MELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL
UNAPPROVED MINUTES
Minutes of a Parish Council Meeting held on Monday, 27th April 2009 at Vicarage Close Community Centre at 7.15pm.
Present: Cllrs. D. Mowatt (Chairman), V. Barrett, I. Bloomfield, C. Charter, J. Guest, R. Gatward, D. Hardingham, M. Linnette, J. Robson and M. Townsend.
In attendance: The Clerk, PCSO’s Paul Lancaster & John Coppard and 3 members of the public.
662/08 Apologies for absence: C. Cllr. D McCraith, Cllrs. A. Kulina, C. Purbrook, M. Sherwen and R. Wakerley.
663/08 Declarations of Interest: None
664/08 Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd March 2009:
With the addition at Item 625/08 of the word “previous” in front of the
words ‘problem solving meeting’, it was proposed by Cllr. Gatward and seconded by Cllr. Guest that the minutes of 23rd March 2009 be signed as a true record.
665/08 Matters arising:
The Clerk was asked if the painting of the Pavilion had been completed. She said that it had been and the keys had been returned to her.
Item 618/08 (Model Publication Scheme) Cllr. Charter thought that the wording of Model Publication Scheme should be placed before the wording of the heading Guide to Information in the minutes of the Finance and General Purpose meeting.
Item 622/08(a) (traffic calming on Orchard Road) Cllr. Gatward asked if Cllr. Wakerley had been made aware of the proposed meeting between Cllr. Kulina and David Lines of CCC. The Clerk replied that she had copied in Cllr. Wakerley to the correspondence on this matter.
Item 624/08 (New Road Cemetery) Cllr. Gatward enquired if the Clerk had had any correspondence from Mr Quentin Carroll. The Clerk replied that as yet she had received no correspondence from Mr. Carroll. The Clerk was asked to write to Mr. Carroll again over the matter of the return of the Saxon remains.
Item 628/08 (Committees) Cllr. Gatward spoke about the boundary marking of the houses on Thatcher Stanford Close with reference to the recreation ground and the fact that one of the residents of Thatcher Stanford Close was using the recreation ground for composting garden rubbish and kitchen waste. Cllr. Townsend was aware of this fact and had been to check this out and had found that the compost had been removed.
At this point in the meeting Cllr. Mowatt invited the PCSO’s to address the meeting.
PCSO John Coppard addressed the meeting and said for the last four months he had been dealing with issues in Melbourn. He explained how much time was spent in the village. He also explained that 4 PCSO’s covered 36 villages between them. Cllr. Mowatt asked if they found time to talk to the community PCSO Coppard confirmed that they did. They toured the village on foot, bike and car. Cllr. Mowatt asked if the situation with regard to the youths’ behaviour was improving. It seemed that recently the village had been fairly quiet but activity was now picking up again. Youths from the village had been heading over to Royston and the PCSO’s had been helping out the Hertfordshire Police in this respect.
Cllr. Barrett asked if the PCSO’s had anything to report with regard the BMX trails in the little wood. The youth had been asked to keep it tidy and this was happening. Youths from all over the country came to use these trails. It seems that the older youths are being blamed for problems caused on the site by the younger end of the youths.
Rachel Mallender is the new Community Beat Manager.
The PCSO’s were asked for their opinion on CCTV cameras. They thought them a good idea and said that they worked well in other villages and youths have been apprehended due to their images being caught on camera. The question was asked if the presence of CCTV cameras moved the youth onto other parts of the village. It seems that this does not happen. The Police have nothing to do with the quality of the footage. There would be a need to shop around to find the best deals and the best lighting offers, as the lighting affected the quality of the pictures. The PCSO’s are still patrolling the car park as it is still classed as a hot spot in the village. A Section 59 can be given and if two of these are received a vehicle can then be confiscated.
Cllr Mowatt would like to see the PCSO’s attend a Parish Council meeting quarterly, they agreed to do this.
[As the time was approaching 7.55pm the Chairman suspended Standing Orders to allow for public participation]
[The Chairman resumed Standing Orders at 8.25pm]
666/08 Minutes of the Planning Committee:
6th March: No comments
20th March: Item 654/08 (White House Farm) Cllr. Charter believed that there was a requirement to demolish the old house BEFORE the occupation of the new dwelling and the minutes stated otherwise. The Clerk pointed that what was recorded was information provided by the Enforcement Officer. Cllr. Guest said that she had already made the Enforcement Office aware of this fact.
667/08 Notification or Planning Consultation documents:
(a) SCDC – PA Consulting Group, Back Lane. Installation of Door, Bridge and Ramp. S/0330/09/F. Permission Granted.
