18th January 2010
A meeting of the Parish Council was held in the Village Hall on 18th January 2010 at 8pm.
Apologies received from Mr Kilker and Mrs Pritchard
Present, Mrs Handley, Mr Huddleston, Mr Blatch, Mrs Connolly, Mr Tebbit, Mr White, Mrs Hobbs and, in the Chair, Mr Dalton. Cls. Mrs Heazell and Mr Kindersley were also present.
Minutes of the meetings held on 7th and 21st December 2009 were approved and signed.
Matters arising from the Minutes
1 Nixon's Hall Tablet. This is still under repair.
2 Land Registration of Parish Property Declaration. This is in the hands of the solicitors.
3 Hedges at 2 Wheeler's Way One hedge has been cut, but not cleared. The Chairman agreed to investigate the situation with Mr Kilker and arrange further help if needed.
4 Road at St Helen's Transfer. This is in the hands of the solicitors.
5 Allotment Organisation. More spraying had been done, but the bad weather had prevented further activity.
6 Standing Orders. This is still under review.
7 Village Plan Mr White reported he had completed processing all 168 questionnaires. They are now being analysed.
8 Information FOI compulsory model template has been almost completed.
9. Youth Club Bus. Mr Blatch reported the cost of the bus would be £85 for a two-hour session with two youth workers and one volunteer helpers. It was thought that some grants might be available for this. It was agreed to budget for a six-week trial and that Mr Blatch should consult Kate Green-Howard about volunteering. After some discussion it was agreed to make no charge to users during the trial period.
New Items
10 Telephone Boxes
Great Eversden. The phone has been removed. Since the box is listed it will remain and have to be maintained by BT.
Little Eversden This is not listed and is still functional. The Clerk will write to BT to ask what their plans are for this box.
11. Salt Bins During the recent freeze none of the minor village roads or pavements were gritted. Several residents had expressed concern. The Highways department would be willing to supply salt/grit if the Parish installed bins. These would cost about £150 each. After considerable discussion it was proposed that there should be five bins positioned: at the junction of Leete's Lane and Lowfields, outside the surgery, at two bus-stops and at the junction of High Street Little Eversden and the Harlton Road. It was agreed that the whole matter should be considered further at the next meeting. before reaching any final decisions on the need and the placing of the bins.
12 Rats in Wimpole Road Ditch. The colony has now grown so large that is causing serious concern and is a potential public health risk. The Chairman had contacted Mr Banks who had agreed to clear his field of rat-fodder and dig out the ditch. Mr Banks had been advised by Environmental Health Officers that poisoning in that situation was not acceptable. However, PC members felt that the rat population must be reduced as, otherwise, the rats would spread further into the houses and gardens in their search for food and shelter. It was agreed the Chairman should contact the senior Environmental Health Officer to ask for urgent advice in dealing with this very unpleasant situation
13. Pothole reporting The two major potholes at the junction of Harlton Road and A603 have been reported to Highways as requested. Everyone is encouraged to report large potholes to the Chairman or directly to Highways via their web-site. Cl. Kindersley reported that the budget for road repair has been cut by 23% for next year.
14. Foodmaster Fish and Chip Van. The firm would like to come one evening a week to the Eversdens. It was agreed that this would be welcome and that it could park at the Recreation Ground.
15 Cycle Path Eversden to Comberton At present the sub committee are still trying to establish a route to avoid the dangerous bends near the church on the edge of Comberton village. Possible routes are being discussed with farmers. Cl Kindersley hoped that Cambridge City Council might allocate some of its transport fund to create a cycle path from Coton to Comberton.
16 Low Close Affordable Housing All the houses for rent had now been allocated. It was believed that they had all gone to tenants with connections to the Eversdens, though two families who had wanted 3 bedroom houses had been disappointed. The houses for shared ownership were still under negotiation. Concern was expressed at the high selling cost of the houses and Cl. Heazell undertook to find out more about the economics of the process.
17 Graffiti A firm employing workers on community service is offering to remove graffiti immediately and for no charge. To do this they require a form of indemnity. It was agreed to sign the form.
18 Finance
The draft budget was considered and some amendments made as a result of the evening's decisions. It was agreed the precept should be £10,500
The following cheques were approved
Street Lights £400.40 PCA 1957 s3
Clerk's salary and expenses £269.21 LGA 1970 s112(2)
ACRE subscription £25.00 LGA 1972 s143(1)
Maypole (handbells insurance) (89.56) LGA 1972 s111(2)
19 Planning.
The Chairman had attended the Planning Forum arranged by SCDC. It had been a good meeting and included some useful information (mostly already familiar)
Conversion of Barn at Manor Farm, Harlton as venue for conferences and weddings. No Recommendation
Concern was expressed about noise levels of music and a condition of no fireworks requested.
20 NHS Surveys
Copies had been sent of questionnaires on Hearing and on Musculo-skeletal problems. Copies may be obtained from the Chairman.
21 Cl. Kindersley spoke about the continuing difficulties associated with the guided bus scheme.
He mentioned consultations and exhibitions on the new Local Transport Scheme:-
11th February 3-7pm in the Cambourne Library
2nd March 4-8pm at Bassingbourn Village College
17th March 9am-8pm Lion Yard Cambridge.
Leaflets and questionnaires will be sent to all households.
Until more grit is received only A roads will be gritted.
The Sustainable Communities Act. Little progress at present
22 Cl. Mrs Heazell spoke about her concerns about the scheme for SCDC to form a joint administration with Uttlesford District Council. The scheme was expected to save £600,000 a year.
She believed that people should be able to choose whether they wanted a third wheelie bin or to share one if they had little space.
She had an invitation to visit the new recycling facility at Donarvon and permission to take some parish councillors with her. Several people expressed their interest and she said she would tell the Chairman the date
23. Hedge between the Hoops and the adjacent house. This was again badly overgrown. The Chairman had asked the Council who was responsible, but had received no reply as yet.
24 Village Hall Committee Mr White would be very glad to hear from anyone who would volunteer to serve on this committee
21 Correspondence. In circulation
Date of Meetings
Planning Meeting (if necessary) Monday 1st February at 8.30pm
Full Parish Council Monday 15th February in the Village Hall at 8pm.