How much are your PCSOs?

Parish and town council funding of PCSOs is back on the agenda. In Cranfield we went down this route a few years back and then the scheme was withdrawn. There are issues about whether you have any managerial control over the police community support officer you are funding and the police’s right to withdraw them at any time for other priorities.  

At the recent Bedfordshire Councils Planning Consortium meeting in Flitwick , Sergeant Andy Rivers explained that a PCSO costs £51,000 of which £24,000 is their salary.

Bedfordshire Police are looking for £33,000 to be paid by parish councils plus £280 per month if a car is used. Parish councils should have received a letter explaining this. Some parish councils want to fund their own PCSO. 

 A review of PCSOs will be held in April.  A Harlington parish councillor at the meeting pointed out that there is a legal difficulty for a parish council to fund any facility, which is not unique to it. If that difficulty can be overcome then parish councils may be willing to contribute financially to fund a PCSO. There would have to be discussions between National Association of Local Councils, Central Beds Council and the Police.
Source – minutes of the BCPC meeting 13 December 2013

 
PCSOs were introduced in 2003 and while the tabloids attacked their lack of an arrest warrant, there are many examples of committed, boots on the ground, community involvement. Home Office funding is now being withdrawn and numbers have been scaled back. Pictured above is Cumbria's PCSO Jonathan Mann who won the 2011 Janes' Police Review PCSO of the year award. Jonathan has run very successful Junior PCSO schemes helping children to be come more aware of the police and to engage in worthwhile community activities - especially when school is out.

For the record

What a historical record - again big thanks to Diana Lord for this. It's the parish council election return for May 1952. It lists the votes cast for all the candidates and the order in which they were elected - or not. Right at the top of the poll is Diana's late husband Frank, and just below that his sister Lily. Frank and Lily were the King and Queen of Cranfield Parish Council for many years and did a huge amount of work. 

There are other familiar names as well, Billington, Hillson, and Mary Street. Victor Goddard the principal of the College of Aeronautics, no less was elected. Bet Wharley End was heard.

You have to be impressed at the interest in the election and in standing.  Community spirit was in abundance.

bnbnbnbnbn

Cllr Sue Clark replies

Cllr Sue Clark writes following the Flitt Leys blog post and Movers and Shakers:

"If you are going to criticise me, I'd appreciate it if you got your facts right.
  
I also attended Overview and Scrutiny last week. I spoke at the beginning of the meeting, before Roger (Baker) was there and maybe before you were there?  I spoke against the proposed use of Flit Leys Close as a school access.  I am happy to give you my speech verbatim, but I said :

"Principal issue is proposed access through Flit  Leys Close. Particularly would like to draw your attention to my concerns about this. Flit Leys is short narrow close serving about 25 houses problem is residents cars parked…and this is the proposed access to the new site of 135 houses , PCT and possible school. 

"May not be so bad unless a school is built - envisage chaos on this small entrance including access for double decker school bus. Ward members have talked on a number of occasions to developer/ officers/highways. 

"Seems alternative access not possible.  Highways say it is wide enough. If you agree this access is acceptable, which I don't think it is   would have to have a compromise managed solution….best of bad job…..any compromise should not disadvantage residents….wanted to come to meeting to stress my view that entrance would be unacceptable if school goes ahead on site…
PC want a single large play area…"


I'm not clear where this shows my support for the design brief? I don't have a vote on O&S, nor on Executive but I will be delivering again at that meeting a consistent message that Flit Leys Close is not a suitable access to a school.  I'm afraid a  poor decision was made in the past and I will continue to do what I can about it, but it is an allocated site, and it does have the support of Highways, and a  managed compromise may be all that can be achieved.

Read it and weep

It's all systems go for Flitt Leys - 135 houses, a school and a health centre all accessing onto the High St near Enoch's. 

In the short term, residents already beset by hot food collectors had better start getting used to construction traffic trundling down this narrow residential street. It was always going to be tough for them with 135 houses in the pipeline. But with the added school and health centre, much worse. Let's not forget that a school is a business in terms of activity and customers. You would not put a busy, customer-focused company in a residential area deliberately. But it happens in Central Beds. Read it and weep.

Last night, at Parish Council, all three Central Beds councillors acknowledged that this was unsatisfactory but supported the design brief, approved last week, because of the pledge to introduce a traffic management system before a school is built. Alternatively they argued that if the design brief was rejected the developer would successfully appeal the decision. So why traipse over to CBC HQ at Chicksands at all, as (fellow parish councillor) Roger Baker and I did? We might as well stay at home and feed the cat and do our cross-stitch for all the difference public participation makes.
  
