29th March 2010
A meeting of the Parish Council was held in the Pavilion on 29th March 2010 at 8pm.
Apologies received from Mrs Hobbs, Mr Kilker, and Mr Huddleston.
Present, Mrs Handley, Mr Tebbit, Mrs Connolly, Mrs Pritchard, Mr Blatch, Mr White, and, in the Chair, Mr Dalton. Cl. Mrs Heazell was also present.
Minutes of the meetings held on 15th February and 8th March 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 and the Chairman.
3 Hedges at 2 Wheeler's Way In the absence of Mr Kilker, no report.
4 Road at St Helen's Transfer. This is in the hands of the solicitors and the Chairman.
5 Allotment Organisation. Mr Tebbit reported that the rotavator could not cope and ploughing is needed. The ground will then be divided into plots for individual cultivation.
6 Standing Orders. Mr White observed that some considerable work had been done previously but NALC had now issued new Standing Orders. It was remarked that some councils had adopted them verbatim but no resolution was passed.
7 Village Plan Mr White reported he and Mr Farnell and Mr Wheeler were going to a meeting at Histon on 31st March to discuss Village Plans.
8 Youth Club Bus. Mr Blatch reported that the organisers of this project were coming to inspect the site shortly. There were 65 potential users aged 11-16 and three adult helpers. The PC had agreed to fund 6 sessions @ £80 each, but he had managed to secure a cheaper quote of 13 weeks @ £50 a session. The Recreation Ground Committee had agreed to fund the difference in cost (£170). Cl. Mrs Heazell agreed to act as a back-up helper and Mrs Pritchard offered to help delivering leaflets round the Villages.
9 Telephone Box at Little Eversden No reply from BT. The Chairman agreed to write to BT again. The box has been further vandalised.
10 Salt Bins At the previous meeting it had been agreed to purchase three salt bins to be placed at the junction of Leete's Lane and Lowfields, at the junction of High Street Little Eversden and the Harlton Road and at the Hoops junction. Mr Huddleston had discovered a source of green or brown bins. It was proposed to purchase these and install them later in the year, but Cl. Heazell advised that it might be wiser to act sooner while next year's budget is under consideration at SCDC.
11 Rats in Wimpole Road Ditch. It was agreed that the Chairman should contact the Chief Environmental Health Officer to ask for a written record of actions taken. It was also agreed that it is unfair to ask householders to pay for the attendance of the Pest Officer to deal with rats who cross over to their property. Cl Mrs Heazell agreed to approach Environmental Health at SCDC on this matter.
12 Cycle Path Eversden to Comberton Mr Huddleston in an email asked whether it would be possible to up-grade Footpath 26 to a cycleway. He suggested that the sub-committee should meet again soon after Easter to pursue this idea. The suggestion was welcomed
13 2 acres behind Nos 30-40 High Street, Great Eversden
The Chairman reported that Mr Wood had informed him in an e-mail of this possible site for Low Cost houses. Another site had also been mentioned in the corner between Church Street and Wimpole Road, but nothing had been received in writing. Both sites had been refused planning consent in the past. However, in view of present housing shortage the Chairman had sought the views of Planners. He did not wish Parish Council to be accused of not investigating alternatives to OSP 148. After much discussion Mr Tebbit commented that further investigation of both sites would be useful for the future but that nothing should be allowed to hold up the present negotiations on OSP 148.
14 Low Close Affordable Housing It was reported that almost all these houses were now occupied and that the residents were delighted with them, and that there had been favourable comments from adjoining residents.
15 DVD Grant. Following Minute 18 of 15th February it was agreed to grant £100 towards the cost of producing a DVD featuring village scenes and activities over the past five years. Sales would raise money for the Village Hall. Mr White proposed and Mr Tebbit seconded that a grant of £100 be made.
16 Community Chest. Information about Grants. This sets out how to apply for grants up to £1000 available for ten categories of project. Passed to Village Hall Committee.
17 Application for dispensation for VHC AND RGC. Mt White reported that he had a letter from the Standards Board which outlined the procedure to follow. He would circulate this letter to members and it can be discussed at the next meeting.
18 Planning.
Barn at Manor Farm Harlton. SCDC has refused the application for use as a conference centre and venue for weddings.
19 Finance
The following cheques were agreed and signed
Village Hall Insurance £1356.55 LGA 72 s111
Clerk's Salary £262.47 LGA 72 s112 (2)
CALC Allotment Training £55 S/H&AA 1908 s23
DVD Grant £100 LGA 72 s143
Photocopying £42.09 LGA 76 s133
20 Cl. Mrs Heazell reported that East Cambs have abandoned door-to-door plastic collection as too expensive and are now planning to have village bins.
Instead of having a Best Kept Village Competition it was proposed to have a Village Heroes Award and a Village Project Award. There was little enthusiasm for either. She also reported the resignation of the CEO as he had not been informed of plans to merge SCDC and East Cambs. under one CEO. She and Cl. Kindersley were also going to have a meeting with the bus company, Whippet, to discuss local bus services
21 Correspondence. In circulation
Date of Meetings
Great Eversden Parish Meeting Monday 12th April in the Village Hall at 8pm
Planning Meeting Monday 19th April in the Village Hall at 8.30pm
Full Parish Council Monday 10th May in the Village Hall at 8pm.