UNAPPROVED MINUTES
Minutes of a Parish Council Meeting held on Monday, 22nd June 2009 at Vicarage Close Community Centre at 7.15pm.
Present: Cllrs. D. Mowatt (Chairman), V. Barrett, I. Bloomfield, J. Guest, R. Gatward, D. Hardingham, A. Kulina, M. Linnette, J. Robson, M. Townsend, M. Sherwen and C. Stead
In attendance: The Clerk and C. Cllr Susan van de Ven
67/09 Apologies for absence: Cllrs. C. Purbrook and R. Wakerley.
[At this point in the meeting the Chairman extended a warm welcome to C. Cllr. van de Ven. He also said a fond farewell to David McCraith. The Clerk is to write to David thanking him for all his work on behalf of the Council]
68/09 Declarations of Interest: Cllrs. Bloomfield, Gatward, Linnette, Robson and Sherwen all declared personal interests in Items 75 and 88
At this point in the meeting Cllr. Kulina addressed the meeting and explained that his work took him out of town 3 days a week. He was also struggling to get to meetings and he was not able to be active and do the things on the council which is what he wanted to do. It was with regret that he felt that he should resign as a Councillor. Cllr. Kulina then handed in his resignation from the Council. Cllr. Mowatt was sad to see him go but was hopeful that he would join the council again in the future when time permitted.
69/09 Minutes of the meeting held on 18th May 2009:
With the alterations to Item 9/09 of the word “were” in place of “where” and to Item 22/09 of “Silver Birch” in place of “Himalayan Birch”, it was proposed by Cllr. Stead and seconded by Cllr. Barrett that the minutes of 18th May 2009 be signed as a true record.
70/09 Matters arising:
Item 19/09 (Correspondence (j)) Cllr. Bloomfield had spoken to Graham Johnson-Mack with regard to the erection of the banner on The Cross. This was much too big to go on The Cross and had been placed on a wall at the college.
Item 9/09 (674/08(e) (Matters Arising) Cllr. Guest had been to visit Mrs Trueman who had agreed to have a quick meeting. Mrs Trueman had put in for a grant to both SCDC and CCC.
The Council felt there was a need for Mrs Trueman to prepare a summary of the accounts.
Cllr. Gatward thought that the proposed meeting should be held at the Parish Office. It was felt that as Mrs Trueman was rather frail it would be better if the meeting was held at her house.
Item 19/09 (Correspondence (h)) Cllrs. Gatward and Guest had met with Mr Mike Oakman with regard to the flooding in the village. Mr Oakman had suggested that remedial work be carried out down The Moor. Due to financial restraints this work would not be undertaken until next year.
Item 23/09 (Village Car Park) Cllr. Guest offered the services of her husband to do some remedial work to the vegetation at the front of the car park. The main work to clear the area and replant will be carried out in Autumn.
71/09 Minutes of the Planning Committee:
1st June: Item 38/09 Cllr. Barrett reported that the Police Station is due to be closed at Christmas and if no other accommodation is found for the Police in the village then the Police will operate out of Sawston. This will mean less time is spent in the village. C. Cllr. van de Ven and Cllr. Mowatt are to have a meeting at the Police Station to discuss the situation.
72/09 Notification or Planning Consultation documents:
(a) SCDC – Land to the North-West of Bridgefoot Farm Kennels,. Flint Cross. S/0311/09/F. Permission granted for the Erection of two poultry houses
(b) SCDC – Pocket Park, Grinnell Hill. S/0526/09/F. Permission Granted for Change of Use from Pocket Park to Recreation use.
Cllr. Guest has been advised by the Planning officer to speak to the Environmental Officer on the set of conditions. The decomposing of the waste may cause a problem. The gate to the site is to be kept narrow to keep out motor bikes.
(c) SCDC – Rosslyn, Cambridge Road. Extension. S/0459/09/F/AW. Planning application has been withdrawn.
73/09 Planning Applications:
(a) Application to carry out Tree Works subject to a Tree Preservation Order or situated within a Conservation Area. 12 Pryor’s Orchard reduce the height of the trees on the Orchard Road side of the property, three sycamores and two ash trees and also to reduce the overhang of these trees over the garden of 12 Pryor’s Orchard. Also to reduce the height and spread of a single sycamore tree in the garden of 12 Pryor’s Orchard.
The Parish Council ask that these trees overhanging Orchard Road are trimmed and reduced where they are causing problems to users of Orchard Road.
(b) Land to the North-East of, 15 Fordham Way. House. S/0482/09/F. Revised Plan. The Parish Council is asked to comments if it so wishes.
No Recommendation.
