News: CDC Terms of Reference still not agreed

Like Njal’s Saga from Monty Python, the story of the Terms of Reference for the Parish Council’s Community Development Committee rumbled on last night.

Councillors all thought they had agreed the CDC’s Terms of Reference at a special Parish Council meeting ten days ago. It turns out they hadn’t.

At last night’s Parish Council meeting, the newly-appointed locum Clerk, Mr Tom Brindley of Todeka Limited, told councillors that no clerk had attended and therefore it was not an official meeting.

He added that the ToR was not an agenda item, and that the resolution to approve version 4.2 was not valid because the document had not been made available to the public before the meeting.

Councillors agreed that they should convene a second special Parish Council meeting to approve the ToR. Cllr David Hall asked that the meeting be held within the next week, given that the CDC will meet again on 17 Sep 2025.

The new ToR gives CDC the responsibility for speaking with landowners of prospective development sites in Chilbolton. This would include Mr James Painter, who recently revealed that he will be making an outline application to build 25 homes near Eastman’s Field.

Mr Brindley was appointed as locum Clerk last night following the recent resignation of former Clerk Mandy Denyer.

Cllr David Griffiths, former Chair of the Parish Council praised her efficiency and personality. He said “I cannot speak more highly of her, she was helpful and supportive. She helped me whenever I was careless with procedures”.

Cllr Tony Ewer, also a former Chair of CPC, endorsed Cllr Griffiths’ comments.

The meeting was also the last for Emma Noble as a Chilbolton Parish Councillor. She announced her resignation at the end of the session. She confirmed that she would remain as a member of the Chilbolton Open Spaces Committee, for which she had often received praise during Parish Council meetings.