The officers say it can all be done and that's all that needs to be said. We are setting Cranfield up for a serious case of arthritis. Nobody believes any traffic management system is going to fix this one.

There has been no indication from the Lower School whether they wish to move to the new site, use it in addition to Court Road or seek another fresh site altogether. A greenfield site would be the only get out of jail (or out of Flitt Leys) card.

In the pipeline

Broken down house
According to the planning minutes (draft, to be approved) of the planning committee, Central Beds Cllr Sue Clark is trying to find out what CBC can do in relation to the appearance of the Carpenters Arms in its current boarded up, unsightly state.


Due for approval these evening
General purpose minutes (draft to be approved) state: PCllr D Allen reported residents are having problems crossing the revised Mill Road junction, particularly those from Portnall Place. It was RECOMMENDED that CBC is asked to advise on the suitability of placing a pedestrian crossing in the area of the Cooperative store.

Die in Flitwick

Anyone falsely imprisoned in Flitwick last night?  The temp traffic lights (yes, yet again) have just about reduced Steppingley Road to gridlock. The long sequences  mean that traffic from the other end keeps tailgating thru even when the lights at their end have gone red. 10 minutes to break out. CBC/Amey any explanations?

Who are we? What we are not

I'm off to Parish Council this evening for the first time in three months following a break due to pressure of professional commitments. Somebody in London recently wanted to know what we were and what we do. It was hard to explain so I thought I'd say what we are not, challenging her TV-influenced stereotypes.


First of all we are not Dibleys. There may be eccentrics in the VOD but we do have our own characters too. However, the Telly never quite spells it out that in Dibley you are looking at the Parochial Church Council. This, with Dawn French or Hugh Symes Thompson runs the church. It is distinguished from the Parish Council, part of a system set up in the 1890s to look after local facilities - cemeteries, street lights, play areas and to comment on planning. 

Secondly we are not Last of the Summer Wine. We do get out and we should get out but just aimlessly rambling around Cranfield will probably not achieve anything. There are a lot of people on the council who know a lot of people and lot of places around here but there is also plenty of paperwork and some pretty intense discussions, carefully recorded and acted upon. So, Cleggy, Compo, Foggy your application for co-option to the PC is rejected as you just tend to mutter on non-stop and not pay attention. OK, OK one or two of our members do that.

 

Finally we are not the League of Gentlemen. There are wild men on the PC and also some wild women (they know who they are) and we are pretty committed to local quality of life. But there are limits,  though a few Mid Beds/Central Beds council officers might think differently. You are welcome to come to Cranfield and to leave it and hopefully you will have pleasant memories whether you came for half an hour or 25 years.

Waste collections

Stand by your bins. The CBC waste cavalry are on the horizon - not sure which one but somewhere.
Read more from the CBC website

Combustible

Big day for the blog yesterday with over 400 visits partly due to criticising Iain Lee on BBC3CR. Two indignant comments posted below. I've done my responses below but I will just mention an approving reference to IR being an   'experimental' broadcaster. Well the R101 was experimental too but that didn't mean it stayed in the air.

The great bin freeze up

CBC says bin collections are off.  Due to my efforts to catch the snow train to London - and it was slow - I don't know if any Cranfield bins got touched. Click bin collection or read here:

All waste collections have been suspended this morning due to the snow and icy conditions. The situation will continue to be monitored throughout the day, so residents should leave their bins or bags out if it is safe to do so.

Waste bin collections during adverse weather - general advice
We try to maintain waste and recycling collections regardless of the weather, but where conditions are dangerous for our crews pulling waste bins and loading vehicles, we may need to suspend bin collections until conditions improve.
In the event of adverse weather conditions, we will make every effort to collect your kerbside waste. If we are not able to due to safety concerns, we will catch up as soon as possible. Residents are advised to make full use of their food waste collection (north of the region only) and recycling collection.

Pathetic

Iain Lee on Radio3 Counties is pathetic. He wants a child who's school is closed to phone in and "gloat"  at another child who's school is not closed. Stop fantasising Iain about how you would like your broadcasting career to take off and start listening to real stories. You are in the League 2 of broadcasting. 

Schools in Cranfield in the Snow

CBC website shows Holywell and Lower School (AKA Church of England Academy) closed today. Check closures at 
CBC school closures

I'm off to wrestle with Thameslink.

They made 'em tough

Do think you've got problems outside at the moment? Here are some shots of Marston Hill in the bad winter of 1947. I'm impressed that a bus appeared to be getting through. "They made 'em tough in those days", says Diana Lord of Mill Road who kindly supplied the images

There'e no business like snow business

Its fine but its persistent and the traffic isn't clearing the snow off the road so we won't be straying out of Cranfield today. I might have an exciting trip to the Coop a little later on, once I've mustered the huskies and got Captain Oates out of bed (and I'm not having any of that 'I may be some time' nonsense).

