Southorpe Parish Council
The AGM and Annual Meeting of the Southorpe Parish Council were held on 23 May following a Parish Council meeting. All Councillors, the Clerk and Councillor David Over were present.
All Parish Councillors agreed to sit for a further year. Nick Lodge was elected as Chairman and David Edwards as Financial Officer. Daphne Williams agreed to continue as Clerk this year in a voluntary capacity.
The Chairman gave a report on the year. It has been relatively quiet with fewer planning applications than in recent years; the Stud Farm development has still to be started and is the only major development outstanding in the Parish. The Parish Council has continued to highlight areas where action from the City Council is needed , such as path clearing, road repairs and verge and hedge maintenance. The issue of speeding traffic through the village is still present and there have been increased speed checks by the police throughout the year. In addition, the 30mph red strips have been reinstated and after a long delay new yellow rumble strips will be added before the 30mph signs to help reinforce the speed limit. A further £500 grant was received from PCC’s Community Fund for environmental projects; this year’s initiatives have included the purchase of bird boxes which have been distributed to residents free of charge and the construction of a natural pond close to the bridle way to the west of the main village.
The Entertainments Secretary Edward Elwood gave his report; the bonfire party had been a great success again and a village picnic was planned for July
The Financial Officer presented the financial statement for the year.
A presentation from PCC’s Landscape Office on the maintenance of trees and hedges was most informative and PCSO Michael Whittaker gave an update on policing issues in the Ward and advised that Special Constables would also be visiting the villages in the future.
The full minutes of all the meetings are displayed on the Parish notice boards.
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday 12 September at 7.30pm at Grange Farm Cottage. All residents are welcome to attend.

Bainton & Ashton Parish Council
The monthly meeting took place in Bainton Reading Room on 7th June. It was attended by all councillors, local councillor David Over, Jim Daley and John Wilcockson from Peterborough City Council and two members of the public.
The normal business of the council was carried out details of which can be viewed on the Bainton Reading Room website, or the notice boards.
Jim Daley and John Wilcockson had kindly agreed to present their thoughts and PCC policy on the built environment, conservation and preservation of trees and hedges.
Trees in Conservation Areas and Tree Preservation Orders – John Wilcockson
A fair proportion of Bainton and Ashton falls within a conservation area so it was considered helpful to identify the rules which might apply. Generally PCC requires at least six weeks notice in writing before works are carried out to most trees within conservation areas. Work must not be carried out during that period without permission. (If it is, a heavy fine could be imposed and replacement planting will generally be required).
Permission is not needed for trees less than 7.5cm diameter. A Tree Preservation Order is made by the local council to protect specific trees or a particular woodland from deliberate damage and destruction. If you are interested in getting a tree or woodland protected you need to approach your local council and discuss it with the tree officer. Remember, you need their support to be successful, so be polite!

Conservation and the Built Environment – Jim Daley
The aim of conservation is to hand on what is valued to future generations – and there is an implication that what is valued should not be damaged in the process. PCC as planning authority is in an important role in shaping change and protecting the historic heritage. CHANGE is an inherent aspect of Conservation. It is the difference between conservation and preservation. There are relatively few historic buildings and areas where there is no scope for some acceptable change. A Conservation Area is an “area of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”
Bainton & Ashton Conservation Area: There are proposals to update the area and a draft consultation document will be made available to all residents shortly. This document records the history of the villages, its identity –and examines the built envelope, its fabric, landscape, components – walls, trees etc, its townscape. It also Identifies key character – its buildings, spaces, building materials, landscape, its ‘sense of place’ walls. All residents will have 6 weeks to comment on the draft plan before it is submitted to PCC for approval. The draft proposals seek to extend the existing Conservation area, to give guidance on historic properties, to propose sympathetic highway works and maintenance, and to enhance the landscape.
All residents are urged to look out for the consultation in the next few weeks, and to submit their thoughts to the Council as necessary. – This is truly democracy in action so please make the most of it.

Report for Barnack Parish Council
The meeting held on Monday 13 June 2011 in the Wilfrid Wood Hall was attended by Mrs J Woollard (Chairman), Mr E Barker, Mrs S Berrill, Mrs D Dolby, Mrs R McCallum (Parish Clerk), Cllr D Over, PC N McCallum, and 3 members of the public. The church path resurfacing work is finished and the path now looks splendid. A quote for the surface around the village information board is still to be received, along with a quote for the lowering of the kerb on to the pavement. A further letter concerning the yellow warning marker strips at the entrances to the village will be sent. The road behind the War Memorial has been measured and work is expected to start on the realignment within 3 weeks. The bollard that has been moved by a vehicle will be requested to be straightened. The verges have not been cut from Station Yard to the Station Master’s House and by Jingle Cottage and the tree outside 3 Orchard Road still needs to be removed. A letter has been sent to the Chief Constable regarding PC McCallum being taken away from his duties in the rural areas.
After consultation with an expert the council understands that the Yew trees in the cemetery have been affected by the severe weather conditions over the last two winters. The centre of the trees are healthy and it is hoped that the trees will grow back in time. There were no objections to the planning application for the removal of an elderberry tree and the planting of fruit trees at 26 Main Street A representative was elected to represent Barnack and Pilsgate on the reorganised Neighbourhood Council.. A committee will be formed, from representatives from each village association, to organise a programme of events for Barnack and Pilsgate to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. celebrations in June 2012. A second attendee is required for the Barnack Ward Group, and Mr Barker agreed to attend future meetings of Barnack Ward Group as the second representative for Barnack. The Barnack Pavilion committee met for the final time on Tuesday 31 May as the building has now been completed.
The official opening of the Barnack Pavilion will take place on Friday 1 July. Mrs Berrill reported on the Police Liaison Meeting, which she had attended. She reminded residents that all incidents and crimes must be reported to the Police. The antisocial behaviour in Wittering, Castor and Maxey would be a priority for this three month period. . The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 August at Sutton.
A report on the Barnack Ward Group was given which included funds regarding the street speed signs, grit bins, environmental grant, internet connection and projector screens; the Speedwatch rota; wildlife projects; and Neighbourhood Councils. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 6 July. Cllr Over reported that Peterborough City Council made a profit of £11m in the last financial year.
PC McCallum reported a letter will be sent regarding the junction of Sutton Heath Road/A47, as this should be a left turn only to help to prevent accidents. From 1 May – 13 June, there were 7 crimes reported in the Barnack Ward, with 2 reported in the Barnack Parish Council envelope. To reiterate, all incidents need to be reported to show that there is a need for police in the rural areas.
PC McCallum also announced that Cambridgeshire Constabulary are selling the Police House. Once this is done, and PC McCallum moves out, there will no longer be a permanent police presence in the village. The Parish Council were most disappointed and it was agreed that a further letter will be sent to the Chief Constable. Repairs are to be requested for the seat outside the west gate of Barnack church and the two seats on Uffington Road and for the dead weeds and rubbish to be cleared from the base of stone walls on footpaths throughout the village. From the Open Forum the parish council was asked to address three issues: i. kerbs need to be dropped in front of houses where cars are being parked in front gardens in Orchard Road. The Parish Council will report this matter to the highways department at PCC and Cross Keys Homes. ii. The 20mph signs have still not been put up on the B1443. Peterborough City Council will be contacted to see if the signs are now available. Iii. Attention was drawn to a Woodlands Trust initiative for trees for the Diamond Jubilee. This will be discussed at the July meeting. The next meeting is on Monday 4 July 2011 at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall. Please note this change of date. All are welcome. A full copy of these minutes is on the village notice boards.

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