The Parish Council are concerned that the amended plans isolate No 15 from access to the public footpath and highways. It also removes their parking facility. There are also Health and Safety implications.
74/09 Transfer of land documentation with regards to extra piece of land at New Road Cemetery:
It was proposed by Cllr. Gatward THAT THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE EXTRA PIECE OF LAND AT THE ENTRANCE TO NEW ROAD CEMETERY BE SIGNED AS REQUESTED BY TWO COUNCILLORS, CLLRS. SHERWEN AND TOWNSEND. Seconded by Cllr. Bloomfield and CARRIED.
75/09 Expenses for Parish Plan:
Cllr. Robson addressed the meeting and said that some members of the Council had met a few times to get the ball rolling, with the idea of handing over to a steering committee. There was a need for more people to be involved and also to explain what a Parish Plan was. So far the group had spoken to 76 groups of people, contacted Cambridge ACRE for advice on a Parish Plan and set up a web site. Funding opportunities had been explored. A grant of up to £2000 was available from SCDC. The big lottery fund can also be contacted for funding, as can businesses in the village. The start of the plan was to ask residents open questions. There will be of model of the village at the village fete and people will be able to give their views on what they like and dislike about the village. Workshops are to start next Monday in the All Saint’s Community Hall.
Advertising was being carried out in the form of local papers and posters round the village.
It is expected that from start to finish the plan is likely to cost in the region of £5000 to £6000. The group would like the Parish Council to pick up any residue of expenditure not covered by funding. A printed version of the plan will be delivered to every house in the village. Cllr. Hardingham thought that businesses may pay for adverting in the printed version.
Cllrs. Bloomfield, Gatward, Linnette, Robson and Sherwen did not vote on the next two items
It was proposed by Cllr. Hardingham THAT AN AMOUNT OF £5000, IF NEEDED, BE FUNDED OUT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL’S RESERVES THIS YEAR. AFTER THIS YEAR FUNDING IS TO BE PRECEPTED FOR. Seconded by Cllr. Stead and CARRIED with 6 VOTES.
The next item was taken out of sequence so that it could be dealt at the same time as item 75/09
88/09 Update on Parish Plan:
(a) It was proposed by Cllr. Guest THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL ACT AS BANKERS AND THAT THE EXISTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT BE USED AS AN ACCOUNT BY THE PARISH PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE. Seconded by Cllr. Barrett and CARRIED with 6 VOTES.
(b) There was no longer a need for a banner on The Cross.
76/09 Funding under a Section 106 Agreement:
The Clerk is to write to SCDC Planning Office informing it that the Parish Council wishes to accept the amount of £4258.90 offered under a Section 106 agreement. The money is only to be used for formal open areas, or children’s play areas.
77/09 Melbourn Bowls Club:
The Clerk is waiting to hear from the VAT office on this matter.
78/09 Financial Report as at 31st May: The Clerk is to check to see if there should be only one account left with Anglo Irish Bank.
79/09 Cheques to be signed: [ See attached pdf file ]cheque-list-for-june-09
The Clerk recommended the transfer of £54,500 from the Business No Notice Account to the Current Account
The Clerk recommended the transfer of £1,833.32 from the magazine Account to the Business No Notice Account.
It was proposed by Cllr. Townsend that the cheques be approved and signed, seconded by Cllr. Sherwen and carried.
Cllr. Guest did not vote on this matter as she declared a personal interest in one of the payments.
80/09 Correspondence:
(a) Letter from Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme – Proposed meeting. Noted
(b) Letter from Mr R W Long, Treasurer for All Saints Melbourn Community Hall – Thanking the Council for its donation towards the building costs of the hall. Noted
(c) Letter from Mr. D A Alderton – Nothing to support, or justify changing the bus shelter to a transparent shelter. Noted
(d) Letter from Mr Larcombe – Allotment on The Moor. Noted
(e) SCDC – Housing Transfer Ballot. Noted
(f) Campaign to Protect Rural England – AGM. Noted
(g) Letter from Mr Larcombe – Record RSS Limited, Toddlers Slide. Noted
(h) Letter from Mrs Backer – Van parked outside No 19 New Road.
The Clerk is to write to Mrs Backer informing her that this is a Police matter.
(i) SCDC – Parish Council vacancy. The Council can now co-opt onto the Council.
(j) Email from Andy Kulina- tendering his resignation as a Councillor.
This matter had already been dealt with at the start of the meeting.
(k) E-mail from Jenny Clark – lease on Melbourn village car park.
It was proposed by Cllr. Barrett THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL ACCEPT THE TERMS SET OUT IN JENNY CLARK’S E-MAIL WHICH INCLUDE THE PARISH COUNCIL BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE RATES ON THE CAR PARK. Seconded by Cllr. Sherwen and CARRIED.