The onset of the white stuff took us a little by surprise as the BBC weather was suggesting midday but we are where we are with snow piling up outside the front door and cats very doubtful about the whole business. I've no idea what it will be like tomorrow but I take my hat off to every one who has to pull on a woolly hat, gloves and pair of boots to go work unlike those of us who who can sit in front of a computer checking our facebook page. LOL

So thanks to the Amey staff who turned up on Friday morning with the salt provided for the village by CBC. This was carefully deposited behind the skip in the cemetery and will be available for the salt boxes around Cranfield. Hopefully those near the salt boxes may spread a bit from time to in icy conditions. Hats off again to a small  number of people on the High Street who cleared their section of the footpath yesterday. We are not among them but we probably all should, give or take a bad back or a dodgy hip. There was some debate two years ago about whether we are allowed to clear the footpath on some spurious health and safety ground. 

I hope we we are past all that nonsense. If you have household members who revel in the snow, have a great time  but at the same time it would be good to be open for business again  tomorrow morning

Agenda for Parish Council 23 January 2013

Meeting 8.00pm (at Holywell school)

^1.            To receive apologies for absence  - 

^2.            To receive declarations of personal and/or prejudicial interests in any matter

^3.            To confirm the minutes of the last meeting[s] [copy herewith]

^4.            Clerks Report

^5.            Health & Safety

^6.            Reports from Committees

6.1.    General Purposes Committee

6.2.    Burial Grounds Committee

6.3.    Environment Committee

6.4.    Planning Committee

^7.            Financial matters and accounts for payment

^8.            Correspondence

^9.            Reports from unitary councillors (and any other representative)

^10.        Highway matters

Most recent police report

Recorded Date	Committed Date	Committed Times	Offence	Street
15/01/13	14/01/13	18:00 to 10:00	Burglary In A Dwelling Unknown offender/s have gained access to the property by using an axe that belongs to the home owner, forcing open a wooden front door. Offender/s appear to have to then used an unknown implement to jimmy a second pine door to gain access to the house where an untidy search has been conducted. Offenders appear to have been conducting the search whilst snacking on McDonalds take away food. Offenders have then left location by unknown direction and unknown means.	Court Road
02/01/13	02/01/13	08:00 to 10:30	Theft From Vehicle  Goods were being delivered to a pub. Vehicle was left unlocked. Unknown offender/s have then approached cab of lorry from an unknown direction and opened the unlocked cab door and removed both their bags and vehicle's mobile phone. Some of the items stolen were recovered in a nearby ditch.	Court Road
02/01/13	01/01/12	23:30 to 07:00	Theft From Vehicle Unknown offender/s have approached the location and used an unknown implement to smash the passenger side windows before gaining entry. Offenders have then made a search and removed a quantity of items including a stereo which has been pulled out.	High Street
23/12/12	21/12/12	02:30 to 08:55	Criminal Damage – Other Not public.	Partridge Piece
11/01/13	11/01/13	09:30 to 15:00	Theft Of Pedal Cycle Unknown offender/s have come to the garden and have stolen a pedal cycle.	Mill Road
02/01/13	01/01/13	23:30 to 17:10	Attempted Burglary In A Building Other Than A Dwelling Unknown offender/s have tried to force entry into the Indian restaurant. Entry not gained.	High Street
02/01/13	01/01/13	19:00 to 09:00	Burglary In A Building Other Than A Dwelling Unknown offender/s have gained access to an integral garage via an insecure garage door. Offender/s have removed tools from the location.	Red Lion Close

Recorded Crime – last 28 days

Anti-Social Behaviour – Last 28 days

20/12/12 – High Street

Business premises. Staff member received a wrong number phone call. Caller then went on to ask inappropriate questions. Number recorded and advice was given to the caller.

Least unsatisfactory

Central Beds Council has approved the design brief for the 135-home plus a school development at the old Central Motors site off the High Street.  

Approval for the brief was granted subject to a traffic management scheme being introduced when a planning application for the school comes in. This will also be the access for the proposed health centre when and if that gets built.

Having said that, it was a pretty tortured discussion and that's not surprising. I am not the only one to worry that we are constructing the new Court Road, from scratch, by putting a school in the middle of a a residential development with all the drop off and pick up headaches created. On top of that, the Flitt Leys residents already struggle with little parking  space and the spin-off from the hot food takeaways. So how is a bus going to get down to the new development? I don't know, let alone how all the residents get out.

