13th October 2008 Back to Minutes Index
A meeting of the Parish Council was held in the Village Hall on 13th October 2008 at 8pm.
Apologies from Mrs Pritchard and Cl. Mrs Heazell.
Present Mrs Handley, Mr Huddleston, Mrs Connolly, Mrs Hobbs, Mr Tebbit, Mr White, Mr Kilker, Mr Blatch, and, in the Chair, Mr Dalton. Cl. Kindersley was also present
Minutes of the meeting held on 1st September were approved as a true record and signed.
The Meeting on 22nd September, scheduled as a Planning Meeting, was cancelled, as no applications had been received
Matters arising from the Minutes
1 Road Flooding in Lowfields outside No 12 and N0 26. Mrs Handley reported that extensive work on repairing the drainage had been done and the verges had been carefully repaired.
Nixon's Hall Tablet. This is being repaired.
Land Registration of Parish Property. This is in hand. A letter has been written to Lloyds Bank to ascertain if they hold the deeds of the Village Hall and an answer is still awaited. The Chairman will remind them.
Hedge at 2 Wheeler's Way Mr Kilker has spoken to the resident and she is going to cut the hedge.
Road at St Helen's Transfer. This is in the hands of the solicitors.
Allotment tidying Mrs Pritchard has spoken with Mrs Clemmow and will discuss this further with her. Some discussion took place about the future of the allotments, but this is a matter to be resolved by the Great Eversden Annual Parish Meeting to be held in April. Meanwhile the possibility of arranging for a water supply will be explored.
Eastern Regional Development Plan. No comment made.
2. The Chairman agreed to draft a letter to Mr Patrick Finlay, thanking him for conveying mail to the Clerk at Dry Drayton for many years.
3 ACRE Meeting Mrs Connolly gave a comprehensive report on her recent attendance at a one-day meeting. She outlined methods available for obtaining advice and funding for the establishment of a village shop and post office and the commitment required for their success. But first a suitable site had to be found, and the right number of volunteers plus one permanent member of staff. Literature is available from Mrs Connolly
4 Redundant Electricity Pole outside no 22 Lowfields. This is rotting and will be removed by the Electricity Board.
5. Footpath between Wheelers Way and 23 High Street This has been repaired.
Pavement opposite The Hoops. Repairs to this will be included in the Highways programme for next year.
No 11 Wheelers Way Overgrown Hedge. Mr Kilker agreed to approach the owner.
Brambles between The Hoops and No 4 High Street. Mr Blatch and Mr Huddleston agreed to deal with these.
6. Tree branches overhanging footpath opposite The Hoops. The Chairman agreed to speak to Mr Underhay to ascertain who owned it.
7. Tennis Club Mr Blatch, Chairman of the Recreation Field Committee, had written to the Tennis Club, outlining their plans for a multi-purpose sports facility on the field. A copy of the letter had been circulated to council members and a response was expected from the Tennis Club after their meeting which was being held that evening.
8. Standing Orders Mr White had completed a further revision apart form the section on Planning. Agreed to consider this version, and copies will be circulated to all members.
Planning Procedure Agreed to continue to follow the Parish Council Standing Order 2008, and to call a meeting when necessary, but to list no detailed account of our present practice.
9. Planning. Changes to the Permitted Development Order This would relax requirements for planning applications for several kinds of small extensions and loft developments, but would require permission for hard, impermeable surfaces in gardens and driveways.
10. Village Plan Mr White had nothing further to report. A meeting would be held in the following week.
11. Finance.
The following cheque agreed
Clerk's salary and expenses £272.00 LGA 1972 s. 144
12. Planning
West Peak Developments Ltd. 16 Lowfields. Renewed planning application for demolition and building of two semi-detached houses. Mr Kilker and Mr Huddleston declared an interest and spoke under S12(2) of LA(MCC) order 2007. They then withdrew from the meeting. Agreed to recommend refusal on grounds on inadequate parking space for two houses where a particularly narrow stretch of road made roadside parking impossible. It was noted that a development like those at no 26 and 24 Lowfields of single large house would be more suited to the site.
13. Dates for Meetings in 2009. Circulated electronically.
14. Speedwatch This is a scheme proposed by the police to train members of the public to use speed-checking equipment. The object was to educate rather than punish drivers. The police would follow up with letters or a visit. Mr Tebbit and Mr Kilker expressed interest in taking part. Members were encouraged to attend the next Police Liaison Meeting at Gamlingay on Wednesday 22nd October.
15 A consultation document on Codes of Conduct had been received. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman had read it, but several members had been unable to access it. From the information given about it, members agreed to support it.
16 Reports from Councillors Cl. Kindersley reported on the problems associated with new housing developments in South Cambs. and concern as to whether construction firms will be able to deliver the goods in the present financial climate. Several major projects depend on this.
The A603 is the 29th most dangerous road in the county and is due for review in 2009. He urged councillors to attend liaison meetings and to make representations to Richard Preston.
He also mentioned the Cambridge Cycling Campaign and suggested contact would be useful to extend the network of cycle paths.
He reported that Cl. Mrs Heazell was concerned with the Local Area Agreement and that there would be an important meeting on this topic on 19th November.
17 Correspondence. In circulation.
Date of Next Full Parish Council Meeting
Monday 1st December 2008 in the Village Hall at 8pm.
Planning only Monday 3rd November at 8 pm (if needed).