668/08 Planning Applications:
(a) Land to the North-east of 15 Fordham Way. House. S/0482/09/F
Recommend Refusal. Due to overdevelopment of the site.
669/08 Public Liability Form:
The Council decide to leave the Public Liability at £5 million pound. This will be reconsidered in the future if necessary.
670/08 Soil Store in New Road Cemetery:
It was proposed by Cllr. Hardingham THAT THE VERBAL QUOTE RECEIVED FROM MR PAUL WHITTON FOR THE BUILDING OF A SOIL STORE AND EXTENSION OF THE PRESENT BASE AT THE PRICE OF £3,760 + VAT BE ACCEPTED. THE CLERK IS TO REQUEST THAT THIS QUOTE BE PUT IN WRITING. Seconded by Cllr. Robson and CARRIED.
671/08 Installation of CCTV Cameras:
Cllr. Barrett enquired if the Parish Council agreed in principle to having CCTV in the village. The councillors agreed in principle to having CCTV cameras in the village. Cllr. Barrett then asked for this matter to be deferred until the next meeting when she hoped to have managed to source a second quotation for the work.
[Cllr. Bloomfield left the meting at this point the time being 8.55pm]
672/08 Financial Report as at 31st March 2009: Noted
673/08 Cheques to be signed: See attached pdf file (cheque-list-april-09)
The Clerk recommended the transfer of £12,500 from the Business No Notice Account to the Current Account
It was proposed by Cllr. Linnette that the cheques be approved and signed, seconded by Cllr. Barrett and carried.
Cllr. Guest did not vote on this matter as she was a cheque recipient.
674/08 Correspondence:
(a) Letter from Andrew Lansley CBE MP also copy of letter from Mark Kemp Director of Highways and Access – regarding maintenance to drains in Melbourn.
(b) The Clerk is to write to Mr Kemp with copy of letter to Andrew Lansley saying that the Parish Council would be delighted to meet with Mr Kemp over this matter and to try and find a conclusion to this problem also to request a date for the meeting.
(b) E-mail from Steve Marshall – not successful with finding a source of funding for roof. Requests information with regard to engagement of builder and payment of such.
The Clerk is to contact Mr Marshall and inform him that the Parish Council will deal with the builder and the payments.
(c) Letter from Mrs Gillian Morland – invitation to hold a stall at the Village Fete.
The Clerk is to contact Mrs Morland and inform her that the Parish Council would like to have a stall at the fete.
(d) E-mail from Colin Limming – Informing the Council that the History Group would not be entering the Cambridgeshire ACRE Community Awards this year due to the fact that the only award being run this year is “Village of the Year” and it was felt that Melbourn hardly fits the description of a “village” any more. Noted.
(e) Mobile Warden Scheme – funding. The Council felt that it was not satisfied with the accounts and that an early meeting should be called so that its representative can attend as there were concerns about the current status of the group. The Clerk will write to Mrs Trueman on this matter.
(f) No further correspondence was received.
675/08 Cemetery and Churchyard Inspection Record:
Cllr. Charter filled in the book for March. As Cllr. Stead was not present at the meeting he was unable to fill in the book for April
676/08 New Road Cemetery:
Cllr. Gatward reported that the 3 Rowan Trees that had been transplanted are in leaf, so are not dead. She had requested that Justin from JW Maintenance remove the pile of cut meadow grass which lay at the top of the cemetery. She had also spoken to Justin with regard to sourcing someone to cut the grass and take it away for hay. The standpipe still needs enclosing.
The water tanks need some work on them.
The broken Himalayan Birch at the top of the cemetery is shooting and does not need replacing.
There will be more planting carried out in the Autumn.
The yew hedge needs cutting.
The spacing of the concrete bases for the two remaining benches is not correct and one base needs to be moved.
677/08 Further Developments to Village Car Park:
Inspector Savage had been asking where the Parish Council were with regards to the village car park. It seems that SCDC are waiting for the Parish Council to talk to them on this matter.