To my amazement highways engineers offered "on-off" parking as a solution. This formalises parking, partly on the footpath and partly on the road, with bay markings on the footpath itself.  

A chairman's briefing follow-up paper states: 

"A number of on/off parking bays will be provided for residents bounding the access road of Flitt Leys close. Each bay will require a residential permit."

"The bays will be designed to be used as a footpath while not in use for parking.  The parking restrictions would apply at all times."

Parish Councillor Roger Baker addressed the committee and pointed out the "frenzied jockeying" for car space that already occurs in Court Road. He added: "Do not put a another school in a residential cul de sac with the predictable shambles."

It is not certain a school will go on on the site and Cllr Ken Matthews reported that Lower School governors were due to discuss the matter. But it was also pointed out that the school was not part of the current application and so could not be formally considered.

Nevertheless committee members were worried about the reality of a school being built. There would be no drop-off point for parents as it is CBC's policy to discourage driving to school. However other, worldly-wise members sighed and said yes they will still drive their 4x4s down there.

Cllr Matthews argued that with highway management it "can and could be made to work, it was less than ideal but the only available solution."

And Cllr Alan Bastable said that the traffic management team had come up  with a  scheme that was the least unsatisfactory answer to an unsatisfactory situation. 

Cllr Matthews or Cllr Bastable will be at the parish council meeting next Wednesday and will be able to enlarge on the decision and offer context.  But I am struggling to understand how at this very early stage we cannot get it right and options are already limited. 
 

Wind Energy in Central Beds

Three Central Beds consultations have been published. I haven't had the chance to look at any of them so far but I suspect there will be a lot of attention paid to the Wind Farm Development document,locally. It will be interesting to see if the outcome of this has any bearing on the Brogborough application. I suspect not. CBC says:

The Council is publishing guidance in respect of wind energy development in Central  Bedfordshire. This is the first of what will be a series of notes on renewable energy. It outlines what the main planning considerations will be in assessing applications  and also aims to assist all interested parties in identifying the most appropriate  locations for wind energy development in Central Bedfordshire. The analysis is based largely on landscape impact but other issues are also discussed. The deadline for  comments is 5pm Monday 11 February 2013.

 

 

 

 

 CBC states:

 

The Council is publishing three Local Plan documents for comment from Monday 14th January 2013.
The Development Strategy for Central Bedfordshire (Pre-Submission version) –
comments by 25 February 2013
The Community Infrastructure Levy (draft Charging Schedule) – comments by 25
February 2013
Central Bedfordshire Council Draft Guidance Note 1: Wind Energy Development. comments by 11 February 2013  More information about the individual documents, the stage they are at and their
consultation period is described below.  

You can comment on the documents directly via the on-line facility at
http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/consultation-and-news.aspx.  

We would encourage you to use this facility. Guidance notes on how to comment using this facility are available online.  The Consultation documents and comments forms for all three consultations are available to view and download by visiting the Strategic Planning pages on the Council’s website
http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/consultation-and-news.aspx 

Consultation on the Draft Development Strategy
The Development Strategy is being published for comment for six weeks. The
deadline for the return of any comments is 5pmon Monday 25 February 2013.
What is the Development Strategy?
The Development Strategy will be the main planning document for Central
Bedfordshire, and sets out new policies for development including how many houses
and jobs are needed and where they should go; and more detailed policies which
will be used to determine planning applications.
Publication stage
This is a formal stage of consultation and the comments made (called
representations) will be considered by an independent Planning Inspector.
Government requires that we ask for views on a series of specific questions about
“soundness” and legal compliance. These terms are described in the accompanying
leaflet. If you feel unable to indicate this in your representation, the Council will be
able to complete this on your behalf.
A number of supporting documents including the Sustainability Appraisal and
technical papers are being published alongside the Development Strategy
document.   

Central Bedfordshire Council - Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
The CIL Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule is being published for comment for 6  weeks. The deadline for comments is 5pmMonday 25 February 2013.
What is the Community Infrastructure Levy?
The Council is consulting residents and businesses on its proposal to introduce a
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on new developments within its authority area.
CIL is a tax on new development which the Council may adopt to fund new
infrastructure needed to support growth including transport improvements; new
schools; open space and community buildings. It is collected by the Council and
applied per square metre of new development to most new buildings.
The Council are publishing a Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule (PDCS) which
sets out the basis for introducing the tax and proposes rates that the Council intends  to charge for both residential and non-residential developments, based on their size,  type and location.
Next Steps
This is the first of two periods of consultation. Following this consultation the Council  will consider the comments made, and should it wish to continue with CIL adoption,  make whatever changes appropriate to its Draft Charge Schedule and re-consult the  public for a second 4 week period in the summer.