The Clerk is to inform Jenny of this and also to tell her that SCDC are to go ahead and re white-line the car park.
(l) No further correspondence was received.
81/09 Stockbridge Meadows Riverside Park:
Cllr. Gatward has spoken to Lawson Brooks from the developers on the topic of payment towards refreshments on the open day. A cheque is to be sent to the Parish Office to help with the cost of this.
Cllr Gatward suggested that the Council provide apple juice, Bucks fizz and strawberries and cream.
Some sort of covering will be needed in case of rain, the refreshments are to be served in the middle circle of mown grass. Dr. Roads is going to cut the ribbon and hopefully make a speech.
The Clerk is to invite the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Meldreth Parish Council.
The Clerk is to ensure that the area is made clean and tidy for the ceremony.
82/09 Report from County Cllr. Susan van de Ven
Thank you for welcoming me.
I’ve proposed to the clerk that I present a written report to parish council meetings so that time can be managed most efficiently from everyone’s point of view.
With only two weeks behind me as your new County Councillor I am establishing contact with relevant officers at the County Council and relevant agencies, and feeling my way round in terms of gauging main issues.
It would seem that among most urgent issues in Melbourn are relocation of the library and police station.
As you know I have done some groundwork on improvement of rail services and find that I now have better access to officers at the County, and also at Dept. for Transport. I will now be looking to pull various strands together. It was helpful to meet Cllr Stead at Meldreth Station to discuss rail customer issues pertinent to both villages.
Melbourn has had on-going drainage issues and I am keen to learn more about these, having helped to tackle problems of a similar nature in Meldreth.
I have contacted the heads of Melbourn Village College and Melbourn Primary School to ask for introductory meetings, in order to learn what issues they would like me to be taking up on the schools’ behalf.
Committee appointments are to take place on June 23th and I am hoping to join the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee.
Locally I have been asked by the Police to chair the Melbourn-based problem solving group and will continue on the Melbourn Library (Melbourn and District) committee.
However given strength of feeling on the parish council about the merits of the problem solving group, I will suggest to Inspector Savage that this be put on hold for now.
83/09 Cemetery and Churchyard Inspection Record:
Cllr. Mowatt did not have a great deal to report. He was satisfied that things were going to plan at the cemetery on New Road, but was less satisfied on how the old graves in Orchard Road cemetery are being looked after at the moment. He thought that some sort of work schedule needed to be put into place.
84/09 New Road Cemetery:
The rules state that anyone not a resident of the village must pay double the fees. The Clerk raised the question of a burial request from the parish of Meldreth and was told by the Council that this would incur the double fees.
As New Road Cemetery is a lawned cemetery any flowers etc placed on the grave after it has been turfed are to be removed.
Cllr. Townsend had met with Justin of JW Maintenance to discuss what work needed to be carried out in the cemetery. Flower beds are to be made at the end of the rows between the first and second paths, these have been marked out with white lines so that Councillors may view this if they so wished. The dead Silver Birch tree is to be removed and replaced in Autumn.
It was suggested that the hedge on the Water Lane side of the cemetery be trimmed to the same size as the side hedge. There is still a need for a bin to put dead foliage in.
[As the time was approaching 10.00 it was proposed by Cllr. Robson and seconded by Cllr. Stead that the meeting continue until 10.15]
The latch is broken on the main cemetery gate. A stile is to be put in at the top of the cemetery as a temporary measure.
85/09 Further Developments to Village Car Park:
This matter had been dealt with under Item 80/09 (k)
86/09 Update on BMX Trails:
This matter had been dealt at Item 72/09 (b) under Notification or Planning Consultation documents.
87/09 ASB High Street Panel:
This meeting had been cancelled so no report could be given.
89/09 Neighbourhood Panel:
The next meeting is to be held on Tuesday, 21st July at Bassingbourn Village College.
90/09 Committees:
(a) Play Area, Recreation and Youth: There were no comments.
(b) Cemetery: There were no comments.
(c) Urgent reports from Committee Chairmen: There were no urgent reports.
91/09 Future Meeting
(a) 6th July – Planning
(b) 13th July – Highways and Rural Footpaths + Conservation
(c) 20th July – Planning
(d) 27th July – Parish Council
92/09 Urgent Matters.
The Clerk asked if the Ranger could purchase a new towing bracket. He had recently changed his vehicle and the old towing bracket did not fit the new vehicle. He needed to use a towing bracket as part of his work for the Parish Council. The Council agreed to this request. It also requested that the Clerk be shown the Rangers new documentation papers for this vehicle.
There being no other business the chairman closed the meeting at 10.15pm