of the Parish Council meeting held on
Wednesday, 22nd July 2026 at 7:30 pm in Moggerhanger Village Hall
Present: Cllrs A Carter, A Cross, P Daniels and S Saville
In Attendance: Clerk, (Work Experience Participant) and 9 members of the public
Public Participation
[Standing Orders are suspended – At this point in the meeting, members of the public may, at the discretion of the Chairman, address the Council, ask questions of the Council or request items to be included for the next Agenda for consideration]
1. Parishioner asked about the PC’s submission regarding the proposed solar farm at land north of A603 and asked for a revised version to be submitted. Approved. Resolved: Clerk to submit a revised objection to CBC.
2. Parishioner raised concerns regarding materially incorrect flood risk mapping depicted in the proposed Design Code. Resolved: The NP Group will look to see if this can be considered and incorporated within the current draft plan.
3. Chair thanked resident, Isabella, for her PowerPoint summarising play area survey.
4. Resident asked why the streetlights are now purple – Chair advised lamps had been upgraded and were more efficient.
5. M Gleeson update on archive search and War Monument – he thanked the PC for our support in reading past minutes and a summary of his findings are attached to these minutes [Appendix 2]
There were no further matters raised, and Standing Orders were duly reinstated.
1 Apologies
Cllr M Jovanovic sent her apologies.
2 Disclosures of Interests
Members are invited to declare any pecuniary interests they may have in any items on the agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members
There were no interests declared.
3 Minutes and Matters Arising
To approve the Minutes of the Annual Parish and Annual Parish Council Meetings held on Wednesday, 27th May 2026 (Copy previously circulated) and consider any matters arising. The minutes were approved by Councillors and duly signed by the Chairman.
1. Public Participation re: additional equipment at play area for older children – Chair discussed one quote from Sovereign which incorporates 2 pieces of play equipment for smaller children and 6 pieces of outdoor adult gym equipment – £47K. She is awaiting further quotes.
2. Item 8.3 re: Meeting with Anderson’s – Cllr Carter has not yet arranged a meeting.
3. Item 15.5 re: PC Facebook page – Cllr Jovanovic was not in attendance but had circulated a proposal via e-mail. To be deferred till September PC meeting.
There were no further matters arising.
4 Highways & ROW Reports
1. Speeding Issues and Volume of Traffic – Cllr Daniels explained we’ve been introduced to SpeedWatch but there has been no take up. We have asked for pollution control and also looked at traffic data. Leave this item off the agenda until such time as we receive further information.
5 Planning
5.1 Planning Applications
1. CB/26/01820/MW Use of site for the importation, storage, sorting, separation, screening, baling, shredding, crushing, compaction and bulking of dry mixed recycling, construction and demolition and commercial and industrial waste; a change of ground levels, the construction of a waste processing building and site office, installation of a weighbridge and provision of vehicular parking at Unit 4, The Ridgeway Business Park, The Ridgeway, Blunham – object
2. CB/26/02168/OUT Outline application for up to 38 dwellings, green space, SuDs, drainage, landscaping, internal roads, utilities and other service infrastructure. All matters reserved except access at land to the rear of Bedford Road, Moggerhanger – to be considered via e-mail. Parishioners are encouraged to submit comments to the PC for their consideration prior to submission as well as submitting comments directly to CBC Planning Department. Resolved: PC to circulate leaflet to all residents advising them of the planning application.
5.2 Planning Matters
1. CB/COMP/26/0125 Breach of Condition 6 – landscaping of planning permission 20/03016 at Land adjacent to 58a Park Road, Moggerhanger – enforcement case closed
5.3 Neighbourhood Plan Update
1. To approve the draft Moggerhanger Neighbourhood Plan – Cllr Saville explained that Councillors needed to approve the draft plan. Subject to the concerns raised re: the flood area, Councillors were happy to approve the draft document. It will now be sent to CBC to be examined by an independent examiner and once approved it will go to a referendum. Resolved: Unanimously approved.
6 Little Free Library Proposal
To consider Vicky Millard and Carolyn Adams’ proposal for establishing a Little Free Library in Moggerhanger and request for approval and financial support. Councillors thought it was a good idea. Chair suggested top of the playing field where the gate is on the tree side. Resolved: MPC supports, in principle, establishing a Little Free Library in Moggerhanger. Chair and Cllr Carter to source some quotes for building a suitable receptacle. Include an update in our September PC meeting.
