish council receives a discretionary grant from Peterborough city council each year calculated as 75% of the NET expenditure included in the parish council budget for burial grounds. BPC therefore concluded that in the absence of such a notice, any continued funding of the repairs would have been, and will continue to be, by consent and not by compulsion. BPC therefore agreed, WITHOUT PREJUDICE to any future considerations regarding the churchyard to – Seek additional quotes for the repair to the wall for consideration by this parish council – To include provision for the repair to the churchyard wall in our budget for 2025/26. This to be submitted to the city council along with setting out our Precept requirements
– To consider, at a future meeting, all quotes for the work with a view to carrying out the repair work after 1st April 2025
– To enter discussions with the parochial church council to consider the long- term funding of churchyard repairs. The discussions to include consideration of
(a) Possible assessment of the scale, and costs, of latent liability for churchyard repairs. (b) Advice from the National Association of Local Councils. (c) Advice from the General Synod of the Church of England and Peterborough Diocese (d) The ramifications, and the desirability, or otherwise, of the parochial church council issuing a formal notice under S215(2) of the Local Government Act 1972.
To see the full minutes of the Council Meeting please see the village noticeboards or visit: https://www.barnackparishcouncil.org/ Michelle Dickens Barnack & Pilsgate Parish Clerk – clerk@barnack-pc.gov.uk 07595 377236

News from Bainton and Ashton Parish Council

Grant application
I have submitted an application for a grant from Augean Landfill to improve the toddler play area off St Mary’s Close, Bainton. The decision is not made until February 2025 so we will keep you posted. Thanks to the parents and grandparents who have helped with ideas on this so far.
Councillor vacancy
There is still one Parish Councillor vacancy. Please step up to help the Councillors to serve the residents of Bainton and Ashton to improve the village amenities and keep the environment safe and protected in many ways.
20mph limit
You may remember there was a consultation on the introduction of a 20mph speed limit throughout parts of Bainton in July 2024. The results have been analysed by Peterborough City Council (PCC). There were 105 letters delivered. There were 29 individual responses (28%) and 21 of these were generally supportive and 8 were opposed to the proposal. There were also some comments made about the effectiveness of the new limit. The data from the Community Speedwatch Team on the speeds that cars travel was also looked at.
At the Parish Council meeting on 7/11/24, the feedback was discussed and it was felt that the limit should still be introduced due to the recent data available from the AutoSpeedwatch cameras is more detailed, recent and accurate and shows a worse picture than that stated by PCC. The overall decision is made by the PCC Service Director, Highways Authority, and this will be communicated to those who responded to the consultation and residents in due course. The Parish Council has put aside money in their budget to pay for the reduced limit signage etc.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the Parish Council is on 6/1/25 at 8pm in the Reading Room, Bainton (unless a planning application is needing a response in the meantime). The CEO of the Cambs and Peterborough Association of Local Councils is hoping to attend to further discuss the possibility/necessity of amalgamation of the council with another village.
Jenny Rice Clerk/RFO tel 07889669550 clerk@baintonandashton-pc.gov.uk