1st
December 2008
A meeting of the Parish Council was held in the Village Hall on 1st December 2008 at 8pm.
Apologies from Mrs Handley, Mrs Connolly and Cl. Kinndersley
Present Mr Huddleston, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Hobbs, Mr Tebbit, Mr White, Mr Kilker, Mr Blatch, and, in the Chair, Mr Dalton. Cl. Mrs Heazell was also present
Minutes of the meeting held on 13th October were agreed and signed.
Minutes of the Planning Meeting on 22nd September were agreed and signed
Matters arising from the Minutes
1 Nixon's Hall Tablet. This is being repaired.
Land Registration of Parish Property. This is in the hands of the solicitors.
Hedges at 2 and 11 Wheeler's Way Mr Kilker has talked to occupant of No 2 who said the hedge would be cut back but he has not monitored recently. He has tried several times to contact occupant of No 11 but cannot get a response. Mr White said he would talk to Betty Mallows to see if she knew if the occupant was out during particular day/evenings.
Mrs Hobbs said the pavement on Harlton Road between bus Shelter and High Street has protruding brambles from hedgerow. The Chairman said he would investigate. The hedge belongs to No 2 High Street, Little Eversden.
Road at St Helen's Transfer. This is in the hands of the solicitors.
Allotment tidying. Mrs Hobbs and Mrs Pritchard had walked around the allotments and they believe that more should be done to make villagers aware of the existence of the allotments. The registration of the land could be progressed independently of any work to be done in tidying up the plots. Mrs Hobbs agreed to produce a brief report for the next PC meeting on the state of the allotments and what alternatives exist. It was agreed that a site visit by the PC members and any other interested village parties would be organised after this report.
Churchyard Donation A letter of thanks had been received from the Treasurer for the donation of £1,000 towards the upkeep of the Churchyards.
Electricity Pole outside No 22 Lowfields. This had not yet been removed. The Chairman will ring the Electricity Board.
Pavement opposite The Hoops. Repairs to this will be included in the Highways programme for next year.
Brambles between The Hoops and No 4 High Street. Mrs Huddleston had dealt with these.
Tree branches overhanging footpath opposite The Hoops. Mr Underhay had cut these back.
2 Verge posts for roadside at Brigham seat. It was agreed that many verges are being encroached upon by traffic, particularly large lorries and delivery vans. This is unfortunately a fact of modern life. It was agreed by the majority of members that County Council verge posts should not be installed except where absolutely necessary for safety. Mr White pointed out that the verges opposite the new developments at Low Close (verges outside the Harlands and Browns) had large stones and wooden logpoles. These are very close to the road edge. The poles thought to be inserted by Highways and to be temporary.
3 Standing Orders It was agreed that a subcommittee should meet soon to review the draft SO produced by Mr White. Members of the Committee are The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the PC plus the three existing members of the SO review committee. Mr White to organise a date and time.
4. Village Plan Mr White reported that a questionnaire was in draft and would be circulated in January 2009
5 Planning
21 Harlton Road. After much discussion it was agreed that the PC rejects the application on the grounds of size, increased traffic movements and loss of amenity to neighbouring properties.
16 Lowfields. This revised application has gone to SCDC Planning Committee. The developers have submitted documents to every member of the Committee and to local councillors. The PC and also residents have made representations against this development. Liz Heazell said that a site visit by the Planning Committee has been arranged.
6 Finance
Mayola Music, Handbell Insurance £91.56 LGA72.s111(2) Grant for Churchyard Maintenance £1,000.00 LGA72.s114
Cambridge Insitu. Photocopying £41.46 LGA72.s111(2)
Draft Budget for 2009/2010 circulated to all members and will be further discussed at the January Meeting.
7 Reports from Councillors Cl. Kindersley sent a report on recent activities. A Transport Commission had been set up to examine proposals under the Transport Innovation Fund. It will report next Summer.
Social Worker Retention. The vacancy rate had worsened from 8% in January 2008 to 16% in June .
He also outlined the Development rights of Landowners with regard to the size of extensions and outbuildings that are permitted without planning permission
8 Cl Mrs Heazell in her report drew attention to a request from SCDC to Parish Councils for greater involvement by PCs in interaction with SCDC. To this end they have suggested that:
(a) each PC allocates two of its members to attend 4 meetings per year of the SCDC Cabinet.
(b) a Member Champion is appointed from SCDC Councillors in an extension of the Neighbourhood panel concept.
(c) each PC has at least one visit from SCDC Cabinet members for an as yet undefined purpose.
(d) SCDC will organise an SCDC Best Kept Village competition (for which SCDC has allocated £1500 in next year’s budget). This will be in addition to the present long-standing competition
The PC was particularly unimpressed by all these proposals and said that Cl. MrsHeazell could relay this attitude back to SCDC.
No. 75 Bus does not follow the route agreed and paid for. This problem is now so serious that Cls. Kindersley and Heazell are to have a meeting with the Transport Commission about it.
9 Mr White reported that he had been involved in discussions with David Ellis who wanted to use the proceeds (less incurred costs, Capital gains Tax etc) of the sale of land for affordable housing at Low Close for the provision of facilities to the benefit of young people in the Village. He has considered setting up a trust fund but the problems of appointing trustees is not one he relishes. He is therefore more disposed to donate the monies to an existing Village Charity and believes that the Recreation Ground might be the best vehicle. David has some specific ideas in mind. He has requested sight of the Recreation Ground Constitution so that his solicitor can give the once over to ensure there are no difficulties in such a donation for such a specific purpose. Mr Blatch to arrange this. The matter will be put on the agenda for the next meeting where it will be further discussed.
10 Correspondence. In circulation.
Date of Next Full Parish Council Meeting
Monday 12thJanuary 2009 in the Village Hall at 8pm.