7 Pavilion & Playing Field Report
Chair advised there was an incident regarding a large group of youths who damaged the new turf around the goal mouths after ripping down the fencing around it. She received a complaint from a resident regarding the nets being down as wildlife may get caught up in it. To be monitored.
8 Police
8.1 Local Crime Stats
Clerk advised that in May there were 5 reports of Interfering with a Motor Vehicle, 3 reports of Theft from a Motor Vehicle, 2 State or Public Order offences reported, and one report of a Theft or Unauthorised Taking of a Motor Vehicle. In June there was one Assault With Injury and one Arson Not Endangering Life reported.
9 Report from Central Bedfordshire Council Representative
Cllr Daniels’ reports can be viewed on the MPC website.
10 Finance
10.1 To approve invoices for payment and to note any income
A summary of receipts and payments was approved (see Appendix 1).
10.2 To receive reconciliation to bank statement
The updated cash book with bank reconciliation, having previously been circulated to Councillors, was approved unanimously.
10.3 Year End Accounts 2025-2026
Clerk confirmed that the year end accounts had been submitted to the External Auditor for a limited assurance review and that all necessary documentation has been published on the PC website in line with transparency regulations.
10.4 To approve tree works at Pond Area
James Wilkinson quote approved. Resolved: Clerk to notify contractor.
10.5 To consider ex-gratia payment for volunteer to change play area bins
Proposed £195/quarter (£30 each time) to change both bins and move to collection point. Ensure parishioner has appropriate PPE and a Risk Assessment is in place. Resolved: Approved.
11 Matters Arising from Correspondence/AOB
1. Consultation on submitted sites in the new Local Plan now open until 17th August 2026: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/local-plan-sites
2. Bedford Borough Local Plan 2050 – Call for sites and development opportunities: www.bedford.gov.uk/callforsites
3. To note change of date for March PC meeting – due to the VH already being booked on 24th March 2027, our March PC meeting will be held on Wednesday, 31st March 2027. Approved. Resolved: Clerk to notify Bookings Secretary
4. Upper Caldecote post office will be closing for refurbishment on 29th August and reopening on 30th September
5. CBC consultation on the draft Local Transport Plan is open till 20th September: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultation
6. Cllr Daniels asked to include on the next agenda water pressure and internet connection. Resolved: Clerk to include these items in the agenda for the September PC meeting. Clerk to invite representative from Anglian Water to an upcoming PC meeting.
12 Date of Next Meeting
Wednesday, 23rd September 2026 at 7:30pm in Moggerhanger Village Hall
13 To consider Pension Provision for Clerk
[Under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (as extended by s.100 of the Local Government Act 1972), press and public are excluded from this item of the agenda.]
Resolved: Clerk to enroll in the LGPS scheme with effect from 1st April 2026
APPENDIX 2
Archived Information relating to the Moggerhanger War Memorial
as summarised by Michael Gleeson
PC minutes for the period 1946 are stored securely in the archive.
Minutes of Parish Council meetings before 1946 have NOT been located. They are not stored in the Archive Department and are missing. The next of kin of Miss Florence Matthews, has been asked whether any PC minutes were found at Village Farm when it was cleared. Mr Fred Matthews, Florence Matthews’ father, was Chair of the PC pre 1946 [at least as early as1934 based on a report in the Biggleswade Chronicle of a Parish Council Meeting when the War Memorial was discussed] until 1970. The next of kin has confirmed that no PC minutes were found at Village Farm.
Parish Council need to agree that it will consider at a future meeting how it can ensure minutes from meetings from 1990 onwards are kept secure and safe are available to individuals to look at them perhaps considering storing them in the Archives which is an amazing resource.
PC to note references in the minutes of meetings held between1946 to 1990 in respect of the War Memorial in which it makes clear that:
• The PC is responsible for the care and maintenance of the monument
• The PC has exercised that responsibility since 1948 overseeing and funding works on the Memorial in 1967 and 1986, including who carried out the work and the costs incurred by the PC.
As far as the minutes are concerned, reference is made to the minutes of PC meetings where the War Memorial was discussed and decisions taken at the following meetings:
• January 16th 1948 [p11] • March 1st 1967 [p188/189] • June 2nd 1967 [p190] • September 23rd 1967 [p193] • December 9th 1967 [p194] • November 1985 [pp 409 – 411] • January 1986 [pp 412 and 413] • May 1986 [p417]