26th October 2009                        Back to Minutes Index 

 

A meeting of the Parish Council was held in the Recreation Ground Pavilion on 26th October 2009 at 8pm.

 

            Apologies received from Mr Kilker

 

Present, Mrs Handley, Mrs Connolly, Mr Huddleston, Mr Blatch, Mr Tebbit, Mr White, Mrs Pritchard and, in the Chair, Mr Dalton.  Cls. Mrs Heazell and Mr Kindersley were also present.

 

Minutes of the meetings held on 14th September 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 and 11 Wheeler's Way In the absence of Mr Kilker no report received. 

 

Hedges at 2 and 4 High Street, Little.  These were fine. Mr Tebbit said he would very soon cut the hedge to the field to the south which was overgrowing the road.

 

4          Road at St Helen's Transfer.  This is in the hands of the solicitors.

 

5          Allotment Organisation. In the absence of Mrs Hobbs Mr Tebbit reported that it had been a difficult summer and autumn for weather, but the allotment holders had now cleared as much as they could and the hire of a rotavator was now needed. (see also under Finance)

 

6          Standing Orders.  This is still under review.

 

7          Village Plan This is proceeding slowly.  It was suggested that some of the remaining grant might be spent on hiring professional help in formatting the data, and that ACRE might be approached for a further grant.

 

8          Information  FOI compulsory model template has been completed.

 

9          Standing Orders revision.  No progress.

 

New Items

 

10.       Textile Recycling Bin proposed: At the previous meeting it had been agreed that the Recreation Ground would be the best site for this, if SCDC would accept responsibility for repairing the damage caused to the entrance by the heavy recycling lorries.  No response has yet been received from SCDC.

11        Telephone Box, Great Eversden.  BT have written to invite the PC to consider adopting the red telephone kiosk for £1.  At present BT say that its usage does not generate sufficient funds to cover its running costs.  However it is a listed box, it is used and the Council do not wish it to be removed.

 

12        Cycle Path Eversden to Comberton  At present Mr Huddleston is liaising with landowners and trying to establish a route. When a route has been established it will be necessary to discuss the possible effect on the school bus service with the LA.

 

13        Affordable Housing It was reported that of the ten houses at Low Close five will be for rent and five for shared equity.  Accent Nene had inserted an advertisement in Tailcorn offering the five for shared equity. The rest will be allocated by SCDC in accordance with their 'Choice-based' Letting Policy which is prescribed by the government.  Cl. Mrs Heazell described this.

            No allocations will be made until the houses are completed.

 

            OSP 148 The Chairman reported he had been informed that someone had offered to buy OSP 148.  He had immediately written to the Chief Executive of SCDC and told him that no action should be taken unless the PC were consulted.  He awaits a formal reply to his letter.

 

            Accent Nene had asked for a preliminary meeting with the Chairman, the Strategic Housing Officer and Cl Heazell to discuss the planned devlopment of OSP 148.  This would take place on 5th November.

 

14        Police Liaison Meeting Mr Dalton and Mr Kilker had attended this meeting. There was much concern at the anti-social behaviour of young people in Gamlingay.  All districts still were concerned about speeding. The police outlined the difference in classification between 'crimes' and incidents'. Only those with an 'Interest' can get a crime number.

 

15        Planning.

20 Wheeler's Way  Approved by SCDC

19 High Street, Lt. Eversden Approved by SCDC

.           8 High St, Lt. Eversden Approved by SCDC

29 High Street, Lt. Eversden Approved by SCDC

Rectory Farm, Little Eversden. Listed building consent for fireplace change.

Mr Dalton declared an interest and withdrew.  Mrs Handley took the Chair.

                                                Approved by PC.

 

Following the Planning Committee decision to scrap Chairman's Delegation, there will be a new procedure aimed at streamlining Planning Committee meetings.  With immediate effect, written updates will be sent out by e-mail on the Friday before the meeting to all those receiving links to the original agenda.  Updates will be circulated electronically only (not by hard copy) and will, in addition, be added to the webpage containing the agenda.  The idea is that this will cut down on the amount of verbal updating required at meetings, although it is accepted that officers may receive new information after noon on Fridays.

 

16        Finance          Cheques paid

Loan to Village Hall                              £767.16 LG(MP)A 1976 s.19

                        Moore Stephens, Ext. Auditor             £149.50LAG 1972 s.iii (2)

                        Clerk's Salary and expenses (July, August, September)

£265.26           LGA1972 s112(2)

            Received in payment of a loan from Village Hall £767.16

 

Village Web Site  It was agreed to provide a budget for the web-site up to a maximum of £150p.a.  This is to include domain name hosting, calendar function, web site hosting, etc.  There was total agreement that the web site is a very valuable asset.

 

Allotments Mr Tebbit asked if money from the Allotment Charity could be used to hire equipment. A Minute of Great Eversden Parish Meeting for 2009 made the allotments available as a resource for the benefit of both villages. Money in the Allotments account could thus be used for hiring machinery and other suitable purchases

 

17        Cl. Kindersley reported that the County Council will apply for £500 million for public transport schemes in Cambridge. This will include £25 million for Chesterton railway station.

            The National Air Traffic Scheme has been postponed (perhaps indefinitely) due to the weight of public protest.

            Making Cambridgeshire Count.  A high level working party has been set up to consider a number of important issues, but little is so far known of its proceedings.

 

18        Cl. Mrs Heazell reported that from December the Cabinet will meet from 7pm and the public will be welcome to attend.  In addition two members of the PC are invited to meet the Cabinet on 25th November and it was hoped that an agenda might be circulated before then to Parish Councils.

            Waste Collection. The collection of plastic waste was unsatisfactory and consideration was being given to providing a third wheelie bin. Cl. Mrs Heazell was also concerned about the present method of collecting clinical waste.  The PC strongly supported her in this.

           

19        Complaints The Chairman reported that there had been much criticism about the construction of a new field entrance at the bottom of Lowfields, but it was pointed out that this work had to be constructed according to County Council Highways specifications.

 

20        Youth Club Bus  It was agreed to discuss this at the next meeting when Mr Blatch might have more information.

           

21        Correspondence.  In circulation

 

Date of Meetings

Planning Meeting (if necessary) Monday 16th November at 8.30pm

Full Parish Council Monday 7th December in the Village Hall at 8pm.