16th January 2012
A meeting of the Parish Council was held in the Village Hall on 16tth January 2012 at 8pm
Apologies: Mr Huddleston and Mr Tebbit.
Present, Mrs Handley, Mr Dinsdale, Mrs Hobbs, Mr Blatch, Mrs Glasse, Miss Sach, Mr White and, in the Chair, Mr Dalton. Cl. Mrs Heazell and Cl. Kindersley were also present.
Minutes of the previous meetings held on 5th and 19th December were agreed and signed.
The Chairman introduced Mr Lawrence Green, Emergency Planning Offiicer from SCDC. He described the need for Emergency Planning and the ideas outlined in their Draft Emergency Template. The aim is to allow local knowledge and planning to co-operate with the emergency services to provide a more effective local response and, above all to develop a network for rapid communication. If the PC produced a plan he should be informed of it. As he finished speaking the electricity in the village failed and the lights in the Village Hall went out. The emergency lighting did not fail. The meeting continued by torchlight until the lights returned in twenty minutes.
Matters arising from the Minutes
Land Registration and Road at St Helen's Transfer. No further progress
2 Telephone Box Glass at Great Eversden: Mr Blatch said this was in hand.
3 Cycle Path Eversden to Comberton No further progress.
4 40-30mph progress All our part has been completed. This is now in the hands of the Highways Division.
5 Road Improvements. A site meeting about the traffic island on the A603 had been held. Further decisions are awaited.
New Items
6 Arts Award Scheme Cl. Mrs Heazell pointed out that this award is open to all cultural groups and people who enrich the arts scene within the village. Nominations would be most welcome before the next meeting. Closing date Wednesday 29th February 2012
7. OSP 148 It was reported that the SCDC Planning Meeting will be held on 1st February.
8 Finance The draft precept for the year 2012/13 was further discussed.
It was unanimously agreed to provide a further £1,000 for the Connections Bus, making a total grant of £2,000.
It was unanimously agreed to set the precept at £15,500.
The following cheques were agreed:
Clerk's salary £254.21 LGA1972 s111 (2)
and expenses £13.54
Graveyard Maintenance £1,000 LGA 1972 s214
A suggestion was made to reduce polling stations to one for both villages at an estimated saving of £750. The Electoral Services Manager, contacted subsequently, said this was not possible.
9. Queen's Jubilee. Mr Blatch asked if the PC would consider providing the funds for a barbecue at the celebration. This will be considered at the next meeting.
10 Agricole grant. Mr Huddlestone had reported that Agricole had donated £65 in recognition of sales of oil to residents. The money had been given to the Connections Bus.
11 Cl. Kindersley, who had to leave the meeting early, spoke of the problems of Broadband in the area. He urged a rapid response to the next official approach. He also spoke of the situation facing Local Government in deciding whether to freeze Council Tax for a year and receive a Govt. grant, or to increase it incrementally, thus avoiding the risk of having a large and necessary increase capped in the future. He would welcome hearing the views of individuals.
12 Cl. Mrs Heazell said that SCDC was facing a similar decision. She also mentioned that new Standards Board Regulations required Councillors to declare the financial interests of their spouse/partner. Further consultation was now taking place on the bus service and the possibility of using the Park and Ride venues as exchange points for bus journeys.
13 Planning
6 Finch's Field Extension. This appears to be a retrospective application.
Members had originally refused to original application in May and, after inspection of the plans voted unanimously to refuse it again on the following grounds:
The front appears to have been built out 0.4 metres beyond the line of the original plan agreed.
The loss of amenity to no 5. The wall of no.6 is now adjacent to the bedroom window of no 5, restricting both the view and the light.
The forecourt at no 6 has been turned into a garden, leaving restricted off-road parking. This makes access to No 5 difficult and restricts the turning space required.
14 Corespondence in circulation.
Next Meetings
Planning Meetings (if needed) Monday 30th January at 8.30 in the Pavilion
and Monday 13th February in the Village Hall
Full Parish Council Monday 27th February at 8pm in the Pavilion