March Recipe

Recipe of the Month

Irish Hotpot Serves 4 FREE Ready in 2 hours

750g Lean lamb leg steaks, visible fat removed, cut into bite size chunks 1 large Onion, cut into wedges 600g prepared casserole veg or a pack of mixed whole casserole veg 75g dried pearl barley 700g floury potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

Spray a non-stick casserole pan with low-calorie spray and place over a high heat. Add half the lamb and fry until nicely browned. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining lamb. Add the onion and 3 tbsp water to the pan. Cover reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes. Add the casserole veg to the pan along with the lamb, 900ml boiling water and a little seasoning. Cover again and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in the pearl barley, cover and cook for another 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 220C/Fan200C/Gas 7

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil over a high heat. Add the potatoes, bring back to the boil, simmer for 5 mins. Overlap the potato slices on top of the stew. Spray with low calorie cooking spray, season lightly and bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the potatoes are crisp and golden.

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This month’s Town Council pages are full of opportunities and dates for your diaries!

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

You will have spotted in past editions of this magazine, that we have referred to a Neighbourhood Plan for Stotfold, but what is a Neighbourhood Plan?

Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their area through the production of a land-use planning policy. Through the Neighbourhood Plan process, communities can decide where they would like new homes and business premises, and what those buildings could look like. It can also be used to protect areas of local green space.

Once a Plan is ‘made’ it becomes statutory planning policy for your local area.

A Neighbourhood Plan can:

• Decide where and what type of development should happen in the neighbourhood • Promote more development than is set out in the Local Plan (Central Bedfordshire Council) • Include evidence-based policies, for example on design standards that take precedence over existing policies in the Local Plan for the area

A Neighbourhood Plan cannot:

• Conflict with the strategic policies in the Local Plan • Be used to prevent development that is included in the Local Plan • Be prepared by a body other than a Town or Parish Council The key point is that the focus of Neighbourhood Plans must be on planning issues and the plan must be realistic.

How far have we got?

A Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group has been formed, and an application submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council to designate the area for the plan as ‘Stotfold and Astwick’ , which will follow the parish boundaries for both areas. The Steering Group currently has councillors and a small number of residents – we need more please! We’re looking for people who have a keen interest in the future of Stotfold, who might have useful skills they can bring to the Group, such as data analysis, report writing, social media skills. All residents can be part of the Neighbourhood Plan process - you will be consulted along the way, and then asked for your views on the final plan.

The first things to start having a think about are what you like or dislike about Stotfold, what you might want to see protected or changed? When we are ready and the Stotfold & Astwick Neighbourhood Plan designation area has been approved, we will come back to you and ask you for your thoughts. In the meantime, if you are interesting in joining the Steering Group, or even if you are interested in the process but can’t give us much time, we still want to hear from you –please contact the Town Clerk on enquiries@stotfoldtowncouncil.gov.uk.

COMMONWEALTH DAY

This year’s Commonwealth Day takes place on Monday 14th March, with this year’s theme ‘Delivering a Common Future’ . By taking part in Commonwealth Day, we affirm our commitment to serve one another in a spirit of respect and understanding, and advancing democracy and cooperation locally, nationally and internationally. You are invited to join us at the front of the Greenacre Centre for the flag raising ceremony, which starts at 10am.

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

This year’s Annual Town Meeting will be held on Thursday 3rd March 2022, 7pm in the Oak Hall, Greenacre Centre. At this meeting, residents will have an opportunity to bring matters of concern to the council, and you will hear about the council’s activities over the last year and projects in the coming year. We will also be announcing this year’s Citizens Award recipient/s. Speakers for the meeting will be Councillor Steve Buck, Chairman of the Stotfold & Astwick Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, and Jemma McLean of Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity on what a Neighbourhood Plan is, how it can benefit Stotfold and how you can shape the future of your town.

TOWN COUNCILLOR VACANCY

Do you want to make a difference and help your community to thrive? We are looking to fill our two councillor vacancies, which will bring us back up to the full complement of 15 council members. No special qualification is required to be a councillor; indeed, it is important that all sorts of people serve as councillors to give good representation of the community. You must meet the following criteria: • Be over the age of 18, • Be a British Citizens, or of the Commonwealth or of the European Union, • Be on the electoral role for the Parish of Stotfold; or a person who during the whole of the 12 months before application for co-option occupied land or other premises as owner or tenant in the Parish. Or has, during the same period, resided in that area or within 3 miles (4.8km) thereof, or has during the same period, had a principal or only place of work in that area. Please contact the Town Council office for more information and an application pack (this can also be downloaded from our website http://www.stotfoldtowncouncil.gov.uk/Useful _ Documents _ 22464.aspx (Useful Documents page). Training for new councillors is provided to help assist with understanding the responsibilities of the role. Completed applications must reach the Town Clerk by Wednesday 30th March 2022.

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS

Local voluntary organisations are invited to make application for grants that will directly benefit Stotfold. Applications from individuals will not be considered. Please contact the Council offices for an application form and guidance notes. Completed applications to reach the Town Council office by Wednesday 13th April 2022.

QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE

What are your plans? We’d like to hear from you if you are organising a street party, a special event or activity The Town Council is looking to plant one or more trees as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy – more information on how you can take part later in the year! We are also working on an appropriately coloured floral display for the existing planters in the town, and the new planters and troughs we were able to purchase through the Government’s Welcome Back Fund. Our Beacon at the Cemetery will be lit as part of the National Beacon Lighting Ceremony during the Jubilee celebrations, and we will be holding a Thanksgiving Service at St Mary’s Church. Nearer the time, we will produce a programme of events taking place throughout Stotfold, to include events you may be organising yourselves, so please contact us on enquiries@stotfoldtowncouncil.gov.uk

WHO DOES WHAT?

Did you know, you can report faults such as street lighting, potholes, etc through ‘Fix My Street’ (www.fixmystreet.com). These matters fall within the remit of Central Bedfordshire Council, but where there are issues regarding Town Council owned streetlights (they have our logo on them with an ‘S’ and a column number), or issues with litter bins in recreation grounds around the town, you can report to the Town Council on enquiries@stotfoldtowncouncil.gov.uk or phone 01462 730064. Stotfold Town Council and Central Bedfordshire Council are responsible for different things. These are examples of just some of the responsibilities for each council. To find out more, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk and www.stotfoldtowncouncil.gov.uk

RIVERSIDE PLAYING FIELD

Last year, we asked you for your views on the current condition of Riverside Playing Field and its facilities. Thank you for a great response, we have collated your views and are now considering options to improve the area. It is likely that a project will be phased, possibly over a couple of years, as we have to make sure we have funding secured. It is our intention to provide an improved Riverside Playing Field site, which is welcoming to all ages, and which respects its lovely location alongside the River Ivel and surrounding countryside.

SCHEDULED MEETINGS

Meetings scheduled for March 2022 are as follows: Council 2nd, Recreation Grounds, Public Lands & Lighting 13th, Cemetery Management Committee 16th, Buildings Management Committee 16th. Planning Committee meetings are held on a Wednesday as necessary (usually fortnightly). Location: Council Chamber, Greenacre Centre, Valerian Way, at 7.00pm, except where one meeting follows another. If there are no items for the agenda, meetings may be cancelled. Agendas for upcoming meetings are available on our website and Greenacre Centre notice board.