I hereby give notice that a Meeting of Cople Parish Council will be held Monday 16th March 2026 at 7.30pm at Cople Village Hall
Agenda
All members are hereby summoned to attend. Members of the Public and Press are welcome.
1. Receive apologies for absence (19:30)
2. Receive declarations of interest in any items on the agenda and consider granting of any dispensations (19:31)
3. Approve minutes of the meetings held on the 19th January 2026 and 18th February 2026 (19:32)
4. Public Participation (19:33)
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 member.
5. General matters requiring discussion: (19:48)
a. Review requirements for Assertion 10 of the Annual Governance Statement and agree the Model Publication Scheme and review of the Information and Data Protection Policy.
b. Update on Digital Connectivity and agree any actions
6. Receive the following reports:(20:05)
a. Borough Councillors reports
b. Receive police crime statistics and discuss any police matters
7. Receive updates on current matters: (20:10)
a. Speeding issues
b. Cople playing fields
c. Church yard wall
d. Community volunteers
8. Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group update and agreement of recommendations (20:20)
9. Planning (20:25)
a. Update on decisions from recent planning applications
b. Discuss planning application 26/00230/FUL. Erection of timber framed detached car port. 29 Willington Road, Cople and agree any comments
10. Major developments (20:30)
a. Discuss any updates on the solar farm proposal and agree action
b. Discuss the River Valley Park proposal and agree actions
11. Finance (20:40)
a. Receive and approve schedule of receipts & payments
b. Receive current bank balances and reconciliation
c. Update on banking arrangements and agree additional access and signatories
12. Green Infrastructure – includes Millennium Woods and Rights of Way (20:45)
a. Update on ownership of drainage ditches adjacent to the Millennium Woods and maintenance requirements
b. Discuss quotations for felling in the woods for the 2026/2027 season
c. Update on Right of Way 7 and possible alternative route
d. Agree survey for the woods
13. Amenity & Highways (20:55)
a. Report any Highways issues
b. Discuss the removal of the bus shelter in Willington Road and agree action
c. Discuss parking issues on Grange Lane during sporting fixtures and agree action
d. Discuss possible reduction of the speed limit to 20mph
e. Agree location of the SID on Grange Lane
f. Discuss and agree the Grass Cutting Agreement with Bedford Borough Council
g. Discuss increase of traffic through Cople due to local diversions and agree action
h. Discuss village maintenance tasks
14. Events (21:10)
a. Update on events for 2026-2027 and agree dates for the Scarecrow Festival.
15. New Matters from Councillors for discussion at next meeting (21:15)
16. Correspondence (For information) (21:17)
17. Date of next meeting (21:20)
Anne Papé – Clerk 11th February 2026