[ Cllr. Hardingham left the meeting at this point the time being 9.55pm]
[As the Time was approaching 10.00pm it was proposed by Cllr. Gatward and seconded by Cllr. Townsend that the meeting continue till 10.15pm]
It was proposed by Cllr. Barrett THAT A LETTER BE SENT TO SCDC SETTING OUT OUR PREFERRED TERMS FOR ANY AGREEMENT WHEREBY THE PARISH COUNCIL TAKES OVER SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CAR PARK, NAMELY –
THAT 1. THE PARISH COUNCIL LEASE THE HIGH STREET CAR PARK FROM SCDC FOR 99 YEARS. 2. THAT A PEPPERCORN RENT BE PAID FOR PARKING AND GARAGE FOREFRONT AREA ONLY. 3. THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SITE, EXCLUDING FOOTPATH AND ADJACENT GRASSED AREA. 4. SCDC WILL PAY THE RATES. 5. THE GARAGES WILL REMAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SCDC (BOTH MAINTENANCE AND RENTAL) 6. THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEVELOP THE CAR PARK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, SUBJECT TO RELEVANT PLANNING PERMISSIONS, DURING THE LIFE OF THE LEASE.
Seconded by Cllr. Robson and CARRIED
678/08 Update on BMX Trails:
Cllr. Guest has submitted a planning application and this is being discussed at SCDC at the present time.
679/08 Neighbourhood Panel:
This had been dealt within the period of public participation and is recorded in the Addendum to these minutes. Next meeting is Friday, 1st May. The Police are keen to see something done with the bus shelter. Cllr. Mowatt is confident that this can be altered without the need to pull it down.
[ As the time was approaching 10.15 it was proposed by Cllr. Gatward and seconded by Cllr. Barrett that the meeting continue till 10.30pm]
680/08 Connections Bus Project:
Cllr. Townsend had spoken to the Youth Leaders at the Youth Club and it seems that not many people took advantage of the bus project last year, perhaps because it had not been well advertised. The Council were happy to make a contribution to a successful event. The decision was taken to not have the Connections bus project this year.
681/08. Neighbourhood Panel:
Cllr. Townsend reported on the meeting held on the 20th April. Cllrs. Townsend and Bloomfield had attended the meeting. The matter of the car park was brought up again. The PCSO’s were going to keep monitoring things as usual. There is a new Youth Worker based in the village, who is also shared by Cambourne. The next meeting is on 21st July at Bassingbourn Village College.
682/08 Committees:
(a) Finance and General Purposes: The date of the meeting on the minutes reads as April and should be March, the Clerk will change this.
(b) Urgent reports from Committee Chairmen:
There were no urgent matters.
683/08 Future Meetings.
(a) 4th May – Bank Holiday
(b) 11th May – Annual Parish Meeting
(c) 18th May – Annual Parish Council Meeting
(d) 25th May – Bank Holiday
684/08 Urgent Matters.
The Clerk asked permission to obtain a sign for the gate leading to the Recreation Ground from the car park of Little Hands Nursery. The sign is to say that the gate is to be kept clear at all times. The Council agreed to this.
There being no other business the chairman closed the meeting at 10.30pm
Addendum to Parish Council meeting of 27th April 2009
A member of the public addressed the meeting and said he was disappointed that the Parish Council does not attend the meeting of the Problem Solving Group. He was told that 3 Councillors had attended the last meeting. It appears that no Councillor that had been in negotiations with SCDC over the car park had been at the meeting to answer any questions. The resident thought that the root cause of the trouble will not go away until everybody works together. The resident asked if the Council intended to spend any money on the car park and Cllr. Mowatt said that the Council does intend to spend money on the car park.
C. Cllr McCraith is to head the chair at the next panel meeting of the Problem Solving Group.
It was thought that the Council should be more involved in these meetings since it intended to take on the car park. The Police had put forward a request for rails at the front of the car park which would help with policing.
The Youth Service now shares a Youth Worker with the village of Cambourne. Cllr. Mowatt was deeply concerned over the youth in the village. He felt that negotiations should be carried out with the best interests of the village at heart. He was very keen to keep the Police in the centre of the village.
A resident enquired if this meant that the proposed community building on the car park was no more. Cllr. Mowatt replied that the car park will not be developed to anyone’s disadvantage.
The Resident was keen to get the Parish Council involved with the Problem Solving group.
Cllr Mowatt felt there was a need for the car park to look tidy, the youth to behave themselves and the bus shelter to look good. There was a need for all to work together at this problem.
A resident enquired about the timetable for the Parish Council to take over the car park. Cllr. Mowatt said is must be borne in mind that SCDC may want to keep the car park themselves if they have sufficient funds. At the present time, negotiations are to go on with SCDC for the Parish Council to take on the responsibility for the car park and Cllr. Mowatt hoped that this would take place very soon.
Cllr. Charter said that if the Parish Council does not take on the car park there is a possibility that National Car Parks would take it on and then charges would come into force for parking. Cllr. Mowatt did not think this would happen.
